This stunning three-star property is ideally located in La Selva Beach. Santa Cruz is more of a classic CA beach town with a surf culture and an eclectic downtown. Take a photo at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay for some great memories without a hefty price tag. Get answers to your questions about Monterey, Monterey Peninsula Trip Report w/photos. Answer 11 of 17: We (myself & two young sons) are making our way up from LA to San Francisco next month & want to spend a night in either Monterey or Santa Cruz. It's among the best places to stay in Monterey, CA. For a vacation rental option, try this South Lake Union condo near the Space Needle ( from $160/night ). Should I drive hwy 1 that part of the journey? If you can, stop there for a bite to eat. I have the time but worry about the length of the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market andditch the plastic. Rooms are well-equipped with a kitchenette and guests can enjoy on-demand movies and a spa bathtub. We watched it that morning and DS said it was his favorite gift. We really appreciate & are super excited about our adventure! This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. Were not sure if theyre closed for good but we hope theyll come back soon. Both are good choices. Santa Cruz seamlessly blends its relaxed beach lifestyle with a vibrant culture and some high tech industry. Should we. Then you head inland a bit, still scenic though, and meet back up with the coast later. stay for about 1 hour and leave at 4:21 pm drive for about 5 minutes 4:26 pm arrive in Monterey stay at Mission Ranch Hotel driving 1.5 hours Change your route From: To: Alternate route Enter a city to drive through, or find all trips from Santa Cruz to Monterey. I am considering whale watching and hiking in the Henry Cowell Redwood park among other things. In August they have Art & Jazz @ the beach on Sunday afternoons and Twilight Concerts on Wednesday evenings. However, you do not have to choose where to stay based on the aquarium, as Santa Cruz and Monterey are only about 45 minutes apart. Both are good choices, it really depends on the atmosphere that you want. Itinerary. There are beaches, but the coastline is more rocky, which is beautiful and means that you have more opportunity to see sea animals. This is a good one - heavily visited, but not as busy as the main beach. Edited to add that near Henry Cowell state park is Roaring Camp Railroad, which is a narrow gauge steam train that takes people on rides through the redwoods. Whether or not it is worth it for your family depends on your interests and what you would otherwise be doing with the time spent at the aquarium. All amenities are in great condition, the beach is right around the corner and the living area is perfect to gather the whole family for dinner after a long and exciting day. Guests can enjoy a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a golf course and a restaurant. Hwy 101 is nicely scenic though too. Kickstart your day with a filling and delicious breakfast at Zeldas. Monterey has a temperate climate, with a short, intense rainy season. What is the makeup of your party? Thanks! Just as close to everything. We are pretty active so we like hiking and kayaking, but we also like to stay in nice accommodations at the end of the night with good food and a nice glass of wine. You also have the Boardwalk, which is a seaside amusement park - rides, including an historic wooden roller coaster, games, waffle cones. 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. Yes, finding a room which would hold a family of 6 is definitely a problem. Also, can any give me some input on hwy1 from LA up to San Simeon. Pacific Grove is a really cute town right in between with bunches of Bed and Breakfasts. It also offers easy access to the beach as well as many of Santa Cruzs most famous attractions and landmarks. That was sort of cool to see. There are beaches, but the coastline is more rocky, which is beautiful and means that you have more opportunity to see sea animals. Compare 580 hotels in Santa Cruz using 17,179 real guest reviews. Best Cheap Hotels in Santa Cruz from $64 | Hotels.com Inspirational places to stay near beaches, redwood forests or in quaint seaside towns offer an array of choices when it comes to amenities and settings. Monterey, which is further north of Big Sur, is located no more than 1-1.5 hours away from most of the attractions that we recommend seeing on a Big Sur itinerary. This excellent three-star hotel is set in central Midtown, one of the best places in Santa Cruz to stay for nightlife. Hotel in Watsonville, CA | Comfort Inn Official Site | Comfort Inn 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. See the ruins of the S.S. Palo Alto Concrete Ship. Most hotels are fully refundable. Guests can enjoy a heated swimming pool, free wifi and a delicious daily breakfast. Like Kibblesmom said, they are only 45 minutes apart. 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. Big Sur Closed -- Should we stay in Santa Cruz or Monterey?? - Santa Hearst Castle is currently closed due to COVID. It is worth a half day plus to go to Monterey, see the acquarium, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If looking at sea life excites you, you must visit the ocean-view decks to spot humpback whales. Poor second cousin (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? We do not represent World Nomads. I do not recommend staying at a hotel right near the Boardwalk, but there are some good ones nearer the Municipal Wharf, specifically the joie d'vivre Dream Inn, the Seaview Inn, the West Cliff Inn (a Victorian Bed and Breakfast) and a couple more. Travel south from here and youll arrive in the busy and buzzing Boardwalk neighbourhood. There is a popular surfing spot at Lighthouse Field. In addition, between Monterey and Santa Cruz, you should visit Elkhorn Slough, where you can either rent kayahs or take a 'safari' boat trip out into the slough to see the vast amount of sea life. Would you recommend one? I'm planning on staying 2 nights and then heading to SF. Stops and things to do on Monterey to Santa Cruz drive or road trip Here are some of the main landmarks that you should not miss in Monterey, CA: Monterey Bay Aquarium in Cannery Row the Old Fishermans Wharf Monterey Museum of Art Monterey State Historic Park Have a nice time in Monterey, Eylul Best Hostel In Cannery Row: Hi Monterey BEST Things to See in Monterey, California | Weekend Travel Guide 400 plus pictures, but I digress. It will make traffic difficult in that area. 1190 WARREN DR, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060 - montereybayprop.com It has large rooms with air conditioning, private bathroom and contemporary amenities. The most breathtaking part of the drive is through Big Sur, which is the stretch of coast between Cambria and Carmel. 