[MouseWife]

If you are driving up the coast on highway one, it will take a very long time. I can't recall how long it takes us to get from Monterey to San Simeon. {our usualy route}. It is long and exhausting.

So, if you want to take your time, Julia Pfieffer Burns State park is a beautiful place to stop for lunch {as we do}. Look it up, sorry, rebooted computer, no favorites anymore. They do say there are mountain lions so if you go and walk around the area {on your right coming north, you go under the road on a tunnel, walking to a path overlooking the ocean} tell the little one to stay close. This is something I always worry about. {well, not always, just when there are mountain lions posted about}.

There is also a Big Sur River Inn that is cute to stop at for a potty break {strange bathroom, though} and a walk to the river where you can sit in chairs in the river. It is cool. The general store has schtuff you might need and next door is a cool shop with all sorts of goodies. For adults mostly.

We did hwy 49, taking the Boy to Sutters Mill and Jamestown. He enjoyed panning for gold and we enjoyed watching him. It was all beautiful, old towns, old buildings, some dilapitated, a lot restored. Nice to ponder their stories.

Where are you staying in San Simeon? We usually do the Best Western but found that the 'Sand by the Sea' was just as nice after its' refurbishment. {just in case...}. The best western has nice fires on the beach at night {and sometimes in the morning} but we still partook of them when we stayed at the SbtS. Also, walking along the beach we found fossils. That was cool.

Have fun with the kiddo and give her a camera of her own {disposable is fine}. It will be fun to see what develops.