Help Cal/yosemite trip
 

Fellow fodorites,
I would like to ask for some suggestions.
My wife and I will be traveling to California next May. I already have reservations for 5 nights in Yosemite, 2 nights Kings Canyon and three nights Sequoia. My two questions are: 1) is San Jose the best major airport to go into in the area? 2) after out stay in Sequoia we will have three additional nights before returning - any suggestions for sights in the area? As you might guess we love nature and historical sights. Cities are not usually our cup of tea.
I was thinking about heading for the coast and Hearst castle but wasn't sure if it would be too busy at that time of year and if there were other sights around. Didn't think there would be much to see in Fresno. :-)
Any suggestions appreciated.

As the newest Fodorite (just registered), I think you have a great travel plan for part of California. I am a California native and have seen most of the state, some parts many times.

As for Hearst Castle, It should not be a busy problem in May. It is worth visiting. You are correct in that there is not much to see in Fresno...unless you want to visit their city zoo. Hmm...I know two people in Fresno. I hope they do not see this note. (grin)

As for airports, San Jose is ok. Lake Tahoe may be worth a visit, if you have time.

San Jose would be a good option for flying into -- depending on where you are coming from. Other possible airports would be Fresno (closest but not good connections from many parts of the country), Sacramento, Oakland and even Reno. If you are near a Southwest Airline city, then Sacramento, Oakland, SJ and Reno would offer cheap fares. I'd just pick the one that offered the best deal.

May would not be crowded on the coast - unless you are talking about Memorial Day weekend.

There are a number of natural sites along or near US395. You can access it via Tioga Pass Rd to Lee Vining among others. If you go north on 395 will come to Mono Lake and its tuffa towers. If you have a 4x4 or at least high clearance vehicle Bodie St Historical Park off CA270 is a wonderful old mining town in "arrest decay". If you go south from Lee Vining could visit the Devil's Postpile. Near Big Pine could visit the Bristlecone pines or continue south to Lone Pine and the gateway to Mt. Whitney. Good source of info is www.davestravelcorner.com/articles/bishop/1.htm.

I read that your trip will be in May. Depending on this winter's snowfall, Tioga Pass Road from Yosemite Valley to access Hwy 395 is closed until the end of May, beginning of June.

Also, if you are interested in going to Bodie, the road is paved except for the last 3 miles and is well maintained (gives you a feel for the old mining town). Bring water - the scenery makes you thirsty just looking at it.

Thanks for the suggestions. We will be flying out of Atlanta and Delta won't allow Southwest in so that's not an option (I don't want to drive to Birmingham and change planes twice). I considered Fresno airport but the costs are over $150 more per ticket than San Jose. The connections to Fresno also seem to be little puddle jumper things that my wife will not get on. We are going with the assumption that the Tioga pass will not be open. If it is I will make some changes. We will be arriving on May 15 and our last night in Sequoia will be the 25th. I expect to depart California on Saturday the 29th. I know it's the middle of the holiday weekend but I've always had good luck with small crowds on Saturday (Friday, Sunday and Monday are killers). Figure I'll spend the last night (28th) at the airport. So really only have two nights to "spend" on the road. one night to drive out to Hearst castle, then a night along Monterey. How does that sound?
Or should I go north toward Sacramento (sic)? Is there anything up there?
Thanks

You will be better off on the coast. Memorial Day weekend is the ONLY time all year Sacramento is totally booked up. We have a huge jazz festival with over 100,000 attending and hotel rooms booked up six months in advance.

There is a lot to see in and around Sacramento - but Monterey/Big Sur would actually be less crowded that weekend.

nuggetboy: You can safely ignore both Lake and Treck. They are one and the same person and and keep posting the same silly info over and over. Fodors keeps deleting him but he just logs on w/ a new screen name and re-posts.

