7 Days CA Coast from SF to LA
 

We'll be touring the CA coast with 2 young children under age 2. We're flying in to OAK and driving down to LA and on to SD. I've read the many suggestions posted but can anyone suggest the time frame and accomodations for visiting each area along the way from SF to Santa Barbara?<BR><BR>Points of interests are anywhere in SF including Alcatraz, SJ tech museum, Filoli Estates (is it worth it?), Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Point Lobos State Reserve, Big Sur, Monterey, Carmel, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara.<BR><BR>We're flying in mid day on a Saturday into Oakland staying in SF and can stay through following Sat/Sun in SB. Need to be in SB by Friday mid day.<BR><BR>Also, any experience in renting a car in OAK airport and returning it to Long Beach Airport or Orange Co./John Wayne Airport? Which rental agencies recommended?<BR><BR>Thanks in advance!

Vera, considering you have two young children, I'd suggest an alternative to Filoli Gardens. On your way south plan to spend a day at Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy instead. It is a sweet amusement park, perfect for little kids, and you will find the gardens and landscaping quite amazing. Have a look a their website, bonfantegardens.com, for more info. It is usually pretty warm in Gilroy in the summer, so dress appropriately. But we were there with our kids a few weeks ago and there was a nice breeze coming in from the ocean, so I think the park is well placed in the Gilroy area. You could hit it on your way to Monterey. It was very uncrowded when we were there, so the kids could run around and get on rides again and again. Very clean and the food was even pretty good.<BR><BR>Be sure to visit the aquarium in Monterey too. And the Dennis the Menace park is great fun for little ones in Monterey. Enjoy!

Vera, I have a lot of advice for you and basically agree with Susan, but for whatever reason, I can't get my posts to go through the Fodor system. I'll try again tomorrow. You can have a lovely trip down the coast with your time frame, but you might want to reconsider some of the destinations because you're with really little children. I'll try again.

Hearst Castle is lovely, but not a place for young children. Too many things to touch and knock over. Not to mention the many stairs.<BR><BR>Big Sur will bore your children. What toddler finds looking at a scenic water setting to be amusing.<BR><BR>Carmel is also more of a grown up type of place. Boutique shops and delightful restaurants.<BR><BR>I'd highly recommend rethinking your vacation and fly directly in and out of San Diego. San Diego is perfect for children. Legoland, the zoo, wide open beaches and Disneyland right up the freeway.<BR><BR>My friends recently did a similar trip to what you have planned, but it was for their honeymoon. Now that you have children, I think you need to rethink your ideas for vacationing.

Vera,<BR><BR>I agree with Susan that Filoli Estate may not be a place for young children, although for adults it is a worthwhile place to visit. The Tech Museum of Innovation(www.thetech.org) in Center City (Downtown) San Jose is a great place for both adults and children. You may also want to check out the Children's Discovery Museum(www.cdm.org) which is walking distance from the Tech. There is a petting zoo (Happy Hollow Zoo) in Kelley Park a few miles south of Downtown SJ (www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org) Also in Kelley Park the San Jose Historical Museum(www.historysanjose.org) and the Japanese gardens are worth checking out. Big Basin(www.bigbasin.org) has majestic redwoods and is definitely worth your time. You might want to look into the Roaring Camp Railroad(www.roaringcamp.com) which offers steam train tours through the redwoods. In Monterey(www.monterey.com) the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must, as well as 17 Mile Drive. Carmel(www.carmelbythesea.com)is a very quaint town with cafes and small shops. The drive along highway 1 to Big Sur is spectacular. Again, although I think Hearst Castle(www.hearst-castle.org) is an amazing place to visit, the kids may not really enjoy it. If you decide on either the Filoli Estate or Hearst Castle, be sure to make reservations ahead of time.

