If you follow us on Instagram, you know that we recently completed a trip where we drove, with our kids, up California’s Route 1. We started in San Francisco and went all the way up to the Redwoods.
It was a huge trip, and we saw so much of a diverse and different California that continues to permeate my daydreams. And yes, we did it with kids; and yes, it was a lot of driving; and yes, we loved it.
So many times as parents it seems we put dreams and travel plans on hold. We think that it won’t be fun with kids. Or we think that we should wait until the kids are “older.” But while we wait for things to be easier/more fun, life passes by. More and more places remain unseen and less and less adventures are experienced. Time is fleeting. And anyone who has raised kids knows that their childhood goes by in the blink of an eye. What will we regret not having done when we look back at it all?
Hence the whole goal of this website: to engage in a community where we encourage each other to live in adventurous and fun ways within the traditional kids/home/jobs/sports balance that so many of us also have (and even want).
This trip is a great example of what this balanced life can look like, and why it is worth it to step outside of that traditional schedule. It never gets “easier” with kids. It just gets hard in different ways. But the most important thing to realize is that kids can also rise to expectations. They can learn (just like us) how to react and behave in certain situations. Like absolutely anything involving parenting, traveling with kids takes practice, persistence and a certain amount of flexibility combined with creativity. We need to let our kids learn how they travel. And we need to learn how to parent while traveling. But once we learn, the options are limitless and the family memories made spectacular.
Of course, travel with kids is hectic and it isn’t a vacation of sipping gin & tonics on the beach (unless, of course, you head to Grand Cayman). But once you do it a few times and learn what works for your family, once you find your groove, family travel is incredibly special and rewarding.
That’s why we went. That’s why we made it happen, on the side of pursuing our dreams and taking advantage of the time we have with our kids as well.
Now, here are the nuts & bolts of the trip!
Our California Route 1 Route and Trip:
Day One
Arrive San Francisco
Check in to airbnb
Take out pizza
Day Two
Tour Alcatraz
See harbor seals at Pier 39
Lunch at Pier 39
Hike Land’s End
Dinner at house
Day Three
Golden Gate Bridge & Park
Fort Point
Lunch at house
Afternoon in Golden Gate Park
Walk through Haight-Ashbury
Dinner at house
(See our full article on San Francisco for details)
Day Four
Check out of airbnb
Visit Muir Woods
To-go lunch at Parkside Cafe’s Snack Bar in Stinson Beach
Visit Point Reyes
Check in to Little River Inn in Mendocino
Room service at hotel
Day Five
Breakfast at Good Life Cafe
Pygmy Forest
Glass Beach in Fort Bragg
Picnic Lunch (with groceries from Mendocino Market)
Walk the Coastal Trail in Mendocino
Takeout from Mendocino Cafe + room service at hotel
Day Six
Check out of hotel
Drive the Avenue of the Giants
Take out sandwiches from Redwoods Market & Deli in Myers Flat
Picnic and walk through Humboldt Redwoods State park
Arrive at cabin
Day Seven
Explore Redwoods National Park: Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Big Tree, Fern Canyon
Cook at cabin
Day Eight
Drive to Forestville
Check in to airbnb
Relax on the gorgeous patio!
Cook at house
Day Nine
Travel home
We were traveling after the COVID pandemic had been changing life in the US for a year, so most of our activities were focused outside. But I wouldn’t change that. The stunning nature up and down the coast, the phenomenal change of ecosystems throughout one state, was what we wanted to experience anyhow. So you’ll note that this is not an itinerary full of wineries and five-star restaurants.
Here are some other common questions we were asked –
Q: Why didn’t you rent an RV?
Originally, we thought we would do this trip with a campervan or an RV. As with our Epic Trip Out West, we thought this would make sense and would be fun! But, campervans are very tiny (especially with two growing boys, one a tween). And, also, piecing together campsites in the areas we wanted was hard, and not cheap.
As we’ve learned from our experience with RV rentals and travel experience, they are big to drive and actually are prohibited from traveling many roads in national parks due to their size.Â
We rented a fun little car and enjoyed the various places we stayed. Our rentals were all so different.
Q: What was your favorite place to stay?
As said, all of the places we stayed were really different. It was a bit of everything from a traditional San Francisco home to an old family-owned inn. The most relaxing place to stay was the Forestville airbnb, with its brand new renovations and large outdoor patio area. But the most fun place to stay was the cabin outside the Redwoods. It was quirky and cozy – and by the time we got there, we were really ready for some green space to run around and be loud.
Q: What was your favorite activity?
We hiked about 20 miles in the eight days, so it’s hard to pick which hike we liked most! Additionally, everything we did was so unique and different. My favorite was the diversity of options and activities. We loved exploring San Francisco but were also ready to leave it after a few days. And we loved seeing the Redwoods but after a few days had “big tree fatigue” (if that’s a thing). We loved sitting on the inn’s patio in Mendocino watching the whales go by, but were ready for more space after a few nights. So the success of this trip was really changing scenery often enough to feel invigorated, but not too often to feel constantly on the move.
Q: What would you do differently?
We had originally planned for one additional day, to explore Bodega Bay or Healdsburg more. But when booking our flights, the itinerary wouldn’t accommodate that. One more day would have been great and probably the one thing I change without hesitation.
Q: Any special gear we should take?
This area of California has various different eco-climates, so pack lots of layers! We took rain jackets/windbreakers, good hiking boots, and also heavier jackets. We had good socks and backpacks for hiking and packing picnic lunches. Of course, I usually put empty water bottles in our checked luggage so we have Nalgenes or other reusable water bottles available.
And we didn’t forget our good camera or our National Parks passport book!
Other notes:
In general, California’s Route 1 is NOT the fastest or most direct route to get places. The drive is the experience. While going up the coast, we took our time, stopping and pulling over where needed or wanted. On the way back, we had less time to spare and took a more direct route. Additionally, there were parts of the Route 1 far up the coast that were a little intimidating, although beautiful. Take your time if you are making this drive.
Throughout the next two months, I’ll be sharing details, photos and tips for each of the places we visited and spent time in. So be sure to subscribe to The Family Trip and follow us to get the entire scoop.
And remember: the best trip really is a family one. Now go make memories.