Nevada and California: Vegas/SF/Monterey
 

Hi Travelers!

I'm putting the final touches on a two-week itinerary for travel to Nevada and California, but would love some feedback.

Basic facts: I've got refundable hotels booked in various places along the way, but need to make some final decisions before my cancellation window closes. I'm traveling alone with son and daughter ages 13 and 11. We are all in pretty good shape and enjoy outdoors. Husband is wrecked that he can't make this trip, but for various reasons he cannot. Start and end are non-negotiable since we are visiting family. (parents/grandparents in Henderson, NV and sister in East Bay/SF) We aren't really interested in typical Vegas stuff, that just happens to be were my parents live. I've been traveling to this part of the country all my life but this is the first time the kids have been old enough to enjoy more of an adventure, AND this is the first time I've had to plan the trip!

July 3: Drive from upstate NY to New Jersey
July 4: Depart Newark to Las Vegas, arrive noon. Get rental car, drive to parents house. Fireworks display Henderson/Boulder City
July 5: Hoover Dam/family time
July 6: Ryolite/Beatty
July 7: Kayaking Lake Mead
July 8: Early drive to hotel in Tusayan, shuttle to Grand Canyon, half day at GC, sunset in canyon
July 9: Early drive to Grand Canyon, hikes along South Rim (half day in Grand Canyon) Drive back to Las Vegas parents overnight
July 10: Early drive through Death Valley, end in Bridgeport, CA. Travertine Hot Springs in evening, night one Brideport
July 11: Mono Lake morning and Bodie afternoon, unless kids want to stay at lake or return to hot springs, night two Bridgeport
July 12: Early Departure Bridgeport drive through Yosemite on 120 if Tioga Road is open (it is not currently open through the park) Drive through Stanislaus National Forest, if not? Destination Monterey, Hotel in Monterey
July 13: Monterey Aquarium, Cannery Row (touristy I know!) Drive to San Francisco, arrive at sister’s in East Bay evening
July 14-17: San Francisco/East Bay with sister and family
July 18: Flight home to Newark

I know this does not give me much time in Yosemite. It's basically a drive through, which is a shame. I have a refundable reservation in Mariposa, so would it be better to spend just one night in Bridgepport and try to spend more time in Yosemite, or knowing that it will be rushed no matter what should I just spend more time in the (hopefully) less crowded Mono Lake area?

Is it possible to drive from Bridgeport to Monterey via Yosemite in a day or will I kill myself? I could push my arrival to the East Bay back a day, but that would disappoint my sister and children will be heartbroken if we do not go to aquarium, so we can't cut that out.

I know that Ryolite and Beatty are almost to Death Valley andI am backtracking to go to back to Death Valley, but we need to find some day trips from Henderson that my father (age 83) can do, and he's excited about it, so we'll do it.

I'd forget about Yosemite unfortunately. Mariposa is a looong drive from the Valley and there is no estimate of when Tioga Pass will open. And the whole Mono Lake/Bridgeport/Bodie plan will have you on the wrong side of the Sierra for getting to Monterey.

I would either 1) fly from Vegas to SFO, SJC or MRY and explore the coast and SF . . . or 2) drive up 395, visit Bodie and continue on to Lake Tahoe, spend a couple of days there and then finish up in SF.

Day 10, that is a long day for not much in Rhyolite, but if dad wants it I do understand, this is my favorite way to enter Death Valley. Perhaps you could make a day of it and loop down into DV for a quick drive through and then back to Henderson through Parumph.

This would make day 10 a day when if you get going early, and if you get to Lee Vining and it is early enough and Tioga Pass is open, head for a quick look at Yosemite, then up to Bridgeport for the night.

You do have a lot of long drives. The suggestion to fly to San Francisco might work if you could get a decent price for tickets. This would eliminate the drop fee, gas, a day for the rental ca so that might make it work.

Yes, I can take or leave Rhyolite, especially since Bodie is on the agenda. I may suggest to my parents that we skip it, but would need an alternative plan that does not involve casinos or much walking for him.

Yes, car is expensive and it's a lot of driving (especially for one driver) I did get a deal on the car, and when I priced it out, the car for all of two weeks was a bit cheaper (of course I didn't take CA gas prices into consideration, but they're pretty steep here, too.) Funny thing is I think the kids will get a kick out of Sonora or Tioga Pass, depending on which one we take. We live close to the Adirondacks, but this geography is just so different that they will want to see it. 5th grade here does this huge unit on Western Expansion, and while not exactly the same place, they read all about the Oregon Trial, the Donner party and other mountain passes. They will love it. (And I am sure will be yelling facts at me from the back seat all the while)

>> while not exactly the same place, they read all about the Oregon Trial, the Donner party and other mountain passes. <<

Then you could do the 395 leg up to Tahoe, visit the State park in Truckee, and go over old Donner Summit before taking I-80 down to San Francisco.

I agree with janisj completely on this one. The story of the Donner Party is the most vivid history of all and stopping at Truckee & Donner Lake would be an obvious choice. The drive up 395 is my favorite and you'll be on roads with no complications regarding open or not. And it couldn't be more beautiful.

On your way to SF stop in Old Town Auburn for it's Gold Rush ambiance and they can see where the Transcontinental Railroad crosses I-80 right there. Have lunch at Awful Annie's and walk around, a very compact area.

My Auburn blog:
http://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/gold...ifornia-auburn

or . . . http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-this-week.cfm

NPS just posted the above update . . .