12 Days San Fran/Yosemite/ETC.
 

Family of 4 (12 yo kids) traveling into San Fran in July to see the city, Yosemite, some giant redwoods (closer than Redwood NF), and ETC?
Any suggestions for the ETC portion of our trip that doesn't involve hours of driving?
I'm anticipating about 3 days in SF, 3-4 days in Yosemite, and the rest is up in the air.
Considering: Monterey area and Sequoia NP so far. Have already experienced wine country and not interested in revisiting with kiddos.
Thanks in advance!

>>Considering: Monterey area and Sequoia NP so far<<

I personally wouldn't try to squeeze in Sequoia.

If you are going to the Monterey area anyway, there are two terrific Redwood State parks near Santa Cruz - Henry Cowell and Big Basin - plus redwoods in the Big Sur area. With the Aquarium/Santa Cruz/the boardwalk/Point Lobos/Big Sur you would want at least 3 full days in the area.

You <i>could</i> fit Sequoia into your plan but it would add a lot of extra driving.

4 days SF including the partial day on arrival, 3 full days (4 nights) in Yosemite and 4 days in the Monterey/Carmel/Santa Cruz area would fill your time.

Gold country- Columbia historic park. Loved that. Caves, swimming, cheesy tourist stuff, history.

But Monterey is a lot of fun as well. I'd skip Sequoia because I don't see much of a point of driving that far if you have to head back to SF.

Good to know about sequoia and the closer areas to see redwoods. Thanks!

Do realize that Coastal Redwoods and the Giant Sequoias are different animals. Sequoias are the big around ones and coastal are the tall ones (though both are plenty tall)

Here are some of my ideas of things to do & see:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley

Stu, you're a SF rockstar. I'll be using your recs for sure! Thanks!

PS: since you're an expert, best place to watch 4th of July fireworks in SF for a visiting family? Thanks again!

>> best place to watch 4th of July fireworks in SF for a visiting family? Thanks again!<<

Not stu -- but don't have your hearts set on seeing the fireworks. If you do see them count yourselves lucky. In the middle of summer it can be quite foggy and the best viewpoint in the city won't help.

The hotter it is in the central valley the colder/foggier it is in SF. So if we are having our typical 95°-100°F+ inland you won't be seeing no bleedin' fireworks.

That said, if it is a good night for fireworks, you can see them at Aquatic Park (near Ghirardelli Square).

Ditto Janisj and sf7307.

Stu Dudley

Mariposa Grove may or may not be open to see Sequoias in Yosemite in July but there are other places. https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvis...iposagrove.htm
To see the Coast Redwoods try Butano about 50 miles south of San Francisco.
For hiking on sand dunes try Ano Nuevo State Park south of Pigeon Point lighthouse. There is a HI Hostel at the Pigeon Point lighthouse if you are looking for a cheap place to stay.

Santa Cruz is a fun place to be for the 4th. There isn't a sanctioned fireworks show, but people set them off from the beaches and sometimes from boats out on the bay. If you can get a fire pit, an evening on the beach with a bon fire watching the fireworks is a great way to spend the evening.

Thanks y'all! We like big fireworks in the south and thought a big city would be even more exciting but I'll keep expectations low depending on weather :).

Thanks again!

SF fireworks are BIG . . . It is just that sometimes they aren't visable :)