grendel

Hello all,

We are going on a 30 day roadtrip, starting with the Grand Circle in Utah, followed by Yellowstone and ending with Yosmite and a drive from San Francisco to LA on Hwy 1.

I would like some input on where to stop and what to see on the way from San Francisco to LA. We are a family of five (kids 14, 12 and 10), and it is our first time in the US.

For now, this part of our itinerary looks like this:

day 22 drive from South Lake Tahoe to Yosemite (enter Yosemite on Tioga Pass), spend afternoon in Yosemite, lodge in Mariposa (no in-park lodging found so far)

day 23 full day in Yosemite (Mariposa - park - Mariposa)

day 24 drive from Mariposa to San Francisco, spend afternoon sight-seeing in SF

day 25 more SF, visit Alcatraz

day 26 drive south on Hwy 1 and stop somewhere on the way, maybe Pismo beach

day 27 continue driving south, second stop before LA, maybe Santa Barbara

day 28 continue drive to LA, some sight-seeing (Hollywood Blvd etc)

day 29 LA, visit Universal Studios

day 30 drive from LA to LV

day 31 LV

day 32 Flight back home

Any tips or suggestions are welcome - things to see, where to lodge, where to take a swim and where to eat, especially after we leave SF.

thank you in advance

Myer

You're not allowing enough time in Yosemite. I don't know if you plan on doing any hiking but everything takes time.

Yosemite consists of four areas:
a) Tioga Road
b) The Valley
c) Glacier Road
d) Mariposa Grove

Each of the above will give you a very different view of the park.

You didn't write when you're going but driving takes time.

qwovadis

Did this journey a couple of years ago.

classic.mapquest.com directions distances great resource for you

Ahwannee Wawona or Curry tent cabins best AT yosemite.com if u

can though cheapest out of the park south gate in Oakhurst

have stayed at the Shiloh Inn big suites breakfast from $59

bidding priceline.com betterbidding.com

Make a bit more time there if you can...

virtualtourist.com great SF info several days there

carmelcalifornia.com nepenthebigsur.com (Ventana Inn my fav)

Hearst Castle Santa Barbara LA lasightseeing.net

tripres.com for Vegas deals... sort of backtracking to do this

from utahaparks.org might go down to Vegas from Zion NP

not far then through Death Valley to lonepinechamber.org

the Whitney Portal Tioga to Yosemite so no expensive backtrack

Happy Journey!

grendel

Hi Myer, thanks for your reply.

I read your trip report from Yosemite (http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-june-2011.cfm).

Since I havn't found in-park lodging yet, I will not add another day to Yosemite. Driving in and out of the park 2 days in a row will be too much for us, especially with the traffic jams you and others are talking about.

I understand from the comments that you found in-park lodging late, through cancellations. Would you mind telling me what site you used, or did you just call them? I found all my Yellowstone in-park lodging on-line, and NOTHING when I called. That is why I am asking.

Say I only have a day and a half in Yosemite, and I really want to see the waterfalls and the sequoia trees - what hikes would you recommend?

We will go mid August (this year) a Monday and a Tuesday, and if we get in-park lodging we would consider adding Wednesday. No week-end, but I expect the park to be crowded any day you go, right?

thanks for taking your time to answer

grendel

hi qwovadis,

thanks for all your tips. will check out all the sites you recommend!

tomfuller

Day 23 Go to see Mariposa Grove (not to be confused with the town of Mariposa). There is a place my DW and I like to stay near Midpines called the BUG Hostel. There is a YARTS bus stop at the foot of the driveway. http://www.yosemitebug.com/
Spend all the time you can in Yosemite.

mlgb

I'd keep trying for Camp Curry. The tent cabins would be fun for your kids.

I'd do one night in Pacific Grove (Monterey Bay area), and one night at the central coast area. Cambria if you wanted to visit Hearst Castle, Morro Bay if you like wildlife/hiking, Pismo or Avila Beach if you want beach time. Avila Beach tends to be a bit more sheltered from the fog. I like Lighthouse Suites in Avila Beach for families, since the beach is right across the walkway and it's a small quiet town. Pismo has a fantastic beach but a lot of the nicer lodgings are on the bluffs so a bit harder to access the sand.

