azibelli

Hi! Hoping I can get some input on a trip I am taking with my husband, 3 teenagers and a 6 year old. We like good food and have lots of energy! I have made most of the plans but want to make sure I am being realistic with time and also hoping for some extra suggestions. We have 10 days.... We are starting in San Fran, staying for 2 nights in Union Square. Think we will be able to get the touristy things done in 2 days. Any suggestions for lunch and dinner restaurants appreciated. We are then heading to Monterey/Carmel for 2 nights, staying at the Portola Hotel, (input on the hotel?). Leaving from there and heading to see Big Sur and Hearst Castle. This is where I am unsure. Thinking I may continue to Santa Barbara, have dinner, then continue to drive to LA. Am I missing any places I should be staying over night? After researching, there doesn't seem to be a "must stay & see" and I don't want to waste a night. In LA, staying at the Lowes for 2 nights, hopefully a nice hotel in a good spot. Going to do the whole Hollywood touristy thing but would like some suggestions on happening restaurants. My next dilemma...I have booked 3 nights at the beach club in Hermosa beach but now considering changing to the Inn on Laguna Beach. Looking for a place for the kids to run around and also a nice night life for my husband and I. Any thoughts on the two different locations and if 3 nights is overkill. We were going to then spend the day and night in San Diego and then leave which is my next question. Is San Diego worth going to for one day/night? Should I cut the beach portion from 3 to 2 nights and spend 2 nights in San Diego? Kind of like the thought of relaxing on the beach for 3 days but do remember loving San Diego when I was young. I am looking for input on hotels, my timing, "must-sees", restaurants, anything you can think of to make this trip awesome. Nothing is set in stone! Thank you!!!

Patty

The Portola is fine. It's a big waterfront hotel that's close to downtown and Fisherman's Wharf.

I think you're trying to do too much going from Monterey through Big Sur, touring Hearst Castle and continuing on to LA. That's 7-8 hours of driving not including stops. Touring Hearst Castle will take a couple of hours.

MichelleY

Either cut out San Diego or the beach club stay. 1 1/2 days in San Diego are not enough. You also need to stay on the Central Coast while taking in Hearst Castle. Winetasting,beaches, fun towns like Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach. There are fun sand dunes near Pismo. You can go on dune buggies or hummVee tours of the dunes. Very fun.

leslieq

When we had young kids, San Diego was a fun trip. Lots to do there for kids. Balboa Park and the zoo are musts. I would spend more time there if you're thinking about your kids having fun.

Agree with Patty. You could spend the night in Cambria, San Luis Obispo, or Santa Barbara...but you really shouldn't do what you had planned in one day.

Have a great time!

janisj

>>Leaving from there and heading to see Big Sur and Hearst Castle. This is where I am unsure. Thinking I may continue to Santa Barbara, have dinner, then continue to drive to LA.ANY stops. Add at least an hour for photo stops in Big Sur, 2 to 3 hours at San Simeon, meals and stops at scenic bits along the way it would take more than 13 or 14 hours in 'real life'.

azibelli

Thank you so much. Going to stay in Pismo. I will shorten the beach trip to 2 days. Not sure if I should do Hermosa or Laguna for the beach days. Also may cut down to one night in Monterey. We can do the aquarium and then dinner in Carmel. That will leave me 3 days in San diego.

Patty

Stop at Point Lobos state reserve on your way south from Monterey and the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery just north of San Simeon (in addition to your Big Sur stops and Hearst). Do you need a dinner rec in Carmel? What kind of food do you like?

azibelli

Yes, always welcome restaurant suggestions. Family of 6, steak, seafood and Italian! San Francisco , Carmel/Monterey and LA restaurant recommendations.... Would love lively places. Thanks

Patty

My favorite Italian restaurant in Carmel is La Balena (must have reservations). They don't have much in terms of steak but do have seafood options and all of their pasta is housemade. Cantinetta Luca is another place which is now more Italian + steakhouse for dinner since their recent revamp. One of the livelier places in town is Mundaka though it's Spanish tapas which wasn't on your list. Dametra Cafe is also one of the livelier spots. The food is Mediterranean and just OK IMO but many like it for the atmosphere and the owners sing and dance. In Monterey you might try 1833 in downtown. It's walkable from your hotel and probably about as hip as the Monterey Peninsula gets Montrio Bistro also in downtown Monterey is supposed to be very good. Restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf and around Cannery Row are generally going to be a step down in food quality though I've had luck at the C Restaurant at the Clement Hotel on Cannery Row. Most peninsula restaurants offer a variety of seafood on their menus and local king salmon is in season right now.

azibelli

thank you so much for your input. Mundaka sounds great...looking for hip places. sure the teens will find something on the menu.

MichelleY

Phil's Fish House in Moss Landing is a must. Something for everyone. Go for lunch.