Location: San Francisco
Day 1 - 1 Apr 2019
Argonaut Hotel
Content: We’ve planned the initial stage of our California road trip itinerary from San Francisco. Its a 4-star hotel located next to the SF Maritime National Historic Park for about $300 per night.
Pier 38
Content: An excellent view with a fusion of nature and ocean on one side and a modern city civilization with skyscrapers bustling with activities on the other side! You can beautiful 360 degree view of the city and ocean.
San Francisco Cable Car Museum
Content: Very interesting museum. You can watch underground how all that machinery works to run the famous San Francisco Cable Car! You can experience a little bit of the San Francisco history. The entrance is free, toilets available. Shop with souvenirs. You can take photos inside.
Alcatraz Island
Content: One of the biggest tourist attractions of America. The place seen on many movies with actual history behind it. The ferry ride was very enjoyable and scenic, about 5-10 in duration. On island, there is a self guided tour, they provide you with a audio recording to listen to. It is very very well made and full of interesting facts and details.
Nopa
Content: Great spot! You can dress up or go casual, you'll fit in either way. The food had perfect portions. For just my husband and I we got two appetizers, two entrees, three drinks each, and two desserts. We were able to comfortably finish everything. Their drinks are awesome, something creative for everyone.
Location: San Francisco
Day 2 - 2 Apr 2019
Zazie
Content: We had a great breakfast this morning. We had the smoked salmon eggs Benedict with arugula. We thought we would only be able to eat half, but we managed the whole thing. Only had a black coffee and iced tea so can't comment on the beverage choices. We would recommend and return.
Golden Gate Bridge
Content: It's an icon, it's a dream, it's the modern era wonder. Described by so many tourists, songs, movies and videos, it's probably one of the most recognised structures in the history. No matter what side you enter the bridge, no matter what angle are you looking at it, it always makes a huge impression and leaves a mark.
Golden Gate Park
Content: Nice park for a picnic, walking around, taking out pets and more. There's usually plenty of parking available and lots of benches and places to sit down. The museums and gardens are nice too. Japanese tea garden is one of my favorites. There are so many walking, hiking and biking trails. Numerous clearings, groves and meadows suitable for recreational activities, meditation.
The Painted Ladies
Content: There are many houses in San Francisco city which are similar to the painted ladies to be honest. But the painted ladies is special as they are a series of similar looking houses painted in different t color which stands out from the rest of the houses around. You will get the best pictures from the park opposite to the painted ladies. It was good to see them but not a must when you visit this city
Haight Ashbury
Content: Haight Ashbury is a thriving San Francisco neighborhood where cultures and eras meld together. Made famous by the hippie movement in the 1960’s, Haight Ashbury was once the home to revolutionaries, famous singers (including the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin) and cult leaders. Today, this San Francisco neighborhood pays homage to that history with thrift stores and vintage shopping that recollect those good old days. However, Haight Ashbury is also a thriving modern center where chain stores, restaurants and a variety of different types of bars all draw people in for activity. Haight Ashbury is a tourist attraction, a modern shopping area and a residential neighborhood. Located near the eastern entrance to Golden Gate Park, Haight Ashbury is a place where both locals and travelers can come together to enjoy a great day in San Francisco.
Liholiho Yacht Club
Content: We ordered couple dishes and some desserts... I was not disappointed at all. The cocktails were beautifully created but can be very strong, warning. The service was very fast and accommodating. I would love to come back here one day when I do visit SF again
Location: San Francisco
Day 3 - 3 Apr 2019
Monterrey
Content: The drive was 2 hours and 45 minutes from San Francisco to Monterrey. After leaving San Francisco, we make our way down the Pacific Coast Highway to Monterey. You can stay either stay in Monterey or Carmel by the Sea. Monterey and Carmel by the Sea are only 10 minutes from each other. We stayed at Carmel by the Sea and it was a great location to get around Big Sur.
Location: Monterrey
Day 3 - 3 Apr 2019
The Hideaway
Content: Centrally Located on Juniper Street, a short walk to restaurants, and just a few blocks from the beach. This luxury boutique hotel has in-room fireplaces and offers a modern design.
Cannery Row
Content: The Historic Cannery Row has been transformed from old warehouses to colorful buildings lining the waterfront filled with eateries and shops.
Monterey Aquarium
Content: The Monterey Aquarium is the centerpiece of the city where they study the waters of Monterey Bay and tackle the oceans health problems.
Location: Monterrey
Day 4 - 4 Apr 2019
Kayaking Monterey Bay
Content: Don’t miss getting on the water in Monterey. We highly recommend taking a kayaking tour of Monterey Bay with Adventures by the Sea to view sea otters and sea lions.
