Northern California Itinerary Help
 

In a nutshell... How much is too much Yosemite? Should I squeeze a little more in
to our Northern CA trip?? Monterey? Tahoe?

My family (which includes two boys, 17 and 12) already have reservations for our
trip next month, but I've been thinking about shifting some of the hotel reservations to include a little more.

This is the current plan....

Jun 16: Arrive OAKLAND Airport (booked!), arriving around 11am.
Drive same day to Sonora, stay 1 nt at GUNN HOUSE (reserved).
Jun 17: Drive into Yosemite, stay 4 nts at YOSEMITE LODGE (reserved).
Jun 21: ???? Nothing booked yet!
Jun 22: Arranged to drop off car at SFO, take BART into city.
Spending the last 3 nights near Fisherman's Wharf.
Jun 25: Our flight out of SFO is at 12 noon.

I've been trying to figure our whether it would be better to drop the last night at the
Lodge or the first night in San Francisco and fit something else in.

Just a bit of background...
We have been to many National Parks and prefer to take our time over "see and dash". For example, we spent a full week at Yellowstone and Grand Teton. We do some moderate hikes--3 hrs or less.

For San Francisco, we want to have time to see Alcatraz (have tickets on 6/24), Chinatown, tour AT&T Park, Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Cable Car Museum. My wife and I have been to the City before.

THANKS in advance!

I would take a day off Yosemite and use two nights in Lake Tahoe. Go over Tioga Pass and take Hwy. 395 north, then over to Tahoe. See Mono Lake, Bodie, Virginia City. I was in Tahoe two weeks ago. So beautiful. Love it!

I would also drop the car in SF, not at the airport.

If you were lucky enough to get 4 nights reserved in Yosemite, don't give them up. June 21 travel east over Tioga Pass to US 395 (Lee Vining) and travel north to Reno. Spend a night in Reno. On the way back to San Francisco you should spend an hour or two in the Lake Tahoe area. The city of Sacramento has some things you might want to see including the Capitol building and the grounds. The California Railroad Museum is in Old Town Sacramento if you have an interest.

Thanks for the ideas...now my oldest son tells me he wants
to visit the Apple Campus and Googleplex in Silicon Valley.
I didn't research this area, so I guess a new thread is in order.

Personally, I would rather follow both of your ideas and hit Mono Lake, Bodie and Lake Tahoe. Since we have limited time, what part of the Lake Tahoe area would you suggest?

I love the North Shore. Lower key, less development.

West Shore is also very nice.

Ditto North and West shores - south shore is okay if you want casinos and shows.

Not sure what your son expects to see in the Silicon Valley, but it's not like you can just walk into Google or Apple's offices - security is extremely tight. I've been on the Apple campus, and only because I was doing a business transaction with them.

Given what you say about your interest in National Parks, are you sure you want to cut Yosemite short?

Have been researching what's available to see in Silicon Valley for our own trip. I found an Intel Museum and the Tech Museum of Innovation, both in San Jose and both free. I know of no tours or things to see at Google or Apple. Both appear to have company stores. Apple's is definitely open to the public. Unsure if Google's is.

Oh and I forgot to mention the Computer History Museum as well: http://www.computerhistory.org/visit/

This one is in Mountainview and is NOT free. Not sure which of these is best to see.

Tahoe is so much better than Silicon Valley;)

I would drop a night in Yosemite. If you decide to visit Silicon Valley, you could drive over to Santa Cruz for a day. Try some kayaking or a surfing lesson.

Love that whole area.

I'm thinking about two boys. They've just looked up at some of the most wonderful natural sights in California. How about visiting one or more of California's great caverns. If you were planning to drive to Sacramento and then across to Oakland, it wouldn't be far off course. Check out this site:
http://www.caverntours.com/directions.htm

Of course, driving up Highway 49 through some of the old gold country towns is also worth spending a day. The map shows where those sights are, too. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time with those boys!

I see that the Sutter Gold Mine is permanently closed. However, if the boys would enjoy panning for gold, here's another website about the Gold Rush Trail, and it tells where it would be possible to do a little searching for a sparkle of color at the bottom of the pan.

http://www.glittering.com/attractions.html

I wouldn't give up any time in Yosemite. Tahoe is beautiful, but if you do both, you will be spending a lot of time in the car.

For two boys, I love the kayaking idea. I think I also saw it advertised in Monterey Bay.

Michelle, I'd go with your view on Silicon Valley but I am surrounded by tekkie people and we like to mix our vacations so that everyone does something that's a favorite.

5alive- yes kayaking available in Monterey and Moss Landing (ElkHorn Slough.) We went to Elkhorn Slough on Mothers Day weekend- saw lots of sea otters with babies, harbor seals and sea lions.
I think the Monterey trip is prettier but had not done the slough before so wanted to give it a try.

A lot of great ideas above...I wish I could say I've made up my mind!

While I like the idea of going to Lake Tahoe--especially since I am going to drive over the Tioga Pass anyway, it would
save 2 hours driving back. However, I guess I don't know what we would do at Lake Tahoe except "see" the lake.

Also, since Apple and Google do not allow visits that makes a visit to Silicon Valley less interesting for my son.

SO, I think we will spend our 4 nights in Yosemite and then get an early start Friday a.m. to drive to Monterey (3hr 45min?). Then we will spend one night in the Monterey area and then work our way north for Saturday night in San Francisco. My wife and I were in Monterey many years ago and loved the tide pools and coastal scenery and that would be a change from the Sierra.

Does anyone know what the drive is like from Yosemite to Monterey??

Lots to do in Lake Tahoe. Water sports, beaches, hiking, fishing historical sights. Also some casinos for the adults(in Nevada). On the way up 395, you can detour over to Virginia City.

Monterey has a lot to do too. Kind of like having to choose your favorite child. The drive I pretty uneventful. You will go thru my home town(not exciting) on your way to the coast.