San Fran to LA

[skymama 37]

I'm helping my parents plan a trip. They'll be in San Francisco for a convention for a few days and thought about adding on some extra vacation days. They've been there many times, so they thought they'd check out Los Angeles.

My question is, should they fly or go ahead and drive down to LA? They will already have a rental car. Are there any cool cities to stop in and visit on the way down?

As always, any help is appreciated.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[chaoskitty 0]

Theres a lot of dirt out there. Actually, Lauraliscious and I drove from San Jose to wherever the Star Farms boogie was.. can't remember. There were some wineries along the way. It was kinda fun to stop and check them out.
I'm sure theres more than that though.. we didn't nearly go all the way to LA.

[NWFlyer 2]

If they want to take the time to do the scenic route, driving along the coast is a lot of fun and there's plenty to see along the way, or you can just hop on I-5 and do it in a few hours (but that's not nearly as much fun). So much to see along the way - Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Central Coast (wineries out the wazoo!), Santa Barbara, and lots more stuff I'm leaving out. Way fun.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[LisaH 0]

If they are up for the drive they should. The California coast is beautiful. There are a lot of great things to see and do.

Be yourself!
MooOOooOoo

[vdschoor 0]

Quote

If they are up for the drive they should. The California coast is beautiful. There are a lot of great things to see and do.

I agree.. if you take Hwy 1, you'll have a beautiful (but very long) drive. If they want to get to LA fast, fly, Hwy 5 is boring.

[BillyVance 35]

They should absolutely take the Big Sur highway. It is breath-taking. It's also known as Highway 1, right?

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[skymama 37]

How long does that drive take along the coast? They're not into wine, but they'd enjoy seeing other sites.

edit: I did check Google maps, but it only told me Hwy 5. I don't know how to make it go on a specific highway.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[ntrprnr 0]

Went to Grad School in Santa Barbara. It's beautiful there.

[jimmytavino 16]

Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive...Rt 1

We did that years and years ago...
However it 's like 6 hours or so , from San Fransisco to L A .... and the road is more like a two-lane, than a High way.....
But there is a lot to see, besides the amazing ocean view...

Carmel
Coos Bay,
San Luis Obispo
Monterey which has quite a huge Aquarium..
( it's where the star trek movie, with the whales, was filmed , some time ago...)
and Cannery Row
San Simeon, home of the Hearst Castle
Santa Barbara...
Los Padres national forest.....
could be best to make the drive with an overnight stay , planned somewhere...
along the route...
Best accomplished, in a Convertible !!!!! with the top down,,,, if the weather allows for it...
and P . S . skymama.. NO... I am Not on commission, from Triple A .....hahahahaha

WHEN is the convention in S F .???? not sure about coast weather, in the springtime....

anyway.... what do i know...?? I'm from new york...

jmy

[micduran 0]

Another vote for PCH if they have the time. The views are like no other. And a lot of towns and attractions along the way. These sites show pictures and one has a trip planner.

Roads to the future

US101

Be patient with the faults of others; they have to be patient with yours.

[BillyVance 35]

Quote

How long does that drive take along the coast? They're not into wine, but they'd enjoy seeing other sites.

Probably will take two days. I went from Santa Cruz to Big Sur or thereabouts and back, and that was pretty much all day.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Shotgun 1]

Quote

I did check Google maps, but it only told me Hwy 5. I don't know how to make it go on a specific highway.

I don't know about Google maps, but on Yahoo maps (after you've acquired the initial directions) you can just click on the highlighted route and drag it to the road you want to go on.

[NWFlyer 2]

You can grab the route and drag it to the road that you want it to go on. I'd allow 2-3 days depending on how leisurely they want their trip to be and how much they want to see (Hearst Castle, for example, is about 1/2 day in itself, you could easily spend a day seeing stuff in Monterey like the Aquarium, etc.).

