Author Topic: California Coast PCH Master Thread (Read 163803 times)

whYME · « **on:** June 13, 2008, 09:04:30 PM »

this time it's a real question, I've never really done this before

I'm thinking of driving up the coast from LA to SF.

what are the "must sees"?

All I know is that the Big Sur area is supposed to be beautiful and I have no interest in going to hearst castle.

E · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2008, 01:09:41 AM »

my favorites of the trip were, 17-mile in drive pebble beach , saw the redwoods at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540, and Santa Barbara was gorgeous , i personally thought hearst castle was a waste of money, and time

Dan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2008, 01:32:20 AM »

Never did this trip, but as I foodie I have to say don't miss Tierra Sur in the Herzog winery in Oxnard.
And don't forget to pick up a $100 GC + free wine tasting for 2 at Costco for $80.

whYME · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2008, 02:27:57 AM »

I think I forgot one issue, anything I do needs to be little-kid friendly...

Quote from: E on June 15, 2008, 01:09:41 AM

my favorites of the trip were, 17-mile in drive pebble beach , saw the redwoods at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=540, and Santa Barbara was gorgeous , i personally thought hearst castle was a waste of money, and time

I definitely intend to do the 17 mile drive.

Is there anything in particular you recommend in S. Barbara?

I've already seen giant redwoods at Yosemite, do you think there's still a good reason for me to go to Big Basin?

Quote from: Dan on June 15, 2008, 01:32:20 AM

Never did this trip, but as I foodie I have to say don't miss Tierra Sur in the Herzog winery in Oxnard.
And don't forget to pick up a $100 GC + free wine tasting for 2 at Costco for $80.

Doesn't look particularly kid-friendly...
other than that it looks pretty good, I'll have to consider it for lunch.

moish · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2008, 03:14:06 AM »

Quote from: Dan on June 15, 2008, 01:32:20 AM

Never did this trip, but as I foodie I have to say don't miss Tierra Sur in the Herzog winery in Oxnard.
And don't forget to pick up a $100 GC + free wine tasting for 2 at Costco for $80.

did you like that restaurant? i personally didnt think it was that great

Dan · « **Reply #5 on:** June 15, 2008, 10:35:57 AM »

Quote from: moish on June 15, 2008, 03:14:06 AM

did you like that restaurant? i personally didnt think it was that great

It's definitely not your typical kosher restaurant, and their entire menu changes very frequently, but I thought the food had very unique flavors and was excellent.

The desserts on the other hand were entirely unremarkable.

Mordy · « **Reply #6 on:** June 15, 2008, 09:28:38 PM »

ya know... I did this drive once, and I gotta say passing through wine country and in-and-over mountains was very pretty, and the sights while driving were an attraction all their own- I didn't even feel the need to stop and do anything!
Problem is, with kids you're gonna have to make frequent stops, and you'll probably find a portion of your trip will be in the middle of nowhere, with the road you're driving on the only sign of civilization (I felt like I was in a Road Runner cartoon... literally barren land in all directions, and just this 2-lane road in front of me). It was creepy... then you pass some mountains, and suddenly there's people again.

We did stop to eat our bagged lunches at a place called Casa de Fruita, which is a cute little place with some markets and stuff. Also driving through Gilroy with the windows down was an experience of itself. There's isn't much Kosher food, let alone civilization along much of this route, so prepare yourself before you go!

E · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2008, 12:00:48 AM »

Quote

Is there anything in particular you recommend in S. Barbara?

i didnt really do much there is a nice boardwalk though

Quote

I've already seen giant redwoods at Yosemite, do you think there's still a good reason for me to go to Big Basin?

no not really i went because ive never seen redwoods its really just a 10 min walk ,where you get to see the redwoods.

ash · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2008, 02:55:29 PM »

there is white river rafting not far from squoia
and there is also a six flags up by sf that has like three parks in one

coralsnake · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2008, 05:06:11 PM »

Quote from: Dan on June 15, 2008, 01:32:20 AM

Never did this trip, but as I foodie I have to say don't miss Tierra Sur in the Herzog winery in Oxnard.
And don't forget to pick up a $100 GC + free wine tasting for 2 at Costco for $80.

That is definitely one of the best restaurants that I have ever been to.

levi · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2008, 01:32:04 AM »

I have done this drive a couple of years back it is truly amazing, just make sure you have a convertible for the drive it is well worth it

whYME · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2008, 02:59:06 AM »

oh well, after all that I didn't manage to fit this trip in...
*sighs*

maybe next time...

