Originally traveled December 2016. Updated for 2025.

EDITOR’S NOTE (2025)

I originally wrote this after one of the most meaningful trips I’ve ever taken with my kids. They were 7 and 8 when we went, and everything about it felt exhilarating and slightly intimidating all at once. They’re teenagers now — and somehow, this is still one of the vacations they talk about the most.

I’ve updated this post with clearer logistics, current pricing, and reflections from this season of motherhood — because this trip wasn’t just about California. It was about saying yes to something bigger than routine and perfect planning.

Why This Trip Happened

A few years before this trip, I took my own solo, “Eat, Pray, Love”-style journey to California. During that trip, I visited my cousin and her family in Sacramento, and I made a quiet promise to myself: I’ll come back with my kids before her kids grow up and move on.

Fast-forward a few years. I’ll be honest - as a single mom with two young kids, I had serious reservations about flying across the country alone with my 7- and 8-year-old for a ten-day road trip. But I was determined to give them memories bigger than our daily routine. And now, years later, both kids still refer to this as one of their favorite vacations ever.

When it came time to plan, I reached for my travel Bible — 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up — and built a trip that felt ambitious, meaningful, and educational.

The Big Picture Itinerary

Fly into: San Francisco
Fly out of: San Diego
Drive: Pacific Coast Highway
Trip length: 9 days
Focus: Memories, connection, education, and fun

This post covers Days 1–4 of the trip. Part 2 picks up as we continue down the coast.

Day 1: Travel Day - Detroit to San Francisco

On Christmas Day 2016, after celebrating with family that morning, we packed up and headed for Detroit airport. While I usually love flying out of Fort Wayne, I couldn’t pass up the deal I found: $75 one-way per person. When you’re traveling with two kids, that kind of savings matters.

This was Weston’s first time on a plane, and the first flight Kenyah could remember. They were thrilled! I gifted them new luggage and neck pillows that morning, and Weston put his on in the car and didn’t take it off until we landed in San Francisco. 😂

We arrived late, picked up our rental car, and headed straight to the hotel.

WHERE WE STAYED

Doubletree Hotel San Francisco Airport

Chosen for proximity, ease, price, and late arrival

CAR RENTAL

Fox Rent a Car
Pick up at SFO

Tip: Late night arrival + early morning sightseeing? Book the airport hotel for a less stressful day one.

Day 2: San Francisco - One Day, the Highlights

We only had one day in San Francisco, so we focused on what felt iconic and meaningful — the things my kids would remember. While I usually have a “no repeats” vacation policy, California - especially Northern California - has my heart. I know we’ll be back.

Golden Gate Bridge

Our first stop was driving across the Golden Gate Bridge and pulling over for photos. Even at 7 and 8, the kids recognized it instantly - it’s one of those landmarks that feels familiar before you ever see it in person.

Toll (2025): ~ $9.75 (cashless)
Location: US-101 / CA-1
Official Site: https://www.goldengate.org

full house house

As a child of the ‘80s, this stop was non-negotiable. The kids had recently discovered reruns, so tracking down the Tanner house was just as exciting for them as it was for me.

Location: 1709 Broderick St, San Francisco
Cost: Free
(Yes, the neighbors are very used to fans.)

We also caught glimpses of the Painted Ladies throughout the day.

Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39

Fisherman’s Wharf is often considered a “tourist trap,” but I find it to be quintessential San Francisco. This was a great place to park once and explore on foot - from the local colony of sea lions and amazing bay views of the Golden Gate Bridge, to street performers, shopping, and easy access to food.

Ghirardelli Square

From the Wharf we walked over to Ghirardelli Square, the former site of Ghirardelli’s Chocolate Factory, and one of the country’s earliest adaptive reuse projects. Today, it is home to not only The Original Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop, but also a variety of other shops and restaurants. One look at Weston’s face here should tell you this stop earned a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.

Cost: Free (but dessert is a must)
Location: 900 North Point St.
Official Site: https://www.ghirardellisq.com

Lombard Street

Known as the “crookedest street in the world,” Lombard Street was one of the most entertaining stops of the day — especially for kids. We opted not to drive it ourselves, but instead walked to Hyde Street and watched cars slowly navigate the eight steep, brick-lined hairpin turns below us. It cemented their amusement by how steep the streets are in San Francisco. Watching it together was just as fun (and far less stressful) than driving it ourselves.

Cost: Free
Location: Lombard St. at Hyde St.

Cable Cars

San Francisco’s cable cars were the one thing we fully intended to do — and somehow completely failed at. We spent the entire day watching them rumble through the city. I even took the kids to the exact spot where I’d boarded a cable car on a previous trip, convinced this would be the moment it all came together.

It didn’t.

