Road trip around California
 

My wife and 12 year old son and I are travelling from Enlgand on 28 March to SanFrancisco. We want to see yosemite and do about 5 days of skiing and nsowboarding. we would like to see the grand canyon too if at all possible. We will be hiring a car and our plans are very flexible.

Reading some of the mails I have a few questions. What ski area would be best ? (Lake Tahoe looks very nice.) The roads and passes seem to be affected that time of year. What will travel times and routes be between the 4 areas, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Grand Canyon ? What would be the best order to see these in ? Is it unreasonable to try and see the Gran Canyon too, or is it too far as part of a 10 day trip ? We dont want to spend our lives in the car, limiting driving to 3-4 hours per day, preferably in shorter stints.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and probably lead to more questions.

Thanks.

Are your flights both into and out of SFO? If so, I think the Grand Canyon is not do-able without more driving than you want or too high a risk of getting stuck in bad traffic conditons. If you can go into SFO and out of Las Vegas, it might be do-able, but challenging. Even Tahoe and Yosemite together may be a challenge because some of the roads into Yosemite will probably still be closed from the winter. There is a lot to see in the Tahoe, Reno area; and the California wine country is also easy to combine with San Francisco and Tahoe. Tahoe certainly has excellent ski areas; there also are some nearer to Yosemite, but I am not familiar with them in terms of either quality or number.

I just love your screen name..one of the best on the board IMO! However, I agree with bojack that the Canyon may be too much driving.

No - the Grand Canyon really wouldn't work out. But you could easily squeeze in SF/Yosemite and Lake Tahoe in 10 days.

try to make reservations at Yosemite Lodge absolutely immediately - because even in the off season it books up far ahead.

I would spend about 3 days in SF at the beginning of the trip, then 2 days in Yosemite Valley. Then you will have to go the long way around to get to Tahoe because the high mountain passes are closed until late spring or early winter. But the longer route is not bad - only adds about an hour or 90 mins to the drive time.

Then after skiing and exploring Tahoe for 3 or 4 days, head back to SF for your last night before flying out.

And once you get to the Tahoe area, consider Kirkwood, especially if some of you are advanced intermediate type of skiers. Lots of on-mountain lodging, ski-in, ski-out. Kirkwood and Squaw IMO are the prettiest, most like resort areas. I haven't been to Northstar but many people with kids like it there and at Alpine Meadows. Staying down in South Tahoe to ski at Heavenly IMO is not v. scenic.

There may be rental issues regarding snowy climates, especially if you don't have chains. I suggest you mention this to the car rental company.

On your way out of SF, try going thru Calaveras Big Trees SP State Park.

Calaveras became a State Park in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias. This grove includes the "Discovery Tree", the first Sierra redwood noted by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852. This area has been a major tourist attraction ever since, and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist facility in California.

From SF Bay Area
Take I-580 eastbound over Altamont Pass to I-205 toward Manteca, to US 99 North. Take the exit for State Hwy 4 Eastbound (Angel's Camp) to the Park Entrance. Hwy 4 makes a jog to the right in Angel's Camp along State Hwy 49, then jogs left just before leaving town. Calaveras Big Trees is about 35 minutes driving from Angel's Camp.

Actually, DB's suggestion for Calaveras Big Trees is a good one -- but it doesn't make too much sense as detour enroute TO Yosemite. Because - after you leave Yosemite the most scenic route up to Tahoe will take you along hwy 49 and through Angels Camp. It is about 16-17 miles from Angels Camp to Arnold/Calaveras Big Trees.

You can decide enroute, depending on your timing and the weather, if you want to take this 1 1/2 to 2 hour detour, or head straight to Lake Tahoe.

Thank you very much for the fast helpful responses. We will have to miss the Grand Canyon then. We are all beginner ski-iers and after more reading through the list we are leaning towards doing 2 things well rather than a lot badly.

It appears that Yosemite and then skiing are the 2 to do.

Are there closer better options for skiing than Lake Tahoe ? My wife will only ski 2 days and want to do other things the other days while my son and I ski.

