My wife and I and two children (Girls aged, 12 and 9)are coming across to California for a two week fly drive.(I know it's not really enough time!!)We're to spend the first five days in the Los Angeles area (Disney,Universal etc)and then we have five days or so, to drive up to San Francisco.Any suggestions as to which route (coastal or 101) we should take for interest/sights to keep all the family happy! Thanks.

I'd say skip SF and spend a couple of nights by beach in LA, then drive to Las Vegas. Plenty of things for kids to do. Lots to see, tons of fun. And much closer than SF

Take Highway 1 up the coast, it is a beautiful drive, especially from San Simeon (where you will find the Hearst Castle) to San Francisco. There are nice beaches in Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach, and a stop in the Monterey/Carmel area is very nice. Carmel is a classier area with a lot of nice shops,where Monterey seems more of a fishing town, with a nice aquarium. You will never know how beautiful California can be without a ride through Big Sur! In San Francisco, the kids will enjoy Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz. Also take a drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a nice little touristy town with really nice views of the San Francisco skyline. A little further north there is Muir Woods, where the redwoods are. I know that there is a Marineland north of the city too, but I have never been. I say leave Las Vegas for another time whn you might want to see the Grand Canyon. I love the California coastline and San Francisco, and try to go ever chance i get. Hope you have a wonderful time!

I agree with Don. San Francisco is magic for kids, and they'll enjoy it much more than Las Vegas. Take Coast Hiway 1, but take two days to do so; this is NOT a hiway for speedy travel!

See Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf; and then spend a day at Muir Woods and Point Reyes Nat Seashore.

Hello John. I'm a Californian who has lived in So. Cal and now in the Bay area. Both parts of the state are worth a visit. From LA take 101 up the coast until you get to San Luis Obispo. At that point swing west onto Hwy 1 and drive through Big Sur to Carmel/Monterey. After that, swing east again to 101 and go up to San Francisco. The other poster is correct in that it will take at least 2 days, 3 days is better, to do this drive. Kids will love SF. There is nothing to rival the beauty of the California coast. Certainly would do this rather than Las Vegas. As someone else suggests, Las Vegas could be combined with the Grand Canyon for another trip. Enjoy.