I posted a topic asking for help for our summer vacation a while back, but our plans have since evolved considerably.
Now we are doing 10 days in CA, flying into Sacramento, renting a car for the duration, and flying out from LA. We have the flights and the cars and are now working on the lodging and itineraries.
Tentative outline for itinerary is 2 nights in SF, 3 nights in Carmel (possibly 2 Carmel plus one Big Sur depending on lodging etc, although I'm hesitant to do a bag drag for such a short distance), 3 nights in a coastal town TBD (looking at Pismo Beach, Cambria, and Santa Barbara right now), plus a full Sat and Sun in LA before catching a red eye home.
This is a family trip with two athletic teen boys. We are fairly active, although I'm a bigger hiker than the rest, and we like to eat well and the boys are fairly adventurous eaters for the most part. I don't know that we want to eat too upscale because I'm not sure I want to pack anything nicer than one business casual outfit.
On our arrival day we are getting in at lunch time and planning to drive to SF via the northern route and stopping at Muir Woods. The missus and I have been before quite a while back, but I think it was just a short stop and I don't remember doing any real hikes or anything. Is it more of a stop and see the redwoods or are there worthwhile hikes or other sites?
Also, any lunch rec's en route from Sac (SMF) to Muir Woods, probably closer to Sac since our bellies will be on CST?
Any other recommended stops coming in on that route from Sac to SF? We like wine and wine tastings, but I don't want to subject my boys to too many of them, so a winery that had something to occupy them would be ideal. Same for Monterrey wineries and points south.
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San Francisco
We haven't been in 15+ years. Is the Union Square area still a good option for basing out of? We want to park our car and walk or cable car as much as possible, and will want to take kids to Chinatown, Lombard, and the wharf. You hear about the increased homeless problems and associated fecal issues and I'd like to not be right in the middle of that.
Any lodging recommendations, either area or specific places? Location is big, I'd like it to be fairly nice and comfortable, but I don't care much about 5* amenities because we won't be spending a ton of time there. My wife and I stayed at the Sir Francis Drake last time, is that still a good option?
We are planning to rent bikes and and ride across the GG bridge to Sausalito, and then ferry back across. I assume I can find a place to do this online, but if you have a vendor that'd be great. Is Sausalito worth allocating a lot of time for, including lunch and/or dinner? Never been and don't know much about it other than a destination for our bike ride.
Any recs in ChinaTown, lunch or dinner. I'm think a Dim Sum place but can be persuaded otherwise.
Any other lunch or dinner options? I'm thinking we'll probably get some seafood for lunch when down at the wharf.
Any other activities or must sees for our relatively short time in SF?
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Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur
We are planning to base out of Carmel for our next leg because we feel like we can let the kids have some freedom to run around town on their own there, which means we can have some separation from them including maybe meals and/or date night.
I know we will spend some time at Carmel beach, and I remember being impressed by the Monterey aquarium and may take the kids there if they're up for it. I remember seeing that there is a Sea Otter area to the south and I love otters so I wonder if anyone has been there.
Looking for lodging, dining, activities, sights recommendations in the area. Open to staying a night in Big Sur just to be closer to nature.
I'd like to do at least one hike in Big Sur area.
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Central Coast: Pismo Beach, Cambria, Santa Barbara, other
We want to base the next few days on the coast somewhere heading toward LA. I've never been anywhere between Big Sur and LA, so I'm completely open.
I get the idea that Pismo or Cambria would be much more laid back and less crowded than Santa Barbara, which I think fits what we want, but I can be persuaded. I'm open to other locations as well, but those three are the ones that jumped out as options in my brief research.
Don't have a whole lot in my mind for this stretch. I'd like us to take some surfing lessons and try to surf. I think it might be fun to do a dune buggy outing but I don't know if you get to have fun or it's more like just riding in a golf cart.
Thoughts on Hearst Castle as a stop? Do you think teens would think it's cool?
Any suggestions for location, lodging, dining, sights or activities in this part of the state would be greatly appreciated. We have nothing flgured out for this leg.
LA
Per son's request we included LA on this trip. If you can get me excited for this leg of the trip that would be outstanding.
I'm thinking we may base out of Santa Monica. Any lodging or dining recommendations in that area would be appreciated.
We will either come in Fri night and have two full days, or come in Sat morning.
Hanging out in Santa Monica pier area is on the agenda.
Don't have much more than that.
I'm guessing the boys will want to do some touristy Beverly Hills or Hollywood type stuff.
I may update this section as I get input from the boys but any suggestions on lodging, activities, eats, etc would be appreciated.
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Great Wall of text, I know. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on any of the above I would appreciate it.
A general question I have is traffic. Will it be bad yet heading the northerly route from Sac to SF if I'm leaving Sac by 130 or so on a Friday?
I'm assuming LA won't be as horrendous on the weekend, and I'm just looking more at general congestion than huge delays when getting around?
Since we are Hop-scotching down the coast, I'm thinking we will just take 1 from place to place as we head south from Carmel to LA.
