Sights to see/ Things to do on the way to San Francisco from Los Angeles???

Going on vacation this week w/ my family and i'm in charge of the itinerary. I could use some ideas of sights to see / things to do on the way up to San Francisco from Los Angeles. Anything near San Fran is good two (like 2 hours or so out)



My list is basically:

Alcatraz

Geocaching

Gold Panning

Eating at restaurants that rank high on Yelp.com

Maybe Winchester mansion



Anything else to add? I would LOVE great food recommendations (like anything really popular or on food network) Something really worth remembering is good too! Hiking/Biking pretty much open to anything.



Thanks!Sights to see/ Things to do on the way to San Francisco from Los Angeles???
Santa Barbara Mission

Solvang

Morrow Bay

Hearst Castle

Highway 1

Big Sur

Carmel Valley (The Mission is Beautiful)

Monterey Aquarium

Whale watching (Monterey)

There are also several Wineries at San Luis Obispo.

Chinatown, San Fransicso

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

There is the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz



My daughter lives in Monterey, I guarantee that you will run out of time and money long before you see it all. The 17 mile drive at Pebble Beach is a fun quick detour. There is the Monarch butterfly santuary in Pacific Grove and a Sea Otter colony at Moss Landing.Sights to see/ Things to do on the way to San Francisco from Los Angeles???
In or near San Francisco:



The Napa Valley is nice (good restaurants, wineries, etc.)

Muir Woods (beautiful forest just north of SF)

Chinatown

Not Fisherman's Wharf (fake and touristy)



Between LA and San Francisco



Yosemite (kind of out of your way but very nice)

Hearst Castle (on the coast near San Luis Obispo)

Monterey (interesting historical district, great aquarium)