Ok, I have my travel dates set, but am not sure the amount of days/nights needed in each place. My wife and I will be flying into Sna Francisco on Thursday, Oct. 2 and will arrive about 11:00 AM. We will be returning home on Saturday Oct.11 early morning flight. This will gives us 9 nights on our trip. We would like to split the trip up into 3 segments SF/Yosemite/Monterey area. We have our hotels picked SF Hyatt Fishermans Wharf, Yosemite-Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal, amd Monterey - Best Western Beach Resort (my wife likes looking at the ocean). Both of us like to see different sights and take pictures. We will not be doing any real hiking. We have never been to California before and want to make sure the trip is a memorable one. Now the hard part. I am not sure how many days/nights to spend in each location, and not sure what order to schedule each area. I plan on renting a car for the Yosemite and Monterey portion of the trip only. I will rely on SF transportation to get around and get back to the airport. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

This is a tough one because you'll have some driving involved getting to and from your three locations that always eats up time. So first you need to figure out how much actual time you'll have to spend in each place. I'd recommend you take the quickest route, not necessarily the most scenic (e.g., we found taking Highway 101 south from San Francisco past San Jose and Gilroy and then 156 west over to 1 and down to Carmel was quickest. )

I've been to all three places (love them all) but on separate trips. (we live in Washington, so it's not to difficult) When my family went to San Francisco last year, we stayed for three days and were busy morning to night seeing things.Be sure to rent a bike near the waterfron and ride to the Presidio if you can - one our highlights. We enjoyed staying near the Wharf since it put us within walking distance of a lot of things and we were also right near a cable stop for getting up to China town, etc.

My wife spent three days in Carmel two years ago, and it was barely enough. Carmel is a cute upscale town minutes from Monteray - great shops, beaches. We preferred it over Monteray, but every one has different tastes. Take time to drive around the 17-mile drive (they charge you to do it, but you'll see incredible homes and wonderful parks, beaches, etc.). You also need almost full day to drive south on Highway 1 (Big Sur). I'd recommend driving all the way to San Simeon if you can. It takes a lot of time because you really do find yourself stopping at every view point for the "ooooohs" and "aaahhs" and photo opportunities.

Lastly, I spent a week at Yosemite last fall hiking, and it was incredible. If you're not going to do any hiking, than I think you can afford just two days there. Be sure to drive up to Glacier Point - incredible views of all the peaks and valley floor! If you're driving along and notice lots of people stopped and looking up, take a gander yourself. Chance are you'll spot rock climbers. We watched several groups on El Capitan - holy cow! That made my stomach go in knots. You could actually see the climbers on ledges, etc. Yikes! Most of all, have a great trip!

Regarding Yosemite -- try to get lodging INSIDE the park. You are outside the boundries and its a drive everyday to see things -- stay in the Valley. Check here for lodging in Park and online booking (if sold out keep trying --people cancel as dates near) Try the Yosemite Lodge for a motel like right next to Yosemite Falls (that will be dry then) They roar in late spring early summer). Try these other 2 if you haven't already looked at them for basic info on hikes, sites ,etc
http://www.yosemitepark.com/
http://www.nps.gov/yose/

I am biased when it comes to SF and Yosemite -- born in SF, grew up in near suburb, and went to Yosemite dozens of times (including in June this year with grown kids) amazing place. ENJOY.
(don't forget binoculars)

http://www.yosemitepark.com/bookonline.cfm?sectionID=22

We just returned from a trip to the Monterey Peninsula. You might also enjoy a visit to Pacific Grove. The downtown area has some great restaurants and cute shops. Have a great trip.

I agree with the above poster. Please consider staying on the Valley Floor inside the park. We stayed at the Yosemite Lodge and had most meals there. We did splurge one night and made reservations at The Ahwahnee, the atmosphere is wonderful with mountain views all around and a piano player for intertainment. You save so much time by being inside the park and there is a shuttle that takes you all around. None of the facilities have TV or radio however. We also loved the Mariposa Grove inside the park, hiking thru the redwoods was fantasic.

I read this on a previous post . . . 17 mile drive, do they charge you to drive it ? How much ? Is it private or what ?

We stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge and really enjoyed it. Yes, it is outside the park but it is nowhere near 40 minutes to get up to the valley - more like 15-20. If you can, get a riverside room with a jacuzzi in the bathtub. The hotel also has nice outdoor pools and hot tubs.

