A Family Friendly Guide To The Pacific Coast Highway
As we ease into the hazy days of summer, the promise of a well-earned holiday is on the horizon.
One our most sought-after destinations at this time of year is California. The lure of its golden beaches, coastal cities, famous national parks, and temperate climate, places a road trip through the Golden State near the top of many traveller’s bucket list.
The most popular itinerary is to follow The Pacific Coast Highway; a near 600-mile stretch of road that hugs the shoreline from San Francisco to Dana Point in Orange County.
If you are travelling with children, then it can be hard to know where to start when planning a family friendly itinerary that will keep children of all ages entertained.
Over the course of this week/blog we will be travelling the length of the highway, focusing on some of the highlights that you and your children can encounter on one of America’s best loved road trips.
San Francisco
If flying from the UK, you are most likely to begin your journey on Highway 1 from San Francisco . The ‘City by the Bay’ is well connected from London, with up to 7 direct flights a day in the peak summer season. We would always advise taking a taxi or airport transfer to your hotel and then spending a few days exploring this beautiful city, before picking up your hire car and beginning your road trip. San Fran is easily navigable on foot and by public transport, so you don’t need to worry about where to park or how much its going to cost.
Most families opt to stay Fisherman’s Wharf, a hub of activity right on the waterfront, that is one of the safest areas of San Francisco. Here you can enjoy seal spotting, shopping, and waterside restaurants, whilst taking in beautiful views of the bay.
From the wharf you’ll be able to take the ferry to Alcatraz, an exciting day trip for all ages. Having been decommissioned in the 1960’s, it is now home to an interactive museum, where you can wander the wings and cells, getting a taste of life in America’s most notorious prison. Make sure you book your tickets well in advance to be sure of visiting, as its harder to break in than it is to escape from this piece of history!
Whether you are cycling over it, cruising under it or hitching a ride on an open top bus, you will be sure to encounter the Golden Gate Bridge one way or another during your stay by the bay. Even when shrouded in fog, the bridge makes for an impressive photo stop. Some tours will take you over the bridge to the picturesque town of Sausalito and the nearby Muir Woods – a national recreation area, with a choice of short hiking trails that weave in and out of the giant redwood trees.
A visit to San Fran would not be complete without a ride on the famous cable cars (trams). These are a fun and practical way to get around as they rattle their way up and down the cities steep hills, whilst connecting up Fisherman’s Wharf with Chinatown, Union Square and other neighbourhoods. Be prepared to queue though.
Santa Cruz
Our journey South along the Pacific Coast Highway leads us to the town of Santa Cruz – approximately 70 miles South of San Fran and 35 miles north of Monterey. Santa Cruz is one the hidden gems along the California Coast, that tends to be overlooked by a lot of visitors, due to its proximity to its more famous neighbours. Stay a night or two here though and you will soon realise why this is a perfect stop for families on a Californian road trip.
This fun-loving seaside town truly captures the spirit of a family holiday, with miles of golden sandy beaches. The Beach Boardwalk amusement park is a fun spot where you can ride a vintage rollercoaster and carousel or join in family friendly events such as an outdoor movie nights or live music on the sand. Take in a sunset at the Santa Cruz Wharf where you’ll have a prime view of sunset and the chance to spot seals frolicking.
When surfing first reached the shores of mainland USA it arrived here in Santa Cruz. The breaks here still attract crowds of surfers, and you too can try your hand at the sport by taking a surf lesson. This is a fun activity for teens and older children. The Santa Cruz surfing museum is just one of several family friendly museums in town, including the Santa Cruz Natural History museum, or the Seymour Marne Discovery Centre – where you will be able to see some of the creatures that inhabit the bay, as well as marvel at some huge whale skeletons.
Surrounded by mountains and redwood forests, a family friendly way to experience the local scenery here is to ride the Roaring Camp Railroads, a heritage steam train that huffs and puffs its way from Santa Cruz beach, up through ancient redwood forests and into the Santa Cruz mountains.