Crown Street · « **Reply #12 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:58:44 AM »

Anybody know of a nice place to stop for the night on the way down from San Francisco to LA? And where is the best place to bail out of the PCH and onto the highway (i want to do a few hours of the PCH, but not go the whole way)

steve2 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 20, 2010, 09:07:36 AM »

Quote from: Crown Street on August 20, 2010, 01:58:44 AM

Anybody know of a nice place to stop for the night on the way down from San Francisco to LA? And where is the best place to bail out of the PCH and onto the highway (i want to do a few hours of the PCH, but not go the whole way)

no question,IMO the drive down is 100 times nicer then the drive up as you arte driving closer to the edge = get to see everything. While driving North you dont end up seeing much

When to cut out is a hard answer, by Santa Maria you can catch the 166 but its not straight across to the I-5 and its apx 100 miles. Or just grab the 101 from south of SM and take that all the way in as by then I dont think it pays to drive over to the I-5 any longer

The only other road I can think of is the 46 by Cambria signs will probably say Paso Robles on them which is South of Hearst Castle again apx 100 miles to drive to hit the I-5 and again is not a straight drive across. There are mts in between the PCH & I-5 so not many connecting roads.

steve2 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2010, 09:09:51 AM »

Quote from: Mordy on June 15, 2008, 09:28:38 PM

ya know... I did this drive once, and I gotta say passing through wine country and in-and-over mountains was very pretty, and the sights while driving were an attraction all their own- I didn't even feel the need to stop and do anything!
Problem is, with kids you're gonna have to make frequent stops, and you'll probably find a portion of your trip will be in the middle of nowhere, with the road you're driving on the only sign of civilization (I felt like I was in a Road Runner cartoon... literally barren land in all directions, and just this 2-lane road in front of me). It was creepy... then you pass some mountains, and suddenly there's people again.

We did stop to eat our bagged lunches at a place called Casa de Fruita, which is a cute little place with some markets and stuff. Also driving through Gilroy with the windows down was an experience of itself. There's isn't much Kosher food, let alone civilization along much of this route, so prepare yourself before you go!

Wine Country? south of SF, Napa is North of SF. It also sounds that you didnt drive the PCH but the 101 the whole way, what a Waste you missed the whole purpose of driving SF-LA

Dan · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:05:02 PM »

For those keeping score at home...
SFO-LAX via I5
SFO-LAX via 101
SFO-LAX via PCH
SFO-LAX via PCH and 101
SFO-LAX via PCH, 46, and I5
It would be pointless to switch over from the PCH to the I5 via 166 once you hit Santa Maria. Just take the 101 and stop at Tierra Sur in the Herzog Winery

Dan · « **Reply #16 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:11:41 PM »

For anyone doing the drive...pick up the Lonely Planet book on Coastal California which looks to be very good.

steve2 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:22:11 PM »

Quote from: Dan on August 20, 2010, 01:05:02 PM

For those keeping score at home...
SFO-LAX via I5
SFO-LAX via 101
SFO-LAX via PCH
SFO-LAX via PCH and 101
SFO-LAX via PCH, 46, and I5
It would be pointless to switch over from the PCH to the I5 via 166 once you hit Santa Maria. Just take the 101 and stop at Tierra Sur in the Herzog Winery

well he said he didnt want to stay on the PCH the whole way so I simply offered what was probably the 2 best choices to make

and really the best part of the PCH is North of Cambria where it goes up the mts rather then sea level then again after teh exit for Solvang it gets into the Santa Ynez Mts till after SB

Ive driven most of the roads between the PCH or 101 and I-5 and prefer driving with the PCH to the 101 , the roads connecting the 101 & I-5 are hit or miss when it comes to it not being a boring drive perse which the 101 after Venture more or less is itself

whYME · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2010, 10:24:03 PM »

Quote from: Crown Street on August 20, 2010, 01:58:44 AM

Anybody know of a nice place to stop for the night on the way down from San Francisco to LA? And where is the best place to bail out of the PCH and onto the highway (i want to do a few hours of the PCH, but not go the whole way)

You want a nice place? try the Post Ranch inn I hear it's kinda nice -although it may be *a bit* out of your budget...

I'm with Steve2, If you do want to cut across to I5, Paso Robles is the place to do it. There's really nothing between San Lois Obispo and L.A.

Dan · « **Reply #19 on:** February 27, 2011, 02:37:08 PM »

So the Fairmont deal has me thinking of a trip to SFO, and then a drive on the PCH down to LA.

Just how much time to people usually take to drive the PCH. I know google says 8 hours, but how much time does it really take including seeing the sights?

Is it worth spending a night along the way? Any SPG/Hyatt along the way?

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Author Topic: California Coast PCH Master Thread (Read 163803 times)

levi