Portland to Yosemite tentative Itinerary
 

My husband and I would like to take advantage of a child free period this summer and take a road trip . Arriving from the Toronto area. We are very active , outdoorsy people. We love nature, good food, and pretty much any outdoor sport available. We received help on this forum for our San Francisco Big Sur trip, that we absolutely loved. ( especially the Nepenthe tip- the best dining experience of my life. No idea what I ate , that wasn't really the point) . Any lodging or restaurant suggestions would be welcome as well. Budget is 150. - 200 a night.
Here is our tentative itinerary. I am aware it might need reworking. The dates are

August 1,2 fly to Portland. Spend 2 nights explore Columbia River gorge?
August 3 , 4, 5 Oregon Coast. Suggested stop overs ending in California?
August 6 Redwoods - Avenue of the Giants ,Humboldt
August 7 Napa
August 8 and 9 Yosemite right now we have reservations August 8 at the lodge at the Falls, and August 9th Yosemite View Lodge ,will keep working on that.
August 10 Lake Tahoe
August 11 fly home Reno
Does it seem doable? Should I squeeze a day somewhere for an extra night in Yosemite?
Any suggestions on places to stay? Between 150 and 200 would be great.

Starting w/ Aug 7 it gets rather rushed, but not terrible. Napa in August wouldn't be at the top of my list. Hot/dry/crowded (applies to Yosemite as well but Yosemite is worth the hassle) .

Keep trying for a cancellation for the 9th at Yosemite Lodge -- but if that doesn't work, Yosemite View Lodge is fine.

The only place I can see a real cut possibility would be on the Oregon coast -- if you just did two nights there you could do 3 nights in Yosemite.

Thanks for your input. Ii'm not loving the Napa stop either but not sure of a good alternative? Maybe one less day on the coast would be worth the trade off if I can get a reservation.

Two days/nights on the Oregon coast should be enough. Aug. 5 try to make it over to Crater Lake NP even if you can't get a reservation at the Crater Lake Lodge.
You could skip Redwood in northern California and just go to the Mariposa Grove in southern Yosemite to see huge trees.
Is it easier/cheaper to fly home from Reno?
The waterfalls in Yosemite may be down to a trickle by the second week of August.

From Garberville (Just south of the Avenue of the Giants) to Yosemite is a bit over 6 hours straight through so you <i>could</i> skip Napa and get to YNP by mid afternoon.

It doesn't really matter if you take 101 south and across on I-205/hwy 120 or cut over to I-5/hwy 120 . . . Both routes take about the same time. The I-5 route might be faster since you wouldn't hit Bay Area traffic.

didn't see Tom's post. He thinks <u>everyone</u> must visit Crater Lake. I don't think you have the time to hit Crater Lake and the other places on your wish list. The trees/experience are totally different between the coastal redwoods and the Sequoias in the Sierras.

That seems like a better plan janisjj. That would give us an extra night in Yosemite
Tom- Reno seemed like a shorter more scenic drive? There is actually a pretty cheap flight home too. Haven't booked it yet , but seriously considering.

Skip Napa. You will stumble upon winetasting on your trip. Tasting rooms and wineries are everywhere. Going to Lake Tahoe thru Tioga Pass on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is beautiful. Reno will be a handy alternative from Tahoe for your flight home.

Agree that the coastal redwoods and the giant redwoods in Yosemite are totally different. Two different species of redwoods.

Thanks for the dual confirmation regarding the Coastal Redwoods. Napa is off the itinerary., and we will fly out of Reno. I'm going to try to book Yosemite on the 7 th as well now.
Now I'm wondering if we should drive further down th coast to Point Reyes, before heading to Yosemite?
Also if you have any great accomodations or restaurant recommendations that would be great.
Thanks

Pt Reyes is lovely -- but I wouldn't. The drive from the redwoods > Pt Reyes > Yosemite ail take nearly 8 hours and put you in the middle of heavy bay area traffic. And that is taking 101. If you took the more scenic scenic hwy 1 it would take 9+ hours plus stops.

If the coastal redwoods and Yosemite are 'musts' I'd (unfortunately) skip the bits in between . . .

Save Napa, Sonoma, Pt. Reyes for another trip.

Ok pt. reyes noted thanks
I was able to make reservations at Curry village on the 7 th and 9 th. I have the lodge at falls booked on the 8 th. I will keep working to get the lodge for all 3 nights. However I am thinking if I am unable to that we will do 1 night Curry Village., 1 night Lodge at the Falls, and our final night at Yosemite View instead of going back to Curry Village. Does that make sense?

I would skip that last night and add it to Lake Tahoe.

Rather than Napa, go to the Anderson Valley (close to Mendocino). It probably will be less crowded and some of the vineyards are just as good as in the Napa Valley (Navarro, Roederer Estate, etc.)

http://www.avwines.com/wsdassociatio...836af21a86&/1/

Thanks Michael I will look into it.
Michelle - I wasn't thinking of Lake Tahoe as a destination per say, but as a scenic way to get from point A to point B. I will have to read up on it. Any recommendations for accomodation?
Thanks again

There are tons of accommodations at Lake Tahoe -- it is a MAJOR year-round resort area . . . W/ your budget you could stay almost anywhere there.

Look at North Lake Tahoe. If your budget allows, check out the Hyatt at Incline Village. We go to Tahoe each summer. Love it.

Over our budget but it looks great! North Tahoe is the place to be?

>>North Tahoe is the place to be?<<

Lake Tahoe is the place to be :) It really doesn't matter whether the North, West, or South side -- there are pros and con to all. But for a short/outdoorsy visit -- I'd probably choose northshore.

Easier access to Reno.