California - Cambria or Carmel? - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

07/01/2011 10:42:39 AM · #1

Finalizing California trip

In a pickle, trying to decide if we should stay overnight in Carmel or Cambria?

Pictures on google images look awesome for both places, either way we will be visiting both places taking route 1, but for the night what will be a better option? We will be driving from Freemont.

Also is Yosemite doable as a day trip from Freemont? Looks like camping is not an option (no campsites available) and hotels are either not available or too pricey to justify.

Besides this we are going to cover SFO, Napa/Sonoma, Red woods

Would love suggestions!

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

07/01/2011 12:32:32 PM · #2

My preference is Cambria, especially if you can stay near Moonstone Beach, but it's quite a drive between there and Carmel. Doesn't look that far on the map, but PCH is narrow, twisty and you'll want to stop fairly often and look around a bit. Assuming that you're coming from the North, I'd stop in Carmel for lunch and to look around, then drive down PCH to Cambria (or you could go further south to Cayucos or even as far as San Luis Obispo, which has a vibrant, but very laid back scene.), spend the night and get up early to drive back North. Everyone raves about the spectacular Pacific coast sunsets, but the scenery in the early morning light is just as good.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

07/01/2011 01:13:01 PM · #3

Originally posted by vikas:

Also is Yosemite doable as a day trip from Freemont?

Fremont is about a three and a half hour drive from Yosemite, and its not easy driving. Most of the way is fast moving single lane over hilly and windy roads. So it isn't a relaxed zoom down interstate 5, it is active focused driving. If that sort of a trip is fun, if a challenging drive charges your batteries, you could leave Fremont around 4AM, zip up there, shoot the valley for the day and make it a day trip. If driving over tricky roads leaves you exhausted after a few hours then think about staying in Mariposa or Bear Valley and make it a one hour trip in the morning.

Fremont has interest all of its own. It is the largest community of Afghans outside Afghanistan. There is some great street photography there in "Little Kabul".

Garry

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/01/2011 01:13:47 PM · #4

My impression of the two having done the driving route from LA to SF. Cambria is much more interesting, mix of old and new, broken and shiny. Just a nice collection of different styles. Carmel is beautiful...but very fancy. Drive down the streets and you'll see Ferrari's, Porsches, Lambo's etc. Just on a different level all together.

So depends what you're look for.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/01/2011 01:29:02 PM · #5

Thanks guys! Cambria it is for the night.

@Brennan - that's an interesting piece of information about Afghans in Fremont, will definitely look out for candids.
Also your highest rated picture gave me another great place to visit :)
Vasco Road about 30 miles from Fremont

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/01/2011 03:13:06 PM · #6

The drive between Cambria and Carmel is one of the most popular and spectacular around -- right through the Big Sur area -- but it is long and winding. Remember that Carmel is just a small town next to several others; Monterey has the Aquarium, Cannery Row, and Presidio, and Asilomar is "around the corner" in Pacific Grove. A few miles south of Carmel is Pt. Lobos State Reserve. And from Fremont you can go through Santa Cruz if you want (beach/boardwalk, UC campus) on the way to the Monterey Peninsula.

Cambria is a lot farther from Fremont than the Carmel area ...

Here are some pictures from my last two trips to the area ... 2011 Carmel Trip | 2008 Carmel Trip

PS: I'm pretty sure Vasco Road has one of the highest accident rates in the Bay Area -- I hear it mentioned all the time on the radio traffic reports. Be careful out there!

Message edited by author 2011-07-01 15:20:35.

Germaine

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f / 4L IS USM Lens

07/01/2011 04:45:41 PM · #7

Here's a California Department of Transportation link for road conditions. Check Highway 1 before you head south. They have had a lot of slip outs this year, and it's closed from time to time.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/01/2011 04:55:06 PM · #8

Originally posted by Germaine:

Here's a California Department of Transportation link for road conditions. Check Highway 1 before you head south. They have had a lot of slip outs this year, and it's closed from time to time.

What she said. I don't know when you're going, but you can't go all the way through right now. You CAN, however, drive south on the coast and then cut over the mountains and inland to 101 on the spectacular Nacimiento Road and county road G-18 to Bradley. That's really nice country, California the way it used to be. Then you head south on the 101 and cut back over to the coast on 46, which picks up Highway 1 again a few miles south of Cambria.

R.

hihosilver

Nikon D200

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/01/2011 05:16:27 PM · #9

When you are in town (Carmel), here's a restaurant you might enjoy...

Mission Ranch

Good food and beautiful view...::beams::

Spork99

Canon EOS M6 Mk II

Canon EF-M 22mm STM Lens

07/01/2011 06:25:37 PM · #10

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Germaine:
Here's a California Department of Transportation link for road conditions. Check Highway 1 before you head south. They have had a lot of slip outs this year, and it's closed from time to time.

What she said. I don't know when you're going, but you can't go all the way through right now. You CAN, however, drive south on the coast and then cut over the mountains and inland to 101 on the spectacular Nacimiento Road and county road G-18 to Bradley. That's really nice country, California the way it used to be. Then you head south on the 101 and cut back over to the coast on 46, which picks up Highway 1 again a few miles south of Cambria.

R.

I used to ride my bike from SLO and do that loop...great country.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

07/01/2011 07:08:27 PM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Robt --- I picture this area as pulled from the pages of East of Eden... I've never been there, but sounds intriguing.

Hiho gave you a restaurant recommendation. Go all out, and spend the night at the Post Ranch Inn. I've heard it is over the top!

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

07/01/2011 07:15:09 PM · #12

Thanks for all the great advice Robert and everyone else! I would have picked up the car and started driving .. Will try to use the route you mentioned in our plan!

We are in Cali from 15th to 24th.. Was planning this trip around 18th Monday.

Bear_Music

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/01/2011 08:29:30 PM · #13

Originally posted by mpeters:

Go all out, and spend the night at the Post Ranch Inn. I've heard it is over the top!

Over the top in price as well. Really high-end, luxe accomodations and food.

Something more earthy, more Big Sur-the-way-it-used-to-be, is Deetjen's Big Sur Inn. It's one of my favorite places ever, and it's like a time warp there. This is Big Sur the way Henry Miller used to know it. If you possibly can, arrange to spend the night there. But book well in advance; plan your driving date around when you can get a reservation. You can only do it by phone; see their site.

An experience not to be forgotten :-)

R.