Bay area bound

[MGoBlue]

Hello region 6ers from Gettysburg Pa! I'm posting this thread for some advice. My family, consisting of my wife and I + 2 children 9&10, are traveling to Monterey Ca via Oakland airport. At least the first two nights we'll stay there. The PCH and giant redwoods are on our list of priorities. Can you guys recommend any other must see places? We are thinking of traveling somewhere else to stay for a few nights, but we're still undecided. We'll arrive this sat and depart thursday.
Thanks in advance!! And BTW, no plans to 2 wheel. Renting a cage.  

[Andrew]

OK so you are traveling with wife & kids in a car. First off I will not recommend the best twisties as you family might not like it.
  In SF go and see Coit Tower (Ya its a tourist sight but the view is unmatched)

  BY ALL MEANS STAY AWAY FROM PEIR 39!!!! a true tourist trap!

  Near the southern side of the GG bridge is The Exploratorium (http://www.exploratorium.edu/) defiantly a cool place for the kids

  Cross over the GG Bridge (take a walk across if the weather is good but bring a good jacket)

   If you are in a mood to drive and see the coast. Get onto Sr Francis Drake and head out to HY1 and head north but that would take you in the wrong direction if you are headed to Monterey (but well worth the ride)

If in the South Bay Area the Tech Museum ( http://www.thetech.org/) is a cool place to see.

  If looking for reasonable cost accommodations and are willing to stay at a Hostile Come down the SanMateo Coast to Montara and look for the Lighthouse (http://norcalhostels.org/montara/) post card views in every direction (and it is just down the street from my home )
  From Montara just stay on HY1 south to Monterey its about an hours drive (give or take a bit) If you are into seeing the coastal views and beaches it will take a lot longer as there are many beaches to stop at on the way. Stop in to Pescadaro and pick up some bread at Arcengeli Grocery or have a meal at Duarte’s Tavern.
  Stop in for a great dinner at the Davenport Roadhouse (http://davenportroadhouse.com/)
  Just a bit down the coast is SantaCruz spend a day learning to surf at Cowell's Beach N Bikinis just north of the Boardwalk( beachboardwalk.com‎)
 

[MGoBlue]

That's an excellent start Andrew , thanks for the reply. One big question I left out is weather. How should we dress for the area this time of year?

[bsd43]

For redwoods, Muir Woods should suffice, unless you want to drive all the way to Humboldt.

Nobody calls it the "PCH" north of, say, San Luis Obispo. It's "Highway 1" up here. If you got the time, go all the way down to Hearst Castle, then drive north. At least hit Monterey/Carmel.

Expect daytime temps to be in the 50s, lows in the upper 30s, but with the wind it's colder than you expect. Layer up.

[heinee]

Oh, and for heavens sake, whatever you do, wear comfortable walking shoes..and remind the family of that as well  

[nevinfs327]

Welcome to the West Coast.  Great suggestions from Andrew.  On a first trip there is so much interesting outdoors/natural stuff to see that even with kids you don't need to find museums, etc. unless it rains (and the forecast looks clear).  Highway 1 is best just north of San Francisco, but in a car the views are really nice (especially in the late afternoon) on the straighter section south from the city to Monterrey.  The section just south of Monterrey is really nice too and there are several parks with lots of hiking opportunities to beautiful overlooks.  

If your kids are boys then they might be interested in the significant military infrastructure left behind in San Francisco and just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Also good walking around and hiking in these areas.

You didn't mention the city of San Francisco - it is certainly worth a visit though I agree on skipping the Fisherman's Wharf area except maybe the Maritime Museum with its old ships on the pier furthest north and west.  With kids the nicest area is probably the waterfront between Fort Mason and Fort Point at the base of the GG Bridge.  Walking across the bridge offers great views.  There are also lots of interesting neighborhoods but kids probably won't appreciate them.

If you do end up in the city feel free to contact me.  I live and work here.  We actually met a few years ago when I sold you a pair of old riding pants at the Harrisburg Bass Pro.

Nevin

[5OUTTA6]

I think the others have missed the part about you're coming with a 9 & 10 year old or they have never had kids......
Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf are absolute tourist traps, but they will provide relief for the kids,  especially when you take them   to the  Ghirardelli Chocolate Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop.  Its right across the street from the Maritime Museum and Cable Car turn-a-round.
As Andrew said go to the Exploratorium. If you have time, hit the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.  The kids will be amazed at these spots.
If they've never seen the ocean take them to the Cliff House and Ocean Beach and let them wade in the surf and watch the surfers.
Muir Woods is right over the Golden Gate Bridge on Mt. Tam...........

(BTW: I'll be in Gettysburg in April.......)

