Taking my boyfriend on his first trip to Northern California, on a budget. Want to go to SF, Monterey coast, Yosemite, and any place else anyone might suggest. Hope to eat at fun cheap pub type places, stay at cheap motels (maybe where breakfast is included) hike, fish and basically have a blast for about ten days. Any help in road trip ideas would be appreciated. I know the area pretty well, but not the best planner!

Where is your starting point and what time of year are you planning to do this? Once we know the basics we can help.

Thank you! We are starting in San Fran and will be there the first week or so of June 2010. Thanks for your help. New to this site and I love it.

For planning purposes, get your Yosemite plans fixed first, http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations.aspx
then bracket SF and Monterey around Yosemite. Reservations for staying in Yosemite go faster than places in SF or Monterey.

One suggestion for the Monterey Penninsula is Asilomar http://www.visitasilomar.com/index.cfm

A must do is hiking in Point Lobos State Reserve just south of Carmel. Also the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Kayaking in Monterey Bay and renting bikes for a bike ride along the Monterey Bay Recreation Trail are great activities. Don't forget perhaps a whale watching boat tour. And the scenic drive to Big Sur is not to be missed. How about surfing lessons in Santa Cruz?
And I agree with SAB. Make Yosemite reservations ASAP---they fill up months in advance. I would recommend the Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite Valley.

If you have a few days to spare, throw in Lake Tahoe.

One thing - in places like Monterey, SF, and Yosemite there are few 'cheap' motels. And the truly cheap ones -- there is usually a reason . What is your actual budget for accommodations? Book Yosemite ASAP - if you are OK roughing it a bit there are tent cabins at Camp Curry in Yosemite Valley

What sort of fishing are you talking about - ocean on a fishing boat out of SF or Monterey, or trout fishing in the Sierra, or what? You'll need to get non-resident fishing licenses and probably various stamps/report cards for specific species/bodies of water.

Thanks everyone. I will look into Tahoe, I love it there, and will book Yosemite asap. We are going to Vegas too, have friends there. Any thoughts on the best way to get there from SF. Maybe just fly not drive? Fishing would be fresh water. We live in Maui and do lots of ocean fishing! As far as cheap hotels I would say in the $70 to $100 range.

Yes, fly to Vegas. Southwest Airlines from Oakland airport or San Jose airport often has the best fares if you book far in advance.