Good plan. You can drive from Sequoia to the coast on 26th and Hearst Castle afternoon tour--make reservations in advance. I went on a weekend this past spring for the evening tour and thought it was fun to arrive at dusk and leave in the dark. If you haven't done the coastal drive, you'll have a fun time then on the 27th. Just north of San Simeon is a beach where elephant seals lounge--mating season will be over, but I think some are there yearround--interesting stop. Then there are the state parks and the gorgeous views as you work your way up to Monterey area. On the 28th you may want to visit one of the redwood parks on the way into San Jose. I like using SJ to reach the parks--smaller airport than SFO and fewer traffic hassles if you aren't headed to the city anyway. Had to ride a bus to the rental cars.

That's interesting - for the first time our SJ bad boy has managed to re-register w/ the same screen name. (Usually he has to log on as a new name each time he gets nuked).

He posted this same info 2 days ago and Fodors eliminated it - so nuggetboy, just be careful who you take advice from . . . . .

Hi, nuggetboy!

Great trip! Wonderful hikes all along!

janis, California, Jun20 and Kay2 have given you some good advice. I would suggest that with the two extra days you:

1) skip Fresno and San Jose, nothing much but suburban areas

2) spend some time at Lake Tahoe (if you can drive through Tioga Pass to the other side of Yosemite at the time of your visit) or

drive to the Coast to Hearst Castle and go through spectacular Big Sur back to San Jose.

Hope the San Jose Airport construction will have lightened up somewhat by then! It's been a bear to drive that airport these last few years. Seemingly a different route every day - and this is INSIDE the airport!

Have a great trip! And welcome to California!
Jason

Thanks for all the help. Talked to my wife and she voted for the coast and the castle. So that's where we will going (surprise). We'll head out and spend the night near the castle, tour it and head up to Monterey, spending the night there. Then off to the airport.
I don't know any of the personalities involved here but all the info from everyone was helpful and the link to the airport hotels was excellent. Think we'll stay at the Courtyard.
Thanks to everyone again.

Déjà vu!! I've certainly seen this post before, "Lake", or is it "Treck"? Or "Devinson"? Or "Jaredson", or "Diaz" or "Gannet" or "Watsen", or "Wats0n", or "Dawsen"...?

For the record, nuggetboy, San José isn't really on the coast, and it's truly suburbia-- although it has a couple of great museums (Tech Museum is wonderful), it's a destination best saved as a day trip from San Francisco. And since you're not city lovers, it can safely be skipped.

Hi, nuggetboy!

There is a multiple poster here on the California boards who keeps posting the same things, keeps wanting people to "tour" San Jose, and keeps bashing San Francisco. The same messages appear over and over again under different names. Tends to ruin a thread and cuts into the 99% sincere advice and opinions that is given on Fodors. And, yes, rjw and I are not the same person. We are getting tired of being lumped together, especially with rjw in Southern California and me in Northern California! LO!

This multiple poster tends to get deleted by Fodors and doesn't stay too long. Just click on a person's name and you will see how long the person has been posting.

Anyhow, to get back to your trip: the San Jose Airport Courtyard is fine. It's to the east of the airport and in a leafy, tree-lined area. Also in the same area is the Doubletree, by far a better hotel. If you can get a good rate on Priceline for the Doubletree, then I would suggest taking the Doubletree.

The Doubletree (and probably the Courtyard as well) has free shuttle service to the airport. If it makes any difference, you may be able to save one day's car rental by taking the shuttle and sleeping one night at the hotel, then returning the next day to the airport to pick up the car. Both hotels are just a skip away from the airport.

Again, welcome to California!
Jason

Nuggetboy - just in case you are the LEAST bit convinced by Lake's ravings/accusations - a simple way to check is to click on each of our names in this thread to see the histories.

nuff said . . . . . . .

I think you have made a good decision, but if you decide to go south you could visit Death Valley or Joshua Tree, but it might be hot in May!

Déjà vu, déjà lu! This is getting ridiculous....

I think that pretty much everyone can tell who is a legitimate poster and who isn't. Lets just stop responding to the posts from those we believe to be frauds. Arguing just clogs up the board and encourages them to post more.

Fodors does a good job of removing them most of the time.

If someone hasn't been posting for over two weeks, I generally consider what they are saying with a HUGE "grain of salt."