Topic Wiki

Cities are listed from north to south starting with Santa Cruz, ending with before San Louis Obispo. For San Jose and anywhere north, click here. For Santa Barbara and anywhere south click here.
Activities

Santa Cruz area

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Monterey area

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Cannery Row

Pebble Beach, CA (golfing)

17-Mile Drive Waste of time and money IMO. Views are lackluster at best- UshDadude

Pacific Grove, CA (Butterfly capital of the world)

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

Carmel-By-The-Sea

Big Sur area

Bixby Bridge

Point Sur (Sea Otters)

San Simeon area

Hearst Castle

Cambria, CA

San Lois Obispo (SLO) area

Moro Bay State Park

Pismo Beach

Solvang, CA

Restaurants

None officially, with the following exception:

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Pismo Beach, CA is considered a Southern California store. This means all the food is kosher. There are no other Coffee Bean Stores between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Shuls

Chabad by the Sea (Santa Cruz)

Chabad of Monterey

Chabad of Carmel Valley

Chabad of SLO
« Last edited by ushdadude on July 28, 2015, 05:11:47 PM »

Author Topic: California Coast PCH Master Thread  (Read 146871 times)

Offline ushdadude

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #160 on: March 12, 2015, 04:58:34 PM »
Thinking about going with the fam to west coast for first time in june, would stay in SF for 3 nights, stop in palo alto for bagels and then drive down the cali coast (thx to this great thread) to oxnard, and then on to san diego.

As a general question as to the whole SF/LA California area and drive down, hard to tell where its most worth it to spend more time (only got 8 days to pack it all in). seems like i need 3 for san fran area since anyway i have a free room at the Sir Francis Drake that i must use (also will go up to Muir woods with my 8, 6 and 1 year old), then a day to do the drive down. 

1) other than the piece from santa cruz to Monterey, are there other specific parts of the 1 that are worth it and we should take in, or do we really need to go on the 1 the whole way for the experience (note we will need a van with the kids, who dont like wind in their faces).

2)  Basic time spent: do i spend more time in LA/Palm Springs/San Diego/Del mar with my young kids? thinking lots of pool/beach time (i have a couple nights free at the Hilton in Del mar thats nice enough so will prob chill a bit around there) and maybe a few small kid friendly hikes. also, food is always important for our trips, is there anything memorable in san diego area or do i need to focus on food in LA?

3) Attractions: want to do seaworld and prob legoland (my son loves that stuff, though im afraid overhyped). is Disneyland for one day worth it if we did disneyworld in Jan?

Once you drive through big sur you can leave the PCH imo

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #161 on: March 12, 2015, 05:24:29 PM »
Once you drive through big sur you can leave the PCH imo
That may be true, but it's easier said than done. You're pretty much stuck on PCH until San Luis Obispo. Besides, many people like stopping in San Simeon to see Hearst Castle.

Offline ushdadude

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #162 on: March 12, 2015, 05:32:19 PM »
That may be true, but it's easier said than done. You're pretty much stuck on PCH until San Luis Obispo. Besides, many people like stopping in San Simeon to see Hearst Castle.

i guess. if I did it again, i would drive through big sur and then turn around back to monteray so i can catch the 101

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #163 on: March 12, 2015, 05:41:33 PM »
i guess. if I did it again, i would drive through big sur and then turn around back to monteray so i can catch the 101
That seems like a waste of time, but if you're super pressed for time and want to same 20 minutes and feel like you're moving faster it could be worth it.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #164 on: March 12, 2015, 06:15:13 PM »
thx, that may depend also on traffic reports, and antsy kids. anyone think Hearst Castle is worth the money (25/12 kids) and a stop with a 6 and 8 year old or just boring to them? some zebras arent enough in my mind.

Offline Yehoshua

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #165 on: March 12, 2015, 06:16:30 PM »
thx, that may depend also on traffic reports, and antsy kids. anyone think Hearst Castle is worth the money (25/12 kids) and a stop with a 6 and 8 year old or just boring to them? some zebras arent enough in my mind.
It kinda looks like Hogwarts, but that may be a bigger draw for you than them  ;). Also, there's not really any traffic on PCH between Monterrey and SLO.

Offline Ergel

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #166 on: March 13, 2015, 02:05:23 PM »
You plan on doing the whole PCH in a single day with three kids?
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Offline shiframeir

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #167 on: March 15, 2015, 04:50:37 AM »
You plan on doing the whole PCH in a single day with three kids?
what im a bit scared of... what do u think? only have like 8 days total, and 3 nights in SF is non-negotiable, plus was hoping to use 2 free nights i have in San Diego.
u think 3 kids one day (and somehow dinner at oxnard with them) is crazy? was gonna leave sf at 9ish, stop at izzys for bagels, stop at big sur and go back and take the 101 the rest of the way?

