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Old 01-05-2011, 01:35 AM
 
23,655 posts, read 17,467,969 times
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What do you suggest? Things to do and see? Places to stay?
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Old 01-05-2011, 01:53 AM
 
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1. Santa Monica
2. Malibu
3. Santa Barbara
4. Solvang
5. Pismo Beach Dunes
6. Hearst Castle
7. Piedras Blancas
8. Big Sur
9. Monterey Bay Aquarium
10. Santa Cruz

...these are my favorite spots along hwy 1 (Northbound), you can google them to see details.
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Old 01-05-2011, 06:31 AM
 
Location: Sherman Oaks, CA
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Please stop and have lunch or dinner at Nepenthe. Beautiful views, and the blue jays come and steal your French fries!

Nepenthe Restaurant, Big Sur, California
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Old 01-05-2011, 02:18 PM
 
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I am also planning on taking this road trip in April. A coworker of mine suggested:
Pismo Beach SAND DUNES
San SimeonHEARST CASTLE
Big Sur-
Monterey CA- AQUARIUM
Gilroy CA GARLIC/OUTLETS
San Francisco-SEAFOOD
NapaVIEWS/WINE
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Old 01-05-2011, 03:39 PM
 
Location: Riverside
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janelle144 View Post
What do you suggest? Things to do and see? Places to stay?
I'm assuming from your post you are not familiar with that highway? You'll find the touristy stuff elsewhere, but here are some practical tips:

1) Are you starting out from the L.A. area? You can make a banzai run to SF in 9-10 hrs by freeway, but if you intend on including Hwy 1 through Big Sur, allow at least two days.

2) Are you going during the winter? If so, pay attention to weather and road condition reports. You don't want to be on this highway during a storm, and frequently big chunks of it are closed by rock slides or cliff erosion.

3) Make sure your driver is well-rested, and experienced (and has nerves of steel). Going "up" (north) is slightly less scary than coming "down", as you'll be on the "land" side of the road (and not staring out the window into oblivion ).

4) Get an early start. Assuming you are going to want to stop and look around, allow at least 4-5 hours to cover the 100 miles between Morro Bay and Monterey.You do not want to be on this stretch of road at night- much too dangerous, and, besides, you'll miss all the scenery. I think there is a 40-50 mile stretch with no services, so plan accordingly.

5) The stretch of Hwy 1 from Monterey to SF (via Half Moon Bay) is gorgeous, but almost as challenging in places as Big Sur. I highly recommend spending the night in Pacific Grove/Monterey, and enjoying a leasurely drive the rest of the way into SF in the morning. You'll be there in time for lunch.

Have fun!
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Old 01-05-2011, 04:07 PM
 
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Gurbie thank you for all those tips. We will be driving from Rancho Cucamonga. Would it be a good idea to fly into San Francisco and then rent a car and drive it back down to socal? Or is the best part of the trip driving up and then flying down?
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Old 01-05-2011, 04:32 PM
 
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We are going from LA. In Feb. I do want to see Hearst Castle.
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Old 01-05-2011, 05:05 PM
 
Location: South Korea
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The tamales at the Santa Cruz main city bus station are the best I've ever had...I dunno if they still sell them there, it was a tiny kiosk in the middle of the station. Other than that there are a lot of nice cheap restaurants in downtown Santa Cruz, might be a good pit stop. There's lots of places to eat up and down Hwy 1 though.
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Old 01-06-2011, 01:52 AM
 
23,655 posts, read 17,467,969 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw335xi View Post
1. Santa Monica
2. Malibu
3. Santa Barbara
4. Solvang
5. Pismo Beach Dunes
6. Hearst Castle
7. Piedras Blancas
8. Big Sur
9. Monterey Bay Aquarium
10. Santa Cruz

...these are my favorite spots along hwy 1 (Northbound), you can google them to see details.
Thank you but what is in Solvang---I can't pronounce it either---but it may be great?
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Old 01-06-2011, 04:13 AM
 
24,353 posts, read 26,826,712 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janelle144 View Post
Thank you but what is in Solvang---I can't pronounce it either---but it may be great?
It's a really "cute" town surrounded by wine country. It has a European feel and would make a perfect breakfast stop. Santa Barbara would make a great overnight location then the next day you could have breakfast in Solvang. I'd recommend Paula's Pancake House, soooo good!
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