# US trip: Land San Fran and drive to San Diego, or other way? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217 "2011-07-07T18:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/41 "2011-07-14T05:43:16Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I did this trip many times when I lived in NorCal and strongly recommend the suggestings to start/end a day in the Monterey Bay area - much more interesting than Santa Cruz. > > Stops along the way that I recommend are: > > 1. [Big Basin](http://www.bigbasin.org/) redwoods just outside Santa Cruz a compact little park you can explore in a hour or two. > 2. [Monterey Bay Aquarium](http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/) > 3. 17 Mile Drive between Pacific Grove/Carmel > 4. Carmel (but stay in this [place](http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/) in Pacific Grove - nothing like watching the sea otters frolic as you eat breakfast.) > 5. [Nepenthe](http://www.nepenthebigsur.com/) in Big Sur for lunch - great views. (assuming you take Rte 1) > 6. [Hearst Castle](http://www.hearstcastle.org/) (reserve ahead of time) > > By starting or ending in Carmel - you can break the most time consuming and picturesque part of the trip into a single day. I would think that Cambria/Morro Bay/San Luis Obispo would be a good southern terminus. > > Oh yeah, the last time I did this as a tourist from Seattle, I rented a Mustang convertible - that was a great choice. > > Note that in the summer, you can expect coastal fog much of the time. This is good. If you plan to spend a day in Monterey (and the Aquarium there is truly awesome), I recommend staying at this B&B: [http://www.jabberwockinn.com/](http://www.jabberwockinn.com/) It is within walking distance of the aquarium, the ocean, and Cannery Row, and the inkeepers are amazingly warm and friendly. The Alice In Wonderland theme is present but not overdone; breakfast is REALLY REALLY tasty; and they have a nightly hors d’oeuvres/cocktail/socialization hour at 5pm. Oh, and fresh-baked cookies at all hours. And decanters of brandy in the rooms. And a bocce ball court. And every room has Sleep Number Beds. And FOR THE LOVE OF GOD TRUST ME JUST GO THERE. Husband and I stayed there a few weeks back and it was one of the best trips we’ve had together. The price is comparable to a decent chain-hotel but the service and experience makes it an incredible value. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/42 "2011-07-14T05:56:25Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > The delta is possibility as a DAY TRIP from SF (as is Napa) but no one would consider it “on the way between the two” cities, if this wasn’t clear to the OP. Definitely. Sorry, I’m having a case of can’t communicate worth beans. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/43 "2011-07-14T17:56:10Z")
Another vote for driving south on PCH; it’s just so much easier to use the pull outs on the ocean side. Going north, you have to turn across traffic to get to the pull outs and then again to get back on the road. Whichever direction you decide on, give yourself plenty of time; there will likely be construction somewhere along the route, not to mention slow-moving RVs that can be impossible to pass. [Point Lobos](http://www.pointlobos.org/) has been mentioned, it’s a spectacular spot, but note that it has limited parking that can fill up quickly on the weekends. If you’re in to off-the-wall/Roadside America-kind of places, check out [Nitt Witt Ridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitt_Witt_Ridge) in Cambria. If you like lighthouses, [Point Sur](http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/pointsur.html) is worth making a reservation to go see. There are a whole bunch of State Park beaches scattered along the way. Parking is expensive, but the permit is good for access to any of them for the whole day. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/44 "2011-07-14T20:20:18Z")
One good compromise is to decide which parts of the coast you want to drive on, and take 101 for the rest. it is not that far from the coast - right at it south of Santa Barbara - goes right past the Madonna Inn, and is far more interesting than 5 and far easier than the PCH. When I go to Anaheim I take 5 down, stay with friends north of LA, and then take 101 back. ( **The** 101 south of Salinas. 🙂 ) One other place to visit is one of the Getty Museums. They are near the coast, north of LA, and free, but you have to reserve parking in advance. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/45 "2011-07-14T20:26:42Z")
So many of these places you’re suggesting look amazing, now I’m bummed out that we’re not going to be able to fit them all in! ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217/46 "2011-07-14T23:09:43Z")
As much as I love SF and have spent a ton of good times in SD, LA, & OC, I’ve also spent lots of time in-between and in way-up-there northern CA. You have to decide whether this trip will be about the two cities on each end with some nature thrown in, or about nature with the two cities thrown in. Either will make a great/memorable vacation. But unfortunately, you’re right. Two weeks sounds like plenty of time until you start planning. California is a big state. So, what are you going to do? 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-trip-land-san-fran-and-drive-to-san-diego-or-other-way/588217.md?page=2)