For those who know Northern California.... (road trip)

[Anonymous]

What is a better stopping point for a road trip (going from SF to LA):

Carmel (or Carmel by the Sea??)
Santa Cruz
Big Sur

I've been to SF many times but have never been to any of these spots. Also, any specific hotel you recommend? (we'll have our kids with us, 5 and 9).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

big sur and carmel are right next to each other. what do you plan to do on your stop?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:big sur and carmel are right next to each other. what do you plan to do on your stop?

Somewhere around Hearst Castle -- Ragged Point Inn, or, Cambria/Cayucos.

[Anonymous]

Big Sur refers both to a city and to an extended region south of the Monterey/Carmel area...which do you mean? Santa Cruz isn't really a good midway point, it's much closer to SF.

I would stop somewhere in Big Sur (not necessarily the city), but it's mostly campgrounds and cabins between Carmel and San Luis Obispo. But you can find some nice options:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/VacationRentals-g240329-Reviews-Big_Sur_California-Vacation_Rentals.html

[Anonymous]

BTW, I stayed here about 20 years ago and it was a nice spot for launching day hikes. Obviously can't provide a recent review:

http://www.ripplewoodresort.com/index.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:big sur and carmel are right next to each other. what do you plan to do on your stop?

Somewhere around Hearst Castle -- Ragged Point Inn, or, Cambria/Cayucos.

OP here, completely misread your response, sorry!

I'm not sure what we would do, depends on where we end up. Hiking, checking out the coast/sea animals, eat, drink, poke around.

[Anonymous]

Somewhere between Cambria/Morro Bay/San Luis Obispo. It's almost exactly halfway between SF and LA. Hiking in Montana de Oro (good tide pools), whale watching and sea lion watching cruises out of Morro Bay, visit Hearst Castle, explore San Luis Obispo. If you happen to hit the area on a Thursday the main street of town is shut down for Farmer's Market every Thurs. evening. In addition to the farmer booths, restaurants serve food on the street and there are lots of performers.

[Anonymous]

All 3!

Stop over in Santa Cruz and spend a couple of hours then head down to Carmel for the night. Explore the area that evening and morning. Head into Big Sur by noon and explore. Stay in the park and then head down to the southern part of Big Sur onwards to Hearst Castle and stay the night. Continue onto LA the next day.

[Anonymous]

Stay in San Luis Opisbo at the Madonna Inn (has nothing to do with Madonna).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All 3!

Stop over in Santa Cruz and spend a couple of hours then head down to Carmel for the night. Explore the area that evening and morning. Head into Big Sur by noon and explore. Stay in the park and then head down to the southern part of Big Sur onwards to Hearst Castle and stay the night. Continue onto LA the next day.

Thank you! These are great ideas. I only have two nights to get to LA, so I can't stop at all three of you suggestions (as much as I'd want to). Between Carmel and Big Sur, which would be a better option? I feel like Carmel would have more to do, but Big Sur is more beautiful? Or, am I off base?

When you say "stay in the park" - do you mean camp? Or rent a cabin or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All 3!

Stop over in Santa Cruz and spend a couple of hours then head down to Carmel for the night. Explore the area that evening and morning. Head into Big Sur by noon and explore. Stay in the park and then head down to the southern part of Big Sur onwards to Hearst Castle and stay the night. Continue onto LA the next day.

Thank you! These are great ideas. I only have two nights to get to LA, so I can't stop at all three of you suggestions (as much as I'd want to). Between Carmel and Big Sur, which would be a better option? I feel like Carmel would have more to do, but Big Sur is more beautiful? Or, am I off base?

When you say "stay in the park" - do you mean camp? Or rent a cabin or something?

Oh, that definitely would change things.

Then I would drive to Monterey and check out the aquarium or to the nearby Asilomar State Beach and explore the beach area then stay the night in Carmel. Not a whole lot for kids to do in Carmel, the beach is pretty and just walking around the town and reading all the house names is kind of fun.

Head out early the next morning. Driving through Big Sur is not the easiest and some parts can get really narrow and winding so you want to be out of the park on the other end before dark. If you did decide to stay in the park there are a few lodges available so you don't have to camp.

We've only done this drive to Big Sur then turned around and headed to Yosemite, but if we had continued on we would have stayed in Cuyucos for one night and then head down to LA with pit stops in Santa Barbara and Malibu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All 3!

Stop over in Santa Cruz and spend a couple of hours then head down to Carmel for the night. Explore the area that evening and morning. Head into Big Sur by noon and explore. Stay in the park and then head down to the southern part of Big Sur onwards to Hearst Castle and stay the night. Continue onto LA the next day.

Thank you! These are great ideas. I only have two nights to get to LA, so I can't stop at all three of you suggestions (as much as I'd want to). Between Carmel and Big Sur, which would be a better option? I feel like Carmel would have more to do, but Big Sur is more beautiful? Or, am I off base?

When you say "stay in the park" - do you mean camp? Or rent a cabin or something?

Oh, that definitely would change things.

Then I would drive to Monterey and check out the aquarium or to the nearby Asilomar State Beach and explore the beach area then stay the night in Carmel. Not a whole lot for kids to do in Carmel, the beach is pretty and just walking around the town and reading all the house names is kind of fun.

Head out early the next morning. Driving through Big Sur is not the easiest and some parts can get really narrow and winding so you want to be out of the park on the other end before dark. If you did decide to stay in the park there are a few lodges available so you don't have to camp.

We've only done this drive to Big Sur then turned around and headed to Yosemite, but if we had continued on we would have stayed in Cuyucos for one night and then head down to LA with pit stops in Santa Barbara and Malibu.

I like these suggestions. We did the trip the other way and stayed in Cambria, not Cuyucos, for the night. And then saw Hearst Castle first thing the next morning, but your kids might be too young for that. Right around Cambria there's a stop with a walkway to see a beach full of elephant seals. Santa Barbara is a good lunch stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All 3!

Stop over in Santa Cruz and spend a couple of hours then head down to Carmel for the night. Explore the area that evening and morning. Head into Big Sur by noon and explore. Stay in the park and then head down to the southern part of Big Sur onwards to Hearst Castle and stay the night. Continue onto LA the next day.

Do this.

Also, whoever is afraide of heights needs to be the passenger and not the driver. I can't drive that route. My husband always has to.

[Anonymous]

If you only have two days, I would skip the aquarium in Monterrey. You have a great aquarium here in Baltimore.

I would focus on the things you cannot get here, mainly Big Sur, Cambria, Hearst Castle, dinner in Santa Barbara, maybe a mission.

Monterrey is okay but really overrated compared to the natural beauty of northern CA

If you have a healthy budget there are some amazing inns along the PC hwy right over the ocean. Big Sur also has yurts overlooking the coast which might be fun for the kids if you can get one.

[Anonymous]

Point Lobos is a gorgeous place to go hiking-and you'll see lots of wildlife. http://www.pointlobos.org It is very close to Carmel.