Itinerary for California trip - need suggestions

[RadioFanatic]

So, as I stated in another post, I'm going to CA in November for 10 days over thanksgiving. Here is what I'm thinking of doing:

thursday - fly in am or pm, depending if can take day off of work - if am, do DL in pm
friday - dl
saturday - wb tour, hollywood, el rodeo
sunday - check out beverly hills and then go to either Santa barbara, or Santa Monica for night
monday - beach in morning, drive to madonna inn to stay night
tuesday - hearst castle in am and then go to either carmel, monterey or big sur (would like a beach setting)
wed and thurs (thanksgiving) - carmel, monterey or big sur
fri-sun - san fran (and will see muir woods and sausilito while there)
monday come home

so, what are people's thoughts on this itinerary? am I missing any places I "must" go to as this is my first trip to CA? it's just dh and I going. no wineries on this trip. any suggestions on places to stay? so far I only know I'm staying at Madonna inn.

also any particular drives I must take to see the gorgeous coastal view?

can't wait to hear suggestions!

 

[RadioFanatic]

just getting it back to the first page - thanks!

 

[minniecarousel]

While in Carmel, pay to take the 17-Mile Drive that takes you through Pebble Beach - gorgeous views! My favorite place to stay in Carmel is the Normandy Inn on Ocean Avenue. Since it looks like you'll be there on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, you should probably make dinner reservations ahead of time. Some recommended restaurants in Carmel: The Forge in the Forest, Flaherty's Seafood & The Carmel Bistro. Also don't miss eating breakfast at Katie's Place - best eggs benedicts!

 

[Minnie824]

We're planning a trip to CA next year, and would love to know which hotels you have chosen, other than Disney of course. We're planning something similar but for less time.

 

[barkley]

at disneyland YOU MUST eat at the blue bayoo. when you enter the park immediatly go a make reservations (unless they've changed their policy they only make resis face to face, but you can see if they've instituted phone reservations by calling disney). it is the restaurant that the riders of pirates of the carribean go past before the go down the waterfall. it has great food and it realy feels as though you are dining on a patio under a start lit sky. you might want to consider staying at one of the disney property hotels-that way if you get in too late to justify going to the park for just a couple of hours you can still wander around downtown disney (which is the walking area around the hotels-not someplace you have to bus or car to like wdw), and you can just park and not have to drive during your disneyland time.

plan your second friday activities around MAJOR traffic-heaviest shopping day of the year, and a big travel day. sunday will be heavy too due to travelers coming home from various destinations.

i think the monteray bay aquarium is open on thanksgiving (you can check their website) so that's an option.

prepare for cold, windy beach time.

if you go into mapquest you can get directions based on the quickest travel route or the most scenic.

 

[mtemm]

the warners bros tour is amazing, we did it this past summer.

If you need suggestions for Santa Barbara, let me know. I grew up there...there is so much to see and do. I know you put you are doing bev. hills that sunday morning, but if you change your mind there is an incredible brunch at the biltmore/four seasons in Santa Barbara. you can check it out online...mmmm...yum.

 

[RadioFanatic]

the warners bros tour is amazing, we did it this past summer.

If you need suggestions for Santa Barbara, let me know. I grew up there...there is so much to see and do. I know you put you are doing bev. hills that sunday morning, but if you change your mind there is an incredible brunch at the biltmore/four seasons in Santa Barbara. you can check it out online...mmmm...yum.

I would love suggestions! Where is the "best" place for dinner in SB? Also, where would you recommend staying that wouldn't break the pocketbook? finally, what do you think would be the best thing to do on a sunday afternoon?

 

[diznygirl]

You could stay at Fess Parker's hotel, or visit his winery. There area a number of wineries in the area. Solvang is also nearby - you can go there and walk around for awhile.

I'd probably push Beverly Hills into saturday, and get right over to Santa Barbara on sunday. You'll be so close to Beverly Hills while doing Hollywood. Go over to the Beverly Hills hotel and have dinner at the Polo Lounge. Trader Vics is also a good restaurant. The Peninsula has an afternoon tea.

