Vacation Ideas

Central California

The natural beauty of central California is amazing! Visit San Francisco, Muir Woods, Monterey, Big Sur, Yosemite, and more.

The best times to visit are April – October, but any time of year can be good if you’re prepared for the weather. It can be cold in San Francisco in August, hot in Big Sur in September, and snowy in Yosemite in April.

Itinerary available >

  • Explore sites and museums in San Francisco
  • Watch the sea lions on Peir 39
  • Take a boat to Alcatraz and explore the old prison
  • Enjoy views of the Golden Gate Bridge
  • Marvel at redwood trees in Muir Woods
  • Visit a beach
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • 17-mile drive and Pebble Beach
  • Hike at Point Lobos
  • Enjoy beautiful views at Garrapatta State Park
  • View the iconic Bixby Bridge
  • Explore the rocky coastline along Highway 1
  • McWay Falls
  • View giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite
  • Hike and marvel at the beauty of Yosemite Valley
  • And much, much more!
  • There is a lot of great free or cheap natural beauty to enjoy in the area, but hotels and food can be pricey. Shop around for hotel or rental deals.
  • You can fly into San Francisco and will need a rental car if you’re going to explore more beyond the city (which we highly recommend).
  • Yosemite: The Mountain Room – A lovely restaurant with views of Yosemite Falls serving steaks, seafood, and more, plus it has a kids menu. Reservations are available on Open Table >
  • Pebble Beach: Hays Place – kid-friendly spot with views of the golf course that make a nice meal stop while doing the 17-mile drive around Pebble Beach.
  • Big Sur: Nepenthe – Considered the best restaurant in the area, this restaurant has delicious food and incredible views of the coastline. They do have a kids menu, but the adult menu is a bit expensive.
  • Find more restaurant recommendations in our Central California itinerary >
  • Driving down Highway 1 and stopping occasionally to see the sites is a lot of fun…but not always the most fun for kids. Make sure you have some fun car activities and plan stops where they can get out and run around like Pheiffer Beach. See our full itinerary for more kid-friendly stops.
  • Yosemite is great with kids, but be aware of their limits when it comes to walking/hiking. My kids are pretty good hikers but they get bored and cranky if the trails are too long. Walking to see Yosemite Falls – easy! Hiking the Mirror Lake trail – it’s not a hard trail but at 4.4 miles round trip, some kids are going to get cranky. You may then think – oh, the Vernal Falls trail is only 3.1 miles – that’s better! Nope! That trail has more than 1,000 feet in elevation gain. Big elevation gains = tired and cranky kids. But if you have teenagers full of energy – go for it! Check our Yosemite itineraries for suggestions on hikes and more tips.
  • Buy tickets to Monterey Bay Aquarium in advance to avoid the lines, especially if you are visiting on weekends. I underestimated how popular this aquarium is!
  • If you want to visit Wine Country while you’re in Central California, know that most will not allow kids on wine tours and tastings, but there are many that have outdoor, kid-friendly areas where you can enjoy a glass of wine while kids either sit at the table with you and enjoy snacks or run around in grassy areas. A few of our favorite kid-friendly options: Castello di Amorosa (you can explore a Tuscan castle!), Beringer (lovely outdoor grounds), Sterling (ride a gondola to the vineyard – kids like that part), but there are many others!
    Castello di Amorosa

Categories:

Region:

Budget Range:

Age Range:

Search for More Vacation Ideas
Submit a Vacation Idea

Get Family Travel Tips and Ideas in Your Inbox

We’ll send you our monthly newsletter with new travel ideas and itineraries.

Privacy Policy  |  Manage Your Itinerary Subscription  |  Contact Us
© 2024 Plan Family Trips LLC, All rights reserved.

Facebook Instagram