NFT: California trip - Santa Monica, SF & Napa

have fun. i might consider south of SF and hit Big Sur for a couple days, then SF, then Napa - but that's me....

We would love to do things a little differently, but I need to be in Santa Monica for work on Tuesday and Wednesday so that's why we will be there first from Saturday-Thursday.

Wanted to spend a little more time on that drive up as I heard it's gorgeous, but we're going to do a semi rushed trip to SF. Was told to stop at Nepenthe for lunch on the way up

Santa Barbara, Moro Bay, Hearst Castle, Cambria, Big Sur all on the way to SF via PCH.

Don't know what you got going in Santa Monica, but without the pull of family or something, I'd be tempted to cut my SM stay back to 3 days and spend an extra couple of nights on the road.

Hearst castle, Solvang(cute danish town a little off PCH), Big Sur, Monterrey/Carmel. It's a great drive, take your time & be careful.

I agree, 5 days is likely too much.

Personally, I'd skip the People's Republic of Santa Monica entirely. Santa Barbara, San Luis Obisbo, Big Sur, Monterey are all good stops between LA and SF. Lots of great areas North of SF. Santa Rosa is a nice college town. Sonoma (home of Sonoma State's Larry Allen).

One thing to consider, the forecast is for an El Nino, which means a significantly increased chance of rain. Normally about 4 inches total in November and December. In El Nino years, 6.5 inches. In near record El Nino years (which is the current forecast), almost 9 inches.

Bottom line, I'd plan for a couple of days of indoor activities in case you run into a Pacific storm or two during your trip.

Santa Monica is nice but we had been there, We spent a night in Santa Barabara and then a night in Cambria - Hurst Castle. It took about half a day to drive Big Sur but pretty awesome driving north. Spent a few nights in Carmel - with day trips to Monterrey and Pebble Beach. We took a detour to Yosemit before we spent a couple of nights in Napa. El Poggio in Sausalito is awesome on the way to San Francisco. You need to s et aside some time heading north.

Unfortunately, there's no way to cut the Santa Monica trip because I need to be there for work Tuesday and Wednesday. Figured instead of flying out on Monday morning, we decided to leave Saturday just to get a couple extra nights away. But with that said, I have no choice but to stay there until Thursday morning.

Would it be worth going to any of these cities mentioned for day trips? I'll have a car the whole time as well.

Most of the sights on PCH are north of that.

Probably too far for day trips. Haven't been there in about 20 years, but Moonshadows is a nice restaurant in Malibu.

Venice Beach is just a couple mile walk south of the SM pier. I'm sure you'll do that.

Try Will Rogers state park (on Sunset Blvd.) for a good walk and great ocean views. Most everything else you see in SM will be commercial and concrete.

Some good restaurants though. Have fun.

PCH is not your best route north. Best by far for sights, but interstate 5 will cut a 9 hour drive down to about 5 1/2.

If you take the 9 hour drive and stop and see stuff, obviously it will take longer.

That is some serious driving and the traffic can be very heavy.

12/26 Boston to LA, staying at a place called The Line, it's close to the friends she is trying to see while we're out there the recommended it. Anyone heard of it?
12/27 stay in LA
12/28 drive up to Santa Barbara - does anyone have a good restaurant recommendation? Looking for a beachy fish taco type place for lunch and a more high end option for dinner
12/29 drive up pch to big sur. spend night at big sur. do we have time to stop at Hearst castle?
12/30-12/31 st Helena. Any one have any winery's they'd recommend visiting? We aren't wine aficionados, but we do enjoy drinking it. Looking for a place that is fun and relaxed. We are also there for New Years, any suggestions for things to do that night?
1/1 spend night in San Francisco any suggestions for parts of town or specific hotels?

Seem like a reasonable plan overall?

Sorry if that's long, but have never been out there so looking for as much advice as I can get

North of Santa Barbara near Solvang is also great wine country. Lots of vineyards. Worth checking out.

Your itinerary looks good McThrill. It's been a while, so I'm not remembering the trip well enough to answer your Hearst Castle question. I think you'll have time but maybe someone else could cooberate...?

On the way.

