Best Kid Friendly Pacific Coast Highway Stops

Kelly R:  AutoCamp Santa Barbara offers a unique urban campground, inviting guests to stay in custom Airstreams equipped with modern luxuries - no roughing it involved. Airstreams boast family friendly features like a basic kitchen, cable TV, and a patio with a BBQ. The site offers easy access to explore downtown Santa Barbara, a nearby park and playground, and the beach is within biking distance.

Kelly R:  Each year, thousands of monarch butterflies flock to the same eucalyptus grove at the south end of Pismo Beach, to escape the northern cold. Clustered butterflies line the limbs of the trees, and this amazing spectacle can be witnessed for a few months out of the year, with access right off of Highway 1. Kids will enjoy learning about the butterflies from volunteer docents, who are available to answer questions and give daily talks during the season.

Kelly R:  The narrow walls of downtown San Luis Obispo's famous Bubblegum Alley have been accumulating sticky graffiti for decades. Make a quick stop to marvel at the millions of pieces of gum, laugh, snap a few photos, and leave your own mark behind. Nearby stores offer gum for sale, but bring your own if you're visiting during off hours. Find the alley off Higuera Street, between Broad and Garden - after lecturing your kids about the importance of looking but not touching!

Kelly R:  San Luis Obispo's Madonna Inn boasts 110 rooms, each one unique and filled with kitschy, over-the top theming and decor. Family favorites include the western-themed Pony Room with its carousel horse, and the storybook-inspired Old Mill room with a working water wheel and moving figurines. Kid-friendly offerings include a zero-entry pool, hot pink basketball and tennis courts, and guided trail rides (age 7+). The two on-site restaurants both offer kids menus. Kids under 18 stay for free.

Kelly R:  Stretching 576 feet high at the entrance to Morro Bay harbor, Morro Rock is one of the Nine Sisters volcanic peaks. Get a great view (and the best photos) from any vantage point along Morro Bay, and then drive right up to the parking lot at the base of the rock to explore up close without the need to tire out any young legs. Bird watchers often set up equipment to spot the Peregrine Falcons that nest on the rock, and they'll happily share their view with you.

Kelly R:  This casual restaurant in Morro Bay serves fresh seafood in a kid friendly atmosphere. Order at the window and enjoy the view of Morro Rock from the outdoor waterfront dining area while you're eating. Visiting during off-peak hours will help you to avoid the lines. Make sure to try the garlic fries!

Kelly R:  Brown Butter Cookie Company's friendly flagship store in Cayucos makes for the perfect pit stop to satisfy the sweet tooth, and maybe pick up some souvenirs to share back home. Their seemingly simple Brown Butter Sea Salt shortbread-style cookies are laced with browned butter and come in many flavors - free samples are offered up so you can discover your favorite. The cookies are made on-site, and you'll see the cookie makers at work hand-rolling each one.

Alexandra F.:  This little town near Hearst Castle and the elephant seal viewing area is so adorable. It would make a great stopping point for a night or more on any PCH roadtrip. It's small, walkable and quaint. Great food options, too! I'd highly recommend Robins Restaurant (we went for dinner) and Linn's Restaurant (yummy brunch).

Kelly R:  The beach around Point Piedras Blancas is frequented by thousands of elephant seals who return to the area each year to mate, raise young, molt, and generally lounge around and make rude and endearing noises. This is the largest mainland rookery along the Pacific Coast, offering the most convenient highway access. A boardwalk at the viewing area allows families to get a good look while keeping a safe distance (get a sneak peek on the live cam). Viewing areas are open every day, but the peak season for elephant seals is December - March.

Kelly R:   Preserved by California State Parks, William Randolph Hearst's opulent hilltop estate in San Simeon allows the public to experience its ornate architecture, beautiful gardens, art collections, and breathtaking views through guided tours. The experience is best for families with older kids, and first timers should choose the Grand Rooms Tour.

Even if you don't visit the castle, keep an eye out for zebra as you're driving past the nearby pastures along Highway 1, remnants from the time that the site housed the world's largest private zoo.

Kelly R:  Sanctuary Cruises' whale watching cruises depart from Moss Landing Harbor, located with quick access to the abundant marine mammals of the Monterey Submarine Canyon. Whales and dolphins are active in the area year round, and are spotted on over 95% of the cruises. You're also likely to see otters, seals, sea lions, jellies, and seabirds. A marine biologist narrates the trips, to provide an interactive and educational experience. The boat is limited to a small number of passengers for a more intimate experience.

Kelly R:  Located within Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, McWay Falls is an 80-foot waterfall that cascades directly onto a sandy beach and into the Pacific Ocean. The waterfall overlook trail is wide and just over half a mile round trip, making for a kid-friendly hike with an incredible payoff. The trail offers multiple vantage points to take in the waterfall, the beach, and sweeping views of the ocean (watch for whales!). Park in the official parking area for the state park. Note: there is no beach access at this park.

Kelly R:  Dennis the Menace Playground (designed by the comic strip's creator, Hank Ketchum) has been a favorite among Monterey's residents and visitors since 1956. There's plenty to enjoy for all ages, including a large suspension bridge, tunnels and mazes, a climbing wall, large slides, and a vintage steam engine. This fantastic playground is located next to Lake El Estero, about a block away from Monterey Bay.

Kelly R:  Cannery Row's Monterey Bay Aquarium provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the area's vibrant habitats and marine life through numerous world class exhibits. Allow for at least two or three hours to experience the aquarium, but you won't regret spending the whole day. Make sure not to miss the living kelp forest, the enormous Open Sea tank, and spotting whales and other wild mammals from one of the outdoor decks that overlooks the bay. Kids might notice that it was also the inspiration for the Marine Life Institute from Finding Dory.

Kelly R:  It's one of the most-photographed spots in Big Sur, but there's nothing like seeing it in person. The concrete Bixby Bridge rises 260 feet above a cliff-lined canyon, and no ride along the California coastline is complete without a stop to marvel at it. You can pull off of Highway One just north of the bridge, snap a few photos, take in the incredible view - just hold on to the kids!