Sounds like fun!

 

[mtemm]

I would love suggestions! Where is the "best" place for dinner in SB? Also, where would you recommend staying that wouldn't break the pocketbook? finally, what do you think would be the best thing to do on a sunday afternoon?

What kind of food do you like? We ate at an incredible italian restaurant right on state street...just loved it. Name is Pascucci's. Reasonable and really good italian...not something sb was famous for when I lived there. lol. I would also suggest longboards on the wharf for cocktails, but avoid it like the plague for dinner. we had an awful experience, but upstairs for cocktails was a blast. granted, you are going in november so it may be a bit chilly for the outside stuff.

we were just out for my class reunion and since we don't have family in the area anymore (and all our friends there have cats, which we are allergic to), we ended up in a hotel. I didn't want to spend a fortune but also wanted to stay right downtown. Ended up choosing the Hotel Santa Barbara . There are mixed reviews on trip adviser but we had a wonderful time there. we had no noise issues...had a king sized bed on the second floor overlooking the parking lot, but didn't care about our view since we weren't spending a lot of time in the room. We thought our room was charming and our stay was wonderful. Can't beat the location, and for a fraction of the cost of rooms on the water just a few blocks away.

what you do in S.B. depends on what you like to do. I would highly recommend a stop at the Old Mission...there is a brief self guided tour that gives a nice overview of california mission life. The courthouse is also wonderful...really nice. Stearns wharf is a must and a walk along the breakwater at the marina, especially if its a nice night, is one of my favorite things to do. If you like to shop, state street has some great shopping.

There are some wonderful beaches in SB. Lots of pretty parks and gardens, and a drive up the riviera gives great views of the city.

also note that when you drive north, assuming you go the beach route out of santa barbara, you will go thru the gaviota tunnel (the tunnel used in the graduate when dustin hoffman is going to santa barbara (supposedly) to stop the wedding. I have no idea if this was different than in the 60s, but the tunnel actually goes away from santa barbara).

eta: there is also an art show along the beach (facing the water, its to the left of stearns wharf) every sunday. not sure what time it wraps up, but it can be nice to stroll around.

 

[DawnCt1]

We loved the little town of Cambria. We stayed at the Pelican Cove Inn across the street from Moonstone Beach. It was lovely. If you go there, have dinner at Robins. It is top notch and mentioned in two travel books, Fodors, and Frommers. Sign up ahead of time for anything you want to do. I would suggest Tour #1 for the Heart Castle if you haven't been there before. If you are stopping in Monterey, the Aquarium there is very nice, as is that whole Cannery district. A trip to northern California wouldn't be complete without a visit to San Francisco and Alcatraz. I loved the tour of Alcatraz. That is another one that you should book before you leave home. Sausilito was a cute little town, we had breakfast there on our way to Napa. We did do the Mondavi wine tour and liked it very much. I wouldn't schedule too much "beach time". November can be cool and windy, particularly in N. California. Are you planning on going to DL and Universal Studios before you head north?

 

[mtemm]

I'd probably push Beverly Hills into saturday, and get right over to Santa Barbara on sunday. You'll be so close to Beverly Hills while doing Hollywood. Go over to the Beverly Hills hotel and have dinner at the Polo Lounge. Trader Vics is also a good restaurant. The Peninsula has an afternoon tea.

Sounds like fun!

I agree. We actually did this...went to the WB tour first thing (drove up from a day and a half at DL) then went to lunch at the Polo Lounge. Mmmm...very very good lunch. It was the last day of our trip so we didn't do much else in beverly hills, just showed dh rodeo drive (he had never been to CA) then went into hollywood, where we stayed that night. would have loved to have stayed at the BHH, but we had a free night at the Hollywood Renaissance and just couldn't pass it up. We did enjoy our stay at the Hollywood Rennaissance, not sure if you need a hotel but throwing that out there.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Hotel Santa Barbara looks amazing - they have a great package for only $239 with dinner at Bouchon, NU or Opal - are any of these good restaurants?

