Hi,
Hoping for locals who know the central CA coastal areas well and are open to suggesting towns (other than just the one they may love) if it fits what we are looking for.
From Monterey to Santa Barbara. Especially interested in the areas around San Luis Obispo (I think, lol).
I have been through CA on numerous road trips growing up but traveling as an adult to CA mainly by plane. For several years more recently concentrated on the area between LA and San Diego (had friends to stay with, rental car and hey, disney!)
We are thinking of a road trip again for relaxation and nostalgia and would like to check out the central CA coastal towns just to get an idea if we fall in love with an area to potentially live there. I know it's not the CA I grew up visiting. We would skip SF (please don't try to talk me into stopping there) drop over to the coastal highway below SF and drive the coast down to OC and cut over to DL. Avoid driving I-5 through LA.
Main stops:
Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Hearst Castle: one of the new night tours (spring or fall).
San Luis Obispo - for some reason it seems like a nice beach town? Thought of staying here for a few nights. We can do day trip to Hearst Castle and then drive to DL.
Doing disney and the new Cirque show "Iris" at the Kodak theater in Hollywood.
Any area below Monterey but before Santa Barbara that comes closest to these criteria:
1) balmy, mild climate - not above 80 on a regular basis in summer.
2) not too cold - don't like the morning fog some places have year round (like SF has).
3) good air quality - wind blows pollution away but not super windy all the time. But not up against the Mts. so pollution sits over the town.
4) good water quality
5) not extreme traffic problems
6) some job opportunities - university, public library or some cool place like Pixar or Monterey Bay Aquarium or somewhere with stable (recession proof) jobs.
7) Not super super crowded, busy area.
8) Not a town that is overwhelmingly boat-centered like a harbor or bay where all you can see are boats. (Like Newport)
9) Not someplace super touristy (I kind of feel that way about Solvang - not my style) nor mountainy (spent a year in Sonora).
10) Santa Cruz is probably too big, too far inland and too "young surfer" for us.
11) Santa Barbara is probably too super elite for us.
12) Don't want a super sleepy (dead, boring, no economy) beach town.
13) Carmel is beautiful but seems a bit "old money" and maybe stuffy or boring.
14) Prefer to avoid the whole area around the military bases like Lompoc.
15) Please don't try to go above SF area - definitely not interested in N. CA.
16) Looking for beach, not mountains or camping. Maybe a larger town nearby to shop.
We were at Seal Beach and there were a billion ships lined up waiting to dock in San Diego! Then there are the military bases. Some areas along the coast are just not pretty anymore.
Is there somewhere that kind of comes close to my "dream" check list that we could visit and get a feel for? We're not wealthy but are not focusing on the cost of living at this point, we all know CA living is expensive. Anyhow, just saying it's okay to comment on that aspect but don't want it to be the top subject of discussion at this point.
What top three towns would you recommend? And why?
If you absolutely feel you have to go inland from a great coastal town since you think a particular town is awesome - please don't make it more than a half hour drive to the coast.
Is San Luis Obispo the largest town right in that area? I know it has the university.
Thanks to anyone who read all this and has some insights on the area.
Rhonna
Hoping for locals who know the central CA coastal areas well and are open to suggesting towns (other than just the one they may love) if it fits what we are looking for.
From Monterey to Santa Barbara. Especially interested in the areas around San Luis Obispo (I think, lol).
I have been through CA on numerous road trips growing up but traveling as an adult to CA mainly by plane. For several years more recently concentrated on the area between LA and San Diego (had friends to stay with, rental car and hey, disney!)
We are thinking of a road trip again for relaxation and nostalgia and would like to check out the central CA coastal towns just to get an idea if we fall in love with an area to potentially live there. I know it's not the CA I grew up visiting. We would skip SF (please don't try to talk me into stopping there) drop over to the coastal highway below SF and drive the coast down to OC and cut over to DL. Avoid driving I-5 through LA.
Main stops:
Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Hearst Castle: one of the new night tours (spring or fall).
San Luis Obispo - for some reason it seems like a nice beach town? Thought of staying here for a few nights. We can do day trip to Hearst Castle and then drive to DL.
Doing disney and the new Cirque show "Iris" at the Kodak theater in Hollywood.
Any area below Monterey but before Santa Barbara that comes closest to these criteria:
1) balmy, mild climate - not above 80 on a regular basis in summer.
2) not too cold - don't like the morning fog some places have year round (like SF has).
3) good air quality - wind blows pollution away but not super windy all the time. But not up against the Mts. so pollution sits over the town.
4) good water quality
5) not extreme traffic problems
6) some job opportunities - university, public library or some cool place like Pixar or Monterey Bay Aquarium or somewhere with stable (recession proof) jobs.
7) Not super super crowded, busy area.
8) Not a town that is overwhelmingly boat-centered like a harbor or bay where all you can see are boats. (Like Newport)
9) Not someplace super touristy (I kind of feel that way about Solvang - not my style) nor mountainy (spent a year in Sonora).
10) Santa Cruz is probably too big, too far inland and too "young surfer" for us.
11) Santa Barbara is probably too super elite for us.
12) Don't want a super sleepy (dead, boring, no economy) beach town.
13) Carmel is beautiful but seems a bit "old money" and maybe stuffy or boring.
14) Prefer to avoid the whole area around the military bases like Lompoc.
15) Please don't try to go above SF area - definitely not interested in N. CA.
16) Looking for beach, not mountains or camping. Maybe a larger town nearby to shop.
We were at Seal Beach and there were a billion ships lined up waiting to dock in San Diego! Then there are the military bases. Some areas along the coast are just not pretty anymore.
Is there somewhere that kind of comes close to my "dream" check list that we could visit and get a feel for? We're not wealthy but are not focusing on the cost of living at this point, we all know CA living is expensive. Anyhow, just saying it's okay to comment on that aspect but don't want it to be the top subject of discussion at this point.
What top three towns would you recommend? And why?
If you absolutely feel you have to go inland from a great coastal town since you think a particular town is awesome - please don't make it more than a half hour drive to the coast.
Is San Luis Obispo the largest town right in that area? I know it has the university.
Thanks to anyone who read all this and has some insights on the area.
Rhonna