Big Sur and Hearst Castle

• The drive on Highway 1 through Big Sur is probably one of the most breathtakingly scenic drives in the world with views of the Santa Lucia mountains and sheer cliffs overlooking the Pacific ocean. Allow plenty of time for the drive because it can take up to two or three hours. There are many places to pull over and take pictures of the incredible views. Make sure to get gas before you begin the drive!

• The Hearst Castle is one attraction that you won't want to miss! If you are anywhere around the general area then we suggest you pay this castle a visit. You can buy your tickets online or when you arrive for just $24 (adult) and $12 (child). We would recommend that you buy them in advance because tours often sell out. When you arrive you will have the chance to watch an I-Max movie about the Hearst family. The film is about thirty minutes long and is well worth it! We did the "Experience Tour" which is for first time visitors. Our tour guide was very enthusiastic and well informed on every aspect of the Hearst Castle. We won't give anything away, but we will say that you will not be disappointed!! View their website.

Monterey

Monterey is very touristy. We do not really like that type of thing, but if you do then you will love it here. They have the typical row of shops and restaurants. It was very crowded when we were there (early August) although the weather was not exactly ideal for a beach town (it was very chilly). There is a small beach with huge rocks that are a lot of fun to climb on, especially for kids, and it has an awesome view. We decided to skip the famous Monterey aquarium and visited family instead but we have heard that it is definitely worth a visit. The town of Carmel is a short drive away from Monterey and would be a great day trip! We stopped there on our way out and found it much more quaint and relaxing. Also, in Monterey we did the 17 Mile Drive which is a famous cliffside drive along the coast and past Pebble Beach. Make sure to get a brochure from the toll booth which explains each stop along the way. The drive was definitely worth it for the beautiful views.

Hotel: 

• In Monterey we stayed at the InterContinental Clement Hotel. It is right in the middle of Cannery Row (right across from the small beach). The valet and staff were so helpful and friendly which made the trip here worth it for us. The room had a view of the ocean and the shops, but the pool was very small and crowded. If you like a tourist scene with a safe and family friendly atmosphere then this is the place for you! View their website.

Palo Alto

Hotel:

• As we were on our spontaneous Californian road trip, we decided to stop by Stanford University for a quick visit. While looking for a parking spot, we pulled over to ask these guys why so many people were there, and continued to ask them if they knew a good hotel to stay at nearby. He suggested the Stanford Park Hotel, so we called and found out they offer the AAA discount which was perfect for us. The hotel was so reasonable, and when we arrived, the staff were SO helpful and went out of their way to escort us to our room. They gave us an excellent restaurant suggestion, and to top it off... when we got back, they told us that we missed "cookie hour" so they left us cookies in our room! We were so pleased with the service they offered and the friendly atmosphere! Also, the fitness center is amazing and clean! We couldn't have been more satisfied. View their website.

San Francisco

Hotels: 

• Westin at Maket Street or Westin St. Francis in Union Square. These are both great hotels in great locations. The staff were incredible, especially Luis from the Westin St. Francis. They went out of their way to make our stay wonderful. When we arrived at the Westin St. Francis, we realized that we were at the wrong hotel and although he was already off of work, Luis stayed with us for two hours helping us figure out what happened to our reservation. He called surrounding hotels, Priceline, and Booking.com in order to find out the where we were supposed to be. When we realized we were at the Westin on Market Street, Luis carried our bags out to the street and paid for the cab to take us to our hotel. When we thought that there was nothing more he could possibly do, we got a call to our room when we got there... it was Luis making sure we made it there okay. Both of the Westins were wonderful but the service we got from Luis (Westin st. Francis) is definitely something we will remember forever. The night would have been stressful and much different without his assistance. View the Westin @ Market St. or Westin St. Francis @ Union Square websites.

In the city area of San Francisco, there are many touristy restaurants and shops which are usually overrated. We recommend that you take the city bus (just $2 each) to Pacific Heights/Fillmore. This is a smaller neighborhood filled with cute shops, and locals walking around with their friends and dogs, lots of dogs! It's so quaint here, so if you're looking to escape the rat race, this is the place to go!

Restaurants:

• We went to Taco Bar on Fillmore Street. It was very cute with stools to sit at and a good authentic mexican menu. View their website.
• For dessert, we went to Cultivé Frozen Yogurt. This is a self-serve frozen yogurt shop. You get a large cup and just put as much yogurt as you want in it, then you can put toppings such as brownie chunks, cookie dough balls, fresh fruit, and cereal on top! Then you weigh it, and it's a very reasonable cost! Mine was just under $3! View their website.

Activites:

• We walked down to the marina where you can see friends and families flying kites, riding bikes, walking, and enjoying the beautiful view of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is extra windy here so definitely bring a jacket or windbreaker. We wished we had known this!!! Walking down the streets nearby you can get a glimpse of life as a local. Don't forget your camera!