How is this itinerary for a two-week SF vacation in May?

(1) 3 days in SF (Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge/Park, Alcatraz, Half Moon Bay, Muir Woods, Hearst Castle)
(2) 3 days in Sonoma/Napa
(3) 2 days in Monterey/Carmel
(4) 5 days in Yosemite National Park
(5) 1 day back in SF

Presuming I will be traveling in a rental car, is the itinerary leisurely and in the poper order?

Please recommend anything else that would add to a restful, enjoyable vacation....thanks.

Correction: That's "proper" order...not "poper" or "pooper."

Josie - I don't know where Half Moon Bay or Muir Woods are, but I do know that Hearst Castle is quite a few hours south, so you shouldn't attempt that in part (1), but rather part (3), if at all. I've never been there, but it is quite a bit out of the way and you said you want a leisurely, restful vacation (and you're seeing so many other beautiful places). We loved just driving down to Big Sur and back from Carmel along the coast.

Hi Josie:

Your trip sounds great. Only one thing I would change. Go to Hearst Castle after Monterey. Hearst is a few hours south of Monterey. You might want to steal one of the days from your Yosemite visit to go to Hearst Castle.

I live in S.F. Don't spend too much of your time in Fisherman's Wharf. Make sure to visit the new Chrissy Field, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There's a path that runs beside the bay and goes all the way to the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. Great spot.

Have a great trip.

A few suggestions
Skip Half Moon Bay
Visit Muir Woods on your way to Sonoma/Napa
Take a day off of Yosemite to visit Hearst Castle after Monterey - Stay the night in Cambria
Otherwise, sounds like a wonderful trip

Josie,

Sounds like a good itinerary overall. Why are you returning to SF on the last day? I would do all of the SF sightseeing first to eliminate the backtracking. Also, given your itinerary, flying into San Jose International Airport (www.sjc.org) would be the most convenient and hassle free. San Jose, is the most centrally located to all of your destinations. You can rent a car at SJC an head north to the wine country(Sonoma/Napa) and SF area, then down to Monterey/Carmel/Hearst Castle, and over to Yosemite. By the way, have you made your Yosemite reservations?(www.yosemitepark.com) If not, I would do that ASAP. Avoid driving north to the wine country or SF area from San Jose during commute hours(3-7PM). Being that San Jose is the biggest city in Northern California and a major business center, traffic can be a nightmare. The same advice holds true when leaving SF and going toward the city on your way to Monterey during the morning commute. In Monterey, don't miss the Monterey Bay Aquarium and 17 Mile Drive(spectacular scenery). On your way to Monterey or back from Yosemite, there are many things to do/see in San Jose/Silicon Valley(www.sanjose.org)also. The Tech museum of Innovation is a great place to check out. There are both permanent and changing exhibits, as well as an IMAX theater. The Egyptian Museum (has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts on the West Coast)is also quite fascinating. The Downtown area has many great restaurants, nightclubs, performing arts, etc. From there you would have easy access to San Jose International Airport(about 5 miles)if this were your last stop on your trip.

Thanks you all for your helpful input.
Barry, I am returning to SF because I am flying into/out of SF; although your suggestion is practical, San Jose would be more costly and an extra connection for me. And, yes, I have made my Yosemite reservations. Hopefully, I will catch different sites when backtracking (maybe some of the places you mentioned.) I'm getting excited!

Avoid San Jose. There is nothing of value to see or do there, unless you are interested in convention centers and hotels.

Since you want to go to the City and see Fisherman's wharf and the most beautiful bridge on the planet, I'd recommend that you fly into SFO. It's a wonderful airport and soon will have access via BART (the Bay Area Rapid Transit system.) Unfortunately, BART will never go to San Jose, a decision that San Jose County made incorrectly. You'll enjoy the millions of things to do in the SF Bay area from The City. I think you have a great itinerary and you'll have a great trip! Enjoy San Francisco!

Who the heck is this guy that keeps promoting San Jose?????

I live in the Bay Area and even the local TV stations mentioned that San Jose is trying to attract tourists (HEAVILY), like cleaning up and renovating their downtown, etc.

Are you one of the promoters? Give it a rest would ya?

Josie,

Please ignore the comments from Dave and avoidsj. There is alot more to San Jose than just convention centers and hotels. San Jose offers much of of any majoe city does in terms of the arts, restaurants,etc. Barry makes some great suggestions if you are stopping in the San Jose area. And to correct avoidsj, San Jose did pass an initiative for BART to expansion into the City. It will tunnel under downtown and then go up tho the airport. It will be nice when the trains start running.

Josie- Definitely put Hearst Castle after Monterey and Carmel. They are about 100 miles south of SF and Hearst is another 100 miles south of them, and it is a VERY slow, although scenic road.
From Cambria/Hearst, you can take 41 straight to Yosemite. Again, it is not a superhighway, so slow, but pleasant.
I've done this exact trip but in reverse, and in Late April. It was a fun trip, and the timing will avoid both the crowds and heat. Have fun!

From the Oakland Tribune, Decemeber 21, 2001, regarding the BART extension.

"The task is monumental: a 21.7-mile extension from Fremont to Santa Clara in 10-12 years for $4.3 billion."

Needless to say, BART "may" be in San Jose in 2012, just think of the construction effort to get the thing there. Best to avoid San Jose for the next decade all. Stay away!

Jimbo, I read that article too - here is an excerpt:

"Old news photos from the original construction of the
Bay Area Rapid Transit District in the late 1960s
show what's in store.

From the air, downtown Oakland looked as if a
tornado had ripped through the city where the tracks
would later be laid. Entire blocks became
construction pits, and storefronts boarded up their
windows while the work dragged on.

In San Francisco, traffic detours sent people miles
out of their way just to go a few blocks on either side
of Market Street.

BART construction through San Jose will be just as
daunting, and temporary inconveniences are only a
part of it."

Anyone thinking this will happen fast and painless is in for a rude awakening. The constuction process is hell and goes on endlessly for about a decade. Get used to it if you plan to visit or live in SJ. I have had to deal with the current BART extension to SFO constuction daily for years -- it still goes on.

Although BART will take some time to extend into San Jose, it will be a big improvement for the city once the trains are running. Disturbance to businesses and residents in Center City San Jose will be kept to a minimum during the construction of the subway along Santa Calra Street, however, there will always be some inconvenience. Center City will remain open for business during this time. The BART system will allow for the development of higher density housing along the line, much like what we have seen along the Lght Rail lines. The City needs more high density housing due to the scarcity of available land suitable for building.

Hey Jimbo,

How much is the San Francisco Convention and Visitor's Bureau paying you?

Heya xxxx, San Jose pays me just like they pay you, of course! I'm your neighbor in the office! Don't let this leak to oyr boss, not sure if the public wants to know that we are posting such biased and foolish information on this board. So hush up. Thanks.. /wave!

The only foolish information being poted about San Jose is being the info by Jimbo, who apparently is quite psychotic with nothing better to do than bash San Jose. Jimbo, I know that tourism is down in San Francisco, but I didn't realize that you would stoop to basing another city just to help out poor SF.

huh xyz, I'm ALL ABUOT San Jose! It ROCKS. I'm just confused why you continue to deny that we work together for the San Jose Visitors board.. and part of our job description is to post on Fodors and other boards to entice people to our great city? I've come clean.. can you?

But, you have to admit.. it's a shame that it will take 12 years for bart to get here. Sigh.. and the construction.. not good.

Jimbo AKA susan spike,
Obviously you have nothing better to do than to make sarcastic remarks about SJ. We should feel sorry for people such as yourself