easytraveler

If you plan to drive across desert, make sure it's a newer rental car (I once had a car break down in the New Mexico desert and would not wish the same experience on my worst enemy!)

Tires. The tires are very important.

Also bring water.

At that time of year you may even run into a desert rain storm or two. These are really awesome sights.

joeyi

try to talk your husband out of las vegas if you can. your orginal trip is so nice with so many great suggestions from other posters. there is really no good way to do justice to the coast trip and add las vegas into the mix too.

dtph

I checked the average weather for SF in December - looks like there will be a lot of rain and it's a high of 59 and a low of 47 degrees. Will the rain cause potential mudslides and put a damper on the scenic drive?

StuDudley

Predictions for the weather in San Francisco are only accurate for about 4 hours in the future - sometimes even less than that. My in-laws visit us from Indiana every Christmas, and my FIL loves to sit out on our deck in the sun & work on his sunburn. He's had opportunities to do this for many Christmases. Quite often we'll drive down the San Mateo coast and walk along the beach & even have a picnic. A few years ago we were sitting on the outside deck at Sam's Chowder House ( http://tinyurl.com/24abw2 ) in Adirondack chairs. After about 15 minutes I noticed that my FIL was snoozing - the warm sun caused him to doze off.

But yes - a heavy rain could occur that might cause mudslides south of Carmel or south of San Francisco at Devil's Slide. I think you would enjoy the 2 drives I described north San Francisco regardless of the weather. Carmel would even be nice if it is not solid rain. However, once you reach Carmel and the if a heavy rain occurs (or the road is closed), just head to LA or back to San Francisco.

BW, this morning I told my wife about the 12 day "Road trip of a lifetime" that you dug up from Fodors. She thought that it sounded fabulous (we're 40 year residents of the coast). I told her about all the great suggestions from locals & others hwo have taken portions of this trip. Then I told her that your "hubby" proclaimed that he wanted to cut the trip in half & spend some time in Vegas. My wife's comment: "yep - go there & get a quickie divorce, then head for Dana Point".

Stu Dudley

laurie_ann

Another alternative that could shorten the intinerary is not to go north from SFO for Sonoma or Napa but to head straight from SFO towards Monterey and Carmel. Not that Sonoma and Napa aren't great but if you had to cut something you could instead also experience wineries in the hills near Carmel.