Expert: Ernest Tufft - 9/3/2006

Question
We are from Panama, Central America. A group of married couples (40 years old average and no kids) would like to take a 1 week road trip vacation, starting in Los Angeles and finishing in San Francisco. We would like to stop, mostly at wineries and sleep at B&B. We would also like to spend some 3 days in SF and vecinities. Could you please give us some advise as where to stop on our way and where to eat and sleep? We would like to go in May 2007

Answer
Sounds like a great adventure.  If I understand you correctly, you wish to spend 7 days traveling to SF from LA, and then spend an additional 3 days in the SF Bay Area.  I note also a particular interest in visiting the winery regions, staying at B&Bs.  I would first like to recommend a modification of your itinerary because the most famous wine regions are just north of SF.  I suggest that you spend 4-5 days traveling north, and then an additional 4-5 days in SF and the wine regions north of the Bay.  There are many possibilities, but this may be a good one.  Day One:  Drive from LA through Malibu on Coastal Highway One, to see the spectacular multi-million dollar homes famous for falling into the sea, and then proceed to Santa Barbara for lunch (about 2-3hrs).  Stay the night at a B&B in Solvang, a quaint Danish tourist town with great bakeries, horse drawn carriages, and small town atmosphere (use Google to find the B&B you like).  This is the Santa Ynez Valley, which also has its share of vineyards and wineries.  Day Two:  Proceed through Santa Maria taking Hwy 101 through to San Luis Obispo, and stop for lunch in the quaint old downtown area.  Then, continue through to Paso Robles and stay in the B&B within the wine country here.  This is the region made famous for Pinot Noir in the film "Sideways", so there are many great wineries and restaurants in this area.  Day Three:  Take the road to Cambria, and Hwy 1 along the coast, stopping at the remarkable and excentric Hearst Castle at San Simeon.  From there, follow the winding coastal highway with spectacular views through to Carmel.  Walk through downtown Carmel and prepare to spend a small fortune at the outstanding Flying Fish Grill.  Ask the wine steward for help.  They have an excellent wine list and fantastic chef, but last time we were there, our party of 4 spent nearly $300- on dinner, dessert, and a couple bottles of wine.  Stay at a B&B in town be sure to drive along the coast viewing the world class collection of architecture gems among the beach houses there.  Day Four:  In the morning, proceed south along the coast through the gate into Pebble Beach 14 mile drive.  The entrance charge is worth the drive.  The coastal drive includes several world-class golf courses, multi-million dollar mansions, and a rocky sea scape with tide pools and a beautifully complex ecosystem on shore unlike anything found elsewhere in the world.  Stop at the numerous vista turn-outs, and continue through to stay at a B&B in Pacific Grove.  Depending on how time has been spent, there should be time for a few hours at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, just down the hill from Pacific Grove.  Fog is very common at this time of year, so prepare for cool evenings, but Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf is a good stroll in the evening just before dinner.  The restaurants here are very touristy, but you'll find reason to dine here nevertheless.  Day Five:  In the morning, walk around Pacific Grove/Monterey a bit, and then drive Hwy 1 through to Santa Cruz, stopping perhaps at Moss Landing for an early fresh crab sandwich, clam chowder, or other such seafood from a great fish market, or alternatively pushing on to the esplanade at Capitola to browse shops and eat with a view of the ocean.  After lunch, head to Santa Cruz.  This surf city has the oldest and largest arcade and boardwalk on the west coast, and a wharf with seafood restaurants, wild sea lions that are easy sea, and touristy oriented shops.  On the north edge of Santa Cruz is a lighthouse and natural sandstone sea arches that are quite lovely.  At night, dine in downtown Santa Cruz, which is off the waterfront.  It's a pleasant evening stroll with plenty of interesting shops.  Try eating at Sofit.  For the night though, I'd stay at a B&B in the redwood forest of the Santa Cruz mountains.  Use Google to find a good place near Felton, Ben Lomond, or Boulder Creek--tiny towns in the mountains along Hwy 9.  Day 5:  Head to the City!  Directions here can be a little tricky, but basically continue on Hwy 9 though to Saratoga--a Silicon Valley town and home to Stanford University.  It might be worth walking or driving around this area a bit before taking scenic freeway 280 along the ridge to SF.  SF is complex and deserves it's own itinerary.  I'd spend Days 6, 7, & 8 here, but I'm not sure what you would really like to do.  There are real tourist traps, which I personally don't feel are worth valuable time, such as the ferry ride to Alcatraz, but it all depends upon how much you love the city.  A hotel downtown will cost a bundle, and be careful about the claims of views toward the Golden Gate.  It's also possible to get a B&B in hillside Painted Lady Victorians, in one of the neighborhoods and still have easy access to all parts of town, as SF is very compact and has excellent public transport of all types.  Leave the car near the B&B and stay with public transport because parking is very expensive and very difficult in SF, and because the trolley, cable cars, underground Muni rail, and electric buses are actually a lot of fun.  We still haven't visited the most extraordinary wine region of California--Napa Valley.  I recommend driving across the Golden Gate Bridge and taking an overnight stay at a B&B in Calistoga or Saint Helena.  I can recommend several wineries to visit, but for that I would like you to go read my notes for Saint Helena, Calistoga, Oakville, and Yountville at Virtualtourist.com.  The Napa Valley has some 600 wineries spead out across a wide area of valley and mountains, and so deciding upon the relative handful to be visited takes additional thought.  I haven't provided specifics on which B&Bs to stay, but you can find many on-line with images, prices, calendar for reservations, etc, if you Google City Name and B&B.  Please ask again for further details if you like.