We decided to take a cue from our teenage daughter when we were trying to figure out where to spend spring break recently. She had it in her mind that her dream trip was to drive down the coast of the Pacific Highway, starting in San Francisco and ending up in San Diego. Times have certainly changed since our kids were young, when road trips were difficult, at best. Now that the kids are teens -- ages 14 and 16 -- we decided a family road trip sounded like a great getaway.
After extensive planning, we finalized our trip details, with hotels booked and places to stop along our route. There would be a lot of driving, but we had a feeling the more than 600 miles of coastal views and chances to explore seaside villages would be worth it. This was a bucket list trip for our daughter, and it had now become one for all of us.
A memorable San Francisco start
We flew directly to San Francisco, getting in late at night. We checked into Grand Hyatt San Francisco, a centrally-located hotel in Union Square with spacious rooms and suites for families. We were really happy to start in San Francisco, my tech-savvy son’s favorite U.S. city because of its proximity to Silicon Valley. The next morning, we walked all over town and jumped in Ubers when we got tired. We spent time on Fisherman’s Wharf and in the Ferry Building’s magnificent food market and wandered around the Castro and Haight Ashbury neighborhoods. The view of the city from Alamo Square was especially impressive. We also paid a visit to Nob Hill and Lombard Street, and enjoyed fabulous food and drink all over town. The chocolate ice-cream at Ghirardelli, authentic Thai food at Farmhouse Kitchen, a great cup of coffee at Flywheel Coffee Roaster, and authentic Mexican food in the Mission District -- all delicious!
A “17-Mile Drive” to remember
Our first major destination (after stopping at the new Apple Visitors Center in Cupertino due to my son’s fervent research on tech places to visit along the way) was Monterey Bay. For families, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must visit, and Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is another. But it’s the “17 Mile Drive” that remains etched in my memory. With its sea views, crashing waves, coastal cliffs, white sands, and forests, the trip was simply magical. We stopped at Carmel-by-the-Sea at Carmel Bakery for lunch and roamed around this quaint village’s shops, took in the dazzling views at Bird Rock, and later rested our heads at Monterey Marriott.
Visiting the iconic and memorable Big Sur
The next day our drive took us to Big Sur. We got there going across Bixby Bridge, one of the most photographed and tallest bridges in the world. The drive across made it clear that Big Sur was going to be special. We stopped at one lookout point after another including Pfeiffer Beach, Point Sur State Historic Park, and Ragged Point. The kids were taking photos and Instagramming at every stop. At the suggestion of my sister, we stopped at Nepenthe Restaurant which is perched in the hillside and offers an incredible view of Big Sur. Another unforgettable sight was McWay Falls, one of the most scenic spots along the PCH. We rested our heads in Cambria that night at Cambria Beach Lodge Hotel, a hip, and quite lovely, hotel right across from the ocean.
Hearst Castle and Santa Barbara
Hearst Castle is a must stop for adults and kids alike when passing through San Simeon. Showcased in a California state park, it was once the private residence of publishing icon William Randolph Hearst and is the best example of lavish living there is. From San Simeon, we headed to Santa Barbara where we were all happy to have a lovely afternoon by the pool and relax at Hilton Santa Barbara Resort. The hotel had a real Southern Californian feel, and we enjoyed our ocean-side walks and easy trips into town. Families will enjoy the Santa Barbara Zoo, Santa Barbara Garden, and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. We had a scrumptious meal at Empty Bowl Noodle Bar, a modern take on Thai, located in the Santa Barbara Public Market.
Heading to Los Angeles
The drive to Los Angeles from Santa Barbara is stunning, and the excitement we felt nearing LaLa Land was palpable. To get there, we drove through Ventura and Malibu -- which means one state beach after another, complete with cliffs and rocky coves. We stopped for lunch at Malibu Farm on Malibu’s pier -- an uber healthy restaurant -- and then at Topanga Canyon for a brisk walk. We stayed at the Kimpton Everly Hollywood, situated just one block north of Hollywood Boulevard. With spacious, cozy rooms for the kids and a daily wine hour for adults, Kimpton hotels are high on our list when we travel as a family. We left no stone unturned during our 48 hours in L.A., strolling down Sunset Boulevard, walking to the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory, driving around celebrity homes in Beverly Hills, shopping in Fairfax, and even visiting the set of a kid’s show in production. Hooray for Hollywood!
Our final stop: San Diego
Our drive from L.A. to San Diego was the perfect ending to this dream trip. It took us through the divine beach towns of Dana Point, St. Clemente, and Laguna Beach. We stopped for coffee in one town, lunched in another, and walked along the pier in the last. The icing on the cake for the entire family was our stay at the Hotel Del Coronado. For two days, we rode bikes, took walks on the beach, ate tacos, drank cocktails (just the parents!), and roasted marshmallows on the beach. We also enjoyed just sitting on our balcony in lush robes to take in the ocean views. Staying in a family-friendly resort where we could unwind and wrap our minds around the past ten days of driving down the PCH was just about all kinds of perfect.
Disclaimer:The author received complimentary and discounted accomodations to faciliate this story. However, all opinions are her own.
