Aussie's on the WEST COAST (plus a few more places!)- travel advice please

[SIR70T]

Hi all

I will be visiting the USA with the family for 35 odd days from the 11th of December 2014 and are looking for some advice around in particular the Westcoast, but would be more than happy for any advice on anything in the trip.

Our trip is
11th of Dec to 13th of Dec - Washington (lots of things to do there )
13th of Dec to 23rd Dec - New York (millions of things to do)
24th of Dec to 26th Dec - Vegas / Grand Canyon
27th of Dec to 29th Dec - San Fran

this is the piece I'd like some suggestion

30th of Dec through to 1st of Jan 2015 3 days driving to San Fran to LA

Intend on leaving AM of the 30th and first night will be Cambria , then second night will be Pismo Beach , then we need to get to Disney.

So Im looking for suggestion Around Cambria and Pismo and anywhere on the way you would recommend.....

Family is me Shane 48 / Maureen 48 / Lucy 15 / Harry 12 and Mikey 4

Hearst Castle / Pebble Beach / and a few others but what are the must sees??
We will be in Pismo for New Years Eve ? - much to do there then ?

Owned a 1970 911 for many years (can check back on my posts) so love the pcars .

Once we are in LA

1st of Jan to 4th of Jan - Basically Disney / Universal etc etc
4th of Jan to 13th of jan Hawaii

So huge trip really looking forward to it !!!!!!

Advise away !

personal email is shane.rudd@nab.com.au if you would like to connect.

[Flieger]

It depends on what you like to do. Me, I like nature/hiking. But with the ages of your kids it sounds like this won't be of any use to you. But here goes anyway:

Certainly highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo is a beautiful drive with some stunning natural scenery. Point Lobos is very beautiful, but try to go after the morning fog has burned off. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park has some great views (particularly the beach/cove), further south I liked eating at Ragged Point. I went to school in San Luis Obispo. The town has a quaint downtown and Bishop Peak and the rest of the 9 Sisters are pretty, as is Montana de Oro. And the central coast has some nice driving roads, and SLO has a decent classic car scene, but nothing like what you can get in Monterey at the right time of the year, or in LA at some of the shows.

I haven't done Hearst Castle because to me it's just a big house that some rich guy built.

If any of you are into cars you could check and see if there's anything going on at Laguna Seca while you are up north.

[slodave]

Look me up. I'd be happy to show you guys around the L.A. area. There is a big Porsche drive on 1 Jan., but it starts early.... Probably not much happening in Pismo for NYE.

[look 171]

you are almost there just a little more then an house south of San Francisco. Canepa He's a little nuts with the p car as well. Might be worth your time, but don't know how your supreme commander and the rest of the troops will feel about it. I have never been but will make it up there when more time is available.

Must drive the 1 down, or knows to the rest of the world as Hwy 1. The mission is fun to see, but bored the heck out of my little ones.

Have you booked your hotel yet? Try and get the hotel that faces the ocean. there are a bunch of them there right off the little boardwalk. Wake up to the CA sunshine is really something.

Sound like you are trying to hurry down from SF to LA? Spend some time in Carmel and do the 17 mile drive and take a walk around downtown. Monterey is right next door also beautiful as well so its Santa Cruz. They are truly beautiful places.

LA traffic will screw your schedule, so get to Disney early or late to avoid traffic. Are you staying at the Disney Hotel?

[look 171]

Oh yeah, forgot about that drive. All the weirdo come out with their 911s, or Porsches in general as well as other cars so I hear. I haven't done it in the past 4-5 years. There will be no shortage of air cool cars that day.

Make it to CArs and Coffee in Irvine if it fits in your schedule. Let the troops sleep in and you will be back before they know it if you are going from Disney. Its only 15-20 minutes away. Well worth the trip IMO. it starts early, like 6:30 and done by 8am. YOu can catch up on your sleep while waiting in line in the park

[LakeCleElum]

Twins Peaks park in SF.....360 degree view....Worth the time to drive north over the Golden Gate, viewpoints on the north side and then up Hwy 1 to Muir Woods and Stimson Beach IMO

Remind you of Bondi Beach at home.

[Scott Douglas]

Highly recommend the Castle tour, especially if you can make one of the night tours they have around Christmas time. You will need reservations for one of those so check the web site.

[scottmandue]

Just got back from Cambria, one of our favorite places,
Our favorite restaurants:
Linn's Fruit Bin - Cambria California
Home - Robin's Restaurant

+1 on the castle tour

What are you going to do in Pismo? If you are not going to go out on the dunes not much else to do there, I prefer Morro Bay, they have a nice beach, lots of nice restaurants, kayak and boat rentals.

Do you like wine? Cambria has a fun wine tasting room, huge number of wineries on the central coast, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, etc.

[look 171]

I give Robbins two thumb up. My wife loves that place.

[scottmandue]

Kinda need to know more what you and your crew like to do and what kind of entertainment... hiking? Hanging out on the beach? Are you looking for a party on New Years Eve or a quiet hang out? Do you guys do the spa thing?

Washington as in Washington D.C.? If so I highly recommend the bus, they have buses that circles the monuments and museums, you buy a day bus pass, they stop every ten to fifteen minutes.

[dan88911]

+1 on Monterey if you have time: Monterey Bay Aquarium
I like this place when I visit there, Hotel in Monterey | Portola Hotel & Spa

[SIR70T]

You guys are awesome , will reply more detailed in the next 24 hours

But in general the crew likes sight seeing with an adventure thrown in like a good lookout or something interesting to see - we are really just completing the drive to experience the beauty and the people on the way down - if we come across some cool stuff then brilliant - Again, this community is one that inspires every time I read or post - Cheers Shane

[nostatic]

Why one night in Cambria and another in Pismo? They are very close together. If you want more time in LA, you can likely just do one night in either.

That said, central coast is one of my favorite places around. The hot springs at Sycamore Springs (just north of Pismo) are pretty awesome. And the dunes at Pismo are pretty crazy.

[tevake]

Great drive in store for you. Plan to pull over ofTen on the big Sur coast and on south.
There is a classic old boardwalk amusement area in Santa Cruz on the beach built around 1905, the kids might enjoy.
We stay in Cambria often, and our kids enjoy the park near the north end of town , it is right next to where a stream comes down from the hills bringing all kinds of stones and minerals down to be polished on the beach. Fun rock hunting on that moonstone beach.

Morro bay is cool too. Good plan to enjoy the central coast area.

Happy travels to you!

Richard
My son and I cruised thru the area this summer, big fun!