shorty1

I have two kids (6 and 8) and am planning on taking them to San Francisco and then drive up or down the coast. The trip will be 7-10 days in length. Given that we are coming from the Chicago area, what is worth seeing? I was not sure how the museums in San Francisco compare with the ones in Chicago. Is it possible to do a trip which does a loop from LA to the Redwood National Park in this timeframe? Would it be better to limit the vacation to LA and San Francisco and leave the Redwood Forest for a separate trip which involves driving up the Oregon coast?

Tomsd

The Chicago Art Institute is fantastic - but SF also has good museums - such as the De Young in Golden Gate Park park http://deyoung.famsf.org/ where you can also visit the nearby Japanese Tea Gardens - and the Legion of Honor out by the Cliff House - overlooking the ocean. http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/

And I would focus on the drive from SF south - through Carmel/Monterrey and along the georgeous drive through Big Sur http://travel.nationalgeographic.com...ast-road-trip/ and touring Hearst Castle at San Simeon - http://www.hearstcastle.org/

You might even stay a night in Danish themed Solvang - http://www.solvangusa.com/ and drive to the nearby Lavendar fields by Los Olivos (great for a picnic lunch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8eOCAuiyok ) , rather than also trying to get north of SF to the Redwood Forest and on up to the beautiful, rugged Oregon Coast.

sf7307

Do your kids love fabulous vistas? That's mostly what the California coast offers (plus redwoods, hiking, etc., but not museums or other man-made experiences). The California coast is magnificent, but not so much for kids sitting in the back seat of car for hours on end. If I were bringing a 6 and 8 year old to California for 7-10 days, I'd spend half my time in San Francisco and Monterey, and the other half in LA and San Diego.

janisj

"is it possible to do a trip which does a loop from LA to the Redwood National Park in this timeframe?"

No. Assuming 2 or 3 days in SF and 2 or 3 days in LA . . . You'd have about a 6 hour drive between the two by the fast/non-scenic route and a 2 or 3 days drive back along the coast. So your full 10 days is gone.

To hit LA, SF, Monterey, and the Redwood parks up north you'd need at least 2 weeks -- and that would be doing it open jaw, not round trip.

So yes, combining the Redwoods and Oregon makes more sense.

7 days really isn't enough time for LA, SF, Monterey, & Big Sur . . . and especially not if you want to drive round trip. 10 days is definitely more doable. And by "LA" do you have any interest in the theme parks? If so, you need to add a bit more time.

Tomsd

IMO - Hearst Castle is a museum.

hazel1

I can't quite imagine a 6 or 8 year old have the slightest interest in the Legion of Honor or the DeYoung art museums. On the other hand the Exploratorium (www.exploratorium.edu/) is a wonderful hands-on science meets art museum that kids love, as is the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park across from the DeYoung. The A of S has a planetarium, aquarium, natural history museum and rain forest all in one fabulous place.

janisj

As hazel says, the Exploratorium and Academy of Sciences are the two SF museums that would most interest kids. And while both are terrific, they are probably not absolute "musts" for a family used to the Chicago museum.

If I had Chicago-bred kids the ages of yours, I'd probably go to the Academy of Science and the Monterey Aquarium.

janisj

Should have said >>Chicago museums

shorty1

Thanks for the replies. We have visited the museums in Chicago. This is why I wanted to know if the museums in San Francisco were worth visiting. My kids are definitely more interested in beaches and theme parks, but we want them to have some other experiences also.

easytraveler

I agree with the suggestions of the Exploratorium and the Academy of Sciences for serious "children's" museums. The A of S is particularly wonderful and your kids could spend an entire day there.

http://www.calacademy.org/

Another kid-friendly "museum"-activity is San Francisco Maritime Museum.

http://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm

This will be a unique experience for your kids, as the vessels at the Hyde Street Pier are always filled with joyous kids wandering through these old ships. In the Bathhouse Building (supposed to reopen this month) there are also a lot of displays relating to ocean travel, battleships, and so forth. Across the street from the Hyde Street Pier and in the same building as the Argonaut Hotel is a smaller display area in the Visitor's Center.