Surfing Carmel
Content: Beginners will love the easy break and sandy shallow waters of Carmel Bay.
La Belana Cucina Toscana
Content: La Belana Cucina Toscana takes you straight to the heart of Tuscany with a traditional setting. Sit outside on the heated patio and enjoy a fresh farm to table menu drizzled in olive oil and truffles.
Location: Monterrey
Day 5 - 5 Apr 2019
Big Sur
Content: We continued down the Pacific Coast Highway 1 for an hour from Monterrey to Big Sur. The Pacific Coast Highway is the Grand Dame of all California road trips.
Location: Big Sur
Day 5 - 5 Apr 2019
Bixby Bridge
Content: Don’t miss stopping at the Bixby Bridge. Made famous by many a film and TV Show (most recently Big Little Lies).
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Content: This a good place to go for hikes and walk along the trails. It’s most famous for the McWay Waterfalls and offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
Pfeiffer Beach
Content: One of the best beaches on the route. Pfeiffer Beach is a bit of a drive off the main highway down a narrow and bumpy road, so it attracts fewer tourists than other viewpoints on Highway 1.
Garrapata State Park
Content: Hiking trails along the coast, Karst formations, sea arches, and jagged rocks make for extraordinary views of a rugged coastal landscape at Garrapata State Park.
Nepenthe
Content: Open since 1949, Nepenthe is a staple of Big Sur attracting artists, poets, and travelers to its 800-foot sea cliff views.
Ventana Resort
Content: When exploring Big Sur we made a home base at Ventana Resort and spent two days exploring the surrounding area. We spent one night in their glamping tents and one night in a luxurious suite overlooking the ocean.Ventana is the perfect base for exploring Big Sur as it’s in the heart of everything.
Location: Big Sur
Day 6 - 6 Apr 2019
Santa Maria
Content: We continue down the coast from Big Sur to the charming town of Santa Maria, which is one of our favorite California road trip stops. Be sure to give ample time for breaks on this route. This drive takes 3 hours from Big Sur to Santa Maria.
Location: Santa Maria
Day 6 - 6 Apr 2019
Hearst Castle
Content: Built by San Simeon, this incredible estate was built on 127 acres on a hill overlooking San Simeon. Pop in for a tour of America’s castle before driving on to spend the night in the lovely town of Santa Maria.
Morrow Bay
Content: Another beautiful beach, Morrow Bay’s main attraction is Morrow Rock, a 180-meter tall volcanic plug standing proud offshore.
Dune Buggy Adventure
Content: To explore even more of the highest dunes in the world, go on a Dune Buggy adventure with Steve’s ATV Rentals, 332 Pier Ave. Oceano. Get in a dune buggy and hit the dunes.
Santa Maria Inn
Content: Check in to the historic Santa Maria Inn in the center of town. It has been a staple in Santa Maria since 1917. Be sure to peruse the halls to see legendary movie stars that have stayed here.
Santa Maria Style Barbecue
Content: If you want to try authentic Santa Maria Style Barbecue, go to Far Western Tavern Tavern in Orcutt.
Location: Santa Maria
Day 7 - 7 Apr 2019
Santa Barbara
Content: Today we drive a short distance of just 1 hour from Santa Maria. Continuing on through wine country and making our way through our California road trip itinerary, we arrive in Santa Barbara for a night before stopping in Los Angeles. Santa Barbara is considered one of the world’s most beautiful wine regions with nine different wine routes to explore. It is a popular escape from Los Angeles, and there are many things to do here.
Location: Santa Barbara
Day 7 - 7 Apr 2019
Stearns Wharf
Content: Stearns Wharf located in the scenic community of Santa Barbara California is always a great place to visit! Beach activities, walking and biking path, kayak, boat and beach action rentals! Plenty of scenic IG and photo ops and locations-then take a nice walk on State Street for food, shops, people watching, shopping, theatres, and loads more! A great experience!
Museums
Content: Check out the many museums. The Museum of Art, MOXI – The Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation and Museum of Natural History and the Sea Center.
Sunset Sail
Content: We suggest a sailing trip to enjoy the beautiful sunset and the California Coast followed by dinner on a patio by the waterfront.
Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara
Content: We stayed at the luxurious Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara. This estate is the perfect place to relax after all that driving.
Location: Santa Barbara
Day 8 - 8 Apr 2019
Los Angeles
Content: It’s an hour and a half to Los Angeles so you can start enjoying the city immediately. We’ve come to the next metropolis on our California Road Trip and it is time to explore L.A. Los Angeles is a good place to start for southern California road trips.
