where to go?

Arriving in San diego and finishing in San Francisco we have two weeks to organise end of May. Myself, my husband and our three children age 10/6/4. Like to be busy but frightened about trying to do too much. Thought 4/5 days Coronado(beach and weather good plus points here) and 2/3 days San Francisco at end of holiday. Leaves us a week to fill in between - any ideas like the sound of Carmel and the drive along the coast - do not fancy LA would like to do something more such as Grand Canyon/Yosemite but might leave that for another time need advice please

where to go?

If you have a week then the drive up the coastal highway is lovely. Have a look at www.mapquest.com or Google for road trip planning.

Some nice stops up the coast from San Diego would be Laguan Beach in Orange County;Santa Barbara,Cambria/Paso Robles(Hearst Castle wine tasting),Big Sur,Carmel/Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Francisco.

If you wanted to see Yosemite then the route can take you North in the inland portion of Californa on highway 5/99 to Yosemite. If you wish to continue to San Francisco on the coastal road then you drive towards the coast West, Paso Robles(#41) and continue with the coastal suggestions North towards Big Sur and CArmel.

Eithr one of the routes could be accomplished in the one week which you have allotted for the trip to San Francisco. In the second version then you eliminate Santa Barbara for Yosemite.

where to go?

I%26#39;d stay on the coast and leave Yosemite, Death Valley, etc. for another trip. Cutting inland to Yosemite and then back again will take a certain amount of time (it%26#39;s 4 hours from SF to Yosemite) and it%26#39;s *not* a scenic drive.

I would go to Monterey with the kids, visit the aquarium there and Old Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. The Monterey Plaza Hotel is a great place to stay with a family or the Monterey Beach Resort which is directly on a beautiful stretch of beach and is affordable. Have a fun time on your travels with your family! :)