zialot

I've been researching a trip to California in September. We are either going to do Carmel / San Fran / Sonoma or Sonoma / Yosemite / San Fran. If we have 8 days, is that too short of a time frame?
Fri - Sun : Sonoma
Mon - Wed : YOsemite
Thurs - Sat: San Fran
I read that it's about 4 hours from Sonoma to YOsemite. I'm just afraid to pack too much into one trip. We're into quaint areas, beautiful scenery, great food, good wine, and relaxation.
Thanks!

AuntAnnie

My DH and I did a similiar trip in 2 weeks including drive time from the Midwest. We spent 2 nights in the Napa Valley, a week in San Fran and 2 nights in Yosemite. It was a wonderful trip and I didn't feel too rushed. Have fun!!

jtrandolph

I think you are fine with this. If you are flying into San Francisco, then I would probably do the Sonoma, Yosemite, San Francisco.

If you are speaking of the Sonoma Valley and not the larger Sonoma County, then I would look for a bed and breakfast in the Valley, maybe Glen Ellen, which is near the Benziger winery which gives great tours. The town of Sonoma is built around an 11-acre Plaza, Mexican style, with adobe buildings from the period which are still in use.

Also, a mile or so from the Plaza in Sonoma is the Buena Vista Winery where the Hungariam Count, Agostin Harazthy (sp) brought the first wine grapes from Europe to California. It is small, in a wonderful setting, and has a cute tour, at least when I was there last, by an elderly man. You can pick up a picnic lunch on the Plaza in town at the Cheese Factory and sit under the oaks sipping something from the barrels.

You are inj for a treat....enjoy

don512

I think that considering what you say that you are looking for that maybe you would be better off with the Carmel/San Fran/Sonoma trip. Yosemite has the beautiful scenery, but really not much of the other things that you say you are looking for. Meanwhile, you will find some of the most spectacular scenery (at least in my opinion) driving down the coast to the Carmel/Monterey area. Just below there you will find the Big Sur coast line, which I personally find just as beautiful as Yosemite, but then, I have a thing for the ocean and the coastline. Plus, in Carmel, you will find your quaint area, your great food, and even more wineries in the area if you want them. The drive to Yosemite is nice in some areas, but in my opinion, can in no way compete with the drive to Carmel.

yale

We did something similar. We had been to SF before though, so only spent 1 day there before heading to Yosemite. We spent 3 nights in Yosemite and 3 in Napa. It was enough time.

zialot

Thanks for the great information! We're going to try to fly into San Jose if we go with Carmel/Sonoma/San Fran or fly into Sacramento or San Jose if we go with Sonoma/YOsemite/San Fran just because we can use a lot less frequent flyer miles if we don't fly into San Francisco!

We were thinking of staying in Healdsburg or at the Inn at Sonoma in Sonoma.

BayouGal

We did a similar trip in the spring. Flew into Oakland, 1 day SF; 2 days Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area; 3 days Yosemite, 1 day Bodega Bay & Pt Reyes area, 1 day SF; last day flew home. We saw so much, went whale watching, observed elephant seals during breeding season, snow in Yosemite, and beautiful scenery, great food, and fun, fun, fun!

You will enjoy this trip! Have fun!

WorldTraveler9

If you are planning a trip in September, that is a good time of year for the Carmel / San Fran / Sonoma trip. The coastal areas are lovely and warm in September, but many waterfalls in Yosemite are dry at this time of year. Eight days is a nice amount of time for the SF/Carmel itinerary, too.