1st trip to CA - Yosemite top priority
 

Hello everyone. Hubby and I are in the early stages of planning a trip to California for first or second week of June '10. Our main priority will be hiking in Yosemite (moderate hikes). Will also want to rent some bikes to explore. I'll be 50 next year, hubby is already 50. Hope to stay at the Yosemite Falls Lodge and will make reservations as soon as the dates become available. Will want to spend at least 2 nights in Yosemite.

We will have a week-ten days.
We will fly into Fresno.

I was orginally thinking of concentrating our time in Sequioia/Kings Canyon NP and Yosemite.
Now, with map in hand...I am considering (and this is where I need your advice) driving to Cambria from Yosemite or Sequoia. Stay the night in/near Cambria and then drive Rt. 1, w/a stay in/near Big Sur, before driving up to Monterey and heading back to Fresno for flight back east.

What do you think about staying 2-3 nights @Yosemite, 1 night @Sequioa and then driving to Cambria from there?

What would the drive be like between Monterey and Fresno?

We would appreciate your thoughts regarding this trip plan. Like I stated earlier, we've just started our planning and are flexible. Thank you in advance.
~Tricia & Tom

...looks like I need to learn how to spell "Sequoia"!

LOL - yes, those mispellings really make internet searches difficult. Search engines should be smart enough to just know what we mean.

Since Yosemite is the top priority, I would spend 3 nights there rather than 2 - esspecially since you want to do some moderate hikes and some bike riding.

The Cambria and Big Sur plan is great. You will see a lot of great scenery - some of the best of what we all love about California. If you have only a week, the trip will be on the rushed side though, but if you have 10 days, I think you can do quite nicely. If you find that you are needing to cut something out to make the itinerary work, I would skip Sequoia since you can see giant sequoia trees in Yosemite. Sequoia NP is definitely worth visiting, but if you need to make a cut, that is what I would choose.

The drive between Monterey and Fresno is ok - mostly flat and straight once you get over Pacheco Pass (just before you get to Los Banos). Not the most inspired drive, but some visitors do find the open farmland to be interesting.

Thank you, november moon! 3 nights @Yosemite it is.
Appreciate your reply. :)

You might consider San Jose (SJC) as an alternative airport to Fresno (and then you don't have to have your bags labeled as "FAT"...). It's somewhat of a tradeoff, SJC is a bit out of your route, but has more flights, SFO would be further, but more non-stops.

Early June may be too early for the high country to be open, but if you can get up to Tuolumne Meadows, I would give an extra day for that. I agree with november's thoughts on Cambria and the drive.

It sounds like you are going to be doing a lot of driving- Frenso-Yosemite-Sequoia-Cambria-Monterey-Fresno. If that is what you enjoy that's great.

If your goal is really to see Yosemite and hike you could easily spend 5 nights . As mentioned earlier if you wait until mid-June then Tuolumne should be open, then that would add even more possibilities in terms of hiking. You would need to find lodging at Tuolumne- Tuolumne as a day trip from the valley would not be ideal.

The Mariposa Grove south of Yosemite has Giant Sequoias and hikes as well.You could do that and still base in Yosemite

I think you could devote more time to Yosemite and save Sequoia/Kings Canyon for another trip. That way you could still have time for that coastal drive.

Thank you curmudgeon & okoshi.
No reason we can't wait until mid-June. I was thinking the first part of June would be less crowded @Yosemite, but what do I know? ;)
Appreciate your insight!

If you are sticking to the valley, early June is probably better than late June in Yosemite (still lots of people, but fewer screaming kids). If you want to get into the high country, late June is better, as the road (and trails, and lodging) often open up late.

I agree that early June is the best time. Last year, our family was there June 1-4 and there was still snow on the ground, which was neat, seeing we flew in shorts from Alabama. We have pictures of the kids playing in the snow in their shorts and sweatshirts. We picniced at Tioga Pass, though it was cold, so we made it fast. That was a wonderful first day of our Yosemite trip before we checked in. We flew in and out of SF since we combined our 4 days in Yosemite with 4 days in SF. A wonderful trip.!You will love Yosemite! We also rented the bikes there and it was the most fun thing according to my kids. A great way to see the park up close. Yes, be sure to book early and you will get Yosemite Falls Lodge. We did. We also confirmed out booking a week out and it was fine. But when we got there, they gave us keys to someone else's room and we had to make a fuss and had trouble actually getting a room. They had an error in the computer and double booked a room. We were so upset since we book 365 days in advance! It was finally taken care of, but I think someone might have lost their room since they were totally booked for that time period. So just keep confirming up until you leave for the trip.

You might want to consider spending some time at Lake Tahoe rather than the coast. It's a shorter drive, and you can travel through some of the Gold Country to get there. The area around Lake Tahoe is pretty, with lots of great hikes.

Agree that if you are only going to be in the valley, the earlier the better to avoid heat, crowds, and fuller waterfalls !