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How far from Avila Beach to?

S

suzanne

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Looking at spending a week at Avila Beach, CA. Can someone tell me how far it is to drive from Avila Beach to Monterey Bay on the coast road. We want to visit the aquarium, cannery row and some of the wineries in that area. Is this doable in one day or should we plan for a hotel stay over night?

Suzanne
 
No question for me. Stay overnight. Way too much to do for a partial day.

It's about 140 miles with some slow going, epecially during summer. Plan on about three hours each way.

Also consider stopping at Hearst Castle at San Simeon. Make reservations well in advance if you go.
 
I can (and have) spent most of a day driving Hwy 1 from Pismo Beach (not that far from Avila Beach as I recall) to Monterey - you can do it faster, but it is a trip that shouldn't be hurried. If you go by Hwy 101, then it is no problem as long as you get up early and plan on only spending a half day in Monterey. But to do it right, spend the night - there's SO much to do and see on the way!
 
If you're in a hurry, take 101 to Salinas and CA 68 to Monterey. Monterey to Paso Robles via this route is 2 hrs each way. I'm not sure how much further to Avila Beach -- another 45 minutes or so? So call it almost 3 hrs each way the FAST (but boring) way.

If you take coastal Hwy 1 in one direction, plan on spending most of the day doing that.

I have taken my Mom & aunt from Monterey, down Hwy 1, to Hearst Castle at San Simeon, taken the 1 hr tour, had dinner, and then scooted back to Monterey via 101, all in one day. But it was a *long* day. And all we did, other than taking our time seeing the sights on Hwy 1, was do a 1 hr castle tour and eat dinner.

I agree with the others. If you actually want to see anything, stay overnight in Monterey.
 
Take an extra day or two add it on to your week dont miss a day on the Central Coast. Expedia used to have a good deal on hotel rooms at the Best Western Monterey Beach Hotel it is nice.

I would go to Hearst Castle also. It is a day trip from San Luis Bay Inn.

Here are my recommendations for San Luis Bay Inn.

San Luis Obispo is a really neat town with lots of restaurants, bars and neat shops. It is a College town.

At Avila Beach there is a restaurant named the Custom House Great Breakfasts, crab and shrimp melts and the best bloody Mary you have ever had.
Nearby in Pismo is Guissipe's Itaalian Restaurant it is outstanding.

The Old Port Inn at the end of the Pier at Port San Luis (About 1 mile from San Luis Bay Inn) has great seafood and a nice atmosphere. Actually I proposed to my wife on the pier there, after dinner one night.
Great BBQ at Jocko's in Nipomo or the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe.

I went to school many years ago at Cal Poly and have frequented the area over the years.
 
The Far Western Tavern's a little off the beaten path since it's well below Avila and Pismo Beach although their tri-tip steak sandwich has always been a welcome treat for my OM. My parent's lived in Santa Maria for a while (many, many years ago) and occassionally my OM would take me over to Guadalupe. The Madonna Inn at San Luis Obispo used to be a nice stop. Also, there's always Morro Bay (the Rock). By all means though, take the standard tour at Hearst Castle and don't drive the Coast Hiway (San Simeon to Monterey) at night. If it's not foggy, the view can be unforgettable (if you like mountain side roads hanging out over the rugged Pacific). A stop at Big Sur is also mandatory-although just driving through the area can be excitement enough. Be sure not to miss the Big Sur Lightstation. Actually, just about 10 miles north of San Simeon is another lighthouse (Piedras Blancos). You'll just have to guess why the rocks are white. Speaking of engagement, my husband proposed to me on the 18th green at Pebble Beach(It's the last time I think he ever went on a golf course for any reason!) :eek:
 
Thanks everyone. I am still hoping to get a week in Monterey and just spend an entire week there but nothing is coming up with RCI for that area, Avila is the closest I have been able to pull. I don't know if its a trade power thing or just no availablility as of yet. I'm searching from April 2007 thru Oct 2007. We would like to spend two weeks touring this entire area if we can pull the resorts back to back.

Suzanne
 
I lived in San Luis Obispo from 1983 until 1991 and you have all made me homesick........................
 
Fitzriley said:
I lived in San Luis Obispo from 1983 until 1991 and you have all made me homesick........................
Click to expand...

I lived on the Monterey Peninsula fron 1972 to 1986 and the thought of living there MAKES me sick! :D

Well I guess that's a little extreme. ;) It's funny how I could not get out of town fast enough and all others seem to love the place.:doh:
 
Ah yes, it is a big Peninsula. My OM lived there (class of '69 PGHS) so we spent some time there. Like most areas, it has it's good and bad parts. I'm hoping you didn't spend much time at Fort Ord. Carmel is quaint but, gosh it's pretty small and by the second or third visit I was over it. With the exception of Cannery Row (and now the Aquarium) Monterey was not much to look at either (unless you liked honking your horn in the tunnel every day). Pacific Grove --well, it was known as the town with a church on every corner. How exciting can that be? The area does combine some nice ocean and forest, though.
 
You don't have to go all the way to Monterey to go wine tasting. There are wonderful wineries within 20 minutes of Avila Beach. Edna Valley, Saucelito Canyon and Baileyana in the Edna area of San Luis Obispo, and Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande are all great places to visit. Paso Robles is about 45 minutes from Avila where there are many wonderful wineries, with lots of great zinfandel producers. An hour to the South and you can visit the beautiful Santa Ynez valley.

The previous posters provided great advice on the restaurants. Custom House and Giuseppes are my family's favorites. Beware of Old Port Inn........it can be good or terrible depending on the night. Jocko's in Nipomo is the best steak you'll ever eat, beats Far Western by a mile in price, quantity and quality..........if you ask me!! Steamers in Pismo Beach is a great place for a meal with a view if you can get a window table at sunset. Friday afternoon farmer's market in Avila isn't so great a market for produce, but several of the area restaurants serve great fish tacos and there is usually live music. This makes for a pleasant Friday afternoon to just enjoy being outside on the beach.

Enjoy your trip!
 
Barbeque said:
Great BBQ at Jocko's in Nipomo or the Far Western Tavern in Guadalupe.
Click to expand...

I second the motion for anyone to go to Jocko's (not Little Jockos) and find better. If you sit on the LEFT side of the restaurant you have a full window view of the Oak Pit BBQ.
Make reservations or show up early, most times you can't even get into the bar when waiting, but it IS worth it.
Some trivia...
Jockos means Jenuine Oak Coals Kooks Our Steaks. "Follow me to Jockos"
It's been a family tradition to do any birthday, anniversary or any other special day there for over 45 years. I went there for my High School Prom in the early 70s. My sister had her 62nd birthday there just last night (sadly I was 300+ miles away).
Far Western isn't anything to bypass either... but the floors aren't level so be careful after a few too many!
Note -- SLBI is my Home Resort because that is Home... meaning I grew up in Avila before moving to San Luis Obispo. My family is all throughout San Luis County, even have an aunt still living in Avila, and the Kelsey Winery in See Canyon is family too!
I frequent the Resort 3 to 5 times a year, at times more often. We did my 50th birthday at SLBI last Spring with a full BBQ Pit Spread and Open Bar! (where were you then?)
 
Hey Madmitch.........always fun to hear from someone who loves the central coast as much as I do. I grew up in Shell Beach.....was heading to prom just a couple of years before you, and eating Jocko's steaks back then too! After 30 years in SoCal and NorCal I came back to the central coast where I can see the ocean and dunes from my windows every day (except for during this June gloom). Hope all your visits here are blue skied, sunny ones!!
 
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