Restaurants on the way from No Cal to So Cal on 5?

[techno]

I highly recommend NoVo in San Luis Obispo, which was our halfway stopping point between San Francisco and Anaheim the week before last.

We had a wonderful lunch on the patio.

http://novorestaurant.com/

 

[got2travel]

Slight thread hijack, but which of those places is good for an overnighter? We will be driving down from Chico on Sunday, but we aren't leaving until evening so we are trying to figure out a good stopping point. I've stayed at the Holiday Inn in Santa Nella but dh would like to go farther. He's thinking Kettleman City but the ratings for the 2 motels there are pretty dismal. We're considering going down 99 instead but it's been a long time since I took that route. The kids and I are meeting dh in Roseville at 7. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I like to drive the whole way when possible, but the times I have to wait until after work to leave I will stop in either Buttonwillow (before the Grapevine) or Santa Clarita (up top next to Magic Mountain). Buttonwillow has a Super 8, Red Roof Inn and Motel 6 that are all decent enough but avoid the Homeland Inn, you'd be better off sleeping in your car. The Super 8 has juice, cereal and bagels in the morning plus you are right next to Starbucks. In Santa Clarita there's a Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn and Super 8. I've only stayed at the Fairfiel Inn but would consider any of the others. I usually go with the least expensive.

 

[got2travel]

I highly recommend NoVo in San Luis Obispo, which was our halfway stopping point between San Francisco and Anaheim the week before last.

We had a wonderful lunch on the patio.

http://novorestaurant.com/

That's over on 101 isn't it? We're talking stopping points on I5.

 

[pixiewings71]

Almost every 40 miles or so there is a nearly identicle town with a Denny's, McDonalds, Gas station and motel.

I remember years ago there was a sign heading northbound from Grapevine that said "Next Services 175 miles". Boring drive but theres plenty of small places to stop now.

I wouldn't say they are every 40 miles or so, there are some that are very close but then are places you will drive for a long time without any exits or services.

I will be starting in Sacramento area so it's a drive : )



Jenn

Jenn, we drive down from Suisun so we are farther away then you are. I still stand by my previous suggestions for stopping. Santa Nella, Lost Hills and wherever Harris Ranch is, I can't remember that exit. lol We've stopped a lot of places on our trips down and those are the stops with the best services, from bathrooms to restaurants, those are the ones that we've found to be the best/cleanest.

DizMe we don't stop on the way down, we just drive it. If we leave late we take turns driving while one sleeps, we do the same thing if we get up at 3 to leave.

 

[DizMe]

Thanks for the motel suggestions!

Pixiewings, we were thinking of doing that but we have no place to stay that first night (or what's left of it). We're going to Hermosa Beach for 3 days before we head to DL. I'm not sure how well the kids would do with driving until 3 or 4 AM, but they'd probably do better than the adults as they'd likely sleep most of the way.

 

[pixiewings71]

Our girls just sleep the whole way. They actually wear their PJ's in the van until we get to Anaheim, then they get dressed in the van. LOL They are weird, I'd rather they get dressed but.....last time we drove that early they got dressed when we stopped in Lost Hills, they took their clothes into the Love's and changed in the bathroom. lol

 

[Itinkso]

Harris Ranch has a hotel; you can get a great steak or prime rib dinner and then have a fresh start the next morning. We leave from Visalia on the 99 but always stop off at Valencia Blvd on I5 - a pit stop with Starbucks and Robeks. The grocery store also has a deli with good sandwiches but really no place to get gas...that would be Lyons Ave.

 

[techno]

That's over on 101 isn't it? We're talking stopping points on I5.

Yes, you are correct. I forgot we switched from I5 over to 101 heading out of SF.

 

[pixiewings71]

Harris Ranch has a hotel; you can get a great steak or prime rib dinner and then have a fresh start the next morning. We leave from Visalia on the 99 but always stop off at Valencia Blvd on I5 - a pit stop with Starbucks and Robeks. The grocery store also has a deli with good sandwiches but really no place to get gas...that would be Lyons Ave.

Harris Ranch does have a hotel, it's very much resort style and the prices do reflect that. But it does look nice from the outside.