what's cool between LA and SF?
- Thread starter TheMacB
- Start date
Will Clegg
Veteran
Check out the Hearst Castle. William Randolph Hearst's estate. This is Xanadu from Citizen Kane.
Zak Forsman
Major Contributor
Big Sur
Ryan Patrick O'Hara
Veteran
Fisherman's Wharf and Carmel, both very close to Monterey.... which kinda doesn't count because it's on the doorstep to San Fran.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Santa Barbara is pretty nice. The best Cajun food in the world is at The Palace Grill at 8 E. Cota Street in Santa Barbara. http://www.palacegrill.com/ I have eaten at Antoines and all of the other supposed best places in New Orleans and the Palace is better. The Palace has been open in SB for about 20 years and when Reagan was president, it became a favorite of the White House press corps when in town to cover the Reagan Ranch. They fly in soft shell crabs, gator and redfish and all of their food is sublime. I take my wife and friends there at least once or twice a year for the past twenty years.
Jalama Beach http://www.sbparks.org/Docs/Jalama.html has superb scuba diving and snorkeling as well as other water stuff although it is too cold right now without dry suits. I was once with someone who speared a 30lb Ling Cod there and the beach is breathtaking.
Same with Refugio beach above Goleta and SB http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603 Nice for scuba, snorkeling if the water has any visibility.
But if you want the most beautiful beach south of Big Sur area, Montana De Oro http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592 near San Luis Obispo is very un-California like and unique. One of my favorites. It is a rocky beach with a long point and interesting rock formations. You drive through miles of tree groves with deer running around. It is so beautiful, you usually will find groups of artists painting at the shore near the point. Perfect for hiking around, not that far out of your way.
Sycamore Hot Springs near Avila Beach is a superb place to stay for a night or two. Each room has a natural hot spring on it's patio. Nice restaurant and spa too http://www.sycamoresprings.com/
The Madonna Inn nearby is a kick in a kitchy way, they have the themed rooms, like the caveman room, the pirate room, etc. http://www.madonnainn.com/
Paso Robles has a really neat town square that is surrounded by good restaurants and believe it or not, they have the best candy store in the world, can't recall the name but it is fun to go in and check out all of their stuff, even if you don't buy anything. They have a 50s-60s candy section, a clever package section, handmade truffles, etc. And I can't even eat sugar these days but it is still fun to check out. They also have vintage car shows around the town square occasionally that are fun. http://www.prcity.com/ Lot's of good wineries nearby too.
Morro Bay is pretty and has some nice beaches. I once shot a huge commercial project on Morro Bay beach and stayed for a week. Not real exciting but very picturesque and beautiful. People are nice there. http://www.morro-bay.net/
Carmel is very pretty. Expensive and a bit touristy but worth a stop for lunch. http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/
Monterey Bay Aquarium should be on your list. It is pretty spectacular, especially if you like the ocean and ocean life. Skip Cannery Row, etc. it's all just tourist BS and t-shirt shops. http://www.mbayaq.org/
Gilroy is fun if you are there during the Garlic Festival but its too early for that. Some really beautiful farmland and small agricultural town http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/
Some of the California Missions are worth seeing. The one in San Luis Obispo is pretty cool and the Santa Barbara one is nice too.
I live in Ventura County, in-between Santa Barbara and LA. I can say with all authority, skip anything down here before you hit LA, not much worth stopping for.
As far as your drive, assuming you are taking the coast, you will mainly find seaside towns, college towns, farmland, ranches. Not a lot of big wow places but some really nice and relaxing areas. Oh, yeah, a lot of people go nuts for Cambria, a little town near Hearst Castle. And yes, Hearst Castle is well worth it if you go for historical places and like a bit of lore about William Randolph Hearst and the Hearst empire. The place is pretty amazing.
Have a good trip,
Dan
Jalama Beach http://www.sbparks.org/Docs/Jalama.html has superb scuba diving and snorkeling as well as other water stuff although it is too cold right now without dry suits. I was once with someone who speared a 30lb Ling Cod there and the beach is breathtaking.
Same with Refugio beach above Goleta and SB http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=603 Nice for scuba, snorkeling if the water has any visibility.
But if you want the most beautiful beach south of Big Sur area, Montana De Oro http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592 near San Luis Obispo is very un-California like and unique. One of my favorites. It is a rocky beach with a long point and interesting rock formations. You drive through miles of tree groves with deer running around. It is so beautiful, you usually will find groups of artists painting at the shore near the point. Perfect for hiking around, not that far out of your way.
Sycamore Hot Springs near Avila Beach is a superb place to stay for a night or two. Each room has a natural hot spring on it's patio. Nice restaurant and spa too http://www.sycamoresprings.com/
The Madonna Inn nearby is a kick in a kitchy way, they have the themed rooms, like the caveman room, the pirate room, etc. http://www.madonnainn.com/
Paso Robles has a really neat town square that is surrounded by good restaurants and believe it or not, they have the best candy store in the world, can't recall the name but it is fun to go in and check out all of their stuff, even if you don't buy anything. They have a 50s-60s candy section, a clever package section, handmade truffles, etc. And I can't even eat sugar these days but it is still fun to check out. They also have vintage car shows around the town square occasionally that are fun. http://www.prcity.com/ Lot's of good wineries nearby too.
