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I will be in Monterey California in the 1st week of October for a 1 hour meeting and I'm considering bringing my fiancee as neither of us have been to California.

What will the weather likely be like in early October? Do the leaves change like they do in the midwest? Will we be there in time for that?

Also, if we have only 4 days will there be enough to keep us busy if we go to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur or should we make the two hour trek to San Francisco or Napa????

Thank you!

Paul

Oh, I love Monterey! It's one of my most favorite places in the world. Weather in Oct should be in the mid to high 60's and it should be pleasant.

Here's a link to weather and other assorted events/activities in the area:
http://www.monterey-carmel.com/weather_ ... insula.htm

A visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must, it's fantastic. I go whenever I get the chance, even though it is a two hour drive for me.
http://www.mbayaq.org/

You can go kayaking out on the bay with the sea otters which is fun, or take a whale watching trip out of Fisherman's Wharf. And you must get clam chowder in a bread bowl on the wharf, it is delish.

You can easily do the aquarium and wharf in one day, leaving you 3 other days for Carmel/Big Sur/whatever. Since you've never been to Cali you might want to make the trek up to SF...but you might want to spend the night since there is so much to do. Plus it's not a city you really want to drive around in if you don't know where you're going, IMHO. There was a thread here a few months ago about things to do in SF, I'll see if I can dig it up for you.

You'll have a great time, no matter what! I'm hoping to get down there sometime in the next week or two for a "fix".

Ooops, forgot the leaves part. Up in the foothills the leaves do change, but it's nothing like the midwest or back east. On the coast I don't think you'll notice it as much, just some trees here and there.

You will have fun! October can be a little on the cool side (for California) with cool ocean breezes coming in. (Oh yeah....I livede there when my Dad was teaching at the Naval Postgraduate School......We lived on the 17 mile drive). Depending on what you like to do.....Personaly, I would ditch the San Fransisco/Napa Idea and hang in Monterey and Carmel. Go to the Moterey Bay aquarium, Drive the 17 mile drive, shop in Carmel, Go out to point Lobos Park, Have dinner on Cannery row (or what is left of it....)If you have time, that time of year is good to cruise down to Big Sur...beatuiful drive and coast line....REMEMBER!!!!! the destination (Big Sur) is NOT nessasrily the attraction!!!!!!! The Journey is the attraction in this case!!!!! Kinda like the road to Hana on Maui......
OR you could cruise uup the coast to Santa Cruz ...hang out on the boardwalk, ride the carosel that has actual brass rings to grab!!!! ride the roller coaster and tell your friends back home how you cheated death....

Anyway.....you will have fun.....enjoy!

IMHO there are but two times of the year to hit the Bay..

April and October those are the two most wonderful months

I visited the San Fran-Big Sur area in May and it quickly made it into my top 10 favorite places list.

Just like Dutch said above....the journey on the PCH is the real attraction...the combination of ocean and mountains (and a few redwoods) is incredible.

I would recommend driving down to Big Sur park...go to the visitor center for some great local art. There are also some cool little shops along the way.

Plan on eating at the Rocky Point Restaurant on your drive....it's 10 miles south of Carmel...the only ocean front restaurant that I found on my drive...the food is really good and the view is great! After you eat, there is a trail leading down from the parking lot where you can walk out on the huge rocks below the restaurant.
http://www.rocky-point.com/

If you get to drive north to the SF area, I'd spend a half day walking around SF and Fisherman's Wharf (just to say you did)....get some sourdough bread at the Boudin Bakery, then drive across the GG bridge and check out the sights on the north side of the Bay.

Highly recommended stops would be Muir Woods (redwood forest), Muir Beach (hey, we are parrotheads after all), and the Marin Headlands Park (on the north side of the GG Bridge...check out the WWII gun batteries along the drive....the elevation on the park road takes you higher than the top of the GG Bridge.). Also, park on the north side of the bridge and walk across for a pretty nice view of the city 'from a slightly different point of view'.
If you've already driven that far north and need a good seafood meal and a glass of CA wine, check out Paradise Bay in Sausalito.
http://www.paradisebaysausalito.com/

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA!! If you're in Monterey, it's just a short drive down to Carmel and it's a must-see. It's a great little town with lots of great shops, restaurants, coffee shops, wine stores, etc., etc. Lots of neat old buildings and tons of $$$. Check out some of the cars parked around the town and you'll get it.

