LA to SF

DArcy

Hi,

Anyone have any experience driving along the west coast of the U.S., from LA up to San Francisco? It's not driving directions I'm after. Would appreciate some advise as to what attractions lie between the two locations, which ones are worth checking out, etc. Taking the main route to SF from LA isn't really an issue. Would prefer to take a bit of time & see a few sights along the way, even if it means it takes longer to get to San Fran.

Thanks in advance!

Jivin Turkey

Im just off the phone to my GF who is doing the same. They were in Santa Barbara and she said it was gorgeous.

cerebus

DArcy wrote:

Hi,

Taking the main route to SF from LA isn't really an issue. Would prefer to take a bit of time & see a few sights along the way, even if it means it takes longer to get to San Fran.

Thanks in advance!

Think about driving the Pacific Coast Highway rather than I5 or the 101. Takes a lot longer, but well worth it. Some spectacular scenery.

Monterey is well worth a visit. Lots of things to see, including a great aquarium.

Kirk, JT (Capt)

17 mile drive (hard not to look - pretty scenery and gophers everywhere) Monterey (nice beach) & Carmel (Clint Eastwood - pretty town) for definite

Kirk, JT (Capt)

Try these:

http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/
http://www.monterey.com/mc2/mc2.html
http://www.monterey-carmel.com/

iMax

As previously stated, Carmel, Monteray, Santa Barbara (all worth an overnight), Hearst Castle (off the road), 17 mile drive. It's spectacular scenary but eventually it's a total pain in the ass to be driving (hair pin turns etc.) Watch out for the "turn out"s in the road.

idontknowmyname

The Pacific Coast Highway is the 101- I used to live just off it.

The 101 is prob the best in terms of scenary- Santa Barbara, Monteray, Big Suir, it's fab. I'd recommend stopping in Ventura- It's under an hours drive north of Malibu, nice beach there.

The I5 all you'll see are some oil fields and you'll drive parallel to the San Andreas Fault for a while before you get into the San Fernando Valley

cerebus

idontknowmyname wrote:

The Pacific Coast Highway is the 101- I used to live just off it.

My apologies, I always figured the old US Route 1 was part of the route when talking about the PCH - not the 101 once you got a little bit north of Santa Barbara. The road that winds along right beside the sea.

Take a look at this to see what I mean

Enii

Fantastic restaurant at the BIg Sur - Ragged Point Inn. Quality food , way nicer than ythe usual american cr%p.

ROVER

Check out Yosemite National Park

Thomond Pk

Hearst Castle is a must he spent 2 decades ransacking important architectural features from the great houses and castles of Europe to put it together.