There is so much to do in Northern California with kids that planning a trip there can be overwhelming (not to mention, expensive). The itinerary below is based on a 7-night trip with a five and eight year old in Summer 2022. It included two nights in San Francisco, one in Carmel by the Sea, three nights at Yosemite National Park, and a final night at a hotel by the San Francisco airport.    

The Practical Takeaways

• This is a great destination for both urban experiences and natural beauty. The weather is perfect in June, fluctuating from sunny pool hours in the afternoon to needing a fleece by dinnertime. These are contributing factors in making this trip a great way to introduce kids to National Parks (especially if you have a 4th grader and can get a free national park pass!).
• I am a planner and can’t help myself from having a “to-do list”. That being said, my favorite memories from this trip are from the unstructured times in state and national parks. Use this itinerary as a framework and then get lost and soak in the majestic landscape around you.

Stop 1: San Francisco

Accommodations

Hotel del Sol: This hotel is well situated in the middle of the Marina District. It seemed like a rare family friendly gem in a city of such expensive hotels. As a modernized 1950’s motel, there is a great open space in the center with hammocks and a (very small) pool. This provided a place for downtime in the afternoon after a lot of activity – one evening we had takeout and ate at tables in the open space. The hotel includes breakfast, which also makes it an easy place to stay with kids. There are two negatives that I would keep in mind if considering a stay here. First, there is parking within the hotel complex and it’s “included” but not guaranteed in your stay. If the lot is full you will need to park in an expensive lot nearby.  2) This hotel is located in a very busy area with lots of nightlife. Our first night was a Saturday and was incredibly noisy – no one slept well. However, Sunday night was quiet and enjoyable.

Food in San Francisco

We filled this trip with visits to friends and did not visit many restaurants. We did, however, seek out soup dumpling from Dim Sum Bistro, which I recommend. We brought our food back to the hotel as there is really nowhere to dine-in here, but it’s delicious!

Rosenblum Cellars in Oakland was an easy place to meet friends and let all our kids run around in a grassy area with a San Francisco skyline backdrop.

On a previous trip we had a very memorable meal at Burma Superstar. It’s incredible food and worth the wait in line.

Activities in San Francisco

Obviously, the options of activities in San Francisco are endless. We enjoyed the following:

• Full House: Our trip to San Francisco was entirely based around our daughter’s obsession with Full House reruns at the time (it gave us a pretty great excuse to plan this trip and visit friends). We first stopped to see the Painted Ladies homes shown in the show opening. From there we enjoyed the playground in Alamo Park across the street. Note: The actual “Full House” house is in a residential neighborhood nearby.
• Presidio: This beautiful urban park is huge, and worthy of much more time than what we spent there. However, we were on a search for the Yoda Statue and then onto a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Crissy Field. These sections of the park are both walkable from the Marina District.
• Fortune Cookie Factory: This was a great destination to check out in Chinatown. Hidden in an alleyway, the Fortune Cookie Factory makes up to 10,000 handmade cookies a day. Visitors can walk right in and see the process up close.

• Cable Car Museum: This museum was truly unique and one I would recommend to anyone visiting San Francisco.  The viewing area downstairs allows you to see the cables that run under the streets in action, while in the museum you can climb in various historic cable cars.

• 16th Ave Painted Stairs: This was one of our favorite off-the-beaten path sites. Mosaics cover the stairs and are a majestic piece of community art. Our kids raced to the top. The stairs are located in a residential neighborhood so kids need to be respectful with quiet voices (as emphasized on the website).

• We could not visit The Seward Street Slides during this trip (note: the slides are closed on Mondays!). These concrete slides are dangerously fun and worth finding for both kids and adults.

Stop 2: Carmel and Surrounding Area

Accommodations in Carmel

Hofsas House: I had my doubts when booking this hotel because it looked old and run down in the images, but after reading so many positive reviews I decided to give it a try since it was only one night. We loved this place and the kids wish we stayed longer. This independently owned hotel is pink and quirky, with dutch doors to the spacious rooms. It’s moderately priced and within easy walking distance to downtown.  

Food in Carmel

Treehouse Cafe: Our time was limited, with just one night for dinner, but we enjoyed our meal here. It was a popular place and we had advance reservations.

Activities in Carmel

• Monterey Aquarium: This feels like a must-do if you’re in Monterey, especially with kids that want to find Nemo and Hank. We particularly enjoyed the outdoor spaces in the back. The area around the aquarium was pretty, but also very touristy with the typical candy and chocolate shops. 
• 17-Mile Drive: The 17-mile drive from Monterey to Carmel was stunning. I was in awe of the views of the rocky coastline and we stopped several times to get out on the (very windy) beach. There is a fee to drive along this privately managed roadway, though well worth the price.

• Point Lobos State Park: I would go as far to say that this is one of the most beautiful places in the world that I have been. There were so many points along the Bird Island Trail that we all just stopped stunned and quietly looked out on the coast and the sea lions. We went very early in the morning as parking can be difficult. 