And do some short hikes in big sur. It's really a spectacular part of the country. We're dying to go back.

absolutely awesome scenary. Tons of wildlife, as well (seals, pelicans, elephant seals, etc) and beatiful beaches.

In comment 12548593 aquidneck said:

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PCH is not your best route north. Best by far for sights, but interstate 5 will cut a 9 hour drive down to about 5 1/2. If you take the 9 hour drive and stop and see stuff, obviously it will take longer.

The original plan was to just go inland, but after discussing with some people they basically said we would be idiots to not drive the PCH if we are out there. The plan now is to get up nice and early Thursday and get on the road around 6 am.

Figure with stopping a couple times to take in the scenary and lunch at Nepenthe, we will get to our hotel in SF around 6 or so.

but don't swim in the ocean there

bike, or skate, south to Venice, or North to Pacific Palisades is fun

The La Brea Tar Pits are close and awesome

is a bit much. I'd make it 3-2-3, but I LOVE Napa! While in SF, take the boat out to Alcatraz, it's pretty cool. And I can give you a bunch of wineries to visit in Napa, depending on how long. I'd also stop in Sausalito for lunch. Just north of SF, and there are a couple of great restaurants on the pier there. Fish Restaurant is awesome.

In comment 12548797 Section331 said:

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is a bit much. I'd make it 3-2-3, but I LOVE Napa! While in SF, take the boat out to Alcatraz, it's pretty cool. And I can give you a bunch of wineries to visit in Napa, depending on how long. I'd also stop in Sausalito for lunch. Just north of SF, and there are a couple of great restaurants on the pier there. Fish Restaurant is awesome.

Wish I could, but no way around the 5 nights in santa monica. We are doing that boat cruise Friday morning in San Fran along with the Alcatraz tour, can't wait for that.

Napa winery suggestions would be great! Similar to McThrill, we aren't wine aficionado but we do enjoy drinking it so any recommendations would be helpful.

With only one night, you'll probably want wineries not too far from where you're staying. Some of my fav's - Inglenook in Rutherford, Stag's Leap Wine Cellar in Napa, Hess in Napa. The Tasting Room at Napa Wine Co in Oakville is cool because it features many small vintners in the area. You get to try a bunch of different wines in one spot. The Oakville Grocery next door is a great spot for lunch.

very close to Oxbow Market/downtown Napa. I just plugged in a few of the places you mentioned and it looks like we are about 15-20 minutes from all of them.

Our plan was to get a driver for the day, or do a tour through a company and try to get to 3-4 spots.

SB is actually unlike a lot of California towns in that there's little commercial activity on the beach itself. Generally speaking the food right near the water is only so-so, for example most things on the wharf are a tourist trap quality and price wise.

A few places worth checking out:

Tacos:

Taqueria La Colmena

East Beach Tacos

Super Cucas

Otherwise, for more formal/semi formal meals:

The Palace

Brophy Brothers

Los Agaves

Arrigato Sushi

Bouchon

Finch & Fork

Of course formal in California means little wrt to attire.

In comment 12548599 TheMcThrill said:

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12/28 drive up to Santa Barbara - does anyone have a good restaurant recommendation? Looking for a beachy fish taco type place for lunch and a more high end option for dinner

Santa Barbara Shellfish Co on the pier for tacos, Jane's on State St. for dinner.

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12/30-12/31 st Helena. Any one have any winery's they'd recommend visiting? We aren't wine aficionados, but we do enjoy drinking it. Looking for a place that is fun and relaxed. We are also there for New Years, any suggestions for things to do that night?

Not sure about New Year's, but Inglenook is just down the road in Rutherford. Don't let the name scare you away, Francis Coppola bought it years ago, and is trying to resurrect its reputation as one of the finest wineries in the region. A great spot, and the wines are very good. Also may want to try Chateau Montelena in Calistoga. Sterling has only so-so wines, but they take you up to the winery in a gondola, which is pretty cool, and the views are spectacular.

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1/1 spend night in San Francisco any suggestions for parts of town or specific hotels?

I've always preferred the Embarcadero area, short walk to the piers, with great restaurants, sightseeing and boat tours.