Is south Central Valley California worth a day trip?

[LS21]

I gotta be in Bakersfield by Monday

Im thinking of flying in Saturday, driving to SB/SLO, driving along the coast to SB/SLO, stay the night, get back to Bakersfield before monday

I just want to drive a nice stretch of the PCH. Is this worth it? Is there anything else to see there?

 

[Drakkon]

SLO -> Cambria - > Paso Robles -> Bakersfield - yes its an incredible drive through coast then wine country.

 

[antyler]

Yes, Driving thru there would be worth it. Put the window down and enjoy the coastal breeze. It gets warmer towards paso, but your still in wine country then and its still awesome. Great weather right now.

p.s. my parents live in arroyo grande. south of slo.

 

[LEDominator]

If you drive back take the 41, not the 46. 41 is much more scenic, and don't take 85 either. It is just a bunch of curves out to the hell hole that is Bakersfield

 

[rockyct]

It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: LEDominator
If you drive back take the 41, not the 46. 41 is much more scenic, and don't take 85 either. It is just a bunch of curves out to the hell hole that is Bakersfield

Take the 58, fun road if you like open spaces, some great places to take pictures too (straight road among the golden grass all the way to the horizon type shots). And some twistys as you get closer to the 5

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: rockyct
It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

true, BUT....... he still ends up in Bakersfield.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
SLO -> Cambria - > Paso Robles -> Bakersfield - yes its an incredible drive through coast then wine country.

Thanks for the help everyone. So I shoudl do Bakersfield --> SLO area --> Bakersfield? no looping down SB? the SLO/Cam/PS loop looks like just a small 50 mile loop. The 41 goes landward, so its also pretty going from SLO to Kettleman city? i assume ill just take the 5 back down towards Bakersfield

 

[Riverhound777]

It is quite a ways from SLO to SB(1.5 hours) but living in SB I can say that it is amazing. And it is very beautiful right now. And i'm from the central valley so I can tell you that you wont want to go back to Bako.

 

[rockyct]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct
It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

true, BUT....... he still ends up in Bakersfield.

Well, at least he's not going to Fresno.

 

[funkymatt]

Don't be a menace to south central...

 

[sygyzy]

I'm in SB so let me know if you want to meet up for dinner or anything. I want to thank you for all your fixed gear help.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I'm in SB so let me know if you want to meet up for dinner or anything. I want to thank you for all your fixed gear help.

Hey man
Ill definitely hit you up if I swing by. Im about to move form flat houston to denver, so ill be riding much more often!



Since google earth does not support multi-destination routing (boo-urns!), can someone suggest a full driving intinerary? thanks!

 

[LEDominator]

well, if you are making a loop, just go from Bako, to 46, left on 41 take that all the way to the coast on 1 then drive one as far as you can to SB. If you want 154 is a nice drive too. If you had some time you could drive out on Camino Cielo or Painted Cave road and get an awesome view of Santa Barbara on one side and the Santa Ynez valley on the other. From there you could just go down through ventura then cut back over to 5 and back to bako

Hwy 41 Pan

The 41

Atascadero

Santa Ynez Valley

Pan of Santa Ynez

Another pan of Santa Ynez

painted cave

edit: more photo links

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct
It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

true, BUT....... he still ends up in Bakersfield.

Well, at least he's not going to Fresno.

There's a difference?

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I'm in SB so let me know if you want to meet up for dinner or anything. I want to thank you for all your fixed gear help.

Hey man
Ill definitely hit you up if I swing by. Im about to move form flat houston to denver, so ill be riding much more often!



Since google earth does not support multi-destination routing (boo-urns!), can someone suggest a full driving intinerary? thanks!

Dinner in Santa Barbara is always a good idea. Make sure to pick a good place. There's no reason to eat poorly while in SB!

 

[deadlyapp]

SLO is a great town, I go to school here at poly. Spring break is next week so it'll be pretty dead. Thursday nights are essentially farmers market downtown.

 

[sygyzy]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: sygyzy
I'm in SB so let me know if you want to meet up for dinner or anything. I want to thank you for all your fixed gear help.

Hey man
Ill definitely hit you up if I swing by. Im about to move form flat houston to denver, so ill be riding much more often!



Since google earth does not support multi-destination routing (boo-urns!), can someone suggest a full driving intinerary? thanks!

Dinner in Santa Barbara is always a good idea. Make sure to pick a good place. There's no reason to eat poorly while in SB!

Except for the fact that SB is not a great food town. We'll have good food here. It might not even matter though depending on the cuisine he's used to in Houston.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: deadlyapp
SLO is a great town, I go to school here at poly. Spring break is next week so it'll be pretty dead. Thursday nights are essentially farmers market downtown.

Depends what you define as "great town"

I visited slow and I found the city segregated in half.

college kids vs old people
old SLO vs new SLO


And nothing to do but drink and eat. We ended up getting HAMMERED, hopped on some bikes, and went around some elementary school near my friend's place.

 

[BoomerD]

The ONLY nice thing about Bakersfield is seeing it in your rear-view mirror...

The central coast is nice...this time of year it should be green. With nice weather, the tourists may start coming out, and traffic may be a bit sluggish in places.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It is probably one of the most beautiful places on Earth actually.

Yes, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct
It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

true, BUT....... he still ends up in Bakersfield.

Well, at least he's not going to Fresno.

There's a difference?

Of course there's a difference! Just like there's a difference between your right armpit and your left armpit.

 

[DanFungus]

Originally posted by: Ns1

Originally posted by: deadlyapp
SLO is a great town, I go to school here at poly. Spring break is next week so it'll be pretty dead. Thursday nights are essentially farmers market downtown.

Depends what you define as "great town"

I visited slow and I found the city segregated in half.

college kids vs old people
old SLO vs new SLO

And nothing to do but drink and eat. We ended up getting HAMMERED, hopped on some bikes, and went around some elementary school near my friend's place.

This sums up SLO and college life in SLO.

 

[zerocool84]

Umm yea really nothing in Bakersfield to do other than get some really good mexican food. Nothing really scenic there.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Rike

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: rockyct
It's a beautiful time to visit the area because the weeds on the hill haven't died yet. Morro Bay is pretty nice too.

true, BUT....... he still ends up in Bakersfield.

Well, at least he's not going to Fresno.

There's a difference?

Of course there's a difference! Just like there's a difference between your right armpit and your left armpit.

Bah, Frezburg is like a breath of fresh air compared to Bako...literally...Bakersfield always smells nasty...which goes along with its looks...