theatrelover

Friends have invited us to come visit them at Tahoe this August. We would be flying out from NYC so we want to visit some other places in addition to a few days with our friends. I was thinking of flying into San Francisco, going to Yosemite (they have availability at the Ahwahnee in August) and then a few days in the wine country before flying home out of San Francisco. I know that August is not the best time for Yosemite (hot, crowded, no waterfalls) and that the wine country will be crowded, but August is the time our friends are inviting us. Anyone have any other suggestions?

emalloy

I think your idea of flying into SF is good, then head north up to Muir woods NP and over to Point Reyes NP for a couple of days and then drive east and visit the sites between there and Tahoe, stop and see Yosemite if you haven't, visit a vineyard if you haven't, make the drive part of your vacation and enjoy the sights along the way.

crefloors

What you may or may not do, or have time for, will depend on how long you plan to stay? How much time are you planning to take in addition to the time spent with your friends?

theatrelover

I'm not sure yet how long we will spend with our friends but, since my husband is retired, we have as long as we want.

sf7307

If you have all the time you want, I think your plan is excellent - Tahoe, San Francisco, Napa or Sonoma and Yosemite. The only alternative I might suggest would be to add or substitute the Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur area in order to drive the spectacular California coast.

MichelleY

Fly into SF, rent a car and head up to Sonoma/Napa. Next, head to Lake Tahoe to visit your friends. Then depart for Yosemite. Summer is the perfect time to head down Hwy. 395, take in the ghost town of Bodie and Mono Lake in the Eastern Sierra, before heading over Tioga Pass into Yosemite from the east. This drive is spectacular. After your Yosemite stay, head to Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur. Finish up your trip in SF, drop your car and spend several days before flying home.

Do a minimum of 2 nights in each place.

MY

Supercilious

MichelleY gives great advice. If you are from NYC, you might enjoy the Eastern Sierra as much as I did when I first came out West. This is where some of the great westerns were filmed (and even parts of last summer's Iron Man). Unlike the rest of California, hardly anybody lives here and the views are endless. This is the real West and the weather is perfect in August. On the coast, you take your chances during the summer with coastal fog.

Also, spend a couple of days in the Gold Country, either around Sonora and Murphys or up in Grass Valley and Nevada City. There's a lot of interesting historical sites to visit as well as some wineries to taste at. And around Murphys, there are some interesting caverns. This area also is filled with nice B&Bs and good restaurants.

If you have the time, visiting Yosemite, Eastern Sierra, Tahoe, Gold Country, Napa/Sonoma, and Monterey/Carmel will pretty much give you a fine introduction to some the best areas of Northern California. I say some, because I don't want to offend those that will champion the Mendocino Coast, The Redwoods. Trinity Alps, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. Lassen areas which are also spectacular. Maybe you can come back and see these on another trip.

theatrelover

Thank you so much everyone. These suggestions are all very, very helpful and I appreciate it.