Travelling with Teenagers: a California Road Trip from San Francisco to LA

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Bay on the other, San Francisco is an enclosed wonderland that is perfect to explore on foot. Take a stroll with a San Fran local, who will share all of the city’s hidden gems and explain about the history and culture of each district. Follow in the footsteps of thousands of young hippies who rushed to the 'City by the Bay' in the summer of 1967 with a walk through the Victorian-era district of Haight-Ashbury, the epicentre of the Summer of ‘67 movement.

When brains are saturated with San Franciscan history, spend the afternoon in the shopping district of Union Square before visiting Alcatraz at dusk for a spooky night-time tour of the world-famous prison. The sport lovers among you might love a day spent at an NBA match at the Chase Centre, whereas creating your own fortune cookies in China Town could be the ultimate activity for culture connoisseurs.

Make the most of the sunny days with wander down Lombard Street followed by a delicious brunch in the authentic Mission district, before heading out on two wheels to explore San Francisco by bike. The route takes you to the Golden Gate Bridge, one of the city’s star attractions. At nearly two miles long, it is one of the largest bridges in the world and also one of the most recognisable, making for a rather spectacular cycling tour with fantastic views of the bay. The tour is a little over six miles long and heads over the bridge to Sausalito, a former fishing village that has become a chic seaside resort with views of the Port de Plaisance, a relaxed atmosphere and food that's to die for. You will no doubt have tired legs and full stomachs by the time you leave Sausalito, so head back by ferry before spending the rest of the day in the high-tech Silicon Valley region.

Head out for one last wander before picking up your 4x4 rental car and making the four-hour drive to El Portal, in the heart of Sierra Nevada, just a few miles from Yosemite National Park. Leaving behind the sometimes-foggy bay (the fog coined Karl by locals), take scenic highways through small towns and along roads lined with pine blanketed mountain sides and giant redwood sequoias. You’ll spend the next two nights in a hotel near to the park entrance.

Yosemite National Park is one of America’s most jaw-dropping attractions and is brimming with all kinds of outdoorsy, adrenaline-fuelled activities and adventures. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984 and features spectacular alpine landscapes, looming granite domes, stunning cliffs, majestic lakes, rivers and waterfalls, giant redwood forests and hundreds of species of birds and mammals, including the park's iconic brown bear. Don your walking boots and head out to explore the network of footpaths that cross the park and meander through groves of cedar and oak trees and around grassy meadows, all the while keeping your eyes peeled for deer, coyotes and black bears. If you’re after a bit more adrenaline, hop aboard an inflatable boat and head down one of the parks’ white-water rapids, or explore the park on a two wheeled bike tour. End the day with a mocktail and nibbles up Glacier Point as the sun paints the entire glacial valley stunning shades of peach and gold.

Head out for one last drive through the wilderness before making the four-hour drive to Monterey. Leave the pine forests and rocky domes behind as you reach the Pacific West Coast. Follow the scenic Route 140, cradled by the Merced River, winding through small western towns like Mariposa with its giant redwoods, until Monterey Bay where you’ll be met with views of the glistening blue sea. You will stay for two nights in the only property on the beach, protected from the swell by a sea wall.

Beautiful Monterey is usually just a stop off on a California road trip, which we think is a real shame. Spent a little longer and you’ll discover the coastal city’s many charms. Nature lovers and families will feel right at home at the award-winning aquarium, home to cuddly-looking sea otters, leopard sharks skulking through kelp canopies and even bat rays that you are able to stroke. Blow the youngster’s minds with a trip to Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where you’ll find shop after shop filled with intriguing trinkets and souvenirs. You may even spot a seal or two sunbathing on the rocky coastline and if this catches the teens’ imaginations, hop in a couple of kayaks and venture around the bay, keeping your eyes peeled for a distant whale fluke or two. If you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, meander along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail, where you will be able to discover some of the gems that fill this stretch of shoreline. End the day with a sunset drink on the pristine caster-sugar sand of Carmel-by-the-sea after driving along the infamous 17-Mile Drive. There is also no better place to head than the beach for those who want to get up close and personal with the wild outdoors.

Today you will leave behind the quaint coastal towns as you continue south to Santa Barbara, along the panoramic Highway 1 (around a four-hour drive). Enroute, there’s the option to take a beach buggy ride through the Pismo Beach dunes, a great place to blow off some steam. The city of Santa Barbara, founded by the Spaniards at the end of the 18th century, has become a hub for rest and relaxation. Its white-washed, red-roofed stucco houses and palm-lined beaches give the city a Mediterranean feel, earning it the city the nickname of the ‘American Riviera’. Whether you want to spend the afternoon hitting the waves during a fun family surf lesson or simply flopping down on the warm sand surrounded by other sun worshippers, Santa Barbara is the ultimate beach break on any Californian adventure. Spend the night in a hotel overlooking the white horse-filled Pacific Ocean and just a stone's throw from the pier.

Hop back onto Highway for the last picturesque stretch of driving and continue for just an hour and a half along the beaches of the Pacific to Malibu. Next up is L.A, the destination most teenagers look forward to most, with its sprawling network of avenues and the famous Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel in the distance. For the next four nights, you will stay in a mission-style hotel and enjoy all of the hustle and bustle that fills the ‘City of Sunshine’.

Los Angeles is a clash of cultures where everything is supersized. Wander down Hollywood Boulevard and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where TV and film-loving explorers can spot the names of their favourite celebrities. Get to know L.A. in a classic car and cruise through the city's iconic neighbourhoods, just like in a movie. After seeing the main sights, delve deeper and explore popular spots further, such as the legendary beaches of Santa Monica and Venice on beach cruiser bikes, a must for any family with teenagers. Cycle along the beachside path, allowing teens to gawp at the superstrength show at Muscle Beach (you can even have a go yourself on the exercise bars that are scattered along the silvery stretch of sand). While in L.A, don’t miss a trip to Universal Studios, the ultimate day out for teens and adults alike with its scream-worthy rollercoasters and adrenaline pumping rides. For the ultimate experience, purchase Express Passes to rule out any pesky queues.