San Francisco down to Los Angeles

[Hwolpow]

Looking to plan 7-8 day vacation to CA. Would fly into San Francisco and drive down to LA area. Looking for some ideas on itineraries. We're a family of 4 with 2 boys - 17 and 14. Looking for a combination of siteseeing and beach/relaxing. Figure we can do 2 days in San Franciso (Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf) and end up in LA where we would do Disney and Universal. I know there's a lot inbetween but not sure where the best stops are, especially given limited time frame. Also, would appreciate any hotel suggestions - not looking to spend an excessive amount of $, but do want something that is nice, clean, etc.
Thanks!
Heidi

[Southwest Dave]

Hello and welcome to the RTA forums !

The coastal highway around Big Sur is among the best coast drives in the world and you could easily spend a couple of nights between SF and LA. Monterey and Cambria areas are popular choices as is Santa Barbara. As well as the scenic views and State parks you have the Monterey Aquarium, 17 mile drive and Hearst Castle as a few examples. You would also have the option of driving inland from SF to Yosemite NP depending on how long you plan to spend in LA. For lodging ideas you can get an idea of prices and check reviews on the right of each page using the RTA travel centre.