Nevalee

My family is planning a trip to California the first week in August. We're landing in either San Jose or San Francisco and would like to travel to the wine country, lake tahoe and possibly Yosemite. Are 7 days enough to see these areas, or will we be spending too much in the car getting from place to place? I don' think we need more than a day in Napa (mostly interested in the Culinary institute as my son is considering attending next year) and the remaining time in Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. We've been to the San Francisco area before, so no need to spend much time there. Traveling with husband and older teenagers (17 and 18). I've gotten great advice and recommendations on this forum for previous travel.

Thanks for the help!!!!

humanone

Skip Tahoe; its over commercialized. Napa is wonderful for those who love food, with many world class restaurants. Please do make reservatons at the culinary institute, asking for a seat where you can see the chefs cooking in the open kitchen. Also, don't miss Copia, (eating at Julia's Kitchen of course), which is both a food museum and a tasting/lecture/demonstration locale. It may be pricy to get in, but it is worth it. As for Yosemite, it is a long drive, so you might want to sign up for a bus tour which will allow you to sleep on the long drive. Yosemite is swampted with people in August, and overnight reservations will be impossible now at any price, so the bus tour, if timed correctly, will allow you the full day to take the short hikes and go from place to place on the free valley shuttle. Eat at the Awahnee, but again, make reservations. Seven days for just Napa and Yosemite are enough, even though they are in opposite directions.

clarkgriswold

We love Tahoe, hope that you can fit it in for a couple of nights with the family...many parts of the area are gorgeous and pristine.

Maggi

Nevalee, we did a similar trip in eight days a few years ago. We landed in San Jose, picked up our rental car and explored Carmel, Monterrey, the 17 Mile Drive and Big Sur area for two days (yes, I know it is short, but that is all the time we had.) We drove to San Francisco for two days, then Yosemite for two days and topped it off with two days in Napa. Each segment of the trip was completely different than the other and equally pleasurable and beautiful. The most difficult part was the length and difficulty of the drive to and around Yosemite. If I could choose to do something differently, I would have postponed this part of the trip to another time when we could do it more justice. Less then two days in one place is too hectic for me anyway.

don512

Personally, I think it would make a great trip, since all three places are all different. Are you talking about seven full days im this area, or is that including the days that you will be flying? And a lot is going to do with what kind of interest you have once you get to each place. Since the driving will be broken up and since you are not traveling with small children, the driving shouldn,t be too bad. I would spend the first couple of nights in Napa, which would give you the rest of the day that you arrive, plus one full day in the area. Then if you leave fairly early, you should be in Tahoe by early afternoon, leaving the rest of that day and the next full day there. Leaving Tahoe fairly early will get you into Yosemite in the afternoon, leaving the rest of that day plus the next two for Yosemite. You have the advantage at that time of the year that Tioga Pass will be open, so you can get to the valley from the east entrance making part of your drive right through the park. Of course, if your flight is early the next day, you would probably have to leave in the afternoon of that second day and maybe stay somewhere near the airport. But when it comes down to it, it is all a matter of opinion. This agenda would work for me, where you will find others that would just as soon spend the whole week in Yosemite.

_DavidDJ_

Trying to get airline tickets into San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Reno or Fresno would better accomodate your plans - San Jose is a bit further from your destinations and not a particularly great place for a tourist. Have fun.

traveler24

FYI-- Copia is closed on Tuesdays
I agree with "don512"
It will take about 3 1/2 hrs (maybe 4 hrs if you have much traffic) from Napa to Lake Tahoe
Over Tioga Pass and down into Yosemite Valley is awesome. However, lodging in Yosemite maybe impossible..I have heard there are motels on the west side (out 0f park)
that you can arrange transport into park for the day
Maybe another poster knows about this....
Good luck...

Calitravel

Nevalee,

Flying into San Jose is probably the most convenient as it puts you within a central location to both Yosemite and the Wine Country. SF airport is usually plaqued with delays due to fog, especially in the summer months.

I think that 7 days may be cutting it close to see everything on you itinerary, but it can be done. The best route to Napa from San Jose is 680 to 12 to 29. What time do you arrive in San Jose? I would not recommend driving to Napa between 3 PM and 7 PM on a weekday, as the traffic leaving the city can be a pain. It will probably take about 2.5 hrs to get there. If you get in late, I'd advise either leaving the city after 7 PM or staying overnight in San Jose and leaving the next morning, since the commute trafic will be heading in the opposite direction.

From Napa to Lake Tahoe is about a 3.5 - 4hr. drive. South Shore Lake Tahoe is where you will find most of the casinos. North Shore is more relaxed. In South Shore the Harrahs and Harveys are both great. At North Shore I like the Cal Neva Resort.

To get to Yosemite from Lake Tahoe is about 4hrs. entering from Tioga Pass. Be sure to make reservations ASAP for Yosemite. If at all possible, try to get a place in the Valley (Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village are 2 of my recommendations). If money is no object, I'd go for the Ahwahnee Hotel. Staying in the Valley will save about a 40 or 50 minute drive into the parkeach day.

I agree with don512, if you have a morning flight, it's best to stay in San Jose the night before your flight. SJ is about 4 hrs. from Yosemite. Downtown SJ would be a convenient place to stay as it is 3 miles from the airport and there are plenty of restaurants, museums, other attractions in walking distance. The Tech Museum is an interesting place to spend the day. One thing to make things a little more convenient would be to turn the car in the day before you leave and take the Light Rail from your hotel to the airport.

Hope you have a nice trip.

http://www.tahoe.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

http://yosemitepark.com/

http://sanjose.org/index.cfm

Nevalee

Thanks to all for the suggestions and thoughts. We arrive in San Jose at 10:00 AM on Sunday 8/3. We chose SJ because the flights were non-stop from NY and the rates were much better than into San Fran or any the other locations. Seems from your posts,we just may make to all 3 destinations. I tried to get lodgings in Yosemite Valley, but was not successful. Someone suggested the Cedar Lodge, which is 8 miles outside the Park. Has anyone heard of it? Planning to stay at either Harvey's or the Embassy Suites in S. Lake Tahoe. I think I would prefer Harvey's, but at the Embassy Suites the kids would have their own room. Also, has anyone taken the dinner train in Napa? Is is worth the time and money????

Again, thanks for all the great suggestions and opinions.

Braun

If the dinner train is the same as the Wine Train, I'd say to skip. Although I have not personally taken it it, I have heard from others that it is not really worth it. I agree that Harveys would be nicer than Embassy Suites. If you decide on Harveys, I would ask if there is a suite available. In the middle of the week it's slower than on the weekend. If they say no, I would ask again upon check-in.