Hi,

we have reservations in yosemite valley lodge for 19th to 23rd August.
We’re thinking that it might be best to have a back up plan due to the Ferguson fire.

We we will be traveling from Anaheim on 19th and then have a reservation at Asilomar. Conference grounds from 23rd to 26th before travelling on to San Fransisco and flying out on 29th.

Where should we spend the 19th to 23rd if we can’t be in Yosemite valley.
Preference would be another National Park but open to other ideas.

We have 7 and 10 year old children.

Many thanks

I am a big fan of the Monterey area for a family with children. Not only is there an amazing aquarium there, but you can go on whale watching and other trips. Or go up to Santa Cruz and visit the boardwalk. Or visit a California mission at Carmel for an hour or two. You could also visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park, this is one I have not visited but gets mentioned frequently on this board that is undervalued and not as busy as the more famous groves. And finally, just a beautiful shoreline. I drove from Half Moon Bay down to Monterey and it was just beautiful. Some of the areas are great for playing at the shore, but others do have really high waves, so you will want to check around on your best bets.

There are many hotels in Monterey. My brother stayed in some cottages called the Carmel River Inn last year that he really liked, so those also would be a possibility if you wanted something a little quieter. I would suggest that you book something fairly quickly as you won't be the only one looking for an alternate.

Sequoia is an option but it is pretty late for accommodations in/near the park. Plus the park may be impacted by smoke from the Ferguson and there is another smaller fire in the Horse creek area of Sequoia. One problem - and I'm not usually a 'what if' sort of planner - this is the beginning of the main wild fire season and we are in the middle of a huge-ish heat wave with thunder storms in the high sierra so there could be several more fires between now and the middle of August.

So I'd think along the central coast. Anywhere between Santa Barbara and Sant Cruz. Wild fires are possible there too but much less likely and because of the higher humidity and generally easier terrain, there fire fighting is a 'bit' easier/more effective.

didn't see 5alive's post . . . Yes, Monterey/Carmel would be my first choice but because of your time frame look anywhere along the coast. One good thing is they are weekdays and so slightly less crowded.

I too am a big fan of the Monterey Peninsula, but be advised that Monterey Car Week starts Aug. 17th, and everything will be booked solid all around the Bay. This is the biggest tourism week of the whole year in the area.

https://whatsupmonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week

If you can find a place to stay, go for it - it's a lot of fun. You might want to look around Santa Cruz as it's far enough away from Monterey and Carmel that the pressure on lodgings might be lessened.

From Anaheim I would make Santa Barbara my next stop. After that you can either spend some time in Pismo Beach or Morro Bay. Then a leisurely drive up Highway One, stopping to see the elephant seal rookery in San Simeon, and other sites along the way. Then spend 3 or 4 days in the Monterey area (see if you can change your Asilomar reservation dates). Make a stop at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz to see the giant trees.

That would leave you about 3 days until you fly out of SFO. You could head to Redwoods National Park, or my preference, just stick to the coast as far as Mendocino. If we end up with a heat wave in August like we're having now, you will be glad you stuck to the coast.

To follow up on my previous post, assuming you won't be able to find anything suitable around Monterey during Car Week, I'd consider flying from Orange County to San Francisco, getting a car there, and heading north to the Redwoods. There are many family-friendly activities - the big trees, beaches, river rafting, historic sites - that you can easily fill several days. Plus it will be a lot cooler than in the Sierras or the Central Valley. Plane fares from SNA or LAX to SFO are quite cheap.

Thank you - lots of great ideas to look into.
We already have a whale watching trip and kayaking at Elkhorn Slough booked.
Leaning towards taking a leisurely route up the coast and the redwoods
and extending our nights as Asilomar would also makes sense. Or we could add a couple of days to San Fran and I believe there is a good park/ area with redwoods north of San Fran. Might mean expensive parking though in San Fransisco.

Crossing all our digits that the weather turns- we’d be very happy with some rain!

Oh crap! I haven't been down to Car week in more than a decade and forgot to check the dates. Thanks Gardyloo.

izgiz: It is imperative you contact Asilomar immediately to see IF they have any availability to extend your dates. The events on the Monterey Peninsula that week are very busy -- people stay as far away as Salinas (a pit) and even farther.

The good thing is that you already have reservations at Asilomar for the 23rd to 26th which is the busiest part of Car Week and the most difficult to find availability. You've already managed to accomplish the biggest challenge!

If you're referring to Muir Woods north of San Francisco, you need reservations for parking. I'd opt for less crowded redwood parks like Henry Cowell near Santa Cruz. You can also see redwoods in state parks through Big Sur.

Now that Hwy 1 is completely open, I think going up the central coast would be a good plan B.

I just checked booking.com for your dates. There are multiple options in Santa Cruz. Only a couple left in Half Moon Bay, but that is a much smaller town to begin with. Santa Cruz is closer to the redwoods I mentioned. Pretty sure there is a zipline opportunity in this area.

Gardyloo's idea of the Redwoods is also good. But.four more plane tickets can add up. And you do still have to get in and out of SFO (I will agree Orange County is really easy). So either you pay, or you do a really long day's drive if you want to go that route.

Edit: Presuming that Gardyloo means the Redwoods north of Eureka along the coast--but now wondering if that's correct....

Looked at a map now and see mendocino must be the place north of San Fran with redwoods that was in the back of my mind. Flying up to San Fran would make that easier but we did want to do a bit of Highway 1 (from Asilomar) Plus we’ve already booked
a couple of activities in moss landing that are non refundable so think we’ll stick with driving up the coast with redwoods near Santa Cruz. Henry cowell.

