Travelling between Los Angeles and San Francisco

[fearfultrill]

My friend and I will be travelling from Los Angeles to San Francisco in the summer and need some advice on things to see/do en route.

Does anyone have any ideas for things that are easily accessible? Even just nice towns!

Which way are you going? Up the coast or inland via Yosemite / Napa?

Carmel is a quaint town and my husband is convinced he saw Clint Eastwood there (he used to be the mayor and owns a restaurant there, I believe).

Driving along Highway 1 is amazing but I'm not sure it's open again yet

Driving along Highway 1 is amazing but I'm not sure it's open again yet

Hearst Castle is amazing, and a night at the Madonna Inn (San Luis Obispo) if you can fit it in.

www.visitcalifornia.com/uk/attraction/how-you-can-visit-big-sur-during-bridge-rebuild

Looks like you can drive it with a slight detour round a still closed but.

Malibu
Big Sur
Monterey
Pebble beach

There are heaps of spontaneous stop offs.

Do try and see Napa and the Muir Woods if you can.

Book Alcatraz!!!!!!!

Carmel is busy but lovely, definitely worth stopping off.

Have heard grey things about Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur!

I'm doing a loop of north California in September, so excited!

It’s terrific Catspaws if you are in Santa Monica check out their Cheesecake Factory. As an authority on these matters it is the best!

Gah saw north after i sent

Wow so much good stuff! We're not sure about route yet.

Would it be worth doing a coach trip with stop offs? Are there any that do overnight stop offs or would we need to book separate coaches?