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San Diego to San Francisco in 7 Days (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Ron Swanson
- Start date
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
Chaka
Footballguy
@Ron Swanson I live in San Diego and my mother lives in Carmel, CA. I do this drive 4-5 times a year for the past 20 years or so. I have a ton of thoughts for you and will post as they come to mind.
My first thought is that is an ambitious amount of travel over 7 days. You won't have much time in each location.
If your wife loves wine I think Paso Robles (east side of your Hearst Castle, Elephant Seal leg) is absolutely worth a stop. Tons of wineries and a great growing food scene. I have specific restaurant recommendations if you're interested. Ditto for pretty much every place you're going.
I'll post more as it comes to me.
I am happy to chat IRL about it as you are planning over the next few months.
My first thought is that is an ambitious amount of travel over 7 days. You won't have much time in each location.
If your wife loves wine I think Paso Robles (east side of your Hearst Castle, Elephant Seal leg) is absolutely worth a stop. Tons of wineries and a great growing food scene. I have specific restaurant recommendations if you're interested. Ditto for pretty much every place you're going.
I'll post more as it comes to me.
I am happy to chat IRL about it as you are planning over the next few months.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
Whether it's north to south, or south to north, get on the Amtrak Surfliner and relax. Won't have to sweat out all the traffic. Plus, beers aplenty.
Chaka
Footballguy
Not a bad call. Got a good stop in Downtown LA at Union Station, which is surrounded by a lot of good options to visit (as well as a stark reminder of the severity of the homelessness problem we face). Good food and drink scene as well as some amazing architecture and history. The stop in Santa Barbara is in the heart of a great walking district for beer, wine and food.
I don't know much about the stops between SB & SLO.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
The stops from San Juan Cap to SD are great. San Juan has a nice restaurant (Trevor's on the Tracks) and shops around if he wants to check that out and hop on the next train. Nothing but the Pacific Ocean after that. Plenty of leg room, unlike a plane ride, super chill and relaxing. Plus, the roadwork on the 5 can be a nightmare.
Chaka
Footballguy
Forgot about the San Juan Capistrano stop, I did that one briefly once and it did seem like a cool walking district.
You're right about the stops between there and Downtown San Diego too. Almost all of them have cool walking neighborhoods around them. A lot to take in on one trip though.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
No need to get off on every stop, just options of some cool towns to take in. And not have to deal with any driving. I just did it this past weekend. So kickback. That stretch of beach towns is great. Hell, he can get off at San Clemente and have lunch on the pier, no problem. The next Surfliner will be along in no time. Pretty cheap, too. Not much more than gas or a rental car would cost him...and all the hassle that goes along with that.
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
Solvang might be something to add onto the itinerary as well. It's not far from Santa Barbara and probalby won't take you far off the path you are planning on taking anyhow.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
GoBirds
Footballguy
This is a pretty cool idea, how do the views compare to making the drive in the stretch from Santa Barbara to San Francisco?
On a separate note, if this is a one in a lifetime trip with a large budget google Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur......it’s above my budget but to do it right for one trip the place is amazing.
Rodrigo Duterte
Footballguy
I'll defer to someone else for that stretch of the trip as I don't quite remember all of it, been awhile. I do know the drive is nothing special, until you get to the Monterey part, if I remember correctly. But I'm sure you can rent a car for that stretch if you want. The San Diego to San Juan Capistrano stretch is a no-brainer though, especially with the work they are now doing on the 5. It's pretty much entirely ocean views. Make sure to get a seat on the top part of the train and on the Pacific side. You can leave your stuff on or above your seat and go to the bar / snack shack, no problem. It cost me $48 to go from Solana Beach to Fullerton, round trip.
And if you were to get off in downtown LA and grab an Uber/Lyft, there are lots of eateries and things to see nearby. You will go inland from there (the valley) but then it curves back in towards the ocean as you head to Santa Barbara and beyond. So much better than working your way around traffic.
Solvang is a Danish tourist trap. If you like to walk around and go to trinket shops then have it. Tons of people walking around. Rather than Solvang I would suggest going to Firestone Walker Brewery or Fig Mountain Brewery in Buellton especially if you like beer. They are both great stops right off the 101 for lunch a brew or two. Time better spent than walking around a Danish town full of trinkets.
If you like wine over beer then you can go about 20 minutes west off the 101 and hit the Lompoc wine ghetto. Quite a few quality tasting rooms in close proximity.
jvdesigns2002
Footballguy
I will agree to disagree with this. There is a lot more to Solvang than trinkets. People go there to see some beautiful architecture, enjoy a nice meal and to enjoy being in an artistic culture and environment. Since when is people walking around and enjoying an artistic environment considered a big negative? I love beer myself--but comparing a visit to Solvang to a visit to a brewery is an apples and oranges comparison at best. They are two completely different experiences and dynamics. I don't think it's really fair to categorize one as "wasted time".
