Ideas in California
 

Hi everybody. Firstly, my english is poor, so sorry about it. I´m from Spain, and the next september my wife and me have planed our holidays trip to US.

We´ll arrive to New York (we stayed yet four years ago, we love it), and spend three days (Hotel Mela). After, we´ll flight to San Francisco. Three days there, rent a car and going to Fresno (we choose Fresno cause is a good and center point to Yosemite, Sequoya, Sierras, coast...). Stay two days, and go to Santa Barbara (1 night, Casa del Mar Inn). Then, L. A. (four days) and three days relaxing in Viceroy Santa Monica. Car again, and going to Las Vegas, burn our money left and coming back home.

Any idea, restaurants, locals, etc?. Thanks a lot!

Your English is just fine - do not worry.

&quot;<i>we choose Fresno cause is a good and center point to Yosemite, Sequoya, Sierras, coast...</i>&quot;

My only quick comment right now is <u>do not stay in Fresno</u>!! It might be an OK place to live but is a terrible place for a tourist. It is nowhere near the coast and a long drive from Yosemite Valley. Stay in Yosemite Valley if you can, and just outside the park to the west if rooms are not available in the Valley itself.

By &quot;next september&quot; do you mean 2 months from now or in 2008?

Contrary to what may be assumed by looking at a map, Fresno is not a convenient base for Yosemite and the other National Parks.

Your itinerary overlooks one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S.A.--Highway 1 south of Carmel.

Eliminate Fresno from your itinerary. It's a working class, agricultural hub that doesn't cater to tourists.

&gt;&gt;Your itinerary overlooks one of the most beautiful drives in the U.S.A.--Highway 1 south of Carmel.&lt;&lt;

Amen !!!! The drive from San Francisco to Santa Cruz isn't bad either. I would certainly choose to spend time on the Big Sur coast (Hwy 1) than in Santa Monica.

You're going to be doing a lot of not-so-scenic driving from when you leave San Francisco till you get to Santa Barbara - and not much time &quot;being there&quot;.

I agee with others about Fresno. It's very far from the coast.

In case you don't know this, September is when we usually get our best weather in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Do a search on the US forum for &quot;Stu Dudley&quot; and you find some other tips for enjoying the SF Bay Area.

Stu Dudley

I take it you like cities because you are allowing 4 days for L.A. and only one each for Yosemite and Sequoia. If you like scenic beauty, I'd allow more time for Yosemite and try and get reservations in Yosemite Valley as others have mentioned.

Utahtea

Hello, Worldman! Your English is just fine. Wish my Spanish were as good as your English!

The others are correct: do not stay in Fresno.

Here's a suggested itinerary:

Stay in San Francisco three days, you do not need a car in San Francisco.

When you are ready to leave SF, rent a car and drive to Yosemite. Leave early, it will take at least 4 hours. Spend one/two nights in Yosemite. Once you have been to Yosemite, you do not need to see Sequoia or Kings Canyon; your time will be better spent along the coast.

So drive back towards San Francisco and the coast, but you do not need to return to San Francisco. Go a little southward and go towards Monterey and Carmel through San Jose. You begin your journey along the coast from Monterey southward. Suggest you spend at least one night in Monterey/Carmel area. It is very beautiful there. Then drive south and and spend another night in Cambria - try and see Hearst Castle. It is one of the few castles you will see in the US. Then one night in Santa Barbara if you feel like it or else just drive straight through to Los Angeles.

Stay in Los Angeles and keep the car. You will definitely need a car in Los Angeles. At the end of your stay in Los Angeles, return the car. Fly to Las Vegas. The drive through the desert from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is not pleasant and the flight will probably cost you less than the car rental and petrol.

Come back for more ideas. The people on this board are very helpful.

Have a great trip and welcome to California! :)

Thanks everybody! You´re really hepful! (people as you is one of the things we felt in love whit your country).

I will modificate my itinerary; as you said, we chose Fresno cause lookin´ the map and hotels reviews looks -more o less- near the parks (one hour driving), just in the middle of everywhere, and going trough old and ghost towns... ; the problem there is not availability in the Yosemite zone hotels. We´ll change, leaving one night or two in LA and Santa Monica, and, taking the coast road, stay in Carmel, or Monterrey, and from there, going to Yosemite and coming back to the coast.

Thanks again!

Do you mean this September? If so, hotel availability will be challenging, but there must be someplace to stay other than Fresno. The Tanaya Lodge is a nice place, just outside Yosemite park. There are many smaller places outside the park, too, but I don't know the names off-hand. Maybe Fodorites can come up with some more lodging suggestions for you, other than Fresno.