If you’ve any time or energy left after working your way through Santa Cruz’s long list of attractions, then downtown is a lovely spot to round off your day. There are an assortment of family friendly restaurants and cafés and ice cream parlours. You’ll also find a variety of boutique shops here which may appeal to teen travellers.
Monterey
Follow the Pacific Coast Highway round the bay and you will come to Monterey, the next stop on our family friendly tour of the Californian Coast.
Once a thriving fishing port, built on the back off a huge population of sardines which once swam in the bay here, there’s no escaping the towns historic fishing industry.
Formerly a series of fish canning plants, Cannery Row’s industrial factories and warehouses have long since transformed this part of town into a tourist hot spot that will be popular with visitors of all ages. You’ll find some of Monterey’s best hotels here, making this a great base if you are not constrained to a budget.
Families can enjoy escape rooms, mirror mazes and vintage arcade games at Oscars Playground. There’s also an abundance of ice creameries, cookie shops and bubble tea cafés to choose between. Located directly under Cannery Row is McAbee Beach, a small, but sandy spot with a handful of rockpools that young families may enjoy exploring. Older kids will be able to hire a paddleboard or kayak and get out on the water, to explore the bay – if you are lucky, you may even see a Sea otter! For many families Cannery Row’s biggest draw is the famed Monterey aquarium. If you didn’t see a sea otter in the wild, you will definitely see on here, along with sharks, penguins, jellyfish and all sorts of other sea creatures and marine life. The huge tanks and viewing windows, make this one of the largest and best aquariums in the USA.
The Old Fisherman’s wharf may not be as polished as its San Fran namesake, but you’ll find a selection of gift shops and seafood restaurants here. Kids will love the sweet and chocolate shops, but perhaps best to save them until after you’ve taken them on a whale watching tour. There are regular departures from the end of the wharf, where you’ll have the chance to spot seals, pelicans and grey whales (during their migratory season). The youngest of families may enjoy a glass bottomed boat tour, whereas older children and teens can try their hand at fishing for rockfish, Dungeness crabs or even tuna.
If you’re travelling to California with under 12’s then they will relish a trip to the Dennis the Menace Playground, a sprawling park in the heart of Monterey. Your little menaces will be able to climb, swing and slide their way through this giant park, for hours – tiring them out nicely for the next instalment of your road trip down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Carmel
Just a ten-minute drive from Monterey (longer if you are following the incredibly scenic 17-mile drive) is the pretty town of Carmel.
Despite being just the other side of the headland, Carmel and Monterey couldn’t be more different. There are no big hotels, or shopping malls here, in fact there’s not even streetlights or mailboxes! Carmel prides itself on its village feel and has worked hard to retain a unique identity which makes it so special. Explore the towns walkable downtown and you will find oodles of fairy tale cottages, little galleries, boutique hotels and countless high-end restaurants.
This all sounds delightful travelling as a couple or perhaps as grandparents (without babysitting duties), but if touring the California Coast with kids in tow, you may be wondering why Carmel has featured on our list of places to stop on a family road trip. Good question!
In short Carmel is perfect for families looking to experience the best of California’s great outdoors. With its white sand, cypress trees and crashing blue surf, The beach here is one of the finest on the Cali coastline. There’s plenty of space for families to play on the soft sand, or to watch sunset together.
Just South of Carmel is the Point Lobos State Park, regarded by many as one of the best State parks in California. Its incredible views can be easily enjoyed by following a series of short hiking trails – several are less than a mile long and the longest is just 6.5 miles. If you pack a picnic you can make a day of it here and enjoy quiet sandy beaches, or perhaps hire a kayak and enjoy the calm waters that fill the surrounding coves.
Another outdoor attraction is the Pacific Repertory Theatre, a 500-seater amphitheatre that was first established in 1910. Each August the theatre puts on a family friendly performance that will appeal to audiences of all ages. Previous productions have included Shrek the musical and Mary Poppins, whereas this summers performance is going to be Mary Poppins. Bring a blanket or jumper and then sit back to enjoy a performance under the stars!
Pismo Beach
Halfway between San Francisco and LA – the coastal town of Pismo Beach should be a staple stop on any family friendly Californian Road trip.
