Suggested itinerary for SF - Anaheim?

R

Rosebud123

DIS Veteran
Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Hi All,

Thinking of planning a trip to California next summer for 10 days. I'd like to fly into San Francisco and spend a few days there, then rent a car and drive to Anaheim, stopping somewhere fun for a night. Suggestions on places to stop/stay? Also, I don't want a car while we're in SF, so is there a place like Enterprise that would pick us up from the hotel?

Thanks so much!
 
SF has all of the major rental car companies. I'm sure you could find one that would pick you up and take you to their rental facility. If not, you can take a cab or use Uber.

In terms of somewhere fun to stop on the way to Anaheim, it depends. If you take Interstate 5, it's a pretty non-descript drive but will get you there faster. We're leaving for the L.A. area from the S.F. Bay Area tomorrow evening and staying overnight in the middle of nowhere. We just want a place to sleep before finishing the drive the next morning. If you want a scenic but longer drive, you would take Highway 101 which goes up the coast. It's definitely a more interesting drive since you're often driving along the ocean. Look at a map and see if any of the cities along the way interest you. You could stay in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo. A really cool place to stop is Solvang. It's a cute little town that's made to look like a Danish village. The buildings are really cute and there are fun little shops and restaurants.
 
Just wanted to add be sure to see the Disney Family museum as long as you are in SF anyway.
As for fun stops, we drive 8 hours down from just north of SF. We take the 5 and there isn't much along the way but it is quick. There is Pea Soup Anderson's in Santa Nella, but stopping there is more for nostalgia for me than it being interesting. We always stop in Button Willow for gas. Oh, there is a new outlet mall in Tejon near the mountains that we stopped at on the way up last time. There are various In and Out restaurants along they way too if you want to try that. You pass Harris Ranch which seems to have a hotel and restaurant but it is really smelly when you drive though so I haven't wanted to stop. One year we took a little side trip off the 5 to stop in Simi Valley to visit the Reagan Library. That was interesting. You get to go on Air Force One. We spent the night there and it was a quick drive to Anaheim the next day (which was Sunday). That was when the Disney archive exhibit was there. And years ago we did stop at Solvang, but that isn't on the 5 and I haven't been in years. I would like to visit again sometime.
 
Thanks so much! My kids are very excited to go to California! We live in Boston and have been to WDW several times, but want to try California and DL. After reading HydroGuy's awesome thread, I think we'll be happy with 3 days in DL.
Thinking we'll spend a few days in SF and then make our way down 101. We'd prefer the scenic drive.
 


Yosemite is amazing. You probably wont have time. It would use up a whole day. I believe that there are Day Tour buses but I have always driven myself.
 
PinkBudgie said:
Just wanted to add be sure to see the Disney Family museum as long as you are in SF anyway...
Click to expand...
I also recommend the Walt Disney Family Museum, but perhaps a little boring for younger kids.

The most scenic drive south is on highway 1 along the coast. Much longer (both time and distance) than other routes (101 or 5), but many spectacular "picture postcard" views along the way.
 
Our annual holiday trip is always like this and usually starts in San Francisco. We do a very large California loop that includes Vegas and have done this several years in a row.

Given your timeframes, in San Francisco, I would definitely make sure I included the Exploratorium for sure. In SF, there are also boat rides that go under the golden gate bridge that could be fun. Older kids might appreciate Alcatraz. The Walt Disney Museum has a big model of Disneyland the kids might really like. If you want to stop for a night going from SF to Anahiem, I would take the coastal road, as there isn't too much to see along I5. Depending on the ages of your kids you could stop at either Hearst Castle or Solvang. Where you'd stay overnight really depends on where you stop (Hearst has timed reservations and it depends how much you like to drive in one day). If neither of these interest you, you could do Monterey Bay Aquarium.

If none of the coastal road stuff appeals to you, you may want to go straight to LA from SF and spend that day in LA. When we go to LA from SF, we never stop along I5, we just drive straight through. Perhaps go to the El Capitan theatre in Hollywood, or rent bikes on the beach near Santa Monica and ride up and down the path there along the water (we love that!).

Like I said, we do this kind of tour every year as our Christmas tradition, so don't hesitate to ask any questions. We have done many combinations and never tire of the possibilities!
 


And re: the car, we always rent from inside the city in SF and have never needed to "shuttle" to get the car. There are a number of outfits near Union Square. We have had the most luck the past couple of years with Alamo, and then dropping off at the DTD location (not sure if you;re flying our of SF again or LA). Book early to get good deals on this - the drop off part an be expensive if not booked in advance. Try car rentals .com and use the Union Square Zip and DTD zip and see what you get.
 
