Cali Road Trip - Need some advise

It’s a great trip – I do it at least once a year. If you start in San Diego early enough and don’t get onto PCH till San Clemente, you can get to the lower bay area in time for dinner (SF would be a very very late dinner – that last leg takes a long time). San Diego coastal driving isn’t terribly interesting except around Coronado and Torrey Pines.

If you’re traveling on the weekend, I’d make Firestone Barrelworks in Buellton your halfway stop; if you’re traveling on a weekday, I’d make the Firestone brewery in Paso Robles your halfway stop. Both locations have hotels nearby. I haven’t actually been to Barrelworks yet, but it’s my #1 want for next time I make the trip (problem is I usually travel on weekdays).

Huntington Beach to Santa Monica is interesting, but most of it is VERY slow-going. If you do go through them, Beachwood BBQ Long Beach and Seal Beach are good places to stop. If you want to avoid those areas, take the 405 till it hits the 10 and then get back on PCH at Santa Monica; alternatively, if you like curvy roads, I like to go further up to the 101, cut over to Agoura Hills, and drive Kanan Dume down into Malibu.

At Santa Barabara the highway splits off with the 1 going towards the coast and the 154 going inland – you’ll be tempted to take the 1, but the 154’s scenery is gorgeous and I believe quite a bit faster than the wriggling you’d have to do to stay on the 1.

Between Cambria and Monterey are some awesome views and the main reason you’re making the PCH trip – be prepared though for people driving much slower than they should be because they’re afraid of turns, and there are a few areas that are under construction so they have counterflows set up.

Past Monterey I’m useless since I always cut over eastward at this point (my destination is San Jose).

 

Agree with Sage on those suggestions. Why are you doing the drive in two days? I would spend less time in SD and SF and check out a bunch of stuff along the way up. If you have a few hours and enjoy house museums check out Hurst Castle.

 

California is pretty cool. Don't see most of it zooming by through a windshield.

 

Obviously a stop at Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola is a must...

 

If your main focus is on Breweries and pubs get from LA to SF as quickly as possible while still stopping at Firestone Walker.

If breweries and pubs are secondary to a great CA vacation, take as much time as you can along the coast from LA to SF.

 

This is expert advice.

OP...can you be more specific regarding your itinerary? How long are you here? You're flying into SD and then you're taking two days to get to SF...are you staying in SF for a longer period of time? Half the time in SD, half in SF?

 

Since you have a lot of time, we can help you out, but also do your research! California is a huge state, and from things to do and see, including breweries, several locations could be the there own two day trip and that's stil skipping spots, and picking and choosing.

I've done the drive via PCH from Morrow Bay up to Monterrey. As well as to San Francisco via the 101, by train, car, bus, more then once. Very few breweries along PCH on the stretch from Morro Bay up to Monterrey, (Cannery Row anyone) but Big Sur and Carmel are great towns in their own rights, and the drive on it, vs. the 101, can take twice as long. However, it's an amazing picturesque drive, and worth doing at least once! Hearst Castle, great recommendation, but will take time to see.

San Diego has 40+ breweries/craft beer bars/ brew pubs, etc. Not to mention all the other sites around SD. I go there several times a year, and have yet to do it all.

Orange County has various breweries, The Bruery, Noble, Bootleggers, TAPS, and more. Beachwood bbq in Long Beach, Smog City in Torrance (could also visit the USS Iowa Battleship while there) LA has some sites, from the Santa Monica area, Venice, Hollywood. Less breweries, but some notable craft beer bars (check beer fly, they are spread out) From LA past Santa Barbara, there are many stops you "could" make, from Ladyface, Island Brewing, Hollister brewing, a few lesser rated spots, but it really is up to you.

Then you get into the Buelton area, where you have the Danish Solvang, Andersons Pea Soup, Firestone Walker/Bottleworks, and Figueroa Mountain. Paso Robles has 30+ Wineries (not to mention those in Los Olivios that I skipped over) in addition to the main FW brewery & restaurant.

San Francisco has so many sites to see, not even brewery related worth going to, and you could spend two days there no problem and not be bored.

So, as I said at the beginning of this very long winded post. Do your research. Don't spend all your time driving, and know there is no way to see it all, even if you lived here.

 

Well, double that for breweries alone. (Not all worth going to of course.)

 

In San Diego County, there currently are 82 breweries with 32 more in planning stages, and at least that many craft beer bars.

Edit: dangit, Sage!

 

Typical San Diegons, the one thing they quote out of all of that is how many breweries they have...lol. It's a lot, that's what the + is for Had I said 100's+, I might have been corrected for saying it was too many. If I'd said dozens plus, I would have been corrected for too little. I avoided even saying which ones, since that would just derail this OP thread entirely.

Notice I made a point to not even mention the rather abysmal scene in comparison that is LA. (though I'm proud of Smog City, Eagle Rock, yes even Golden Road) each has their merits, time and place, etc.

To tout the bright side that is the San Fernando valley, then, up here there are currently 4 breweries in the works. Hooray! haha

 

82 is not sustainable. 114 is definitely unsustainable. 40 breweries would probably be ideal.