travelinallie

We will be flying in to San Fran and driving to Lake Tahoe area and Yosemite. Our two boys will be 10 and 13. I would love suggestions for places to stay, rafting outfitters, and other activities. Initally I was targeting stay in the Heavenly area, but do not want to overlook other parts. We like the touristy stuff so big towns are good. Also would 2 nights be enough?

Thank you!

janisj

When in summer? If over July 4th or any time in August, Tahoe will be crowded -- its large and can handle the hordes, but sometimes the roads can't.

If it was me I'd prefer staying at North Shore . . . Incline Village, or Tahoe City or anyplace in between.

MoBro

Agree with Tahoe City area. We like the Sunnyside Lodge
https://www.sunnysidelodge.com

MichelleY

We go to Tahoe almost every summer. We prefer North/West Shore. Incline Village, Tahoe City etc. Tahoe City is handy to the rafting on the Truckee River, which is so much fun! Avoid July 4 holiday. Awful traffic and crowded.

Yosemite needs to be reserved now. Reserved IN YOSEMITE VALLEY. Check back frequently for cancellations but make a free cancellation reservation at, say, El Portal, which is handy to The Valley.

If you want to see the high desert and eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas, head from Tahoe to US 395. Head south towards Lee Vining to cross into Yosemite thru Tioga Pass. Truly spectacular! We did this on our honeymoon, spending the night on the way in Bridgeport, then on to Yosemite.

MichelleY

I would spend more than 2 nights.

Michael

Given the current weather conditions, the Truckee River from Tahoe City to the the Alpine Meadows turn off should be open to rafting, and rafts can be rented on the spot.

Other activities:

Visit Vikingsholm in Emerald bay:

https://flic.kr/p/8p1quB
Picnic in Sugar Pine State Park to spend time in the water and visit the mansion:

https://flic.kr/p/oK3VTq

tomfuller

Let's hope that allie comes back and answers some of our questions. My question is why fly all the way to San Francisco? I think that flying to either Reno or Sacramento would give a few more hours of playtime in the Tahoe area. If you wanted to go to Yosemite first, flying to Fresno (FAT) might make sense. Any of those airports are easier to get in and out of and are probably cheaper for the rental vehicle than SFO.

travelinallie

Hello! I am sorry I disappeared; I did get caught up in finding a place to stay in Yosemite! Valley hotels were booked so we grabbed a rental in the western part, which is about 25 minutes from the Valley, so they say- I understand that will likely more in the summer.

I will admit I am stuck now on the itinerary, perhaps this is too much for 10 days. I was thinking two nights SF, three nights in Yosemite, three nights Tahoe, and one in SF before we flew out was my goal. All of this is a little more spread out than I anticipated, rookie move!

I am grateful for these suggestions. I do find the forum to be tricky to navigate. I would love to be able to reply to each comment, but it brings me down to the bottom of the discussion when I try to respond to certain people's suggestions, is there another way? It is not as intuitive as what I remember from years ago!

I appreciate the feedback on Sunnyside lodge and North Tahoe! Both North and South seem beautiful and can't decide which part to stay in.

MichelleY I will look at your road trip suggestion it sounds so memorable.

Also --I am looking at the Tahoe portion being the first few days of August.

Tom Fuller, I agree on San Fran, not my best work. I had a credit to use from Jet Blue about to expire and Jet Blue does not go to Reno. I could omit Tahoe and explore closer to SF so we are not driving so many hours. I had dreamed of Tahoe for years, but maybe better to rethink. What do you think? It might be too much driving. Thank you so much.

janisj

Travelinallie: Welcome back --

First of all - FYI ALL answers/new responses automatically post at the bottom of the thread (otherwise it would be really hard to follow a discussion -- keeping them in chronological order). If you want to respond to a specific post simply quote it or start you post with the member's name (like I did on this one).

Now a couple of comments/questions?

By "in the western part . . ." Do you mean 'Yosemite West' (that is the name of an actual community). If it is Yosemite West, that is great. Or, is it just is 'on the west side of the park'? Does the listing specifically say 25 minutes from the Valley . . . OR . . . 25 minutes from the Park? Two entirely different things.

As for Lake Tahoe - those of us above who recommended staying on the northern or north western shores all live in Northern California and either visit Tahoe often or have vacation homes there. And in August that recommendation is even more so . . . South Shore is where all of the major hotels and casinos are (except for the Hyatt at Incline which is a small property by comparison) as well as most of the larger motels, and largest local population. August at south shore will be a zoo and the traffic can get nutty. It will be congested along the north shore as well but nothing like the south end.

janisj

my response went into moderation - - - - it will show up eventually.

travelinallie

Hi janisj! The gentelmen I am renting from specified it was 25 minutes to the valley. The address is Yosemite Park Way, Yosemite National Park, CA so I am hopeful! I was sad to not get a hotel stay in the Valley and now I am pretty locked in to the Airbnb to check for cancellations, I have had luck with that before for Old Faitthful @ Yellowstone. So do you think Sunnyside (North West, is a good place as well? Seems promising!) I know you wrote Incline village and Tahoe City do you think Hyatt is worth considering also, or finding an Airbnb? I am open, just nervous about itinerary Sounds like its still worth the visit which is what I was hoping.

tomfuller

Jet Blue does fly to Sacramento (SMF) from a few places. Check their map.The Sacramento airport is much easier to get in and out of than SFO. The rental cars are a little cheaper too. The YARTS buses have several stops between Merced and Yosemite Valley if you didn't want to deal with the parking problem in the park with your rental car.

janisj

Yes, that address is in Yosemite West and is fine. The only problem is it is off of Hwy 41 - the south entrance to YNP - so you'd drive in via Fresno . . . OR maybe drive into Yosemite Valley via 140 through El Portal and then back out of the Valley south to Yosemite West. I'd even guess that driving all the way into the Valley and back out would actually take a little less time than 41/Fresno.

But barring the initial transit to Yosemite West the location is fine. Its about 35 minutes from Yosemite Village on the floor of the Valley.

The only other place I'd consider outside the Valley itself is Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal. It is on 140 and about 30 minutes from the Village.

Sunnyside is a great location (and has had good restaurant with terrific views though I haven't eaten there since Covid so not sure the current situation).

The Hyatt Regency (Incline Village) is also a great location if it fits in the budget. About a 3 mie bike ride or hike to Sand Harbor which is a must IMO. (Sand Harbor parking can fill up early on nice days). The hotel has a posh (not fancy but expensive ) lake-side restaurant, and sports bar and a cafe.

MichelleY

We prefer Incline. The Hyatt is wonderful if it is in your budget. Other wise, look at VRBO or Air BnB.