Expert: Ernest Tufft - 5/16/2009

Question
QUESTION: I wanted to take my East coast 19.17,12 year old boys down the PAcific coast HGwy

I thought of flying to SF-seeing Alcataz, golden gate br and the street cars for a day or so

then travel to LA down the PCH but I understand this to be a long trip so I need to break it up with a stop or so along the way like big sur, hearst

then onto LA for the wax museum,walk of fame, hollywood for 1-2 days

then to SD for the SD zoo, sea world then home

All suggestions would be appreciated, The red woods would be great also

ANSWER: Pat,

It appears that you have already figured out much of your trip, and that you understand the need to keep the boys on the go.  Here's a couple of thoughts:  First, San Francisco is a great city to walk, catch a trolley, underground muni train, or cable car, and then walk again.  Your boys will put you back in shape just browsing around town, walking up and down hills and through the valley neighborhoods just checking things out.  Go this way and you will save a lot of money.  MUNI transport is fast and cheap.  Make them swear off familiar brandname corporate junk food, and head to eat the chicken feet in Chinatown or basically try to explore a little in terms of food as well as town.  San Francisco's newly rebuilt Academy of Sciences and DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park easy to appreciate.  If you need more information and images about San Francisco--which is easily the most interesting town on the west coast--check out my pages at Virtualtourist.com.

For the Redwoods, drive from San Francisco to Saratoga on US 101, and then find your way to Hwy 9, which winds over the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Big Basin is the oldest California State Park and has an excellent grove of old growth trees, that is not so overwhelmed with tourists.  From there I recommend spending time in Santa Cruz, and while Shamu at Sea World San Diego is a great killer whale act, but the more science oriented Monterey Bay Aquarium is the finest such place in the USA, according to many.  The Monterey Bay is the largest marine sanctuary in the USA, mostly because it is a multi-storied kelp forest that is rich in sea life.  Drive along 14 mile drive in Pebble Beach, and you will pass several of America's most famous pro-golf courses, see unique coves and coastal vegetation, all on your way to Carmel.  Then at Carmel, get back on US Hwy 1 and head south.  It will take a few hours to get to the south central coast.  I would frankly substitute Hearst's Castle at San Simeon for the Wax Museum.  Better check out the website about San Simeon Hearst Castle ticketing as this place is very busy.  This is a good tour for young people, and impossible for those out of shape, because the castle has several thousand steps.

Hollywood and Rodeo Drive are only worth a couple hours at most, and LA is a difficult place to appreciate.  The Natural History Musuem and La Brea Tar Pits in Downtown LA is another great science exhibit of dinosaur remains removed from the tar pit lake that still is being mined--right downtown!  I also like the Getty Museum.  This is a very large and unusual museum complex with live music and architecture that won't bore your sons.  The Getty is free, but you need to order free tickets on-line to get in.

The beach action at La Jolla is great, but Venice Beach--is where people watching is at it's best.  Hope this helps.  I have images and tips for many of these places at Virtualtourist.com.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So how long is the drive if we take pch all the way from SF to LA? Are you saying Skip the hearst castle

Should we bother going to Yosemite? how far is it? from Sf

Answer
Sorry for the late delay, but I thought I had already answered this question.  I couldn't get an estimate on this because Hwy 1 isn't unbroken as a path between the two cities.  I think that this would easily double the normal time it would take to go between the two cities though.  My recommendation is to drive certain parts of it, and then find other scene drives to fill-in, if you want such driving adventure.  As I mentioned previously, for example, Hwy 9, which runs along the ridge of the coastal mountains between Saratoga and Santa Cruz, is a great scenic drive.  As for Yosemite, this seems too far away and too complicated for this trip.  Its about 5 hours from SF to Yosemite, and then when you are there, you'll need to drive within the park for awhile.  Seeing Yosemite Valley in one day is possible, but it will be an all-day effort from San Francisco.  Hope this helps...