It's myself and my husband and we are going the first week in May. Breakfast options. Carmel is next to Monterey, which is a quaint upscale village with plenty of nice restaurants, boutiques, and tasting rooms. Founded on June 3, 1770, it was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico. Take 101, it's much more pleasant than I-5. Fun place! (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Sip a glass of wine aboard the Chardonnay II. It is ideally located at the heart of the city and is a quick walk to the restaurants, attractions and bars of the Downtown, the Boardwalk and Midtown neighbourhoods. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Do you own an awesome hostel, hotel or apartment? Most major cities along the coast including San Francisco, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles have the presence of most hotel chains and it is easy to find a place to stay for all budgets. If live music is more your thing, Midtown is also where youll find a great selection of concert halls and karaoke parlours, open mic nights and street-side buskers. I think between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Dine on delicious dishes at 100 Mile Meals, a concept restaurant that only uses local goods. Should we. Monterey is more coastal - there are some beaches too, but the coastline is rocky so the focus is more on scenery and wildlife. Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Monterey are adjacent to one another.Santa Cruz would be further north. The other difference between the areas you mention is that Carmel is higher-end real estate. Guests can enjoy a variety of on-site amenities, like a swimming pool and free wifi. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). The great whites should be in their summer residence in Aptos by then, they usually show up in April, and if that interests you they can be seen from the sand or there are boat tours. Carmel has a great little white sand beach and a European cottagey vibe with lots of boutique stores (it is a pretty unique little community), Pacific Grove has Victorian B and B's but other more casual lodging with coastal bluff walkways. ISO Ocean front rental or hotel in the Monterey area. It's possible to stay anywhere in the area and get to everything else fairly fast. Sip seaside cocktails at Bay Bar and Grill. It has a convenient location, comfortable beds, and a great range of amenities and features. Have a fun trip! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. At Pitney Bowes, we do the right thing, the right way. Grab a drink at the Asti, an old-school dive bar. Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center Vacations ; You might want to consider two adjoining rooms. I have the time but worry about the length of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? netllama 7 yr. ago The driving time between Monterrey & Santa Cruz is about an hour. You might want to consider two adjoining rooms. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. I think my kids would love it. For things to see on the Monterey Peninsula see https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g580824-Activities-Monterey_Peninsula_California.html Answer 11 of 17: We (myself & two young sons) are making our way up from LA to San Francisco next month & want to spend a night in either Monterey or Santa Cruz. You'd be hard-pressed to find a better room in a better location than at the Wayfarer (12 E. Montecito St., 805/845-1000, dorm beds $50-90, private rooms $200-300). As a matter of fact I purchased the ProShow Gold DVD slideshow software and made a 35 min show with music and gave to my kids on Xmas. Walk the tiny .6-mile-long . 831-372 . Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. Wake up early and enjoy the beautiful view of the sea, beach and wharf right from your window. $209. Also be aware that Highway 1 between (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Rooms are equipped with A/C and also feature hair dryers, showers and ceiling fans. I would hang around Morro Bay for some water activity and marine mammal observation. The aquarium in Monterey is VERY worth going to. Santa Cruz is more beachy - lots of wide, sandy beaches, a good surf culture, historic seaside amusement park, eclectic downtown, etc. Are there a lot of must dos in Santa Cruz? Each room comes complete with a minibar, kitchenette and wireless internet access. 4:02 pm King City (California) stay for about 1 hour and leave at 5:02 pm drive for about 50 minutes. We've also never been to Cali if that makes a difference. Part of the trip will include a trip up hwy 1. There are several Best Westerns in town. It is a large area comprised of three main neighbourhoods Seacliff, Rio Del Mar and La Selva and is a great place to stay if youre looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk. When is your trip planned for? The beach at Capitola Village is good - there are a lot of shops and restaurants just off the beach, so that can be fun. The seaside town of Santa Cruz is one of the coolest places in California. Its always been a big hit with the kids in our family. The Best Western in Aptos is one of our best recommendation for where to stay in Santa Cruz for families. Answer 21 of 26: So with all the road and park closures in Big Sur we are considering cancelling our two night stay there in early March. A lot of people try to do the drive with only 1 or maybe 2 overnights, so splitting the trip more or less evenly becomes important, but with your plan, that's not an issue. If you are coming by Air or Train, San Jose is the best destination. Our Trip started in Santa Monica ending in SF. The room is spacious, with a comfy bed and has a private bathroom. 