Now we are doing 10 days in CA, flying into Sacramento, renting a car for the duration, and flying out from LA. We have the flights and the cars and are now working on the lodging and itineraries.
Tentative outline for itinerary is 2 nights in SF, 3 nights in Carmel (possibly 2 Carmel plus one Big Sur depending on lodging etc, although I'm hesitant to do a bag drag for such a short distance), 3 nights in a coastal town TBD (looking at Pismo Beach, Cambria, and Santa Barbara right now), plus a full Sat and Sun in LA before catching a red eye home.
This is a family trip with two athletic teen boys. We are fairly active, although I'm a bigger hiker than the rest, and we like to eat well and the boys are fairly adventurous eaters for the most part. I don't know that we want to eat too upscale because I'm not sure I want to pack anything nicer than one business casual outfit.
On our arrival day we are getting in at lunch time and planning to drive to SF via the northern route and stopping at Muir Woods. The missus and I have been before quite a while back, but I think it was just a short stop and I don't remember doing any real hikes or anything. Is it more of a stop and see the redwoods or are there worthwhile hikes or other sites?
Also, any lunch rec's en route from Sac (SMF) to Muir Woods, probably closer to Sac since our bellies will be on CST?
Any other recommended stops coming in on that route from Sac to SF? We like wine and wine tastings, but I don't want to subject my boys to too many of them, so a winery that had something to occupy them would be ideal. Same for Monterrey wineries and points south.
-
San Francisco
We haven't been in 15+ years. Is the Union Square area still a good option for basing out of? We want to park our car and walk or cable car as much as possible, and will want to take kids to Chinatown, Lombard, and the wharf. You hear about the increased homeless problems and associated fecal issues and I'd like to not be right in the middle of that.
Any lodging recommendations, either area or specific places? Location is big, I'd like it to be fairly nice and comfortable, but I don't care much about 5* amenities because we won't be spending a ton of time there. My wife and I stayed at the Sir Francis Drake last time, is that still a good option?
We are planning to rent bikes and and ride across the GG bridge to Sausalito, and then ferry back across. I assume I can find a place to do this online, but if you have a vendor that'd be great. Is Sausalito worth allocating a lot of time for, including lunch and/or dinner? Never been and don't know much about it other than a destination for our bike ride.
Any recs in ChinaTown, lunch or dinner. I'm think a Dim Sum place but can be persuaded otherwise.
Any other lunch or dinner options? I'm thinking we'll probably get some seafood for lunch when down at the wharf.
Any other activities or must sees for our relatively short time in SF?
-
Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur
We are planning to base out of Carmel for our next leg because we feel like we can let the kids have some freedom to run around town on their own there, which means we can have some separation from them including maybe meals and/or date night.
I know we will spend some time at Carmel beach, and I remember being impressed by the Monterey aquarium and may take the kids there if they're up for it. I remember seeing that there is a Sea Otter area to the south and I love otters so I wonder if anyone has been there.
Looking for lodging, dining, activities, sights recommendations in the area. Open to staying a night in Big Sur just to be closer to nature.
I'd like to do at least one hike in Big Sur area.
-
Central Coast: Pismo Beach, Cambria, Santa Barbara, other
We want to base the next few days on the coast somewhere heading toward LA. I've never been anywhere between Big Sur and LA, so I'm completely open.
I get the idea that Pismo or Cambria would be much more laid back and less crowded than Santa Barbara, which I think fits what we want, but I can be persuaded. I'm open to other locations as well, but those three are the ones that jumped out as options in my brief research.
Don't have a whole lot in my mind for this stretch. I'd like us to take some surfing lessons and try to surf. I think it might be fun to do a dune buggy outing but I don't know if you get to have fun or it's more like just riding in a golf cart.
Thoughts on Hearst Castle as a stop? Do you think teens would think it's cool?
Any suggestions for location, lodging, dining, sights or activities in this part of the state would be greatly appreciated. We have nothing flgured out for this leg.
LA
Per son's request we included LA on this trip. If you can get me excited for this leg of the trip that would be outstanding.
I'm thinking we may base out of Santa Monica. Any lodging or dining recommendations in that area would be appreciated.
We will either come in Fri night and have two full days, or come in Sat morning.
Hanging out in Santa Monica pier area is on the agenda.
Don't have much more than that.
I'm guessing the boys will want to do some touristy Beverly Hills or Hollywood type stuff.
I may update this section as I get input from the boys but any suggestions on lodging, activities, eats, etc would be appreciated.
-
Great Wall of text, I know. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on any of the above I would appreciate it.
A general question I have is traffic. Will it be bad yet heading the northerly route from Sac to SF if I'm leaving Sac by 130 or so on a Friday?
I'm assuming LA won't be as horrendous on the weekend, and I'm just looking more at general congestion than huge delays when getting around?
Since we are Hop-scotching down the coast, I'm thinking we will just take 1 from place to place as we head south from Carmel to LA.