California Love Part 2

Part 2 focuses on our drive from San Fran to Los Angeles, primarily on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Day 5…

– Breakfast at Dottie’s: It was recommended by many, especially Dara and Andrew, and it was worth the 30 minute wait, in the sun, surrounded by bums. Dishes are huge and Brian thought their jalapeno jelly on cornbread should not be missed.. http://dotties.biz/

– We took US 1 from SF to Monterey. It was about a 3 hour drive. It’s faster if you take the freeway.

– Monterey Bay Aquarium: Admission was a part of the CityPass and it was highly suggested. We were a little underwhelmed but probably because we had been spoiled by the aquarium at the California Academy of Science. The highlights of the aquarium were the kelp forest, which is filled with bay water that is continuously pumped through the exhibit, the deep sea tank with large tuna, sunfish and hammerheads, and the otters, who were playful and mesmerizing to watch. There are movie presentations and feeding times each day as well. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/ 

– We drove to Carmel and stayed at the Carmel Lodge. It was a simple place and conveniently located within the adorable town of Carmel by the Sea. http://www.carmellodge.com/

 

– Dinner at Flaherty’s: The reviews online were great but the hotel cautioned against the restaurant because previous hotel guests had complained about the terrible service. We went anyways and were pleasantly surprised. There were tons of gluten free options and the food was really good. Fine dining is plentiful in Carmel and we were told it’s hard to pick a bad place to eat. http://www.flahertysseafood.com/home

– If we could do it again, we’d get on the road earlier and take the freeway to the aquarium. Monterey is one big tourist trap so we’d leave the city and take 17 Mile drive through Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach to Carmel. Then we’d spend time walking around the town of Carmel before dinner. They had great shops but we ran out of time to see everything this quaint town had to offer.

Day 6…

– Breakfast at Katy’s: It was exactly the type of brunch you want before hitting the road; hearty and tasty. Gluten free pancakes to boot! http://www.katysplacecarmel.com/

– Carmel: We walked around the town a bit and bought some gifts. There’s so much to buy! I  wish we had more time though because it’s supposed to be beautiful and romantic!

– Drive down the PCH: Now this is what we were waiting for. The drive is spectacular. We wanted to pull off at every vista point but you have to be choosy if you’re ever going to make it to your destination. Bixby Bridge and Hurricane Point were two of our favorites. Don’t forget to bring binoculars! We were not aware of this but everyone we met let us borrow theirs as we all noticed a pod of dolphins and whales near shore. It was spectacular. We also saw otters and heard sea lions barking. The drive through Big Sur is breathtaking as you make your way along the windy roads of the coast and the steep incline though the redwoods of Los Padres National Forest.

 

 

 

 

– Limekiln State Park: We stopped off at this state park for a quick hike as recommended by my dear friend Laura who recently did the drive. It was perfect because it only took us about 20 minutes to hike to a waterfall. There were other paths we would have loved to explore but we just ran out of time. Also, the park goes right to the ocean and we it had great campgrounds. http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=577

– Elephant Seal Rookery: Right as we entered San Simeon, we pulled off the highway and saw a beach-ful of elephant seals! They are tremendous and hilarious and you won’t believe how many seals are snoring on the beach! We were told that if you want to see more action and less sleeping, that you should visit the rookery earlier in the day. http://www.elephantseal.org/Rookery/where.html

– Hearst Castle: We booked the last tour of the day about a week before we went on the trip. The website suggested The Grand Rooms Tour for first time visitors and I thought it was a great choice. It gave you a great overview of the history of the house and Hearst. After the 45 minute tour you can explore the pools and grounds. There were many docents spread out over the property who were knowledgeable and answered our many questions. Just be prepared to be awed. This castle, is just that, a castle and after 28 years of working with architect Julia Morgan on the home, Hearst felt it was only 50% finished! http://hearstcastle.org/

 

 

 

 

– We stayed at the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. Each room at this infamous hotel is uniquely decorated with just the right amount of kitsch and fun. We stayed in a room called Floral Fantasy and it was floor to ceiling pink and red. We worried that the hotel would be old, dirty and dated but we were pleasantly surprised with how nice it was. It was a hoot to stay there and a perfect stopping point after a long day on the road. http://www.madonnainn.com/

Our room at the Madonna Inn

– The only thing we’d change about Day 6 is that we’d stretch it out over a few days and probably camp. There’s so many vista points we wanted to stop at and so many places we would have hiked, that it would have been great to feel less in a rush as we made our way down US 1.

Day 7…

– Los Olivos: We headed directly to the town of Los Olivos and met up with Brian’s sister, Bonnie, for a fun day of wine tasting. We visited 3 wineries: Alexander and Wayne, Arthur Earl and Carhartt. My favorite was Carhartt because their wine was delicious and they had a beautiful outdoor patio space to enjoy the drinks. (http://www.arthurearl.com/AW http://www.arthurearl.com/ http://www.carharttvineyard.com/) 

– Lunch at Panino: Delicious sandwiches (I did mine wrapped in lettuce). Bonnie said that on the weekend this place is packed and we could see why. (http://www.paninorestaurants.com/index.php)

– We stayed at the Hadsten House in Solvang. The hotel was great, especially for the price. Upon arrival you receive a complimentary wine pass to local wineries. The town of Solvang is a Danish enclave in the middle of California. All the buildings make you feel like you are in Denmark, windmills and all! We dined at Root 246. It was a delicious meal in a beautiful building. (http://www.hadstenhouse.com/ http://www.root-246.com/)

Day 8 starts with our final leg of the drive to Los Angeles, with a stop at the Reagan Presidential Library along the way. If you want to see great photographs of the highway being built check out this link: http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-the-roosevelt-highway-to-the-one-a-brief-history-of-pacific-coast-highway.html.

The takeaway from the drive was that it was fantastic and we wished it was longer. Between the scenery, the wildlife and the sights along the way, it’s no wonder that the Pacific Coast Highway is one of the best drives in America. What would you add to our drive? We heard Pismo Beach would have been a great stop!