Pacific Coast trip

[BBQChick]

My family is planning a big trip in May 2014. We are driving the pacific coast highway starting in Klamath and ending near LA where we will turn off to cap off the trip with 5 days in Disneyland... any advice on must see attractions? This is the first trip we have taken in many years so we are really wanting to make the best of it. We have planned 3 nights & 2 days in San Fransisco and a beach day in San Luis Obispo.... we love silly roadside oddities as well as more traditional stuff. I haven't been to Disneyland in about 10 years so I expect a big learning curve.
Anyway, I was just hoping that some folks would have some advice for me. Thanks!

 

[gatorfreud]

we just did this in the other direction. the seals at st simeon were really cool and a quick stop.

elephantseal.org i think is the website.

 

[lana772]

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is beautiful!
Hearst's Castle might be fun to see a "real castle" before you see Disney's.

 

[mommaU4]

We have planned 3 nights & 2 days in San Fransisco and a beach day in San Luis Obispo.... we love silly roadside oddities as well as more traditional stuff.

My family and I love to take road trips, and have driven cross country twice stopping at fun, touristy places along the way. I use this website to get information on quirky places to see and things to do: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/ca

These aren't the sort of places you'd consider as a destination trip, but if you are passing by already, they are neat to see. You can search by state and city to plan stops along your route. Have fun!

Oh, another place I've always wanted to go is The Tonga Room in the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. I've been to SF and done the typical touristy things, but never made it there. It looks totally cheesy, and wonderfully tacky: http://youtu.be/ac_9B6nWJHk
It's a bar, but I read online you can take kids there because it's also a restaurant. And, they have fun, fruit non-alcoholic drinks for kids. http://www.tongaroom.com/

I second seeing the elephant seals, although in May I'm not sure how much there is to see in May. All the info can be found here: http://www.elephantseal.org/
And, I agree, if time and money allow, Hearst Castle is a neat attraction to stop at.

You mentioned staying in San Luis Obispo. While there, check out the Madonna Inn. Even if you don't spend the night there, you can go there for breakfast or hit up their bakery for their famous pink champagne cake: http://www.madonnainn.com/cakes.php

If you don't have to stay in San Luis Obispo, our favorite place to stay is about 16 minutes away in Pismo Beach. It's the Pismo Lighthouse Suites. Great for families, and with a view of the ocean. If you want, you can see a little review I posted about it here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1836870&page=13
For a fun dinner nearby, check out Klondike Pizza.

Another neat place as you're making your way down the coast is Solvang. It's a cute little Danish town. Fun to walk around, and make sure to get some Danish pastries! http://www.solvangusa.com/

Anyway, hope some of this is useful to you. Happy planning!

 

[BBQChick]

Wow thanks for all the great suggestions! We were planning on staying at the Madonna inn. I'm super excited.

 

[larina]

mommaU4, what do you like about Pismo Lighthouse Suites? We usually stay at Sea Crest, but you're the second random person to mention The Lighthouse.

OP, be sure to check out that Pink Champagne cake. I don't like cake particularly, but it is DIVINE!!

 

[mommaU4]

mommaU4, what do you like about Pismo Lighthouse Suites? We usually stay at Sea Crest, but you're the second random person to mention The Lighthouse.

OP, be sure to check out that Pink Champagne cake. I don't like cake particularly, but it is DIVINE!!

I loved a lot of things. It reminded me of Disney with it's cute, themed touches, such as the towel animals, lighthouse lamps, etc.
We got a family suite, so it had two bedrooms and two bathrooms which was really nice for our family. The main bedroom had a king bed which was also nice. There is a simple breakfast in the morning, which helps save money. The property was always neat and tidy while we were there. The life size chess and other games were fun for the kids.
If you click on the link above, you'll see some photos that I took from our stay there. There are certainly many nice hotels in the Pismo area, including the Sea Crest which we have stayed at and enjoyed before, but Lighthouse Suites just works for us.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Are you starting at the mouth of Klamath River? So, Humboldt area?

If so, go to the visitor center near Jedidiah Smith Redwood State Park. They will give you a map for the area including Fern Canyon (Jurassic Park filmed there), the redwoods where the Ewoks "lived" (Star Wars was filmed there) and some other places (where to see whales, Roosevelt elk, etc...).

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Oh...and don't forget the picture with Paul Bunyan and his faithful ox (as my dd happily pointed out the bull was definitely a bull...accurate statue, it was).

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2040