Location: Los Angeles
Day 8 - 8 Apr 2019
Universal Studios Hollywood
Content: Universal Studios Hollywood is a film studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles County, California. About 70% of the studio lies within the unincorporated county island known as Universal City while the rest lies within the city limits of Los Angeles, California. It is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use. Its official marketing headline is "The Entertainment Capital of LA". It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios sets and is the first of many full-fledged Universal Studios Theme Parks located across the world. Outside the theme park, a new, all-digital facility near the Universal Pictures backlot was built in an effort to merge all of NBCUniversal's West Coast operations into one area. As a result, the current home for KNBC, KVEA and NBC News with Noticias Telemundo Los Angeles Bureaus with new digital facility is on the Universal lot formerly occupied by Technicolor SA. Universal City includes hotels Universal Hilton & Towers, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, and Universal CityWalk, which offers a collection of shops, restaurants, an 18-screen Universal Cinema and a seven-story IMAX theater. In 2017, the park hosted 9.056 million guests, ranking it 15th in the world and 9th among North American parks.
Palihouse
Content: Located in the heart of West Hollywood, a stay at the Palihouse will put you a stone’s throw away from some of the most famous shopping streets in the world. On your doorstep, you have easy access to Melrose Avenue, Robertson Boulevard and the world-famous Sunset Boulevard. A bit further afield and you will be in the exclusive Beverly Hills.
Location: Los Angeles
Day 9 - 9 Apr 2019
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Content: One of the most touristy things to do in LA with kids is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and one of the LA attractions. Be warned there are people trying to sell you things, but they have cleaned this up since the last time we were here many years ago with permits required. But if you and your kids are into movies and Hollywood, go here once! This is a public sidewalk, and open 24 hours with no tickets to purchase.
TLC Chinese Theatre
Content: Also along the Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the other top LA tourist attractions, the TCL Chinese Theatre. It’s where Hollywood’s biggest stars come to watch their movie premiers, and out the front of this theatre is where you see the cement hand and footprints of the who’s who of Hollywood. Stars only receive this special accolade if one of their films have been shown at the theater. Each star will leave behind something signature about them as well whether it’s a saying or a particular imprint.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Content: We found this kid friendly thing to do in LA surprisingly quite fun, and liked how you could interact with the wax figures in various ways for photos. It is amazing how life-like and realistic these wax versions are!
Melrose Ave
Content: We had a blast exploring the art murals on Melrose Ave and taking photos. There are so many and they change all the time. We decided to do a walking tour which turned out to be one of the most fun things to do in LA with kids. You could do it yourself, but we loved having a guide to take us to the best spots and even help us create cool poses. Melrose Ave in LA is the area for those who love funk, edge, art murals, boutique shopping and loads more. You can just wander up and down here looking in the stores and taking selfies with the painted walls. The tour started by grabbing a cup of boutique coffee and then hitting the murals, learning more about the art and couture of hip Melrose Ave.
Carneys Restaurant
Content: Sunset Blvd is famous mostly for adult experiences, but one of the fun things to do in Los Angeles with kids is eat at Carneys Restaurant, which is actually a train carriage you sit inside of. This is a LA landmark, and a family owned business that prides itself on serving some of the best hamburgers and hot dogs in Los Angeles. Our kids had fun and enjoyed their burger and hot dog, and don’t leave out the chili fries too!
Griffith Park
Content: If you’re looking for stuff to do in LA away from the urban congestion and in nature, Griffith Park is one of the largest urban wilderness municipal parks in the US. Located in the Santa Monica mountain range, it’s approximately a 20-minute drive north-west of Downtown and offers several hiking trails, deep canyons, pony rides, and stunning views over LA. We did the hike to the Mt Hollywood Summit, a 4 mile loop trail, which offered spectacular views of Downtown LA, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Hills and the Hollywood sign.
Location: Los Angeles
Day 10 - 10 Apr 2019
Joshua Tree National Park
Content: From Los Angeles we drive two hours to the iconic Joshua Tree National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is where two deserts meet: The Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert. There are lookout points and there’s even a cactus garden. You can camp overnight in Joshua Tree and there’s also rock climbing. It’s one of the premier places on earth for bouldering.
Location: Joshua Tree National Park
Day 10 - 10 Apr 2019
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Content: This place is extremely hard to get a reservation. If you get one? Its an awesome place. No water so its all pit style toilets. Remember to take the time and explore the park. Jumbo Rocks has a real easy trail takkng you to the famous Skull Rock. You won't be disappointed.
