Northern California (specifically Carmel-Big Sur area) was my former
stomping ground. I escaped to the Pacific North Wet . . . but that's
another story. I also have a son who has grown out of skateboarding
(or does your boy do in-line skating?) so I think I'm somewhat
qualified to answer some of your inquiries.
You say you're flying up from LaLa Land? This would be the City of the
Fallen Angels? Four days is not much time to cover the geography you
mentioned, unless you fly down to Monterey (from SF) instead of drive.
You can't fly to Big Sur; you'll have to rent a car and that's a 45
minute drive from Monterey. In SF I would say don't miss the
Exploratorium; eleven is the perfect age for that place! If your son
has GOT to get some skating time in, the Golden Gate Park (the
promenade where it joins the panhandle) area is where everyone does
in-line skating. I'm not familiar with skate (board) parks around SF
but that couldn't be too difficult to locate.
In Monterey, of course, it's the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's just
unbeleivable and indescribable. It's located in old town Monterey on
Cannery Row (Steinbeck's stomping ground; though irretreivably changed
and touristified) Kalisa's Restaurant is in a yellow building (a
former house of ill repute in Steinbeck's day) right across the street
from the aquarium; worth it for famous curries if you can get in. If
you're tempted to go on a whale watching tour, I would decline; it can
waste a whole day out on the water with no guarantee of a siting
(unless of course people are saying that the whales are definately out
there THAT DAY . . . then it's an experience you'll never forget.)
Right in the middle of Monterey, Dennis the Menace Skate Park used to
be the place to go; but it's kind of tacky; it may have been redone
since I've been there; there also may be other, newer skate parks
around Monterey too. The nicest (and safest) beach you can find on the
whole coast is Carmel Beach; get there by going all the way down Ocean
Ave to the bottom and pray for a parking space. If you swim, watch out
for rip tides and undertows. The north end of this beach is right
below the famous Pebble Beach golf course; watch out for flying balls!
Interesting tide pools there; a great walk. Point Lobos (two miles
south of Carmel) is a State Park that can be fun if the weather's
nice; there, China Cove is the beach worth finding. Driving down the
coast from Carmel, you'll cross the well-known Bixby Bridge and a
little further on the road climbs up to Hurricane Point, the highest
and most spectacular view of the coast if the weather's clear (both
places worth a turnout). Be mindful of that road; there are few
survivors of the West-of-Highway-One club! If you can afford a hotel
at Union Square, you might want to get into Ventana, but my personal
preference has always been Deetchen's Big Sur Inn for rustic charm.
Don't know if you'll be able to get in at this late date. The
breakfasts there are fantastic! Of course, there's Nepenthe, and
downstairs, the Phoenix Shop for all sorts of exotic paraphernalia.
Esalen is twelve miles further down (from the Big Sur post office) but
I think you can't get in unless you're a workshop participant; if you
are interested in natural hot springs (and don't mind public nudity)
it's worth finding out if you can get a day pass. The baths are newly
remodelled and absolutely stunning; food is good too. Andrew Molera
State park is a good walk, though I don't know how interesting it
would be for an eleven year old. There are other, wilder places to go,
but it would require some real knowledge and preparation to hike
there, etc. Julia Pfiefer Burns State park is a nice walk too, with a
trail that goes down to a waterfall that drops right into the ocean.
Back in Carmel, Clint Eastwood's restaurant is called (of all things)
the Hog's Breath Inn; one that I've always enjoyed more is around the
corner, called Casanova's. If you want to buy picnic foods to go,
don't miss the Mediterranean Market, right on the corner on Ocean Ave
across from the small park in town.
That's all I can bring forth from my somewhat outdated memory; if you
have any other specific questions, I'll check back in here later . . .
good luck!
ts |
