Please note that the previous posting just above this one is by someone else using my name who has a personal bias against San Jose and Silicon Valley. I stand by everything I said in my only other post on 3/21.

But, I have to admit, San Jose has gotten a bit stale lately.

Micki: I was born and raised in Dallas. Now live in San Jose and have a second home on Monterey Peninsula so I know where you are coming from and where you are going.

Good idea to fly into San Jose. You did your homework. While I agree that San Jose is a great place to live and the downtown is now fun to go to, I would not say it is a tourist stop. Do not put it on your schedule this trip.

Place to stay in Carmel area: Pine Inn on Ocean is very nice. Also try a Monterey Peninsula town the tourists are not really aware of: Pacific Grove. It is a real town of 17000 people with quaint shops and the best beach front on the Monterey Peninsula...better than Carmel or Monterey. Some tourists think it is Monterey as PG city limit is right at the Monterey Aquarium entrance. Go to pacificgrove.org to check it out. Also check out the Green Gable Inn or Seven Gables Inn in PG. Both are Victorian B and Bs facing the water of Monterey Bay. Seven Gables was featured in a Visa tv spot a few years ago.

Great, and I mean great, restaurant in PG is Fandango's. They get the stars in the area to visit that and the locals love it.

Across the street from Fandango's is Joe Rombi's. Small, great food.

San Francisco Area: You have a lot on your plate but it can be done.

In Napa you may want to visit the Coppola Winerey. Owned by Francis Ford Coppola and bought with money he earned making the Godfather movie. Beautiful building and grounds plus he has his Academy Awards and other items from him movie career on display. Worth a visit.

Sterling Vineyards has a cable car to the top for its tour and they do a nice job. Good views up there.

Beach Blanket is good. 25 years running means something. Go.

The Buena Vista is an experience. Get the Irish coffee like everyone else. If you find a place to sit down, you lucked out.

The route one poster gave you to take from Carmel to SF is excellent. Go 156 to 101 to 85 to 280 north to SF. Reason is simple: 101 north to SF is all commercial and filled with trucks heading into the city. The 280 route is a little longer but they do not allow trucks and you pass through some beautiful green fields and great scenery. It really sets you up for going into SF. I drive this route anytime I go into the city.

Have fun. Glad to have a few Texas people visit.

Micki, I'm delayed in answering your specific questions but looks like you've got some great info here (San Jose notwithstanding). Vesuvio's is a beat era holdover, much associated with City Lights. Won't be poetry readings, maybe a little music, but the atmosphere is good.

Alcatraz is not a "must see" but try and have a bay cruise if time allows. If you like Tibouron on the tour you can cruise back over there, or if weather is nice take a ferry over to Angel Island and have a look at the old immigation station. A good move to fly into San Jose and out of SF, works well with your itinerary. Enjoy!

Please post a trip report when you return! I'd be anxious to hear if you get into the French Laundry!

We did a portion of your trip, but started in the Napa Valley then south (to Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, etc.) the back to San Francisco before flying home. We spent two days in the wine country. Mondavi does a great tour! We also enjoyed Chateau St. Jean in Sonoma. One place we almost overlooked was Sattui winery, recommended by a local. It only ships directly to customers and has excellent wines. My husband recommends Stag's Leap in Napa and Arrow Wood Winery in Sonoma as well, for excellent wine tasting.

Someone suggested Bistro Jeanty, and I second that for excellent food in a relaxing setting. We ate there after flying in from Philadelphia and driving to Napa, and it was wonderful.

Have fun!

Thanks to everyone that has posted a reply. There are some great suggestions here, some of which I've added to my original itinerary - Irish Coffee at Buena Vista, drinks after Beach Blanket Babylon at Vesuvio's, Gary Danko's, Check out alternative to staying in Carmel/Monterrey (Pacific Grove and dinner at Fandango's). As for the San Jose comments, just not enough room to fit in on this visit. I plan on taking this with us as a reference. Even if we can't do everything it's nice to have options. We don't leave until August so I'll probably be back here with more questions as our trip nears. Thanks so much.