SF, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur trip

[Anonymous]

My teen and I are flying into San Francisco and driving down the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur. I have six days. Where should we stay? What to do in addition to the Monterey Aquarium? Is the Big Sur Lodge in Pfeiffer State Park worthwhile?

I did part of this trip years ago when DD was little, and we got as far as Pacific Grove, but she got car sick. I'm hoping a decade will make a difference!

I absolutely love the cliffs overlooking the ocean; she's more of a beach person. What are the best beach spots along the coast for her?

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to this trip!

[Anonymous]

We JUST did this. IT was awesome.

We stayed here:
http://www.visitasilomar.com which was and old summer camp once. You can rent bikes and it is right on the water. It's also affordable. They have smores every night. Asilomar beach is gorgeous though without any amenities.

I loved the aquarium- so, so much better than Baltimore and if you get the tickets through the hotel you can go back the next day for free. Eating lunch at the cafe while watching sea otters float around was so cool.

I would stay in Santa Cruz for a night as well - she'll probably love the boardwalk.

[Anonymous]

Spend a night at the monastery near Big Sur... but you cannot talk while there.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the Asilomar suggestion. A friend stayed there last year, but for some reason it is completely booked the week on August we'll be there, although there is lots of other availability. Any other ideas?

The idea of my teen at a monastery and taking a vow of silence is intriguing I have to say but likely untenable.

[Anonymous]

Big Sur is great. Carsickness was a problem for me - you might want to bring medicine, though I have no idea what would work. Also, bring warm clothes - it gets cold on the coast.

I would maybe do 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at the intercontinental which was nice and walking distance to aquarium which was 2 days awesome. Drive down to big sir. Stop at Neptune's overlooking the ocean. Browse the funky gift shop there. Get a local help you find the long steep never ending road to Pfeiffer (sp) beach which is totally worth the drive. Amazing. I found S Cruz to be overrun and tacky. Worth a drive through and a stop on the beach for a few hours to site see. Lovely time.

[Anonymous]

Have fun OP! We did that trip years ago when our now 23 year old dd was 7. Lots of fun was had by all!

[Anonymous]

Make time for a hike in one of the redwood forests. I know you said she's more of a beach person, but we were blown away by the beauty of the woods, and we typically aren't hiking-type people.

[Anonymous]

No Cal native/former resident here: This is from some advice I gave a friend via email who was planning a trip with his fiance. I recommend staying in Big Sur at least one night but Monterey/Carmel is wonderful too, I never hear anything bad from people who stay at Asilomar (conference center in killer location) or The Highlands Inn (perched on cliff overlooking ocean) The state park lodges are fine and have dining halls or you can hit one of the other restaurants along Route 1.
Be prepared for windy, chillier days and nights and water than we have here. Usual beach gear is bathing suit covered with jeans or sweats, a T shirt and hoodie, good hiking shoes or Tevas, daypack, cheese, salami, baguette, fruit, trail mix and water. The water is 52 degrees better to look at than swim in generally. Bring a camera that can get sandy to take pics of sea otters, wildflowers, redwoods etc.
The Monterey Aquarium is justly famous and good for an afternoon before dinner in town.
From email: You were asking about places to stay, visit etc.
Most places are fairly close to the road, given the steep terrain.
Rent The Sandpiper with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. It was filmed at Nepenthe and has gorgeous scenery.
Also Harold and Maude, Vertigo, that Star Trek movie where they save the whale
Read: Poetry of Robinson Jeffers, Bret Harte, Mark Twain’s Roughing It, Richard Brautigan, John Steinbeck, Henry Miller, John Muir, Jack London
http://homepage.mac.com/pax4us/CALitTour/readinglist.html
Nepenthe (restaurant – do not pass this. Stop for drinks, cappuccino, or a meal, make sure to check out the upstairs, outdoor terrace and the gift shop)
YOU MUST VISIT: Pfieffer Beach State Park (natural bridges, scenic rocky beach)
Pfieffer Big Sur State Park (redwoods, creek, Big Sur Lodge inside the park is a lodging option) Hike up the creek to the rocky swimming hole…climb up the rock from the swimming hole to find even more swimming holes! Bring daypack, water, snacks, bathing suit/quick dry clothing.
Andrew Molera State Park - meadow trail through monarch butterfly eucalyptus grove to long beach and rocky headland with a great view. Sea otters often visible in the kelp beds offshore, seals and sea lions… It is just south of the Big Sur Lighthouse, which is on an island connected by a beach on a Coast Guard reserve and is open for public tours only on certain days (check website?) Near the other two parks.
Fancy hotels with incredible hot tubs/spa experience, the kind of place Steve Martin goes on the weekend: Ventana Inn, Post Ranch Inn.
There is a new place called Treebones that has yurts, pool, hot tub, restaurant that looks totally cool: www.treebonesresort.com
More moderate lodgings: Deetjen’s, very atmospheric, tucked away into a redwood grove, good breakfasts
Glen Oaks Big Sur, Ripplewood, Fernwood resort or Big Sur River Inn. The river inn is along the creek but it has a restaurant with live music that can get lively.
Check Trip Advisor for visitor’s photos
Closer to Carmel/Monterey:
Buy strawberries, fruit, garlic, tapenade, artichoke garlic spread etc. in Watsonville area. Garlic World in Gilroy if you take the inland route 101 instead of 1 (maybe on the way back)
Santa Cruz has a beach, boardwalk, old wooden roller coaster, UCSC, redwoods
Kayaking in Elkhorn Slough (Moss Landing) Check internet for kayak companies – can be done as day trip. Or try Monterey Bay.
Carmel Highlands Inn lodging great location/cliffhanger
17 Mile Drive go ahead and pay the toll, feel intense envy, see where Garske will own a house when I win the lottery
Point Lobos State Preserve get out, walk around, check out some tide pools
Carmel Valley Ranch and Quail Lodge are up in the hills along the Carmel River, and very pretty in their own way, nice if you like to get lunch, golf, play tennis, get away from the fog for a while, I think there are wineries up there too.
Most of the incredible golf courses are private clubs, but I think you can go to Pebble Beach…I have only been there during pro-ams, to see James Garner, Jack Lemmon and Clint Eastwood play. We watched sea otters and whales from the 7th hole.

