Pacific coast Highway

[periodr3]

I will be in Cali end of the month and plan to drive from LA to San fran in a b***hing rented Mini Van with wife, mother-in-law and 4 year old any suggestions. Self inflicted wound not acceptable advice, reasonable maybe.

[slodave]

Monterey, Cambria, Avila... Ah screw it, stop at every coastal city...

PCH is a slow drive, so the minivan was a good choice.

EDIT: Morro Bay and MB state park

[Hugh R]

The view is great, if you want to get from LA to SF as quick as possible, take the freeway.

[varmint]

lucia lodge.

expensive little cottages immediately overlooking a cliff. beautiful pacific scenery, or a quick way to end it all.

http://www.lucialodge.com/mall/c121/s14406/default1.htm


or take the mini van up over nacimiento.

[jyl]

How many days do you have? Have you taken these people on a long twisty drive before? How do you know someone won't be carsick and puking in the back seat?

PCH is long, twisty, and at minivan+grandma+toddler speeds it will probably take you 14+ hours to get from LA to SF, staring at the butt end of a RV the whole way.

The last time I did it was in a 5.0 Mustang, w/ plenty of power to squirt past the RVs, busting along at 80MPH whenever road was clear, and it still was a long day, I was bushed by the end.

If you plan an overnight stop in a pretty place then its okay. Starting from LA, I think overnighting at Cambria would be good.

http://www.seecambria.com/lodgingset.htm

The next day you can force-feed everyone Dramamine, do the twisty, cliffside part of PCH and, by the time you are getting tired of it, you can stop for dinner in Monterey or Pacific Grove, then have a last few hours on a decent freeway up to SF.

Bring a video player for the 4 y/o, they don't care about the view.

If you plan three days, then you're talking - now you have time to explore some very beautiful places and keep the daily "in-car" time reasonable.

[craigster59]

Lots to see on the 101, faster and a stop in Santa Barbara and then up to Monterey for the aquarium and everyones satisfied.

[vash]

honestly, HWY 1 gets old very very fast. i think you should hit the main highways, and shoot off at some good spots. like monterrey. if i rode in the passenger seat of a minivan on the twisties, i would blow chunks. then you get that vomit chain reaction...no thanks.

[Bill Douglas]

I say lucky you (well, maybe other than the mother in law).

[glewis80SC]

Originally Posted by vash

honestly, HWY 1 gets old very very fast. i think you should hit the main highways, and shoot off at some good spots. like monterrey. if i rode in the passenger seat of a minivan on the twisties, i would blow chunks. then you get that vomit chain reaction...no thanks.

+1...It is a great drive on a bike or just you and wife, but in a van full of kids it will get old FAST. 101 is a safer bet, still a nice drive but gets you to Monterey/Carmel then Frisco sooner.

[sammyg2]

Just make sure you go north and not south. The plant where I work is in PCH south of L.A., you don't want to go sight-seeing in Wilmington.

[red-beard]

Hearst Castle

[Seahawk]

I used to fly below the PCH, from Mugu to Monterey, 140kts, 20 feet above the waves, helo surfing.

It was good.

[stevepaa]

Leave LA around 7 am, take 101 up to Salinas and go West on Monterey Rd , go over to Carmel for lunch, drive up 1 from there to SF. good luck

[MotoSook]

My wife and I drove the opposite way (SF to LA) a few years ago in a rented Corrola or some other econ-box. Going south puts her on the ocean side. At no time did I feel I was driving 8/10ths or more, but sure protested a lot, sometimes screaming as if we were going to fall of the edge. LOL! She got a nice rock for her ring finger on that trip when I proposed at an overlook.

The drive is great if you are not in a hurry. Have done it twice. Monterrey pier...get breakfast at the resturant on the pier and watch the seals. Never did see Hearts Castle...not a huge draw for me. Had lunch at a hippie place in Big Sur. Was cool. People were nice inside and let us loiter in front of the fire place. Had lunch at the Whalers Cafe (or something like that)...kinda neat place, not much.

Carmel is nice...

Stop when possible and get out and stretch....I found there are places hidden if you go too fast...

Google Earth the route before you go..and see if there is anything interesting to stop and see. Do a Google Earth fly over...it's fun for the kids too.

[glewis80SC]

On one of our trips we went to Santa Cruz and road the Roaring Camp old steam train through the redwoods, really cool.


Sunset in Carmel

[periodr3]

I have three + days to get up the coast, Kid is a rock has close to 250,000 of travel miles (planes, trains & automobiles) under her belt. Wakes up asking where are we going today.

[chocolatelab]

dont mother in laws usually ride on the top

wish I had a pic from " vacation"

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by jyl

... How do you know someone won't be carsick and puking in the back seat?
...

- that's why he said RENTING a mini-van

[Rick Lee]

I did that trip on the bike in November. I got off the PCH in Santa Barbara and took 56 up to Atascadero and then to Morro Bay, where I got back on Hwy. 1 and took that all the way up.

[9dreizig]

Not route related but Alcatraz is a must see!!