In San Fran, recommend the Columbus Motor Inn which is quite near Fisherman's Wharf. Parking is included which is a rarity in San Fran. They also have some bigger 2 room units perfect for a family. <BR><BR>Don't miss Point Lobos, the rooms at the Carmel Mission Inn nearby are spacious and they usually have a decent special weekday rate going on their website www.carmelmissioninn.com<BR><BR>The Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo, about halfway between Carmel and Santa Barbara, also has some 2 room family units. Ascot Suites in Morro Bay is another good choice. <BR><BR>In Santa Barbara, The Tropicana Inn and the Colonial Beach Motel have some spacious family units. <BR><BR>Time wise (approx) it's 2 hours from San Fran to Carmel, 7 hours drive down to Santa Barbara, 2 hours down into L.A, and 2.5 hours L.A. to San Diego if you avoid heavy traffic. If you spend 2 nights in San Fran, one in Carmel, two in Santa Barbara, then one in L.A and one in San Diego, it will make for a very rushed vacation. But it would be a shame not to spend a night near the coast between SF and SB. If at all possible I would definitely extend the trip a couple of days! <BR><BR>Avis and National are your best bets for the one way car rental. (And they do charge extra for child safety seats). Book now as the rates do go up. The rates might also go down, check closer to your date for any special offers as your reservation will be changeable.

This sounds like a wonderful trip, but loses a lot of appeal with young children. I have two small children and wouldn't dream of taking them on the 17 mile drive or having them tour Hearst Castle. Fortunately we were able to enjoy this trip before the arrival of the little ones. Now we find that San Diego and Hawaii is more suitable for family vacations.

Thank you all for your good advise. <BR><BR>Joe - Thanks for suggesting the larger accomodations. I'll definitely check into them. As for the time frame, we'll have Sunday to Friday going from SF to SB. We have the rest of the following week for LA - SD. We just move from there a couple years ago so it's mainly to visit friends & family. That said, how would you recommed splitting my time?<BR><BR>Also, we'd like to stop at the redwoods park. Anyone have any feedback on Santa Cruz? Thanks again.<BR><BR>

Coming south on 280 exit at Saratoga Avenue which becomes Big Basin Road or hwy 9. Take that up the hill past the Ridge Winery and at the little town of Bolder Creek, take the turn off to 236 to Big Basin State Park. Huge trees--you'll need to turn your headlights on and the road is less than two lanes wide. This is NOT a route for those prone to car sickness! If you are, better to cross the mountains down on Rt. 17 and drive up 9 from the ocean side. Santa Cruz itself is a town leftover from the 60s and 70s. It's the "Surf City, USA" of the beachboys. There's a surfing museum, surfing lessons and an old boardwalk with games and a roller coaster. There is also Roaring Camp Railroad that takes you up to the redwoods from Santa Cruz. Takes about an hour and a half. Might be easier with the two little children.

I'm having another cup of coffee and make that "Boulder Creek!" If you did this on a weekend Bonny Doon and Ridge Wineries might be open for tasting---you'd have to call though, they're pretty unpredictable.Try www.scmwa.com, they have what they call passport days when most of the wineries are open and they can be great fun.

In Santa Cruz be sure to check out the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk(www.beachboardwalk.com)

Perfect for a romantic vacation, but selfish for a family trip. Hearst Castle, Big Sur and the 17 mile drive - oh yeah, a dream for every kid! Not!!! What are you thinking? I guess every set of new parents have to learn the hard way. Car sick, whiny kids should teach you a lesson since you're probably not going to listen to the posters.

Skip Filoli--love the place, but not for kids.<BR><BR>Good choices:<BR>-SF: you can go to Golden Gate Park and visit the aquarium (the Monterey Bay one is loads better--no comparison)<BR>-The Jungle in SF is a large play area.<BR>-try bayarea.urbanbaby.com<BR>-Tech Museum (Just added a small<BR> children's area, but generally for kids over 6) Good cafe there.<BR>-Happy Hollow (definitely for little guys). Has lunch item fast food.<BR>-Monterey Bay Aquarium and Monterey<BR>(the Doubletree has easy access and reasonable rates) Many restaurants and fun places to see--worth a day and a night.<BR>-Big Basin is beautiful and worth seeing, but not always compelling to a small fry. Probably a day thing.<BR>-If you go to Alcatraz, make your reservations well in advance<BR><BR>My suggestion would be to tire them out during the day by doing a kid activity, then make a dash for it to the next destination while they nap!<BR><BR><BR>