With miles of golden sand, the beaches never feel crowded here, even in the height of summer. Whether you are splashing about in the surf, exploring the rock pools or foraging for clams, there’s plenty to keep young children entertained on Pismo Beach. Older kids may want to hire a paddleboarding, or join a kayak tour to explore the cliffs, coves and caves which can be found along this stretch of the coast.
Should you fancy a break from the beach, Hearst Castle is just an hour’s drive away. This opulent fairy tale style castle was once owned and built by one time media baron William Randolph Hearst. In its prime the castle was the weekend playground of the rich and famous as Hearst entertained his guests in his lavish mansion. It’s jaw dropping swimming pools, and herd of zebras are just some of the highlights for younger visitors.
Just up the hill from Pismo Beach is the smaller town of San Luis Obispo. SLO is a quirky town with some even quirkier attractions. ‘Bubble gum alley’ – a 70ft shrine dedicated to spent gum, is not one for the faint hearted, but may appeal to those with a high ick threshold! The towns Sunset Drive-In Theatre offers up a vintage taste of America and is fun way to spend an evening. One thing not to miss in SLO is its weekly downtown farmers market – held each Thursday evening, the roads close and over 100 vendors line the streets with local produce, crafts, street food and entertainment. It’s a family friendly affair, so is the perfect place for picnic shopping.
For adventurous families, a trip to Oceano dunes is a must. Located just a few miles south of Pismo, California’s second largest dune system Here you can hire quad bikes or buggies to explore the miles of sand, that make up California’s second largest dune system.
Santa Barbara
After leaving Pismo Beach, California’s Highway 1 cuts inland, navigating its way through the Coast Mountains before re-joining the sea at Gaviota and continuing onto Santa Barbara, the next stop on our family friendly road trip of California.
Known as ‘The American Riviera’, Santa Barbara draws in travellers with its golden sands, Mediterranean climate, colonial Spanish architecture, upmarket boutiques and thriving wine scene. If you’re wondering what the pull is for families though, then read on, as this beautiful city has plenty to offer younger visitors.
Top of the list is MOXI – The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation. This hands-on science museum is sure to be a hit with children of all ages, as they navigate three floors of interactive exhibits. With an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, arts and maths, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn through play. In true Californian style, there is even a rooftop exhibit, where youngsters will be able to splash about in an interactive water feature, whilst enjoying incredible views across Santa Barbara.
Small enough to be manageable with young children, but big enough to ensure its wide variety of animals, kept in open and naturalistic habitat’s, Santa Barbara Zoo makes for a nice morning or afternoon visit. As well as catching up with its big cats, gorillas, giraffe and penguins; you’ll have the chance to view local birds such as Californian Condors and Bald Eagles.
To view some of Santa Barbara’s wildlife in its natural environment you will need to take to the water. Between November and May, you will have the opportunity to spot migrating whales, who are attracted to Santa Barbara’s nutrient rich waters. There is a chance you may spot minke whales, Gray whales, humpback whales or the largest of them all – the Blue whale!
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is sure to delight young explorers, who will be able to roam the dinosaur forest, take a journey through space at the planetarium or enjoy the backyard playground – just some of many exhibits and activities which will appeal to families travelling to California with children.
Besides all of these fantastic attractions, Santa Barbara offers many of the activities that make a road trip down the California Coast so memorable. You’ll be able to take surf lessons from the sandy beaches, kayak on the harbour or simply enjoy a picnic in a palm tree lined park!
Ventura
Continuing along the coast, around 30 minutes South of Santa Barbara is the family friendly town of Ventura.
With a walkable downtown, sheltered beaches and an assortment of playgrounds are all easy wins for parents, but it’s the towns easy access to the Channel Islands National Park which makes Ventura really stand out.
Isolated from the mainland for thousands of years, the islands are home to over 2000 species of wildlife – 150 of which are unique to the islands. Untouched by development, there are no hotels or roads here, so intrepid explorers travel on foot and stay the night under canvas. That’s not to say that that a taste of island adventure is out of reach for families though.
