California Coast Roadtrip & Guide

I recently did something I haven’t done in years, I went on a road trip up the California coast, stopping in a few spots along the way, to my destination of Monterey and Carmel. I have so many treasured memories of road tripping up California with cousins and exploring new places along the way. And with flying being too difficult for me right now with my chronic pain, I decided a little trip up the coast would be the perfect end of summer getaway. I should also mention that Monterey holds a very special place in my heart. I fell in love with Monterey when I was maybe 10 or 11. I loved everything about it from the cozy weather to the way the beautiful beach and cliffs bordered up to the adorable downtown, to even the drive through Big Sur to get there. I actually hadn’t been back since then so I couldn’t wait to fall in love with it all over again.

Malibu

We first stopped in Malibu (which I’ve never been to before) and had lunch at Malibu Farm! There’s not a whole lot to do in Malibu other than enjoy the beautiful beach but heading to the Pier (where Malibu Farm is located) is definitely worth the trip! Malibu Farm and the surrounding little photo-ops on the pier are perfect Instagramable spots! There’s a super cute pink-themed store run my The Ranch at Malibu along with the iconic pink striped umbrellas and bench right near the pier. For lunch at Malibu Farm we went to the restaurant area and it is super cute. The cute decor is reason enough to come here but I would definitely come back for the burger! (To be honest I wasn’t too big a fan of the sides or the other dishes my fam ordered, so maybe stick with the burger).

Pismo Beach

We stayed that night in Pismo Beach which is a little town long the ocean thats a good “half way point” between San Diego and Monterey. The main reason we stayed here was to break up the drive and also to stay at The Cottage Inn By the Sea! It’s an adorable little inn with rooms that lead right out to the ocean! If you’re looking for a place to stay on your way up the coast I highly recommend this little inn. I also recommend eating at Giuseppe’s for Italian!

I should also mention that we stopped into San Luis Obispo on the way up to Monterey and had the best ice cream at Dr. Burstein’s Ice Cream Lab in the downtown of SLO.

Monterey

We made the drive up to Monterey and checked in to Hotel Pacific. They have lovely suites here and you are right in town! We also had ocean views from our rooms. Of Course, if you’re in Monterey you have to head down Cannery Row and pop into all the touristy spots. You also cannot leave without visiting the Wharf and having a yummy cup of clam chowder either! And you must visit the aquarium. We spent a good 2-3 hours exploring the aquarium and it was just as magical as I remember. We also went out to the ocean front deck outside and spotted some Orcas passing by which was truly astonishing!

I cannot talk about Monterey without mentioning the drive though Big Sur to get there. We didn’t take the Big Sur route this time because I couldn’t handle the constant weaving and turns up the mountain that driving through Big Sur entails, but if it doesn’t bother you its something you really must do at least once in your life. They actually just recently re-opened the road in Big Sur so now you can make the drive to Monterey along the gorgeous cliffs again! If you do take this scenic route, I recommend stopping for coffee at the Gallery Cafe that is literally right along the main road! It’s a gallery downstairs and a cafe upstairs with a large deck that overlooks the beautiful coastline.

Carmel

We ventured between Monterey and Carmel throughout the trip since they’re so close to each other. Carmel is the most picturesque, story book town I’ve ever seen. It couldn’t be more perfect and the fact that it’s nestled up to the beautiful Northern California coast makes it that much more lovely.

Our first night up there we had one of the best Italian meals of our lives at La Mia Cucina in Carmel. If you’re looking for a great, non-touristy spot for dinner I couldn’t recommend this family owned restaurant any more! The next day we stopped in for coffee and pastries at The Carmel Bakery, which apparently is like the “Starbucks of Carmel”. The pastries were absolutely delicious and the shop itself couldn’t have been cuter.  We drove along the ocean that night in Carmel and spotted Orcas again! Some of my favorite parts about this trip were the drives along the beautiful coastline in Monterey and Carmel. There’s something magical about the cool, cozy weather paired with beautiful cliffside beaches up there that you just don’t get in Southern California.

I had such a fun time on this road trip up the California coast and hope these recommendations come in handy if you’re visiting any of these destinations. Let me know if you’re planning a trip to any of these spots in the comments below!