Travelling from LA to San-Fran..

Two friends and I (from New Zealand) are travelling around the US in Jan-Feb next year.

We%26#39;ve heard that the scenery between LA and San-Fran is beautiful, and don%26#39;t want to miss out on seeing it by flying between cities or catching a train which won%26#39;t go by the coastline.

Does anyone have any suggetions on the best way to do this? We%26#39;re planning on spreading the trip up from LA over two days. Are tthere any bus/shuttle things that allow you to hop on and off?

Any thoughts would be appreciated!\\

Bindy

Travelling from LA to San-Fran..

If you are using I-5, it is not scenic, only parts, very straight highway thru mostly farmland in the San Joaquin Valley. Using US-101, it is more scenic. On northbound, you get to see the coast before Santa Barbara. In San Luis Obispo on 101, change to Hwy1 (or Pacific Coast Hwy) which takes you to small cities like San Simeon where the world famous Hearst Castle sits perched on the hill. Continue to Big Sur and Monterey and from Salinas return to 101 which takes you all the way to SF.

Most people rent a car and have the liberty of going their way instead of using a bus. There is no hop-on-and-off bus service that I know of on such route. Greyhound and maybe other bus companies do provide LA/SF route. I read that there is a new bus service that provides a tour like service, even with limited $1 fare (if you purchase the ticket early). Perhaps other folks can help you on this.

California has had a very dry year. You don%26#39;t see much greenery now. We get the rain during the winter months, between Nov and April, if this drought doesn%26#39;t continue. Regardless, you%26#39;ll enjoy this state, just being here.

Travelling from LA to San-Fran..

BindyC is «planning on spreading the trip up from LA over two days»

Good idea if you rent a car; not if you don%26#39;t.

It%26#39;s extremely important that you have daylight between San Luís Obispo and Monterey. Either town would be good to stay.

Turn the following upside-down:

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 Luís Obispo, and Los Angeles geocities.com/touringsfo/…DriveDir.html

The short answer is ____you need to rent a car.

Do a search on this Forum ';LA to San Francisco '; and ';San Francisco to LA'; and you will find lots of discussion on this subject.

Come back with more questions .