Here we go again....another family trip to see our great national parks (have already done Yellowstone, GTNP, GC, Bryce, Zion). But this time we're going to throw some city stops in. And Fodorites always help me "perfect" our trips.

We are a family of 4--me, hubby, son 12 and daughter 9. Early risers, like to hike, kids really want to "see California" (we live in Boston). I won't camp Prefer 3 star or better hotels but always looking for a good deal. Must visit family/friends in LA so will need an extra day there.

Here's my initial thinking. Would love feedback:

August 18: Fly BOS to SFO. Arrive midday. Check into hotel (Argonaut? Crowne Plaza?). Take cable car, tour Union Square, early dinner in Chinatown.

August 19: Early tour of Alcatraz (must do on son's list). Too cold early? Brief Fisherman's Wharf tour, Coit Tower. Pick up rental car. Drive to Marin Headlands and around Pacific Heights. Dinner in North Beach.

August 20: Last cable car ride. Any other stops. Leave city by Lombard St. Go to Yosemite. Reservations at Yosemite Lodge already.

August 21: Hiking/Biking in Yosemite. Suggestions of hikes welcomed. Dinner at Ahwahnee

August 22: Maybe this is the morning to bike in Yosemite. Leave by way of South entrance after lunch. Overnight Sequoia NP.

August 23: Touring Sequoia. How much time do we need (are two half days o.k. or should I add a night here?) Drive to Palmdale to visit family.

August 24: Tour Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Walk of Fame. Overnight Beverly Hills HIlton?

August 25: Universal Studios for the day (a must do)

August 26: Drive to Venice, Malibu, swim in the Pacific, visit with friends in Pacific Palisades.

August 27: Morning free. Fly home in mid-afternoon.

Not really sure what we must do in LA even though I've been there many times on business. Son wanted to go to SD Zoo but I think that's pushing it unless they give up Universal. Please offer any suggestions!

Thanks
Carol

Trip looks fine except I would not push San Diego either.
SaN Fran I would vote for hotel closest to Union Square..
MArin Headlines with car go to Rodeo beach...have to get map from AAA and ask at hotel. It is I think 2nd left on MArin side of Golden Gate. TAke a picnic and sit on beach, see lighthouse, old military bunkers. Great place for pictures of Golden Gate bridge.
Pick up some fresh fruit and pistachio nuts from farm side stands on way to Yosemite but beware... do not leave in car as Bears in Yosemite will tear the car apart to get to food,,,,even gum.
Sequoia will be VERY hot so if you do hiking then go in am bring water for everyone and take Bear whistles if you go on less used trails. Funky old style gas station in Sequoia with the old fashioned gas bubble tank..
We stayed at the Wuksachi Lodge in Sequoia and they did not have air conditioning and I remember it being very hot over 120. Wuksachi Lodge has a very nice gourmet restaurant.
HAve fun...

Where are you thinking of staying in LA?

I think you should try two different places: perhaps one closer to Universal Studios for the beginning leg, and a beach location for the second, either Santa Monica, Venice or Malibu. up until you fly home (I presume from LAX).

If August 26 is a WEEKEND day, I'd not make that a beach day. Otherwise, leave it as is.

I can recommend the Casa Malibu Inn as a great place to stay for it's prices and its fantastic right-on-the-beach location. That way, you could wake up your last morning on the Pacific with an easy trip to LAX. A great way to end your stay.

I would also nix the San Diego Zoo unless your son is planning a career in that field. Even so, the LA Zoo is just as vast and humane.

It looks like you are driving from Palmdale to Beverly Hills/Hollywood all in one day. Certainly doable, but brace yourself for plenty of traffic.

Happy travels!

So you have one full day to hike in Yosemite? What kind of hike do you like? The hikes starting in the valley, where you will be staying, all go UP. The most popular (and most crowded) is the hike up to Vernal and Nevada Falls. The hike up to the top of Yosemite Falls is more difficult (classified as a strenuous hike) and therefore less crowded. My personal favorites are in the high country (Tuolumne Meadows), but that requires a 90-minute drive (each way) from the valley. It is a great way to see the whole park, however. Let me know if you are interested in that and I will suggest some nice ones.

Since you are thinking of biking the valley floor the next day (good idea), I haven't suggested any hikes in that area.

In August, the Glacier Point road will be open. Sentinel Dome is well worthwhile, with a 360 degree view. I would do that, and Vernal (adding Nevada if you are fit).

Thanks to all for good ideas and suggestions.

We will probably try the more strenuous hikes to avoid the crowds and I was thinking we would go to Sentinel Dome (thanks for confirming that). Tuolomne Meadows a definite possibility as I've been that way and it's beautiful. It did cause my companions altitude sickness when I visited before (which my kids suffered through going from Grand Tetons to Yellowstone) so I may take a pass.

Thanks for the heads up on the heat in Sequoia. I had no idea...but isn't Wuksachi the most updated hotel and it doesn't have ac?! We can survive one night. Or do you think I should add a night here.

Am thinking we may stay with the relatives in Palmdale (they don't know it yet....) so we would wake up early to get to LA and know that it will be horrible traffic (I've been before).

Like the idea of staying on the beach. May have the option of staying with our friends in Pacific Palisades.

Keep the ideas coming!!!