If you like red meat there are some good options for the traditional area BBQ in that are between Santa Maria and Pismo.

janisj

Midpines into the Valley in the summer can take around 90 minutes each way, Mariposa into the Valley will take just a tad longer. Neither is a good option IMO in the summer.

Is anything available for your dates in El Portal? (Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge). That drive will take between 30 and 45 mins.

SF to Pismo Beach is a long drive -- I'd first stopover on teh Monterey Peninsula and then on the next day to Pismo or points south.

Parrothead

Have you tried yosemitewest.com for reservations?

Mademoiselle

I agree with Janisj. SF to Pismo Beach is a long drive along highway 1, a time saver would be highway 101 but one cannot miss the views along highway 1 so I understand the route choice. I too would recommend stopping somewhere in between.

Monterrey Peninsula offers lots of choices, and activities to keep the kids entertained, for instance the Monterrey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row for a pitstop (http://www.canneryrow.com/), or Hearst Castle and Cambria.

Cambria is one of my favorite Central Coast cities actually. I always stop there for Mexican food at Medussa's along main street when I'm passing through, the tortas are my favorite. There are lots of galleries too (photographs, paintings, etc.) and antique stores there as well. Linn's Pies is also a favorite.

BillJ

In addition to all above, check out Highway 1. It is currently under repair in the Big Sur area from a large slip out. Right now, controlled one way traffic, but has been closed completely at times. Drive time on Highway 1 is slooooooooow!
For Alcatraz, you must have reservations in advance, or you and your kids will be disappointed.
Get them here:
http://www.nps.gov/alca/planyourvisi...servations.htm

Like myer, keep trying the phone number on your trip for Yosemite Valley reservations. Chances are good that you will be successful. I made some comments on myer's post about staying in the valley.

Also, please note that the Mariposa grove of Sequoias is near the south entrance, so backtracking to go out the Mariposa (town) way is wasting a lot of time. You may wish to consider leaving the park after visiting the grove and get to SF via Fresno. That would be about a 5-6 hour drive.

grendel

Thank you all for your valuable comments!

I havn't had any luck with Yosemite Lodging yet, so I have made temporary (I hope) reservations in Oakhurst. I would really like Camp Curry for our Yosemite days, but will book whatever gets cancelled. Nothing has opened up yet.

Someone on tripadvisor recommended the "early bird" tour to Alcatraz - the very first in the morning, and someone else recommended the evening tour. Has anyone of you tried either or both?

BillJ, I hope the repairs on Hwy 1 will be finished by the time we get there - long distance driving we don't mind but traffic jams we have daily over here. It is not on our check list.

Our first stop from SF will probably be Monterey, and second stop Pismo Beach or Avila Beach (I appreciate the fog comment from mlbg).

In LA I will book a room with one of the big chains - is there any area in particular I should concentrate on? Santa Monica for ex? The only thing we have planned for LA is Universal Studios (do you think we need to buy tickets in advance?).

Thanks again for your help

mlgb

Around Avila Beach there are a few hot springs, sort of local knowledge. Sycamore has individual hot tubs that you can reserve
http://www.sycamoresprings.com/relax/index.php

Avila Hot Springs has a mineral soak pool, cheaper but not as nice.
http://www.avilahotsprings.com/soak.html

BillJ

We took our granddaughter aged 9 mid day. CAn't tell you about early or evening. What ever you do, get reservations. Many walk up people from far away were turned away.
Evening would have beautiful views of the city.

grendel

BillJ, I just bought tickets for Alcatraz on-line. Neither the early-bird tour or the evening tour was available for any of the days we are in SF, so I just got a regular morning tour.

I am having a hard time figuring out how to break up the SF - LA itinerary. Monterey, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Cambria are places I would like to see, and of course the scenic hwy 1. Would it make sense to stop one night in Monterey, one night in Cambria and from there drive to LA?

