Monterey and Pismo.

[Freds]

We're heading over to West Coast USA next week, a complete change for us from the usual Indian Ocean and Middle East. We've two nights booked en-route between San Francisco and L.A. Any suggestions as to what to see in Monterey and Pismo please ?

[nick francis]

Pizmo beach on a Sunday, a mecca for Sand buggies, bikes and birdlife




Monterey, not too far from this

Edited by nick francis on Wednesday 31st August 16:27

[Unexpected Item In Bagging Area]

Each to their own etc, but Monterey is very tacky on the whole and the Fisherman's Wharf area is best avoided IMO. Carmel just down the road however is lovely and well worth spending a decent amount of time wandering around. This is a really nice restaurant there http://www.labicycletterestaurant.com

Pacific Grove is pleasant too.

Hurst Castle is meant to be amazing, although we didn't make time to stop off there.

Cambria is a nice little town if you need to stretch your legs on route to Pismo.

Santa Barbara is about 1.5 hours from Pismo and is a great town with good beaches, lots of nice shops and some decent restaurants. Try an ice cream from McConnells.

[chopper602]

Just been to both the places you mentioned. Monterey has the aquarium and Pebble beach and little else (it's a nice enough place, but not a lot there). Pismo beach is about that, a nice beach, a pier and assorted tat shops. We enjoyed Santa Cruz a lot more (Ocean Pacific Lodge was good). If you get chance before Pismo, call into Solvang, a little in from the coast but a lovely town (originally colonised by Danes), with some great local beers.

I take it you're taking in Route 1 - the PCH - it's quite spectacular.

[Little Pete]

Agree with chopper602 about Solvang and PCH. It's well worth the trip. If you get to Monterey make sure you go to the Sandbar and Grill underneath the Commercial Wharf, About a ten minute walk north from the touristy Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row, it's a fantastic place and if you are into your films, Clint Eastwood ate there in Play Misty For Me!
Also in town on Tuesday there is a brilliant farmers market. Go hungry if you go.

[S7Paul]

A few ideas:

Whale watching boat trip from Monterey. Monterey Aquarium. Point Lobos Sate Natural Reserve is excellent. Carmel Mission. Mission Ranch restaurant in Carmel (owned by Clint), but get there by 17:00. 17-mile Drive (along the coast between Monterey and Carmel - very scenic). McWay Falls (by Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park). Hearst Castle well worth visiting. Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Roaring Camp Railroad near Santa Cruz (1905 3' gauge steam engine takes you on a ride through a redwood forest and up some steep gradients - the engine is a mechanical marvel). Natural Bridges State Park. Limekiln State Park - great trail up through the woods to a waterfall and some old (and very large) disused lime kilns.

We did all of the above (and more) during our trip down the PCH, and don't regret any of it.

[GCH]

Carmel is minutes away from Monterey, and is a lovely (money) town with lots of small independent places.
Don't bother with 17 mile drive - it is a rip off, crowded, serves little purpose except line the pockets of the already very wealthy residents (or at least reduce their tax bill), and there is far better scenery elsewhere on the PCH that you don't have to pay for. There are some vineyards in the area which are worth a look, especially if you head out towards carmel valley.

Pismo: Zorro's.
Also stop around San Luis Obispo for some good smaller vineyards/tastings too.


Hopefully the fires have dies down now...it was really bad last month south of carmel on the PCH

[marcosgt]

Given what most of the west coast south of SF is like, describing Monterey as 'tacky' seems harsh.

Sure Cannery Row is a 'bit' touristy, but most of the town is pretty quiet and rather nice by Californian standards.

Pacific Grove (surely it IS part of Monterey really?) is nice, Carmel is worth a visit just to have a laugh at what Californians think an 'English village' is like!

I always say if I HAD to live in the States (not something I would choose to do I think), but could choose, I'd pick Monterey.

Laguna Seca's worth a visit if you have any interest in Motor Racing.

M.

[Turbodiesel1976]

It would be a crime not to visit Carmel when you're in that area. The Hog's Breath inn is great for a few drinks (it used to be owned by Clint Eastwood who still lives in the area and used to be mayor of Carmel) and I had one of the most memorable lunches ever there in a restaurant called Portabella which is on Ocean Avenue. Have a great trip!

[blippo1984]

Sea Cayaking in Moss Landing or Monterey itself.