Kwheeleo

Planning a trip from SF in early June to visit the areas of Muir woods, Big Sur, and Yosemite. However I am contemplating changing my trip to visiting the Yellowstone area in late June. We would arrive in South Dakota and travel to Yellowstone and the Tetons via that route. What advice can you give me? I will be traveling with my parents whom have never been out West and would like to give them a great retirement trip. Any help is appreciated. We just don't know which would be the trip of a life time. And can't make up our minds.

spirobulldog

My opinion--Your to late for either one. Lodging would be hard to get now. You can call call call for a cancellation and you are likely to get one, but it may not be exactly what you want.

Either trip would be fantastic though.

spirobulldog

It would be even more difficult trying to secure 2 rooms, I would think

Dayenu

Haven't been to Yellowstone, so can't advise what to choose, but if you choose San Francisco and Yosemite, there is no need to go to Muir Woods, it will only take a day off your vacations going North of San Francisco, and Mariposa grove in Yosemite is more impressive than Muir Woods.

Kwheeleo

I actually already have a reservation in Yosemite for one night at the falls lodge. So that is taken care of, we are planing on stoping half way in between and staying the night each way. Glad to hear that about Muir woods because that was going to take another to add to the trip. For yellowstone I have found lodging available outside of the park on the West side. Is that not recommended?

Kwheeleo

For SF, we are planning on driving down the coast and stopping by Big sur area and maybe take a side trip to Pinnacles national monument. Then head toward Yosemite the next day. Leave Yosemite and head back to SF.

spirobulldog

You need more than one night at Yellowstone. I think you need more than one night in Yosemite too, but since you have lodging go for it. I think not staying "in park" at either is a shame.
I wouldn't like it staying in W. Yellowstone, but lots of people do. First of June would be best for Yosemite Waterfalls. I would think you would for sure want to see Maripossa Grove, The Valley, and Glacier Point. Can they do any hiking?

Kwheeleo

They are able to walk for a couple of miles but not sure about hiking. Planning on getting there as early as we can on Wednesday the 5th , staying the night Wed in park, spending most of the day in the park and leaving out, hopefully that will be enough time. Definitely want to see all that we can.

Kwheeleo

What do you think about flying into SFO and flying out of Fresno so that we would not have to make the trip back to SF area? I have toyed with this idea to give us more time there and even go to Sequoia. Is it typical to pick up a rental at one airport and drop it off at another or would the fees be outrageous?

spirobulldog

If you go to Sequoia, then skip Maripossa Grove. I like the trees FAR FAR better in Seqouia,anyway. I normally wouldn't suggest skipping Mariposa, but your short on time. Flying out of Fresno would be fine. You may or may not encounter a higher rental rate for your car(drop fees). The main thing to see in Sequoia would be General Sherman Tree and trees around Giant Forest Museum area. Those trees are very easy to walk to, not really a hike.

They might want to do the hike to Mirror Lake in Yosemite. Its pretty short and flat.

spirobulldog

Don't bother with Muir Woods, since you are considering Yosemite/Sequoia.

How long do you have in San Fran and then how much time are you allowing to go down to Big Sur? I would go all the way to Hearst Castle,myself. What else do you plan on including on your coast portion of the trip? Carmel, Monterey Aquarium, McWay Falls??

Kwheeleo

We are really open at this point because I plan on purchasing our airline tickets this week. I had originally planned 2 days in downtown SF and 1 day Muir woods, 1 day Big sur/Carmel area and then 2 days around Yosemite with 1 day to drive back to SF. If we don't do the Muir woods day we can definitely take that day and add to the Big Sur area or to Yosemite/Sequoia. I haven't totally planned the coastal drive yet, just know that we will go to the aquarium and to Julia Pfeiffer park. Thought about Hearst Castle but read mixed reviews, do you suggest it? We could be gone anywhere from 7 to 9 days. Especially if we aren't staying in downtown SF but a few nights. Lodging is supposed expensive there and within the park that a good bit of our budget is going to that.

Kwheeleo

I meant to say lodging is *so expensive in SF, sorry if that reads crazy.

sf7307

If you could actually have 9 full days (not include flying days), then I'd think 2 days in SF, 2 in Monterey/Carmel, 2 driving down the coast (I'd personally include Hearst Castle) and 3 going to Yosemite and back to wherever you need to be to fly out would be great.

spirobulldog

The drive isn't going to take a full day from Yosemite or Sequoia to SF, especially if you go with Fresno(do check car drop fees). I would for sure include Hearst Castle. I like sf7307 suggestions. I think that would be a great trip. A little bit of City, a bit of the coast and Monterey and then Yosemite. I think I might try to do Yosemite as early in the trip as I could as the waterfalls are likely going better and it might be a bit less crowded. The Valley area can get really crowded at times. Traffic gets backed up is the main problem.

spirobulldog

Wuksachi Lodge is the place you want if you spend a night in Sequoia. It isn't as nice as Falls at the Lodge in Yosemite, but food is pretty decent there. If you could, have Sunday Brunch in The Awahnee at Yosemite(or perhaps a meal there, if your not there on a Sunday)(I think breakfast or lunch is a better value than dinner, but dinner would be very nice there)

Dayenu

In Yosemite, whatever you do, don't miss the Glacier point.

I agree, if going to Sequoia, don't bother with Mariposa.