We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
The Rest of Our Trip
I recently posted about our trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea – Hofsas House Hotel – Family Friendly Lodging. In addition to Carmel-by-the-Sea, we also made other stops along our route. Here are the details about our California coast road trip.
Travel Plan
Starting our trip off with a six-hour drive was not going to sit well with my daughter Miss Bee. Over the past year, Miss Bee began experiencing significant bouts of anxiety when we are stuck in traffic. You can imagine what this is like living in Los Angeles. UGH! Our ability to move about the city to participate in life has been hampered by this latest anxiety trigger. Extra thorough preparation was required in order to enjoy our vacation.
MidPoint Stop
Breaking up the drive over two days was necessary. Six hours is not a terribly long car ride but to Miss Bee, this was going to feel like an eternity. I planned an overnight stop at the halfway point. Most of the time, I provide a lot of prep but there are times when prep leads to perseveration (a hallmark of FAS and anxiety). Miss Bee gets stuck on minor details which leads to meltdowns. I have to figure out which strategy will work best in each individual situation. Without the extra planning effort, misery follows. Miss Bee was informed of the basic plans but I did not share any specific details especially the length of the drive and when we would be leaving.
While Miss Bee was in summer school on the morning of our departure, I packed for both of us and the dogs. I picked Miss Bee up and when she entered our vehicle she found a blanket, pillow, extra headphones, a bag of snacks and drinks waiting for her. We picked Judy up and hit the road. Before she had time to freak out, we were on our way with all of her creature comforts in reach. She settled in with her music and went with the flow much to my relief.
There are two main routes to travel up the coast of California. You can drive on the edge (literally) on the Pacific Coast Highway, which in some areas, is slow going but guarantees spectacular scenery. We opted to take the 101 freeway, which also runs parallel to the ocean. Most of the 101 freeway is located inland however it is also beautiful with a few stretches along the ocean.
Timely Exit Out of Los Angeles
We made it out of Los Angeles ahead of the evening commute traffic. So far my plan was working. We had smooth sailing all the way to Santa Barbara. The typical marine layer (aka June Gloom) dissipated earlier in the day ensuring that our drive along the ocean through Ventura and Santa Barbara was postcard perfect. As we neared our first stop, I felt like I was driving in a John Steinback novel. The rolling hills were so beautiful that we exited off the freeway and drove along a two-lane road for a couple of miles to soak it all in.
First Stop – Solvang
We spent our first night in Solvang, which is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. This lovely town is the Danish Capital of America. After searching lots of websites to locate a unique hotel experience for Miss Bee, I found the Wine Valley Inn and Cottages. Our room had a loft with a king-sized bed and the main room downstairs had a sofabed. The gardens, outdoor fireplaces, and stand-alone cottages throughout the property were lovely.
The next morning, we walked around downtown Solvang looking for a Danish restaurant. The wait times were too long for my hungry teen. We found The Belgian Cafe. Not exactly Danish but our breakfast was delicious. On our walk back to the hotel, we stopped at Mortensen’s Danish Bakery. Miss Bee thought it was a hoot to buy cheese danish in a Danish bakery. We were stocked with yummy snacks for later!
The rest of our ride took us through lots of little agricultural towns. As a city dweller, I enjoy driving through wide-open spaces and big western skies. Breaking up the drive worked out well and my often grumpy teen had no complaints during the rest of the ride. I have learned that the more choices Miss Bee has the better. When to stop for lunch and where was up to her. Choices lead to compliance and buy-in.
Spectacular California Coast
We arrived in Carmel-by-the-Sea in the early afternoon and spent the next two days enjoying this beautiful seaside town. We drove along the 17-Mile Drive on our way to the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum. The beach in Carmel is dog-friendly and it was located just a few blocks from our hotel. Ned and Raven loved it. The downtown area is full of eclectic shops and restaurants thanks to a no chain restaurants ordinance. The town has maintained its rustic charm over the years.
We visited The Barnyard (an outdoor shopping center) just outside of town to enjoy a fondue dinner at the Lugano Swiss Bistro. The service was wonderful and the fondue was delicious. We also rode up and down several tree-lined residential streets to admire the beautiful architecture and unique homes. There are no cookie-cutter housing developments. There are no street numbers assigned to the homes. All residents pick up their mail at the post office. Directions are given based on landmarks. The yards in virtually every home are covered with beautiful gardens.
We stayed at the family-friendly Hofsas House Hotel. The Hofsas House was featured in a previous post and you can read it here. We also visited the Carmel Mission. Carmel-by-the-Sea is both a family-friendly and romantic destination filled with natural beauty and nice folks.
Madonna Inn
We made the return trip home back down the coast in one day. Miss Bee was anxious to get home and this was a big enough incentive to keep on driving. Once again Miss Bee got to choose when to stop and take a break. As we approached San Luis Obispo, I had a stop in mind. We visited the Madonna Inn. Judy’s family stayed here when she was a child. Our visit was nostalgic for her. The resort features a bakery and several gift shops. Shopping is always in Miss Bee’s wheelhouse. The main building has many unique architectural elements to explore.
Pink Pit Stop
While we were checking out the main building we made a pit stop. The restrooms are located on the lower level by the Gourmet and Wine Shop. Although I have never photographed a public restroom before I was compelled to snap a few in this spectacularly ornate facility. The photos below post speak for themselves. It was a restroom fit for royalty complete with a chandelier. Miss Bee loved it!
The Madonna Inn is famous for their one hundred ten individually themed guest rooms. Austrian Suite, Caveman Suite, Rose Room, Desert Sands, Captain’s Bridge and Rocky Mountain with a stone shower a just a few of the themed rooms and suites. Although we did not have the opportunity to visit the guest rooms, we drove around to check out the property. This resort-style Inn has beautiful gardens and buildings throughout the property. There are numerous banquet facilities suited for indoor and outdoor events especially weddings. The tennis courts are pink! They even have horseback riding trails. We will make this a vacation destination in the near future.
Making a Road Trip Work
I have lived in California for many years but it has been a long time since I drove along our spectacular coast. I was glad to share this amazing road trip with my daughter. Although it takes a lot of work to travel with her the effort is worth it.
There were hiccups throughout the trip but I try to remain focused on the positive moments in hopes of helping other families get out and see the world. FASD, the invisible disability is always with us every single day but the extra work required to make travel possible provides us with quality family time, adventure, and fun. Planning and traveling differently is exhausting but it is the only way we can be successful.
In order to prevent sensory overload and anxiety (both are guaranteed to ignite nuclear meltdowns), our plans were as flexible as possible. I refuse to let FASD win and rob me of my love of travel. With determination, my children have experiences that enrich their lives, and hopefully, they will retain memories of the highlights for years to come. Our California coast road trip was a successful vacation.
