Charles Leone

My wife and I (no kids) are planning a California vacation during May, 1998. We would like to fly into San Francisco, then go to Yosemite National Park, then to Lake Tahoe, Carson City back through Napa Valley and back to San Francisco.

We only intend to stay in each destination for 2-3 days and would like recommendations for lodging along the way. We are looking for nicely appointed, romantic rooms.

Tricia

I think your best bet would be to join the AAA club if you are not already a member. Get a book on California from them for free after joining. They can also map out a route for you and recommend hotels etc. They have special booklets on Yosemite. Make your reservations now as there is not much inside the park. There are the tent cabins and then the big expensive hotel ( I forget the name) We stayed at a hotel outside of the park called, Shilo Inn, that was very inexpensive, and big beautiful rooms with wet bars etc. There was a mexican restaurant that had the best mexican food I have ever had. I would have to ask my husband (who is in Saudi Arabia right now what the name of the town was) but if you are interested E mail me. It would be great to stay inside the park but I have heard you have to make reservations a year in advance and that cars are not allowed any more. You have to take their tram around to view the sites. The environment and all! Also in the back of the Auto Club books is a listing of B & B's for romantic places to stay!

jackb

The Wawona Hotel is the name of the big expensive hotel in Yosemite...but it is a grand old place just beautiful although we didn't stay there we had dinner there one evening. We stayed in a cabin at a place called the Redwood Cottages...very nice accomadations...and I believe if you have reservations that you can drive in I know that are changing regulations on vehicle traffic so you may want to check on that and in San Francisco we stayed at the Sir Francis Drake...great service..steep price but well worth it...have a great time

Kristin

Hi! What a great trip!! I agree with the above reply that you should let AAA help. I used their travel books for our last 2 trips to CA (Aug. '96 &'97). Can you fit in a trip up the coast north of CA? We loved that part of CA. If you decide to do that, e-mail me and I can give you some suggestions there too. In Tahoe, stay at the Inn on the Lake. Small, quaint, clean, nice, right on the lake. Ask for a room with a balcony overlooking the lake. In San Francisco we stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel. Very pretty, a bit pricey, but the service was excellent and the marble bathrooms were gorgeous. This hotel is located in Union Square. In Yosemite, we stayed outside of the park since we didn't make reservations in time to stay within the park. The Wawona is supposed to be beautiful (so. side of the park) and the Ahwahnee Hotel is also beautiful--inside the park--very expensive. We stayed in El Portal, inexpensive, but not really too great, the Cedar Lodge (west of the park) We also stayed in Lee Vining (east of the park) at a Best Western--pretty nice--but I'm not sure you can enter the park from the east in May due to snow--you'll have to check with the park or AAA might know. In Napa we rented a condo at the Silverado Country Club in Napa--VERY NICE. Next time tho we will stay at the Auberge du Soleil--BEAUTIFUL--in Rutherford, CA (still in Napa Valley) You MUST at least eat there 'cus it's SO romantic. Even the bar area is romantic. If the weather is nice, try to eat out on the balcony--beautiful view of the valley.The Auberge du Soleil (or Inn of the Sun) is quite expensive, but I'm sure it's worth every penny! It was featured on the The Learning Channel's show called "Great Country Inns", and it received 4 stars in the AAA book. Have a wonderful vacation!! Feel free to e-mail me if you want more info, and have a great trip!!

Tricia

Just found a new website recommended by the L.a. times - www.1travel.com. In small print look for the listings of states, click on California for some extra help in planning your trip.

leslie godbe

Regarding a trip to the Tahoe area, you can stay in the casino area (South Shore-Nevada) or at a number of places around the lake. My favorite is Sunnyside Resort in Tahoe City (California). This place has about 20 (?) rooms and a popular and large bar and restaurant right on the water. This place is quite well known and sometimes hard to book. We book a year in advance for summer stays. The rooms are small, but romantic. If you book this spot, be sure to ask for a lakeview room. They are the quietest. The best breakfast anywhere in Tahoe is across the street at Firesign Cafe. Gambling at South Shore is about a 45 minute scenic drive. When you take the side trip to Carson City, consider going the few extra miles to Virginia City. It is a tourist trap, no doubt about it. However, it really was a booming gold and silver mining town and does give a glimpse into the past. There are still authentic buildings, some with tours. The town has an active historic preservation society and they were excavating some sites last summer.