During your visit to the Maritime Museum, you can also go into nearby Ghirardelli Square and dine at Lori's Diner or get some really great ice cream at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory where there are a couple of the machines that make chocolate on display.

http://www.lorisdiner.com/

http://www.ghirardelli.com/shops/shop_locator.aspx

Another place that's kid friendly is the RainForest Cafe right at Fisherman's Wharf and is on Jefferson about three blocks from the Hyde Street Pier.

http://www.rainforestcafe.com/

If the weather is good, a really great beach (not swimming!) activity is to go all the way west to the Sutro Baths and just let the kids wander around the ruins of the baths and along the beautiful strand of Ocean Beach, the westernmost edge of San Francisco. You can dine at the Cliff House, Bistro side, or, a less expensive restaurant, at Louis'. Parking is free - there are two parking lots just above Louis', so try and park in the lots and not on the street.

http://www.sutrobaths.com/

http://www.cliffhouse.com/home/index.html

http://www.louissf.com/

Have a great trip! I love kids and love their joy of life!

emalloy

To see some big trees, take the kids to Muir Woods, just a little north of San Francisco and to Julia Pfeifer State Park off hwy 1, south of SF.

You could spend a lot of time hiking the beaches along hwy 1 between LA and SF , but be aware that the water up there is cold. Many seals, sea lions, sea otters to see along the way too

janisj

"Julia Pfeifer State Park off hwy 1, south of SF. "

Just to clarify a bit since that might sound like Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park is near SF . . . It is south of Carmel in Big Sur, and is about 3.5 hours from SF. A fabulous place.

Another option is Big Basin State Park which is bigger/better than Muir Woods and is a lot less crowded. About an hour detour off the main routes between SF and Monterey.

SAB

As a SF resident and big museum visitor who plans trips around museums, I have to say that the art in the DeYoung and the Legion of Honor combined is not equal to that to be seen in the Art Institute. The only world class art collection here is in the Asian, which if you like asian art it is certainly worth a visit. The DeYoung and the Legion are in great locations and if you visit the Academy, which I strongly recommend, the kids might enjoy the view from the DeYoung tower.

tomfuller

You did not specify what month you will be coming. The loop that I would suggest would be after you saw what you wanted to see in SF, head north on I-5 to Medford OR and spend the night.
In the morning head out Rt. 62 to the south entrance of Crater Lake NP. Drive around the lake. If the boat is running, hike down Cleetwood trail and ride the boat over to Wizard Island.
If the north entrance is open, head down the Umpqua River on Rt. 138. Head south on I-5 from Roseburg to Grants Pass where you get on US 199 which will take you to Redwood NP. Drive back down US 1/101 all the way back to San Francisco.
Save the southern CA part of the trip for another time, flying to LAX. Try to see Muir Woods just north of SF if you don't get all the way to Redwood NP.

Tomsd

And as far as "museums" - the marvelous Aquarium in Monterrey is a living museum of the sea. http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

Tomsd

Uno Mas - take the ferry ride over to Sausalito - for a great view of the Golden Gate and SF Bay area. You might also consider touring Alcatraz, but might need to make reservations ahead of time.

shorty1

I plan to have my vacation in August.

con_brio

You got some great suggestions. I agree that the Monterey Aquarium would be fantastic (I think we spent 6 hours there) and the 8 year old is the perfect age for Alcatraz.\

If you are headed south, in the hills above Santa Cruz (and its boardwalk) is a great tourist trap, Myster Spot. Google it. I think we were the only ones there without kids. It's in the redwoods (in case you don't make it to Muir Woods) and a lot of fun.

And if you get down as far as San Simeon (I don't know if they would appreciate the wretched excess or the waits, but there are zoo animals on the property) make sure you stop at the elephant seal sanctuary north of it. It's marked and now a preserve (donated by the Hearsts after the Elephant Seals picked it out for themselves). 1000's of huge mammal just lying around. For some reason it is compelling.

Have a great trip. And don't forget the Cable Cars and the ferry to Marin. SF is so amazing, even the public transportation is a joy.