Offline jj1000

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #168 on: March 15, 2015, 05:09:24 AM »
Question is after driving the Great Ocean Rd will it still live up to its billing?
It's a nice drive in the mainland US. Not any better than driving around Hawaii though.
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Offline ushdadude

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #169 on: March 15, 2015, 09:53:14 AM »
what im a bit scared of... what do u think? only have like 8 days total, and 3 nights in SF is non-negotiable, plus was hoping to use 2 free nights i have in San Diego.
u think 3 kids one day (and somehow dinner at oxnard with them) is crazy? was gonna leave sf at 9ish, stop at izzys for bagels, stop at big sur and go back and take the 101 the rest of the way?

No way you're going to make dinner in oxnard

Offline globetrotter

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #170 on: May 18, 2015, 05:44:13 PM »
Planning a trip to CA in June, advice needed. Plan was fly to SF Tue, be there 1 night and leave to Yosemite in time for the next night. (we already booked a non refundable hotel right near the park for Wed night) See Yosemite on thursday and then drive down to LA for shabbos. I was kinda hoping there's a way for us to drive the PCH even if its so far back west. Any hope? A way to work around this? Thanx

Offline yls2011

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #171 on: May 18, 2015, 06:47:23 PM »
Planning a trip to CA in June, advice needed. Plan was fly to SF Tue, be there 1 night and leave to Yosemite in time for the next night. (we already booked a non refundable hotel right near the park for Wed night) See Yosemite on thursday and then drive down to LA for shabbos. I was kinda hoping there's a way for us to drive the PCH even if its so far back west. Any hope? A way to work around this? Thanx
No way to get around the extra time. You can get up really early and drive west towards the PCH and then head south, but you'll be essentially doubling your travel time.

Offline 12HRS

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #172 on: May 18, 2015, 08:58:53 PM »
yosemite in 1 day makes me so sad.

Offline mochada

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #173 on: May 19, 2015, 01:28:53 PM »
yosemite in 1 day makes me so sad.

+1
I used to spend a week at a time in Yosemite. You cannot even get a glimpse of it's beauty in one night.

Offline globetrotter

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #174 on: May 20, 2015, 05:11:49 PM »
Thanx for the replies, I gather we need to choose between driving the PCH and Yosemite  :-\
Were doing one night and the following day @ yosemite, but I agree its a short time

Offline Drago

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #175 on: May 21, 2015, 12:49:44 AM »
Thanx for the replies, I gather we need to choose between driving the PCH and Yosemite  :-\
Were doing one night and the following day @ yosemite, but I agree its a short time
If you only have a day or 2, just do PCH.
Do Yosemite when you have more time.

Offline shiframeir

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #176 on: May 21, 2015, 02:09:42 AM »
Any suggestions for best places (VALUEWISE) to stay for a night with 2 kids and a baby bw san fran and LA? was thinking some of the holiday inn suites or candlewood suites around san luis obispo/pismo beach. any experiences appreciated.

Offline thaber

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #177 on: May 21, 2015, 02:11:55 AM »
Any suggestions for best places (VALUEWISE) to stay for a night with 2 kids and a baby bw san fran and LA? was thinking some of the holiday inn suites or candlewood suites around san luis obispo/pismo beach. any experiences appreciated.
check out the country inns and suites. I've had some really good experiences and rates there. Also Hyatt place, with two adjoining rooms (even without, they're real big).
« Last Edit: May 21, 2015, 02:15:25 AM by thaber »

Offline wonderlust

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #178 on: May 29, 2015, 04:22:44 AM »
Thinking of going from la to Yosemite from sat night till Tuesday (mid-day flight out of la). Where Usa good place to stay near the valley? Anyone know About the westin mamouth lake ? Is it worth going to? Is there what to do in that area as well ?

Offline wonderlust

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Re: California Coast PCH Master Thread
« Reply #179 on: May 29, 2015, 04:25:39 AM »
Planning a trip to CA in June, advice needed. Plan was fly to SF Tue, be there 1 night and leave to Yosemite in time for the next night. (we already booked a non refundable hotel right near the park for Wed night) See Yosemite on thursday and then drive down to LA for shabbos. I was kinda hoping there's a way for us to drive the PCH even if its so far back west. Any hope? A way to work around this? Thanx
Where are you staying in Yosemite ?