I am finally going to take the first road trip in the vette. I plan on going up PCH from LA to San Francisco?? Going out the end of September Tuesday through Friday/Saturday.
Does anybody have suggestions for places to stop along the way? I am looking for great photo opportunities and places to stop for the night. Thanks in advance.
I am finally going to take the first road trip in the vette. I plan on going up PCH from LA to San Francisco?? Going out the end of September Tuesday through Friday/Saturday.
Does anybody have suggestions for places to stop along the way? I am looking for great photo opportunities and places to stop for the night. Thanks in advance.
Gary
Morro Bay, Hurst Castle, Cayucas, Monterey, Cannery Row, 17 Mile Drive, and the list goes on. Thake plenty of film or media cards and batteries. That will be a great drive especially if you have time to stop and enjoy the scenery.
Before you take 17-mile drive to Monterey go into Carmel-by-the-Sea on Ocean Ave from PCH. Drive it down through the to San Antonio, rt at 8th ave, lft down by the ocean to a scenic meandering drive along the shore which eventually turns back 180 degrees toward town. All streets will send you back north and at any point you can turn left and go back down to San Antonio or go straight and end up back at Ocean Ave. Either way you want to get back on San Antonio and take it north of Ocean Ave to the entrance to 17 mile drive.
well if you take the 101 .. of course
definitely stop around moncetio .. there is a great little town .. i forget the name . but it over looks the freeway and the beach ... and they have a pretty decent pizza place .. i think its called Giovanni's
Thanks for the suggestions. I was also wanting suggestions on where to stop for the night.
Gary
I drove from San Diego to Cambria, just south of San Simeon/Hearst Castle and stayed at a motel right on the beach. Great little place, but I can't remember the name of it. There are alot of motels along there. We did a tour of Hearst Castle, then drove up thru Big Sur on PCH to Monterrey for lunch on Fishemans Wharf.
I have a great suggestion. This Inn is just 20 miles up the road from the castle. Check their web site. I've stayed there 6+ times. It's beautiful. Parking is Vette friendly (paved and spread out). Food at resturant is usually very good.
Location: Huntington Bch, CA The GOCC, rebels without a clue.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrt1
I have a great suggestion. This Inn is just 20 miles up the road from the castle. Check their web site. I've stayed there 6+ times. It's beautiful. Parking is Vette friendly (paved and spread out). Food at resturant is usually very good.
I've stayed there on several occasions as well. I'm sure if you try it, you'll like it. I've also stayed at the Best Western on the beach side before you get to Hearst. They have great fire pits, and a nice wine store next door that sells some good wine and cheese for those sunsets, if the marine layer lets you see one.
I've also stayed at the Best Western on the beach side before you get to Hearst. They have great fire pits, and a nice wine store next door that sells some good wine and cheese for those sunsets, if the marine layer lets you see one.
Don
I have stayed there often and highly recommend it. Consider making reservations wherever you decide, since during peak time the best places can fill up.
BTW: The lighthouse in my sig pic is just north of Hearst Castle.
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In the Malibu/PCH area, there are 3 little hidden beaches that just amaze me each time. Blink and you miss them tho.
El Matador, La Piedra, and El Pescador. They are quite secluded and require some hiking, but worth it.
Once you get thru Oxnard onto the 101, heading North past Ventura, I always enjoy taking the exit that says "state parks-beaches-solimar-faria" and spend a few nice moments with my girl on the beach there.
Santa Barbara area, exit on Cabrillo blvd. and you can cruise the coastal/beach blvd. there. To do some peoplewatching, hang a right on "State" st. The downtown area is nice. There are a bunch of little sidewalk cafes and restaurants there. Parking would be on a side street or a city parking garage on the backside of State st.
Might want to hang a right on "Mission" st. to check out the historic mission. It's a really nice area.
You could keep going North on the 101 via the coast and explore Jalama or you could take the scenic mountain/twisty road route. That is st. rt. 154. There are 2 scenic vista rest stops after you come down from the big bridge. The second one in the valley is really peaceful. Hardly anyone stops there and the view of the dam is calming.