Morro Bay is pretty and has some nice beaches. I once shot a huge commercial project on Morro Bay beach and stayed for a week. Not real exciting but very picturesque and beautiful. People are nice there. http://www.morro-bay.net/
Carmel is very pretty. Expensive and a bit touristy but worth a stop for lunch. http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/
Monterey Bay Aquarium should be on your list. It is pretty spectacular, especially if you like the ocean and ocean life. Skip Cannery Row, etc. it's all just tourist BS and t-shirt shops. http://www.mbayaq.org/
Gilroy is fun if you are there during the Garlic Festival but its too early for that. Some really beautiful farmland and small agricultural town http://www.cityofgilroy.org/cityofgilroy/
Some of the California Missions are worth seeing. The one in San Luis Obispo is pretty cool and the Santa Barbara one is nice too.
I live in Ventura County, in-between Santa Barbara and LA. I can say with all authority, skip anything down here before you hit LA, not much worth stopping for.
As far as your drive, assuming you are taking the coast, you will mainly find seaside towns, college towns, farmland, ranches. Not a lot of big wow places but some really nice and relaxing areas. Oh, yeah, a lot of people go nuts for Cambria, a little town near Hearst Castle. And yes, Hearst Castle is well worth it if you go for historical places and like a bit of lore about William Randolph Hearst and the Hearst empire. The place is pretty amazing.
Have a good trip,
Dan
ConspiracyPenguin
Nosey Penguin
Yosemite National Park. It's a little bit off the track but worth it. It's virtually in my back yard and I still wish I went up more often, especially now when there is snow everywhere. Depending on when you come through the roads may be clear enough to get in. They are right now but you never know when the next big storm will hit.
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I agree with Nick. Yosemite in the winter is breathtaking. You can ski at Badger too.
Although if you are from Vermont, you know all about snow and skiing.
Dan
Although if you are from Vermont, you know all about snow and skiing.
Dan
kimko
Veteran
i know these girls up in santa barbara and they hang out at the.................................
rogar-Love(DBG):
kimko
Veteran
hey i peed on the south wall:dankk2:
kimko
Veteran
nice i going to check out the cajun food sometime
puredrifting
Major Contributor
I highly recommend starting with the Cajun Popcorn (crawfish tails deep fried, served with a Jalapeno Beurre Blanc Sherry sauce to dip). They give you a basket with a Japaleno corn, Rosemary, Bannana Walnut, etc. muffins to start. The blackened Tuna Ponchartrain is amazing, the blackened Redfish and soft shell crabs too. I am getting hungry just thinking about it. They have both traditional and some hybrid Cajun.
The Cajun Martini is pretty spectacular too.
Enjoy!
Dan
kimko
Veteran
and a some tums!!! damn hybrid Cajun.....what's that mean? NORMAL or really out there? :huh:
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Well, anyone who is a real Cajun is going to say that some of the things on the menu are not "authentic" Cajun like blackened Tuna, but they have the traditional stuff like Gator and Redfish too. They have Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffe, Gumbo, etc. as well.
Dan
Dan
hoofandmouf
Well-known member
cali-cajun = not real cajun but it gets a "A" for effort
I've ate quite a few cajun styled places on the west coast, some were pretty darn good, some were way the hell off....
cali has a way of grabbing a cuisine style and hybridizing it....
see california pizza, california rolls, etc etc.
anyways... I'm not a food snob so I have no problem with cali-cajun restaurants.... as long as they keep it salty, fatty, and full of tonys.... it'll get a pass from Louisiana-nians every time
I've ate quite a few cajun styled places on the west coast, some were pretty darn good, some were way the hell off....
cali has a way of grabbing a cuisine style and hybridizing it....
see california pizza, california rolls, etc etc.
anyways... I'm not a food snob so I have no problem with cali-cajun restaurants.... as long as they keep it salty, fatty, and full of tonys.... it'll get a pass from Louisiana-nians every time
puredrifting
Major Contributor
Hi hoof:
I agree. I have been to New Orleans and outlying areas several times and what we get out here is a bit different. Yes, everything here does get "the California treatment" which can be good and can be terrible. It's like trying to get good Mexican food in most places here and in all of the places I have been to in Colorado, Arizona. And that's not even real Mexican food like they have in Mexico, that's California Mex, which is a whole other thing ;-)
But the Palace is exceptionally good, as I said, I have had New Orleans natives take me around town to all of the best and I like the Palace's food better overall. Definitely salty, fatty, tons of butter, great roux. I was actually disappointed with the two expensive restaurants I went to in New Orleans last time, but some of the smaller, diner style places outside the city were great.
I agree. I have been to New Orleans and outlying areas several times and what we get out here is a bit different. Yes, everything here does get "the California treatment" which can be good and can be terrible. It's like trying to get good Mexican food in most places here and in all of the places I have been to in Colorado, Arizona. And that's not even real Mexican food like they have in Mexico, that's California Mex, which is a whole other thing ;-)
But the Palace is exceptionally good, as I said, I have had New Orleans natives take me around town to all of the best and I like the Palace's food better overall. Definitely salty, fatty, tons of butter, great roux. I was actually disappointed with the two expensive restaurants I went to in New Orleans last time, but some of the smaller, diner style places outside the city were great.
Rachel Ray did a segment tonight on the Palace Grill. She gave it high marks. Santa Barbara is generally a good restaurant town.