Hello, I am traveling with my wife & 3 children (15, 13 & 10) in early April, from New jersey. We are flying in to San Diego & flying out of SF. We have 8 full days to explore CA and are looking for advice/recommendations to help plan the trip. We would like a mix of sightseeing/beach/enjoying the local cultures. Some things we would like to do- Point Lobos Natural Preserve, Alcatraz, drive along coast, Universal Studios, Hollywood sign.

Since we are traveling with the kids, I am thinking about not being on the move every day....maybe a few cities for 2-3 days each. We will have a car for the entire trip. I am thinking a day or two in SD, 3 days in LA area, 3 days in SF area. Any advice/recommendations on trip planning (must see sites, lodging locations, # of days per city, etc) would be appreciated.

You have a couple of problems:

>>I am thinking a day or two in SD, 3 days in LA area, 3 days in SF area> Some things we would like to do- Point Lobos Natural Preserve, . . . drive along coast . . .

Recent info on the Big Sur area - http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/...fe960c4b0.html
Either fly or take the train anywhere north of Santa Barbara if you feel you must go to San Francisco.

Ditto janisj

Here are some things to do & see in the San Francisco area.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Oh rats -- I missed that you are flying into SD (I assumed LAX). That messes you up a bit more.

Unless you change your flights you must start in SD -- which doesn't give you enough time for SD/LA/the coast/SF.

I might consider staying in San Diego 2 or 3 days, drop the car and fly up to SFO or San Jose, then rent a car for a couple of days for Monterey/Carmel/Pt Lobos), drop the car and visit SF (or fly up to SFO, visit the city w/o a car then rent a car to explore Monterey and drive back to SFO to fly out -- mostly depends on the time of your departure flight)

The entire car trip from San Diego to San Francisco won't take more than about 8 hours non stop - just to give you an idea.

I think you could spend a few days in San Diego, then drive from SD to Santa Barbara spend the day there and see the beautiful Mission http://www.santabarbaramission.org/ then continue up the coast or highway and spend the rest of the time in the bay area like janisj has mapped out.

The reason I mentioned driving is because by the time you drive to the airport, get there an hour in advance, spend time flying, then deplaning, getting a rental car, etc. you could have driven up the coast.

>>The entire car trip from San Diego to San Francisco won't take more than about 8 hours non stop - just to give you an idea.