Phoenix to Monterey and back

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Nov 21, 2016.

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  1. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    My wife and I are planning a road trip over the holidays to visit family. The planned dates are December 23-January 1 or so. We plan to take different routes each way to maximize sightseeing.

    The planned route there is PHX>LA via I-10, where we will switch to I-5, then heading over to the 101 to finish the journey. The way back will be down highway 1 as long as we feel like it, then maybe switching over to I-5 if we get bored of the scenery or something. Then head home on the 10.

    While staying in Monterey, we have virtually no plans. We are planning a day trip to, or maybe one night in, San Francisco. Maybe a side trip to Russian River, if you think it's worth a visit.

    My questions below:
    1) Any places we must stop on the way there or back? Preferably breweries with good food, as we will need to eat, and I can't drink too much, as I'll be driving. Great bottle shops would be nice, as well as anything non-beer related you might reccommend.

    2) Anything to recommend along the same lines in the Monterey or San Fran areas?

    3) If you've ever driven the coast, how far South should I plan on taking highway 1?

    California has a ridiculous number of breweries, so I can't possibly research them all to find the best ones. Any help here would be greatly appreciated.
     
    #1 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Nov 21, 2016
  2. SLOCruzin

    SLOCruzin Zealot (644) Sep 30, 2013 California
    Trader

    On your way up, stop at Firestone Barrelworks in Buelton to try all of the wilds and barrel aged beers they have on tap. In Monterey, go to Alvarado St Brewery. Solid food and great beers, especially their IPAs. Make sure you head further up to Santa Cruz for Sante Adairius, IMO the best brewery in greater Bay Area and possibly the state. Russian River is fun if you've never been, good food and atmosphere, always packed. Stop at Cellarmaker in SF for great ipas and solid to great porters and stouts.

    You definitely should drive Highway 1 from Monterey to San Luis Obispo, that way you will go through Big Sur, the prettiest and longest undeveloped stretch of coast in America.
     
    #2 SLOCruzin, Nov 21, 2016
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  3. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    Are you planning to stop in LA or just headed that way on 10 and hanging a right? LA is best avoided and there's many prefered routes.

    Why get on I-5 at all?

    PCH between LA and Ventura can be an awful mess.

    Be VERY aware of road conditions on PCH as it ALWAYS closes during the winter at some point due to mudslides or repairs to prepare for mudslides. Usually somewhere near Big Sur. CalTrans is your friend.
     
    #3 danscott, Nov 21, 2016
  4. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    So, SF. It's really tough to do much of value in SF in one day, particularly with the drive to/from Monterey. And I love SF, it is one of my favorite places, I just always want to discourage people from wasting too much time on the road when CA has so much to offer outside of the usual locations that foreigners know about. Also, if you don't have a hotel room up there for that week already, you'll have slim pickings if you don't do that ASAP. Do not do a day trip from Monterey to SF. It's too much time driving, not enough time funning. There's many places to get a hotel near SF without being in SF.

    And, FFS, please don't even think about going to Russian River in one day. So many people treat it like it's fucking Mecca and it's just another brewery. A damn fine one, but we have more than you will ever be able to hit.

    And, just personally, I think Monterey is unbelievably overrated. If you feel like you're exhausting your entertaining options there, head out! Santa Cruz County is lovely.
     
    #4 danscott, Nov 21, 2016
  5. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    What route do you suggest that doesn't involve I-5? I was hoping to get THERE as quickly as possible (1 day), and take our time coming home. I'm not necessarily planning on stopping in LA, that's just the way Google maps said I should go.:stuck_out_tongue:

    I'll definitely check the road conditions before heading out on the 1, and wasn't necessarily planning on using it between LA and Ventura, as the Northern part is supposed to be the best.

    We'll actually be staying with family IN Monterey, so not much choice on location for our "home base". A hotel in or around SF for one night may be an option, though, budget permitting. Another thing: I was hoping traffic might be lighter than usual during rush hour times, in LA and SF, due to the holiday season and people being off work. Am I being overly optimistic?

    Out here, I've done a day trip to Flagstaff, which is about 3 hours each way. I thought if RR is Mecca, it would be worth it to grab lunch and some beers. You may have dissuaded me.
     
