Combining a trip to Sonoma when you’re already in SF is a good thing to do. It’s absolutely beautiful up there. I would go to either Napa or Sonoma, though, not both in the same day. I would actually encourage you to stay overnight in the region, and then you can visit the other on the 2nd day. But, yes, you can easily get to the wine country from SF within one day.

yes i think that combinging a day trip to napa valley/Sonoma would be great! I would also definitely reccomend the shopping in the LA area

A drive down the Pacific Coast Highway is a good day in itself. There are some great parks to stop at if you’d like to hike and see some beautiful California coastal scenery.

Also someone suggested Hearst Castle, always a good trip. A somewhat alternate version/vision of one man’s castle, Nit Wit Ridge, can be seen in nearby Cambria.

San Luis Obispo is a good stopping point for the night, and there are numerous wineries in this region as well. Bailyana, Edna Valley, Tolosa and Salisbury are just a few of the great vineyards that are located within a few miles of the San Luis Obispo city center.

From San Luis Obispo you can take the 101 the rest of the way down to L.A.. There is a bit of a scenic shortcut, the 154, that takes you from the 101 past Lake Cachuma and eventually back to the 101 in Santa Barbara.

All the answers i’ve read so far for your question are GREAT! One piece of advice though at the Monterey Aquarium: Make it the first stop of your day. The entire place probably doesn’t take a whole day to experience, and you’ll miss the line to get in. If you’re doing this on a weekday, you’re probably ok and won’t hit any people traffic. Also, check out the small shops around that area. They’re very touristy, but some may catch your attention.

I agree with the road trip down to take the PCH (1) down the coast. It’s a lot of turning but it’s absolutely beautiful. If you like small towns, plan a stay at cute little Solvang. It’s off the 101 fwy near Santa Ynez.