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[skymama 37]

Oh, nice planning link. I gave my Dad that one.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

If they want to take the time to do the scenic route, driving along the coast is a lot of fun and there's plenty to see along the way, or you can just hop on I-5 and do it in a few hours (but that's not nearly as much fun). So much to see along the way - Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Central Coast (wineries out the wazoo!), Santa Barbara, and lots more stuff I'm leaving out. Way fun.

What she said.

I HAVE to recommend a road trip. (But, I love roadtrips. My wife hates them, so people are different). Plan a few days for the road trip.

Head down the 101 to the 1 to Monterey and spend some time there. Heading south on the 1 through Bg Sur is gorgeous. It also is likely to become a royal pain in the ass after about an hour, and you've got at LEAST another 90 minutes to go. It can be exhausting.

So I'd recommend taking the 101 down to Paso Robles and do winetasting. You could spend a whole weekend doing it there are there are GREAT wines.

Then head west on the 46 toward Cambria and Hearst Castle (San Simeon). Enjoy the hell out of Cambria. The place is awesome. Maybe see Hearst Castle.

Head south to the five cities area (SLO). Plenty to do there. Then head south on 101 to Santa Barbara. Enjoy that place.

Then down the 101 south. Either take the 1 at Oxnard to head through Malibu or continue on the 101 to the 405. Then there is plenty to do in LA!

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

Went to Grad School in Santa Barbara. It's beautiful there.

Peter - are you a Gaucho, too? I did my undergrad there.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

They should absolutely take the Big Sur highway. It is breath-taking. It's also known as Highway 1, right?

As I commented, this drive is beautiful, but it can be exhausting. You're talking about 150 miles curvy two lane traffic on the cliffs. Expect it to take at least three hours. If they are up for it, great. But it's not for those who will get frustrated easily.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[ntrprnr 0]

No sir... Brooks Institute of Photography - www.brooks.edu - Took thousands of photos of the women from there, though. :)

_______________
"Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?"
"Even in freefall, I have commitment issues."

[skymama 37]

They are going next month. My Dad asked if that is a heavy tourist season and they need to reserve rooms now, or if they can just drive and stop when they feel like stopping and still be able to get a room at a reasonable rate.

By the way, the more you guys help me with his trip, the more I don't get in trouble when he finds me on dz.com during work hours.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[lawrocket 3]

Quote

if that is a heavy tourist season

Not "heavy" but you are always going to find a lot of tourists. The weather is so consistent that "seasons" are a bit different.

He'll have better luck with lodging if he sticks to the 101. But, it'd make sense to get some reservations, anyway.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[BillyVance 35]

Quote

***
He'll have better luck with lodging if he sticks to the 101. But, it'd make sense to get some reservations, anyway.

That makes sense. There aren't any major towns along highway 1 between Monterey and San Luis Obispo, and that's at least 150 miles, which mapquest shows about 2 hours and 20 minutes via 101. I'm guessing at least twice that long on highway 1, excluding stops for sight-seeing.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Nightingale 0]

Quote

They are going next month. My Dad asked if that is a heavy tourist season and they need to reserve rooms now, or if they can just drive and stop when they feel like stopping and still be able to get a room at a reasonable rate.

By the way, the more you guys help me with his trip, the more I don't get in trouble when he finds me on dz.com during work hours.

I've never had trouble finding a motel 6 or something when I want to stop along the central coast, and if they don't have a room, they can usually direct you to someone else who does.

[Gawain 0]

If they have a lot of extra time, then I recommend they stop down to Monterey or Carmel, spend a night there, see Big Sur, and drive down the PCH, plan one or two more nights before going to LA.

So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh
Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright
'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life
Make light!

[DFWAJG 4]

The whole 101 and 1 is great to see. They should take the coast down. Hearst castle is very cool. There's Moro Bay, the light house/hostile with the jacuzzi, San Luis Obispo, Big Sur, Santa Monica. It's all good by the coast.

[ltdiver 3]

I highly recommend Hearst Castle, however I also highly recommend they get reservations for the day they want to tour there. It's that popular, but well worth the effort.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon