We had a difficulty making a last minute booking at a reasonably priced hotel in San Fran in August a few years ago, we were wanting a weekend stay and it was almost impossible. Thanks to the internet we found somewhere suitable but it was a close run thing.

In Monterey we walked into the information centre and found they had wonderful deals there on accommodation. We stayed at a lovely small boutique hotel for about half the regular price, sorry, I can't remember the name of it. When we went to extend our stay the next morning the receptionist, who was fairly new, couldn't believe the price we had paid and phoned the information center to check. So if you don't book ahead, my tip would be to try the information centers.

We took a walk out to see the elephant seals at Piedras Blancas beach in the southern range of Big Sur, near San Simeon. www.bigsurcalifornia.org/elephant-seals.html The trek over the dunes is a bit difficult but well worth the effort and the wild flowers on the dunes along the coast are lovely.

By happy happenstance we walked into the Carmel Mission Basilica during a performance of the annual Bach Festival, we thought we had died and gone to heaven. It runs from mid July this year until the end of the first week in August.

A friend advised us to take some warm clothing and she was right, who would think you could be cold in California in the summer?

Have a great trip, San Fran and the drive down Big Sur, like Las Vegas are something everyone should do at least once in a lifetime.

Regards Sue Waterloo ON