 

[mtemm]

Hotel Santa Barbara looks amazing - they have a great package for only $239 with dinner at Bouchon, NU or Opal - are any of these good restaurants?

I haven't been to those, but my friend loves Opal. If you want I can ask her which of the 3 she'd choose.

 

[RadioFanatic]

I haven't been to those, but my friend loves Opal. If you want I can ask her which of the 3 she'd choose.

yes please!

and I looked at Normandy Inn too - that also looks cute!

I'm really excited - hope it all works out!

 

[mtemm]

I e-mailed 2 friends about the restaurants. will let you know what they say. Both have lived in SB their whole lives, except for college. they pretty much have a good knowledge about everything except hotels. Its really funny, when we went out for my reunion I was so clueless about hotels there. Guess when you live in a place you don't always get to know things like that. lol.

 

[RadioFanatic]

thank you so much!

 

[mtemm]

this was from one of my sb friends. will let you know what the other one says.

I don't know about Bouchon, NU is OK, but not great. I would pick Opal. It's been several years since I was there, but their ginger Cosmopolitans are fabulous. Kind of like pink lemonade, but dangerously smooth...

 

[RadioFanatic]

wonderful! I can't wait to hear the other comment - thank you SOOO much for your comments.

Other questions about SB - what beach do you prefer? the closest appears to be the one with the wharf - is it nice? can you walk to it from the hotel? also what activities are there to do?

 

[mtemm]

I personally love East Beach. It won't really be beach weather while you are there, but there is a bike/activity path that runs the length of the beach (runs all over SB/Goleta actually) that is fantastic. Its a few blocks to the wharf, but not bad....I did it in heels for my reunion (we met friends at longbords on the wharf beforehand) and was fine in the heels, but definitely wear comfy shoes if you plan to do a lot of walking.

To get to east beach just hang a left at the wharf (facing the ocean). Or its an easy drive and there is a parking lot...depends on how much walking you like to do. Make sure at some point, either during the day or if you have a nice evening, to turn right when at the wharf (again, facing the ocean) and walk down to the marina. Again, you can drive, there is a lot, but its a nice walk. Walk out to the breakwater...its one of my favorite things to do. Daytime is nice, but there is something about being out there at night and looking back at the city all lit up, with the sailboats bobbing around in front of you. plus a great unobstructed view of the ocean. very romantic. you may or not be able to go to the end of it, depends on the tide (the water will come over the wall if its really high, but you can still usually go out a ways).

From the SB Hotel (if you stay there...and I would recommend upgrading to a king room if you can, the complaints seem to focus on the queen rooms, again, read what was said on trip advisor) you can walk all around state street...lots of great restaurants and shopping. Its also a very easy walk to the courthouse. Its a gorgeous courthouse and you can take a self-guided tour. Make sure to go up to the top of the bell tower, the views are wonderful.

Try not to miss the Mission. Depending on time or interest, SB also has a wonderful botanical garden and natural history museum. The art museum is very nice, too. And don't forget about the art show....it sets up to the left of the wharf and runs about halfway to east beach, if I remember that correctly.

I know you said you were heading up to the Madonna Inn the next day. There is a free continental breakfast at the Hotel SB that is pretty good, but depending on whether or not you are going to head out first thing, you may want to eat lightly then drive up and stop in Solvang on your way to San Luis Obispo. They have incredible breakfasts there...ableskievers are so good, and there are lots of other choices. The cheese factor of the town (its danish...I'm talking windmills and everything) is worth a stop. Great fudge and other treats, and some very cute little shops. At least worth an hour on your way, depending on what your mood is. So even if you don't make it there for breakfast, try to stop. My husband thought it was hysterical. My friends and I used to go up every year at christmas (its maybe an hour from SB) because it sort of felt like christmas.

am I boring you yet? lol.

 

[TigerBear]

Duke's Malibu is a fun restaurant with beautiful views of the ocean. We saw dolphins swimming off the coast!

http://www.dukesmalibu.com/