Monterey, Carmel, Morro Bay, Solvang, Santa Barbara - What to see or do?

Totally Judy

Totally Judy

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Dec 3, 2000
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My mom and I are going to be driving back down the coast of California in a few weeks, after visiting her 2 older sisters (Fresno and Santa Rosa area). It's been well over 30 years since I down up or down the coast, so I'm looking for suggestions on what to see or do.

My mom is 82, in great health, but this could possibly be her last visit to California, and most likely our last Girl's Road Trip to/from Central and Northern California, so we want to have a great time, and we love to have fun. She made me promise we would have fun!!

My mom is flying out from Oklahoma for a family reunion, and all of her children will be there, so that is wonderful. It's been 8 years since we were all together. Then I am driving her to see her 87 year old sister in Fresno for a few days, and then to Santa Rosa to see her 91 year old sister for a few days. Neither of them are able to communicate well and have health issues, but I'm certain they will recognize my mom and just being together will be good for the sisters. My mom will have made a special trip to see them, and it probably will be the last time she will.


We will be driving through Sausalito, San Francisco, Monterey, and Carmel in one day after leaving Santa Rosa, and staying over in Morro Bay. I've never stopped in Morro Bay before, so need some ideas of what not to miss.

Leaving Morro Bay, we'll be staying in Buellton, probably eating at Pea Soup Anderson's -a tradition. Will wander through Solvang and then head down to Santa Barbara. Suggestions for either of those spots?

We're good on what to do after leaving Santa Barbara, as we'll be back in the L.A. area where we lived for 30+ years.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. We have no agenda for what we are going to do on the drive down. All we have are motel reservations so that we know we will have some place to sleep at night.

Thanks,

TJ
 
Monterey---The aquarium and Cannery Row.:thumbup:

Carmel---Browse the WAY overpriced shops and take the 17 Mile Drive.

Morro Bay---Look at the rocks and eat at a restaurant.

Solvang---Look at all the overpriced "Danish" goods made in China :rolleyes: and eat Aebleskivers. (Been there-done that, many times) It will be probably be very hot.

Santa Barbara---Walk down State Street and be harassed by local scumbags.:rolleyes: Check out the beaches. Try breakfast at the Cajun Kitchen.

By the way, the last time we ate at Anderson's it wasn't very good. The tables were sticky, the waitress didn't give a rat's rear end and the soup tasted like it came out of a can. That was the one in Santa Nella. The one in Buellton may be better.
 
In Solvang visit Nordic Knives, really worth any time you can squeeze in.
 
stjames said:
In Solvang visit Nordic Knives, really worth any time you can squeeze in.
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UffDa said:
:thumbup: I forgot that one. It should be a "must see" for an BF member.
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Okay! Something positive to do in Solvang. That won't need to be squeezed in, it will be the main agenda. And we will probably take the 17-mile drive in Carmel, it is really pretty. I don't know if we will stop and shop, because the last time I was there it was like walking down Main Street Disneyland!

Really is it true that there is nothing to do in Morro Bay other than look at the rocks? No special restaurant? Maybe we will just skip staying in Morrow Bay and Buellton. No, wait. Maybe we will skip Morro Bay. I need to go to Nordic Knives in Solvang!

I've been pretty burned out on Santa Barbara the last several times I was there. I did enjoy this one small block that had antique stores in all of the houses on the street. Really interesting. And they had a Fat Burger. I love a chili-cheese Fat Burger with everything on it. Yummy for the tummy.

Thanks for the advice - both good and the warnings about the bad.

TJ
 
Totally Judy said:
urned out on Santa Barbara the last several times I was there. I did enjoy this one small block that had antique stores in all of the houses on the street. Really interesting. And they had a Fat Burger. I love a chili-cheese Fat Burger with everything on it. Yummy for the tummy.

Thanks for the advice - both good and the warnings about the bad.

TJ
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I'm guessing that you mean Brinkerhoff Avenue. The last time I drove through there most of the antique shops were closed or out of business. The poor economy has hit Santa Barbara pretty hard.

We were there last October and a lot of our favorite restaurants were gone.:(
 
UffDa said:
I'm guessing that you mean Brinkerhoff Avenue. The last time I drove through there most of the antique shops were closed or out of business. The poor economy has hit Santa Barbara pretty hard.

We were there last October and a lot of our favorite restaurants were gone.:(
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I guess we'll just keep on driving past Santa Barbara, unless we decide to go there to eat. I wonder if Sambo's is still open? I believe it is the original and last one. That would be a fun place to eat - good memories.
 
I'm not sure if 1 is open all the way down; you may want to check with CalTrans.

If you have to detour to 101, go down to Paso Robles and hit a couple wineries. They also have a fair number of antique shops around the City Park. If you go there eat at Villa Creek (facing the park); excellent upscale Californian/Mexican food.

