I've done SF to LA with kids that age -- and I'd recommend doing an all SF trip. You can go north to Muir Woods and see redwoods and down as far as Monterey, and that's all very manageable and will give you lots of nature and culture experiences. I've driven as far north as Mendocino and although it's pretty the curves are literally puke-inducing.

Search the archives because I have posted about our road trip here but the short of it is that you are investing a ton of time on twisty, scenic roads to get between SF and LA. It's pretty, but the traffic can be really bad and there are not many places to stop. Hearst Castle is manageable with kids (your 7 yo might enjoy it) but not necessarily easy and your 5 yo may not find the guided tour enjoyable (ours did not - it is a big group, quite detailed, and there are floor alarms if you step off the path). We ended up sitting in traffic along 101 for long periods, and our experience was that La Jolla and Santa Barbara would have been more fun as "adult only" experiences. I would only drive to LA if you are planning an amusement park day.

As a wildcard option, we also love the San Diego area. Tons of kid friendly nature and cultural activities and spectacular scenery and beaches.

Anonymous wrote:Moved here from LA and don't like any Hollywood stuff. Can't comment on SF--Oregon, but the drive SF to LA (on the 1, the Pacific Coast Hwy--the PCH) especially going south so your car is on the ocean side--fantastic.

Agree with PP re Hearst Castle, and Madonna Inn (I hear the urinals are pink) and let's not forget Santa Barbara! Santa Barbara can keep everyone occupied for a few days!

Then onward via 101 south--get off at Las Posas in Camarillo and drive west to the PCH and take it down to LA.

Now as for what to do in LA; there's great hiking etc..it's huge, so not sure what you like to do but it all can be done there.

The ladies room is a gaudy red & pink but the men's room is very impressive with a rock waterfall over the urinals (Men - don't be surprised if a woman walks into the men's room to check out the urinals LOL) It's just completely over-the-top tacky and a fun place to stay for one night. Also, if you can time your trip to hit the central coast on a Thurs. night, San Luis Obispo has a great Farmer's Market/street fair in the middle of town every Thurs. night. They also have a good old-fashioned drive-in movie theater.

Further south, it's fun to take a boat tour of the Channel Islands. I'd also recommend a day trip to Catalina Island from LA.

Moved here from LA and don't like any Hollywood stuff. Can't comment on SF--Oregon, but the drive SF to LA (on the 1, the Pacific Coast Hwy--the PCH) especially going south so your car is on the ocean side--fantastic.

Agree with PP re Hearst Castle, and Madonna Inn (I hear the urinals are pink) and let's not forget Santa Barbara! Santa Barbara can keep everyone occupied for a few days!

Then onward via 101 south--get off at Las Posas in Camarillo and drive west to the PCH and take it down to LA.

Now as for what to do in LA; there's great hiking etc..it's huge, so not sure what you like to do but it all can be done there.

^^Adding on, you might want to start with the Monterey Aquarium before you head north!

Oh, gosh, if you are into nature, do the northern route.

Redwoods, coast, cut in to crater lake, back through all kinds of beauty in Oregon...I did a cross country road trip, and the drive through northern California and Oregon was among the best parts of the trip...I would go so far as to say some of the best days of my life.

Oregon has the sea lion caves, coast aquarium, crater lake, the vertigo house, John day fossil beds, Tillamook cheese factory, rugged gorgeous coastlines and so much more. Oregon, for sure. It's a no brainer.

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks for the feedback. We'd like to do San Francisco (Alcatraz!) and the Redwood Forest, which is what pulls me towards Oregon. On the other hand, I'd also like to visit the Winchester House and Hearst Castle, which pulls us towards LA. Two other options: 1. SF -- > Reno and 2. SF --> SF (fly in and out of SF, which might be easiest).

Hearst Castle and redwood forests would tell me SF->LA. You can see Redwoods when you drive down through Big Sur. Just be sure to do your road trip to Hwy 1, non 101.

To add in Yosemite as PP mentioned, would depend on how much time you have. It's a long drive from the SF area or the LA area and a pretty miserable cut across the state from central coast. It really would require a few weeks with a big circle from SF to SF...SF to Yosemite to LA (most of the driving in between those being really boring) and then the LA to SF road trip with much better scenery, stopping at Hearst, Winchester House, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks for the feedback. We'd like to do San Francisco (Alcatraz!) and the Redwood Forest, which is what pulls me towards Oregon. On the other hand, I'd also like to visit the Winchester House and Hearst Castle, which pulls us towards LA. Two other options: 1. SF -- > Reno and 2. SF --> SF (fly in and out of SF, which might be easiest).

With those destinations, I would do SF to SF. You can do Yosemite from SF, and Monterey, and everything in between. The only thing you'd be missing is a true amusement park, which are down by LA.

+1

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks for the feedback. We'd like to do San Francisco (Alcatraz!) and the Redwood Forest, which is what pulls me towards Oregon. On the other hand, I'd also like to visit the Winchester House and Hearst Castle, which pulls us towards LA. Two other options: 1. SF -- > Reno and 2. SF --> SF (fly in and out of SF, which might be easiest).

With those destinations, I would do SF to SF. You can do Yosemite from SF, and Monterey, and everything in between. The only thing you'd be missing is a true amusement park, which are down by LA.

OP here.

Thanks for the feedback. We'd like to do San Francisco (Alcatraz!) and the Redwood Forest, which is what pulls me towards Oregon. On the other hand, I'd also like to visit the Winchester House and Hearst Castle, which pulls us towards LA. Two other options: 1. SF -- > Reno and 2. SF --> SF (fly in and out of SF, which might be easiest).

I would do sf to la. I've lived in the Bay Area since I was in kindergarten. We've driven to la a million times. We did the drive up the Oregon coast once. It was long and awful.

Anonymous wrote:SF to Portland, go up the coast and then in.

If the kids would like to do an amusement park (Disney, Legoland, Universal Studios, etc.) then San Fran -> LA since most of the parks are in the LA area (Legoland is farther south). We often vacation on the central coast, renting a beach house in Morro Bay (half way between LA and SF) and love it there.

Haven't done SF-Portland. Did LA to SF a while back (not w/kids) and very much enjoyed it. The Pacific Coast Highway offers beautiful natural views, and we also really liked Hearst Castle and the Madonna Inn.

SF to Portland, go up the coast and then in.

Kids are 5 and 7. We'd fly into one city and out of the other. We're interested in culture and nature. Less interested in the Hollywood stuff, but I could be convinced. Any advice?