I am planning a road trip from L.A to San Francisco, what is the best route to go, what are some not-to-miss p?|162451

I am planning a 4 to 5 day road trip from L.A to San Francisco, what is the best route to go, what are some not-to-miss places and attractions to see? I have heard of one part of the road called _17 mile_, where does it start and end? Any advices from your personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

17 mile drive at Pebble Beach just south of Monterey. Here_s a map of it.
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?pageName=_17_Mile_Drive_Main

From LA, take the Pacific Coast highway through Malibu. Stop at Gladstones for lunch. Skip Oxnard, Ventura, and go straight to Santa Barbara. Take time for an afternoon in Montecito (small town just south of Santa Barbara). In Santa Barbara, go to Brophy_s on the pier for dinner or lunch. State street is the main area. farmer_s market Wednesday night is great.
Leaving Santa Barbara, take the 101 north and go to Solvang. Its the a little Danish community.
Then take 101 up to San Luis Obispo. Check out the Madonna Inn. You don_t need to stay there, they will let you tour unused rooms.
From San Luis Obispo, take Highway 1 through Morro Bay, Cayucus is an artist colony on the water, good place to stop for the night. Next day go to San Simeon early to visit the Hearst Castle. From there, up to Carmel or Monterey which ever is more your taste. Then on to San Francisco.
There are a few great wineries in the Monterey area also. Look into visiting Lockwood.

You have two options, you can either ride along the coast, or you can go further inland and hit a couple national parks. Both ways would be great.

If you go along the coast, you will want to take Highway 1. You can visit Santa Monica, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Carmel by the Sea, Monterey Bay, and San Simeon (to see Hearst Castle).

The other option is to drive through Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and Yosemite National Park. If you are going in the fall, this would be a great route to take to see the Fall Foliage. However, if you are prone to car-sickness, I would not recommend it. There are lots of twisty roads going through the mountains, but the views are spectacular.

101 or highway 5..

drop by Monterey BAy.

I moved from the Bay Area to Los Angeles almost 9 years ago, and still go back and forth as much as possible. I don_t really like the drive. I HIGHLY recommend taking AMTRAK. The Coast Starlight train leaves from L.A. every day, and it_s a beautiful trip along the coast. The reclining seats are much wider than those on an airplane, and you don_t have to deal with the hassle of check-in lines.

You don_t have to stay in your seat. You can roam the train. There is a viewing car with large panel windows and the seats turned out so you can watch the views of the hills and the ocean. There is a snack bar if you get peckish, and a dining car if you want something more substantial. Most of the trains I ride have had power outlets, so you can keep your phone/computer charged.

The idiot drivers, the cost of gas, road fatigue, finding and paying attention to directions, hunting down a decent place to eat, or even just a much-needed bathroom... I deal with NONE of that. It_s about 8 hours of STRESS-FREE travel, and you actually get to enjoy the trip!

I travel back to the Bay about every other month, (in fact, I_m going back up to Santa Cruz this Friday) and this is the only way to do it. You don_t NEED a car once you get there. Once in San Francisco, you can get around just fine on MUNI and BART. Indeed, you can travel the entire Bay Area with ease on public transit... Unlike here in L.A.

Your plans wouldn_t have to change much. You still have a day of travel, 2-3 days in The City, and you can pass out on the train for the return trip home... Can_t do THAT while driving. ;)

A coach ticket will run about $49-79. For a little more, you can get a private roomette with all your meals included.

Good luck and good travel.

HOOPLA!
Rock E. Horror