Memorial Weekend: Santa Cruz or Monterey

[DannyLove]

I'm planning a trip for Memorial Weekend. Never been to either place, but I have gone as far as San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle.

Whats a better spot for a nice 4 day weekend? I'm mainly interested in beaches, and cool bars during the night.

 

[buck]

so cal?

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: DannyLove
I'm planning a trip for Memorial Weekend. Never been to either place, but I have gone as far as San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle.

Whats a better spot for a nice 4 day weekend? I'm mainly interested in beaches, and cool bars during the night.

If you are mainly interested in beaches and bars, then go to Santa Cruz/Capitola.

edit: Also, you do realize that Santa Cruz and Monterey are only about a 30 minute drive between each other, so you can easily do both.

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: DannyLove
I'm planning a trip for Memorial Weekend. Never been to either place, but I have gone as far as San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle.

Whats a better spot for a nice 4 day weekend? I'm mainly interested in beaches, and cool bars during the night.

If you are mainly interested in beaches and bars, then go to Santa Cruz/Capitola.

edit: Also, you do realize that Santa Cruz and Monterey are only about a 30 minute drive between each other, so you can easily do both.

cool. Any recommended hotels? Wouldn't mind a place with a nice pool.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: DannyLove

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: DannyLove
I'm planning a trip for Memorial Weekend. Never been to either place, but I have gone as far as San Simeon to visit Hearst Castle.

Whats a better spot for a nice 4 day weekend? I'm mainly interested in beaches, and cool bars during the night.

If you are mainly interested in beaches and bars, then go to Santa Cruz/Capitola.

edit: Also, you do realize that Santa Cruz and Monterey are only about a 30 minute drive between each other, so you can easily do both.

cool. Any recommended hotels? Wouldn't mind a place with a nice pool.

My wife and I have stayed at a number of hotels in the area, and I don't think any of them had a pool worth mentioning 🙂.

Last month we stayed at "The Clement" in Monterey. This is a very nice hotel, but it's a bit pricey. It's almost right next to the Aquarium, so if you are going to be visiting there, it is nice.

We've also stayed at the Capitola Venitian Hotel a couple times. It's in a good location closer to the beach, but it's kind of an older hotel. It's nice because it's close to a bunch of bars like Margaritaville?, so you can just stagger back to the hotel at night.

 

[deadlyapp]

hit up san luis obispo 😀

 

[zoiks]

Also check out Carmel and Big Sur. Love those areas. Do rent a kayak from Monterey bay kayaks (on the beach next to the wharf) and harass the seals.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: zoiks
Also check out Carmel and Big Sur. Love those areas. Do rent a kayak from Monterey bay kayaks (on the beach next to the wharf) and harass the seals.

Carmel-by-the-Sea really has no night life to speak of. It is nice to hang out at the beach there though.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: zoiks
Also check out Carmel and Big Sur. Love those areas. Do rent a kayak from Monterey bay kayaks (on the beach next to the wharf) and harass the seals.

Carmel-by-the-Sea really has no night life to speak of. It is nice to hang out at the beach there though.

If he's going to be in Monterey then he might as well check out Carmel. Big Sur is just south of Carmel. Lots of places to explore there. Point Lobos state reserve. Carmel River State Beach. They can even go diving right there if they want.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: zoiks

Originally posted by: Drako

Originally posted by: zoiks
Also check out Carmel and Big Sur. Love those areas. Do rent a kayak from Monterey bay kayaks (on the beach next to the wharf) and harass the seals.

Carmel-by-the-Sea really has no night life to speak of. It is nice to hang out at the beach there though.

If he's going to be in Monterey then he might as well check out Carmel. Big Sur is just south of Carmel. Lots of places to explore there. Point Lobos state reserve. Carmel River State Beach. They can even go diving right there if they want.

Indeed, all good points - I was simply pointing out that Carmel-by-the-Sea has no real nightlife.

I love Point Lobos, one of my favorite places to hike. If you can park out on the road legally, do so. They just raised parking again this year, it's now at $10.

My wife and I have one of these CA park day use pass, but we do a lot of park visits every year, so it's worth it.

 

[DannyLove]

I'm thinking of staying in Santa Cruz for the entire weekend, and possibly shoot down to Monterey for the last day and then heading back home going down PCH for the views (starting from the 17 Mile Dr area).

 

[Miramonti]

Monterey is more romantic and low key. Santa Cruz on the other hand will be very busy and filled with many idiots (more than usual) Memorial Day weekend.

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Monterey is more romantic and low key. Santa Cruz on the other hand will be very busy and filled with many idiots (more than usual) Memorial Day weekend.

when you say idiots, you're referring to college kids getting wasted?

if so, IN 😉

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: DannyLove

Originally posted by: jjsole
Monterey is more romantic and low key. Santa Cruz on the other hand will be very busy and filled with many idiots (more than usual) Memorial Day weekend.

when you say idiots, you're referring to college kids getting wasted?

if so, IN 😉

Actually...yes. 😀

Lots of vacationing families with their kids on the road as well, occassionally watching the road between backslaps.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: DannyLove

Originally posted by: jjsole
Monterey is more romantic and low key. Santa Cruz on the other hand will be very busy and filled with many idiots (more than usual) Memorial Day weekend.

when you say idiots, you're referring to college kids getting wasted?

if so, IN 😉

Actually...yes. 😀

Lots of vacationing families with their kids on the road as well, occassionally watching the road between backslaps.

Can't forget the hippies...

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Santa Cruz - check out the Terrace Court Motel

Directly across the street from the pier, beach, and a short walk to the boardwalk.

 

[DannyLove]

Awesome thanks Fmr12B. Keep the hotel recommendations coming. I'm checking them all out for the best rate. Thank you