Expert: Steve Summers - 3/17/2007

Question
Hi Steve!

My husband and I are planning on spending about 12 this summer traveling from San Fran to San Diego this summer with our 2 children (2 & 6).  We did this 10 years ago for our honeymoon and enjoyed it so much we want to do it again, but a kid friendly version.  

The only things on our "must do" list right now are 2 days at Disneyland and 1 day at San Diego Zoo and a couple of beach days (I was thinking of Huntington, but I'm flexible).  We were just in LA in November, at which time we did Universal, Grauman's, Aquarium of the Pacific and the Queen Mary.  We've also been to Solvang and Santa Barbara (my favorite place!)

Would you give me an idea of an itinerary, letting me know how you would divide up the days, and what towns/beaches/ hotels/sights you would consider must sees.  

We would like to make our drive as scenic as possible (Hwy 1), but are willing to trade off to spend more time at certain locations.
 
Also, is there anywhere nearby to San Fran where we could see Redwoods or Sequioas?  

We live in Pittsburgh, PA (where we just receieved 6 inches of snow yesterday!) and hate to rely on local travel agents for advise.

Thanks for your help!!

Answer
Woo hoo! What a fun trip! Let's see what fun we can have:

Day 1-2: San Francisco. As far as I'm concerned, the place to stay is near Fisherman's Wharf or near Van Ness & Lombard. The latter is cheaper, but still close enough to the action that you could walk there with a stroller. The Vagabond had a pretty decent pool, which is great for the kids.Must do:
Ghirardelli Square- have a hot fudge sundae in the ice cream shop, the best! Buy chocolate for the rest of the trip.
Boudin Bakery: There are many of these around town, have clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl. Hopefully the 6YO will like it, ours did (she calls it "white soup"). For the 2YO, break off the crust and give him/her some bread to munch on.
Pier 39: Something for everyone here, lots of shops, and a carousel at the end of the pier.
Harbor cruise: Who can resist a boat ride?
Exploratorium: Best hands-on museum ever.
Golden Gate Bridge: Great photo op, and we have always liked to walk across, just to say we did it.
Golden Gate Park: Steinhart Aquarium, as well as other museums and parks.
Lombard Street: You can take a cable car up here or drive or walk. It's the crookedest street in the world. Your 6YO will even appreciate it.
Cable Car Ride: If the lines aren't too long.
Muir Woods: Drive across the Golden Gate, then go 12 miles to Muir Woods.  Muir Woods is the last remaining old growth Sequoia Redwood forest in the San Francisco bay area with trees well over 1,000 years of age and reaching in to the sky hundreds of feet.

Day 3-4: Monterey
The scenic route is highway 1, but to save a bit of time, you can take 101 to Castroville, then to Monterey. Hotels here are pretty expensive. We like to stay near Cannery Row/Fisherman's Wharf, but sometimes that's just too much. For example, one time we were so desperate to get a room near the aquarium that we paid $250 for a room that made Motel 6 look luxurious. When staying at a less-than-expected hotel, we always say "At least it's not the Tickle Pink Inn!" We did have a nice stay at the Best Western Monterey. Strategy tip: Leave SF at the end of Day 2, so that you can go to the Aquarium first thing in the AM. While there:
Monterey Bay Aquarium: When you visit this, you'll see what the Long Beach Aquarium was trying to emulate. This is easily the best aquarium anywhere. Highlights include the feedint times, so arrive EARLY and check for the feeding times at the Kelp Forest, Otter exhibit, and outer bay exhibit. The jelly exhibit is also great, as well as the touch pools and splash zone. Tip: Buy your tickets in advance, to avoid the extremely long ticket lines. Arrive early.
Cannery Row: Lots of shops and restaurants on the location where there used to be a lot of stinky canneries. In fact, the MBA used to be the Hovden Cannery. There is a Ghirardelli Shop here, so you can have another sundae. There is also a Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, which is a lot of fun, especially if you liked the movie Forrest Gump.
Dennis the Menace Playground in Estelli Park: This is easily the coolest playground in the history of the universe. This will keep the kids busy for a couple hours at least, and guarantee that they will sleep at night. It'a actually a short walk from the BW Monterey.
Secret place to Eat: The Sea Harvest on Foam St. It's a fish market and restaurant. Hopefully the 6YO likes shrimp.
Fisherman's Wharf: Not quite as good as SF, but still popular.

