17 - 24 September 2008 View Image Gallery | View Itinerary Map | Read Feedback

Central Coast California

Day 1Flew to San Francisco Intl. airport on British Airways and transferred to Half Moon Bay for dinner and a beer and dessert pairing at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.

Day 2Enjoyed a morning at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, including golf buggy tour of the golf course and toasting smores with an amazing view of the Ocean. The afternoon was spent on San Francisco Bay James Bond-style in a jet boat as well, and a little more sedately, in a Bay Quackers duck tour. Dinner at Pier 39 meant an amazing view of the sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge before heading to Santa Cruz.

Day 3A tour of the Henry Cowell State Park to see the giant Redwoods meant the opportunity to actually get inside one! Afterwards boarded the Roaring Camp Railroad steam train and headed up the mountain for an al fresco picnic lunch before hiking back down through the forest. Spent the afternoon exploring Cannery Row and the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium before a trip to the new IMAX theatre.

Day 4The movies were brought to life on the fun Monterey Movie tour including ‘must sees’ of 17 mile drive and Pebble Beach. Headed south on the famous Pacific Coast Highway 1 for a drive through Big Sur, stopping off en route for lunch at a restaurant perched right on the cliffs and also for a tour of the magnificent Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Arrived in Pismo Beach in time for dinner and dancing!

Day 5Continued down Highway 1 stopping off to explore the Danish town of Solvang during the Danish Days Festival before arriving in San Barbara, the ‘American Riviera’, for an afternoon of shopping, wine tasting and dinner on the pier.

Day 6Tour of the lovely seaside town of Ventura before driving through the celebrity haven of Malibu on the way to Santa Monica. Time for shopping on 3rd Street Promenade or a cycle ride along the boardwalk to nearby Venice Beach before a private cocktail party in a poolside cabana at the hotel.

Day 7A quick look at the regenerated LA Downtown area before boarding the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train, skimming the coast from LA to San Diego. Met up with the other groups for the SuperFam finale at the Wavehouse on Mission Beach, San Diego.

Day 8Morning in SeaWorld San Diego checking out the amazing Shamu show ‘Believe’ before heading back to LA for the British Airways flight from Los Angeles to London.

What did you think?

Alex Lovell, First Choice, speaks about his Superfam experiences... The trip down California’s famous Highway 1 is so much more than just a spectacular drive. There are so many places to stop along the way that would suit either couples or families looking for something to keep the kids amused.

What we did: We started out in San Francisco, checking out the local golf facilities and acclimatising with beer tasting at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company! We also tore around San Francisco Bay on a jet boat and later on a more sedate Bay Quackers Duck tour that bobbed along as the sun went down. Then it was off to Henry Cowell State Park en route to Monterey, where we visited the aquarium, and had a tour of the coastline around Carmel. Afterwards the group headed to Big Sur and travelled along Highway 1 taking in sights including the Danish village of Solvang, did a spot of wine tasting in Santa Barbara and failed in our attempts to be surf dudes in Santa Monica, before taking the Pacific Surfliner train down to San Diego.

What I discovered: The trip down California’s famous Highway 1 is so much more than just a spectacular drive. There are so many places to stop along the way that would suit either couples or families looking for something to keep the kids amused. I would recommend 10-14 days for clients to get the most out of their trip, and if I had to pick one place to recommend it would be San Diego, a beautiful city with lots of culture, activities and great year round sunshine.

Top tips:

• Drive the Big Sur during the week as it gets busier on the weekends.
• Take the Amtrak Surfliner train – it’s a great way to see the countryside and not just the normal stuff you see in the brochures.
• Visit Seaworld first thing in the morning to beat the queues.