expletve

Hey All,

Traveling to California for 13 days later this summer and I was wondering if this itinerary looks OK. I've never been, and just want to make sure I'm not trying to squeeze in too much, or if any places should be adjusted for length of stay.

Day 1: Land in SFO at 10:30am, take rental car to South Lake Tahoe.
Day 2: Lake Tahoe
Day 3: Drive to Yosemite Bug Hostel via Mono Lake and Tioga Pass (should take most of the day).
Day 4: Yosemite
Day 5: Yosemite
Day 6: Yosemite
Day 7: Check out of yosemite hostel, go to mariposa grove, then drive to Cambria, CA and stay overnight.
Day 8: Driving north through Big Sur and the PCH, to Monterey (stay in Monterey overnight).
Day 9: Spend the Day in Monterey, drive up to SFO in the afternoon to drop off the rental car.
Day 10: Bay Area
Day 11: Bay Area
Day 12: Bay Area
Day 13: Bay Area
Day 14: Fly out of SFO early morning.

Approximate driving map: http://i.imgur.com/gERPsgU.png

Any advice for any of these locations would be appreciated. Thanks!

utahtea

From Lake Tahoe to Yosemite, check out Bodie State Historical Park. http://www.bodie.com/history/tour/

I like the amount of time you have in Yosemite.

What are your plans for the Bay Area?

Utahtea

janisj

Are you set on staying at the BUG? It is a long drive from the Valley - more than an hour each way.

>>Day 3: Drive to Yosemite Bug Hostel via Mono Lake and Tioga Pass (should take most of the day).>Day 7: Check out of yosemite hostel, go to Mariposa grove, then drive to Cambria, CA and stay overnight.

janisj

Meant to add -- what day of the week do you arrive at SFO? Normally the drive to Tahoe will take about 4-ish hours, but on a Friday you can add maybe 60 minutes.

expletve

janisj - I realized Day 3 would be too much. The plan now is to leave Tahoe early that afternoon and drive to Lee Vining to stay that night at a motel, and then spend the next day doing Tioga Pass and the Tuolumne Meadows.

Unfortunately everywhere within the valley is booked and we're on a budget, so the hostel seemed like the best bet. Even that was tough to find openings for.

As for when we arrive to SFO, it will be a Saturday morning.

utahtea - No concrete plans for the Bay Area, but since it's our first time there I'm assuming we'll do some of the touristy stuff like Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge, but suggestions are welcome to fill up the other days!

janisj

Saturday morning is great -- You should have an easy drive to Tahoe.

As for YNP -- try either Yosemite View Lodge or the Cedar Lodge in El Portal. MUCH more convenient to the Valley.

Great idea breaking your drive from Tahoe -- that would give you enough time to visit Bodie as well.

utahtea

expletve,

I've live 50 miles or less from San Francisco for more than 40 years but I know more about Utah than I do SF...LOL! I asked because I thought you might be interested in spending another night in Monterey and seeing the Monterey Bay Aquarium instead of the Bay Area.

Utahtea