Ohio family with 3 teens spring break / college visit will fly into SF on Friday am with visit for oldest to Cal Poly (Engineering) in SLO on Monday, return to Ohio on Tuesday. Would love suggestions to make the most of long-weekend visit to area. So far the kids want to see SF cable cars, china town, beaches. I am thinking of staying 1 night SF, drive to Big Basin for a hike on Sat. Then on to ? Santa Cruz Sat night, and SLO area Sun and Mon.

Your plan is pretty good . . . just allow plenty of time to get back to SFO. It can easily be a 5 hour drive on a weekday. Count on 4 hours minimum.

Maybe only stay in SLO one night. Spend as long as you need to look around on Monday and then late afternoon drive up to Monterey for Monday night.

I would agree to get back closer to SF on Monday night if you have a Tuesday departure . SLO to SF give yourself 5 hours. We just spent 3 days in SLO visiting our Cal Poly daughter. Hope you love it as much as we do!

Try to drive Hiway #1 from Santa Cruz to Monterey. Don't take #1 from Big Sur/Monterey to SLO. From Monterey/Carmel shoot over to #101 freeway, quicker. Spring break, beaches in SF are not warm, water cold FYI> You can see the beach in Santa Cruz, go to Santa Cruz boardwalk for Roller Coaster ride, see the surfers at Lighthouse near boardwalk. Monterey Aquarium is great, but will take 4 to 5 hrs of time. Have fun

I agree with what everyone has said, but also think you could visit the Monterey Aquarium if it's of interest in much less than 4-5 hours. It's not very big.

While the aquarium is not huge, the crowds often are--just making your way from one area to the next can be a challenge. Try to arrive right after opening time and avoid the afternoons, which seem to be filled with groups.

Thank you for excellent suggestions. I esp. like idea of driving part way to SF on Monday pm. Maybe wake up to early beach walk in Monterey. Was not expecting warm water, but looking forward to ocean and mountain views not available on OH.

Instead of spending Sat. Night In Santa Cruz or Monterey, head for SLO. PLenty to do in the area: Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, go for a dune buggy ride on the Nipomo/Pismo Dunes. Hiking along the coast at Montana de Oro. With such a short trip, this may be the best use of you time.

Looking at Embassy Suites airport for Friday, and public transport into SF for sightseeing. Traffic and parking looks pretty intimidating, and downtown hotel accomadations for 5 would be significantly spendier, I think.

As long as you're aware that it will take you an hour to get into and back from the city via public transportation, the Embassy Suites is fine. Does the Embassy Suites have a shuttle to the BART station? If not, you'll have to take a taxi -- it's several miles, over a freeway. Be sure you go to the Millbrae BART station, not the airport BART station -- the fare from the airport into SF is much higher.

BART will cost you about $8.50 per person R/T from Millbrae-SF.

Personally - I would bag Santa Cruz in favor of staying in Monterrey/Carmel where there is so much more to do - and if you want a beautiful - albeit longer drive - head down the Coast through Big Sur to SLO from there - or take the 101 on down.

Forgot to mention: You can get from Santa Cruz to Monterrey in an hour or so.

Also - if you are considering renting a car for say 4 days - a weekly rate is about the same amount - more or less.

Check www.carrentasls.com, which gives you many different car rental agencies.