Tips for San Fran- vegas pls

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Off next week.. we are going along the coast road (not Yosemite) & we have lots of the usual tourist bits booked, Alcatraz, Hearst castle, all the LA stuff, show in vegas.. but does anyone have any other suggestions for the less obvious things to see/ do whilst in this part of the world?? Or any wise advice?! Also keen to hear about unusual/amazing restaurants. Travelling with 11&15 year old.. many thanks!

In Vegas, the Neon Boneyard is a worth a visit as is the Mob Museum if you have any interest in that sort of thing.

Between LA and SF, places I like include Cambria, Santa Barbara, Morro Bay, Santa Cruz (loads for kids) and Monterey ( the aquarium is great). Obviously Highway 1 through Big Sur is amazing!

Which order are you doing this trip in? Will you be driving to Vegas from LA or SF?

Sequoia is amazing!! Deffo stop there
if you can book dinner at the Madonna Inn - San Louis Opisbo nearish to Hearst castle which is magnificent - then it’s mind blowing
the restaurant is fab and the whole hotel is a Maximilist experience full of colour

montery is lovely for kids

Second stopping at the Madonna Inn, biggest slice of chocolate cake ever seen!

The Warner Studios tour was very good too.

Pack jumpers, coats and rain macs. I go a lot for work and when I went in August for a similar trip, I really surprised by the temperatures and fogs in and around San Fran during August - it’s why lots of locals escape during that time. Other than that, maybe worth reading up on some of the challenges San Fran is experiencing with regards to homelessness and drug issues - even in the most touristy bits it’s common to see needles etc on the floor so worth being frank with the kids so they know what to expect and smart with your walking etc so you’re staying safe.

A highlight in San Fran is hiring a bike to cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, having lunch and a wander and then getting the ferry back with your bike! Make sure you leave plenty of time for the ferry as they can be crowded. Monterey Acquarium is also brilliant, but again do book in advance.

Aware I sound like a downer (and don’t mean to be - I hope that you have a fab time!) but LA and San Fran are tricky towns these days and better to be prepared than surprised as we were!

Santa Barbara has a good zoo.
Malibu beach is worth a visit.

Also hiring bikes to ride around Golden Gate park can be really fun!

Yes to cycling over the bridge although it was incredibly windy when we did it & everyone except me turned back so we didn't get to do the ferry back.
Definitely yes to the aquarium, my kids loved it. You can also do whale watching at Monterrey although no idea if it's the right time of year.

My brother lives in San Fran and we have been a number of times. Santa Cruz was great they have a pier with loads of rides plus really nice place to walk around and go for food. Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are also great for a visit we always go for the day. There are those little bike taxis to get along there which are fun. There is an aquarium and loads of things to do like speed boat rides. There is also a Madam Tussauds down that way and a Rain Forrest Cafe. Further along from there is an arcade type place with loads of super old school games like the fortune teller from Big 🤣 Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park - lots of bike hire nearby, tram ride, Ghirardelli Square, China Town, Lombard Street (the super squiggly road you see in movies). If you can go to see a Giants game it’s an amazing experience and I’m not even into sports. Im sure its the bay bridge which takes you over to a market though can’t remember what days that’s on. You can also get the ferry to Oakland though for the love of me can’t remember what we did there 🤣 Lots of walking, eating, shopping and memories! Have an amazing time, we ho back next year and can’t wait!!

When we went with our 14 yr old, we stopped off in Morro Bay and booked her a 1:! Surf lesson - she still says it was the best part of the trip! We just went into one of the surf shops and asked at the counter 😂

Echo what @dreamersdown says. I was there 2 months ago. Alcatraz still a major highlight.

Also mamas on Washington square for the best brunch - San fran

In Los Angeles, don't miss Downtown LA - climb City Hall, visit The Broad, Angel's Flight, lunch in Grand Central Farmer's Market, Olvera Street, The Last Bookshop....

