California’s coast has been inspiring explorers for centuries—from the Ohlone and Chumash peoples to Spanish maritime routes and 20th-century road-trippers seeking the freedom of Highway 1. This 9-day family itinerary distills the best of the Pacific coast for two energetic travelers ages 12 and 14: aquariums and sea otters, dramatic cliffs and purple-sand beaches, hands-on science museums, and a blockbuster day at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Expect scenic drives balanced with unhurried seaside time, plus short hikes, tide pools, and interactive exhibits that turn learning into play. Food skews kid-approved and locally beloved: clam chowder in sourdough bowls, fish tacos, Santa Maria-style barbecue, Korean BBQ, and plenty of ice cream breaks to keep morale high.

Practical notes: Portions of Highway 1 through Big Sur can close due to slides; check conditions before you go and be ready to reroute via US-101 if needed. Mornings are often foggy—bring layers. Book marquee attractions like Monterey Bay Aquarium and Universal Studios early, and aim for weekday visits to dodge crowds.

Monterey

Monterey pairs coastal beauty with science-forward fun. Cannery Row’s sardine-packing history lives on in street art and restored warehouses, while the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium anchors a day of awe for budding marine biologists. Nearby Pacific Grove blooms with spring wildflowers and tide pools; Santa Cruz adds vintage boardwalk thrills.

Top hits for teens: the Aquarium’s Open Sea exhibit, sea otter feedings, biking the coastal trail, tide pooling at Asilomar, and a Big Sur day trip for Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls. Food-wise, think clam chowder bread bowls, fish-and-chips, and post-hike pastries.

• Where to stay (family-friendly): Search oceanfront condos and walkable hotels near Cannery Row or Pacific Grove on VRBO or Hotels.com. Look for free parking and kitchenettes.
• Getting there: From San Francisco SFO or SJC, use Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com to price arrivals. Then drive ~2–2.5 hours to Monterey via US-101/CA-156 or scenic CA-1. Fuel round: ~$20–$30.

San Luis Obispo

Base yourself in SLO to explore the mellow heart of the Central Coast: Morro Bay’s adorable raft of sea otters, the golden sandscapes of Pismo/Oceano Dunes, and the castle-on-a-hill drama of Hearst Castle at San Simeon. Downtown SLO adds colorful murals, a lively Thursday night farmers’ market, and the quirky Madonna Inn for over-the-top cake.

Teens gravitate to kayaking among harbor seals, sandboarding the dunes, and spotting elephant seals near Piedras Blancas. Food stops are casual and satisfying: tri-tip sandwiches, dockside fish tacos, and cinnamon rolls the size of softballs.

• Where to stay: Search walkable downtown stays or beachy condos near Avila/Pismo on VRBO or Hotels.com.
• Getting there: Monterey to SLO via Highway 1 (Big Sur) is ~3.5–5 hours with scenic stops; if closures detour you, US-101 is ~2.5–3 hours. Fuel: ~$20–$30.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles rewards families with marquee attractions and beach days galore. Universal Studios Hollywood turns movie magic into rides and wizarding worlds, while Griffith Observatory delivers telescope time and sweeping city views. Add the Santa Monica Pier, Venice’s skatepark, and hands-on museums to round out the adventure.

Teens can customize by interest: film/TV studio vibes, science at La Brea Tar Pits, car culture at Petersen Automotive Museum, or mural-spotting in the Arts District. Eat your way through tacos, ramen, and Korean BBQ, with ice cream bribes on standby.

• Where to stay: For fewer miles, choose Hollywood/Los Feliz; for beach time, consider Santa Monica. Search on VRBO or Hotels.com.
• Getting there: SLO to LA via US-101 is ~3–3.5 hours; add time for a Santa Barbara lunch stop. Fuel: ~$25–$35. If you’d rather fly LA–SF at trip’s end, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com (typical 1.5-hour flight, $60–$150).

Day 1: Arrive San Francisco → Santa Cruz Coaster Stop → Monterey

Morning: Arrive at SFO or SJC. Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to compare flights if you haven’t booked yet. Pick up your car and grab a simple lunch at a market near the airport to jumpstart the drive.

Afternoon: Drive ~1.5 hours to Santa Cruz for an energy break: stroll the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (arcade games, classic corn dogs) and Natural Bridges State Beach for photos. Continue 45 minutes to Monterey and check in near Cannery Row or Pacific Grove.

Evening: Dinner at Old Fisherman’s Grotto for chowder and calamari or La Bahia for Baja-style tacos. Reward the crew with ice cream at Revival or The Ice Cream Shoppe on Cannery Row, then a sunset walk along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail.

Day 2: Monterey Bay Aquarium and Pacific Grove Tide Pools

Morning: Coffee and pastries at Alta Bakery & Cafe (house sourdough and kouign-amann). Spend the morning at Monterey Bay Aquarium—beeline to sea otter feedings and the kelp forest before crowds swell.

Afternoon: Walk Cannery Row’s historic plaques and pop into the small shops. Lunch at Fish Hopper (window tables over the water) or Lalla Grill Oceanside (solid kid menus). Head to Pacific Grove’s Asilomar tide pools; teach teens tide-pool etiquette while spotting hermit crabs and anemones.

Evening: Grab wood-fired pies at Il Vecchio or ethically sourced seafood at Passionfish (Pacific Grove; make a reservation). If energy remains, catch sunset at Lover’s Point Park—great for photos and sea lion sightings.

Day 3: Big Sur Day Trip (Bixby Bridge, McWay Falls, Pfeiffer Beach)

Morning: Breakfast burritos at Pavel’s Backerei (quick line, worth it). Drive south on CA-1: stop at Garrapata State Park pullouts for dramatic bluffs, then the iconic Bixby Bridge. Teens will love the “wow” factor.

