Los Angeles and PCH Vacation

[Noel Pagany]

Hello Everyone,

The wife, baby and I are planning a trip to Los Angeles for a few days followed up with a drive up to San Fran on PCH to enjoy the views and stay at some spots along the coast.  I was hoping to possibly get some recommendations of quality boutique hotels to stay at during our stay that won't break the family budget.  Also, if you have any towns to stay in on our way up to San Fran or dining spots that are worth recommending, please let us know.  We happened upon the movie Sideways the other day and now Santa Barbara County and the Hutching Post 2 are on the top of our minds as possible detours on route. 

Thanks in advance, Noel.

[Darryl Musick]

I second the recommendation for the Palace.

[Noel Pagany]

Julie, Palace Café sounds like a very unique and tasty adventure.  We will definitely put that on the agenda.  Thank you much for the suggestion.  Kind Regards.

[Darryl Musick]

You can get reasonable rooms at Solvang, just inland from Hitching Post 2, and in Buellton. Check the Kronburg, King Frederick, and Petersen Village Inns. A little farther north, you can get decent lodging at Morro Bay, 12 miles east of San Luis Obispo, withing a very short walking distance to the water.

Try the Firestone Grill in  San Luis Obispo, Springside Restaurant in Paso Robles, and...can't recommend this one enough...Passionfish in Pacific Grove (adjacent to Monterey).

Besides Santa Barbara, save some time to taste wine in Paso Robles too. We enjoyed Eagle Crest and Castoro wineries. Go to the Albertson's Supermarket just east of the 101 at Niblick Road to get the same local wines at 1/3 to 1/2 the winery price.

We have tons of reports on our site for central California...just search on California and Coast...at the link below.  

Darryl

The World on Wheels

[Noel Pagany]

Thanks Darryl.  I will check your blog posts.  I think I remember reading it a few years back and it was very informative for some CA travelling we were planning at the time.  Kind Regards.

[Leslie A. Westbrook]

Hi Noel,

I am the author of the Insiders Guide to Santa Barbara  = = what are your dates? Happy to help [e-mail]

[Noel Pagany]

Hi Leslie,

We are planning on arriving on the 5th of Sept and driving up to San Fran over the next 5 to 6 days...ideally we will probably like to stay by the beach for a couple of days prior to beginning the journey.  Thanks for the help!

 

Noel.

[Leslie A. Westbrook]

you need to book - - if you want to stay in santa barbara - - summer is busy around here... if i know your budget i can try to recommend...you would probably enjoy staying near the beach - try Casa del Mar...

if you don't care, then the Best Western in Carpinteria (a sweet little town where i live) is good value, nothing fancy - - and i'd be happy to greet and welcome you ... as a 3rd generation californian! Leslie

[Donna Hull]

Paso Robles is a budget-friendly diversion from the Pacific Coast Highway. La Bellasera makes a reasonable boutique hotel choice. http://myitchytravelfeet.com/2010/04/27/visit-paso-robles-california/

[Elyse Jessica Glickman]

Definitely go to Santa Barbara.  Maggie's  is a fantastic restaurant you won't want to miss, but there are great inexpensive eateries along State Street, the Coffee Cat for a fun mom-and-pop coffee house experience, and a famous Mexican place on Milpas street that Julia Child was a big fan of.

In Malibu, be sure to hit Tra de Noi--awesome italian food, Coogie's (family oriented, and excellent turkey burgers), and Nobu if you wish to splurge. The Malibu Country Mart (where Tra de Noi is located) is loaded with fun shopping and people watching.

I recently wrote about interesting hotels for Malibu Times, which you can find at ElyseGlickman.com under "General Interest Publications"

[Julius Berger]

You find lots of budget hotels at http://san-francisco.hotelscheap.org/ . You also find reviews to every hotel.