Vacay help — California

[librarychica]

I can’t remember if I asked this already, so be patient with me.

We will be in San Francisco during Christmas break later this year. I am considering some kind of road trip. It’s quite a bit to fly 4 of us all the way across the country. I know there are a couple of a Californians on this board. Where do you suggest we go? What should we see while in SF? We are visiting people but none of them have kids so their recommendations have been very grownup. I have been to California once in my life and I find it rather overwhelming. There’s so much of it, lol.

We are pretty open and easy to please. The girls will be 10 and 13.We like the outdoors and museums. I will say my kids are prone to motion sickness so maybe limit the twisty, windy drives and we won’t be going to theme parks because we are from Orlando.

Tia!

[supertrooper1]

Not from California but I love visiting SF. Golden Gate Park is a must for outdoors and museums, although it will probably be rainy or gloomy for the outdoor part over Christmas break. I love the food in China town, Little Italy and the Ferry Terminal building. If you plan on visiting Alcatraz, get your tickets in advance. It was pre-COVID but around New Years the last time I went to Alcatraz and they were sold out weeks in advance.

ETA, driving or walking across the Golden Gate bridge is cool.  

[k3am]

I'm in CA/Bay Area, but I avoid SF at all costs.

CA Academy of Science if you're already in SF. The Monterey Aquarium is nice, but a drive if you're in SF (3ish hours?)

My favorite touristy spot is Filoli, but not sure your kids would be interested, I've never bothered to take the kids. They have beautiful gardens and an old mansion that's been restored that does self guided tours. I find something new every time I go. (I also feel like I should be automatically enrolled into AARP for suggesting this)

Tons of gorgeous hiking spots in the area if you're up for it.

ETA: You can take the ferry over to Angel Island and rent bikes and then have some fabulous food in Tiburon. This is probably my top recommendation if I were going with my family.

[dglvrk2]

I used to live near SF and agree with k3am that Filoli is a great option. They may have Christmas lights and decorations up in December. Both the Oakland and SF zoos used to do a lot around Christmas too. Weather permitting, the wharf/Embarcadero could be great too.


ETA: I hear the Nutcracker performance by the SF Ballet is phenomenal!

[librarychica]

k3am, I should probably also join AARP despite being 38 but my kids are weirdly patient with my hobbies of gardening, kayaking-while-pointing-out-birds, and old houses. I took them to a small Victorian farm house done up for Christmas in New England a few years ago thinking they’d walk through it and say “pretty” , which they did, but DD1 also spent over an hour reading every plaque to her sister. They loved it. So thanks for the suggestion!

[186momx]

Not from California but the redwoods are fun. I think it is a pretty easy drive from SF along Hwy 101? I do know the northern California coast and Pacific Ocean is 1000 times different from what you are used to in Florida.

[waverly]

DH and I have been to San Fran a couple of times. We did Sonoma, Red Woods and Yosemite. Yosemite may have some twisty roads through since there are hills and mountains.

We've also done San Diego. You could possibly take the train up the west coast if you wanted to do Oregon, Washington, but I am assuming that might be too far.

We did the typical tourist attractions in San Fran. Cable cars, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, Golden Gate bridge. My kids would all be fine with that, but they are 13 and 11, so they are pretty good now with more adult attractions. For younger kids we always hit up kids museums and playgrounds and looked for hotels with pools, but luckily they have kind of outgrown that stage.

San Diego we did the Safari Park, museum area, La Jolla Beach/ seals. San Diego is pretty laid back and lots of activities for kids.  

[sdlaura]

I highly recommend San Diego but it’s is not close to San Francisco While you could drive, if you were interested in visiting San Diego, it would be better to take a cheap 1-hour flight and then fly home from here.

[sandandsea]

Apr 30, 2024 11:11:40 GMT -5 k3am said:

I'm in CA/Bay Area, but I avoid SF at all costs.

CA Academy of Science if you're already in SF. The Monterey Aquarium is nice, but a drive if you're in SF (3ish hours?)

My favorite touristy spot is Filoli, but not sure your kids would be interested, I've never bothered to take the kids. They have beautiful gardens and an old mansion that's been restored that does self guided tours. I find something new every time I go. (I also feel like I should be automatically enrolled into AARP for suggesting this)

Tons of gorgeous hiking spots in the area if you're up for it.

ETA: You can take the ferry over to Angel Island and rent bikes and then have some fabulous food in Tiburon. This is probably my top recommendation if I were going with my family.

I would also suggest the 17 mile drive in Monterey along with the aquarium. It’s really gorgeous and gives a great viewing of the CA coast.

Also the self guided audio tour of Alcatraz is fun too and you get a cool ferry ride on the bay to get out there with cool city and bridge views from the water.

Also drive around to see the painted ladies, drive down Lombard, visit Ghirardelli square and the wharf.

December will be chilly, especially once the sun goes down so wear layers and be prepared for chilly wind.

[k3am]

Apr 30, 2024 20:07:53 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

Apr 30, 2024 11:11:40 GMT -5 k3am said:

I'm in CA/Bay Area, but I avoid SF at all costs.

CA Academy of Science if you're already in SF. The Monterey Aquarium is nice, but a drive if you're in SF (3ish hours?)

My favorite touristy spot is Filoli, but not sure your kids would be interested, I've never bothered to take the kids. They have beautiful gardens and an old mansion that's been restored that does self guided tours. I find something new every time I go. (I also feel like I should be automatically enrolled into AARP for suggesting this)

Tons of gorgeous hiking spots in the area if you're up for it.

ETA: You can take the ferry over to Angel Island and rent bikes and then have some fabulous food in Tiburon. This is probably my top recommendation if I were going with my family.

I would also suggest the 17 mile drive in Monterey along with the aquarium. It’s really gorgeous and gives a great viewing of the CA coast.

Also the self guided audio tour of Alcatraz is fun too and you get a cool ferry ride on the bay to get out there with cool city and bridge views from the water.

Also drive around to see the painted ladies, drive down Lombard, visit Ghirardelli square and the wharf.

December will be chilly, especially once the sun goes down so wear layers and be prepared for chilly wind.

To be fair, I’d give the wear layers and be prepared for chilly wind in the summer too! 🥶

ETA: Also SF specific… don’t leave ANYTHING in your car. Not even in the trunk. My few remaining friends who live in SF tell me to keep the center console and glove box open so people know there’s nothing worth breaking a window for. They can spot a tourist from a mile away and know you have stuff on you.

[waverly]

I forgot how far San Diego was oops.

San Fran is very cold in the summer like 40 degrees at night. This was June. I assume it gets warmer maybe sometimes but not in June at night.

[mommyatty]

I think Mark Twain said something like “The coldest winter I ever endured was a summer in San Francisco.” So yeah, don’t expect SoCal sunshine. My husband grew up on the Monterey Peninsula, and my MIL said in her couple of decades living there, she was literally never warm, except very briefly when she was pregnant with DH. If you go to Monterey, the aquarium is world class and Cannery Row has great restaurants and very interesting history. I love Ghirardelli Square in SF proper. And I’m a sucker for any boat tour anywhere.