Any advice for first-timer trip up hwy 1 and 101

[Bacoes]

My wife and I are going to roll one of her business trips into a trip up the California coast in our smart. It'll be our first time to visit California and want to experience the coast in a "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" sort of way. Funkier the better. What should we see?

[anthony94114]

HWY 1 and 101 are LONG roads, so it depends where you're going between, but here are some top stops for you to consider..

In Santa Barbara, this is a LEGEND for amazing, cheap Mexican food. I think it was Julia Child's fave.. high and low brow drive from all over to go. It's really, really good!
-La Super Rica Taqueria- 622 Milpas St, SB, 805-963-4940

-In Woodside, a tony enclave off Skyline Highway 35, which (map it) isn't too far from HWY 1 between Santa Cruz and San Francisco..-http://www.alicesrestaurant.com/ another iconic joint.. owned by a gal named Alice, but immortalized in the Arlo Guthrie song. I've never been, but peeps love it.

-Between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, a mile off HWY 1, is a super cool place called the San Gregorio General Store. I LOVE this place. Been there since the 1800s, the crowd is a batty mix of Harley riders, long distance bicyclists, jug-band players, farmers, yuppies.. it's GREAT. On weekends there are bands, they have a bar, bad coffee, egg salads, cow milking tools, overalls, great books books, rubber boots, seeds... totally fantastic and very close to a beautiful beach, San Gregorio.

-In Ben Lomand, a little woodsie town just outside of Santa Cruz, there's an insane joint called Ciao Bella. Cabaret shows, ok food, and a total scene of nuts. Ciao! Bella!! Italian Restaurant and Cabaret in Ben Lomond, CA

-North of San Francisco, in the awesome town of Pt. Reyes Station, there is a good dive called the Pine Cone Diner, but also, the Bovine Bakery is amazing. In this town, there's also a fantastic and highly regarded cheese company, the Cowgirl Creamery (though not a restaurant, nor divey)

That's my list. I'll post again if I think of more. Let us know where you're starting and stopping.. that'll help. Happy traveling!

[mendo]

In Point Arena, just above Sea Ranch, there is a restaraunt on the dock above the Marina that has some of the best Fish and Chips I have ever had.

[Bacoes]

Cool that's a good start. La Super Rica was already on the list (about the only thing that we had decided was a must) Our plan is to drive down from Tacoma to Anaheim on 5 and then spend 5-6 days driving back, hopefully as far as Eureka along the coast. Another question, are there places where you can spend the night on the beach that aren't $200/night resorts? I had been looking at yurt rentals, but most were at resorts. I'm sure they are nice, but something a bit more raw would be nice for at least one night.

[anthony94114]

Check Costanoa out Costanoa. It's a well regarded place with cabins, fancy tents, a restaurant, general store in Pescadero, CA, which is between Santa Cruz and San Francisco. It's across the highway 1 from the ocean.. (maybe 20 min walk?) and pretty cool. I think their rates are always below $200. It's probably 30 minutes north of Santa Cruz, 15 minutes south of San Gregorio (which I only mention because of above listing).

North of San Francisco, almost to Mendocino (which is a very pretty town, and not to reduce it to just this, but it was where the opening credits for Murder She Wrote was) there's a funky, tres-Californian Welcome to Timber Cove Inn!.. Friends love it. Giant tubs in almost all rooms, killer views.. might want to check it out.

Cheers..

[anthony94114]

I just re-looked.. it's not 'almost to Mendocino' but certainly not very far from it...

[Dunerunner]

Bacoes - A trip to Calif. without a trip to Napa is for not!! It will extend your drive but you have to get lunch at Taylor's Refresher in St. Helena. Visit a couple of wineries - Merryvale is right across the street and Grgich on the right south bound as you reach the Rutherford District. If you have the time Sterling winery and gondola tour will highlight your trip!! Have Fun!!!

[saronian]

Some favorite spots:

Cold Springs Tavern
http://www.coldspringtavern.com/

Cambria, CA
Many small Motels along Moonstone Beach Dr

[anthony94114]

Jeepers- I just remembered one of the most bizarre places along the way... http://www.madonnainn.com/ Their website looks a little more polished (not that it's a dive by any stretch) but it's CRAZY. Done up, then done up, then DONE up again. Check out the links for rooms, but even if you just drive through, stop for a piece of cake (8" tall!!!)

Another mega-greasy spoon with a 5-trillion dollar view is Louis' Restaurant, 902 Point Lobos, SF, near the legendary (and probably better) Cliff House. Also, I second the reference for Taylor's Referesher in St Helena (within the Napa Valley.. which also has a branch at the SF Ferry Plaza (great in general). If you wind up in the Napa area and head north of Calistoga, the Jimtown Store rocks! http://www.jimtown.com/ Amazing food, olive spread and fig spread YUM!