All routes
14 daysCoast + cities
Pacific coast for families
Beaches, sea lions, slow mornings
Highway 1 down the California coast is made for slow family mornings: tide pools before breakfast, a short drive to the next state beach, and campgrounds where the kids can bike to the sand. This two-week version keeps daily drives under two hours so there's always time to stop.
Stops on this route
- San Francisco
- Monterey
- Santa Barbara
- LA
Highlights
- San Francisco — Golden Gate, cable cars and a city day before you head south
- Monterey Bay Aquarium — one of the best rainy-day-proof stops on the coast
- Santa Barbara — Spanish-style town, easy beaches and a relaxed harbour
- State-beach campgrounds — Pismo, Refugio and El Capitán for nights by the water
Good to know
- Duration
- 14 days
- Best time to go
- June–September for warm beach days; spring for fewer crowds
- Cost estimate
- €150–€220 per person per day for a family of four