It's only that one long block over, on 6th St, is a seedy, down on your luck area. So just don't go toward 6th St. I presume you wouldn't be sending your children out on their own anyway, right? Save that for Santa cruz, Monterey, and Carmel.
You have a great itinerary, so let us know how it goes.

Thanks NoCaliGal - doubt if the kids are going to be away except during broad daylight, if that - they need my credit card to survive. Monterey/Carmel: we definitely want to get them out of the way for a bit (and they're happy to as well).

RE: convertable

will you be able to fit your luggage?

riding in the backseat is not very fun

Agree with Lookin_Glass. It's no fun riding in the backseat of a convertible. Too windy.

Thanks - trying to figure out the luggage issue - the airlines have provided the incentive to travel light because of the checked baggage fee, but still, there's the 4 of us out for 14 days. So I am a bit concerned about that. I called Thrifty and they said this is a totally cancellable reservation without any charge. So when I go to pick up the rental and if things don't fit, I can just get a bigger car (with Thrifty or another company - if they don't have a car I want).

Also, it seems to me that despite the advertized "Mustang or similar", Thrifty actually mostly carries the Chrysler Sebring/200 - not my favorite car, but has slightly better boot space with the top up - so it might work to get to Monterey and back with the top up and then topless while there for the 4 days.

Back seats: the teens are excited about the convertible (I guess it does have an apeal for everyone) - the convertible is really for the time we are in Monterey, so I suppose we can always put the top up if it gets too uncomfortable - but they know they'll have to sacrifice on leg space - I'm sure we could live with the trade-off for a couple of days!

"So when I go to pick up the rental and if things don't fit, I can just get a bigger car (with Thrifty or another company - if they don't have a car I want)."

Walk up prices [no reservations] are excessively high. Don't plan on doing that or bring $$$ for car rental.

Or make another totally cancellation reservation for a car with a bigger trunk. There is no way you can fit 4 suitcases in the trunk of a convertible, even carryon size.

We're not carrying 4 suitcases. At best one suitcase and two small bags and one backpack.

sf307 - that's a great suggestion - I never thought of that! I'll do that right away. Thanks

DenitNM: I'm sure that happens - but my experience has been otherwise - if you're flexible enough, I've always found great deals on the spot, but of course that waries from lacation/time of the year. But point taken - will make another cancellable reservation for a bigger car (per sf307's excellent suggestion).

Well that was easy. It just never occurred to me that car reservations are not like hotel reservations - unless you've got a pre-paid one, you can cancel (or not even show up - none of them asked for a cdit card). Silly old me - thanks again sf307 for pointing that out. So now I've got two cars booked (from the same company - just called them and they were happy to reserve both for me to drive off in the one I want to). A convertible and a bigger sedan. So now, depending on how much our original luggage grows, since this will be towards the end of the trip, I can take either.