Best sightseeing along the Californian Coast?

Question

Where are the best places to visit along the Coastal highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles?

After a few days in San Francisco we are planing 1 night in Monterey, 1 night in San Simeon and then 1 night at Santa Barbara, with each day broken up with sightseeing, ending up with a few days in Anaheim. This looks like an evenly split journey any advice?

Two places I have been told of are Big Sur and Hearst Castle are these suitable highlights on the route?

Answer 1

Big Sur is beautiful. Most people really enjoy Hearst Castle. You need to book your tour well in advance.

If you enjoy wine tasting, there are some great wineries you can visit in Santa Cruz, Monterey, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara (most Santa Barbara wineries are actually around Solvang which is north of Santa Barbara). For information on these wineries go to: http://www.cheers2wine.com/central-coast-wine-tasting.html This site also has recommendations for lodging and restaurants.

Pismo Beach is a fun laid back beach town...must less crowded than the beaches in Southern California. Pismo is also known for the Pismo Dunes. You can rent 4 wheelers by the day or by the hour and ride the dunes. It is a blast! For more info go to: http://www.classiccalifornia.com/

The acquarium in Monterey is worth a visit. If you enjoy acquariums, it is a nice one. For more info check out their site: http://www.mbayaq.org/

The 17 Mile Drive is a beautiful drive with coastal views. Carmel (near Monterey) is a charming town with unique upscale shops. South of San Simeon, Cambria is a cute little town with interesting shops as well.

Have a great trip. I love California's Central Coast.

Answer 2

I hope you're just going to Anaheim for Disneyland and such, because otherwise its real ugly to look at. Monterey is great, especially the aquarium. If you have the time I'd reccomend stopping at any of the following places in Los Angeles.

1.) Venice Beach - Especially a Saturday - All the freaks are out there and its totally interesting, wierd, and fun.

2.) Long Beach - The Queen Mary or the Aquarium of the Pacific. Both of these places are great except the aquarium is way crowded on the weekend.

3.) Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade or Pier. Both of these places are world famous and often seen in movies.

By the way Big Sur and Hearst Castle are both also awesome places! The California Coastline is gorgeous and have fun!

Answer 3

Big Sur is a thinly-settled region of the central California coast where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean. This geology produces stunning views and has become a magnet for global tourism. Big Sur's Cone Peak is the highest coastal mountain in the lower 48 states, ascending nearly a mile (5,155 feet/1.6km) above sea level, only 3 miles (4.8 km) from the ocean.[1] Although Big Sur has no specific boundaries, many definitions of the area include the 90 miles (145km) of coastline between the Carmel River and San Carpoforo Creek, and extend about 20 miles (32km) inland to the eastern foothills of the Santa Lucias, while other sources limit the eastern border to the coastal flanks of these mountains, only 3 to 12 miles (4.8-19km) inland. The northern end of Big Sur is about 120 miles (193km) south of San Francisco, and the southern end is approximately 245 miles (394km) north of Los Angeles.
Hearst Castle was the palatial estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. It is located near San Simeon, California, on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Donated by the Hearst Corporation to the state of California in 1957, it is now a State Historical Monument and a National Historic Landmark, open for public tours. Hearst formally named the estate 'La Cuesta Encantada' ('The Enchanted Hill'), but he usually just called it 'the ranch'.

Answer 4

Looks like you've got a great itenerary planned. You'll find it hard NOT to have a good time. Since the others have answered in such detail...and I agree with them...the only comment I'll make is about your spending "one night in San Simeon." If you're headed there during the busy summer season, be aware that there aren't many hotels. Make your reservations in advance, or you might be out of luck!

Answer 5

In huge Sur. outstanding position. There´s a hotel contained in the Sylvia Pfeiffer state park it really is fantastically comfortable, awesome eating position, etc. It´s in effortless words some miles after Carmel so that you'll pass there for dinner etc. And when I stayed became round USD one hundred,00 or so. I went there 3 circumstances. I´ve travelled a lot in life and characteristic to allow you to comprehend, that highway is between the prettiest places Ive ever been.

Answer 6

Personally I liked Big Sur, beautiful place...