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I've always dreamed of driving up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco. I imagined myself in a sky-blue Mustang convertible, hair blowing in the wind, whipping around the curvy road like a pro. It didn't quite happen that way (alas, no convertible), but I fulfilled my dream none the less.
I embarked on this leg of the trip with my family, and I have to say, we planned our stops pretty well, driving 2-3 hours between each meal or activity. We started in Los Angeles, and stopped in Santa Barbara, Cambria, San Simeon, Carmel, Monterrey, and finally, San Francisco. My one regret -- we kind of sped through the trip, which left no cushion of time to explore. But hey, there's always next year. Read on for a quick recap of each stop...
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We stopped at the Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara for lunch (8301 Hollister Avenue; 805-968-0100; www.bacararesort.com). The resort was absolutely gorgeous -- a huge complex, right on the beach, so large that there are golf carts readily available to shuttle you around. The food was nothing special, but the atmosphere makes it worth the visit.
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Our next stop was the Blue Dolphin Inn in Cambria (6470 Moonstone Beach Drive; 805-927-3300; www.cambriainns.com), one of many small, locally-owned inns along Moonstone Beach Drive. The rooms' chaste decor embodied the seaside spirit, and the staff was beyond friendly. Breakfast is included with the room, and comes in a to-go bag, perfect for an early morning picnic on the beach.
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We had some time to kill before sunset, so we we walked along the old wooden boardwalk that ran parallel to Moonstone Beach Drive. I hung out with my siblings (from left: Maia, Jane, and Mekki) at one of the vista points, watching the seals and waiting for the rest of the family to catch up.
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The tranquil scene along the boardwalk during sunset.
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We kicked off the second day of our two-day road trip at the historic Hearst Castle (750 Hearst Castle Road; 800-444-4445; www.hearstcastle.org) in San Simeon, a ten-minute drive from Cambria. Alex Trebek narrated the tram ride from the visitors center to the estate; this shot is of the view on the way up to the castle.
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The only way to see Hearst Castle is through a tour -- you can't just walk around unmonitored. There are three tours available: the Grand Rooms, the Upstairs Suites, and the Cottages & Kitchen Tour. While the tour itself is only 30 minutes, you need to set aside at least an hour and a half to account for the tram ride and the wait time for the next available tour. You can view the spectacularly opulent outdoor pool with all three tour options, just make sure you resist the temptation to jump in -- there's a $750 fine.
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Our next stop was supposed to be the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but we were so far ahead of the other car, we took a quick detour in Carmel. We didn't stop at this wine tasting, but this little statue is a great representation of the overall posh cuteness of the town.
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We did stop at Salumeria Luca (Dolores Street between Ocean and Seventh, Carmel-by-the-Sea; 831-625-0264; www.salumerialuca.com) for a fresh, made-to-order panini.
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The Monterey Bay Aquarium (886 Cannery Row; 831-648-4800; www.montereybayaquarium.org) was by far my favorite stop on the trip. Before this visit, I thought that all aquariums were more or less the same. Not so.
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The selection of animal life is incredible -- the sea otters are always a crowd pleaser; the jellyfish, sea horses, and gigantic octopus were also highlights. But what sets this aquarium apart is the unique layout and architecture, and the care that the organization puts into the overall experience -- the ambient music present throughout the aquarium was a great touch.
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After an accidental detour through the Bear Creek Redwoods Open Preserve (windy roads, great smelling air), we arrived in San Francisco, just in time for dinner at The Slanted Door (1 Ferry Building #3; 415-861-8032; www.slanteddoor.com), a Vietnamese-inspired restaurant, serving food family style.
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The next day was Outside Lands… stay tuned for the full recap, coming soon.