There's a seafood place in Morro Bay that does fish and chips. It's right on the beach; can't remember the name, but the food was great. (Usually I just picnic on the beach with stuff I pick up on the way down.)

If you want something most people never heard of, let alone get to see, north of Plaskett you can turn inland and cut through Ft Hunter Liggett. At the main post you'll find a California Mission (surrounded by the post) and William Randoph Hurst's "hunting cabin". All of the post used to be his hunting preserve. There are elk on the property, as well as the usual deer, pigs, etc. I've seen more bobcats and puma there than anywhere else. If you continue in it's a short trip to King City and 101.

I quit going to Anderson's; it's not what it was.

The Mission by Solvang is nice, but the city's built up around it. There's a good sporting clays range out there if that's up your alley. I pretty much stick to meats/cheese/pastry as far as shopping goes.
 
Totally Judy said:
Okay! Something positive to do in Solvang. That won't need to be squeezed in, it will be the main agenda. And we will probably take the 17-mile drive in Carmel, it is really pretty. I don't know if we will stop and shop, because the last time I was there it was like walking down Main Street Disneyland!

Really is it true that there is nothing to do in Morro Bay other than look at the rocks? No special restaurant? Maybe we will just skip staying in Morrow Bay and Buellton. No, wait. Maybe we will skip Morro Bay. I need to go to Nordic Knives in Solvang!

I've been pretty burned out on Santa Barbara the last several times I was there. I did enjoy this one small block that had antique stores in all of the houses on the street. Really interesting. And they had a Fat Burger. I love a chili-cheese Fat Burger with everything on it. Yummy for the tummy.

Thanks for the advice - both good and the warnings about the bad.

TJ
Click to expand...
Sambos is still there on Cabrillo Blvd.
Fatburger closed a few years ago :(

Solvang has a brew company now
Solvang.jpg


Antique Alley (706 State Street ) is the largest and best antique shop in SB
There are 2 decent antiques shops in Goleta as well

For a change of pace===>
You could get lunch in Carpinteria or Summerland
Carp is an underrated town!!!! ;)
 
You should stop by my home town of Cambria. Its about 30 minutes north of Morro Bay, just south of Hearst Castle on the HW1. The HW1 was just officially opened three weeks ago after the landslides that kept it closed for the last four months. Cambria is a great little place to walk around and shop. Not a big town by any means, but still very cute and has an old east coast fishing village feel to it. If you and your mother in are in cambria at night you should stop by the restaurant that I manage. We are really famous for our pie and desserts. Come by and introduce yourself as long as its not a Wed, or Thurs. as I wont be there. Hope you and your mother have a great time on your trip.
 
Hearst castle is an interesting tour. You have to find some otters over by Morro rock, they are usually there. For pure dining heaven, go to Tognazzi's (may be spelled wrong) Dockside restaurant in Morro Bay it is on the esplanade by the big 3 smoke stacks. Order albacore wrapped in bacon with teriyaki glaze, and you will definitely come back the next day to have it again. 17 mile is a great drive, and will be windy and cool, way worth it for the shear beauty. Have fun.
 
Nepenthe Restaurant on RT 1 on the South end of Big Sur is worth a lunch break or just a cold drink. Views are great, kind of touristy but that's no reason not to stop.

Win
 
Pretty much all the suggestions everyone else have made, with emphasis on Nordic Knives. If you're so inclined and have never been before, the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose could be an interesting diversion without being too far out of the way.

In the SB area, the 194 is a nice drive, it mostly parallels the 101, but up against the hills, and runs through the backside of SB, Montecito, Summerland, Carpenteria and eventually runs into the 150 which takes you to Ojai (left) via Lake Casitas or back to the 101 (right). It's a nice, leisurely drive as opposed to the more frantic 101. You can pick it up off the 154 on your way out of Solvang after you come down off the coast range.

SB has a nice Natural History museum and their nice Botanical Garden is off the 194 also. (Don't blink)

It can be fairly easy for the uniniated to get lost, that's where the fun and adventure come in. There's plenty of places to stop and get your bearings. (And eat, drink, pee, etc.)

Have a good trip, whatever you two decide to do. :D
 
The aquarium at Monterey is supposed to be one of the very best, and Hearst Castle is 26 miles from Morro Bay.
You might stop at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. Lots of little tourist's shops in Carmel. Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musée National Picasso, Paris is at the De Young Museum in SF.

Unfortunately the Chateau Liberté is closed now in the Santa Cruz mountains. ;)
 
You just missed me... I'm in Fresno.
 
Thanks for all of the suggestions! I will make a list and see what my mom and I feel like doing on the way down the Coast. At least we now have some specific places to look for and to stop at.

Thanks much!!!

TJ
 
Hearst Castle was pretty cool, and I don't usually go in for the tour type things. When we did that, we drove right past Solvang. :grumpy: Next time, maybe.
 
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