Walk of Fame will take 30 minutes and you can see the Hollywood sign from the view deck of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center (a good place for low cost parking).

May 1 is a Sunday and it will take a lot longer than 2 hours to drive back from Santa Barbara since that is a favorite weekend getaway from many from Los Angeles for a long weekend so you will have traffic unless you leave early. Venice Beach - only if the homeless have not moved back, Santa Monica is better to visit, or maybe one of the South Bay beach cities like Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach or Redondo Beach. The latter don't get the write ups in guide books for overseas tourists but are very chill places for bike riding, beach volleyball, surfing, etc.

It’s not a matter of doing “all the hikes,” it’s a matter of doing even one. Break down each day here hour by hour. Which hike you are doing in Zion, Valley of Fire and Death Valley? Which hours of the day is that going to happen? You don’t have time for any hikes.

The homeless encampments are back in Venice Beach. (I don't think they were "gone" for more than a few days.) There are also many encampments on Hollywood Boulevard (Walk of Fame). People who don't live here have no idea how widespread the homeless crisis is.

The Hollywood sign is visible from many, many places all over the city. Even from LAX.

You can follow the itineraries of any number of bloggers and so-called "influencers" you find on the internet (who are often compensated for mentioning specific places/hotels/restaurants/etc.), or you can take the advice of people who live here. Your choice. California is the size of many countries with as many things to see/do as countries offer. You won't run out of attractions anywhere in the very brief amount of time you have, but only you can decide what's most important to you and how you want to allocate your time. For example, I'd rather spend time at the Monterey Aquarium than SF Fisherman's Wharf and go whale-watching in Monterey Bay than visit Alcatraz. But that would be my trip and not yours.

You should look into lodging options ASAP for all your stops. Because kids are out of school around Easter, many families take road trips. Lots of hotels on the coast have minimum night stays between Thursday or Friday and Sunday.

I'm very glad that I got my America the Beautiful Senior Pass for only $10 soon after my 65th birthday. It is good for my lifetime. The last time that I went to Death Valley there were no entrance stations. On that visit I drove the one way Artist loop and toward the end I saw someone who had been injured flipping his motorcycle upside down. Since there was no cell service in that area, I drove many miles to the visitor center to inform the rangers to get an ambulance out there.

There are credit card operated pay kiosks at either end, really it’s run under an honor system. I think you would have to show your lifetime pass at the visitor center to get a no cost receipt to tape to the windshield.

Death Valley operates a lot like a Canadian national park, you can drive through on the main highway and not pay, but parking and scenic drives like the Artist’s Palette require a tag. Canadian parks charge by the day though, American parks you always get a week.

I leave the lifetime pass hanging from the rear view mirror.

I don't think Death Valley have enough staff to check, though.

I don't usually say 'that's too ambitious" but this one is. Even the revised one. If you actually want to do ANY hike, factor in 1 to two hours to enter and leave each park (backup at the entrances, finding parking, taking a shuttle are typical). Bear in mind that Google Maps often only gives you the time to reach the park entrance. You need a much more detailed timeline to get any realistic sense of what you will be able to do. Don't forget since you are apparently moving hotels nearly every night on the road trip, that you can't check in until 3 or 4pm most of the time, and that will take time even if you just drop your bags and run to the park. You need to show a driver's license or Passport, sign a form, and have your credit card swiped even if you have prepaid. During busy travel periods you may have to wait behind a few other guests.

Kayenta is ugly. It is shocking when you enter the reservation after being in National Park lands. Pony up for lodging at Monument Valley.
I stayed in Kayenta once when I came down with a brutal cold during a trip. IIRC I made it all the way back to Scottsdale the next day.

Flagstaff and Williams aren't bad places to stay, but they will add drive time. So try to get into the Park lodging (Maswick or Yavapai). For Zion, spend a night in Springdale. Kanab is a good location about 90 minutes from Zion and Bryce.

Wow, I though I traveled fast. I know you just want to 'catch a glimpse of" these places but you likely won't even be able to do that. This trip is in April? Think about what time it gets dark.

Several of the things you suggest are not going to be doable due to the fact you are already too late to get reservations. Have you checked to see if there are any vacancies in the Grand Canyon. It books up way in advance and while there are cancellations sometimes you need a plan B and there aren't many hotel rooms within a short distance of the park. Antelope canyon requires advance reservations. I don't know where you put in as the destination for Death Valley but it's not ONE place - it's huge and just driving through it takes hours, not to mention getting to and from LV. If you wanted to stay one night in the park you'd need reservations which I'm almost positive you won't be able to get at this time. Before you go any further in your planning I'd check into lodging possibilities. (And see if you can get a reservation for Antelope Canyon - noon is the most popular time and books up way in advance).

I don't know if the OP is still reading or planning, but I can speak to 2 legs of the trip...

The drive from Monterey to Hearst Castle on PCH. We did this in Sept 2019 and you need to at least add 50% of the time you think you need. We thought we'd just drive it but we ended up getting out at almost every turn off to take in the views (this is really nice for whomever is driving, who can't properly pay attention to both the road and the view) and also there were minor road works along the way that narrowed the route to 1 lane, so there was some waiting involved while one lane was passing through. All we did on this day was start out at 8:30 am leaving Monterey, drive the 17 Mile Drive and then head to Hearst Castle, figuring we'd get there just after lunch, but between the road works and all our stopping we didn't hit the sea lions at San Simeon until almost 4 p.m.

You are also short-changing Valley of Fire big time. We visited that last September, and even in 114 degree heat, we still wanted to walk some of the trails and not just drive through the route without stopping. This was a 4 hour time investment, easily. It would be a shame not to stop and appreciate more leisurely. And bring water, sunblock and a hat!!