The little Danish town of Solvang is on 246 which splinters off from 154. Real touristy and quaint(sp?). If you hang a left on "Alisal" it will take you thru a grove-like road with trees covering the road. Stop by Najoqui park/waterfall for a short hike/relaxation opportunity.
Federico's in Buellton has nice setting/Mexican food.
If you get hungry nearing Orcutt/Santa Maria/Nipomo, I recommend:
Orcutt, Clark exit, cornering at Bradley, "Chef Rick's" hidden behind the Orcutt burger.
SM, Hama Sato Japanese restaurant, exit "Betteravia" near Broadway, next to pier one store. Or steaks at "The hitching post" in Casmalia(keep going West on Betteravia 10 miles to the middle of nowhere).
Sushi at Atari-Ya on South Broadway behind Del Taco. or
California sushi & teriyaki (exit "Main" st off the 101, go to Miller-across from wells fargo bank)
Nipomo, Jocko's steaks exit "Teft" go right, go to the blinking traffic light 2 miles down, on the left corner. AWESOME steak sandwich there!
Better gas prices I find are usually at the AM/PM on Oxnard blvd. in Oxnard and on the corner of Donovan and Broadway in Santa Maria(exit Donovan, west 2 miles).
There is a krispy kreme in Oxnard on Rose.
Dorp me a line if I can be of further assistance for this area.
I'll let someone else add suggestions for North of Santa Maria.
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Last edited by pablocruise; 09-12-2005 at 06:41 PM.
Reason: spelling
Location: Huntington Bch, CA The GOCC, rebels without a clue.
Photo Ops above SLO
As you continue north on PCH above SLO and the Hearst Castle, you'll start climbing up and moving above the beach, so to speak. There are several state parks on the ocean side that you have to check out for photo ops, and one favorite of mine is this spot. This is not my current car but a good place to take a couple of pictures. Further north of here is Bixby bridge, it was a poplular place several years back for automotive manufacturers, but it takes a helicopter to get some good pictures.
Hearst Castle is a must if you've never been there. Their website says you need reservations, but don't bother. You can just show up and get in on the next tour, unless it's a holiday weekend. They have several tours, far more than you can do in a day, each 1-1/2+ hours. Allow a couple of hours at least -- Well worth it.
And there's a great restaurant just south of Big Sur -- Nepenthe Restaurant. It sits on a bluff over the ocean. Last time I was there we saw three Condors cruising up and over the bluff . . . Only about 50 feet away at times. Great views, good food, too.
And the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay is really nice . . . Beautiful setting . . . If you have the budget for it . . . Very pricey. Worth at least a stop for a drink at sunset if you can. Even the drinks are pricey. But the views and setting are worth it.
Hearst Castle is a must if you've never been there. Their website says you need reservations, but don't bother. You can just show up and get in on the next tour, unless it's a holiday weekend. They have several tours, far more than you can do in a day, each 1-1/2+ hours. Allow a couple of hours at least -- Well worth it.
And there's a great restaurant just south of Big Sur -- Nepenthe Restaurant. It sits on a bluff over the ocean. Last time I was there we saw three Condors cruising up and over the bluff . . . Only about 50 feet away at times. Great views, good food, too.
And the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay is really nice . . . Beautiful setting . . . If you have the budget for it . . . Very pricey. Worth at least a stop for a drink at sunset if you can. Even the drinks are pricey. But the views and setting are worth it.
Location: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Don't forget to stop by Montana De Oro (Los Osos) and Moonstone Beach (Cambria) in the evening. Dinner at FMclintock's in Pismo or San Luis Obispo.
Pfeiffer state park if you don't miss it, check out the closed beach. Don't bother with Pebble Beach, it's overrated. There's also some GREAT inland roads from PCH if you get sick of playing follow the leader with RVs. Check out wine country and backroads of Atascadero/Santa Margarita.
Further south, Jalama Bay is in the middle of nowhere west of SantaBarbara. The only thing accessible by car between S.B. and Pismo that's worth seeing. I think they have a burger stand there.
Corvette Store
PCH Road trip
in Oxnard on Rose.
