Planning our maiden tour from San Francisco to Santa Cruz
 

I'm looking for tips and stories from anyone who has toured the coast from San Francisco to Santa Cruz.

Montara Hostel is nice ( my trip was 1985, so so long ago to be neolithic)

read https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/ ?

If you need to stay in San Fransisco, the hostel near the Presidio is excellent.

I highly suggest a turkey sandwich at Arguello Market. Fairly close to the hostel and bridge.

The hostel at Monterra is very good. The breakfast at the Half Moon Bay Airport is awesome.

This is the view from my room.
http://i64.tinypic.com/5zl5yh.jpg

If you want a hostel room be sure to book WELL in advance.

There are a few warmshowers hosts in Santa Cruz.

Why just Santa Cruz? Things don't really get good to Big Sur. You should at the very least try to make Monterrey. You will pass through Elkhorn Slough, there is an excellent Mexican restaurant in town that makes the best burrito I have ever tasted.

Excellent area for a ride. I've been down that way regularly as part of a ride to the annual Great Western Bike Rally in Paso Robles. Another hostel along the way is at the Pigeon Pt. Lighthouse a little north of Davenport. I camp on this trip and have the first night's stop at the hike&bike site in New Brighton park in Capitola - there's also a hike&bike site in the Half Moon Bay park. I'd second the suggestion to extend the ride to the south. But if you do get to Monterey at least go a bit farther south to take in the famous 17-mile Drive through the golf courses along the ocean between Monterey and Carmel.

I was not impressed by 17 mile drive at all. Yes I would do it again if passing through the area but certainly not worth extending a trip to se eit.

My son and I did SF to Paso Robles 2 years ago. We'd planned to go through Monterey but he was hit by a car in Santa Cruz - kinda slowed us up and we ended going south on the 101. Still was a great ride. My only advice - get lower gears than you think you'll need!

Maiden trip frim SF to SC