Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park/McWay Falls would be my stop on that drive.

www.hikespeak.com/trails/mcway-falls-big-sur/

Avila Beach Drive, just as you've passed San Luis Obispo, has a farmstore that's easy on/off the 101 freeway, with ice cream, sandwiches, and you can pick up an Olallieberry Pie or an Olallieberry Crisp (and thank me later).

Dinner on the wharf in Santa Barbara around sunset. SB Shellfish is good if you don't mind ultra-casual. You might be able to take a sunset cruise, too, or do some kayaking. Don't forget McConnell's Ice Cream, previously named best-in-the-USA.

Point Lobos is nice, Nepenthe is good for lunch but can take awhile so not sure if you have time, Monterey to Santa Barbara in one day is a long drive.

>>I traveled years ago to San fran and was in an area close to San fran that had huge redwoods and thought it was Muir Woods.>Teens are fine sitting as long as I have the dvd, we are good.

They'll be fine. Sounds like a great 10-day adventure.

I'd be fine too . . . but not everybody is. The road -- especially through Big Sur does upset a lot of people (some physically, some psychologically).

Just something to think about having such long drives on the coast road.

There are many viewpoints, parks and beaches along the Big Sur drive. It just depends on your interests. Traveling south, the first reserve is Point Lobos which has some easy coastal trails and is excellent for wildlife watching. The reserve opens at 8:00am and on weekends the parking lot fills early (even on weekdays the parking lot has been full by noon lately). If you can't drive in, you can always park along the highway. It's not a long walk into the reserve. If you paid to park here, keep your receipt as it's good at all of the other state parks the same day (Andrew Molera, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Julia Pfeiffer Burns). Garrapata is the next state park which is often overlooked by visitors. You'll see a cone shaped mound on the ocean side which is Whale Peak/Sobranes Point and an old barn and cypress grove on the inland side. Here is where you'll find some unmarked turnouts. It's a short walk up to Whale Peak for a nice view. On the inland side is a nice hike through a canyon that starts out as cactus covered hillside and enters a redwood grove. The whole loop is several miles long but you don't have to go far to see the redwoods. Garrapata beach is a few miles farther south. Another opportunity to see some redwoods is at Pfeiffer Big Sur state park. There's a short hike that takes you to Pfeiffer Falls that starts in redwoods. After Pfeiffer Big Sur is Pfeiffer beach which is a couple of miles down an unmarked sharp right turn. You'll see a yellow sign that says "narrow road, no rvs or trailers". The beach itself is federal so will require a separate $10 fee but there are some interesting rock formations where the waves crash through. McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns state park is a must stop and a quick walk out to the viewpoint on the ocean side of the highway. Then there's Sand Dollar beach and Jade Cove. At Piedras Blancas is an elephant seal rookery which is another quick stop just by the highway. All of this and more is between Carmel and Hearst Castle. You probably won't have time to do them all so pick and choose based on your interests. Perhaps pack a picnic to save time and have it at one of the beaches or parks.

As a teen, my daughter loved Hearst Castle.