A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic booooring. Once you hit Ventura, then you'll be on the coast through Santa Barbara. This is the longest stretch. 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. 831-372 . Email [emailprotected] to find out how. We stayed in Cambria overnight, it took about 4hours to get there. Big Sur Closed -- Should we stay in Santa Cruz or Monterey?? - Santa It offers easy access to shops, restaurants and bars, and is close to the beach. And finally, Aptos is the best area in Santa Cruz to stay in for families because it has excellent beaches and outdoor activities as well as great dining, shopping and sightseeing. Escape the crowds at artsy and secluded Capitola Beach. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-63171502', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an old fashioned, classy amusement park 101 years old, and a steam train, Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad, near Henry Cowell ,which makes trips up the hill through redwoods, as well as making trips into town to the Boardwalk. Thanks all! Environmental activist Dan Haifley argues that Monterey Bay residents should care about and support the potential designation of tribally nominated Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, covering waters off San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties. Travel south from here and youll arrive in the busy and buzzing Boardwalk neighbourhood. 400 plus pictures, but I digress. Santa Cruz County vs. Monterey County: Who Ya Got? | Good Times . Enjoy delicious food and drinks at Red Restaurant and Bar. at the end of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Inside its quaint Victorian facade lie 69 well-appointed rooms, some of which are pet-friendly, too. Downtown is a large neighbourhood located in central Santa Cruz. Pacific Grove is a really cute town right in between with bunches of Bed and Breakfasts. It is known for its European style houses, cosy cafes, and luxe restaurants, which is why Aptos is one of the best places to stay in Santa Cruz. It is an artsy neighbourhood located to the east of the city centre and is well-known for its colourful and vibrant buildings along with its great restaurants and artisanal shops. It is comprised of 16 modern rooms with an excellent array of amenities and features. Santa Cruz Island to Monterey - 8 ways to travel via train - Rome2rio 7.7 Good 206 reviews. It also extends on the other side of the harbor entrance. In Santa Cruz, I have it tentatively narrowed down to the Holiday Inn Express or the Best Western. Santa Cruz Day Trip | Day Trips from San Jose | Visit San Jose Day 1: Arrive in Santa Cruz and Overnight Day 2: Walk to Aptos 11 miles / 18 km Day 3: Walk to Moss Landing 13 miles / 22 km Day 4: Walk to Marina 7 miles / 11 km Day 5: Walk to Monterey 11 miles / 19 km Day 6: Onward Travel. Los Angeles to Monterey via Hwy 101/1 - concerns Best places to eat in Monterey and or Carmel area, Holiday Inn Express Monterey-Cannery Row, an IHG Hotel, InterContinental the Clement Monterey, an IHG Hotel. Go for a hike through Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The downtown area of Santa Cruz is a bit funky but fun., I did see a person who was a street person once there with a backpacking cat. Both are good choices, it really depends on the atmosphere that you want. Monterey, California - The AZA-accredited Monterey Bay Aquarium is big on conservation. The Rio Vista Inn is our favourite hotel in Santa Cruz. I'm wondering with four kids (11,9,7,5) should we stay in Monterey or Santa Cruz? At Pitney Bowes, we do the right thing, the right way. 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. An eSIM works just like an app: you buy it, you download it, and BOOM! Stay in Monterey or Santa Cruz - Monterey Forum - Tripadvisor Were not sure if theyre closed for good but we hope theyll come back soon. Do you enjoy luxury or more budget-oriented accommodations? Highway 1 Road Trip: Overnight stay in Monterey vs. Santa Cruz We also like pit stops - a couple things we were looking at to pit stop are Hearst Castle, Madonna Inn. Manresa isn't as good for swimming though. 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. It was incredible. Make your voice heard as feds consider Chumash Heritage Marine Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf are touristy, but downtown isn't really - they are all close together though. Theyve been doing it since 2002 protecting, connecting, and inspiring independent travellers just like you. One person's must-see can be another person's meh. California Coast: Santa Cruz to Monterey | US Hiking tours - Macs Adventure tour along the Highway 1 from San Francisco to LA? Paso Robles, San Simeon, Morro Bay and Pismo Beach are all within an hour of each other. There are no "hippies". Monterey has a temperate climate, with a short, intense rainy season. Each room comes complete with a minibar, kitchenette and wireless internet access. Theres also a laundry service and pool on-site. These are some top choices for places to stay: Monterey: Pacific Inn Monterey (Budget), The Stevenson Monterey (Mid-Range), Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (Luxury) & Beachside House (Private Rental) Making a trip in sept to Monterey , Carmel then Santa Cruz Address: 652 Cannery Row, Monterey City Center, Monterey (CA), United States, 93940. Try to help and people have to go on a rant. 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. This charming hotel is one of our top picks for where to stay in Santa Cruz with kids if youre on a budget. Like Kibblesmom said, they are only 45 minutes apart. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. On I-5 from Pasadena, you'll have to go over the Grapevine, which is what I-5 is called where it goes through the mountains just north of the LA basin - every semi-truck in the Western US seems to go over this pass. You might want to consider two adjoining rooms. What is the makeup of your party? What do you think? Via: Where should I stop along the way? The aquarium in Monterey is a big draw, and it is very good. Santa Cruzs Boardwalk neighbourhood is one of the liveliest and most vibrant districts in the city. 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. It has a great central location and is close to restaurants, shops, the beach and more. Midtown is an eclectic neighbourhood located east of the city centre. I would take Hwy 101 north to San Luis Obispo and pick up Hwy 1 there. When you're ready to start your road trip, head to Lands End then drive south along the coast. This charming Inn is centrally located in Santa Cruz. However, don't expect warm water in Santa Cruz, either. There is a popular surfing spot at Lighthouse Field. The Capitola Venetian Hotel is close to everything the neighbourhood has to offer. Delve deep into history at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. This is a good one - heavily visited, but not as busy as the main beach. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. Stay the night in Carmel or Monterey and leave early for Big Sur. Downtown is quite historic - Monterey was the first capitol of CA and there are several buildings from that time in the Monterey Historic Park and through downtown. You won't regret it. Road Trip: Where to stay Monterey or Santa Cruz? - Tripadvisor Monterey's 5 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in #1 Downtown - Where to stay in Monterey first time #2 Munras Avenue - Where to stay in Monterey on a budget #3 Cannery Row - Best area to stay in Monterey for nightlife #4 Pacific Grove - Coolest place to stay in Monterey #5 Cannery Row (FAMILY) - Best neighbourhood in Monterey for families There are loads of places that are great for family days out, and of course, the beach. Set at the heart of the city, this hotel is a short walk to great dining, nightlife, shopping and sightseeing options. 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. Here's hoping that warms you up a bit this brisk Thursday morning. Here is a traveler article on Santa Cruz to help describe it. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California - Located deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains, it is California's oldest state park. The Municipal Wharf is near the Boardwalk and Stagnaro Bros. takes boats out on the Bay for whale watching. Well, dont worry because in this next section were going to break each of them down in much more detail. You can whale watch from either town. With over 14 state parks, wineries, museums, farmer's markets, surfing, shopping, and family fun activities, there are plenty of things to do. A great way to access transportation options in Santa Cruz is to visit www.Cruz511.org. ), Bougie-coffee lover and staunch enemy of coriander; TEFL-certified language teacher, linguist, and aspiring polyglot.