Vacancies at Grand Canyon?
We do have our accommodation booked for the Grand Canyon and we will have American National Pass.

We do have an Antelope Canyon booking already.

thank you!

We know that Big sur day will be long.
do you think that whale watching is worth it?

we did plan the Hearst Castle but it will be closed when we are there.

We revised our route a bit more
16.4. night in LV
17.4. - 1 day trip death valley - night in LV
18.4. - hoover dam and route 66 to GC - night in GC (booked)
19.4. - GC and drive to monument valley
20.4. - monument valley - night in Page
21.4. - horseshoe bend and antelope canyon (booked) - night zion
22.4. - zion - night zion
23.4. - valley of fire - night LV

Spring is a very good time for whale watching in Monterey Bay. Be aware that you can feel a lot of motion even on calm days so if either of you is prone to motion sickness, I'd take something before hand. It can also feel very cold out on the water so bring extra layers. If you decide to do it, I would do it on your SF to Carmel day and skip Henry Cowell due to time (you can see redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur the following day). Whale watch boats depart from Moss Landing Harbor halfway between Santa Cruz and Monterey or Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey.

We are avid whale watchers here in MA. We go out a few times a month in season. It is bumpier in Monterey Bay, more because it’s far more exposed to open ocean than it is here on Stellwagen Bank off MA. But nothing we couldn’t handle either. I would say the humpback sightings are on par with what we see here regularly, the dolphins we saw pods in the hundreds which was phenomenal. The biggest draw though is the blue whales, which we were fortunate enough to find a pod of six together, and got to ride right along side them. Blues are the largest mammals on earth and almost double the size of humpbacks. It was truly the whale watch of a lifetime. Monterey Bay is known for being one of the best whale watching spots in the world. Each season offers opportunities to see different species. Gray whales, orcas, humpbacks and blues depending on when you go.

Your Big Sur day won’t just be “long” but you may not be factoring in being able to do anything else that day. We fully expected to make it to Hearst Castle and see it at the end of the day, but instead took in the views and had to decide to scrap HC in order to leisurely drive and enjoy Big Sur.

I feel whale watching can be done many places so since not unique to the US I would skip it.

Note that there is a large dam in Page (same height as Hoover but wider) with free tours and no crowds. Hoover dam is very busy and the tours are expensive and short and it has the feel of a train station it’s so packed with people.

Pfeiffer Big Sur redwoods are not so big compared to ones farther north, so I would try for the state park recommended. Better than Pfeiffer and free are the redwoods along Palo Colorado Rd not very far south of Carmel.

thank you Tom!

We are thinking of Page dam after our Antelope canyon tour before we drive to Zion.

So which redwood would you suggest then? Henry covel, Pfeiffer or Palo Colorado?

I also have Q about SF?

What would be the most optimal way for sightseeing and places to Stay?
we wont have a car for 2 days in SF.

I was thinking of staying somewhere like Union Square or Embarcadero?
So we have access with public transport and BART?

Also, it is OK to visit Fishermans Wharf, Alcatraz and pier 39 on the 26.,
and then Golden gate park, painted ladies on the 27th? or should we switch it?

Thank you!

We are aware :/

If only we would be given a gift of time
I know how things are, I am tour guide and I tell people the same when they come to Europe and try to see everything
so I do get them, to want to see as much as possible, but you could just never see it like someone living close by.

I also have Q about SF?

What would be the most optimal way for sightseeing and places to Stay?
we wont have a car for 2 days in SF.

I was thinking of staying somewhere like Union Square or Embarcadero?
So we have access with public transport and BART?

Also, it is OK to visit Fishermans Wharf, Alcatraz and pier 39 on the 26.,
and then Golden gate park, painted ladies on the 27th? or should we switch it?

​​​​​​​Thank you!

*I feel whale watching can be done many places so since not unique to the US I would skip it*

If however, anyone reading this is interested in going on a whale watch with a high diversity of species and highest likelihood of extraordinary sightings as compared to "many places", Monterey Bay is one of the best places in the world for it. This is not hyperbole. I would not skip it especially if I have little to no chance of doing it elsewhere in my travels or if I have an interest in oceanic wildlife.

If you're looking to do a short walk, I think both Henry Cowell and Pfeiffer Big Sur are good options to see some larger trees. At Henry Cowell there's a short loop around an old growth grove The Redwood Grove Loop Trail At Pfeiffer Big Sur the old growth trees are right at the entrance around the lodge and there's a short boardwalk Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park

Palo Colorado is a narrow residential road that's currently open for about 4 miles. The road and the parks located beyond that, Mill Creek and Botchers Gap, are still closed due to previous fires and flooding. Palo Colorado Rd goes through a redwood forest but if you want to walk around redwoods I think Henry Cowell or Pfeiffer Big Sur are better options.

Highway 1 itself goes through a redwood forest as it cuts inland for several miles after Andrew Molera. This is the Big Sur Village area where most of the restaurants, accommodations and shops along the route between Carmel and Cambria are located BigSurGuide2019-20.pdf

For California state parks you can show your same day receipt at another park so you don't have to pay for day use parking multiple times on the same day. This excludes the federal beach areas like Pfeiffer Beach, Sand Dollar and Willow Creek in Big Sur. You'll have to pay separately for those.

I I haven’t visited henry cowell state park but I think that would be the better of the 3. Generally the farther north you are the larger the redwood tree.

Palo Colorado Rd is worth driving along 1 km for the redwoods and “wild” houses, 7 minutes, quick. There’s a small grove near the entrance of Pfeiffer. Recalling now there’s a short walk along a stream with redwoods that’s okay too.