All comments are appreciated.

paulhelmick

from curry village in Yosemite there is a bus that leaves about 8 a.m. for glacier point. this is above the level of the valley and provides a great view of the high sierras. there is a trail that starts there that will take you into the valley.from the top you can see the river flowing to yosemite falls. as you go down further you see the river that seperates the two sections of the falls.there is fantastic views of the valley the whole way and it is all downhill.

Mademoiselle

In Monterrey the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park can be an all day thing, I've camped there both times that I've gone, to do the State Park, then drive down to Cambria (around 1.5 hours, I figure one would average about 55mph there or so since there are windy, steep curves, and also it's a two lane road so the possibility of getting stuck behind slower RVs and such is pretty high), see Hearst Castle, and stroll through downtown Cambria and beach would be a very busy day, and from there you are still driving to LA.

I personally would break it up into exploring Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park all day, then one night in Monterrey, and make your way down to Cambria early the next morning, spend the day there, then hop on the road to LA. So not spending an additional night in Cambria. This might bring you into LA during the evening commute though, so that is something to consider. If you are short on time, I would minimize the night stays to one in Monterrey and then LA, enjoying Cambria by day and skipping sleeping there.

Though if you are planning Avila Beach or Pismo Beach, then in that case you are better off sleeping closer to the south than Cambria, I would suggest Avila Beach or if you can make it down to Santa Barbara, it would spread out the driving more.

More inland from Santa Barbara is Solvang, a touristy place that is a Danish inspired town.

grendel

paulhelmick, as it looks right now, we will be driving from Oakhurst to Glacier Point and the other sights. I try every day to find something in-park, but no luck so far.

Mademoiselle, thank you for all your tips! I like the way you suggest to break it up.

So we will drive from SF to Monterey in the morning, spend the day in the Monterey area (Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park OR the aquarium and sight seeing)and stay one night in the Monteray area. From there, we will continue our drive south and spend the night in the Santa Barbara area.

Do you have any suggestions (other than Solvang) on what to see or do between Monterey and Santa Barbara? Spend half a day in Cambria maybe? We do not plan to go to Hearst Castle, but that of course can change.

thank you again for your tips, I will now look for hotels in these two areas.

mlgb

I assume you are driving down the Big Sur Hwy? That will eat up several hours due to traffic and stops.

Before Cambria, Elephant seals! Although summer isn't the best time since they are molting. http://www.elephantseal.org/

I don't find Cambria all that interesting (lots of knick knack shops). Although there is Nitt Witt Ridge. I think you have to call for a tour of that.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nitt-witt-ridge-cambria

Instead do a quick stop in Harmony to watch the glass blowing (past Cambria).

San Luis Obispo is a cute downtown, I like the Blue Sky Cafe for a lunch break. There is also a good cafe in Cayucos.

Pismo Beach/Grover at least drive down to the beach, in the distance you can see the Oceano (Pismo) Dunes. I think this is a more interesting place to stay for kids than Santa Barbara, actually.

South of Pismo I like to get off the freeway and drive the old Hwy 1 through the farm & wine country. Take Hwy 1 to Lompoc, then either 246 or Hwy 1. If you take 246 you hit the Freeway near Buellton/Solvang, Hwy 1 gets you closer to Santa Barbara.

If you drive near Lompoc you should see the flower fields
http://69.89.22.138/~lompocco/images...tour%20map.pdf
They also have a link with updates

An interesting California Mission (La Purisima) at Lompoc
Or Mission Santa Ines near Solvang.

As you can see there is plenty to see, I've just skimmed the surface!

grendel

Thanks mlgb!

We definatly want to see the elephant seals, thanks for the link, now I know where to find them.

We really don't have any particular reason for staying in Santa Barbara, other than breaking up the drive. Also, I am having a hard time finding a hotel in Pismo or Avila, since that night falls on a Saturday (mid August). Everything I've found through the hotel brokers so far is either booked or requires at least a 2 night stay. If you know of a hotel/motel not too fancy in the Pismo/Avila area , please let me know.

Thanks also for the suggestions on what to see driving south from Pismo. If I find a hotel in Pismo we will not stay in Santa Barbara, but maybe drive through on our way to LA.