Expert: Steve Summers - 3/2/2005

Question
Hello Steve,
  We are flying into Sacramento on March 7 and will visit some friends in the Sacramento area.  We will then rent a car & drive to Palm Desert to visit friends.  My question is that we will have approximately 3 days after leaving Palm Desert to see or do something fun before returning to catch our plane in Sacramento on Wed. March 16.  Do you have any ideas?  We are pretty adventurous so maybe something different or unusual?  We like to bike, hike, sightsee (just be a tourist)  We have seen most of the popular things in LA such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Rodeo Dr and Mann Theater. Thanks for any help you might give us regarding sights, restaurants, hotel. Judi  

Answer
Hi Judi,

Here are a few ideas:

Head up the coast over a couple days. Take I-10 all the way to the coast and head north. See why people live in Malibu. The views are beautiful. Book a hotel in Carpinteria or Santa Barbara. I like staying at the Holiday Express Suites in Carpinteria, but you might also want to check out the Montecito Inn. It has rather low rates now, and you will be traveling on Sunday, so it's a good time to book.

In SB, check out State Street: It's full of shops and restaurants, and ends at the beach. At Anapamu & State, I like to eat at the Acapulco restaurant by the fountain. Very nice atmosphere.

From SB, continue on 101 north, and drive to San Luis Obispo. Have dinner at the Apple Farm, but we like to stay at the Quality Suites in SLO. Nice rooms, and a pretty good breakfast to get you going. Actually, you might want to have some dinner back in Pismo Beach. Our two favorite restaurants are the Cracked Crab and Pismo Beach Fish & Chips. Splash Cafe is also excellent clam chowder in a bread bowl.

An alternative to SLO would be Monterey. If you choose this, you MUST go to Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In Monterey, we liked staying at the Best Western Monterey Inn, or at the Best Western 5th & San carlos in the middle of Carmel. The Aquarium at Monterey is one of the best anywhere, and it's right on historic Cannery Row. Stop in at the slightly touristy (but fun) Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, and take your picture out front at the "bus stop".

Have a great adventure!

Steve