Around an hour’s ferry ride away, Santa Cruz and Anacapa are the closest of the five Channel Islands, making them a relatively day trip from Ventura Harbour. You’ll need to pack a picnic and enough water for your visit, but once on the islands, you’ll be able to hike cliff top trails, kayak cavernous sea caves and spot some of the unusual wildlife that give these islands the moniker of ‘The Galapagos of North America’.
Los Angeles
Upon leaving Ventura the Pacific Coast Highway cruises through the glitzy beach suburbs of Malibu and into the sprawling metropolis that is Los Angeles. LA may not be the first destination that springs to mind when planning a family friendly road trip to California, but there’s more than enough to see and do here to justify a stopover on your itinerary.
The laidback sandy shores of Santa Monica make a good family friendly base for your time in LA, where you can continue to hone your surfing skills, or enjoy the vintage amusements and funfair on the famous pier – the official start/finish point of Route 66.
For many families, the highlight of a visit to LA will be a trip to Universal Studios, Hollywood. As well as a smorgasbord of film themed rollercoasters and thrill rides, you will be able to take the Studio tour, a behind the scenes peek at a working film studio. Harry Potters Wizarding World is sure to enchant Muggles of all ages or check out Super Nintendo World – a Mario themed area that is new for 2023.
High up in the hills is Griffith Park, home to The Griffith Observatory. By day you can explore the hiking trails that crisscross the park, marvelling the views over LA and the classic vista of the Hollywood sign, but by night you’ll be able to use telescopes to admire the night sky – not the type of star spotting you would necessarily expect in LA!
Huntington Beach
Around a 45-minute drive South of Los Angeles is Huntington Beach – California’s ‘Surf City’. With ten miles of sandy beaches and a never-ending supply of rolling waves, Huntington Beach is not only deserving of its nickname, but is also one of the most family friendly beach destinations along this stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway .
Whether you are taking a surf lesson, cruising along the Huntington bike trail on a family cycle ride, building sandcastles or toasting marshmallows at sunset over a beach bonfire, it’s hard not to fall for the charms of this seaside city.
A number of family friendly resorts and hotels can be found overlooking the beach, all within walking distance of the compact downtown – which is where you will find the surfers walk of fame and The International Surf museum. A new addition is Pacific City, a shopping complex which offers a range of shops and family friendly dining with views of the ocean – meaning you don’t need to worry about driving anywhere.
Should you wish to travel further afield, Anaheim and its famous theme parks such as Disneyland and Knots Berry Farm are under a thirty-minute drive away making these an easy day trip from the coast.
San Diego
Officially the Pacific Highway ends at Dana Point, but if you travel South for approximately one more hour, you will arrive at San Diego, the last stop on our family friendly road trip of the Californian coastline.
Surrounded by beaches and crammed with parks, museums, and family friendly attractions; San Diego is an easy win for families of all ages. There’s so much to see here, that you could easily make this a holiday in its own right!
Balboa Park will feature heavily on any family holiday to San Diego – not only is it home to the incredible San Diego Zoo, but it is also the base for 17 different museums, many of which are child friendly. Highlights that you will want to seek out include the San Diego Natural History museum, The San Diego Air & Space museum, and the model railroad museum. Also, at the park you’ll find kid friendly theatres, such as the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre and playgrounds for children of all ages.
Thrill seekers will be able to ride the rollercoasters at Sea World or the tamer Lego Land, or for old fashioned seaside fun you can take your mini travellers to Belmont Park – a traditional seaside funfair with dodgems, merry go rounds and a big dipper.
There’s no shortage of beaches in San Diego, so if you are looking for some family time on the sand then you will be spoilt for choice. Coronado Beach is our top pick and is just a short ferry ride from San Diego, making this a good base if you want to be based by the sand for the duration of your stay. We can arrange hotels here to suit most budgets.
That concludes the end of our journey down the Pacific Coast Highway, but if you would like to discuss a road trip with one of our team of experts, then get in touch via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on 01892 779900 and we will be happy to help you arrange a family friendly road trip that you and your children will remember forever.