Highway 1 is right on the coast line and is absolutely beautiful...but, if you get car sick and don't like switchback turns, I would not take it, especially from SF to about San Simeon. Also, because of all of the switchbacks,etc and because it is a 2 lane highway through this stretch, it can take awhile to drive. Probably better to take the 101 from SF and then switch over to the 1 when you reach Highway 46. This will take you into Cambria. Then you could either stay in Cambria, Cayucos, Morro Bay or a little farther south Pismo Beach. This is about halfway or so to the LA area and they are all cute little coastal towns. From Pismo Beach all the down to Glendale you can use the 101 where you will come to HI 5 to continue the drive to Anaheim. This way you get to see some pretty coastal towns and some cool places. Otherwise, 101 and HI 5 can be pretty boring. Have a great trip!
 
Jerryp49 said:
Yosemite is amazing. You probably wont have time. It would use up a whole day. I believe that there are Day Tour buses but I have always driven myself.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear, Yosemite is no where near SF nor Anaheim. It's 4-5 hours EAST ONE WAY from The SF Bay Area so you'd have to rent a car and drive and get accommodations (which is difficult). Then drive all the way to Anaheim. I'd save it for another trip.

From here in SF, as others have said the 101 is gorgeous but will take you a whole day to drive. I recommend Hearst Castle and Pismo Beach. But if you do the 1-5 it's not that bad, we usually have the kids zone out on movies or naps and stop at In-N-Out then you won't have to find the one in Anaheim. I'm not sure why people say it's an 8 hour drive, it takes us 5 hours (with no traffic so, between 10am and 3pm or 5am to 10am or 7pm to midnight)

My friend drives from Livermore (near SF) to Harris Ranch and spends the night since it's about halfway. They have great food and a pool. It's a really great spot. Rustic but fun.

The Walt Disney Family Museum is in SF but you'll need a car to get there - the Presidio is in a giant park. I would just bite the bullet and have a car the day you want to do that. BART is a great way to get around the city but some place like the Zoo and Presidio aren't really easily accessible by public transportation.
 
I'd probably take the 101, stay over in Pismo Beach, then continue on the 101 towards Anaheim.
 
Another alternative would be to take the train. You could be picked up by bus in San Francisco. The temporary Transbay Terminal is the preferred location since they have check-in baggage service. The southbound connection is at Oakland's Jack London Square station. Amtrak's Coast Starlight would go through the coastal route a little after 6 PM, but there should be daylight for at least a couple of hours. The train would then connect to the Pacific Surfliner at Los Angeles.

http://www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-train

BlobServer
 
Downtown SF to Santa Barbara is probably a 5.5 hour drive. Santa Barbara is gorgeous. You can stay for slightly less $$ in nearby Goleta. Or stay in Carpinteria and walk everywhere and have a cool small California beach town type of experience.
 
Rosebud123 said:
Hi All,

Thinking of planning a trip to California next summer for 10 days. I'd like to fly into San Francisco and spend a few days there, then rent a car and drive to Anaheim, stopping somewhere fun for a night. Suggestions on places to stop/stay? Also, I don't want a car while we're in SF, so is there a place like Enterprise that would pick us up from the hotel?

Thanks so much!
Click to expand...
I love taking the coast roads and stopping in San Luis Obisbo at the Madonna Inn, it's super tacky and kitschy and fun. They make the most amazing cake there too. I really love driving and seeing the coast, in a hurry we've taken the 5 but it's long, boring and smelly at points when you drive by start seems like a million cows. For me going up the coast is a favorite scenic experience not to be missed! The drive is better than some of the tourist stops in my opinion. I also love the hiking at point lobos and garrapada state park.
 
Nonsuch said:
I also recommend the Walt Disney Family Museum, but perhaps a little boring for younger kids.

The most scenic drive south is on highway 1 along the coast. Much longer (both time and distance) than other routes (101 or 5), but many spectacular "picture postcard" views along the way.
Click to expand...

Thank you! That sounds great.
 
Wow!! Thank you for all these awesome tips. I've been to California many times for work (and 2x for pleasure), but not in the last 13 years. Other than driving from San Jose to SF, I've never driven there. My kids, especially my dd, would love the beautiful scenery and to explore a bit.
 
Do you like wine? If so, I suggest a visit to Sonoma to the Lasseter Family Winery( John Lasseter from Pixar) and Napa to see the Silverado winery owned by Diane Disney Miller. The tours are fantastic, the locations beautiful and it allows you to get that Disney connection in an unual way. Have fun!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page


GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!


New DISboards Threads

M
Burning Question about photo package.
Replies
1
Views
2
obsesseddisneyfan
O
J
Eastern Caribbean (Tortola, St Thomas) beach or excursion options
Replies
0
Views
2
jstone15
J
O
get away today. Does anyone know how it's coded for credit cards
Replies
0
Views
47
obsesseddisneyfan
O
J
DVC Dining Discount Experience
Replies
8
Views
187
J-Dog
J
S
what do you wish your local grocery store did?
Replies
3
Views
85
Kathryn Merteuil
Kathryn Merteuil
biged9973
What are my chances ...?
Replies
2
Views
129
intamin
intamin
NEWS & UPDATES
REQUEST A QUOTE
DISCOUNTS



Latest posts







facebook twitter
Top