SF to Yosemite. What to see?
 

Hello everybody?<BR><BR>I will arrive to SF Int. Airport to go to Yosemite NP, stay there a couple of days and go back to the city. I wouldn't mind no to go a straight line from the city to the park, so, May anybody recommend me an itinerary with interesting places to see?<BR>Thanks.

While it would definitely be out of your way, if you want a scenic drive, why not head down Hwy 1 through Big Sur and Carmel: one of the most beautiful drives anywhere in the world? You could drive down to Cambria (reserve ahead of time a tour at Hearst Castle) and stay there a night before heading over to Yosemite. You could take Hwy 46 over to Hwy 41 towards Yosemite.

I can't tell you exactly the route but if you enter Yosemite from the south you will go through the Sequoia National Park--the immense redwoods.

Xavi,<BR><BR>Take my word on this. Go straight to the park. There is plenty to do there and you won't regret going straight there.<BR><BR>As far as going to Sequoia National Park, that is a far distance to travel. There is a Grove of Giant Sequoia's in Yosemite and you might consider entering or exiting Yosemite Park through the South Entrance. <BR><BR>While you are in the park take a drive up to Tuolumne Meadows in the park. Tioga Pass is open.<BR><BR>http://www.nps.gov/yose/home.htm<BR><BR><BR>Utahtea

If you've never driven on Highway 1 through Big Sure, then I'd have to agree that it might be worth going out of your way to see one of the most scenic areas in the world. Right up there with Yosemite in terms of beauty.

Make sure you make hotel reservations BEFORE you leave for Yosemite. There are only a few hotels in the entire area, and if there are no rooms available you are stuck for miles around.<BR><BR>There is a wonderful old historic hotel there and I am sure I won't spell it right, please correct my spelling if you know it, the Alamawahna, I think. I have stayed there twice and it is a beautiful hotel. Last time there we had a room that Queen Elizabeth used.<BR><BR>The hotel does tea in the afternoon and the food is excellent.<BR><BR>I had a blue jay follow me around and would come and sit in my hand and eat peanuts, (ok I know you are not supposed to feed the birds, but this little guy was just too cute)<BR><BR>You can arrange a tour of the grove, which is close to Yosemite and worth the time, the trees are ancient.<BR><BR>I would also recommend Muir Woods, just north of SF, in Marin Co., over the Golden Gate Bridge and the nesting site for the Blue Heron. You actually walk up the side of the hills around the nesting site and are eyeballing the birds, hundreds of them, it's a wonderful site.<BR><BR>There is (or was) a cute inn at Muir Woods, it was a B&B, bar and restaurant, great selection of port wines.<BR><BR>Enjoy your trip and take lots of pictures.<BR><BR>

Xavi,<BR><BR>With your limited time, I would recommend that you go directly to Yosemite. The best route would be 101 south to 92 east(San Mateo Bridge), 880 north, 238 east, 580 east, 205 east then 120 east into the park. Reservations in advance for Yosemite are must(www.yosemitepark.com). If you can, I would spend more than just a couple of days at Yosemite enjoying the specatacular scenery. There is enough to see to occupy at least 5 days.