First Timer’s Guide: California Coast Road Trip

First of all, if you’re at all on the fence about doing the California Route 1 road-trip, you’re doing it! You 100% need to and it’s a bucket list item that needs to be

checked off. We did the drive over a holiday weekend, Labor Day, which worked perfectly. Seeing so many new places in so little time FUELED my gemini soul to a tee.

We hit the road around 11:30am on Friday and we’re back home by 7pm on Monday. Get ready because this is going to go into some serious detail for you! And I can’t wait to do this again as there is SO MUCH to see along the way that we haven’t even touched on just yet.

Day 1: Los Angeles to Morro Bay

SOLVANG: Little Denmark

• PurelyTip: Leave after rush hour around 10-11am and hopefully traffic will be lighter for you! Timing wise, be sure to make it to Solvang before 3pm when a lot of the lunch spots are then closed! 
• Nick’s Photo Tip: Hit any of the Danish windmill buildings from a low angle to get the full shot and make your subject look larger than life! 
• Total Time Spent: 2 hours
• Total $$ Spent: $82.86
  • Lunch at Panino, Wine Tasting at Sevtap & Pastries at Motensen’s.

Starting from LA, head up the coast and then straight to Solvang. Solvang is straight out of a movie and a little Denmark, complete with Danish Bakeries, tasting rooms and cute shops (and tons of photo stops 😉 .) 

Our first stop here, we went straight for Mortensen’s Bakery. It’s SUCH a cute Danish Bakery. Nick went with an apple danish and I went for the cherry. We definitely could’ve shared one – they’re so rich flavor wise, I had a few bites and moved on to lunch. We walked down Copenhagen Drive afterwards to Panino for lunch. It has the cutest little spot to eat outside (with pink tables nonetheless.) I went with the veggie sandwich (and swapped in my Lynn’s Life Bakery Bread) while Nick went for a classic Turkey Sandwich.

Afterwards, it was time for some wine (obviously), so we went to Sevtap Tasting Room thanks to The Blonde Abroad’s recommendation. Nick got the red flight while I did the white and felt a bit tipsy after, ha! Then we were off yet again – not to worry, Nick was driving! 

PurelyExtra: In between Solvang & Morro Bay lies the infamous Madonna Inn, a fantasy-like resort that is eclectic and feels like a palace. Each room has its own name and personality. It books up far in advance, but it LOOKS like the best spot to stay for a girls trip 🙂 

MORRO BAY: The Quiet Fishing Town 

• PurelyTip: There’s a good chance it may be foggy depending on your arrival time. The most clear time is around 12pm – 3pm. They also do water activities in the town. You don’t need a ton of time there, just a few hours and a stay 🙂 
• Nick’s Photo Tip: Try to arrive between the hours listed above as it will be too hazy for a shot any other time! 
• Total Time Spent: 3 hours in the evening + 1 hour in the morning (spent night.) 
• Total $$ Spent: $434.39
  • Dinner at Dorn’s, Hotel Stay at Estero Inn & Breakfast at Shine Cafe

Total transparency here, we were a little disappointed at this spot based on the weather – it was super hazy/foggy during our time there, but it is such a cute little town! We arrived to Morro Bay around 5:30pm and checked right into our hotel, the Estero Inn. It’s a cute little hotel and truly one of the only in the area! It’s right on the bay and they even gave us a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival. We got a balcony room with a partial bay view and enjoyed the views!

After check in, we walked over to Dorn’s, which is an amazing local spot. It has such amazing views of the harbor, wish we saw them! Ha! We started with the steamed clams and I went with the blackened local snapper and steamed veggies. Nick got the seafood skewers and steamed veggies. The sourdough bread they give you is fresh and amazing! Worth a few bites for sure. Ask for one of the tables outside with the fire and a view, and a bottle of vino doesn’t hurt either! 

Day 2: Morro Bay to Monterey

Morro Bay (Cont.)

In the morning, we woke up around 7:30am, chilled for a bit on the balcony. Then, we walked over to Shine Cafe. It’s vegan, but even Nick can attest to it being absolutely AMAZING! Nick went with the chickpea scramble while I got the chia pudding. They make it with homemade almond milk and no added sweetener. We got a beet and celery juice and some vegan donuts and it was DELISH! 

HEARST CASTLE: The Enchanted Hill

• PurelyTip: Be sure to book your tour reservations in advance. You can check that off your list here. We did the 11am tour and it was super clear and amazing weather. 
• Nick’s Photo Tip: No flash photography allowed! The pool and terrace area adjacent to the pool are the best spots for pics and stick around after the tour to get your solo shots. During the tour, stay towards the front to get good shots with no people in them!
• Total Time Spent: 3 hours 
• Total $$ Spent: $97.57
  • Hearst Castle Grand Rooms Tour Tickets & Lunch at Hearst Castle.

