It's a tricky thing to arrange time on each stop in a short daytime season. So I added my average time we spent on this map. 4 days and 3 nights during the trip, 2 days on route 1 and another 2 in SF. San Simeon and Burlingame are the recommend places to stay if you have small budget.
There are plenty places waiting to discover on Route 1 and Big Sur. Besides the beautiful view along the freeway, the purple sand on Pfeiffer beach and birds on China Cove gave us the most amazing impression.
It's my second time to visit SF , as crowd as always. Classic China town seems like a birth place for Americanized Chinese food. Right? Haight-Ashbury is like Allston of Boston, Fairfax of LA, Little Five Points of Atlanta, where the alternatives gathers. Fun and dirty.
One reason I love this land is surprises everywhere. Like William Baker, the former prisoner of Alcatraz we encountered on the Alcatraz island. He is a lovely and funny guy with beautiful writing. The mystery spot, I learned it even when I was a kid. But it turns out not a scientific tour but a funny one.
China Cove
Alcatraz Island
From the inside of the prison
McWay Falls
Tunnel to the McWay Falls
Elephant seal vista point
Stanford University
Unknown name bridge
Gibson beach