Calling all Californians

[Atrail]

Planning a honeymoon trip flying into San Fran on Nov 19. Fly home the 25th evening from LAX possibly.
I don't want everything too planned out but wanted ask for advice/recommendations on spots
to hit traveling down the 1/101 towards LA. Restaurants, beach spots, some worth while tourist or not so tourist places to visit. Preferably with some romantic inclination, beauty. She has never been to California. I have been to So Cal San Diego area. We are not wine drinkers so the Sonoma thing is not of too much interest us.

Thanks for any advice/recommendations!

 

[Todd33]

Carmel, Monterey, Santa Barbara are all nice places.

 

[dirtboy]

Places to avoid: Fresno, Delano, Bakersfield... in that order.

Look on a map and where you see a coastal town & a freeway, you'll find some nice stuff.

 

[MadPeriot]

Def stop by Carmel. Theres a breakfast resturant called Kate's which is awesome but always packed. You can book a room at Best Western and stroll down to the beach. Used to go there with my ex all the time.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Santa Cruz, Monterey, SLO

All very nice places.

 

[jamesave]

one day in san fran:
pier 39/fisherman wharfs, sausalito, legion of honor

in monterey: 17 mile drive and cannery row. could go to the aquarium as well (about 2-3 hours in the aquarium). also carmel-by-the-sea.

 

[jamesave]

oh, and congrats!

 

[kalster]

cambria near SLO is pretty nice too

 

[AmerDoux]

On your way down Hwy 101, San Luis Obispo, try the Madonna Inn

 

[palswim]

Try Albertacos or Filibertos in Vista.

Just kidding; doesn't sound like you'll be making it down to S.D. anyway.

 

[macwinlin]

Morro Bay, which is in the same area as Cambria and SLO, also seems like a good place for you and your wife.

Maybe Malibu if you make it all the way down to the L.A. area? I don't know how good it would be since I've never been there.

 

[Atrail]

Originally posted by: AmerDoux
On your way down Hwy 101, San Luis Obispo, try the Madonna Inn

That looks nice! ty

She would like to make it down to San Diego so we may, not sure if we have enough time tho. We shall see.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Atrail

Originally posted by: AmerDoux
On your way down Hwy 101, San Luis Obispo, try the Madonna Inn

That looks nice! ty

She would like to make it down to San Diego so we may, not sure if we have enough time tho. We shall see.

SD > rest of CA

 

[Rumpltzer]

I'll warn you against Hearst Castle and Solvang. Waste of time, don't bother.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Beautiful coastline, probably one of the most beautiful in the country. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Atrail]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
I'll warn you against Hearst Castle and Solvang. Waste of time, don't bother.

Thanks i was looking at the Castle..

 

[fs5]

pretty much everything south of monterey area and north of santa barbara is worthless.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: Rumpltzer
I'll warn you against Hearst Castle and Solvang. Waste of time, don't bother.

I'll agree with you, but Solvang is about five mins from the 101.

Morro Bay and Pismo Beach are very nice areas as well.

 

[Kaieye]

Ollallieberry pies at Linn's restaurant and bakery in Cambria. McClintocks in SLO for steak(arrive hungry!). Someone said SLO and Solvang already. But I would visit Hearst Castle if you have the time...

 

[habib89]

if you guys want some good mexican food, san jose has some good places.. a place called la victoria is a little taqueria.. it's on like.. first and san fernando.. maybe.... should be able to find it on the internet, if not, pm me, i'll give you directions.. also some good vietnamese joints down there too.. but i dunno their names.. there's the tech museum in san jose too.. it's kinda cool.. more of a kids exploratory museum, but it's fun.. it's got cool imax movies..

umm.. other than that, san francisco is nice.. try to find your way up twin peaks and you'll get a nice view a night of the city... a short drive across the golden gate bridge (which you must check out) and you'll be in gorgeous marin.. if you like to hike, there's some great scenic trails... maybe a walk through golden gate park? there's a botanical gardens and other various things to do there... different museums.. art go to de young or legion of honor... another fun hand's on type museum is the exploratorium.. i love that place, but again, more of a kids museum... there's good food all over the place in sf... chinese, mexican, mediterranian, italian, whatever you want...

if you want more indepth details on anything, just let me know.. i know sf and sj pretty well...

oh.. shameless plug, in the east bay, there's a city called san ramon.. my uncle has a restaurant there (see sig)... it's freakin awesome! but if you dont' want to go that far, his dad also owns a restaurant in san francisco that has really good chinese food too.. i can give you more details on that if you're interested...

anyway, congrats, and have fun!

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Well, just west of Sonoma is Bodega Bay and some amazing coastline skirted by giant Redwoods. Probably a 3 hour drive from SF though.

I'd drive up to Bodega Bay (relax). Then back to SF (cable cars, fishermans wharf, etc). Then to Monterey (aquarium, cannery row). Then Santa Barbara (relax). Then San Diego (Sea world), then LA (Disneyland, medieval Times, Universal Studios, whatever).

 

[flavio]

My GF and I just took a road trip from Oakland down Highway 1 to San Louis Obispo/Pismo Beach, on to San Diego and Tijuana for a few days and then stopped in LA on the way back.

I recommend renting some ATVs and riding through the huge sand dunes at Pismo Beach. We did that for 4 hours one day and there's nothing like it.

 

[kalster]

Originally posted by: flavio
My GF and I just took a road trip from Oakland down Highway 1 to San Louis Obispo/Pismo Beach, on to San Diego and Tijuana for a few days and then stopped in LA on the way back.

I recommend renting some ATVs and riding through the huge sand dunes at Pismo Beach. We did that for 4 hours one day and there's nothing like it.

how much does it cost to rent atv's?

 

[NaOH]

You need to take her to the Equinox in SF. It is a very nice (expensive) restaurant that is at the top of the Hilton. It revolves in a circle and you can have a view of the bay. Really niiice. Trust me.

 

[flavio]

Originally posted by: kalster
how much does it cost to rent atv's?

Here's the prices from the place we went to.

I was on a Honda 250 EX and she had the Yamaha 125 Breeze.

Check out a couple pics of the dunes..

You can also take your vehicle right out on the beach and drive through the water there if you want