The Joshua Tree Saloon
Content: The Joshua Tree Saloon is a great place for food and entertainment on their live stage. The JT Saloon has consistently good food. They have really high quality burgers, a nice beer selection and a full bar. And if you arrive in town by 7pm on Friday... Karaoke in the Desert!! They also have live music most weekends + a few pool tables (a benefit for those staying at a Local Hotel/B&B).
Location: Joshua Tree National Park
Day 11 - 11 Apr 2019
Death Valley National Park
Content: It takes about 2 hours to drive through non stop. If you are planning a California road trip, you must try to include a day driving through Death Valley. It’s very hot, dry, and it’s a beautiful drive, but this portion of your California road trips planner should involve some precautionary steps. The average temperature is 48 degrees Celcius. (120F). Luckily there are enough stops at viewpoints along the road that keep you from having to trek too far for viewing in the heat.
Location: Death Valley National Park
Day 11 - 11 Apr 2019
The Oasis At Death Valley
Content: Super intriguing getaway out in the no where land full of pleasant comforts- loved the old southwest vibe, beautiful Santafe style tiles. The pool was tranquility and the golf carts made the whole experience extra fun.
Last Kind Words Saloon & Steakhouse
Content: Super fun saloon with solid food and service. The food ain't anything to write home about, but it's as good as you can expect while camping out in the middle of Death Valley. The highlight of the restaurant would definitely be the décor. They've done a magnificent job recreating a saloon from the Old Wild Wild West, complete with mounted animal heads and wooden furniture. We ordered the baby back ribs, and they were pretty good - just a little on the tough side. The brussels sprouts and pancetta was reasonably tasty, though way over-oiled.
Location: Death Valley National Park
Day 12 - 12 Apr 2019
Yosemite National Park
Content: From Death Valley we drive 7 hours to Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park is one of the Big 3 National Parks in the USA and it did not disappoint. Here you’ll find Bridalveil Falls, and the famous Tunnel View Lookout. Glacier Point is another not-to-miss stop. A highlight for us was taking the park tour to see the Grand Sequoia Trees of Mariposa Grove.
Location: Yosemite National Park
Day 12 - 12 Apr 2019
Yosemite Valley Lodge
Content: Yosemite Valley Lodge is a great location to make a base in Yosemite. There’s free parking, free Internet and a pool.
Degnan's Kitchen
Content: Very cute place!! Nice to take a break from the sun, use restrooms or fill up on water, apart from food and the cafe. We got the grinder sandwich and the California on a roll sandwich . The grinder sandwich was the better of the two. The California one was just ok. But we were so hungry, we gobbled everything up. We also got a personal pepperoni pizza to finish off the meal. Now that was really good!! The little cafe has great options for coffee as well as bakery items. And it's open a little later than Village grill.
Location: Yosemite National Park
Day 13 - 13 Apr 2019
Lake Tahoe
Content: From Yosemite it is 2 hours and 30 minutes to Tahoe. There are two major tourist areas to make a base in both South and North Lake Tahoe. The south is certainly the busier of the two sides of the lake with casinos, nightclubs and lots of people. While the north side of the lake is all about nature, quiet family run lodges and rugged and historic ski hills, the South sits directly on the Nevada border and feels kitschy and commercial.
Location: Lake Tahoe
Day 13 - 13 Apr 2019
Emerald Bay State Park
Content: Emerald Bay has several different scenic stops and each one is a must! When you pull over, be sure to get out of your car and hike to the viewpoints. They get more spectacular with each turn! Hike down to the bay and see the famous Vikingsholm Castle or go on a lake cruise.
Camp Richardson
Content: If you are up for more hiking, there are trails all around Camp Richardson that are less steep than the hike down from Emerald Bay. They also offer hotel and cabins for lodging.
Sunnyside Restaurant and Resort
Content: We loved our meal and the friendly staff at Sunnyside Restaurant and Resort located at 1850 W Lake Blvd, Tahoe City. It has been a Sunnyside tradition since 1965.
Cedar Crest Cottages
Content: There are plenty of lodging options in North Lake Tahoe and a good stay for families would definitely be our lodge at Cedar Crest Cottages.
Location: Lake Tahoe
Day 14 - 14 Apr 2019
Sacramento
Content: It’s about a five-hour drive from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco, so if you want to split up the 5-hour drive we suggest stopping in Sacramento. Even if it’s not on your California road trip itinerary from the start, it’s worth the time to see all of this history.
Location: Sacramento
Day 14 - 14 Apr 2019
San Francisco
Content: This California road trip itinerary will take you along incredible the famous Pacific Coast highway, through deserts, and around lakes and mountains. It is one of the most diverse road trips you can take in the United States.