I just don't get the appeal. It's a quaint Danish looking town. Not a lot to it. If you enjoy that kind of thing then great. I just think it is way overrated but that might also be because I live 20 minutes from it so it isn't anything new to me.
I only mentioned the breweries in lieu of Solvang because the OP seems to have a limited time and they are closer to the main highway and a nice stop for a lunch.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Well, this is an interesting development...I was looking forward to renting a cool car and driving ti but this Surfliner option is tempting.
nirad3
Footballguy
Lots of good brews in San Diego. There are plenty of SD folks here that can chime in.
If you want to pit stop in the Newport / Huntington Beach area, I have a spot just up the road from that locale that has 4 breweries within walking distance and a bonus dive bar included.
Feel free to respond here if you'd like the details on said crawl. Have fun.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
nirad3
Footballguy
Chaka
Footballguy
How long are you going to be in SD before heading on your road trip? Where are you staying?
Cedros avenue in Solana Beach has an urban winery (Carruth Cellars) and micro brewery (Culture Brewing) directly across the street from each other (the brewery has a different food truck every day as well). It's a beautiful beach community with good restaurants (Pizza Port also brews their own beer). That area puts you right in the middle of Del Mar to the south and Cardiff/Encinitas to the north. It's all beaches, eating and drinking. Highly recommend.
Chaka
Footballguy
So what is your general style @Ron Swanson? You mentioned beer and fishing does that mean you are more comfortable at shorts and flip-flops restaurants? You like street food over sit-down? Looking to button up and have some pinkys-out fine dining experiences?
You are probably staying close to Downtown SD while here but if you like IPAs it's almost wrong not to head up to Stone Brewery in Escondido. If not the actual creator of the West Coast IPA they are certainly the spiritual father and one of the forerunners the boom in San Diego. The problem is it is a bit out of the way. The grounds and restaurant at the Escondido location is amazing but there is another location at Liberty Station which is very accessible to the airport and Downtown SD. Near the water, lots of shops and restaurants close to Little Italy as well. It's probably a better choice than Escondido.
You are probably staying close to Downtown SD while here but if you like IPAs it's almost wrong not to head up to Stone Brewery in Escondido. If not the actual creator of the West Coast IPA they are certainly the spiritual father and one of the forerunners the boom in San Diego. The problem is it is a bit out of the way. The grounds and restaurant at the Escondido location is amazing but there is another location at Liberty Station which is very accessible to the airport and Downtown SD. Near the water, lots of shops and restaurants close to Little Italy as well. It's probably a better choice than Escondido.
Jefferson the Caregiver
Rebel Without A Pause
Agree with Russian River area for wine. Healdsburg is cool and you have endless options in the neighboring bordering towns in the country for wine. Unless you feel like you need to hit Napa on the name alone, which is also fine but even more expensive.
Tahoe is great but it's 4 hours or so from SF so a little out of way. You will have to tweek your agenda if you do that.
Tahoe is great but it's 4 hours or so from SF so a little out of way. You will have to tweek your agenda if you do that.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
We're at the Grand Hyatt near the Convention Center and Gaslamp. I'll have Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday in SD. Sunday night and Monday are work.
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
Shorts and flip-flops all the way. Street food and dive bars. I do like great meals and will dress the part if the restaurant is worthy. And I do have fancy flip flops and everyday flip flops. So I can pull off pinkys-out in the Caribbean just fine. I think I'm staying close to Liberty Station. My first IPA was Arrogant *******. I hated it. That was probably 20 years ago and I can't get enough of the stuff now.
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The Kansas Comet
Footballguy
Paso also has a fun area called Tin City with breweries, wine tasting, cider etc. Barrelhouse Brewing Co up there makes my favorite IPA in the area, better than ones I've had from Firestone or Figueroa Mountain, in my opinion.
Also, there are plenty of great wine tasting options in the Santa Ynez/Los Olivos/Solvang/Buellton area not far off the 101, as well as some good tasting rooms in Santa Barbara (Grassini and Au Bon Climat are my favorite two in SB and, conveniently enough, right next to each other).
OrtonToOlsen
Footballguy
Tin City is cool for wine for sure. Barrelhouse is great but they’re the only brewery in Tin City.The Kansas Comet said:
Ron Swanson
Footballguy
A few highlights and lowlights from the trip:
San Diego - A little restaurant called The Lion's Share. Spectacular food and cool atmosphere. Camel Tacos, Elk Loin, and Bison Sausage stole the show.
