Anonymous wrote:We did this with kids of similar (a little younger) age--I posted about it here if you search. It was a great trip but better for the adults than the kids. We ran into heavy traffic most of the way, which I was not expecting. Definitely do Hearst Castle, you will be so ready to get out of the car by the time you get there. When we went back a few years later we flew between SF and San Diego.

PP here, wanted to clarify my heavy traffic comment. The issue was that the road was under construction and single-lane for many stretches, so we had to wait (up to 45 minutes, so not just short waits) and then follow a flag car through the single-lane stretches. It got really tedious and old, especially when we were hot and wanted to get out and stretch our legs. I don't know if this is a common thing in the summer or we were just unlucky, but the drive took us longer than we'd thought.

We did this with kids of similar (a little younger) age--I posted about it here if you search. It was a great trip but better for the adults than the kids. We ran into heavy traffic most of the way, which I was not expecting. Definitely do Hearst Castle, you will be so ready to get out of the car by the time you get there. When we went back a few years later we flew between SF and San Diego.

Anonymous wrote:We moved to Monterey from Va three years ago. What time of year are you traveling here? How long are you planning to take for the trip?

You must miss all the great food there! PBFW is one of my fav annual events, but I'm also a huge fan of Restaurant 1833, and Jeninni in Pacific Grove!

We just did this.

First, make your reservations far far in advance -- especially big sur/central coast accommodations. There are a limited number of hotels and they're expensive. We paid $300 for a crappy motel.

The best part, in my opinion, is northern Cal, especially near Big Sur. Please make sure to hike through the redwoods either north of SF in Muir Woods or south of it in Big Basin. Truly thrilling. Yes to Point Lobos, yes to elephant seals and Hearst Castle. Hike every day if you can.

If you go to SF, don't spend too much of your time there. It's a cool city to visit but honestly there isn't a lot to do with kids. And, sadly, it reeks of urine and pot, is incredibly filthy and deranged homeless people are on every single block of the downtown area. I'm sorry to say this because I've always loved the city. Make sure to eat Chinese when you are there.

I would spend more time in Carmel/Big Sur area, a night in SB, a few nights in LA. Agree about pacific park at Santa Monica boardwalk. Hollywood Bowl performance, biking at Venice/Santa Monica beaches (you can rent bikes there). You can drive to SD in 3-5 hours, traffic depending.

Breakfast at First Awakenings in Pacific Grove/ Monterrey
Cracked Crab in Pismo Beach

Both kid friendly and delicious

If your kids like being outdoors, Muir Woods near San Francisco is amazing and easy.

I second stopping in San Juan Capistrano and seeing the mission. It's also fun to feed the pigeons! Several spots to eat in downtown near there, including by the train station.

Anonymous wrote:We moved to Monterey from Va three years ago. What time of year are you traveling here? How long are you planning to take for the trip?

So envious!

I've driven parts of it in Northern and Southern California, and it's all gorgeous, especially near Big Sur.

We moved to Monterey from Va three years ago. What time of year are you traveling here? How long are you planning to take for the trip?

I'm from Santa Barbara; go there! Go to Stearn's Wharf and then rent the family carriage thing where you pedal, and go pedal down the adjacent East Beach. If you are interested in the Missions, Santa Barbara's is "The Queen of the Missions"--it's worth a look, and near there is the Botanical Gardens and they have a beautiful field and then ancient stone steps to a redwood grove. And please drive by The Courthouse which is known as the most beautiful public building in America. Then drive up State Street; Paseo Nuevo is a nice shopping mall (I know, but it is lovely, really) with a movie theatre.

And, as I live in LA, I'd say your kids are a great age for The Santa Monica Pier.


Then as you go south, there is the infamous San Juan Capistrano Mission, where the swallows are (check to see what time of year they are there). Beautiful little town and you can eat by the train tracks.

Leggoland is north of San Diego. Also, there is a much-fought-over cross (Mt. Soledad) just as you get into San Diego; you can see it from the freeway. The views from that cross are spectacular.

San Luis Obispo --
Downtown San Luis Obispo, especially if you can hit it Thursday night for Farmers' Market
My kids like Woodstock's Pizza in town and Bubble Gum Alley is funny/gross
If you have a bit more time, hike Poly Canyon at the back of the university to the Architecture Graveyard

Short hike to tidepools at Montana de Oro State Park

Do a wildlife cruise tour of the Channel Islands

Big Sur Bakery!!

https://www.bigsurbakery.com/

Madonna Inn.

Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Pfeiffer Beach
Point Lobos
Hearst Castle

Point Lobos State Park in Carmel: get there when it opens in the morning
Nepenthe for lunch in Big Sur

We are thinking of driving from San Francisco to San Diego with a 6 & 8 year old, both very well traveled and use to long car rides. Looking for recommendations for must do stops along the way. Thanks in advance.