eganders

Thanks again, folks. I will review your suggestions and modify my trip. I am told that The Hacienda at Hearst Castle is a place to stay. I am having a hard time getting a contact for that place. I tried a phone number at 8:00 PM their time, but got no answer. Apparently it is owned by the US Army.

We saw the new bridge at Hoover Damn a couple of times during construction. We have not gone across it yet, but there are so many other things. I am considering the removal of Joshua Tree as a stop.

The trip from Redwood National Park to Lake Tahoe is over 450 miles, so I will have to stop in Lasson National Forest or some place in that area. I also have to do something between Santa Rosa and Redwood National Park. That is only about 275 miles, but it would seem that there would be something along that fairly long span.

I consider most of what we are doing as an "overview" trip. That means that we are not prepared for a 10 mile hike.

I am open to any other suggestions.

eganders

I have a question about the area between San Simeon, CA and Big Sur. The hotels in Big Sur seem quite pricey, but the ones in King City are pretty low. It would be easier to go through Fort Hunter Liggett to get to and from King City to the Pacific Coast Highway. Is it reasonable to take the roads through Fort Hunter Liggett or are they restricted or otherwise hard to use?

Also, I would like to determine the best value of places to stay. That does not mean the cheapest or the highest priced, but ones that would be the most memorable (pleasantly), but not break the bank.

eganders

In reviewing our trip around California, I would like feedback about potentially deleting the trip from San Francisco to Redwood National Park and back to Lake Tahoe. The loop from SF to RNP and back down to Lake Tahoe is nearly 800 miles and going directly from SF to Lake Tahoe would reduce the trip mileage by about 600 miles. We are already going to Sequoia and Yosemite.

I only have 3 1/2 days scheduled for the trip from LA to SF that includes Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Steinbeck Center and the Winchester Mystery House plus all the scenery on Route 1/PCH.

My thoughts are:

Delete the 200 plus mile trip North of SF to RNP back to Lake Tahoe consisting of 3 days and add that time to the trip from LA to San Francisco.

Will I be missing the best scenery or something worth this extra time/mileage?

eganders

I actually meant delete 600 miles and 3 days of added trip time. It is over 200 miles just to SF to Redwood National Park.

Jean

Of course you'll be missing great scenery, but that's a lot of time sitting in a car. It's your call, but I'll point out that these miles will be much less crowded than just about everywhere else you're going.

spirobulldog

I noticed you mentioned Lassen. We loved it, but I don't think much will be open in May. Some of the trails were still closed due to snow August 1 this past year.