Expert: Ernest Tufft - 1/7/2011

Question
We live in MD and would like to fly to San Franscio and take a seven or eight day trip down the California coast.  We would like to spend about 3 days in Frisco and then drive the coast line to LA or San Diego.Would like some suggestions about the route, where to spend the nites, attractions etc.
    Thank You
     Charles Cooper

Answer
What a great trip you have planned!  Spend 3 days in San Francisco (not "Frisco", locals call it "the city") WITHOUT the rental car.  Study MUNI's website for details about the excellent transit system there that includes underground subway, surface street electric trolley, hybrid-electric buses, and of course, the cable cars.  You really don't need the tourist packages to get around.  Mix in with the locals on public transit.  SF is a safe and fun city relative to any of the east coast cities you may be familiar with.

When you do leave the city, I two possible recommendations that both involve taking the CalTRain commuter rail south to the Silicon Valley.  First, your could go all the way to the end at Gilroy, and then rent the car there.  Gilroy has all the major rental car companies.  Make reservations and figure out the details of getting from the CalTrain station to the rental car office.  Enterprise Rental will pick you up at the station for free, I believe.  Or, Second, you could take the "baby bullet" CalTrain train to Palo Alto, and get a rental car there.  Palo Alto also has all the major rental companies, but again be sure to study the train station to rental car office connection.  You probably don't have to take a taxi, but unfortunately American transit doesn't make these connections obvious enough.  Either approach will probably save you rental car dollars relative to the usual SFO car rental scheme, in part because you'll be at least 45 minutes further south.

The difference between these two CalTrain to rental car transitions whether or not you want to drive winding CA Hwy 9 from Saratoga (which is near Palo Alto) through the redwood studded Santa Cruz Mtns.  See my tips at VT for Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton, and Mt. Hermon.  Hwy 9 ends in Santa Cruz, the premier surf capitol of Northern CA.  If you want to stay overnight, I actually recommend finding a cozy lodge in the Santa Cruz mountains.  Unfortunately, I have no specific hotels other than what I have on VT.

Santa Cruz can also be reached by going over Mount Madonna from Gilroy, or it's also possible to continue US 101 S from Gilroy for awhile in route direct to Monterey to skip Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz mtns if you are in a hurry.

I would definitely stay in Pacific Grove for a night at least, this small town adjacent to Monterey, the more famous but more blatantly touristed city.  I don't recommend getting the room "with a view" because foggy mornings and evenings are a tradition here.  Look to wear sweaters and appreciate by trial and beach walks a very unique seascape eco-system.  Monterey Bay Aquarium, whale watching tours, and the like are all great fun too.  Dine in Carmel, and window shop this small town.  A good cheap thrill is a visit to the Carmel Mission, a fully restored 18th century mission village and church.

Whoops, my wife is calling me, please ask for more details in another question.  I hope this helps for Northern CA coast at any rate.