[hovmaven]

I'd vote for the acquarium in Monterey, but this list has some neat other stuff (like Dennis the Menace Park, and whale watching), too:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california/monterey/things-to-do

[vulcanbill]

9 and 10 years old?

McDonald's Haight-Ashbury.

Rent bicycles and cruise through GG Park.

Pick a really steep neighborhood and go for a walk.  Then catch some air in the rental when you're done.  Then tell your kids about Steve McQueen.  duh.

Trolly car ride.

Chinatown.

Lombard Street.

Alcatraz.

Baker beach.  Go to the far end and have them run up the hill in the sand.

Or bag all that and go to Yosemite and hike half dome.  

[5OUTTA6]

9 and 10 years old?

McDonald's Haight-Ashbury.

Rent bicycles and cruise through GG Park.

Pick a really steep neighborhood and go for a walk.  Then catch some air in the rental when you're done.  Then tell your kids about Steve McQueen.  duh.

Trolly car ride.

Chinatown.

Lombard Street.

Alcatraz.

Baker beach.  Go to the far end and have them run up the hill in the sand.

Or bag all that and go to Yosemite and hike half dome.  

Isn't the far end of Bakers beach the nude beach?

[MGoBlue]

Sup Nevinfs! I do remember meeting you. Really unsure about San Fran. Maybe if we had a very specific itinerary. I seems a little overwhelming to try and tackle a very large city (w/ 2 kids) that we're unfamiliar with.  

I really appreciate all these ideas (we won't be hitting the nude beach!!). We are Googling and writing down everything! Our usual vacations are in the outer banks of NC, so the ocean is nothing new.

[vulcanbill]

Isn't the far end of Bakers beach the nude beach?

Yeah, I forgot about that.  It was always just a bunch of fat guys when I was there and you couldn't really tell if they were nekkid or just wearing speedo's that were covered up.  Not much of a draw.  We did, however, go there and do PT by running up the hill in the sand.  How fun.  

Cool view of the bridge tho.  

[nevinfs327]

Sup Nevinfs! I do remember meeting you. Really unsure about San Fran. Maybe if we had a very specific itinerary. I seems a little overwhelming to try and tackle a very large city (w/ 2 kids) that we're unfamiliar with.  

I really appreciate all these ideas (we won't be hitting the nude beach!!). We are Googling and writing down everything! Our usual vacations are in the outer banks of NC, so the ocean is nothing new.

First I'll say I have no experience with kids the age of yours - only the under 3 stroller crowd - so I don't know what it is like dealing with kids that age.  I've found San Francisco to be much less overwhelming than most northeast cities for driving and traveling in.  Also, you would most likely stay in the north/east section, or visit the Presidio area, which hardly feels like you're in a city.

The beaches and ocean here are a different experience than those of the East Coast so definitely worth a visit, especially because many can be combined with some hiking or checking out old forts (which I loved doing when I was 10, and still do).  Baker Beach is mostly families having picnics under the trees at the back of the beach or people working out on the steps, which I've done numerous times.  I don't recall seeing naked people there at all.  Wouldn't expect it to be a problem this time of year at least, but I'd say if your in the San Francisco vicinity you have at least a 5% chance of seeing a naked person (probably an older dude).  Just sorta happens.  Easy for me to shrug off though because I'm not with kids and may simply not have paid much attention.

[bsd43]

McDonald's Haight-Ashbury.

If you mean the one at Haight and Stanyan, it's now overrun by bums... Stay clear!

[Andrew]

If you mean the one at Haight and Stanyan, it's now overrun by bums... Stay clear!

Come on now, nothing wrong with a freak show now and then.


Seriously not a good place to bring the kids

[vulcanbill]

If you mean the one at Haight and Stanyan, it's now overrun by bums... Stay clear!

Could have sworn there was one right near there...  Course, it was 1988.  I remember eating my fries and watching all the freaky people come in and out.  Good times.  I was straight out of WV so foot tall blue mohawks were a pretty good draw for me.  I walked up the street to the leather shop and got my sister a black leather rose.  Quite a social experience living in SF.  

[MGoBlue]

Stop in for a great dinner at the Davenport Roadhouse (http://davenportroadhouse.com/)

Excellent recommendation!! There was also live music! Had an awesome experience at the roadhouse. Thanks!

And San Fran was cool. We drive around and found it much easier to navigate than some of the bigger east coast cities, like was mentioned earlier. GGB was simply amazing. I wasn't expecting to be blown away like that. Muir woods certainly did impress.

We are now staying in Arroyo Grande. Any more must hit places you guys wanna recommend? So far you are really hitting home runs!

[nevinfs327]

Pismo Dunes was really neat and when I swung by there was some interesting off-roading activity.