California Coast on a Budget

If you’ve always loved the idea of a road trip up the California Coast, but have hesitated due to budget concerns, I am here to tell you, you don’t have to miss out!

It can certainly be pricey, so we set out to find a way to create a budget friendly itinerary that would make it easier to pack your bags and hit the road!

Also don’t forget to scroll down to the bottom of the post and press play on the Road Trip Video!

Which Way to Go:

We started from Los Angeles and headed north. If you want the really scenic route, you can take the Pacific Coast Highway (aka Highway 1) the entire way. This will double the total trip time, however, so if you’re short on time you can head up the 5 freeway and connect with the 101, which will then connect you to the Pacific Coast Highway farther north.

Where to Stop: 

Big Sur: While there are so many options, we decided on Big Sur, since it is the most popular and perhaps most scenic. Once you get into Big Sur there are several places to pull over and stop along the PCH to take photos. These are some of the most beautiful views on the entire trip and the Bixby bridge is not to be missed! Where to Stay: 

There are a lot of expensive places to stay if you aren’t worried about cost, but we decided to head up to Monterey, where we stayed at the very cute Hilton Garden Inn. Situated right off Highway 1, it is walking distance to historic downtown Monterey and a short drive from Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea, Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove. There is a heated pool, hot tub and a fire pit you can hang out and roast s’mores if you are in the mood. The best part is you can get a fantastic room for less than $150 per night!Where to Eat: 

Red House Cafe: This is the cutest, quaint little spot, located in Pacific Grove (This little town is reminiscent of Cape Cod) You walk in and it feels like you are walking into a family member’s house. The decor is cozy, welcoming, and you literally want to sit down and stay awhile – the staff is extremely friendly, the menu is reasonably priced and the food is AH-mazing!  We stopped for breakfast and they were happy to accommodate my gluten allergy.

Other Tips: 

• Dress in Layers: The cliffs by the ocean can get quite windy and depending on the time of year, it can cool off real fast. I recommend bringing a few layers to adjust to the temp shifts and also bring a hat to help with the wind.
• Where comfortable shoes: If you decide to wander down any cliffs to explore more closely, you are going to want to wear comfy shoes. I recommend weather friendly boots if you have them
• Bring Snacks: My favorite gluten free/Dairy free snack brands are Beanfields rice and bean chips (have you tried ranch flavor?! OMG!) and Two Mom’s in the Raw. We also brought plenty of Fiji water. This cut down on the expense of buying food and drinks on the road and is a huge help if you have food allergies like me!
• Prepare for spotty cell service: We drove a Lincoln MKC, which gave us LOTS of room and had a handy navigational system for when we lost cell service. (Not to mention this car drives like a dream!)
• Make a road trip play list: This definitely makes the trip more festive and fun!

[embedplusvideo height=”631″ width=”1080″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1VkOo80″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/JOcM3XuV_B4?fs=1&vq=hd720″ vars=”ytid=JOcM3XuV_B4&width=1080&height=631&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=1&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep4156″ /]

XO,