I've been once to one of the Channel Islands but agree that this is more properly a destination to be combined with a visit to Southern California.

Otherwise I agree with everything 1JAR has said.

Further points for you to consider, Point Reyes is one large park and the hiking is mostly in low scrub or some forest (non redwood), whereas, Big Sur has several different smaller parks and most of the hiking in Big Sur is through Redwoods. As for the beaches (can't swim, just hike), Point Reyes has a most spectacular 10-mile long beach, the Great Beach, which, when you see it from the hilltop near the lighthouse, just makes you want to scrabble down and walk that beach from end to end. Big Sur also has some wonderful beaches, the best for hiking are probably the ones at Point Lobos (not properly Big Sur, but just slightly north of it).

Easytraveler--we've been to Point Lobos and loved it. It's been a while, but I remember hiking up high on a bluff looking down at the water. Are there hikes below on the beach?

I agree--if you have to make a special trip to get down to Santa Barbara, I wouldn't put the family through it, but if you're going there anyway, then the trip out to the Channel Islands (Santa Cruz is the easiest one to go to) is great and the kayaking is not to be missed. Be sure you get the book on tape "Island of the Blue Dolphins" before you go. It's a young adult's novel with a riveting (based on true) story of a sister and brother left alone on the island in the days of the seal hunts. If you've read it, when you stand on the hill above the sea, you will have been there before, scores of years ago, and you'll get much more out of it than you came for.

Channel Island can be pretty challenging. I don't know if you can go as a daytrip, but I believe if you go overnight and camp, you have to carry all you water as well as everything else. My sister went last year; I can ask for more details if you are truly interested.

But if you are looking for great hiking near the coast in N. California, you need look no further than the Marin Headlands just north of the GG Bridge. We did a 3-day inn to inn hike there last April, and it was fantastic. Some brush, but mostly open grassy slopes (with an abundance of wildflowers) or redwoods. Lots of beautiful views up and down the coast. And the hiking was surprisingly challenging (I'm speaking as a Grand Canyon rim-to-rim hiker and experienced Sierra and Alps hiker).

Digbydog: Sorry to answer you so late.

Yes, there are a lot of trails right along the beach at Point Lobos.

Here;s the official map. The dotted lines are the trails.
http://www.pointlobos.org/Trails.html

Here's a better map with the trails in bold.
http://tinyurl.com/ylnho4q

My favorite is the South Beach Trail. After you drive into the Reserve, ask the Ranger for the way to South Beach. Aong the way there are several places where you can park. Then just head out towards the ocean and "hike". You'll be clambering among rocks and looking at the wonder of the tidepools or just walking along sandy beaches. You can hike all the way to China Cove and back.

Since you are going to be in San Luis Obispo go to Pismo Beach for the day. It's about 15 miles south of SLO. It is the only place in calfornia where you can rent dune bugys and ATV's and play on the dunes. So much fun. Total blast! This was one most fun things I've ever done.

Thanks so much to everyone for their recommendations! I found airfare for $258 non-stop from Cincinnati to Seattle. So we have decided to do a Pacific Northwest trip. I will refer back to this thread when we do our trip to California. Again, many thanks for all your responses!!

Welcome to the beautiful PNW, Digbydog. Are you still coming in June? This is a bit is a bit early for hiking in the North Cascades, unless you want to hike on snow (or ski). Mt. Rainier is good for that---there are routes that are avalanche safe and really fun.

The Olympic Peninsula and the San Juan Islands are great destinations for June.

Enzian,
We pushed our trip back to July given the change in destination. You have had great suggestions on the Switzerland board. As we figure out where we want to go, I will look forward to getting your recommendations on the Pacific Northwest.