andyp67

Hi

We (family with 2 children aged 13 and 10)are coming to California for the first time in July 2008 for a 15 night trip. We fly into San Francisco and have booked 4 nights accommodation there. We plan to spend the 4 days in the city itself as there seems to be so much to do/see.

We would like an outdoor/activity element to our trip and plan to go to Yosemite for 3 nights although I know we won't be able to stay in the park itself as we are too late in booking.

From there we intended to go Monterey/Carmel and spend one night there before doing the coastal route down from Monterey. Hearst Castle is a must before we head to Santa Barbara where we have 3 nights booked at the Harbor View.

We finish our trip in LA (4 nights)and plan to see the sights there and go down to Disney from there on a couple of occasions.

Our problem is that as our night scheduled for Monterey/Carmel falls on a Friday we are unable to get accommodation for one night. They all seem to want a 3 night minimum booking. Can anyone advise on where we may be able to get a one night stop around there?

Alternatively we could go directly from San Francisco to Monterey and spend one night there to do 17 mile drive etc. We are able to get a one night booking for midweek. We would then go onto Yosemite.

This would mean however that from Yosemite South entrance we would need to travel to Hearst Castle, do a tour and get down to Santa Barbara in one day. I believe it is around 7 hours from Yosemite to Hearst Castle and then a further 2-3 hrs from there to Santa Barbara. Just sounds like a nightmare day to me!

I really appreciate it if someone could advise me if I am accurate in my estimates or can suggest a nice hotel/town on the coast that would allow us to do all the activities.

Any other advice on places we should go/see or places we should skip would be helpful also as would some hotel advice for LA.

Thanks

enzian

As much as I love Yosemite, I would leave it out of your itinerary and spend more time on the central coast. You will spend a long time driving over there (Yosemite) and back, time you could spend enjoying some wonderful outdoor opportunities along the coast---kayaking in Monterey Bay, hiking at Pt. Lobos reserve or Big Sur, swimming in the surf farther south. You could add a night or 2 at Avila Beach, a small town well off the main highways, with a nice swimming beach:

http://www.visitavilabeach.com/about.html

This would work as your overnight stay on the day you visit Hearst Castle; the drive would be much shorter than going to Santa Barbara. Then you coudl continue on to Santa Barbara and LA.

One question: are you flying home from LA?

cabovacation

I agree with Enzian. Yosemite if fabulous, but it is too far out of your way. It will be very hot and crowded, too. You can rent a video and watch it when you return to Scotland!

Then you should be able to get a place with two night minimum in Carmel. Try the Carmel Country Inn. It has two bedroom suites and is wonderful for a family.

Welcome back!

andyp67

Thank you.

We fly out of LA.

bear900

Hi Andy,

What ever you do you’re sure to get a lot of suggestions and ideas here.

I will lay out the following based on the fact that you will have to cross the state twice. It is worthwhile, since this is your fist time here and have the time. But plan on killing a half day each direction crossing the state.

I have done the full circle from Southern CA to Yosemite, Monterey, Big Sur and back to Southern CA as others have, and you have some driving to look forward to so just plan on it. It is doable, but 2 days in Monterey would be a good adjustment.

SF to Yosemite: 80 to 580 to 205 to 5 to 120 which goes in to the Mariposa side of Yosemite, about 4hrs.

Other may suggest taking the 80 across and going down the 49, which is an interesting and pretty route but longer. You can Mapquest all of this.

From Yosemite to Monterey, take the 140, drop down the 59 and then east on 152 to 156, another 4 hours crossing the State eastbound to Monterey.

For that reason alone I would plan 2 days in Monterey/Carmel which I believe you will be glad you did. It’s also one of the prettiest spots to visit.

If you spend 2 days you can take the full 17 mile drive one day and see places like Spanish Bay and Point Joe. From the 17 mile drive, at PG take the coast drive into Cannery Row for a spectacular ocean drive.

Next morning plan Point Lobos and then follow your plan of working your way South to Hearst Castle, Cambria and Santa Barbara.

janisj

Easy fix - cut Yosemite to 2 nights and add 1 night to Monterey/Carmel.

Yosemite is fabulous of course - but if you concentrate on the Valley and not try to go into the high country - 2 days is fine.

That would solve two problems - the two-night minimum thing, and only having a one night stay after a long drive over from Yosemite.

andyp67

Appreciate your reply but they seem to be looking for a 3 night minimum stay at the weekend!

janisj

I should think a thurs/fri booking would be doable - UNLESS you mean around July 4.

glimmer2

Usually a 2 night stay is all that is required. Unless like the other poster said it's 4th of July. If it is be prepared for MASSIVE crowds everywhere you are planning on going.
2 nights is enough for Yosemite. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from the Monterey area. You should have no problem getting a room for a Thurs. Fri. combo. There is plenty to see and do in Monterey for your extra day there. The Aquarium is really must see. You'll be nice and rested for your trip down highway 1 too.

5alive

If you are doing two days at Disney, I would stay over in Anaheim for two nights. Get to the park early before it gets quite as busy (and as hot). You will be frustrated driving down in LA rush hour both days.

There are many hotels that are walking distance to Disneyland and California Adventure. Check Trip Advisor.

SweetCaroline

Alternative areas to stay are about an hour north of Monterey/Carmel: Santa Cruz, Capitola, Rio Del Mar, and a resort development called Seascape. All of these are on the Monterey Bay and may be a little more relaxed about the 3 night minimum, unless it's over the July 4th holiday weekend.

