Expert: Steve Summers - 12/30/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi 4 of us are planning a drive from SFO beginning June 12 - we made a 3 night reservation at Fishermans Wharf, 1 night in Pacific Grove to attend the US Open practice round, must leave there on 6/16 after watching.  Not sure how far to drive thinking San Simeon (made a reservation for 1 night - not sure if that is enough.  I need suggestions regarding going forward to arrive SAN 6/20.  How long in LA and where and should we go to Catalina Island?

ANSWER: Hi Linda,

Sounds like a GREAT plan...

I think I would have stayed another night in PG (probably at Gosby House or Seven Gables Inn), in order to visit Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium. But that's my personal preference.

I also need to warn you that June can be VERY foggy along the coast. Rather than the expected Californa sunshine, you might just see fog all the way down the coast at that time. It comes and goes, but is ti be expected in June. We call it "June Gloom".

I think it's a good to stop around San Simeon or SLO for the night of June 16. To truly appreciate the coast, you should take a slow drive down highway 1 and visit Hearst Castle. You should also stop in Pismo Beach and relax at the beach. Grab a bowl of clam chowder at Splash Cafe, just up the street from the Pismo Pier. Best clam chowder in a bread bowl I've ever had. In SFO, the bread is the star, but in Monterey and Pismo, the chowder is the star.

Whether you stay in San Simeon, SLO, or Pismo, be sure to stop into Santa Barbara on the way to LA. State Street is fun to check out, as well as the Santa Barbara Mission. Those 18th-century friars had some of the most choice real estate in CA. And State Street is about 2 miles of shops, restaurants, and fun little bars that stretches from the beach up towards the mountains. If you get tired, they have a shuttle that runs up and down the street. Solvang, the little Danish town, is also cute, and worth a stop. It's about 50 miles before Santa Barbara, just off 101.

Depending on how long you want to explore Santa Barbara, you might want to stay in the area, or just punch through to LA that night. Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Orchid Suites, Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, or Holiday Inn Walk of Fame, all near Hollywood and Highland. Another one is the Best Western Sunset Plaza. In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn.  There is also a nice place in Burbank called the Best Western Media Center, very close to Warner, NBC, and Universal Studios. Hollywood might be a bit more exciting, but Anaheim around Disneyland is definitely safer. Either one is a good base of operations, or you can spend one or two nights in each.

If you are going to Catalina, the main departure points are San Pedro, Long Beach, and Dana Point. All the info is at http://www.catalinaexpress.com/. Dana Point actually has the nicest area to park in order to get there, but the fewest excursions.  


Have fun!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!  Your ideas really help.  I looked at a map again and decided to stay a night in Santa Barbara after leaving San Simeon.  As for PB - no rooms avil due to the US Open - and what might be are triple the usual price.  Just one quick question regarding a car.  We are picking up in SFO and driving to SAN - it looks like I have to pay a $300 drop fee.  Is there anything else that you know of or can suggest?

Answer
Hi Linda,

We run into the same issue ourselves. We've been lucky to get a room at the Gosby House the weekend of the Concourse D'Elegance, which is also the weekend of the races at Laguna Seca and the Monterey County Fair. We've noticed that the Four Sisters don't gouge the way a lot of other places do. Check out foursisters.com to see some of their other properties, as well.

Sadly, the drop fee is becoming a fact of life. A few calls around to different car companies may give you a better deal. We've always had good luck with Enterprise, but they may also charge the fee as well. I have noticed that these fees arise due to travel patterns, such as a large number of people going north to south in the fall, and the opposite way in the spring. I don't know what any particular car rental company will do, but I've usually had good luck after making a few calls to car rental companies. Different companies charge different fees, and sometimes none at all.

Good luck!