We had a blast on our road trip up the California Coast from LA to Monterey with our kids in tow. Our vacation was filled with family bonding and lots of adventure – exactly what we needed! We took a slow travel approach and went from LA to Monterey along Highway 1.
Before our trip, I packed up the car with essentials that I bough during my regular shopping trip to Walmart. Thank you to Walmart for sponsoring this post. And thanks to you for supporting the brands that support this site!
Tips for Your California Coast Road Trip with Kids
For a successful road trip with kids, you need to pack a lot of patience. We’ve done our fair share of long drives, but this one was definitely the most fun for a number of reasons. Here are a few tips we picked up on our California Coast road trip:
– Bring a cooler of snacks. Walmart has a great selection of coolers that come in all sizes. This is the Walmart cooler that I keep in my car constantly. It’s filled with water bottles, fruit and I keep a box of crackers in the car too. My husband is the notorious candy eater in the family, and on long road trips, we give the kids some treats too. This many snacks is a deviation from the kids’ regular diet, but they kept them content during our California road trip. And you’ll need them! Between Morro Bay and Big Sur, there won’t be much around in town of convenience stores.
– Create a movie schedule that they can be excited about! Our rental car came with one, but usually we bring along a portable DVD player for the kids to watch. This Sylvania 7″ Portable DVD player is available at Walmart for a great price and works great for long road trips. For a 6 hour drive, we schedule two movies that we picked ahead of time. We chose animal, ocean and adventure themed films that was in keeping with our trip. The trick is to also budget time for the kids to look outside, talk with the family and not get car sick, so only budget for movies for about half the drive.
– Simple games like I Spy is a great way to create memories in the car. Tailor the game to your child’s age by looking for colors, shapes or limit the guessing time. After each adventure along your road trip, ask your kids what they liked best (and why), what they didn’t like as much (and why) and what they learned. Carry the conversation going and you’ll be sure the experiences become memories the kids’ look fondly back on.
– Plan for stops.And along Highway 1, there are plenty of interesting places to stop. Here were our favorites….
Places to Stop Along Highway 1: From LA to Monterey
We had a great time driving up the California coast with our kids and, honestly, I could have stopped every 10 minutes to capture the picturesque view! Here are my favorites pit stops when driving from LA to Monterey along the California Coast:
– Solvang: this little Danish town is so cute. Stop and have breakfast at Paula’s to enjoy Danish pancakes! Shop at the year-round Christmas store, too! (detailed post coming soon)
– Morro Bay: we celebrated Father’s Day at Morro Rock Beach in Morro Bay and had a great time! The 570+ foot rock is stunning and the area is filled with beautiful wildlife. We got close up views of sea oters and sea lions, as well as explored local tide pools. And, I must say, the people here are so very kind. Stay overnight or enjoy a quick stop. You’ll love it!
– Elephant Seal Viewing: The photos in this post are from a rest stop off Highway 1 that serves as a viewing platform for a bunch of Elephant Seals. It was so cool to watch them come in and out of the water and make their loud noises! The kids got to stretch their legs while learning a bit about this large marine animal. The rest spot is about an hour outside Morro Bay, along Highway 1.
– Bixby Bridge: As one of the most photographed bridges in the world, Bixby Bridge is a must stop! Going North, the rest stop is right after the bridge. You’ll have another, smaller bridge before that, so don’t get confused (like I did!). Bixby Bridge is HUGE and there is a sign. You won’t miss it.
– Big Sur: We spent a day here and I will definitely be back. In fact, I’m mad at myself for not staying longer. It was the BEST part of our trip (for me) and was absolutely stunning. Have lunch at the Big Sur Lodge, then explore the nearby creek. Bring water shoes and an extra change of clothes. You’ll get wet if you plan to have a blast! Detailed post coming soon.
– Carmel by the Sea: The kids were asleep as we drove through the sleepy streets of this art-centric town. It was gorgeous. Daddy D and I can’t wait to go back… probably without kids in tow 🙂
Building Legacy On The Road
Taking a road trip with the kids – especially up the California Coast – is a great way to slow travel and enjoy bonding time. Getting to your destination is great, but enjoying the journey is the best part of taking a road trip.
Where are you traveling to this summer?
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