Californian Coast question...
Discussion
Hi All,
I will be taking my family to California in the summer, and part of the trip will be a jaunt up the coast from LA to SF. We will be looking to stop along the way a couple of times, and we were looking for some quiet, family friendly places, with nice beaches...
Any local knowledge you would care to share greatly appreciated...
So far, we have been drawn to Cayucos and Cambria... any other ideas would be great...
Many thanks
JakeR
I will be taking my family to California in the summer, and part of the trip will be a jaunt up the coast from LA to SF. We will be looking to stop along the way a couple of times, and we were looking for some quiet, family friendly places, with nice beaches...
Any local knowledge you would care to share greatly appreciated...
So far, we have been drawn to Cayucos and Cambria... any other ideas would be great...
Many thanks
JakeR
Monteray is well worth a visit with Sea Lions and Otters hanging round the bay.
Big Sea Life center as well.
And if your realy lucky a TVR Wedge has been spotted on rare occasion.
Malibu beach is only a little north from LA and you will have to get on the coast road at Santa Monica. Also worth a hour or two, nice beach and pier etc.
Oh, just remembered Half Moon Bay, just south of San Fran. Dont know what it looks like as the attached photo shows.
(can get a bit foggy around there).
Big Sea Life center as well.
And if your realy lucky a TVR Wedge has been spotted on rare occasion.
Malibu beach is only a little north from LA and you will have to get on the coast road at Santa Monica. Also worth a hour or two, nice beach and pier etc.
Oh, just remembered Half Moon Bay, just south of San Fran. Dont know what it looks like as the attached photo shows.
(can get a bit foggy around there).
Edited by so called on Monday 2nd February 23:45
Pop up to Napa Valley, its California's proper wine country. Try book a wine tasting tour and you won't regret it!
Also try stopping off at the Winchester mansion, shows what happens when a women with too much money and no sense is in charge !
Monterey is nice, Hirst Castle is something else entirely!
Big Sur and 17 mile drive are worth checking out if the weather's good. Check out the Madonna inn aswell, lots of themed rooms plus a decent brunch!
I took a drive from Orange County to Napa Valley in 2005, best 2 weeks of my life. Recommend a convertible or something with good power to nip out and overtake, you will get stuck behind RV's and slow drivers who have no clue about the 5 mile tail back they're causing!
Also try stopping off at the Winchester mansion, shows what happens when a women with too much money and no sense is in charge !
Monterey is nice, Hirst Castle is something else entirely!
Big Sur and 17 mile drive are worth checking out if the weather's good. Check out the Madonna inn aswell, lots of themed rooms plus a decent brunch!
I took a drive from Orange County to Napa Valley in 2005, best 2 weeks of my life. Recommend a convertible or something with good power to nip out and overtake, you will get stuck behind RV's and slow drivers who have no clue about the 5 mile tail back they're causing!
I did this journey with my parents very recently and it is fantastic! Admittedly we had rubbish weather and consequently it rained and was foggy for the whole way (in the middle of august!) We drove the whole journey in one day 
which was actually that bad.
Depending on how long you are out in the states, if you have time and if i were out there i would definitely visit Yosemite National Park if you can. It may not appear that close but it is definitely worth seeing. We stayed in Fresno for one night, this is an interesting place! Firstly i have never seen so many car dealerships and secondly, visitors are genuinely novel. We ate in a pizza restaurant (which was very nice) and when the waitress found out we were British, the whole place literally stopped!
Enjoy your trip
which was actually that bad. Depending on how long you are out in the states, if you have time and if i were out there i would definitely visit Yosemite National Park if you can. It may not appear that close but it is definitely worth seeing. We stayed in Fresno for one night, this is an interesting place! Firstly i have never seen so many car dealerships and secondly, visitors are genuinely novel. We ate in a pizza restaurant (which was very nice) and when the waitress found out we were British, the whole place literally stopped!
Enjoy your trip
April is a better time of year for the coast. Mid summer can be a surprise, the amount of fog during the morning can feel like being back home in Scotland for me! Other things on the coast...hmmm....I'd check out Morro Bay, good place for fish and chips, plus you can rent a Kayak and sail around the bay. Cheap fun for the family. Also, if your renting an SUV (2WD is fine) you could take it down for a spin on the sand at Grover Beach, that place looks like Mad Max on the weekends, lots of weird 4x4's, dune buggy's, quads, etc. If your feeling adventurous you can also camp out overnight, would be one hell of an experience and watching the sun set on the ocean, magic! Bring some wood for a fire too.
Peterson Automotive Museum in LA would be a place to satisfy the petrol head in you.
Cayucos and Cambria are fantastic places, If I had the money I'd be living there, not too much for the kids though apart from the beach. Monterey Bay Aquarium will take a full day to wander through, lots of great places to eat.
Try the clam chowder, you'll love it
Peterson Automotive Museum in LA would be a place to satisfy the petrol head in you.
Cayucos and Cambria are fantastic places, If I had the money I'd be living there, not too much for the kids though apart from the beach. Monterey Bay Aquarium will take a full day to wander through, lots of great places to eat.
Try the clam chowder, you'll love it
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