I was surprised how much the extra altitude at Tuolumne affected me last year. Even a relatively modest slope seemed much more difficult than a steep stretch from the Valley. Then I checked and found out it was a mile higher.

Unless you want to hike up to the high country, two half days at Sequoia should be enough. Concentrate on the Giant Forest area, especially Crescent Meadow and Moro Rock. Great views from the top of the rock, all the way into the Central Valley to the peaks of the Great Western Divide, with the very tip of Mt. Whitney peaking out behind.

Crescent Meadow the gem of the Sierra is ringed by giant sequioas, a short hike around it and the adjacent Log Meadow is very rewarding. Lots of hikes possible in the area, both short and long.

Just an update. Hubby says let's take a day from LA and spend it in Yosemite. Think he's right. So now we'll have three nights in Yosemite which gives us two full days. Like all the hiking suggestions. Anyone ever do the horseback riding? We loved the 2 hour trip in Bryce and hated the 1 hour tame trip in Zion.

Would love help with driving times. What should I plan from Yosemite Valley to Sequoia entrance? Thinking we'll forgo Mariposa Grove since we'll see sequoias better in Sequoia NP. How long from Sequoia south entrance to Palmdale or Burbank (I know those are two distinct places)?

Appreciate all of the help. Have read some horrible reviews of Wuksachi Lodge on tripadvisor but guess we can survive for a night....

Since visiting the Kings Canyon Park I'm in love with it! I would definitely add a night to Sequoia to go to Kings Canyon for a day.

Last year we visited Sequoia, and stayed in Three Rivers - just outside the southern entrance. We live near the I-5 and Hwy 14 (Newhall Pass), and the trip took us three hours. Then it would be another 20 minutes to Burbank.

To Palmdale, it would take a little longer although it is freeway all the way on Hwy 58 from Bakersfied, and then picking up the 14 in Mojave. Plan on four hours.

The road from Sequoia is long and winding to the southern entrance. You may want to add some extra time to your planning.

We did not stay at the Wuksachi Lodge, but it looks very nice. There are three buildings and are quite new.

Two 1/2 days in sequoia are enough. If you've been to Yosemite, you can skip Kings Canyon. It's very nice, but not sure the long drive.

Swimming in the Pacific may be still cold in August. You could probably combine Hollywood/Beverly Hills w/ a half day at the beach if you really want to the zoo. But it's not worth > 2hours drive down there and back.

About horseback riding. Make a reservation and go very early in the morning. The horses don't go out when it gets hot, hot.

We did a great trail rid eiwth my daughter 7yrs at the time at a place right next to Apple tree inn- In fishcamp - just outside the park. It was a beuatiful ride through redwoods and creeks- the guide(very much a cowboy- but dont call him that he was a "horseman"- was really good with everyone. THe inn is also a good stop on the way in or out- has continential brealfast and nice very roomy rooms. Really exceptional staff too. As far as Yosemite- try a last minute bookiing to the awahnee- we got one the week before but called every day- we dropped our reservation for one night ellsewhere- and were glad we did! We are spoiled too and love great historic hotels- dinner is great if you cant book a room but try!

In Sequoia, definitely do the hike around Crescent Meadow. It is very beautiful. I would recommend doing this in the morning because it can be buggy there.

We didn't climb Moro Rock because it was pretty hot when we were there. We thought out time would be better spent sitting in the river

Crystal Cave is really neat. You can buy tour tickets at the Lodgepole visitors center and probably other places as well. You walk about a half mile from the parking lot down into a canyon to get to the cave entrance, past some great little waterfalls, which were an unexpected treat.

The cave tour and Crescent Meadow were the highlights of our trip to Sequoia.

I'd consider RenaissanceHollywood as your L.A. hotel, you can just metro-subway up to Universal and back, and you'd have a nice short drive to the L.A. Zoo.

Really appreciate all of help!

Horseback riding - won't work to do it near the southern entrance due to our itinerary. Hoping someone has done the trail rides in the valley or up in the Tuolomne area.

Sequoia ideas - Crystal Caves is a "must do" for us since I know our kids will love it. Crescent Meadow sounds right. And I keep hearing how hot it can be. Hard to believe given the high altitude (but I DO believe you!).

Hollywood Renaisscance - I'll check into that again. Am leaning toward Hilton Universal Studios (seems like the rooms are larger than Sheraton and it's convenient to our planned day in Universal Studios). But I had thought about Hollywood Renaiscance and will look again.

Thanks all!

I've been to San Fran many times but last year I followed StuDudley route.We were able to see all the sights in about 2 hours(our stops were brief) I saw things I had never seen before. You can find the route if you search StuDudley. He has tons of posts but this one is found in a post dated 7/3/05. It's approx. his 559th post. If you follow this route, make sure you have a good city map and confirm the turns and directions. We got lost towards the end of the route when we went over the bridge. Have fun!!

Oops, the best way to find that route post is to search for "24hours in San Fransisco"

Good luck

It does seem strange that it can be as hot as it is at high altitudes. Sequoia is hotter than more northern parts of the Sierras. We didn't expect the heat when we went to Sequoia - and then the first day I forgot the sunscreen mantra of the pale-skinned folk "Reapply reapply reapply" and paid the price.