Hey
We (wife and kids 3-8 y) are going on a road trip from San Francisco to LA on July 10-12 (2 nights via coastal road #1). Does anyone have suggestions where to stop, things to do, special events at that time??
Thanks for your help
Greg

Leave the kids home...

Lot to see between SF and LA. You need to decide what you want to see and fly by the rest. Big Sur is beautiful. A drive through is okay, although, like many places, the more time the better. But a drive though, with a lunch stop at Nepenthe is better than nothing.
I think Hearst's Castle is a must see. although if its only two days from LA to SF you don't have much time there.

You have to remember that the equivilent of one day is spent in the car. That only leaves one day to "see" stuff, so what ever you want to see will be fast.

Carmel is lovely. Mission is great great. Monterey Aquarium is great. Ventura is nice.

On second thought SF to LA is a week in itself.

If you don't have that time, just chose what you can do.

Skip the castle with a 3 year old. Also, you're not taking enough time to really enjoy the trip.

I'd choose Monterey Bay Aquarium or Point Lobos Park (frollicking sea lions that the kids will love) then do the straight shot from Carmel down to L.A., stopping maybe in Santa Barbara for a walk on the pier.

The L.A. Zoo is also exceptional.

stop at the "mytery spot" by santa cruz. doesn't take long and the kids might get a kick out of it. the are some "red woods" north of montery that are nice to take a walk through if you haven't seen the larger ones further north. personally, i'd spend both nights in montery and enjoy the area - go to the aquarium for 1/2 a day. or, spend one night in montery, plan on leaving the next morning and enjoy the drive south. maybe stay in cambria or san luis obisco (spelling???) the second night. skip the caste. kids are too young to appreciate.

Greg: You should try to go to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk which is fun for kids (head over the hill from San Jose to Santa Cruz on Hwy. 17). Then, I would hit the Monterey Aquarium from there (about a 30 minute drive from Santa Cruz). Hwy 1 is a beautiful drive out of the Carmel Highlands, but there is not much to do. You could stop for lunch at Nepenthe which is near Big Sur and then stop at Hearst Castle if you want. There are quite a few nice, reasonably priced motels in Cambria. I would have to agree with a previous poster about Hearst Castle with a 3-year old. We tried this and my younger son was fairly bored and got cranky (you cannot take a stroller on the trip up the hill either. But, if you have a fairly patient inquisitive child, he/she may be fine. Otherwise, you could drive straight down the coast to Santa Barbara. There, I would take them to the Santa Barbara zoo or rent the peddle cars on Cabrillo Blvd near the water. That would definitely be a hit with your kids. Have fun!

Two nights on Hwy 1...first night stop on Monterey Peninsula, should be there from SF in 3 hours. Second night stop in Santa Barbara. That breaks up the drive pretty evenly, with enough time to enjoy local sites at both stops.

Carolyn's suggestion is good. Carmel has a lovely white sand beach for kids to play on---do know that dogs are also allowed without leases, but I don't think they've ever had a problem. Pt. Lobos is wonderful---plan to spend several hours there. I wouldn't drive Big Sur with the kids. 3-4 hours in the car looking at cliffs and waves is great for adults, but boring for kids. Hearst Castle must be torture for kids. Cambria is a nice little town with motel type hotels on Moonstone Beach so you can walk along the beach side. Just north of Cambria you can see a herd of elephant seals right up close on the beach. Thursdays in San Luis Obispo are Farmer's Market nights---Mexican food, music lots of fun if you happen to be there on a Thursday. Depending on your kids' sense of humor, you might see if you could book one of the "cave man" rooms at the Madonna Inn in SLO. Wacko but maybe fun for kids. Second night in Santa Barbara--just poking around and playing on the beach. Maybe visit the mission which is the "Queen of the California Missions". Then take PCH into LA/SAnta Monica

Many people mention Cambria.Is it a good stop between Big Sur and Santa Barbara.What is the town like?

Cambria is a nice little artsy town with lots of shops and galeries. There are several restaurants and hotels there. It's close to Hearst Castle and a good midway point between the Bay Area and the LA area.

Cambria is like a mini Santa Barbara or a less expensive Carmel. Lots of retired folks, artists etc. Good little restaurants and nice little artsy shops. It's more upscale than Morro Bay or Pismo Beach to the south and less upscale than Carmel. I love Cambria as a stopoff mid way from north to south----maybe we should keep it our own little secret and not announce it on these boards! A really lovely hotel is just north at Ragged Point on the coast---every room with a beautiful view of the ocean and the southern most part of Big Sur. A thought for the original poster. If you go through Santa Cruz on your way south stop and take the Roaring Camp Steam Train up through the redwoods. The whole thing lasts less than two hours and kids love riding the old train through the forest. You get the train at the boardwalk.

Greg, I feel like a broken record since this is probably the third time I've suggested this on this board, but your kids would probably love Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy. Have a look at their website, bonfantegardens.com. My 7 and 9 year olds are loving the place so much we bought season passes. It's not crowded at all, and the rides are sweet for the younger set. Food's good, gardens are amazing, and it's very clean. (I promise I don't work there, but I do want the place to stay open!)

Also, of course the Monterey Bay Aquarium is worth a stop, and the Dennis the Menace playground in Monterey. Don't think the kids could tolerate Hearst Castle yet. They might enjoy spending the night in the Madonna Inn one night. On their website you can see all the crazy rooms, including the cave rooms.

Thank you all!