Hi

Our vacation is almost here! We'll be 4 days in SF in Union Sq at the Park 55 and then two nights in Pacific Grove at the Green Gables with our 2 daughters (10 and 12y's). I have one more day/night to book in the SF area..what do you think...one more day in Pacific Grove, or back up to SF (already booked Alcatraz, wokwiz tour and plan bike ride across Golden Gate plus Exploratorium during the 4 days at beginning), or book a day/night in Napa then boogie back to airport early Wed a.m.??? I'm at a loss.

Napa would not be much fun for your daughters. Plus, you could do winetasting or visit wineries in Monterey County/Carmel Valley. Perhaps spend you last night in Santa Cruz. You girls would like the boardwald, beach and shopping.

Good luck,

MY

I agree. Spend the time at the beach. Either stay where you are, or go to Santa Cruz/Capitola and enjoy the old fashioned amusement park and boardwalk and the nice weather and beaches.

Santa Cruz would be a great stop between Pacific Grove and SFO. Napa makes almost no sense - because of the distance and the kids . . . .

Early AM traffic to SF airport will be a bear. Stay close if you have a morning flight.

What the other folks are saying is--forget Napa; leave Pacific Grove in the morning, drive to Santa Cruz--enjoy the Boardwalk, in the evening, drive to SFO and stay at a hotel at the airport for your next day's flight.

TravlMAven got it right..there is a nice Hyatt very near SFO on the Bay

thanks everyone!! Great idea

Amy

Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Ijar--I've gotten the airport Hyatt Regency for $65/night on hotels.com. I live in the East Bay and do this when I have an early flight out. Take BART the night before, shuttle to the hotel, have a nice dinner, good sleep and shuttle back the next morning!

ITA with TravlMaven about the airport Hyatt. In the summer, especially if it's a Friday or Saturday, you usually don't get good bang for the buck lodging wise in Santa Cruz.

TrvlMaven has a great idea. Do Santa Cruz and then spend the night at the airport before your flight. You can be at the airport from Santa Cruz in an hour.

The fastest route with the least traffic is to take Hwy 17 north over the summit to Hwy 85, just past Los Gatos. Then around Sunnyvale take the 280 exit which goes north to San Francisco Lovely wide freeway through nice country. Then take 380 from that to the airport.

I think the girls will love the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz. Don't forget to also stroll down the main Street downtown (Pacific Avenue). Lovely tree-lined street with boutiques and
sidewalk cafes and ice cream shops and coffee houses.

Your trip sounds well-planned. Enjoy.