Day 3: Highway 1
Kids cannot really appreciate the beauty, but maybe they'll nap during this part of the trip. It's 90 miles from Carmel to San Simeon, and the road can be windy. But it's some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. Sometimes it can be foggy on the Central Coast in summer, but the drive is still worth it. There are a number of places to stop along the way, like the Riverside Inn in Big Sur. Right behind the Riverside is Big Sur Creek, where the kids can play in the water. There are some nice Adirondack chairs (supposedly for guests, but I see a lot of people in them) that are right in the creek. This is a good place to stop before the long drive ahead. There is also a store an deli here where you can get a bite to eat.
You can also stop at Piedras Blancas Beach to see the elephant seals. During some times of the year, there are thousands of huge seals here. Depending on when you go, you may not see too many, but you will see some. Just a little ways further is Hearst Castle, not really recommended for young kids. The visitor's center makes a good rest & bathroom stop. Along the way, the town of Cambria is very nice. Put it on your list of places to see the next time. Overnight: You can stay in San Luis Obispo or Pismo for the night. In SLO, we like the quality Inn on Monterey Ave. In Pismo, we like staying at the Oxford Suites. Both have an excellent breakfast, and two-room suites so mom and dad can have a little private time, and the kids can sleep on the sofa sleeper or just on the couch.

Day 4: Pismo Beach
This is a great place to be in Summer. While the interior of California can be over 100 degrees, it is usually very comfortable here. There is a famous pier, a nice long beach, cool surf shops, fun swings on the beach, and some excellent clam chowder. Just go down the main street to the pier, and take your pick of restaurants. Splash is very good, and we also like Pismo Fish and chips, just down the street (Dolliver, maybe). July 4th is CRAZY around here, so be warned. The crowds are huge because they shoot fireworks from the pier.

Day 5: Santa Barbara (one of our favs, too)
On the way from Pismo, stop in Santa Maria for an In N Out Burger, just off the freeway past the bridge over the Santa Maria River. In Santa Barbara, here are a few tips I bet you didn't know about-
Woody's BBQ: Voted the best BBQ in SB for years, exit 101 at Patterson, turn right, then left on Hollister. Look for it on the left next to a Ralphs or Von's supermarket. It's a very eclectic place, but the kids will laugh at the "scrub tub", a giant tub for washing your hands. Put them in it and take a photo for a few laughs. Continue East on Hollister, then left on Turnpike to get back on 101.
Alameda Park: Another great park for the little ones. Close to State Street, which has all the shops and restaurants. From 101, exit Mission and turn left. Turn right on Garden, and the park is about 1/4 mile on your right. Continue south on Garden, and follow the signs to get back on 101. Or, if you want to be a little closer to the beach, you can vist Palm Park, which is on Cabrillo Blvd across the street from the beach. Just take Garden south to Cabrillo, then left. It's on your left.

Day 6: Carpinteria
We LOVE this place. You can stay at the Best Western Carpinteria, the Motel 6 south, or the Holiday Inn Express. This is called "the world's safest beach". There are also a lot of littls shops and restaurants on Linden Avenue. A local favorite is The Spot, which is right on Linden, by the RR tracks. Good burgers and Mexican food. Up the street is a little old fashioned candy store which the kids will love. And of course, another day at the beach.

Day 7-9: Disneyland
OK, enough of sleepy little beach towns. Let's see some action: Disneyland. Now Disneyland in summer must be done in a certain way. First, with young kids, you want to stay on Harbor Blvd close to the main entrance. This way, you can go back to the hotel in the afternoon for a nap and/or a swim when the park is most crowded. So, close is better. I recommend the HoJo (Howard Johnson), Fairfield, or Candy Cane Inn. There are others that are closer, but they are basically motel rooms. Second, arrive when the park opens, and ride your favorites. Third, call 714-781-DINE to make reservations for sit-down restaurants. I highly recommends the PBJ at the Carnation Cafe on Main street for the kids. It will keep them busy for 20 minutes, building their sandwich. Also, you will want to eat once at the Blue Bayou, which is the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Fourth, don't miss the fireworks or parades, or the Aladdin show (in California Adventure). Finally, pace yourself. It will be crowded, and probably hot. So take 3 days, take your time, and enjoy. And have a late swim with the kids. Take lots of pictures and see the schedule so that you can see as many characters as you can (if your kids like them). Character breakfast at the Storyteller Cafe at the Grand Californian is so worth it.

Day 10-12: San Diego
There are 3 things you will want to see here, and each will probably take a day: Sea World, the San Diego zoo, and Legoland. Sea World is fascinating to the kids. If it's hot, take a change of clothes and sit in the first few rows so that you get good and soaked. The Shamu show and Dolphin show were our favorites. At the zoo, be sure to take the tram tour, which takes you around the zoo and saves yor energy. Once again, arrive early and buy your tickets in advance to get the most out of your day. In fact, try to get a City Pass, which give you 3 days at Disneyland, a day at Sea World, and 1 at the zoo, plus some other benefits. Finally, Legoland is a fun place for little ones. We like to eat at the Claim Jumper on   Mt. Palomar Rd. For a full report on San Diego, check out the Jedi Master of SD, Local Wally, at www.localwally.com.

My family calls, so have a WONDERFUL time. Ask a follow up if you have any questions.

Have fun!

Steve