Tag: San Francisco

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California

Monterey Peninsula

California’s coastal route, one of the most beautiful in the world, culminates in the Monterey Peninsula

Why go?

A tour which starts in LA and ends in San Francisco – or vice versa – is highly recommended to experience California’s central coastal route, one of the most beautiful in the world. The gentle stretch, which culminates in the Monterey Peninsula, is packed with family attractions.

Younger kids will love splashing around on the beautiful beaches, which range from wide-sprawling vistas to little bays, while tweens and teens can explore the natural wonders on hikes or horseback.

Activities

Heading north from Los Angeles, stop at Pismo Beach, which has eight miles of towering sand dunes with buggies for hire to explore them, and horseback riding along the sands.

But it’s not all about the beach; not to be missed is Hearst Castle, a fairytale hilltop mansion filled with treasures accumulated by the newspaper magnate who inspired Citizen Kane. There are spectacular pools, home movies featuring Hollywood’s greatest names and so many funny anecdotes, older kids will enjoy a visit as much as adults. Stop over at nearby San Simeon where there’s a good range of accommodation. 

Just south of Monterey is Big Sur, a great place to hike, with some of the best scenery in the area and plenty of trails to follow. There’s a range of lodging, from campsites to luxury hotels, and you can refuel at one of the family-friendly inns.

Next up is Monterey’s famous Cannery Row, which houses a spectacular indoor-outdoor aquarium, while nearby Pacific Beach has great beaches, and there are more in Carmel village, with its elegant little shops.

Here kids will love visiting the Cypress Inn for ‘Yappy Hour’ – Doris Day’s dog-friendly hotel whose owners love to socialise with their pooches over an afternoon cuppa.

Don’t miss: Visiting the vineyards, this area is home to some of California’s first-rate estates and many of the wineries have activities to keep children occupied while you indulge. 

The lowdown

Travel time: Flights from London to San Francisco take 10 hours and 55 minutes, it’s then a 2 hour drive to Monterey Peninsula. Flights from London to Los Angeles take 11 hours and 22 minutes, which is just over 5 hours from Monterey Peninsula. 

How to there: British Airways flies from London Heathrow to San Francisco; from £564 for an adult return, and London Heathrow to Los Angeles; from £564 return. Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow to San Francisco; from £563 for an adult return, and London Heathrow to Lost Angeles; from £563.

Best time to go: Monterey Peninsula has fairly consistently good weather, with a yearly average of 20°C, July to September is peak season, while between December and March you’ll have a chance of seeing the grey whale migration.  

 

Pictures by Andreas Hub/laif, shutterstock.com and Alamy

Categories
California

San Francisco for Families

San Francisco, the cultural hub of north California has as much to keep children entertained as adults.

Why go?

The city by the bay is the international gateway to the wonders of northern California, with plenty to keep children occupied, from getting their hands dirty cracking into fresh crab at Fisherman’s Wharf, to family-friendly museums and parks.  

Who is it good for? As with so many cities, San Francisco’s sites are best seen on foot, so make sure your kids are old enough to appreciate it and don’t mind walking – we suggest seven and over. It’s also worth noting that the steep hills and cable cars aren’t entirely buggy-friendly. 

Activities

Children will love riding the cable cars (that’s trams to you and me) over its roller-coaster hills, hop off at Lombard Street to walk the ‘crookedest street in the world’ and enjoy a stroll along the waterfront.

Fisherman’s Wharf is punctuated by the enticing shops of Ghirardelli Square with a chocolate factory at its centre, while the Marina is a great place to join locals flying kites and walking dogs on a weekend morning.

There’s also Golden Gate Park, home to the California Academy of Sciences, the greenest museum in the world. It houses an aquarium, planetarium, rainforest and natural history museum under a 2.5 acre living roof.  

Food: Stop for a dim sum lunch in Chinatown, sample the seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf, or there’s a charming Japanese tea house for refreshments with a Pacific flavour at Golden Gate Park. 

The lowdown

Travel time? Flights from London to San Francisco take 10 hours and 55 minutes, it’s then about 20 minutes to the city centre by taxi or you can take the BART to downtown San Francisco in 30 minutes – it departs every 15 minutes and costs $8.25. 

How to get there? British Airways flies from London Heathrow; from £564 for an adult return. Virgin Atlantic also flies from London Heathrow; from £563 for an adult return. 

Best time to go? The days are warm and sunny in spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November). 

Categories
California

Yosemite, California

With plunging waterfalls, dramatic granite cliffs and wildlife galore, Yosemite is the perfect natural highlight on a west coast road trip.

Why go?

Yosemite is the most famous of California’s eight national parks and rightly so; with plunging waterfalls, dramatic granite cliffs and a good location (just four hours east of San Francisco) it’s the perfect natural highlight on a west coast trip.    

Who is it good for? Adventurous families who want a holiday that’s free from modern distractions. 

Activities

Ways to connect with nature are plentiful at Yosemite. Try stargazing, freshwater swimming, hiking, biking, and pony-trekking. To really get to grips with nature, and make new friends, children should join Yosemite’s kids’ clubs. Both Little Clubs (3-6 year olds) and Junior Rangers (7-13) are designed to foster environmental awareness by teaching kids all about the black bears, coyotes and other animals who call the park home.

Don’t miss: Yosemite Falls. This cascade is the fifth highest waterfall in the world. Visit in spring to see the water sparkle with the spectacular ‘moonbow’ lunar rainbow. 

The Lowdown

How to get there: Take in the city delights of San Francisco before driving to the park. Flights from London Heathrow to San Francisco with British Airways; from £564 return. 

Travel time: A flight from London to San Francisco takes 11 hours, and the drive from the city to Yosemite is under 4 hours.

Best time to go? May-September is the hottest and busiest time at Yosemite but if you want to see the best of the waterfalls visit during spring, when the temperature is still a pleasant 21°C. 

Where to stay: Yosemite offers a spectrum of accommodation to suit all visitors. Keen campers can choose from the array of purpose-built sites; advanced booking is advised, especially in the busy summer season. If you want a campside feel, without sleeping under canvas, opt for a cabin in Curry Village, or make your stay a real treat by checking into the Ahwahnee, the luxury on-site hotel crafted from granite. 

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My House is Your House with Kids & Coe

We’d all jump at the chance of staying in an authentic designer family home when travelling with our kids. So much more relaxing than a five-star resort and you get to experience local life.

Zoie Kingsbery Coe spent years managing her husband, DJ Sasha’s word tour schedule and their family travels. And she has used her expertise to create Kid & Coe, a new website of family-friendly design-led properties across the world including London, New York, France, Mexico, Tuscany, Cornwall and San Francisco.

 

THE LOWDOWN

The majority of homes have high chairs, cribs and toys and guests receive an online guide of nearby attractions, playgrounds and child-friendly restaurants created in collaboration with the owners.

Price: From £85 per night. Visit kidandcoe.com to book, or sign up your own home!