No matter what we tried, we never managed to score actual tickets or a ride. So we pivoted — snapping photos next to a stationary car, laughing at our own persistence, and chalking it up as one of those travel moments that becomes part of the story. The kids still remember the cable cars vividly, even without riding them — and that feels like a small win.

Fare: $8 per ride
Official Info: https://www.sfmta.com
Tip: Flexibility is everything. You won’t do it all - and that’s okay.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island was on our original list, but we knew before leaving that tours would be closed during the week between Christmas and New Year — making it the one major San Francisco landmark we didn’t get to experience this time. Even so, seeing the island from Fisherman’s Wharf sparked plenty of curiosity (and questions) from the kids, and it’s firmly at the top of our list for a return trip. If Alcatraz is a must for you, plan ahead: tickets often sell out weeks in advance and should only be booked through the official provider.

Tours: ~$45 adult / ~$28 child
Official Booking: https://www.alcatrazcruises.com

That evening, we drove about two hours to Sacramento to spend time with family.

Day 3: Sacramento - Family Time & Firsts

One of my favorite parts of travel has always been the chance to reconnect with family and friends in ways everyday life rarely allows. Spending time with my cousin Bonnie and her kids was one of the highlights of this trip — not because of the sightseeing, but because our kids finally had the chance to really know one another.

That kind of unstructured time is rare, and it mattered more than I realized at the time.

In-N-Out Burger

Kenyah and Weston hadn’t yet experienced the cult favorite that is In-N-Out, so this was a must stop. The verdict was immediate and unanimous — they were obsessed. We ended up returning several more times over the course of the trip, fully aware this was a California-only luxury we wouldn’t have once we got home.

Cost: ~$4–$10 per person
Locations: throughout California and neighboring states
Website: https://www.in-n-out.com

Old Sacramento Waterfront

After lunch, we spent the afternoon wandering through Old Sacramento Waterfront — a walkable historic district filled with shops, candy stores, and old-school charm. We ducked in and out of specialty shops selling everything from toys to western jewelry, eventually stumbling upon Candy Heaven, which stopped us all in our tracks.

For anyone who knew me then, this will come as no surprise: we stocked up. Those treats lasted us well into the rest of our road trip.

Cost: Free to explore
Location: 1002 2nd St., Sacramento
Official site: https://www.oldsacramento.com

That evening, we headed back to their house for dinner, games, and conversation. Years later, my kids still talk about that time together — a reminder that some of the best travel memories aren’t planned attractions at all.

Day 4: Highway 1 - Where the Trip Shifted

The next morning, after breakfast with family, we set out for the stretch of the trip I’d been most excited about: driving Pacific Coast Highway. This was the point where the trip stopped feeling like a vacation and started feeling like an adventure.

Año Nuevo State Park

Our first stop was a guided wildlife tour at Año Nuevo State Park to see the elephant seals. It was a longer hike than I might normally choose with kids that age (3-4 miles over 2.5 hours), but they were completely engaged from start to finish — fascinated by the size, sounds, and sheer presence of the seals lounging along the beach.

The seals themselves were… a lot. These animals are massive — weighing up to several tons — and seeing them sprawled across the beach was equal parts fascinating and unbelievable. It was mating season while we were there, which means that, depending on the day, things can get loud, dramatic, intense, and sometimes bloody. We didn’t witness any full-on battles, but there was plenty of posturing, noise, and sheer animal presence to keep everyone wide-eyed and fully engaged.

This was exactly the kind of experience I wouldn’t have chosen on my own, but because it was recommended in 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, we did it — and I’m glad we did. It pushed all of us a little outside our comfort zones and ended up being one of those “remember when…” moments that stuck.

Cost (2025): ~$12–$15 per person + reservation fee
Reservations: Required; book 1–2 months in advance
Location: 1 New Years Creek Rd., Pescadero
Official site: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=27613

Monterey & the Pacific Ocean

After the tour, we continued south along Highway 1 toward Monterey, pulling over whenever the view demanded it — which was often. At one stop, the kids asked if they could walk down to the water. What followed is still one of my favorite memories of the entire trip.

They ran straight into the Pacific Ocean — fully clothed, laughing, unbothered, completely free to be kids. Standing there, watching them look out over the water at the edge of the country, I felt something settle into place. This trip wasn’t about doing everything or getting it right. It was about being present, creating space, and letting the experience unfold.

That night, as we settled into Monterey, every inhibition I had about taking two young kids alone on a 10-day road trip was gone, and I was filled with excitement for the days ahead and the adventures that awaited us!

Up Next: Part 2

Big Sur, Pebble Beach, and the rest of our journey down the California coast.

Have you been to the Bay Area? What was your favorite stop — and what should we add when we go back? Comment below!

Our First Big Road Trip: A 10-Day California Adventure with My Kids (Part I)