California in November:
What We Did, What We Loved & What I’d Do Differently Next Time
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California in November feels like stepping into five different vacations at once... coastal cliffs, iconic cities, charming beach towns, and desert-sun warmth. Over nine days, we road-tripped from San Francisco all the way down to San Diego and Los Angeles, tasting our way through coastal restaurants, chasing sunsets, and soaking in as much California charm as possible.
Here is everything we did and what I would happily do again along with what I would tweak next time to make the trip even more effortless.
📍 Stop 1: San Francisco
Where We Stayed
Courtyard by Marriott San Francisco Downtown on Van Ness Ave.
Where We Ate
Harris’ Steak House (reservation recommended)
What We Did
Chinatown • Coit Tower • Alcatraz • Mrs. Doubtfire House • Palace of Fine Arts • Wave Organ • Golden Gate Bridge • Conservatory of Flowers • Japanese Tea Garden • Full House House • Union Square • Lombard Street
What We Loved
The incredible contrast of historic charm and futuristic innovation
How warm and friendly everyone was
What I Would Do Again
✔ Alcatraz Tour
✔ Walking the city instead of relying only on transportation
✔ Harris’ Steak House
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Skip the Conservatory of Flowers & Japanese Tea Garden - we have similar in our hometown
➤ Add in a cable car ride since we missed it
➤ Travel in the spring to see Lombard Street at its best
Pizza at Delarosa in San Francisco
📍 Stop 2: Monterey and Big Sur
Where We Stayed
Monterey Beach Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
Where We Ate
Stops We Made
Half Moon Bay • San Gregorio State Beach • Pescadero Beach • Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
What We Did
Fisherman’s Wharf • Cannery Row • 17-Mile Drive • Pebble Beach • Carmel by the Sea • Big Sur
What We Loved
Big Sur views (part of the road was closed, so make sure to check ahead and download offline maps)
Dinner at Portabella with homemade pesto and warm Italian bread
Carmel by the Sea, a quaint and charming town
What I Would Do Again
✔ Big Sur at golden hour
✔ 17-Mile Drive
✔ Impromptu beach stops
✔ Dinner at Portabella
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Spend one full day in Carmel since we loved it
➤ Skip Cannery Row unless you enjoy bustling tourist areas
📍 Stop 3: San Luis Obispo
Where We Stayed
Residence Inn by Marriott San Luis Obispo
Where We Ate
What We Did
Sol Spa - we were only here one day, and it rained, so a relaxing day at the spa was the perfect reset mid-trip!
What We Loved
Breakfast at Brother’s Cafe
Dinner at Buona Tavola, which was excellent
What I Would Do Again
✔ Breakfast at Brother’s Cafe, especially if you love hearty breakfast dishes
✔ A relaxing spa afternoon at Sol Spa
✔ An Italian dinner at Buona Tavola, since everything we tried was delicious
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Spend a little more time exploring downtown Paso Robles and San Luis Osbispo
➤ Stay one more night so we could explore wineries and hot springs in the area
📍 Stop 4: Marina del Rey
Where We Stayed
Courtyard by Marriott Marina del Rey
Where We Ate
Joe’s Cafe in Santa Barbara
What We Did
Santa Barbara • Santa Catalina Island • Sunset Eco Tour
Drove Through
Malibu (devastated by fires) • Santa Monica • Long Beach
What We Loved
The effortless, relaxed vibe of Santa Barbara
Our marina view from the hotel
What I Would Do Again
✔ Catalina Island via the Catalina Express
✔ A stroll through Santa Barbara to admire the scenery and architecture
✔ The Sunset Eco Tour that takes you off the beaten path
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Spend more intentional time in Santa Barbara instead of just driving through
➤ Add brunch or dinner by the water since Marina del Rey has great restaurants
➤ Include a beach stop if the weather allows
We headed to San Diego at this point because our itinerary was built around attending the Steelers game in Los Angeles. If the game hadn’t been part of our plans, I would have returned the rental car before tackling the 405, spent more time exploring Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles, and then taken the train down to San Diego instead.
📍 Stop 5: San Diego
Where We Stayed
Where We Ate
Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar for lunch
Born and Raised for cocktails (great atmosphere)
Salt and Straw (Flavors we tried: Pumpkin Pie Tiramisu and Salted, Malted, Cookie Dough)
Allegro for brunch (must see interior)
Mimoza for cocktails and appetizers
STK for dinner
Ghirardelli for sweets
What We Did
Walked through Little Italy • Columbian Ship Tour • San Diego Zoo • The Mad House Comedy Club
What We Loved
Little Italy and the lively energy
The food, since every meal was amazing
What I Would Do Again
✔ Spend time in Little Italy for food and strolling
✔ San Diego Zoo, since it is huge and beautifully maintained
✔ Salt and Straw because their unique flavors are worth the stop
✔ Born and Raised for cocktails and dinner (reservations recommended)
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Add a full beach day since we missed it
➤ Plan more time in La Jolla
➤ Make dinner reservations earlier because San Diego restaurants fill up fast
📍 Stop 6: Los Angeles, Hollywood and Beverly Hills
Where We Stayed
The Hollywood Grande, Autograph Collection
Where We Ate
What We Did
Train ride from Santa Fe Depot to Union Station • Hollywood Walk of Fame • Steelers at Chargers Game • Hollywood Guided Bus Tour • Rodeo Drive and Chanel Store • TCL Chinese Theater
What We Loved
The food and the variety of restaurants
Shopping on Rodeo Drive
The beautiful homes throughout Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills
What I Would Do Again
✔ Rodeo Drive strolls
✔ Breakfast or brunch at BBCM
✔ A Hollywood tour, since it is a fun way to take in a lot of places quickly
What I Would Change Next Time
➤ Spend a morning in West Hollywood for coffee shops and boutiques
➤ Stay closer to Beverly Hills instead of Hollywood if we plan to spend more time shopping
➤ Skip the Walk of Fame unless you really want the photo
What I Packed for California in November
California in November can feel like three seasons in one trip. Mornings are cool, afternoons warm up in the sun, and coastal evenings get breezy. Here is the packing list I used and what I would bring again.
Clothing
Long sleeve and short sleeve tees
Lightweight sweaters
A mix of jeans, trousers, and comfortable travel pants
Casual day dresses for warmer stops
A neutral blazer for dinners
Outerwear
Medium-weight waxed coat for San Francisco and coastal evenings
Light cardigans for coastal towns
Shoes
Comfortable/stylish sneakers for walking and workouts
Suede boots with a heel for dressier days
Comfortable flats (these are my go-to)
Accessories
Smaller handbag for evenings
Hair clip for convertible rides
Minimal jewelry that you can mix and match
Beauty and Essentials
Hydrating skincare (California air can be dry)
Electronics
Portable tripod (this one is great because it’s small, lightweight, and has a remote)
Chargers and power pod
AirPods or headphones
Shop My Outfits
Every outfit from this trip is linked on my ShopMy account, so you can browse, compare, and shop everything in one place. I included:
Travel day outfits
San Francisco walking looks
Big Sur and coastal stops
Dinner outfits
LA and Beverly Hills daytime looks
San Diego casual and dressy pieces