Breakfast - Katy's Place (huge portions) or EmLe's (out of this world French Toast)
Lunch - Hogsbreath Inn
Dinner - The Mission Ranch (Clint Eastwood might even be there, like he was when we were there in March)

If you're a golfer, there aren't too many better places to be! But check out the green fees first!! Pebble Beach is tough to get on, but Spanish Bay is worth playing as well. You can only book 1 day in advance at Pebble, but 2 months in advance at Spanish Bay.

While you're there, you also have to see the 17 Mile Drive, but take your time and stop along the way. The ocean views are amazing!

Have a great trip!! We were there for the 3rd time in March and we'd go back every year if we could.

Catch&Release wrote:... I'm considering bringing my fiancee ...

Just went back and re-read your post and have to add that we find Carmel-by-the-sea very romantic, so yes, take her along! It's a great place to take a day and wander around checking things out, stopping for a bite to eat and a drink, etc.

Have fun!!

The really good fall color is in the Sierra's and it would be a little more than a good drive to get there. However, if you ever get back to California in October, plan on wine tasting in the foothills and fall color in the Sierra. It really is the best

Enjoy our fine state

Monterey, is fantastic! I spent part of my honey moon there. Stayed at the Spinddrift Inn, very relaxing with its fireplace and a window seat overlooking the coast. What a memory and great time. Cannery Row is much fun. Enjoy your visit

Last year, mid-October, I took a long weekend up to Monterey, and it was PERFECT.
I was really up to go to the World Sports Car Championships at Laguna Seca Raceway, but had plenty of extra time time to enjoy Cannery Row, the famous aquarium,
and a get in a quick early a.m. nine on the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course.
Some the most beautiful sights you'll see on this good earth can be found along coastal Highway 1!

Hey there. Just read your post and I will be in Monterey on the 7th and 8th of October. Will you still be around for the weekend? PM me if so and we'll talk.

I was intrigued with the reference to Cambria in the Shaputis book...Changes in Attitude.

My friends just stayed in a house there and said it was great.

They said everything was really special and enjoyed this place.

Cambria Pines Lodge
http://www.moonstonehotels.com/CPLRestaurant.htm

I know it's a place I would love to visit.

You'll love it. Bring a light jacket along as the ocean breezes can be quite cool. Enjoy.

Catch&Release wrote:I will be in Monterey California in the 1st week of October for a 1 hour meeting and I'm considering bringing my fiancee as neither of us have been to California.

What will the weather likely be like in early October? Do the leaves change like they do in the midwest? Will we be there in time for that?

Also, if we have only 4 days will there be enough to keep us busy if we go to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur or should we make the two hour trek to San Francisco or Napa????

Thank you!

Paul

Any decisions? Are you both going? Where are you going? There's plenty to do for 3 or 4 days in the Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area, so have a great time! I'm terribly envious, even though we were just there in March.

chuck

Thank you, everybody!

We had an amazing time in San Francisco as well as in Carmel/Monterey.

We stayed in downtown San Francisco for 2 nights at the Galleria Park near Chinatown/Union Square. We walked all over SF and did as many touristy things as we could. The Hotel was awful, but, live & learn!

There are no words to describe how beautiful the Monterey Peninsula is! We stayed two nights in Carmel by the Sea. We stayed at the Best Western Town House, which was in a great location.

We wandered around Carmel & Monterey. We were completely captivated by the 17 mile drive and loved seeing the whales, sea lions, dolphins just off the beach.

The drive to Big Sur was incredible and thanks to the above advice we stopped at Rocky Point to watch the sunset. What an amazing view. Great food and a great place to enjoy an Anchor Steam while watching the sun set.

We are basically little kids at heart. One of our favorite things was seeing the sea lions up close. I was really surprised that they're so used to people than you can get right up to the other side of the fence away from them on one of the municipal piers.

We got great photos and have wonderful memories of one of our best trips yet. What a very special part of our great country! Thanks for all of your advice.