Three stops, seven nights, and a road trip down the California coast.
We flew into San Francisco, picked up a rental car, and headed south. Our first stop was Santa Cruz for breakfast burritos before continuing along the coast to Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Over seven nights, we made our way from Carmel to Big Sur and eventually Santa Barbara, with coastal hikes, memorable meals, two very different hotels, and a few afternoons that didn’t require much planning.
Here’s the route we took, where we stayed, and the places I’d go back for.
The itinerary at a glance
| Day | Where | The plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco → Santa Cruz → Carmel | Breakfast burritos at Point Market, watch the surfers at Pleasure Point, check into Villa Mara |
| 2 | Carmel & Monterey | Explore Carmel, hike Point Lobos, dinner in the area |
| 3 | Carmel & Big Sur coast | Bixby Bridge, lunch at Pebble Beach, another evening at Villa Mara |
| 4 | Big Sur | Drive south and check into Post Ranch Inn |
| 5 | Big Sur → Montecito | Four-hour drive south, check into our Airbnb |
| 6 | Santa Barbara | Coffee, bakeries, restaurants, and exploring downtown |
| 7 | Montecito & Santa Barbara | More good food, Rosewood Miramar Beach Bar, and a relaxed afternoon |
| 8 | Santa Barbara | Fly home from Santa Barbara Airport |
Day 1: San Francisco to Carmel, with a stop in Santa Cruz
After landing in San Francisco, we picked up our rental car and started the drive south toward Carmel.
We stopped at Point Market in Santa Cruz for breakfast burritos, then found a bench near Pleasure Point to eat while watching the surfers. It was an easy detour and one of those simple stops that ended up being a really memorable start to the trip.
From there, we continued down the coast to Carmel-by-the-Sea and checked into Villa Mara, our home for the next three nights.
Days 2–3: Carmel, Monterey & the surrounding coast
Carmel is a great place to spend a few days without needing an overly structured itinerary. We spent time walking around town, visiting the beach, and exploring the surrounding coastline.
One of the highlights was hiking at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The trails follow the coast, with beautiful views of the Pacific and plenty of places to stop along the way.
We also stopped at Bixby Bridge and had lunch at The Bench in Pebble Beach. Both are well worth including if you’re spending a few days exploring the area.
Where we ate
We had dinner at Stokes Adobe in Monterey and discovered Café Guaraní, a slightly under-the-radar spot with really, really good empanadas.
We also picked up sushi from Nami Restaurant to bring back to Villa Mara. Some of our favorite evenings were spent around the hotel’s firepit in sweaters and slippers, with takeout and a glass of wine. Just how we like it.
Where we stayed: Villa Mara
We spent three nights in the Malpaso room at Villa Mara, a small boutique hotel that became one of our favorite stays.
Between the people, the breakfast, afternoon cake hour, and the little comforts in our room, it was a place we genuinely looked forward to coming back to each day.
Read our full Villa Mara review for everything we loved about the stay.
Day 4: One night in Big Sur
After three nights in Carmel, we drove south to Big Sur for one night at Post Ranch Inn.
The coastal scenery is reason enough to make this drive, and I’d recommend leaving plenty of time to enjoy it rather than rushing between stops.
At Post Ranch Inn, we stayed in a Lower Mountain Room with a wood-burning fireplace, a private balcony, and beautiful mountain views. We spent much of our time enjoying the room and exploring the property, including a sunset spot recommended by one of the hotel drivers.
While there were things we loved, other parts of the experience didn’t quite meet our expectations, especially given the price. I’m glad we stayed, but it’s a hotel I’d approach differently if we returned.
Read our full Post Ranch Inn review for the complete experience.
Days 5–7: Santa Barbara & Montecito
From Big Sur, we continued south to Santa Barbara. The drive took around four hours, making it our longest driving day of the trip.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Montecito for three nights, which gave the last part of our trip a more relaxed pace. After several nights in hotels, it was nice to have a home base and spend our days exploring, eating, and enjoying the area.
Where we ate
Dart Coffee — Still my number-one-rated coffee spot on Beli. So, so good.
Helena Avenue Bakery — The breakfast tacos were incredible. Absolutely worth a stop.
Manifattura — Really good Italian and one of our favorite meals in Santa Barbara.
Bistro Amasa — Another incredible dinner. The carrot cake was a highlight, so definitely save room for dessert.
Third Window Brewing — Such a fun, casual atmosphere. A great place for a burger, a beer, and, in our case, watching March Madness.
An afternoon at Rosewood Miramar
We also spent an afternoon at the beach bar at Rosewood Miramar, enjoying cocktails and watching March Madness.
Sitting by the beach with a drink, catching a few March Madness games, and having nowhere else we needed to be was a pretty great way to spend an afternoon in Montecito.
A few things I’d recommend
- Fly into San Francisco and out of Santa Barbara. This worked really well for our route and saved us from having to drive back north.
- Stop in Santa Cruz on the way to Carmel. Point Market breakfast burritos and a bench near Pleasure Point are a great combination.
- Spend at least three nights in Carmel. There’s plenty to explore nearby, and it’s worth having time to enjoy the town itself.
- Leave time for the coastal drives. Especially around Big Sur, the scenery is part of the experience.
- Don’t skip Santa Barbara. We ate so well here, and Montecito was a great place to spend the final three nights.
- Make time for a few unplanned afternoons. Some of our favorite moments were the simplest ones.
