We are looking for good vacation spot for young kids near Bay Area where we can spend 2-3 days. we will like to find a location which is about 2-3 hours drive by car
2007-03-20 16:15:33 · 7 answers · asked by newyearhelp 1 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ San Jose
A great place for kids is Pinecrest Lake in the Sierra's. Its about a three hour drive and they have lots of activities for kids once you get there. Fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, horse back riding etc. You can camp or rent a cabin. If you go in the winter they have skiing and a snow park up the road a bit.
2007-03-20 16:47:55 · answer #1 · answered by Lori 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Santa Cruz is a good spot to spend at least 1 day. The kids will have a blast at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Depending on how old they are you can buy them ride tickets and give them some cash and they can go and have fun while you relax on the beach.
Then you can meander south to Monterey and visit Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Acquarium.
Even further south is Carmel and one of my favorite places, Pt. Lobos State Reserve. It's a pristine section of California's beautiful coastline. Carmel too is a nice place to stop.
All throughout the above areas are numerous public beaches for recreation.
Santa Cruz is about 45 minutes drive SW of San Jose. Monterey and Carmel are about 30 minutes south of Santa Cruz.
On the way back, you may want to circle around and stop at San Juan Batista, a little town with one of California's historic missions. Carmel too has a mission.
2007-03-22 13:09:24 · answer #2 · answered by Uncle Pennybags 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
How old are the kids???
San Gregorio beach has a little creek running through it that the kids can play in.
Point Lobos in Carmel is lovely. The Big Sur area has cabins or you can go camping.
Consider Big Basin in the Santa Cruz mountains for camping. It is California's oldest state park.
Yosemite is a must see destination. Book in advance but you can always check to see if there are any last minute cancelations. The Yosemite Lodge is the best choice unless you want to take your own tent.
Consider Solvang as well. It is a bit further yet the kids should enjoy it.
Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy has a lot of little kid rides yet teenagers will hate it.
Spend a weekend in SF. There are cabin rentals on Angel Island yet they are difficult to get. In SF there is the zoo, golgen gate park, china town, etc.
2007-03-21 11:50:42 · answer #3 · answered by Plasmapuppy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy, great for kids.
Or anywhere in Santa Cruz or Monterey - there are some great rental condos in Pajaro Dunes, we spend several cozy, laidback vacations there when I was little.
Get a cabin in the Santa Cruz mountains and introduce your kids to nature at its best, underneath the towering redwoods. Roaring Camp Railroads offer rides on real steam trains up into the trees, and even all the way down to the beach and back, thrilling for kids and highly enjoyable for adults. They have lots of other kid activities at the depot, too, easy to spend a whole day there.
2007-03-21 10:51:40 · answer #4 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I also recommend the Pismo Beach/Shell Beach area. I live in Fremont and have a house in Shell Beach. It's a nice relaxing small beach city where pets are welcome on the beach in most places. Just don't stay at the Cottage Inn hotel. I recommend the Cliffs Resort or the Lighthouse Suites.
I also recommend Monterey. My favorite place to visit! It's more than just a beach (like Pismo). And I've heard the Monterey Bay Aquarium is great.
2007-03-20 21:21:22 · answer #5 · answered by belle2413 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pismo beach is nice with a scenic drive down highway 1
nice beaches,shopping,etc...
santa barbaras also nice and they have a fun danish town north of there called solvang its a bit further but worth the drive
www.solvangca.com.
2007-03-20 16:24:26 · answer #6 · answered by soccermom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monterey and Santa Cruz. you could spend some time on the Monterey Bay Aquarium taking part in the astounding perspectives and touch swimming pools and exploring Cannery Row (some large eats). and then spend an afternoon (or maybe that comparable night) at Santa Cruz sea coast Boardwalk, taking part in on the sea coast, on the arcade and ingesting freshly pulled salt water taffy. i've got achieved the two with my young toddlers dissimilar cases and all of us relatively take excitement in it.
2016-10-19 05:29:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