    #5 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Nov 21, 2016
  6. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    I'll get back to you on a few more suggestions for transit, but LA is really easy to avoid and there's some pretty country in alternative routes.

    If you had a few more days, I'd say certainly absolutely head to Sonoma County and hit several places, not just RR. It's magical beautiful with lots and lots and lots to do. I just don't think it's worth the incredible hassle of all that driving just for one brewery with damn great beer and perfectly average food. It's like going to Coachella and only staying to see one band.

    Is there anything you're really itching to do or see? Are you also a wine fan? NorCal is one of the unparalleled best wine regions on Earth.
     
    #6 danscott, Nov 21, 2016
  7. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    And, yes, holiday traffic between Santa Cruz and everywhere north of it will be pretty bad. SF proper will be a fucking nightmare, particularly for a foreigner who doesn't know their way around.
     
    #7 danscott, Nov 21, 2016
  8. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    60 to 90 to 58 through Bakersfield up 5 to 46 to 101 is probably the route I would go. It's an interesting drive and very little chance of hitting any traffic snags.

    10 to Palm Springs and hang a right. 247 to 18 to north 14 to 138 to 5 is an option.

    Another is 10 to 210 to 215 (through San Bernardino) but that's not advised if you're hitting right at rush hour.

    After that, it's really up to you where you want to jog across. I think a good balance between time and fun is to take 46 to 101, stopping in Paso Robles at Firestone Walker and grabbing something quick from a deli or taqueria.... But it all depends on what your timeline is and how aggressive you want to be.

    Once you get to Paso Robles, there's it's 2 hours on 101 or 3 hours on PCH into Monterey but the difference in quality of the drive is enormous and, yes, that's the end of the drive so you probably just want to get the hell off the road. :slight_smile:
     
    #8 danscott, Nov 22, 2016
  9. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    I tried looking this route up. I see 60, I see 58, but I cannot find a route called 90 connecting them.

    We would likely be entering the greater LA area (IE) in the early afternoon. Don't know what kind of traffic we'd be hitting at that time, but I'm definitely not planning to be in San Bernardino during the traditional hours.

    Thanks for all the tips!
     
    #9 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Nov 22, 2016
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  10. danscott

    danscott Initiate (0) Jul 15, 2006 California

    #10 danscott, Nov 22, 2016
  11. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    A week out now, I think we're going to take your route. Slightly modified, so we can go through Lake Havasu City for lunch at Mudshark Brewery. Then push through, hoping to grab dinner in Paso Robles at Firestone Walker before heading out for the last couple of hours.

    Thanks for the suggestions, and I'll report back on how it goes!
     
    #11 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Dec 16, 2016
  12. cbn1966

    cbn1966 Devotee (309) Aug 18, 2008 California

    Two brewpubs in Monterey. Peter B's and Alvarado St. Plenty more options across the bay in Santa Cruz. Corralitos, Discretion, Sante Adairius are the highlights. Check our Beer Thirty which is near the later two.
     
    #12 cbn1966, Dec 17, 2016
  13. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    My trip is over. Ended up spending a lot of time with family, so there wasn't a lot of time for beer focused activities. We did go to Alvarado Street several times, and it was fantastic: one of my new favorites. Had the Minesweeper and Vengeful Barbarian in cans, and Yippie Calle Principal and Run the Juice on tap. All excellent.

    Also stopped at Firestone Walker in Paso Robles. Really nice facility and good food. Nothing special on offer, though, beer-wise.

    The drive home down 1 from Monterey to Santa Barbara was beautiful as well.

    Thanks for all the advice. I'll keep it all in mind for my next time in the area.
     
    #13 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Jan 3, 2017
  14. thuey

    thuey Pooh-Bah (1,705) Nov 13, 2015 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Ohhh... I see now that the tasting room is closed for construction. Too bad, as it has all the specialty stuff (Barrelworks in Buellton, even more so.) The Brewery/Restaurant mainly has their standard fare.
     
    #14 thuey, Jan 3, 2017
  15. Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse

    Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse Zealot (744) Jul 20, 2016 Indiana

    I noticed it was closed and thought it odd. Makes sense that it was under construction, then. I passed through Buellton on the way home and was looking for a place to stop, but it was NYE, and they had closed one hour before. :slight_frown: Maybe next time.
     
    #15 Ten_SeventySix_Brewhouse, Jan 3, 2017
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