Jul 24, 2016, 10:53 pm
Last edit by: TWA884
Caltrans road conditions:
Big Sur visitors information on businesses and services currently open:
Big Sur visitors information on businesses and services currently open:
Pacific Coast Highway - CA Route 1 between SF & LA
Jun 19, 2014, 3:51 am
#91
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Can't wait! Santa Monica we will save for the end of our roadtrip since that is where we will spend our last night, after desert, canyons and Vegas.
Jun 19, 2014, 3:54 am
#92
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Take a restroom break at the Madonna Inn in SLO to check out their urinal.... don't Google it, it will ruin the surprise.
Hearst Castle, without a doubt. I would go as far as making reservations to make sure you get the time slot that fits your timeline.
If you want to take a slight detour onto the 101 near LA, visit Camarillo Premium Outlets to scratch your shopping itch (though I think Cabazon in Palm Springs is better).
I hope you're getting a convertible!
Hearst Castle, without a doubt. I would go as far as making reservations to make sure you get the time slot that fits your timeline.
If you want to take a slight detour onto the 101 near LA, visit Camarillo Premium Outlets to scratch your shopping itch (though I think Cabazon in Palm Springs is better).
I hope you're getting a convertible!
We have seen loads of castles in Europe. Is this one so unique that we should spend time there taking that into consideration (someone else said not to stop since it would take lots of time).
Shopping sounds interesting, but I think we might save that for Palm Springs as we have more time there.
We have not rented a convertible since it might be too cold around SF at the time of year we are there (July) and too hot in the desert plus we want sufficient space for luggage and three persons for three weeks.
Jun 19, 2014, 3:56 am
#93
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
Trip is July/August. As far as I understand, weather will vary considerable between pretty cold in SF/Carmel and extremely hot in Scottsdale/Sedona, Gran Canyon/Vegas. Will have a hard time packing, I guess.
Jun 19, 2014, 4:26 am
#94
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Central California
Programs: Former UA Premex, now dirt
Posts: 6,531
During that time frame I would definitely recommend NOT renting a convertible. In the height of summer, sun and wind burn can be brutal, especially driving for hours across the desert and along the central coast.
Jun 19, 2014, 4:32 am
#95
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: QLA
Programs: SBUX Gold
Posts: 14,507
Having a hard time not googling. Is the female washroom equally "interesting" or is this just something for my husband and son?
We have seen loads of castles in Europe. Is this one so unique that we should spend time there taking that into consideration (someone else said not to stop since it would take lots of time).
Shopping sounds interesting, but I think we might save that for Palm Springs as we have more time there.
We have not rented a convertible since it might be too cold around SF at the time of year we are there (July) and too hot in the desert plus we want sufficient space for luggage and three persons for three weeks.
We have seen loads of castles in Europe. Is this one so unique that we should spend time there taking that into consideration (someone else said not to stop since it would take lots of time).
Shopping sounds interesting, but I think we might save that for Palm Springs as we have more time there.
We have not rented a convertible since it might be too cold around SF at the time of year we are there (July) and too hot in the desert plus we want sufficient space for luggage and three persons for three weeks.
Hearst Castle isn't exactly a castle, it's just a HUGE mansion/estate on a big plot of land... with animals roaming free... and an airstrip... I think it's worth a stop to take the main tour (they offer several) and walk around. Allocating 2-3 hours should be enough for "just a taste."
Convertible definitely won't work for 3 people + luggage. Perhaps then a small or mid-size SUV, so that you have some height above the road to see things more easily. Look for a sunroof too! (I quite enjoyed the Ford Flex with the panoramic sunroof)
Jun 22, 2014, 2:35 pm
#98
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
One more question today: If we want to make a stop between Santa Barbara and LA to have brunch or lunch, where would you recommend. I was thinking of a Malibu beach club kind of place (if there is something like that). Any ideas?
Jun 22, 2014, 3:08 pm
#99
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: PHX
Programs: UA *Alliance
Posts: 5,612
Neptunes Net at the county line with Ventura County.
http://neptunesnet.com/
Personally I'd wait to get further South to the Pepperdine area. Lots of choices around the Malibu Civic center if you have peoplem with disparate tastes.
http://neptunesnet.com/
Personally I'd wait to get further South to the Pepperdine area. Lots of choices around the Malibu Civic center if you have peoplem with disparate tastes.
Jun 23, 2014, 5:18 pm
#100
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
Only in southern California. Around Big Sur and north, it is indeed referred to as Highway 1. No one I know up here calls it PCH.
Jun 24, 2014, 1:30 am
#101
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
I love Hearst castle, not because it is a good example of a castle (it isn't) but because of what it says about its late owner. The guides like to call Hearst's taste "eclectic," but that term used this way it is mainly a synonym for "awful." No architectural unity to the contents, incredibly valuable stuff and crap both displayed equally expansively, marvelous stories about how Hearst ran the place, etc. Well worth a tour IMO, if the one recommended for first time visitors has too long a wait, take whatever is available, you'll still get the idea.
Jun 24, 2014, 6:06 am
#102
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London/Glasgow
Posts: 18
We did this trip in a similar time scale as you last month, and stopped at Ragged Point Inn for a night between Big Sur and Santa Barbara. I'd recommend, the food was good and the views were spectacular. Don't try the trail down to the beach though, we had to give up half way and we are pretty fit.
Jun 24, 2014, 7:44 am
#104
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
I love Hearst castle, not because it is a good example of a castle (it isn't) but because of what it says about its late owner. The guides like to call Hearst's taste "eclectic," but that term used this way it is mainly a synonym for "awful." No architectural unity to the contents, incredibly valuable stuff and crap both displayed equally expansively, marvelous stories about how Hearst ran the place, etc. Well worth a tour IMO, if the one recommended for first time visitors has too long a wait, take whatever is available, you'll still get the idea.
Jun 24, 2014, 7:45 am
#105
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: OSL
Posts: 2,145
We did this trip in a similar time scale as you last month, and stopped at Ragged Point Inn for a night between Big Sur and Santa Barbara. I'd recommend, the food was good and the views were spectacular. Don't try the trail down to the beach though, we had to give up half way and we are pretty fit.