February trip San Fran to Yosemite...

Old Nov 16th, 2017, 04:47 PM
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February trip San Fran to Yosemite...

Hi my husband and I are taking our son to San Francisco- Golden Gate Bridge for his 30th Birthday and the plan is to travel to Yosemite to Redwoods to Crater Lake then back to San Francisco the end of February for a 10 day trip. I have been doing some searching and I am seeing reports of snow, trouble getting places....he loves hiking and doesn't mind the snow but we aren't as adventurous. We are looking to make a plan ahead so we don't wind up getting there and not being able to get places. I read that we need to rent chains for the SUV we are renting but can't get them thru the car rental place. I would really appreciate any suggestions...
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 05:40 PM
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>>Yosemite to Redwoods to Crater Lake then back to San Francisco the end of February for a 10 day trip>We are looking to make a plan ahead so we don't wind up getting there and not being able to get places.>I read that we need to rent chains for the SUV we are renting but can't get them thru the car rental place.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 05:42 PM
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meant to add: If the snow is not extremely heavy - the road conditions in the Sierra often allow 4WD with snow tires and chains on all other vehicles. But again -- it depends on the weather on the day.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 07:33 PM
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There are several places in California to see Coast Redwoods other than Redwood NP.
Muir Woods is an easy day trip from San Francisco.
It is possible to get to Yosemite from SF by taking an Amtrak bus to connect to a San Joaquin train to Merced.
From Merced there is a YARTS bus that will take you to El Portal or into Yosemite Valley if you can get a reservation.
A first time visit to Crater Lake is best in the summertime.
I have snowshoed in Crater Lake NP when there was over 3 feet of snow. I don't think you want to try that.
I do own a pair of tire chains to carry in the trunk. I have not put them on in the past 5 winters. If I get to a place where tire chains are required to be put on, I just turn around and go home.
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Old Nov 16th, 2017, 08:31 PM
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I hate to ask, but do you have experience with winter driving? If you aren't, the Sierras are NOT a place to learn how! Even if you are, driving conditions there can deteriorate VERY badly, VERY quickly, and with little warning. Watch the weather carefully -- if you get caught in a blizzard while in the mountains, not being able to get to a national park will be the LEAST of your worries!
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 03:38 AM
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"Even if you are, driving conditions there can deteriorate VERY badly, VERY quickly, and with little warning."

Yes, this is absolutely true. I got caught in a spring snow storm a couple years ago - it wasn't supposed to snow, just rain a little. But it snowed... a lot. And I got stuck.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 05:25 AM
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Sometimes posters get encouragement to do things that are very risky and/or foolish. I am glad you are all being honest with the OP about the weather and driving conditions. After being stuck at night, on the highway for about 12 hours due to snow and then an accident, I would never risk it in an area known for that kind of condition in winter. Where I was, I knew I was safe and help would be coming. Can't imagine if that had not been the case.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 08:54 AM
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Go to Hawaii.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 10:19 AM
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Thank you all for your response. We did a trip to Park City Utah last May and we couldn't do a lot of things due to closed roads which is why I am trying to figure out a better plan for this trip. Our son will be disappointed to not get to all the places he wants but I would hate to spend 10 days stuck and not get anywhere. Is there any part of our trip that you think we could still do?
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 10:51 AM
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When a trip plan depends on decent weather, why plan to go at a time of year when the weather may very well not cooperate? Save it for another time.

Find yourself another location if outdoor activites are the whole point of the trip. I use weatherbase.com to plan timings of trips and there are others, like timeanddate.com. It seems more than a bit pointless to not use weather as much as any other factor in making plans. You've asked the question so it seems you really do know it. Your son will be more disappointed if he spends his birthday in a tacky motel to wait out the weather.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 12:35 PM
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I think San Francisco and south to Carmel & Monterey is a good area to focus on in late February. Even some time in the Sonoma & Napa wine country is nice of we get some rain this winter & the grass is green. You don't need to travel far to see redwood trees - we have about 100 in our neighborhood less that 10 mins from SFO. Three in our back yard & 5 in our neighbor's yard. Lots of redwood trees along the lovely Hwy 35 south of Hwy 92. Great views on Hwy 35 also.

https://www.fodors.com/community/uni...mendations.cfm

Stu Dudley
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 02:05 PM
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Go to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to see big trees. Also, Point Lobos is fantastic, as is the drive into Big Sur, if you have good weather.

Your trip sounds great but February is not the time to do it.
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Old Nov 17th, 2017, 06:29 PM
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Is your son wanting to go to Northern California or is he wanting a hiking trip? If he is looking for hiking the Palm Springs area is a good winter choice. No redwoods but Joshua tree is a unique area as well.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 08:29 AM
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Yes our biggest problem is that he doesn't seem to care about the weather. He doesn't like sunny weather at all so he is willing to chance it. Sorry to bother any of you. We told him of all the responses we got here and he still wants to chance it. And we are doing the end of February because it is when he actually turns 30 years old, we are going on his birthday.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 08:48 AM
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Maybe the solution, then, is for you to find yourself a nice hotel in San Francisco where the car is a liability and there's no end of indoor activities, give him the car keys and turn him loose.

In any case, this is all your, the parent's fault, exceedingly bad planning to have a child in February in the Northern Hemisphere. Mine was born thoughtfully in June. I suppose the best thing about it, though, is he's still interested in having your company, compensation enough, I'd say.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 08:53 AM
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>>he doesn't seem to care about the weather.>Sorry to bother any of you
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 09:00 AM
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I guess we will still start in San Francisco and make an alternate route....we have to research other places like maybe Grand Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde...my husband have been to those spots but I don't know the weather there in February.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 09:36 AM
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A 10-day trip starting from San Francisco and including Arizona, Utah, or Colorado is really not feasible. All of those places will be cold and probably snowy too.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 11:32 AM
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How about a belated birthday trip to Yosemite, like mid April to early-mid May when you don't have to worry about chains, road closures and snow. Maybe make or buy him a cake, or take him out to dinner, if he does not have his head up and locked.
My wedding anniversary was end of January and except for our honeymoon (Mexico) we never celebrated it on the date due to crummy weather and/or high costs in places with good weather.
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Old Nov 18th, 2017, 01:48 PM
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>>. . . when you don't have to worry about chains, road closures and snow.
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