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 140477 times)

Offline LAXtraveler

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #20 on: February 27, 2011, 03:07:35 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?

Never actually done the trip but there are many things to do along the way: Monterey Bay, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Santa Barbara, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Oxnard (Herzog Winery).

Don't forget you can also do things like try to get a visit in to Google's Campus in Mountain View along with a trip to a restaurant there called The Kitchen Table (http://www.thekitchentablerestaurant.com/tkt/) which is supposed to be excellent (and has some nice specialty wines to boot apparently).

I believe there is a Hyatt in the Pebble Beach area, don't know of any SPG on that route.

That's all I can think of for now.

Offline Dan

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #21 on: February 27, 2011, 03:15:01 PM »
So there's:
-Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
-Hyatt Carmel Highlands - Overlooking Big Sur Coast

Problem is they're only 2 hours from SFO.
Is it worth breaking up the trip like that?
Anyone stay at either?
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Offline Bp

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2011, 04:18:00 PM »
Is oxnard to close to LA? there is a four point in oxnard

Offline Dan

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2011, 04:24:12 PM »
Is oxnard to close to LA? there is a four point in oxnard
Too close. 
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Offline Cholentfresser

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #24 on: February 27, 2011, 07:21:07 PM »
that four points near oxnard is really nothing special, I've stayed there in a suite...
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Offline whYME

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #25 on: February 27, 2011, 08:16:29 PM »
So there's:
-Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
-Hyatt Carmel Highlands - Overlooking Big Sur Coast

Problem is they're only 2 hours from SFO.
Is it worth breaking up the trip like that?
Anyone stay at either?
That's pretty much where you want to start your trip. (at least the coastal drive part.)
It might make sense to spend a night there depending on your schedule, this way you start out driving in the morning and you'll make it to LA that night

Offline E

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #26 on: February 27, 2011, 08:19:09 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?
I've done the drive 3 times, one of the nicest drives in the world I think the best amount of time is 2 days besides for time spent in San Francisco and LA.

Offline whYME

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #27 on: February 27, 2011, 08:21:56 PM »
I've done the drive 3 times, one of the nicest drives in the world I think the best amount of time is 2 days besides for time spent in San Francisco and LA.
how do you recommend those 2 days be spent?

Offline E

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #28 on: February 27, 2011, 08:29:51 PM »
how do you recommend those 2 days be spent?

from north to south or kind of. driving slow (or very fast) and just enjoying the view is really the main attraction but...

17-mile in drive pebble beach (tip to save the $9 entrance fee call a real estate broker and ask to be shown a house they will call the gate and make sure you are let in for free) , monterey (kayaking on the bay with the seals , silicon valley if you'r into that, see the redwoods at link driving on one of the highways near here was incredible fun ,seal beach, big sur (I camped there once for the night), Hearst castle, Santa Barbara  was gorgeous.

Offline whYME

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #29 on: March 02, 2011, 01:33:09 AM »
from north to south or kind of. driving slow (or very fast) and just enjoying the view is really the main attraction but...

17-mile in drive pebble beach (tip to save the $9 entrance fee call a real estate broker and ask to be shown a house they will call the gate and make sure you are let in for free) , monterey (kayaking on the bay with the seals , silicon valley if you'r into that, see the redwoods at link driving on one of the highways near here was incredible fun ,seal beach, big sur (I camped there once for the night), Hearst castle, Santa Barbara  was gorgeous.
So that's pretty much the same thing I said. spend a day doing things around (and/or north of) Monterey, spend a night there, then drive down the next day...

Offline whYME

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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #30 on: March 18, 2011, 01:08:24 AM »
So the Fairmont deal has me thinking of a trip to SFO, and then a drive on the PCH down to LA.
might be too late for that...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367404/Landslide-shuts-Californian-Highway-1-big-chunk-falls-sea.html
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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #31 on: January 02, 2012, 12:03:08 AM »
I know no one has spoken about this in a while, but I was looking over this thread and I wanted to add that I think the 17 mile drive in pebble beach is totally overrated. I wasted time there instead of fully appreciating the 1.

That's just if anyone was interested.

Offline jj1000

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Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #32 on: July 17, 2012, 03:49:41 AM »
I just bought a ticket to LA for 2 weeks through the awesome delta sale today.

Here's my question should I return from LA or sfo. Returning from san fran would mean doing a one way rental and driving up the coast. Is that worth doing alone or just a waste of time, energy, and gas? This is during october btw.

TIA for advice! I have 19 hours to make a decision.
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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #33 on: July 17, 2012, 03:51:15 AM »
Why dont you fly into SFO, drive down and fly out of LAX?

Offline jj1000

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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #34 on: July 17, 2012, 03:53:34 AM »
Why dont you fly into SFO, drive down and fly out of LAX?
difference being? Is the drive down better? I'll just be tired after a long flight... This way if I get bored of LA I can rent acar and head north when ever.
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #35 on: July 17, 2012, 03:59:06 AM »
difference being? Is the drive down better? I'll just be tired after a long flight... This way if I get bored of LA I can rent acar and head north when ever.
The drive down is nicer.

Though ye, if youre gonna be tired, may be worth going up.

Whichever way, get a convertible!

Offline jj1000

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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #36 on: July 17, 2012, 04:01:50 AM »
The drive down is nicer.

Though ye, if youre gonna be tired, may be worth going up.

Whichever way, get a convertible!
hhmmmmmm now I feel silly driving up its not like I'll do it again. I bet if I drive up like in australia it'll be as good. (assuming it's better going down because your next to the ocean, or an I missing something else? )
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Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #37 on: July 17, 2012, 04:11:44 AM »
hhmmmmmm now I feel silly driving up its not like I'll do it again. I bet if I drive up like in australia it'll be as good. (assuming it's better going down because your next to the ocean, or an I missing something else? )
Lol! I wouldnt try that.

If you really want to drive down, when you get bored of LA, hop on a plane to SFO for 4.5K BA and drive down.

This will also allow you to do it in middle of your trip if you want to and not limited to the last day.

Offline jj1000

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Re: Re: Los Angeles Master Thread
« Reply #38 on: July 17, 2012, 12:38:55 PM »
If you really want to drive down, when you get bored of LA, hop on a plane to SFO for 4.5K BA and drive down.

This will also allow you to do it in middle of your trip if you want to and not limited to the last day.
Thanks for the advice! This is what I'll do. :))
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Re: California Coast Master Thread
« Reply #39 on: July 17, 2012, 01:50:02 PM »
that four points near oxnard is really nothing special, I've stayed there in a suite...
Don't forget you can also do things like try to get a visit in to Google's Campus in Mountain View along with a trip to a restaurant there called The Kitchen Table (http://www.thekitchentablerestaurant.com/tkt/) which is supposed to be excellent (and has some nice specialty wines to boot apparently).


The Kitchen table is closed down. I would not suggest doing the drive with kids.