Yosemite is beautiful. You will be amazed. Be sure to go to the Ahwahnee Lodge, at least for a meal or to look around.

EasyTraveler gives you a good starting itinerary.

If you're going in 9/07, post more specific questions about lodging in each location. You'll get good advice here. The drive you are planning is very popular, so mid-priced lodging gets booked up early.

Welcome back to the U.S.
:)&gt;-

This is a case in which maps can be deceiving. Frenso looks close, but it really isn't. You will be travelling slower on mountain roads, so travel will take longer than expected. Also, remember that the parks themselves are big.

If we were to stay in Fresno and drove to Yosemite, you would be entering at the south entrance to the park. It is another 45 minutes or so from there to Yosemite Valley, which is the main area of the park, so factor that into your plans. For Sequoia and Kings Canyon, it is a similar thing.

For Yosemite lodging, check the towns of El Portal, Mariposa, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, and Groveland.

I also agree with the others that with such a short time, I would choose one park or the other and not try to see both. Distances are further than they seem and if you try to see both parks, you will be very rushed.

I agree with the others, skip Fresno, see only Yosemite.. head back towards the Pacific. But maybe try to see the California Missions. They are interesting..Carmel, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara.. maybe of more interest than Hearst Castle which is &quot;weird&quot;.. in that its pieces of castles from all over Europe assembled on a hill. Do it all if you can. Check air fare prices with Southwest Airlines, or Jet Blue to fly from LA to Las Vegas. You could rent a car in Vegas to drive out to the desert and see that before heading back to LA for your flight home.

That's a great idea. Since you're from Spain, maybe you'd be interested in the &quot;Spanish architecture&quot; of the missions all throughout California. There are so many of them. The Jesuit colleges have pretty, and very well-maintained Spanish churches on their campuses-- San Francisco University, Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University in L.A. Lots of others, too. I particularly like their architecture and woodwork.

Also agree with recommendations that you focus on Yosemite. It's amazing, and huge.

Are you sure you must go to Las Vegas?? I'd skip it myself-- add more time to San Francisco, Yosemite, Santa Barbara. . .
:)&gt;-

Hi, and thanks again!

I´ll modify my itinerary; stay in Merced after SF (it´s the nearest place I could find to Yosemite, even Mariposa is overbboking), going to Yosemite for one whole day, and coming back to the coast, stopping in Monterey, San Luis Obispo (or Morro Bay, any suggestion or hotels?) and Santa Barbara, before LA.

And, MaureenB, I´m a spanish: of course, I need to go Las Vegas and drivin´the Mojave! I know, of course, it´s just neon and noise, but... who´ll believe me in home if I don´t do it?

no, no, NO - do not stay in Merced!! it is Fresno only smaller.

What are your actual dates - maybe we can dind available rooms for you

janisj is 200% correct! :)

You don't want to stay in Merced. It's much too far south of where you want to be.

Here's the driving route from San Francisco to Yosemite:

Leaving San Francisco, take Interstate 80 which goes across the Bay Bridge.

Once across the Bay Bridge, follow the signs for Interstate 580 going east.

After driving on I580 for about an hour, the highway splits into a &quot;Y&quot;, take the left arm of the Y which will be Interstate 205.

You'll be on I205 for about 15-20 minutes. The I205 end at Interstate 5. Go NORTH on I5 towards MANTECA.

You will be on I5 for only about 5 minutes, then you will see signs for State Highway 120. Take Highway 120 EAST for about 10-15 minutes.

Highway 120 then continues together with Highway 99 for one mile only going north, just stay on Highway 120. After this short one mile, Highway 120 will split from Highway 99 and go directly east.

Up Highway 120, you have been on what we call &quot;freeway&quot;, i.e., multilane, high speed roads. Interstate roadways are marked in red, white, and blue signs. When you get on Highway 120, this is a state road and will be marked with green signs.

When you split from Highway 99, this will become a two-lane country road. Follow Highway 120 all the way and it will take you to Yosemite.

This route sounds complicated, but really isn't. It just continues east from San Francisco in a zigzag pattern.

If you cannot find lodging inside Yosemite, you want to find a hotel somewhere on Highway 120. Obviously the closer to Yosemite the better.

Here are a few hotels as listed in my AAA travel book. You can google/yahoo the town of Groveland and find the hotel's address and phone number. I have not stayed at these hotels, but I'm certain that other Fodorites will be able to help you with a hotel near Yosemite.

GROVELAND, CALIFORNIA

America's Best Value Inn - Yosemite Westgate Lodge (2*)

Groveland Hotel at Yosemite National Park (3*)

Yosemite Rose Bed and Breakfast (3*)

Happy planning! :)