Monterey or another region?

My husband and I are planning a California trip, but we only have 9 days. We are starting in San Diego (for a wedding), but can leave from anywhere.

So far, I%26#39;m most interested in wine country (not set on which region), but I have no idea where we should go...to the busier places (Napa and Sonoma) or to one of the smaller locales? What else can we do in Monterey if we choose that location?

We%26#39;d also like to visit some things like: Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs, and San Francisco. We can%26#39;t do everything in a week...any suggestions?

We love wine, laid back, scenic drives, cute towns, etc.

Monterey or another region?

There are many fun and scenic things to do in and around Monterey. I would suggest the Ventana Vineyards some wine tasting, it is right next door to Tarpey%26#39;s Roadhouse, a great restaurant. The tasting is complimentary at Ventana, they produce some excellent Sauv Blanc and Chardonnay.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is really fun, you should allow at least a couple of hours to go through this. Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf and Cannery Row are also major attractions in Monterey.

Close by you can go to Carmel, visit the Mission, Pt. Lobos State Reserve or stroll through the quaint downtown area of Carmel. Lots of cool art galleries with gorgeous paintings, sculptures, etc. There is also the Carmel Beach which is very pretty.

17 Mile Drive is also a nice thing to do in the area,if you have a meal at Roy%26#39;s your entrance fee to the drive will be re-imbursed. Carmel Valley is a nice place to wine taste also,. Chateau Julien and Bernardus area a couple of my favorite places to wine taste in this area. Wickets at Bernardus is nice for lunch.

Have fun your travels! :)

Monterey or another region?

If you%26#39;re coming in the summer, then Monterey/San Francisco is a good choice because it%26#39;s cooler on the coast. Napa/Sonoma and Palm Springs will be extremely hot.

If you want laid back, cute towns, scenic drives and wine... I have just the place for you.

Central California coast!

Specifically, Cambria %26amp; Paso Robles.

Cambria is a quaint coastal town with lots of charm, excellent restaurants, and neat little shops. There are several wonderful inns along Moonstone Beach Drive with the ocean right across the street with a lovely boardwalk for sunset walks.

The best part for wine lovers is the fact that Cambria is a short drive east into Paso Robles wine country. Paso wines are world class, like Napa, but without the heavy commercialism you find in Napa. In fact, many Napa wineries purchase their grapes from Paso area wine grape growers to make their wines. Paso Robles also has a quaint downtown area and the nearby town of Templeton is also worth a look.

I think you%26#39;ll enjoy the wineries located on the west side of Paso Robles, since they%26#39;re located in rural areas and provide many scenic drives you%26#39;re looking for.

And, you can head east on Hwy 46 and pick up Hwy 41 east for Yosemite right in Paso Robles! From there, you can hit Tahoe and then over to San Francisco, if you wish.