kschoenberg

Hello, for my boyfriend's 30th birthday I am planning a trip out to California to celebrate. I have an outline of our days there and where we plan to go but would love some advice as whether to skip some things or add something else.

Day 1- Fly into San Francisco early morning
Day 2- explore San Francisco
Day 3-rent a car and travel over to Yosemite National Park
Day 4- Yosemite
Day 5- Yosemite/Sequoia National Park ( his birthday )
Day 6- Head to Napa Valley
Day 7- Drive down the coast to Monterrey/ Carmel
Day 8- Fly home


Are we trying to fit in too much in a short time or is that enough time to see the highlights and get a feel of this beautiful area? Is the drive down the coast a better way to spend our time instead of staying extra days in Napa Valley? Also on our fifth day there we will be celebrating his birthday near Yosemite National park, is there any restaurant suggestions for a nicer dinner we can splurge on for his birthday? Thank you!!!

DebitNM

When is this for?

kschoenberg

June 14-June 22 2014.

DebitNM

If you want to stay IN Yosemite, you need to try for reservations, now!

kschoenberg

Thank you! Is it worth staying in there or at a hotel around it? Since it is his actual birthday maybe I can splurge a bit if it worth it. Is the drive down the coast to Carmel/ Monterrey worth it or should we stay a couple more days in Napa?

DebitNM

You may already be too late but you have to keep trying as people make reservations a year ahead and then cancel.

I can't really answer about the northern aspect of the trip, but heading down to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area at that time of year is spectacular.

This is a really nice B&B right on the water's edge. We love staying there. http://thesevengablesinn.com/ And there are great restaurants [Passionfish, for one] in the area. I would do that for the birthday.

indyhiker

I think it's a really ambitious itinerary. I'd either delete the trip to Napa or the drive to Carmel; no way would I try to do both. I, personally, would rather stay longer in Yosemite (hiking preferably) and leave out all but the city. It's otherwise just too much driving for my tastes. But it depends on what you want to see/do.

kschoenberg

what is more worth it to see/do Napa Valley or the drive to Carmel for first timers visiting the area? I love wine and my boyfriend loves the ocean.

StuDudley

>>I love wine and my boyfriend loves the ocean.

Dayenu

Looks to me like too much driving around. Skip Sequoia to spend more time in Yosemite - you will see same trees in Mariposa grove. Don't miss the Glacier point in Yosemite.

Going to Napa for wine tasting? Try California wines in Monterey/Carmel area.

Your schedule is too rush-rush-rush-rush. Slow down

SAB

There are wine regions all over California, not just Napa. You can visit wineries in the Central Coast area, i.e. you can visit wineries and Carmel. You can even visit wineries in Madera County near Yosemite.

janisj

>>Thank you! Is it worth staying in there or at a hotel around it?

kschoenberg

We live in Maryland. So yes we have wine but not the beautiful scenery of the west coast. So we should skip napa all together and just leave Yosemite and start the drive down the coast to Monterey/ Carmel? Thank you all so much for your input it makes everything so much easier.

nickn

Don't miss the evening light show display when the west span of the Bay-Bridge gets lit up. You can see it from the Ferry building area going north.

StuDudley

>> leave Yosemite and start the drive down the coast to Monterey/ Carmel? Thank you all so much for your input it makes everything so much easier.

kschoenberg

Well I could tweak the days to make the most out of this experience. We could fly into San Francisco on Friday instead of Saturday and fly home on Monday. If we added those days could we make all three of those destinations work? Thank you again to all.

StuDudley

>> leave Yosemite and start the drive down the coast to Monterey/ Carmel?

kschoenberg

Okay so if we leave from Yosemite to Carmel, would we use Carmel as home base and just drive to these locations for the day? Is there any advice on how to maximize seeing all the beautiful sites and not do a lot of back tracking? But also enjoying the scenery and not feeling rushed?

kschoenberg

UPDATED ITINERARY:
DAY 1- fly into San Francisco.
Day 2- explore San Francisco.
Day 3- head to Yosemite
Day 4- Yosemite
Day 5-Yosemite
Day 6- Drive to Carmel
Day 7- Big Sur/Point Lobos/other beautiful scenery.
Day 8- Wineries in Carmel
Day 9- Drive back to San Francisco and fly home.


Is that much more doable? And still give us time to experience beautiful California but also enjoying our time? Thanks again!!

janisj

That is much better -- cutting SF short but something has to give.

you have 2.5 days in Yosemite Valley, 2.5 days for Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur and 1.5 days in the city - which is totally doable.