Stop 3: Yosemite

The drive to Yosemite from Carmel and then back to San Francisco is long and not terribly scenic. It is clear why this area is dubbed “America’s Salad Bowl.” We passed the time listening to lots of Smash Boom Best episodes.

Accommodations near Yosemite

Tenaya Lodge: To stay inside Yosemite requires planning a year in advance. We did not have the foresight to book anything in the Park at that time. As an alternative, we stayed at the Tenaya Lodge on the southern side of the park. It is a great location for visiting Mariposa Grove, as it’s only 10 minutes from the southern park entrance.

It is, however, roughly an hour-long, though scenic, drive from Yosemite Valley. If you don’t mind staying outside of the Valley, I’d recommend this hotel, particularly with kids. We stayed in a cabin that was quiet and within easy walking distance to the main resort. The moment we arrived the kids jumped in the pool and we enjoyed poolside dinner and drinks. After long hikes through the park, it was great to come back here and relax. Also, a benefit to staying here is that there are practically no lines at the Southern entrance gate to the park, unlike at the Northern entrance that can back up for well over an hour.

Food

We stopped at a grocery store and bought food to take with us for breakfast and lunches. The one day that we ate at a restaurant in the park it was terrible. You’re not coming here for the food.  

Activities in Yosemite

Day 1: Southern Gate and surrounds

• Mariposa Grove: At the southern entrance of the Park, Mariposa Grove is home to the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite and includes the 3,000 year old Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree. Like almost anyone that visits this part of the park, we walked along the easy 0.3 accessible Big Trees Loop to see the Grizzly Giant. We then continued on, past the tour groups, to the 2 mile Grizzly Giant trail loop. We hiked with a 5 and 8 year old and found it easy enough.

• Yosemite History Center: The History Center includes a collection of pioneer buildings that you can roam through and learn about 19th century settlers. Our kids were particularly intrigued by the one-room jail. We found picnic tables here to enjoy lunch and have some leisure time after a hike.
• Wawona Swinging Bridge: At the end of the day, we really did not want to take on another hike, but a Park Ranger highly recommend we see the swinging bridge and let us know that the bridge is only half a mile from the parking lot and does not require going on the entire swinging bridge loop trail to find. Despite our tired legs, it was a fun experience to cross the river on this bridge that sways as you walk.

• Sugar Pine Dinner Train: Whenever I tell people about this excursion I am quick to say “it’s magical.” Upon arrival at the train depot there is a BBQ dinner with music and kids can go gold mining. You then board the open air logger train that takes you through the forest to an amphitheater for a sing-a-long. The train ride back, under the stars and through the woods, is a completely unique experience. This excursion is over 3 hours and we did not return to our hotel until 10:00pm, but Tenaya Lodge is only 10 minutes away and having such easy access to this activity is a reason enough to stay at the lodge.  

Day 2: Yosemite Valley

• Cooks Meadow: This easy 1-mile hike was our first stop before approaching the Lower Yosemite Waterfall. It provides stunning views of the Valley, Half Dome, and Glacier Point.

• Lower Yosemite Waterfall Trail: There is a reason Yosemite National Park accommodates over four million visitors a year – and this trail is the main attraction. It’s spectacular. Go early before it gets too crowded. 
• Yosemite Visitors Center: We enjoyed learning about Yosemite in family-friendly, interactive exhibits and an Imax film. The visitors center leads to many easy trails, activities, and of course there gift shops.  
• Housekeeping Camp: My favorite memories of Yosemite are from this part of the park. By the afternoon, Yosemite Valley can start to feel overrun with tourists and buses. We wanted to escape the crowds and went on a short hike from the Yosemite Valley parking lot to the Housekeeping Camp area. Across from the campsite is a sandy spot along the Merced River, nestled between the mountains. The kids immediately took their shoes off and played in the water….for hours. After I finally stopped taking photos, I joined them and we all relaxed here and completely checked out. This is a place you can stop feeling like you need to “check the box” on all the things to see and do in Yosemite Valley, and instead slow down and be present.

Helpful Hints

• When we visited Yosemite, advanced reservations were required for each vehicle. Reservations are still needed, depending on the time of year. Plan ahead for this – you don’t want to go all the way to the park and not be able to get in!
• If we were to do this trip again I would have planned more time for exploring Carmel and the surrounding area.
• Coming from the East Coast we thought we were used to expensive gas, but we were unprepared for the cost of gas in Northern California! Given this is an itinerary for a road trip, keep that expense in mind. 
• San Francisco is great for families, just understand the topography between your destinations if on foot…. especially with kids. The hills wore us out! 
• Muir Woods is such an easy destination in Northern California with kids. If you can’t make it to Yosemite, don’t miss the sequoias just north of the City.
• Another family road trip to consider is Santa Fe to Colorado Springs. Read about our experience here.