This is a 100% must see stop at Hearst Castle. One, if you love a good photo opportunity, there are literally countless opportunities for that. Two, the Hearst property is truly jaw-dropping. There are still cows, zebra and deer that roam the property that you will definitely encounter. At one time there were even polar bears and giraffes! If you’re into art, you’re in luck as he has one of the most astounding art collections in the world. This is definitely a treat!

PurelyExtra: Afterwards, we were hitting Big Sur, so if you time it right, I would hold out to eat there for lunch. If not, you’re welcome to follow suit with us as we ate in the cafeteria at the visitors center. Nick got one of the Grass Fed Hearst Burgers and I got a salad with steamed veggies! 

BIG SUR: Big Love!

• PurelyTip: Drive this during the day, mid day. One for the views and two for safety! The roads are windy and the drops are steep 🙂 
• Nick’s Photo Tip: Leave time for multiple pull offs for photos. You’ll quite literally pull off of the road plenty of times. The best points for this are the first of the Big Sur Bridges, the Bixby Bridge and just after the Pfeiffer State Park entrance. 
• Total Time Spent: 4 hours 
• Total $$ Spent: $0

We enjoyed the ride, truly and had an amazing playlist on while I white knuckled the drive the entire time! Ha! We made three stops and Nick flew his drone at each – the first of the Big Sur Bridges: Big Creek Bridge, just after Pfeiffer State Park and Bixby Bridge. Afterwards, we were en route to Monterey! 

PurelyExtra: Truthfully I cannot WAIT to come back to Big Sur. During this road-trip, it was truly just enjoying the scenery for us. It’s on my bucket list to stay at Treebones Resort or Ventana Big Sur. Both would definitely have to be special splurge occasions! 

MONTEREY, PEBBLE BEACH & CARMEL: Seaside Delight

• PurelyTip: Come in the summer! It’s so nice during the day and chilly at night. Definitely give this spot minimum of ¾ of a day! Bring your patience in Carmel – it’s a busy little town with minimal parking. 
• Nick’s Photo Tip: Make sure you have space on your phone or any camera before the whale watching! Fast shutter speed is required to catch those babies! 
• Total Time Spent: 1.25 Days 
• Total $$ Spent: $346.15
  • We were able to book our hotel on points and simply had to pay the resort fee. Our spend includes the resort fee mentioned at Marriott Monterey, dinner and wine tasting at A Taste of Monterey & fro-yo Saturday evening, Whale Watching Tours, 17 Mile Drive Admission, and lunch at Carmel Belle in Carmel by the Sea. 

Monterey

Monterey is SO charming and the seaside areas are the focus of the town. Cannery Row and Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey are must see, but don’t feel the need to go into any of the stores. A majority are tourist traps from what we saw! But the areas are super cute to walk around and enjoy. We stayed at the Marriott Monterey and it was the perfect location right in the center of everything and steps from Old Fisherman’s Village & Downtown Monterey. 

Upon our arrival to the town Saturday night, we went over to Cannery Row and hit A Taste of Monterrey. I highly suggest making a reservation so that you can enjoy sunset with dinner. I made ours an hour prior to sunset and it was timed perfectly. At dinner, we both did a wine flight and a glass of wine, shared the Burrata, Hummus + Grilled Artichoke (insane) and I got the beet salad for my main while Nick got the Roast Beef Sandwich. IMO, the apps, wine and view were the main event! 

PurelyExtra: Following dinner, follow suit and walk around downtown Monterey area and don’t the mistake of getting fro-yo instead of the world famous Revival Ice Cream! AKA my tip is to not follow in our footsteps and get Revival + treat yourself. Checkout my IG post here for staying healthy while traveling and my mindset on these local indulgences 🙂 

Day 3: Monterey to Santa Barbara

Monterey (Cont.)

Sunday morning we woke up and went on the coolest experiences EVER! We were lucky enough to snag a last minute ticket on Princess Whale Watching tours. Apparently the summertime gives you a 99% chance of seeing whales. We saw about 30 humpback whales and at one point they were about 20 feet from the boat! We chose the 9am tour, which lasted 2.5 hours and it was perfect. Wear layers – the fog burned off quickly and the sun was out, but it’s still chilly on the water!

Pebble Beach

Following, we checked out of our hotel and did the famous 17 Mile Drive through Pebble Beach. They charge $10.50 to even drive on the road – which you can get reimbursed if you spend $35+ at a Pebble Beach Restaurant. We didn’t go that route as I was set on my lunch plans in Carmel by the Sea. 🙂  The drive will take you about an hour, especially depending upon how many spots you want to make along the way. You’ll see a ton of pretty houses, golf courses, scenic ocean-scapes and of course the famous Lone Cypress Tree! The gate will give you a map with each point of interest along the drive so don’t stress about seeing everything! We entered from the most North Gate and headed South and out at Carmel. 

