Since you will be so close, I really think it would be worth a 3 mile detour off 101 to visit the Danish town of Solvang. Yes, it's touristy, but it's also fun, interesting, and lots of really good food. Just outside of Solvang in a little town of Ballard is the Ballard Inn. This is one of the best restaurants in the entire area. Try to have dinner there.

www.ballardinn.com

And while you are at it, I would suggest an alternate route between Solvang and Santa Barbara. Take Hwy 246 east out of Solvang and then follow highway 154 over San Marcos Pass pass Lake Cachuma into Santa Barbara. Along the way stop for lunch at the Cold Spring Tavern on Stagecoach Road.

www.coldspringtavern.com

This whole area around Solvang, Los Olivos, and Santa Ynez is fantastic wine country. You may remember that it was featured in the move "Sideways." There are some terrific wine shops in Los Olivos.

I would also recommend a stop in Santa Barbara. Personally, I think this is a much more interesting city than many of the places further south that have been mentioned above. And again, as you are interested in good restaurants, Santa Barbara has a number of excellent ones.

By the way, don't look for signs saying PCH or Pacific Coast Highway anywhere in central or northern California. Hwy 1 is only called that in southern California.