Tom - we will plan to have a rental car. Not sure about Sacramento. Hadn't even thought about that option.

Maybe we should start at Yosemite and end at Monterey. I have no idea where to stay at Yosemite. Don't think there's anything inside left.

Janis - you had recommended Yosemite View Lodge and it does have a room for two nights for $260/night. Is it worth it? Just curious - How is it different than the Best Western also outside YNP for $180/Night?

Seems weird to consider skipping SF... still undecided.
Sun late - fly into .....
Mon - Wed Yosemite ?
Wed - Sat Carmel/Monterey ?
Sat early - fly out ...

UPDATE!!!

So sorry for all my back and forth.... we just got so confused throughout the day and I got overwhelmed with trying to figure it all out.

We just made a decision we are finally sticking with....
Carmel/Monterey and San Francisco!!! I am looking for romance and a "couples" atmosphere and he is looking for nature... so he can have the ocean and some redwoods! LOL

So now I need to know where to stay and eat! Should I make a NEW post/thread??

Heard the Mission Ranch is a great place in Carmel...
3 nights there?
2 nights in San Francisco...

How does this look?
Sunday – Drive to Dallas and catch a late night flight; hotel near airport

Monday – Drive to Carmel/Monterey….arrive by lunch and eat in Carmel.
Relax and do whatever. 5:00 dinner at the Mission Ranch in Carmel – ocean-view on the deck. After dinner, go watch the sunset at the end of Ocean Avenue. Hotel/lodging??

Tuesday - Pack a picnic lunch and see Point Lobos early. Drive the 1 south to the Northside of Big Sur as far as we can go and take our time. Hike to see the Redwoods in the area. Dinner back in Carmel for the sunset. ??

Wednesday - Whale watching tour at 10:00 a.m. in Monterey. Relax and explore the shops and sights. In the mid-afternoon, drive to San Francisco. Dinner somewhere. ?? Hotel/lodging ?

Thursday - Go out early to buy cable car tickets. Stu’s recommendations for SF: Drive car across the Bay Bridge toward Treasure Island and see the view. Embarcadero, Cable Cars, Union Square, Lombard Street, maybe Chinatown, lunch in Union Street area. Dinner somewhere. ??

Friday - Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy Sausalito. Maybe Muir Woods...maybe not. Maybe sailing, who knows??

Saturday - Fly out early.

I made a new post/thread since we were finally able to make a decision to narrow the trip down. Thank you!!

You are forgetting that the San Francisco Bay Area has a population of 6-7 million and that the commute traffic will be horrendous if you depart Carmel mid-afternoon on a Wednesday.

You might not get near Muir Woods on a Friday afternoon. You will also hit heavy traffic leaving the City starting around 2PM on Friday "get-away day".

Mission Ranch is fine for dinner, but we always stay the night somewhere close to the shops & Ocean Beach in Carmel so we can just walk out the door & wander around. Mission Ranch is not near the center of Carmel.

Unless you depart your airport hotel before 9:30am, you might not make lunch in Carmel before 1PM. Remember - the heavy commute traffic on 101 heading south to Silicone Valley. I suggested you take Hwy #1 to Carmel instead. We've lived less than 10 mins from SFO for the past 36 years. And then dinner at 5PM after a 1 PM lunch?? (early for most people out here - we dine at 7:00-7:30).

Stu Dudley