Carmel by the Sea

After the drive, we arrived in the cutest town I’ve ever been in: Carmel by the Sea! This place seriously looks straight out of a fairy tale, I was waiting for the 3 little bears to pop out, ha! Just beware if you’re here on a weekend afternoon, bring your PATIENCE! Parking was insanely hard to find, it could take you up to 30 minutes to find a spot, and the streets are tiny. But it’s worth it, promise 🙂 We decided to eat at Carmel Belle, a local organic eatery that’s super casual. Everything is farm to table and very veggie forward, which is obviously right up my alley! Nick got the local free range chicken plate with veggies, I got the farmer’s salad and we shared the farmer’s market veggie plate which was to die for!

Oh and, lucky for us, they had REVIVAL ice cream. You MUST get the mini ice cream sandwiches. They’re heaven on earth. After that sweet treat, we were on our way to Santa Barbara! 

HIGHWAY 101 & SANTA BARBARA

• PurelyTip: Stop halfway at one of the (many) wineries along the way. It’s a fun way to break up the drive!
• Nick’s Photo Tip: If you end up here during the golden hour just before sunset, lighting will be perfect! 
• Total Time Spent: 3 hours driving the 101, then the evening & ¾ day in Santa Barbara
• Total $$ Spent: $476.67
  • Again, we were able to book our hotel stay with points! We had to pay the nightly resort fee for each of us. This total includes that resort fee, our wine tasting stop + wine purchase (& souvenir mug) at Scheid, dinner splurge Sunday night at The Ritz’ Bistro, breakfast at The Ritz Bistro, lunch at Santa Barbara Public Market and ice cream at McConnell’s Monday. 

After Carmel, we were en route to Santa Barbara! Based on the time we were leaving, we decided to take Highway 101 down there vs. Route 1. Highway 101 is the inland route while the 1 is the coastal drive. Since we saw Big Sur on the way up, this was the faster (and safer) route driving late afternoon into sunset!

Good news though – Highway 101 has PLENTY of fun winery stops along the way. We broke up the drive and stopped at Scheid Vineyards. A tasting flight is only $10 and it’s waived if you end up buying 2 bottles of wine, which I think is a pretty good deal! Plus, they have corn hole, Jenga and lots of beautiful scenery at the vineyard. Worth the pit stop!

We arrived to The Ritz Carlton Bacara Santa Barbara around  7:30pm and we were not feeling the energy to drive into town for dinner (it’s about 20 mins away.) We decided to enjoy dinner at The Bistro at the hotel, which is open to anyone! It has killer food, views and ambiance, but it is on the pricey side. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and shared their ‘Surf & Turf Special’ which came with beef and ahi tartare, an amazing salad bar, fresh salmon with bokchoy and of course the turf – an amazing steak! Plus side if you’re staying there is you can take your wine up to the room to finish!

Day 4: Santa Barbara to Los Angeles

In the morning, we utilized the INSANE gym while I got in a Melissa Wood Health workout outside in the shade. It was the ideal situation, let me tell ya! The hotel also offers complimentary bike rentals and use of the tennis court too. Following, we grabbed breakfast at The Bistro and both opted for the egg white omelettes. I of course subbed in my Trader Joe’s Crackers and added my Acacia Fiber to my coffee. Read this post to see what I always bring with me while traveling! And this post gives you the full run-down on how to come back feeling better than you left! 

After breakfast, we chilled by the pool, read some books and walked the beach. Then, we were off to Downtown Santa Barbara. We opted to go to the Santa Barbara Public Market – essentially an upscale food court. It’s right off of the infamous State Street where you’ll find tons of cute shopping, so fuel up and then shop! We opted to fuel up, walk State Street and then get a sugar high at McConnell’s Ice Cream. It’s all organic, locally sourced, no added fillers or chemicals, etc. – it’s the real deal! 

Afterwards, we were headed back home! We made it home just around 6:45pm Monday night. It was the perfect weekend and I cannot wait to do it again soon! There is truly so much to see on the California Coast but this was the perfect glimpse to scratch the surface for first timers! 

TRIP OVERVIEW

• PurelyTip:  It’s nice to see a little taste of each spot and take notes for next time. You can do this multiple times, so stay tuned for part deux!
• Nick’s Photo Tip: Grab my favorite photo toy – DJI Osmo (a handheld, high res video camera + camera with stabilizer) & if you’re feeling confident grab my drone too for the best shots! 
• Total Time Spent: We did 4 days + 3 nights and I would recommend that to be the minimum! 
• Total $$! Spent (whole trip): $1,437.64

Bon Voyage! xoxox

Alysia (Purely)Pope