atull

We're flying out to California for the first 2 weeks in August and have about 12 days. We're planning on flying to San Francisco, spending 3 nights, and then driving to Yosemite. We've reserved a house in Foresta for 3 nights, and then 1 more night near the South Entrance of the park. After that we plan to drive to LA for a few days, then travel up the coast back to San Francisco to fly back home. I'd love suggestions on where to stay and what to see and do in each area. Our kids are 14 (girl), 11 (boy), and 9 (girl) and are outdoorsy. Since we may not get out to California again anytime soon, we'd like to see some quintessential CA sights and touristy stuff, but would also like to see some beautiful beaches and off-the-beaten path places. In LA, we have NO idea what part of town to stay in, or how long to stay there.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on our itinerary that you have!

tomfuller

I'm not sure you want to spend 3 nights to start with in SF. A suite or 2 rooms in SF can be expensive.
Good choice on the house in Foresta which is only 20 minutes from the Yosemite Falls.
After 3 days in Yosemite, you could see Mariposa Grove in the south end of the park and then get to Paso Robles in about 5 hours. From Paso Robles you can visit Santa Barbara with the mission and a nice zoo. The kids will want to see Disneyland and/or Knotts Berry Farm. My grandkids live near Santa Clarita which has Six Flags.
About 50 miles south of San Francisco, DW and I have stayed at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse HI Hostel. It's a great place to stay if you can tolerate male and female dorm rooms. You can cook your own meals in their kitchen.
There is also a lighthouse HI hostel at Point Montara also south of SF.

StuDudley

Here are some ideas for the San Francisco Bay Area

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

montereybob

Point Lobos State Park is a must see. Do the walking trails along the ocean. The kids will like to rent bikes to ride along the scenic Monterey Bay coastal recreation trail. They and you will love the world class Monterey Bay Aquarium. They will also enjoy the beach side Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusment park. As well as watching the surfers from the cliff just north of it.

clarkgriswold

Be sure to stop and hike around McWay Falls.

Avila Beach is a quick detour off the 101, about 3 hours from LA on your coastal drive... get snacks or lunch from Avila Valley Barn and take a beach break or park at the overlook.

Cold Springs Trail if you stay a night near Santa Barbara.

In Los Angeles you'll want to stay west, or by the beach, August can be hot and miserable nearer Hollywood.

The Science Center/combined with the Natural History Museum next door and the Imax Theatre, makes for a great day in Los Angeles. I hear that the new Imax film "Journey to the South Pacific" is breathtaking.

atull

Thank you for all of the suggestions so far! I'm writing them all down. .

atull

Tomfuller.... Would you recommend that we add a day to Yosemite and subtract one from SF?

StuDudley

I've lived in Calif all of my 66 years. I would NEVER recommend that any first time visitor spend only 2 nights in San Francisco - especially on arrival day. Three nights/days in Yosemite is just right, IMO.

Stu Dudley

tomfuller

Take the day away from "a few days" in Los Angeles.
Sorry but I get out of LA as fast as I can.
I still like the Paso Robles idea for the day you leave Yosemite by the south entrance.
I only remember 1 time that I stayed in a hotel in SF. The other times I've been there I/we stayed somewhere out of the city that was somewhat cheaper.

richmond706

We did a similar trip: SF to Yosemite to LA and then back to Yosemite with teenagers. In San Francisco, My family enjoyed going down Lombard St. (really steep zigzag street you see in a lot of tv or movies), the Golden Gate Bridge which has a parking area on the north side just because it is so iconic, and Alcatraz. I didn't know if I would like Alcatraz but I loved it. There are building ruins, lots of flowers and interesting views of SF from the island. It was a neat place to explore, not just a jail. Buy tickets ahead of time as they sell out in the summer if you go.
In Los Angeles, again we chose an iconic street, Mulholland Drive in "the hills" and the view from a lookout point with telescopes. We liked going to Griffith Observatory which also has great views of the city at night in addition to the science inside. We liked driving down Sunset Blvd and through Beverly Hills to see all of the many $100,000 cars (and the streets lined with tall Palm Trees you see on tv.)
We thought the WB Studio tour was interesting and so pertinent to the city we had to do it. I would think kids the age of yours would like it or another studio tour.
We drove to Santa Monica Beach from our relatives' house in Glendale which was an ordeal. There was so much traffic and delays. Parking was a nightmare and the beach was crowded and the water cold. We are glad we could say we saw it but it ate up a lot of time accomplishing it. Venice Beach was something I would skip. We also went to Disneyland for a day but not everyone wants to take time out to do that.
We like to do outdoor activities too and that was the main focus of the rest of our trip. I tried to describe each state park we went to on the Coast Hwy 1 as well as Yosemite and mention travel times in my trip report if you want to get info from it.
Have fun! PS L.A. is not hot like other parts of the country so don't worry about that unless you are from Wisconsin or something. People love to warn about that on Fodors, but I think it is funny,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-july-2012.cfm

richmond706

Here is the L.A. trip report. I had 3 sections from that trip so it wouldn't be too long.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-july-2012.cfm

richmond706

Here is the last section on Yosemite: Curry Village and Stoneman House and hikes. Sorry I couldn't copy and paste both on one message.
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-and-hikes.cfm