Royce

My wife and I visited So. California last year. We are now planning our first trip to N. California next year. We have sketched out the following itinerary:
Day 1 - Fly into S.F. for 3 night stay
Day 4 - Drive to Napa valley for two night stay
Day 6 - Drive to Lake Tahoe - stopping along the way in Sacramento to see capitol - staying at South Shore of Lake Tahoe for 3 nights
Day 9 - Drive to Yosemite for 2 night stay
Day 11 - Drive to Monterey for 3 night stay
Day 14 - Drive to S.F. for 1 night stay
Day 15 - return home.
Three questions:
Is this a reasonable amount of time to spend in each place?
Are we missing anything important?
We can travel in either May or September of next year. Given all the places we want to go, overall, would the weather be better in May or September?

Suzie

You will have a great time because the places you've chosen are all fabulous in September. I know lots of peeps say the waterfalls in Yosemite are a slow drip by the fall but believe me there is so much more to Yosemite than the waterfalls! I think you'll be happy with the number of nights you've allotted to each place. You should be able to do some fun stuff in each place. Make sure you don't waste too much time in South Lake Tahoe cause there is so much to do there once you get yourself around the lake.

Liz

Not bad, but unless you are golfers, I would add more nights at Yosemite, less in Monterey.

J T Kirk

Sounds like a good plan. I will add that what you are proposing calls for A LOT of driving. Nearly every destination you're going to will require driving. Yosemite is huge and requires a fair amount of driving just to see all the highlights. Lake Tahoe is huge. If you go to Monterey, you have to drive to Carmel and down to Big Sur and back. Etc. Etc. Etc.
I'm sure you're aware of all of this, but I'd thought I'd mention it.
You WILL get to see a lot of great stuff!!
Have fun.

rheianne

Royce,

Boy, you guys have got it together. Sounds like a great plan, with enough time in each area. I would personally add one more day to Yosemite, deducting it from the Monterey portion, but that's just a personal preference. Yosemite and Montery (Big Sur) are both beautiful areas with tons of scenic vistas, butI just felt that Yosemite had a little more to offer in terms of majestic scenery and affords more opportunities to see different aspects of nature. Big Sur south of Monterey is the most beautiful coastline that i've ever seen, but it is coastline that remains constant in appearance. However, the Monterey area has tons of charming towns and restaurants to visit. Either way, i'm sure you'll find plenty to do in each place. Have a GREAT time.

Dawn Ct.

My husband, I and our 4 boys did a similar trip in 1999. We spent a couple of nights in SF, breakfast in Sausilito, spent a morning in Muir Woods, onto Napa valley for a Mondavi Vineyard tour, 3 nights at Lake Tahoe (south shore), drove to the eastern entrance of Yosemite, stopping at Bodie en route, two nights in Yosemite, left via the Mariposa Grove of tall trees and onto Cambria. We only spent one night in Cambria at the Pelican Suites Inn. It was so lovely we should have stayed another night. We drove north, visited Heart Castle, Big Sur and onto Monterey for a night, flying home the next evening from SF. If I were you, I would extend my circle down to Cambria. It was one of our favorite stops. We also loved Robin's restaurant.

Tony

Royce
Fabulous itinerary. You obviously have done your research and allowed for the necessary driving time and an ample amount of time to see the highlights. I don't think you're missing anything important for this type of trip. You'll get a great sample of all the wonderful things Northern CA has to offer. I do agree with the others that an additional day in Yosemite would be be nice. However, I wouldn't take a day off of the Monterey portion of your trip. If you can swing it, I would simply add an extra day to your trip. As far as the time of year, its really a toss up. For instance, the waterfalls in Yosemite are flowing full force in May and are something to see. On the other hand, September is a great time of year to visit the wine country as the grapes are being picked and crushed (which also means that its crowded and the hotels and B&Bs are packed). SF, Monterey and Lake Tahoe would be great either time. If you want any more specific information on any of these locales, just let us know.

Suzie

Tony's right about it being more crowded in the wine country during Sept, but if you're there during the week you will be ok. My experience may be different from Tony's, but I have found the weather to be warmer and more reliable in Sept. It hardly ever rains then unlike May when the wind and rain is kind of common in N CA and Tahoe can have some pretty cold days then.

