California: Itinerary for 7 days from San Fran to LA w/ kids
 

Happy Holidays everyone.

Looking for some advice on our plan. We're (FINALLY) getting around to planning a family trip in 3 weeks to California (2 adults/2 kids, ages 7 and 9). Last year, we did San Diego up to LA, so this year we're starting in San Francisco and ending in LA (plane tickets booked), with some nice drives along the coast.

Given our time (7 full days), we know there’s a lot we’ll miss this trip, including Yosemite, Napa Wine Country and several other things in the area.

Here's our current plan… we’re not 100% locked on the attractions, and obviously some stuff may have to get dropped given our time constraints.

Jan 17 (late)- arrive in San Fran

Jan 18-20- Tour San Fran area
Alcatraz, Cable Cars, Fishermans Wharf, Lombard Street, Golden Gate Bridge, The Exploratorium or California Academy of Science, Presido, Cable Car Museum, Embarcadero, North beach, Pier 39, Muir Woods

Jan 21-22 Pick up rental car and begin the drive south to Carmel-17 mile drive, Peninsula Recreational Trail, Monterey Bay, Monterey Aquarium, National Marine Sanctuary, Dennis the Menace park, Big Sur
Currently debating hotel in either Carmel or Monterey.

Jan 23- Drive south to Santa Barbara: Pismo State Park horseback riding, Hearst Castle.
Overnight in Santa Barbara (likely downtown versus the Ocean)

Jan 24th-Santa Barbara, Malibu and finish day near LAX airport

Jan 25th- Early flight out of LAX

Any specific advice or things we’re missing- especially attractions that are kid-friendly? Thanks for looking.

We like to spend a night in Pismo Beach because it has an abundance of rooms with great ocean views. That would be a lot more fun for the kids than downtown Santa Barbara.

HTtY

PS If your children are interested in history, La Purisma Mission does an excellent job of helping understand mission life: http://www.lapurisimamission.org

Pt Lobos just south of Carmel is said to be "the most beautiful meeting of land & sea".

Have lunch at Nepenthe in Big Sur. Great burgers (Ambrosiaburger) for the kids. Lots of fries too.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park just south of Big Sur. Hike to the waterfall.

I would dawdle more along Hwy 1 between Carmel & Cambria and spend less time in Santa Barbara & Malibu. Consider staying in Cambria on Jan 23 and visit Hearst Castle on the 24th. Then drive to the LAX area - but get there as late as possible - there isn't much to do in that area in late January.

Stu Dudley

The Pismo (Oceano) Dunes would be fun for your kids. You can go out on ATV or humvee tours of the sand dunes.

I agree with Stu and Michelle, stay in Cambria or Pismo Beach, it is a long drive from Monterey to Santa Barbara, although I would for sure stop there for lunch.
Point Lobos over the 17 Mile Drive.
Carmel is more romantic, Monterey is more family friendly. And there is also Pacific Grove nearby as well.
Have a great trip and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

In SF - also take the Ferry over to Sausalito and back.

Would also spend a 2nd night along the way down the coast - maybe on beautiful Moonstone Beach by Cambria.

Be sure to check out the monarch butterfly grove in Pacific Grove. peak season:

http://m.ksbw.com/news/8000-monarch-...z/-/index.html


There is also a nice grove/ sanctuary in Pismo Beach. It would be interesting for you and your children.

When you come into the Big Sur area, make sure you spot the rangers' hut (on the east side of the road) and stop and go in and ask about accessibility in the region. They had a horrible fire just now and only as of yesterday are the 100 evacuees let back into their homes. As of today Pfeiffer Road and Sycamore Road are open again, but not to visitors.

In Pismo Beach go down to the pier and look for the crancy pelican that hangs out there a lot, acting like he owns the place. Kids will love it.

If this interests you, book early for a tour (take your pick, they have several) of the Hearst Castle (www.hearstcastle.org) and be there in good time. Nearby along the ocean of San Simeon there are a few nice hotels and motels, also up in the little town of Cambria.

That would be "cranky pelican"...

Stu Dudley has a great post that I use every time we head out to SF!: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

I would skip the 17 Mile Drive - expensive and nothing you can't see for free or or low cost elsewhere. Reallocate the time to take the kids to see the migrating Monarch butterflies at Pacific Grove - http://www.ci.pg.ca.us/index.aspx?page=251 and http://gardyloo.us/20130124_187a.JPG

Point Lobos SP is indeed worth the entry fee and the time needed to visit - and how.

Just north of Hearst Castle is a giant breeding area for elephant seals - the kids will love it. A feast for the eyes and ears, the nose... not so much. http://gardyloo.us/20130124_7a.JPG and http://gardyloo.us/20130119_90a.JPG

If you stop for Point Lobos, the elephant seals and Hearst Castle, frankly I'd stay along the coast and skip Pismo. Reallocate the time to spend more hours in Santa Barbara (don't miss the Mission) and maybe visit Refugio Beach (north of SB) for a classic midwinter California beach visit.

I on the other hand absolutely love the 17 mile drive - with great beaches/ocean views and marvelous homes. Not sure how much the kids will love the estate homes but there are great places to stop and wonder along the beaches/rocky overlooks.

And Santa Barbars is nice but it's just another medium large city - especially compared to the wonders of the Coast. Would much prefer to stay/spend more time at say Moonlight Beach by Cambria.

17 mile drive is IMO a pretty big time waster on a short visit like yours, and as gardyloo you can see as good or better for free elsewhere.

It takes a good hour+ to drive the 'seventeen' miles w/ only a stop or two. Time much better spent seeing/doing better 'stuff'.

If you had 4 or 5 days in the area - sure. But that time will be MUCH. Better spent at Pt Lobos or the aquarium.

Another vote for skipping 17 mile drive and for adding both Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Point Lobos.

I don't know if you have time for this with your packed schedule - but I really like Henry Cowell Redwoods state park http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546

We hadn't been on the 17 mile drive for a few decades until 2012 when our close friends bought a condo at Spanish Bay - which is within the gates of the 17 mile drive. We've been on the drive several times since then, and we enjoyed it a lot more than we thought we would. Just stay on the coast portion - no need to do the entire loop.

Stu Dudley

Agree to skip the 17 Mile Drive. You kids will enjoy other sites / stops more.

The birthing of the baby elephant seals is just beginning and the big males may be around also.

Stu - no one said 17 mile drive wasn't pretty. But the OP has almost no time in the area as it is. Spending some of it looking at a few view points and noting 'famous so and so used to live in that compound' may not be a good use of time.

17 mile drive will be wasted on the children. I took four teenagers who were much happier ON a beach poking around in the rocks than they were trapped in the car just looking.....

If the children like model trains, go to the basement of the Randall museum which has an enormous layout.