SeeCalifornia.com

Left to right are Laguna Beach, 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach and Alcatraz in San Francisco.

Spring Break is in full swing in California and there’s so much to see along the Pacific. If you’re driving the coast, be sure to stop and see the elephant seal rookery at Piedras Blancas beach north of Hearst Castle.   While San Diego and Las Vegas traditionally offer some of the most popular holiday vacations, Laguna Beach is known for its small town feel with hotels right on beaches. There are over 20 neighborhood beaches in Laguna, and each offers its own unique characteristics and quirks. Pebble Beach is a bit pricey for the average traveler (hotel rooms in Pebble Beach range around $500 up, so your best bet is to stay outside the gates in Carmel or Pacific Grove hotels, while enjoying the scenic 17 Mile Drive for a fraction of the cost of  spending the night at Pebble Beach. The diversity of lodgings in Monterey Bay area range from pet friendly to B&B charm, ocean view rooms and even golf course resorts. One of the most affordable golf course hotels is the Hyatt Regency Monterey that overlooks the public Del Monte Golf Course.

In San Francisco the tourist season is in full bloom now,  so you’ll find that staying slightly away from Fisherman’s Wharf and other touristy spots may save you a few dollars. We usually find bargains on holidays by looking around convention centers and business centers where the corporate crowd comes for the work week and leaves on weekends and holidays.  Learn to take the public transportation–buses, trolleys, etc., and you can go anywhere around San Francisco quite a bit cheaper than taking a taxi. 90% of the city accesses public transportation within a few blocks.