My husband and father-in-law (who will be visiting from England) are planning a trip to California. The tentative plan is to arrive in San Francisco at 10am on Monday, November 19th. We plan on driving on the major highway (the quick route) to San Luis Obispo on the day we arrive and spending the night there. I thought we could look around there (any suggestions on restaurants - reasonably priced or places to stay woudl be great) and then head to Monterey on the afternoon of the 20th. I thought we could spend the night in Monterey and go to the aquarium on the morning of the 21st before we head to San Fran to return the rental car. Then we would have the evening of the of the 21st and all day on the 22nd to enjoy San Francisco before we head out on a 12pm flight back home on the 23rd. The 22nd is Thanksgiving so I am hoping we an enjoy San Francisco. How does this plan sound to everyone??
San Francisco - San Luis Obispo and back in 5 days!regarding 22nd in San Francisco, maybe some places will be open, but many are not open. if you click on tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60713-Activitie鈥?/a>
decide what you want to do and check via phone the hours of business. The 21st should be fine in the City as far as businesses open regular hours, but be aware that traffic driving back from southern or central California will be very slow. Listen to AM radio band for any traffic conditions or alternate routes. The airport the day after Thanksgiving should not be so bad.
San Francisco - San Luis Obispo and back in 5 days!Quite honestly -- do you want to spend your trip in the car? And do you want to drive for 2.5 hours down 101 after flying in from (I presume) Dallas?
Go on into San Fran and spend a couple nights. THEN pick up a car (you don%26#39;t want to drive in San Fran) and drive down to SLO ... and then to Monterey ... and then back to SFO.
If it were me -- I%26#39;d spend the whole time on the Central Coast ... Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Carmel or Monterey. Go to Hearst Castle ... goof around.
Whatever you decide ... you are WAY late on finding accommodations. Make your choices right away. That includes the car rental.
Since you are arriving at 10 a.m. on Monday in San Francisco, I%26#39;d suggest the following instead.
1) Drive from San Francisco to Monterey/Carmel and enjoy the aquarium in the afternoon. You will be there early afternoon and then enjoy dinner in Monterey, perhaps at the Fisherman Wharf area.
http://www.mbayaq.org/
http://www.montereywharf.com/
Then early to bed. Not sure what your budget for lodging is - Portola Plaza, Best Western Beach Resort, or other would be fine. Monday will be your best to find good availability in Monterey/Carmel area.
http://www.portolaplazahotel.com/
http://www.montereybeachresort.com/
2) Drive from Monterey/Carmel to Pt. Lobos - See Pt. Lobos. Continue down highway 1 through Big Sur area arriving mid afternoon at Hearst Castle. Take the last tour of the day an book in advance. Tour 1 is good to see.
http://www.hearstcastle.com/
Stay overnight in Cambria.
Perhaps Best Western Fireside Inn
http://www.bestwesternfiresideinn.com/
3) Drive from Cambria to Highway 101 and drive back up to San Francisco. (Unless $ are a major factor I%26#39;d keep the car this time as the airport will be crazy on Wednesday with holiday traffic.)
On the way back you might want to stop at Gilroy Premium Outlets if you like shopping.
www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp鈥?/a>
Arrive in San Francisco and have dinner.
I%26#39;d suggest arriving in time for dinner in Fisherman Wharf.
Perhaps Boudins;%26#39;
www.boudinbakery.com/index.cfm?page_id=6
Check into hotel
4) Plan on Thanksgiving Dinner.
Garden Court would be a great choice if $ are ok and if you can get a reservation.
http://www.sfpalace.com/main/dining.htm
As some things will be closed, you might want to book in advance those things that are available. For example, Alcatraz Tours are going on Thanksgiving and you can reserve in advance.
http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/
Other outdoor areas such as Marina and the ocean are open so if nice day enjoy those. Having a car will help to tour here or there.
In the evening perhaps take a movie in at the Metreon (fun place to go since things might be closed.)
http://westfield.com/metreon/
Lots of ways to do this trip - above is one.
Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your trip.
sgarrad24 芦to San Luis Obispo on the day we arrive and spending the night there . . . and then head to Monterey . . . spend the night . . . go to the aquarium . . . Then . . . San Francisco. How does this plan sound to everyone??禄
Not everyone, it does NOT sound good t%26#39;me! I strongly urge you to go from The Airport over to The Coast (ask the rental people how to get to the Quentin Kopp Freeway [380] to take to the Jun铆pero Serra Freeway [280] to the Cabrillo Highway [1]. As you pass over Bayshore, keep out of the right lane. After the exit after the flyover, get in the next-to-right lane. After the exit following the split, move to the right lane to follow the signs to Pacifica).
I ALWAYS urge people driving a waterside road to be on the water side of the road. Thus do I urge you!
When in Monterey, eat at Monterey%26#39;s Fish House!
Driving Directions with links to relevant maps and URLs of places passed through: San Francisco to Pacifica-Half Moon Bay-Santa Cruz-Monterey/Carmel, Big Sur, San Lu铆s Obispo geocities.com/touringsfo/鈥riveDir.html
The ';Don%26#39;t-miss SIGHTS in San Francisco'; page geocities.com/touringsfo/Articles/Sights.html has enough to keep you busy for nine 12.7-hour days. It includes links to your best sources of advice on WHERE TO EAT and, according to the Department of Health, WHERE TO NOT EAT here, the UseNet Group ba.food, and the quite-good sfSurvey/Tastyr and the comprehensive Yelp. It also has a WEATHER CHART with a link to current conditions.
If you do end up in SLO, I highly reccomend an Itailian place called ';Mama%26#39;s Meatball';. It%26#39;s a bit hard to find, since it%26#39;s not on the street, but set back in a small courtyard. I%26#39;ve sent others others there and everyone raves about it.
I know it sounds kind of lame, but it is a nice simple restaurant with great authentic food. In fact it has ruined us for Italian, after going there a few months back everything else has been disapointing, including a few in North Beach.
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