Other LA must-sees - Venice Canals (and the beach), LA Farmer's Market, Santa Monica Pier, all the Hollywood stuff (the Hollywood Museum is super-cute), gawp at the rich folk on Rodeo Drive, vintage shops on Melrose, Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign.....

Further down towards San Diego there are heaps of other great beaches, also San Juan Capistrano.....

Forget Disney/Universal; there's way more to see. And don't drive anywhere in rush hour!

museemecanique.com/

we loved this, quirky and a little creepy but really interesting. Its walkabout from downtown san fran

How long are you going for? You may want to fly to Vegas rather than drive to save time and avoid the desert heat.

Aw fab, this is the one I called an arcade🤦🏻‍♀️! We stumbled upon it by accident but some of the things were amazing! Real old machines it was a pretty cool place!

Another vote for the Madonna Inn, I went there with my Grandma when I was 14 and absolutely loved it! Still romanticise going back one day.

Santa Cruz boardwalk is fun, has an amusement park, rides and would suit your children I think.

Malibu Seafood for lunch if you're driving through, near enough to Santa Monica pier or you could head into Topanga which is a neat little place too.

The traffic throughout California is horrendous. So watch out for that.

Be prepared for the drive through the desert. Make sure you have lots of water in the car in case you breakdown and a good amount music, podcasts or audiobooks as there isn't a reliable radio broadcast.

Oh yes, we loved Musee Mecanique too. Like Aladdin's cave - DH was in heaven looking at all the retro games.

There are two routes from LA to Vegas!

The quicker route through the main highway is a decent ish drive with some nice diners on the way. You could stop at Roy's (apparently very famous, didn't realise this when I was there as it doesn't look the best!).

If you went the Route 66 route (actually called National Trails Highway) then there are absolutely tons of old town shops. Driven this route a number of times due to the gorgeous scenery but my dh and I can't help but to keep stopping off. A 5 hour drive usually takes us 9 hours. The views are breathtaking and cars are few and far between, simply because it runs parallel with the main highway and it's much more inconvenient to drive this route if you're looking to get to Vegas quickly.

Thanks for all the tips! Working through them now & will def book up some restaurants & the arcade looks perfect.
We are going from San Fran to LA along coastal rd then onto vegas over 2 weeks.
Bit worried about the longest leg, driving through the desert but have found an old ghost town half way that we plan to stop at & in no rush so will make a day of that journey.
I'd heard about all the homelessness & drugs- but agree worth a chat with DC in advance.

That sounds absolutely amazing, I wish it was me! I was quite shocked my first time at the extent of homelessness there a bit of an eye opener. My uncle and brother both work with the homeless and drug users. They never bothered with us but when out with either of them they’d say hi or come up to the car for a chat 😊 The smell of crack though when walking along certain parts and the smell in the elevators for the BART due to urinating is rank. From my experience most of the drug use is around the Tenderloin so you can avoid there. Also because shops give free refills homeless folk will ask for your cup so they can use if for a refill. Always been nice about it and grateful, didn’t make me feel intimidated or anything. When out in tourist parts like Fisherman’s Wharf just take care of your belongings. I’ve seen a man taking a photo and someone swipe his camera out his hand and run 🙈 Suppose this is typical of tourist spots but was my fist experience of it.
Have an amazing time, we are back next year and going to LA for our first time so can’t wait!

Just read that back and homeless folk sounds terrible 🙈 apologies.

My DS has always had intense empathy for homeless people- he insisted on giving the Xmas £ his gran gave him to a guy sat outside a train station when he was 8/9. He always stops for a chat - they are usually lovely in return but you never know if someone is a wrong 'un- homeless or not actually!

Stop at the Julia Pfeiffer state park on the coastal road. A few minutes walk down from the car park is a huge bay, where you're stood at the top and opposite there's a waterfall down onto the beach. Definitely worth a quick stop.

Aw how lovely, it’s nice to have that innocent outlook on the world. Long may it last! It’s very true you just never know these days at all. I’d definitely say the guy who stole the camera wasn’t as he was dressed better than us 🤣