In San Francisco: Vesuvio bar & City Lights book store
Cable car from Union Square to the waterfront, through Chinatown
Golden Gate Park: Japanese Tea Garden, De Young art & Academy of Sciences museums. Skip the zoo. Stow Lake for another romantic row boat ride.
Museum : Palace of the Legion of Honor – French art including a Rodin’s Thinker. Nearby walking path called Land’s End is very scenic, you can also check out the Cliff House restaurant & scenic ruins of the Sutro Baths where the priest falls in a hole in Harold and Maude, this is a great three-for-1.
Haight Ashbury is all touristy now but it is close to GG Park.
I hear there is a great sort of market food court at the Ferry Landing now?
Take boat ride from Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39 area – rent bikes and go over to Angel Island, or get lunch in Sausalito? The ferry type boats may be cheaper than the tour boats and scenery is just as good.
Alcatraz tix must be booked way in advance.
Walk along Marina Green area from Maritime Museum to Fort Point
Can’t help with restaurants, if you go to Berkeley make reservations at Chez Panisse, in Oakland try Bay Wolf or Lo Cocos, French laundry in Napa

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much 13:57. Such great info! Asilomar (affordable) is booked the week we're going and just looked up Highlands, which starts at $499 a night. Sigh. Will move on to your moderate price lodging suggestions.

[Anonymous]

There is a string of easily accessible state park beaches north of Moss Beach and the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is a good place to explore tidepools and see seals. Hit the Moss Beach Distillery for lunch, it is family friendly especially midafternoon.

[Anonymous]

Husband and I stayed at Glen Oaks Big Sur a couple years ago for a few nights and loved it there. Clean, quiet and (for us) affordable compared to some of the other heavy options. Think we paid about $200/night.

[Anonymous]

If you can make it all the way down the coast, Hearst Castle is simply incredible.

[Anonymous]

Current SF resident here, just want to comment on this portion of the former Bay Area resident's suggestions:

In San Francisco: Vesuvio bar & City Lights book store - the book stores can't close fast enough - get there quick
Cable car from Union Square to the waterfront, through Chinatown - pick up the cable car at Embarcadero instead - so much of a shorter line to wait
Golden Gate Park: Japanese Tea Garden, De Young art & Academy of Sciences museums. Skip the zoo. Stow Lake for another romantic row boat ride. - Not sure why PP said to skip the zoo.
Museum : Palace of the Legion of Honor – French art including a Rodin’s Thinker. Nearby walking path called Land’s End is very scenic, you can also check out the Cliff House restaurant & scenic ruins of the Sutro Baths where the priest falls in a hole in Harold and Maude, this is a great three-for-1.
Haight Ashbury is all touristy now but it is close to GG Park. - skip the Haight completely. it's not what it used to be even ten years ago. go to the Mission instead (24th St, not 16th St).
I hear there is a great sort of market food court at the Ferry Landing now? - PP is talking about the Ferry Building - there are great restaurants in there - Slanted Door (make reservations in advance), Out the Door (limited Slanted Door menu that's takeout only), Blue Bottle, Humphry Slocumbe ice cream, Golden Gate Meat Co, etc. There's also an outdoor farmer's market - you can google the days and hours
Take boat ride from Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39 area – rent bikes and go over to Angel Island, or get lunch in Sausalito? The ferry type boats may be cheaper than the tour boats and scenery is just as good.
Alcatraz tix must be booked way in advance.
Walk along Marina Green area from Maritime Museum to Fort Point
Can’t help with restaurants, if you go to Berkeley make reservations at Chez Panisse, in Oakland try Bay Wolf or Lo Cocos, French laundry in Napa - the restaurants PP mentioned are literally HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. Chez Panisse and French Laundry are places people go to once or twice in their lives - to propose, to celebrate a 40th wedding anniversary, etc. If you go to Oakland go to Bakesale Betty's. Here are some reasonably priced yet amazing-tasting places to eat in SF: In-n-Out, Bistro Burger, Hot Cookie (in the Castro), Bluestem, One Market, Catch (in the Castro), L'ardoise (Duboce Triangle), Town's End for brunch, Farmer Brown's (not in a great area but good food).