5-Day Northern California Family Vacation Itinerary: San Francisco, Muir Woods, Monterey & More

​This 5 day kid-friendly Northern California itinerary hits all the spots, including San Francisco, redwoods, beaches, aquarium, quaint towns, and more! Fun highlights video of our trip first, followed by the itinerary, some helpful details, links, and personal tips below!

​Our huge family (my family of 5 from NJ, my sister's family of 4 from Montreal, and my parents had an amazing time together (ages 10 - 76!) and highly recommend this trip!!
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​DAY 1:

• ​Golden Gate Bridge overlook from Battery Spencer
• Muir Woods (redwoods hike) - make sure to reserve a parking space ahead of time. Admission to the park is free with the national 4th grade park pass (Every Kid Outdoors program)
• Muir Beach + Muir Beach Overlook
• Sausalito (floating homes)
• We did these on our own (with our rental car) but there are tons of tours that pack these into a half or full day
• ACCOMMODATION: Home2 Suites by Hilton San Francisco North, which had a big family-friendly room (with 2 queens, a sleeper sofa, and kitchenette), and free breakfast.

DAY 2:

• Drive down to Monterey
• ACCOMMODATION: Stargazer Hotel (their family room was extremely spacious, with 3 queen beds - great for big families)

DAY 3: 

• Point Lobos - gorgeous hiking along the coast and totally free! We spotted whales and sea lions.
• Carmel by the Sea - quaint town straight from a fairy tale! 
• Big Sur (this was on our list but we had to cancel due to road closures from a forest fire)

Day 4:

• Monterey Bay Aquarium - possibly the most expensive aquarium ever, but well worth it! Check the schedule so you can watch the feedings of the sea lions, penguins, sharks, and more!
• Drive back to San Francisco
• ACCOMMODATION: We loved this San Francisco VRBO for big families! 5 bedrooms, a game room, huge kitchen and dining, parking for 2-3 cars, and close to the airport.

Day 5: 

• Alcatraz (ferry + audio guide)
• Pier 39 + Sea Lions
• Cable Car Museum (free!)
• Lombard Street (the crazy crooked street - fun to start at the top and walk down, but you don't get a great view of it, was a bit disappointing)
• Painted Ladies victorian homes in Alamo Square Park (SO iconic, if you know the Full House opening song, you know)

Got extra time in San Francisco / northern California??
Here are some fun ideas!!

• Go City Pass
• Hop On Hop Off Bus
• Electric GoCar Tour (I wish I'd done this!!)
• If you have an extra 2 or more days, I definitely recommend driving 4+ hours to Redwoods National Park or Sequoia / Kings Canyon to see the absolutely GIGANTIC trees. We didn't have that extra time, and 2 of our 3 kids get car sick, so Muir Woods worked for us. It was a gorgeous park, easy and very enjoyable hike, and we saw huge trees. They're VERY tall and impressive, but they're not nearly the girth (Muir Woods has trees up to 14' in diameter at the base whereas Redwood National Forest has trees up to 22' feet wide at the base!!

TRIP TIPS:

• Spot Hero app was very helpful for parking in downtown San Francisco.
• Smash and grab is a common crime - never leave ANYTHING in the car!!
• Weather was very unexpected. We went in August and it was COLD, 50-70F and not much sun. Check the weather before your trip and bring layers and a wind breaker, for sure. 
• San Francisco is HILLY! I'm a walker, miles a day at home, 15-20k steps a day on vacations. But walking anywhere beyond the waterfront was endlessly up and down, just crazy! So, be ready for that, or you can get ride shares. Waymo (autonomous car) is a fun one to do while there, you need to download the app. They also have rental scooters.