Hotels with air conditioning are very tempting (We’re having a mini heatwave here in London too) but still nothing quite compares with all that Yosemite has on offer. Please everyone do a rain dance!

Actually I was talking about the Humboldt redwoods, with a base near Eureka. It's around a 5 hour drive from San Francisco (around the same time it would take to get to Mendocino via CA 1.) The Avenue of the Giants has left every British pal I've taken there (a number of hardened Scots) well... gobsmacked. In addition to the big trees (and from a base near Eureka you can also travel north to Redwood National Park and the very fun and kid-friendly Trees of Mystery) you've got the Skunk Train rides through the trees, the "Lost Coast" - last coastal wilderness in California, the very fun Samoa Cookhouse in Samoa (across the bay from Eureka) and some picturesque towns like Trinidad and Ferndale.

Now yes, it's quite a drive north from San Francisco, and there are indeed groves of redwoods in the mountains above Santa Cruz, so if you can find accommodation around Santa Cruz (and I would start looking ten minutes ago) then by all means stick to your plans. The Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz is a fab old-fashioned amusement park, and if you like trains, the Roaring Camp Railroad steam trains, one along the beach, the other winding through the redwoods near Henry Cowell SP, might be fun. The beach at Santa Cruz is also terrific, and I would look at nearby Capitola, too - very picturesque.

Note - I just checked on the Google, and there are numerous affordable openings in Santa Cruz for the same nights you're booked in Yosemite, so problem (maybe) solved.

I'll add a personal editorial comment on Yosemite, take it or leave it. Disclaimer - it's gorgeous. BUT... in August the valley is crowded, hot as hell, some of the famous waterfalls are trickles or even dry, and - duh - it's fire season in the Sierras and even if everything is open the smoke and haze can easily diminish the views and appeal. If it was me - and it's most certainly NOT - the risk and the extra (long, hot, mostly boring) driving to access the park would make me opt for the coast in a heartbeat. And honestly, while we don't know your kids, in my own view there are more kid-friendly things to see and do along the coast. Visit the amazing Monterey aquarium, maybe go whale watching or at least see the seals out of Monterey's harbor, visit the lovely old Spanish mission and shop in the (exceedingly twee) "downtown" Carmel. Visit incomparable Point Lobos (just south of Carmel) with its superb scenery and marine wildlife, eat terrific food in Monterey and Pacific Grove, have lunch or drinks at Nepenthe overlooking the Big Sur coast and pretend you're Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth... too many things to list. So I'd put Yosemite into the "sometime in the spring" category and let it go for now. But like I said, just me.

If you decide to spend some time in San Francisco you won't need a car. If you decide to keep the car, look into hotels in the Marina District. Chelsea Inn and their other sister properties nearby offer free parking.

If you go up north as far as Mendocino, you can see plenty of redwoods on the drive between Mendocino and Ukiah on the Comptche Ukiah Road. there's even a redwoods "reserve" called Montgomery Woods State Reserve.

There's another wonderful small private redwood reserve near Sebastopol but I can't remember the name off-hand. My point is there are many places you can see redwoods (and Henry Cowell and Big Basin are both excellent choices).

I predict that in a month you'll be in Yosemite.

Thanks again everyone
think back up plan is sorted as:

1 extra night in our Anaheim hotel and we’ll go and into LA
then a drive to Pismo Beach and stay the night
then into Asilomar (have added an extra night on before our current reservation)



we have whale watching and kayaking sorted in moss landing for two of the days - will have time for point lobos, big sur etc.
then 2 nights Santa Cruz to go to Henry Cowell then onto San Fran for our our final 3 night reservation before heading home.

This minimises the need to change all our bookings/ have duplicate bookings for the entire 2 weeks. whilst still seeing lots of natural beauty.

Coming from uk we are unlikely to ever make it to califirnia ever again so although Yosemite in August may not be ideal it’s better than never and we’re happy to do early mornings and late nights and some less popular hikes to try and avoid the worst of the crowds. Plus we’ve paid for a night prowl and are now far too excited to strike it off.

Booked oxford suites Pismo or Best western trade winds Morro Bay
best western Scott’s valley Are these ok locations?

Thanks for all your help and ideas really appreciated.

The Best Western in Scotts Valley is the nicest Best Eestern I’ve ever seen! ( it’s been a few years, but still!)

Pismo Oxford Suites is also well located and I’ve never stayed there but I have friends who swear by it when they’re in the area.

Youre going to have a super trip!

Re Yosemite -- just don't set your hearts on going there. We are having an absolutely HORRENDOUS early fire season. There could be 5 or 6 new major blazes by the time you get out here.

Remember also that the California Coast is often foggy in August (so no views along Big Sur), and the water is cold (not so great for east coasters used to warm oceans)! That's why it's cooler than inland.

We always enjoyed Point Lobos as kids...especially the sea otters.

August can be a good season for whalewatch tours, assuming your kids don't get seasick.
You can preview Monterey Bay weather here
https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/...rt-of-monterey

PS the estimated containment date for Yosemite (Ferguson Fire) is now August 15, and the reopening date is August 3 (this Friday). Stay updated on smoke impacts, since containment does not mean the fire isn't still burning. Smoke and air quality conditions will depend on wind direction and weather (if there is an inversion). Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows have remained open , by the way. Tioga Pass is pretty spectacular. Tuolumne Meadows has some small domes but it isn't quite the same as Yosemite Valley. Nicer when there are wildflowers but August is too late for that.

https://www.nps.gov/customcf/webcam/...F4530A57767712

I always monitor the webcams, we have cancelled a number of fall trips (which is the more typical fire season) but don't come from so far away.

https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photo...ia/webcams.htm