2. Thank you so much for the advice, I think my kids will probably be ready for more beach and less scenery so we will stay in Santa Cruz. We watched it that morning and DS said it was his favorite gift. Monterey (Spanish: Monterrey; Ohlone: Aacistak) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast. What do you think? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41178035', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California beaches are hot and sunny all the time. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-77302454', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Carmel is, they roll up the sidewalks at 6pm ;-) so if you want any kind of nightlife other than a nice dinner out and perhaps drinks at a quiet bar, Monterey or Santa Cruz will be a better choice. Answer 1 of 19: Driving the coast from SF to LA. Eat an amazing meal at Hindquarter Bar & Grill. :) Report inappropriate content november_moon San Jose, California Destination Expert for California Level Contributor 24,123 posts 138 reviews 71 helpful votes 8. Santa Cruz and its neighboring towns stretch along 6 miles at the northern edge of the Monterey Bay. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. However, you do not have to choose where to stay based on the aquarium, as Santa Cruz and Monterey are only about 45 minutes apart. Also.. is Santa Cruz a better beach destination for those that actually want to spend a little time in the water? Reserve now, pay when you stay. Which is exactly why I put together this guide to the best places to stay in Santa Cruz. It is only a few years old and is a very nice hotel. I always put up overflow family at the Holiday Inn Express during Thanksgiving and Christmas. More than 200 films have been shot in Monterey County, and it's now home to HBO's acclaimed Big Little Lies. Do you have any recommendations? Yes, finding a room which would hold a family of 6 is definitely a problem. I concur with november moon. Carmel has some very nice places to stay. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Both are great. The best one is the Best Western Plus All Suites Inn, further down on Ocean Street. Santa Cruz does have a scenic ocean area like Monterey and Carmel. Santa Cruz. Hwy 101 is nicely scenic though too. Once you hit Ventura, then you'll be on the coast through Santa Barbara. It has large rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom and contemporary amenities. Although it might be a little more upmarket compared to other areas of Santa Cruz, trust me when I say, it worth the splurge! The Rio Vista Inn is our favourite hotel in Santa Cruz. Right now we have a hotel booked for SF so we will definitely start there.. but I'm flexible to make changes after spending 1 or 2 days in SF. 7855 Monterra Oaks is an exceptional 2.72 acre private homesite boasting unobstructed panoramic ocean views of Monterey Bay, city lights and the Santa Cruz mountains. Shop until you drop at the Pacific Garden Mall. This charming hotel is one of our top picks for where to stay in Santa Cruz with kids if youre on a budget. Located just off Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterey, our pet-friendly Comfort Inn hotel offers easy access to many attractions in the Monterey Bay area. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. It's beautiful there and lots of things to see and do beyond the aquarium. I know because I know a lot of them personally, I am always astounded when people still say that Santa Cruz has a 'hippie vibe."downtown. There are loads of places that are great for family days out, and of course, the beach. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-77293425', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Cruz will never live down the fact that the University was founded just before the 60's revolution", 50 years ago, by the way. Set in central California, Santa Cruz is the epitome of west coast cool. Santa Cruz seamlessly blends its relaxed beach lifestyle with a vibrant culture and some high tech industry. Enjoy delicious food and drinks at Red Restaurant and Bar. Feast on fresh and delicious seafood and more at Stagnaro Bros. Go for a stroll along the Santa Cruz Wharf and spot local wildlife like sea lions, whales, birds and more. I would take Hwy 101 north to San Luis Obispo and pick up Hwy 1 there. If you want to go a more scenic way along the CA Highway 1 (also known as the Pacific Coast Highway or the PCH), then plan that to take you about 2.25-2.5 hours. We arrive Monday afternoon and leave Saturday morning out of the San Francisco airport. The aquarium in Monterey is a big draw, and it is very good. document.getElementById("ak_js_2").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); document.getElementById("ak_js_3").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Both places are fun and beautiful with a lot to see! The beach is wide and good for walking. Check out the Mnin-Mokre, Voivodia de Santa Cruz, Polnia WinterCast. This delightful hotel is one of the best places in Santa Cruz to stay in because it has a great central location. They are adjacent. Is there a decent midprice one? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41178810', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California you have to be south of Point Conception, which is just north of Santa Barbara.
Nicholas Dean Des Barres, Articles S