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. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. It seems like there are lots of mom and pop hotels. Manresa isn't as good for swimming though. Yall are great! Also, I'm thinking of staying at the Best Western in Morro Bay. You won't regret it. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-77281854', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Monterey has more going for it than Santa Cruz in terms of things to do as one can easily do Carmel, Pacific Grove, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur from there too. Enjoy a great selection of sweet and savoury dishes at the Crepe Place, a longstanding Santa Cruz favourite. It was incredible. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Although it might be a little more upmarket compared to other areas of Santa Cruz, trust me when I say, it worth the splurge! Well, dont worry because in this next section were going to break each of them down in much more detail. I would stay in Santa Cruz (or Capitola or Aptos) and then take a day trip or two to Monterey. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs nearby, and the beach is just a short walk away. So since it sounds like you are heading on your trip at the end of August, please be aware that there is the Soberanes fire burning in Big Sur and it is not expected to be fully contained until the end of the month. Instead, buy an eSIM! Rooms come complete with A/C and include refrigerators. 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. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41998478', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');West Cliff Drive. We have two girls, 15 and 10 and are an active family and love adventure, the beach, amusement parks and nature. We love Capitola. Thanks SO much :). Spend another night closer to Santa Barbara. Downtown Santa Cruz is the best neighbourhood in Santa Crus to stay in if youre visiting for the first time. East of the city centre is the Midtown/Seabright neighbourhood. If approved by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Association, the new sanctuary will provide the missing link in a chain of . Monterey is 8.8\% less expensive than Santa Cruz. As you look for lodging for your trip, please come back and let us know what you find, so that we can give you advice on locations. Eat an amazing meal at Hindquarter Bar & Grill. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads usingthis link. Photos and Property Details for 1190 WARREN DR, SANTA CRUZ, CA 95060. This neighbourhood is also our best recommendation for where to stay in Santa Cruz with kids because it has a great variety of family-friendly fun, activities and adventures. Would you recommend one? 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. Be sure and visit Capitola Village while in the Santa Cruz area. This charming hotel is an excellent place to make your base in Capitola because there are plenty of shopping, dining and nightlife options nearby. Carmel has two beaches, Carmel city beach and Carmel River Beach. Keep in mind that as beautiful as (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Grab a drink, enjoy the incredible beaches and laid-back vibes. Big Sur Closed -- Should we stay in Santa Cruz or Monterey?? - Santa Do you have any recommendations? The reviews on Tripadvisor are not encouraging. 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. From a hotel on the beach, to a quaint inn or bed and breakfast, to a vacation rental for the family or a rustic campground, you can rest easy in Santa Cruz County. Set at the heart of the city, this hotel is a short walk to great dining, nightlife, shopping and sightseeing options. Field Service Technician-Must reside in the Salinas/Gilroy/Monterey This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Address: 652 Cannery Row, Monterey City Center, Monterey (CA), United States, 93940. That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we dont believe are up to scratch. It has the most cultural attractions in Santa Cruz and loads of cool places to check out. You didn't ask this, but because San Simeon and Morro Bay are so close to Paso Robles and then not all that far from Pismo Beach, I'd probably opt for 2 nights in either Paso Robles or Pismo Beach instead of a single night each in Paso, San Simeon/Morro Bay, and Pismo Beach. That's coming a bit later in the form of Wallace's Weekender newsletter, which in addition to a boatload of recommendations for things to do around Santa Cruz County has an update on what Harbor High grad-turned-Hollywood A-lister Adam Scott has cooking these days. Where To Stay In Monterey, California: 15 Great | Trip101 Splash, swim and play at Rio del Mar beach. I would stay in Santa Cruz (or Capitola or Aptos) and then take a day trip or two to Monterey. They won't hurt yu. Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! Our top pick for where to stay in Santa Cruz for nightlife, this area is bursting with bars, restaurants and clubs where you can enjoy plenty of after-dark fun. Delve deep into history at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. at the end of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ?
should i stay in monterey or santa cruz?