Wound up with an almost brand new BMW 4 series hardtop convertible for the drive. Not a car I would buy, but perfect for the PCH drive.
Venice Beach - should have skipped this. The whole place smelled like piss and skunk weed. Very dirty...not my scene.
Seal Beach - Stopped here for lunch. Looks to be a nice quaint little town near LA on the water. Would visit again.
Santa Barbara - Loved it. Nice relaxing spot with a bunch of good food options. Enjoyed Institution Ale brewery. East Beach Tacos was solid. Loved the courthouse. Just beautiful. One of my favorite public buildings in the US.
Cambria - I forgot about the brewery owned by a member here but we did get to Boni's Tacos. Little hole in the wall and great tacos.
Monterrey - The squid man, the squid. Best calamari I've ever had in my life by a very wide margin at Sandbar grill and followed it up the next morning with a squid steak and eggs at Lulu's Griddle in the Middle.
Monterrey to Big Sur was by far the best part of the drive. Beautiful. Just beautiful. Hearst Castle and the Elephant seals were cool but that drive, wow.
Davenport - Cemitas 1 Tacos was highly rated but just meh for me. Too hipstery. The Beaufort Winery nearby up Bonny Doon road was cool and a nice drive. The tasting room is in an old Hell's Angels clubhouse. The wife liked the wine.
San Francisco - I'm not a big city guy but I did enjoy San Francisco. Felt like it had a bit of a a ruffian vibe. Those hills are too much for this fat flatlander though. Enjoyed Chinatown. Had too many Irish coffee's at Buena Vista. Ate sourdough.
Napa - Took wine trolley around to 4 wineries. Pestoni was cool and I liked the wine. Andretti's felt like a big family place so it was nice. Didn't care for the others. Ate at Bouchon in Yountville. Meh. I expected to be blown away and wasn't. Dinner the next night at CIA Copa was much better. Best gnocchi I've ever had.
I'm probably forgetting plenty, and I think I just wrote all about food...but I enjoyed it and that's kinda how I travel. One long bar hop. Met some cool people along the way and have a whole new appreciation for CA. Will for sure get back and spend more time in the North.
San Diego - A little restaurant called The Lion's Share. Spectacular food and cool atmosphere. Camel Tacos, Elk Loin, and Bison Sausage stole the show.
Wound up with an almost brand new BMW 4 series hardtop convertible for the drive. Not a car I would buy, but perfect for the PCH drive.
Venice Beach - should have skipped this. The whole place smelled like piss and skunk weed. Very dirty...not my scene.
Seal Beach - Stopped here for lunch. Looks to be a nice quaint little town near LA on the water. Would visit again.
Santa Barbara - Loved it. Nice relaxing spot with a bunch of good food options. Enjoyed Institution Ale brewery. East Beach Tacos was solid. Loved the courthouse. Just beautiful. One of my favorite public buildings in the US.
Cambria - I forgot about the brewery owned by a member here but we did get to Boni's Tacos. Little hole in the wall and great tacos.
Monterrey - The squid man, the squid. Best calamari I've ever had in my life by a very wide margin at Sandbar grill and followed it up the next morning with a squid steak and eggs at Lulu's Griddle in the Middle.
Monterrey to Big Sur was by far the best part of the drive. Beautiful. Just beautiful. Hearst Castle and the Elephant seals were cool but that drive, wow.
Davenport - Cemitas 1 Tacos was highly rated but just meh for me. Too hipstery. The Beaufort Winery nearby up Bonny Doon road was cool and a nice drive. The tasting room is in an old Hell's Angels clubhouse. The wife liked the wine.
San Francisco - I'm not a big city guy but I did enjoy San Francisco. Felt like it had a bit of a a ruffian vibe. Those hills are too much for this fat flatlander though. Enjoyed Chinatown. Had too many Irish coffee's at Buena Vista. Ate sourdough.
Napa - Took wine trolley around to 4 wineries. Pestoni was cool and I liked the wine. Andretti's felt like a big family place so it was nice. Didn't care for the others. Ate at Bouchon in Yountville. Meh. I expected to be blown away and wasn't. Dinner the next night at CIA Copa was much better. Best gnocchi I've ever had.
I'm probably forgetting plenty, and I think I just wrote all about food...but I enjoyed it and that's kinda how I travel. One long bar hop. Met some cool people along the way and have a whole new appreciation for CA. Will for sure get back and spend more time in the North.
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