beckylj22

We are planning a trip to California towards the end of July. We are starting in San Francisco and making are way down to San Diego. We are a family of 6 (2 adults, 9 year old, 7 year old, 5 year old, and 3 year old). The kids do great in the car, so we aren't worried about long drives. In San Francisco we want to do some basic sight seeing (ride cable cars, go to the warf, see the golden gate, etc), California Academy of Science and the Exploratorium. In Monterey, we want to go the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Point Lobos. We don't have anything planned in Santa Barbara, it seemed like a good place to stop on the way to San Diego. If you have any recommendations for Santa Barbara, that would be great. In San Diego, we plan to go to Legoland, La jolla beach, Cornado Beach, and maybe Balboa Park. Do we need to add days anywhere? Thanks!

Day 1- San Fran
Day 2- San Fran
Day 3- Monterey
Day 4- Santa Barbara
Day 5- San Diego
Day 6- Legoland
Day 7- San Diego

StuDudley

Do you plan to drive from Pt Lobos/Monterey to Santa Barbara along the Big Sur coast - or US101?

- SF to Monterey 2 1/4 hrs
- SF to Monterey during work day budget 3 1/4 hrs

- Monterey to SB on US101 4 1/4 hrs
- Monterey to SB on CA1 5 hrs. But you'll want to stop, so it will take at about 6 hrs.

- SB to SD 7 1/2 hrs
- SB to SD on work day - budget 9 hrs

This is certainly a ROAD trip. You won't be out of the car too often.

For 7 days I would do San Francisco and Monterey/Big Sur coast, or LA & San Diego.

Stu Dudley

HappyTrvlr

Santa Barbara has a nice zoo. Also walk out on the piers.Visit the Mission.
You will pass near Legoland on your way south to San Diego.Could you stop there before San Diego?
The San Diego Zoo is in Balboa Park. The SDZoo also has an animal safari park a short ride away. La Jolla is up on a cliff overlooking the ocean. The beach is a little north in La Jolla Shores.
For beaches look at Pacific Beach, and Coronado Island. Mission Bay area is nice too. Sea World is there.

janisj

>>The kids do great in the car, so we aren't worried about long drives.either SF/Monterey/Big Sur - OR - San Diego, plus possibly a little time in Santa Barbara or LA.

Otherwise this strictly a road trip (I really LOVE road trips) but with almost no time to see/do much.

MichelleY

Agree with the above. These are 2 different trips.

Tabernash2

In Santa Barbara, this is a very cute, moderately priced, and well-located 'motel-type' lodge, with free parking and a small continental breakfast: http://www.sbcastilloinn.com

It's just across from the marina.

jamie99

Way too rushed for my taste and I do not have small children. I agree with either doing NorCal or SoCal.

tomfuller

Too much for a road trip IMO. Would you consider a rail trip?
The 6011 Amtrak bus leaves Fisherman's Wharf at 7:25AM to take you all to the Jack London station (Oakland) to get on the Coast Starlight about 8:45AM.
The Coast Starlight has a pretty good record of being in Santa Barbara at 6PM.
Whether you choose to rent a car to go to San Diego or take one of the Pacific Surfliner trains is up to you.
The view of the ocean from the train south of Santa Barbara is great with no roads between you and the beach.

janisj

The train doesn't save any time -- unless one doesn't want to see most of the scenic bits. It is only near the water after missing all the gorgeous places farther north. And IF one does want to bypass the scenery -- then driving is faster.