Los Angeles - San Francisco stop offs
 

Hi all,

My partner and I are planning to go on a 14/15 day road trip along the west coast in Feb 2015 between these three locations. We have narrowed down the 1 day stops to a few areas in particular and wanted some advice or general info on what these places were like as we need to choose between the following on the coast between la and sf:

Pismo beach/San Luis

Cambria/San Simeon/big sur

Carmel/Monterey bay/Santa cruz

We are a couple in our late twenties/early thirties who would like a mixture of all that ca has to offer :)

Be sure to stop at Ano Nuevo beach, between San Simeon and Monterrey. Seeing the elephant seals is definitely worth the stop.

Also, the Monterrey aquarium is incredible. Expensive (I think about $35) but worth every penny.

Go to Robin's restaurant at Cambria.
Lovely quaint place.

Also, visit the Moonstone beach on the way.
And do the luxurious looking 17-Mile Drive. Gorgeous.

The West Coast
 

Skyroads,


I don't know if you will be camping, using hotels/motels or hostels, but that may have an influence on your route choice.


I live in Santa Cruz, however, given a choice, the best choice for dramatic ocean views, natural beauty and a top rated twisty road would be southbound on Hwy 1 between Monterey and San Luis Obispo. There are some choices for accommodations on the middle route, but fewer in number and far more expensive than the sections to the north or south, unless you are camping.


It has been very dry so far this winter and some of the foliage is already in bloom with the unusually warm and dry conditions, but the lack of rain has limited the usual annual rain damage to Hwy 1 in the Big Sur area.


In the end, you cannot go wrong with any of the choices, but please note that Ano Nuevo and the elephant seals are located about 20 miles north of Santa Cruz, but there are other elephant seal pupping areas near San Simeon.


Good luck and ride safe,
Motoman