Barbara

I would cut a night from San Francisco. You need two days, three nights, at Yosemite. There's nothing like it in Scotland, nothing as high or huge. You have to go to the high country/Tuolumne.

Even though you are late looking for lodging inside Yosemite, keep checking the website because people cancel all the time and you may be lucky.

sharon62

Hi
I would definitely include Yosemite in your trip. You could try getting a hotel room in one of the nearby towns. As others have said , it will be crowded (peak season), but so worth it if you've never been. Cut that back to 2 nights and then head to Monterey area for 2 nights.You can probably get a room in Marina without the 3 night minimum. Marina is about 10 minutes from Monterey. Monterey will also be crowded, but is beautiful. You will get to see a lot of our beautiful state and I hope you all enjoy it very much.

sandys

I would suggest that after San Francisco, you head to Monterey, enroute stopping in Santa Cruz - around an hour south of San Francisco. Your children would love the Boardwalk over there, and it is very close to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

You also might check Pacific Grove motels or B&Bs. Pacific Grove is adjacent to Monterey, and very close to the Aquarium. As another poster mentioned, don't miss Point Lobos State Reserve - fantastic scenery and interesting short hikes.

Then you could head to Yosemite from the Monterey area, or choose to go to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks, which should be much less crowded than Yosemite. At Sequoia, I would recommend Wuksachi Lodge - nice accommodations and good food at their restaurant.

If you decide to stay near Hearst Castle, I would suggest staying in Cambria , at one of the inns on Moonstone Beach.

mlgb

My numerous friend from Britain love Yosemite as well as Monterey/Carmel. I would try to see both.

You might want to check motel6.com for a one night stay around Monterey. Not the fanciest of resorts, but it will do for one night.

Another option is Salinas.

lifelist

There's a nice hostel in Monterey you might want to check with. They have a family/group room that holds 4 people (double bed and bunk beds for the kids). It's within walking distance of the aquarium.

I've stayed and it's very nice and clean.

http://www.montereyhostel.org/

NorCalif

Hi Andy -

Welcome to California! (OK, you're not quite here yet, but you know what I mean.)

I think your original plans sound just fine - as I understand it, your problem is just the "2-or-3-night-minimum-stay on weekends" policy for the Monterey/Carmel area. I second MLGB's suggestion - just find any old Motel6 or similar low-budget motel - they don't have minimum-stay policies as far as I know - and for just one night, who cares about the room's ambience - you'll be out looking at the sea otters anyway.

And just to make sure you get plenty of conflicting advice, I want to go on record as saying you should NOT skip Yosemite. Yes the valley is a crowded zoo in the summers, but it still is spectaclarly beautiful.

The first time we took our kids there, as we drove down into Yosemite Valley, I heard my 5-year-old whispering to himself in the back seat, in a completely awed tone of voice, "I will never forget this. I will never forget this." (I actually still get kind of teary-eyed when I remember his wonder.)

If its physical beauty can make that kind of impression on a 5-year-old boy, a species not generally known for being tuned in to that kind of thing, I say it's worth seeing!

NorCalif

P.S. re: Yosemite - if you want to be compulsive about it, and you keep calling fairly often, you just may succeed in getting reservations inside the park. Cancellations are very frequent.

We have actually been able to get last-minute reservations in the park on a number of occasions, for summer holiday weekends even(!) by calling frequently to check on any openings. In the past, when I called and asked the reservation agent when they update their databases with cancellations that have come in overnight and in the morning, they told me they do it at noon local time. So supposedly you will have the best chance at any newly-opened rooms if you call a little after noon Pacific time.

Don't know if that's really true, or just something they say to make people go away, but it's worked for us. Also don't know if it's important enough to you to spend your life (and money) calling Yosemite every so often between now and July - it's up to you. ;->

enzian

I see I am outvoted on Yosemite! I never like to say "skip it" (it is one of my favorite places in the world too), but I was concerned about the amount of driving, combined with time constraints.

But it can work. I notice that some of the suggestions here did not realize that if they go to Yosemite after Monterey, they will have a VERY long day when they leave, because they still want to drive Highway 1 and see Hearst Castle before arriving in Santa Barbara that night.

So I would say definitely go to Yosemite from San Francisco, and then return to Monterey. Then you will be able to spend a full day driving down Highway 1 and stopping at Hearst Castle (and hopefully Pt. Lobos and a few other stops as well).

I don't know what the 3-night minimum at the weekend is all about---maybe Carmel? I checked some places near Cannery Row in Monterey, and the weekend stay in July is 2 nights. Try here:

http://www.canneryrow.com/index.html

I suggest you give up one of the Santa Barbara nights in order to spend 2 at Monterey and 3 at Yosemite. If you are going to drive over there, staying 3 nights will make it worthwhile. You will want 2 full days to enjoy the park, including the high country at Tuolumne Meadows.

You may well be able to get rooms at Wawona Hotel, and of course the tent cabins at Curry Village are still available (although Curry Village is not for everyone). And there are the places just outside the park.

wildblueyonder

Hi Andy

Would this place be any good to you, if you cannot get your preferred accommodation? Cozy Bear Cottage!! http://www.cozy-bear.com/

We stayed there for 2 nights in 2004 and, although it was very cutesy (bears EVERYWHERE!), it was comfortable enough and not too far out of the park. There would be a lot more room for your family to 'spread out'.

Hope you have a great time - you're bound to!