Linda

I would spend less time at Tahoe, 2 nights is plenty. One was enough for us. I would have enjoyed more time to explore the coast and Big Sur area. We did Yosemite in one day and that included driving out Tioga Pass. I would highly recommend that. We were on the move the entire 2 weeks but loved it and now we know what we would like to see more of next time. If you want exciting scenery, drive down route 4 from Tahoe to Calaveres State Park where the huge redwood trees are. The drive up Ebberts Pass was beyond description. You are literally on the edge of a mountain, 8900 feet! Incredible but kind of scary with no guard rails! Loved San Francisco, probably would have skipped Alcatraz to see more of the city but we had toured a prison before. We drove from Yosemite through Death Valley to Vegas and spent 3 days there. Even a day at the Grand Canyon on a bus! We saw so much and people on this list were so helpful. I am very apprecitive. We started in LA and took a tour to Tujuana. It was great fun and not at all crummy or scary. We also flew back to LAX from Vegas and toured LA the last day. I think its safe to say, we got our money's worth. Loved every minute.

Suzie

Wow Linda only 1 night in Tahoe, really? I've spent every summer vacation all my life (40 years) and many weekends a year in Tahoe and it's never enough. But I NEVER go to soutshore for more than 1 or 2 nights. Maybe that's what you mean. I encourage all visitors to spend time in other parts of the lake if you really want to see the place. South shore is just really poorly planned and doesn't give a visitor the Tahoe experience.

Linda

Hey, I thought Tahoe was beautiful and you are right, we were on the south end. It was windy and cold that day. I would go there again but with all we were trying to do, one day and night were enough on this trip. You are also right about it being poorly organized. We really didn't know what to do with our time there.

California Born

Royce, it's obvious you've given your trip a great deal of thought and yours is an excellent itinerary. I wouldn't tweak it even based on previous responders personal preferences.
Only because I love Spring so much would I suggest you visit in LATE May. However, to ensure you don't encounter any late snow in Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, September (after Labor Day when the schools are back in session) would be my recommendation.
Wishing you two a wonderful trip!

Geoff

Come on California Born, snow in Lake Tahoe/Yosemite in May? Give me a break. We're lucky the years we get spring skiing at Easter. There is no doubt that the weather in September is great in any of the places mentioned. Just look at the weather we are having right now. But personally, I think the waterfalls in Yosemite in May would be the deciding factor for me. They are fantastic. I also don't think the weather is any better or worse in any of these places in May then it is in September. I've seen as many thunderstorms in Lake Tahoe/Yosemite in September as I've seen in May. As far as touring Lake Tahoe is concerned, anybody who can say they only needed a day to see Lake Tahoe, didn't see Lake Tahoe. I agree with Suzie and the other posters. Its well worth the time Royce has scheduled to visit. Have a great trip Royce.

Pat

Great itinerary. Try to spend an extra day in Yosemite, but don't cut Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur short either. May is California at its loveliest - everything green. If you come in September, things tend to turn brown except on the coast and in the mountains.

Suzie

Royce,

I still maintain that the weather is more reliable and warmer in September than it is in May. The coast is not usually foggy like it can be in May. Rain and wind is much more common in May than September. Tahoe can have snow in May. Check out wwwwunderground and do a history search for May 0f 2000 and September of 2000. You'll see snow in May and up to 80+ degrees in Tahoe in September. (Though I did spend Mother's Day in Tahoe this year and got sunburned it was so warm) The wine country is buzzing with activity in September. The one drawback as I've mentioned earlier is that Yosemite waterfalls will be very slow. I've gone to Yosemite many times in Sept and despite the waterfall situation it's a beautiful spot to be at that time.

Either way you've chosen a great itinerary, hope you have a great visit.

kam

Sad news in the paper this morning about Calaveras County. THere has been a major fire which has burned the old wooden flume (like an aquaduct) to many of the little towns in the area. They are estimating it will take 6 months or so to restore the water source and it seems to be a major problem. You might find the article at www.sfgate.com