Afternoon: Park at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park for the McWay Falls overlook (0.5-mile walking). Detour to Pfeiffer Beach to see purple-hued sand and Keyhole Arch; note the narrow access road and limited parking. Picnic lunch—bring sandwiches from Grove Market or 5th Avenue Deli.

Evening: Early dinner at Nepenthe (cliffside views; order the Ambrosia burger). Cruise back to Monterey before dark; night cocoa at BookWorks in Pacific Grove.

Day 4: Monterey → Hearst Castle & Elephant Seals → San Luis Obispo

Morning: Depart after a quick stop at Captain + Stoker coffee. Drive ~2 hours to San Simeon; tour Hearst Castle (Grand Rooms tour is teen-friendly for movie-palace vibes).

Afternoon: Visit the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery—giant, noisy, unforgettable. Continue 1 hour to San Luis Obispo. Lunch at Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill (Cambria) if timing fits, or hit Firestone Grill in SLO for tri-tip sandwiches.

Evening: Check in and explore downtown SLO. Dessert run to Madonna Inn Bakery for a slice of the famed Pink Champagne cake; then an easy stroll by Mission Plaza and Bubblegum Alley (bring spare gum for the “art”).

Day 5: Morro Bay Kayaks, Sea Otters, and SLO Eats

Morning: Breakfast at SLO’s High Street Deli (go early; the Dutch Crunch bread is a teen magnet). Drive 20 minutes to Morro Bay and rent kayaks for a mellow paddle in the protected harbor—expect otters, herons, and harbor seals.

Afternoon: Dockside lunch at Tognazzini’s Dockside Too (fish tacos, clam strips). Explore the small but engaging Morro Bay Museum of Natural History and walk the Marina Peninsula Boardwalk with views of Morro Rock.

Evening: Back in SLO, try SLO Public Market’s food hall: ramen, tacos, and gelato let everyone choose. If it’s Thursday, the downtown Farmers’ Market adds live music and BBQ.

Optional Viator inspiration for future coastal paddles:

3 Hour Kayak/SUP Rental in Biddeford Pool (Note: This listing is in Biddeford Pool, Maine, but it shows exactly how a family-friendly 3-hour rental typically works—great reference when comparing local outfitters in Morro Bay or Santa Barbara.)

Day 6: Pismo & Oceano Dunes, Avila Beach Trail

Morning: Fuel up at Old West Cinnamon Rolls in Pismo Beach (share a few flavors). Head to Oceano Dunes for sandboarding or guided ATV experiences on designated areas; teens love the roller-coaster feel on sand.

Afternoon: Picnic on the beach or grab clam chowder in a bread bowl at Splash Café. Later, rent bikes for the flat, scenic Bob Jones Trail from Avila Valley to Avila Beach—ice cream on the pier as a finish line treat.

Evening: Early dinner at Ember (Arroyo Grande; wood-fired everything) or SeaVenture Restaurant for ocean views. Pack up for tomorrow’s drive.

Day 7: SLO → Santa Barbara Science Stop → Los Angeles + Griffith Sunset

Morning: Depart SLO; it’s ~1.5 hours to Santa Barbara. Hands-on fun at MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation—ideal for curious tweens/teens.

Afternoon: Lunch in Santa Barbara: La Super-Rica Taqueria (classic, homemade tortillas) or Brophy Bros. on the harbor. Walk Stearns Wharf for pelicans and ocean breezes; then continue ~1.5–2 hours to LA and check in.

Evening: Drive up to Griffith Observatory before sunset for Hollywood Sign views and free telescope time when open. Dinner nearby: Guisados (masa-based tacos; order a sampler) or the Original Farmers Market (multi-stall feast—try Pampas Grill or Magee’s).

Day 8: Universal Studios Hollywood and Santa Monica Nightlights

Morning: Quick breakfast at Blue Bottle or Sightglass (Hollywood). Rope-drop Universal Studios; head straight to the Studio Tour and Wizarding World, then Super Nintendo World. Use app-based wait times and single rider lines where possible.

Afternoon: Lunch inside the park (Three Broomsticks has hearty plates) or step out to CityWalk for Blaze Pizza. Continue with Jurassic World—The Ride and Transformers; save a show (WaterWorld) to rest your feet.

Evening: Drive to Santa Monica for sunset on the pier and a spin on Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel. Dinner at Forma (pasta tossed in a cheese wheel) or True Food Kitchen for lighter fare; ice cream at Jeni’s or Sweet Rose Creamery.

Day 9: LA Museums or Beach Morning → Return to San Francisco

Morning: Choose-your-own-adventure: La Brea Tar Pits (Ice Age fossils bubbling up in real time) and Petersen Automotive Museum across the street, or a Venice Beach boardwalk stroll to the skatepark and Muscle Beach.

Afternoon: Early lunch in Koreatown—Korean BBQ at Quarters or Park’s lets teens grill their own meats tableside. Begin the drive back to San Francisco (I-5 fastest, ~6–7 hours; US-101 more scenic, ~6.5–7.5 hours). If you’d rather fly, price LA–SF tickets on Trip.com or Kiwi.com (~1.5 hours; often $60–$150).

Evening: Drop-off and departure. If staying another night, consider a casual celebration dinner at a local LA taco truck or the laid-back Birdie G’s for comfort classics.

From tide pools to Hollywood sets, this road trip layers natural wonders with hands-on science and just enough ride-fueled adrenaline to keep teens beaming. You’ll return with sea-spray photos, otter encounters, and a shared playlist of Pacific Coast anthems.