Also, living in south England I have only driven in snow twice, and that was minimal snow. How dangerous or difficult will it be ? Can I get chains with/for a rental car ?

All the help is really appreciated, thanks.

If you are beginning skiers, you may be satisfied with skiing near Yosemite at Badger Pass. http://www.yosemitepark.com/activity...amp;PageID=246

But Tahoe is absolutely beautiful.

Enjoy your trip!

My one experience with Hertz and chains in California (about 5 years ago) was that they would not rent cars with chains, and the contract specifically forbade use of chains. If possible, you might want to rent an all-wheel-drive vehicle. However, in late March there is a reasonable probability that you will not have any snow that affects your travels; so, if too expensive, you can reasonably take a chance that you will not be driving on snow.

Driving on snow is not hard -- just don't make any quick turns or do any hard braking; also, if the road is slippery try not to stop on a slope that you are going up -- i.e., don't lose forward momentum. My past experience in California -- several years old -- is that the roads are cleared quickly after snow and the other drivers are good and NOT overly impatient in snow, so you should do fine.

I remember Alpine Meadows in the Tahoe area as a place that I really enjoyed when I was just learning to ski. Lots of good beginner-intermediate runs. (However, I have not skied there in years -- so this opinion is based on a 20 year old memory.)

You probably will not have any problems with snow on the roads that late in the season, which does not mean that all the passes will be open. Badger Pass in Yosemite is a good suggestion, because you could also do some cross-country skiing there. Alpine Meadows is a little restrictive for beginner-intermediates. Squaw is better because the slopes appropriate for you are on top of the mountain. Northstar probably has more skiing territory at your level.

Badger Pass is great if you are in Yosemite for a few days. They have a decent teaching staff and beginner slopes. But don't cut too much out of visiting the Valley - so I'd try to stay in Yosemite 3 or 4 days if you plan on skiing at Badger Pass.

And Tahoe will be perfect for you because - since you are beginners, you will probably want to do other things besides just skiing. There is sooooooo much to see/do around Tahoe.

Being beginners I'd probably stay on the North Shore (Northstar, Squaw Valley) but tour around the whole Tahoe basin. And got to Truckee too - a neat old town w/ good dining and shopping and a short drive from either Northstar or Squaw.

Don't worry about chains - while it is possible for a spring storm to dump enough snow to require chains - it isn't all that likely.

Be more concerned about still having good ski conditions at Badger Pass/Tahoe. we've had so much snow this winter you will probably be fine, but if we have a warm Feb/March snow cover could start getting sparse by then.

Just enjoy your trip and don't fret too much about the road conditions. Even if it does snow, they usually keep the roads to Tahoe open.

We were married in Tahoe in the month of May. Being it was May, I hadn't even considered the possibility of snow. On the drive up there, through the high part, it began snowing and some people were having a bad time of it (we limped along okay). That particular year, the ski slopes were still open in May. You should definitely keep your PC's eye on the weather for both Tahoe and Yosemite, and if it appears warranted around the time you arrive in SF, see about renting a 4-wheel drive. And remember, you'll also be driving on the right side of the road (hopefully).

Thanks once again for all the responses, they are really helpful and appreciated. We are starting to get really excited about the trip now. About to book accommodation. Curry village seems the best option.

The only other question left is whether we spend a day in SF or not, and whether it is at the beginning or end. Any suggestions welcomes.

Are you flying in and out of SFO? If you have ten days in California you could do 2 days in SF, 3 in Yosemite, 4 at Tahoe and the last night near SFO for your flight out.

You won't need (nor want) a car in San Francisco so you could pick up your rental before you head out to Yosemite.

However, if your 10 days includes the travel days to/from England, you really only have 8 days in CA. If that's the case I'd probably stay the first night in SF (driving 3 or 4 hours after an 11 hour flight is a real slog even tho' you won't be flying through the night) Then 3 Yosemite/3 Tahoe, and the last night near SFO.

You COULD drop your car at Reno and fly to SFO the morning of your flight home, but it is relatively expensive.