We also did the 17-mile drive in the same holiday and there is a charge (in the region of $10-$15) - in the same way that there is a charge for Yosemite. It is well worth it.

I would recomend seeing the Toulomne meadows area of Yosemite. Not as many crowds, but some beautiful views, walks and scenery. it is quite a drive from the valley, but a stunning drive. You can do 2/3hr or half day mule rides in this area as well, but you must book well in advance. Probably won't be a problem outside the peak summer months

HI, I just did this Itenarary August 4-14.We flew into Oakland Airport, arriving at 11:30 on SWA. Great Airport. We got our
rental car (prereserved) and headed to Yosmite. We arrived at the town of Oakhurst around 4pm (staying at a Local B&B). We spent the first night relaxing. Next morning we drove up thru the Southern entrance to Yosemite, enjoying Mariposa Groves. Meandered thru the Southern entrance of the park and arrived at Camp Curry around 2pm for check-in. Yosemite Lodge was booked, so Camp Curry was all that was available. I booked in June. We stayed 3 days at Camp Curry. I will be honest, the cots were uncomfortable. My husband hated it. When we turned it the first night it was warm, but around 2am, I woke up freezing. Needless to say I was much better prepared the other two nights. Sleeping in Sweats and lots of blanket. WE also had an infant that cried for 2 hours the first night. Camp Curry Resturants are so-so. Do yourself a favor and eat at Yosemite Lodge. The food is much better.
Yosemite View Lodge is only 2O minutes away and I would book there looking back on it. My college professor did that back in July and had no problem with driving back into the park every day. Also my husband and I did a few Ranger Walks and explored the campground, but after 8pm we were tired and it would be nice to have a T.V. and comfortable bed. We rafted on the Merced River, Hiked Glacier Point, Listened to some ranger presentations, and drove all over the Valley. WE saw a lot of deer and Coyote. We stayed at Yosemite 3 days, Then headed to SF for 3days. IN SF, we returned the rental Car to Oakland Airport and then shuttled over on the subway to Powell Street and walked to the Hilton checked in around 2pm, showered (Yosemite had very dirty showers)and set off to explore SF.We did Fisherman's Wharf, walked the Golden Gate Bridge, drove down Lombard ST., China Town (recommend Wok Whiz tour) Alcatraz at night ( make reservations ahead of time, because they will sell out) and spent a full day in the Wine Country. We attended two private wine tours and enjoyed a mud bath in Calistoga. After San Francisco, we left for 3 days for Monterey. We came back to SF after Yosemite, because it was a free stay at the Hilton and we booked our fee stay for the w/e, knowing the w/e would be more expensive. Anyway, We took Hwy 1
out of SF to Monterey. We stayed in Pacific Grove at the Green Gables. Highly recommend this Victorian bed and breakfast. We stayed in the Chapel room and had a full ocean view.We drove the 17 mile drive ($8.25)and just relaxed. Puttered around Pacific Grove and Monterey and Little bit of Carmel. Saw a lot of deer on 17 mile drive. I know this is long,sorry. There is a lot that we did that I did not include. WE had a great time. This was also our first trip to California. In Monterey, Treat your wife to a nice Bed and Breakfast instead of the Best Western. Look into Green Gables,
or the Seven Gables in Pacific Grove. Any ??????, feel free to email me: [email protected]. Have Fun.

Just returned from two weeks in California. Spent Monday through Thursday in San Francisco. Throughly enjoyed "San Francisco Then and Now" walking tour (415)317-8687 3 1/2hours historical background of the city (our fourteen year old son even enjoyed it). The tour guide, Peter, has lived in the city for many years and provides great details. Fascinatated with the Victorian Home Walk Tour (415)252-9485. Chinatown is a must-great shopping! Try Wok Wiz (415)982-8839 or All About Chinatown Walking Tours (415)982-8839 and, of course, the Alcatraz tour with audio that we booked weeks in advance. You won't need a car in San Francisco but I highly recommend purchasing the SF transit map and street map at any drug store, $4.00, includes the muni bus routes (with bus numbers you need to know in getting from one point to the next). We stayed at the Cedar Lodge in El Portal, your motel is even closer to the park entrance then ours, and we had no problem with traffic in the early morning. After 5PM it was bumper to bumper leaving the park. Don't think you'll have that problem in October unless it's the weekend.We booked a day long tour in Yosemite and spent another day in the park. The remainder of the time was in LA. What a great vacation!! You will have fun in SF and awed by the giant sequoias in Yosemite.
Jean