California Coast trip

[katiesue]

I'm taking the munchkin on a road trip up the coast from San Diego and looking for any suggestions on fun places to stop along the way. She studied California history last year in school so I thought it might be fun to see some of it.

Current plan is-

Day one - up the coast from San Diego, hit Santa Barbara and stop in Solvang. I have reservations to stay in San Simeon night one.

Day two-
Hearst Castle tour in the morning. Then meander up the coast to Monterey. I have aquarium tickets. Staying the night in Monterey.

Day three-
Santa Cruz. Marianne's ice cream and the Mystery spot. Then we head to my cousins in Livermore to stay the next four nights.

Day four-
We have Alcatraz tickets and munchkin wants to ride a cable car.

Day five-
My cousin wants to take her to Columbia in the gold country.

Day six -
running through the sprinklers. Since we live in an apartment this was the only thing munchkin wanted to do on our trip.

Day seven -
Straight down the 5 home.

So any suggestions on fun places to stop and or see along the way would be appreciated. My traveling companion thinks gourmet means the chicken nuggets come in shapes so nothing to fancy. Any fun wacky places a 10 year old might find fun.