Travel to Monterey -- suggestions

Hi guys,

I'm traveling to Monterey later this month for an engineering conference...wanting to know what's the best way to go in terms of nice scenery and places to visit...

They recommended we fly into San Jose and rent a car/etc. from there, but I was thinking to go into LA or SF and drive on PCH (plus visit a few places here and there).

I see LA to Monterey is 400 miles, and SF to Monterey is 100 miles...advantage SF...would have really liked to go into LA...

How's the drive LA to Monterey compared to SF to Monterey?

Suggestions?


THANKS!!!

 

If you can afford the time take the LA to Monterey route on PCH. Or what you might also be able to do is see if you can fly into SF rent a car then fly out of LAX.

I cannot wait to get out to Montery in august for the Historics and FCA events. In fact i am planning on taking PCH back down to LA on the trip back home.

Just my 2 cents worth

Beast

 

How long should I budget (drive time) for LA - Monterey?

Also, what's there in terms of beaches...is Monterey rocky? Sorry, never been to Cali, can't wait!!! ;-)


Thanks...

 

If you are going to be in Monterey you might as well check out the little town of Carmel. Carmel beach is sandy. It is also an interesting town to walk around in. Check out the "Hansel and Gretel" cottages. My wife and I did a walking tour. I thought it would be a waste of time but it was very interesting!

Rent a sea kayak in Monterey. Watch out for napping seals!

The Monterey Aquarium is great.

I miss California...

Enjoy your visit!

 

If your wife is traveling with you, spend some walking time in Carmel, have a cocktail at the Hogsbreath Inn, visit Laguna Seca Raceway, take 17 Mile Drive, visit Big Sur to the south, stay at The Inn at Spanish Bay, play Pebble Beach and Spyglass if you're a golfer, stop by the old Ferrari of Los Gatos, swing by Trader Joe's and try some 2-Buck Chuck... and a million other things if you want to head up north to San Francisco and Napa.

This is one of the most beautiful areas in the world. Enjoy!!!!

 

Thankfully, I am not married ;-), but a female friend of mine is traveling with me...

For now it seems I will be getting into LA on the 18th (morning) then my conference presentation is on the 21st morning and 22nd morning....and I've reserved a 3 day in Monterey (20 night to 23 morning)...

Then I think my flight back will be on the 28th, so it seems I have 2 days to start with in LA and about 4-5 days after the conference to go around...

Any suggestions on what to do from Monterey? Up to SF and Napa?

I'm looking for nice scenery, and just to sink in the atmosphere...


THANKS!!!

 

Ok, the woman you are traveling with is not your wife, and money is no object right? Then the only logical answer is an ocean view room at the Post Ranch Inn. Do not attempt to go any where except about 2 miles south for dinner at the Dijon Inn. And then straight back to the Post Ranch Inn.
Three or maybe four days is about right.
I'm going to make some reservations right now.

 

Monterey is an amazing place and the scenery along the 1 (PCH) is simply magical. Laguna Seca (Mazda now) is a cool place to visit, but you'd probably impress the lady more with a visit to the aquarium, and also heading up to napa is great for the driver, but I believe you're too close to summer which means rolling brown hills instead of the beautiful green ones in winter and spring.

 

I was born and raised in the Bay Area and now I live in Southern California. I visit my family and friends in the Bay Area about 2 - 3 a year. I always try to drive, time permiting.

SF - Monterey ... nice drive along the bluffs of PCH. Once past Pacifica, the drive really gets interesting! Half Moon Bay is a must stop for one of the Big (Monster - 40ft at times!) Wave locales in the world. One can see the break just beyond the marina. WOW! Continueing south, one can stop for wine tasting at Bonny Doon Winery - funky, eclectic wines. Signs will be posted to Bonny Doon off of the PCH. Heading further south, the roads meanders nicely along the cliffs, heading into Davenport, then Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz has a great boardwalk (if you like boardwalks) with an awesome old-style roller coaster (wooden frame and all!) called the Giant Dipper. Leaving Santa Cruz to Monterey is a gentle ride along the bay - carciofi fields on both sides of the highway. Don't stop in Moss Landing, where the PG&E Power Plant is ... not much there. From ML, one can see and smell Monterey! Don't forget to go into Carmel - a diamond in the rough! 2.0 hours

SJ - Monterey ... it's the quickest way into Monterey, save flying into Salinas. One takes I-880 south which turns into California Highway 17 - as a young boy, I'd take this route to Santa Cruz several times a week. At that time there was no concrete divider and this stretch of road from SJ to Santa Cruz was the state's deadliest road for years. Respect still must be given, for tanker trucks (and logging trucks occasionally) will show up instantly around a corner - use caution. From Los Gatos (edge of Silicon Valley) to Santa Cruz (Hwy 1 / 17 junction) is about 20 - 30 minutes ... no traffic. Once in Santa Cruz, see above. 1.5 hours.

LA - Monterey ... two words - Big Sur. Driving Hwy 1 along California's Big Sur area is one of the best drives in the world! Driving north is not the prefered route, since you will not be on the edge ( read - CLIFFS!) of the road adjacent to the ocean and the many vista points. HOWEVER, one must drive back to LA, right? You lucky BASTARD! Take this road serious - it can be very dangerous, but the eye candy, hairpins, unjulating sections of roads, and breath taking bridges are second to NONE! 5 - 8 hours, each way.

Arrivederci!