Good advice from Kailani. Just one clarification -- the Exploratorium (which is a great, hands-on museum) is in the Palace of Fine Arts Building, and it's not really near the Palace of the Legion of Honor. If you want to go to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, you'd be better off doing that the same day you go to Golden Gate Park, look for the bison, eat at the Cliff House - and take a walk for the gorgeous views on the path at Land's End (just above the Cliff House), which sort of ends at the Palace of the Legion of Honor. (You can see this on googlemaps if you go to Directions, from the Cliff House to Palace of the Legion of Honor -- and look for "Land's End Trail").

Thank you for all the good advice. You guys are great! What do you recommend as far as hotel accommodations? We are 2 adults and 3 kids and sometimes we have a hard time finding hotels that would fit the 5 of us in one room, and we don't want to spend money in 2 rooms.

In San Francisco, consider the Columbus Motor Inn -- there's another thread running today about this hotel and the ability to fit 5 people in one suite/room. It's in North Beach and walking distance to Fisherman's Wharf.

Here's a link to the other thread:

http://tinyurl.com/yhj7hs4

If you do go to San Diego, don't miss the zoo. Biggest one in the one in the US. There is no Legoland in Orlando, so that might be an idea, even though it is a theme park. In San Fransisco, it really depends what the kids like. The wharf is a must-visit, as well the cable car. Beyond that...there's a science museum, a mega mall, beautiful gardens, bay cruising, or just walking. But you really have to like that sort of thing.

Your kids might enjoy the aquarium in Monterrey. They might also enjoy driving through Solvang, a little Danish town about a mile off HWY 5, just north of Santa Barbara. We love San Luis Obispo. If you can plan to be there on a Thursday night during the farmers market, it is a lot of fun. The town closes down the main street for about eight blocks and farmers and other vendors sell their wares. It is a college town so there is a lot of activity, food, entertainment. A unique evening.

Where is the mega mall in San Francisco. The only mall I know about in the City is Stonestown - well off the tourist trail and hardly a "mega" mall.

Stu Dudley

There is a doubletree in Santa Monica that I believe you could fit your 5 children in. I stayed there with my two girls and dh. I am not crazy about the EXACT location but it is a good fit for your time in LA in my opinion. You can walk to 3rd street Promande and the Pier and you will have a car to ge to the other places you want to go. You can walk down to Venice Beach as well.

We recently stayed at the JW Marriott in Santa Monica and I also liked that property but the Doubletree has larger rooms - one child would need to sleep on the pull out couch.

I like Stu's ideas - and living in Orange County, I use to drive to La Costa every other weekend to drop off my son with his Dad and pick him up on Sunday evenings and it could take 45 minutes - or up to 2 hours - and that is not SD - LA - I have had it take over 2 hours for me to get to LAX from OC - the traffic really depends...

I love San Diego but not for this trip.

mega mall - you may mean the Westfield Center at the foot of Powell on Market st.

Stu Dudley

Just a small correction to avoid possible confusion - Solvang is off Hwy 101 rather than I-5.

About the drive time from SAN to LAX, it's about 1 1/2 hours. Like Barbara, I've done this plenty of times. We've gone to the Getty for the day, and we have family near there. Never during rush hour.

Of course, the OP isn't planning San Diego.

LSky - It has taken me 1.5 hours to get to LAX from Orange County - it really depends on what can be *very bad traffic. It has also taken me 45 minutes.

if you visit san luis obispo, stay at the Madonna Inn which is right off the 101..

With 3 kids at the age they are, I would bolt to Southern California.

A couple days in LA with Universal Studios, Disneyland..maybe take the Catalina Express over to Avalon from Long Beach.
Maybe head out to Avalon on Catalina Island off the coast of LA..26 miles and take a large ferry over.

San Diego is an awesome place for families.
Water temps at the beach will be around 72+ of clear gorgeous water.

Sea World, SD Zoo, SD Wild Animal Park..they have a snore and roar where you sleep over with the animals..big hit with kids and adults with the fancy tents.

Coronado voted in the top 10 best beaches..stay at the Hotel Del Coronado or Loew's resort.

La Jolla is one the prettiest places in the world and you can stay at LJ Shores Hotel which is oceanfront.. go to Torrey Pines State Park, Birch Aquarium.

Love SF but I am so tired of the homeless issues and the drug addicts on every corner..who wants their kids to see stuff like that.
Yosemite is in all likelihood, sold out all ready.

www.sandiego.org
www.hoteldel.com