I can't recommend any horseback-riding places between San Francisco and here, but I think you will enjoy the drive along Highway 1. Plan on about 3 hours. The first (northernmost) bit isn't all that exciting, but it gets more scenic as you go along. Don't rush; it spoils the effect. Stop for strawberries, cherries, or whatever at the roadside stands. This area is where your produce comes from.

Once you reach Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel you might consider continuing on farther south to Big Sur. That extra hour really adds to the scenery quotient.

For historic interest, there's the Carmel Mission (in Carmel, obviously). There's also downtown Pacific Grove, which is cute, walkable, and full of old Victorian houses. Downtown Carmel is also like that, but more expensive and with more art galleries.

Pebble Beach is right here, too. To be honest, it doesn't look much different from the other nearby towns, but has the brand-name appeal. Taking the 17-Mile Drive (which is really 10 miles long) costs $9. Driving along Ocean View Boulevard in Pacific Grove looks just the same and it's free.

For an adventure, tour the lighthouse at Big Sur. It's a three-hour tour and requires some planning, but it's very pretty out there. Less strenuously, there's Lover's Point Park in Pacific Grove (which is probably just a few blocks from where you're staying) and the beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Carmel.

Along the drive down from SF but before you reach Monterey, is Santa Cruz, a fairly large town on the coast. It's a left-coast funky university town with a boardwalk and amusement park on the beach. Might be worth a stop.