Hi everybody, thank you so much for your very valuable suggestions. I wish we had more than 2 weeks! Too much to see!!
Here is the itinerary as it currently stands:

Day 1 - arrive in LA for 2 nights - pick up car - stay in Hollywood (just booked the hotel! one less thing to worry about!)
Day 2 - LA
Day 3 - Drive to Sequoia NP - probably stay in a motel in Three Rivers for 1 night
Day 4 - Drive to Yosemite for 3 nights - probably stay in B&B 2 miles west of Yosemite Arch Rock Entrance on CA-140
Days 5-6 - Yosemite
Day 7 - drive to Lake Tahoe for 1 night
Day 8 - drive to Napa Valley for 2 nights
Day 9 - Napa Valley
Day 10 - drive to San Francisco for 2 nights
Day 11 - SF
Day 12 - Start driving south - need to be at LAX on day 15, pm - no precise plans as yet, we might just follow our noses.

My questions/doubts are:
1) What do you think of 1 night at(near) Sequoia and 3 nights at Yosemite, as was suggested by dbdurand above? Wouldn't it be better to spend 2 nights in each?

2) Lake Tahoe: nice or tacky? I'm finding contradicting reviews. We're not interested in casinos, just beautiful sceneries and the odd walk. There seems to be a wider choice of hotels in South Tahoe, but would it be better to stay in North T or elsewhere? OR How about swapping the night in Lake Tahoe for a night by Lake Mono? Or could Lake Mono be done from our place in Yosemite anyway?
OR just forget about "the Lakes" and go straight from Yosemite to the Napa Valley, meaning we'll have an extra day to enjoy the SF-LA drive?

3) Could you please give me a rough idea of driving time between:
. Three Rivers/Yosemite Arch Rock Entrance on CA-140
. Yosemite Arch Rock Entrance on CA-140/South Tahoe
. Yosemite Arch Rock Entrance on CA-140/Lake Mono
. Yosemite Arch Rock Entrance on CA-140/Napa
. Napa/SF

4) 11 October = "Columbus Day" according to my diary - will everything be shut?

Thank you yet again!!! Look forward to hearing from you. BTW I'm quite surprised at the price of accommodation, it looks like to have something a bit nice and CLEAN, you have to fork out $200+ a night! It won't be a cheap holiday but we're very much looking forward to it.

"11 October = "Columbus Day" according to my diary - will everything be shut?"

That made me laugh! I doubt most people here even know when that day is. No, everything will not be shut.

AH!! Thanks! Glad I made you laugh!

Yep, in California even on Christmas day some grocery stores and restaurants are open.

Oops, just saw PeaceOut's hotel suggestion in Venice... Next time!

I like elnap's suggestion of Washington Str Lodging in the Napa Valley.

MelissaMorgan, thanks for your enthusiasm! We're def keeping the car from LAX to LAX but you've made lots of good points and I'll make sure to ask you for top tips on LA nearer the time!

Anyway, hopefully my post above (posted at 6.04pm today) on our near-final itinerary (mainly thanks to brilliant dbdurand) isn't too tiresome and I'll get plenty of constructive feedback! Thanks!

In response to your question, "is Lake Tahoe tacky?", it's hard to say what your definition of tacky is, but, here's my take (having been there at least several times a year for nearly 40 years)....

The lake itself is anything but tacky. It's gorgeous, and the drive around the lake, and various hikes, walks, etc. are beautiful. That said, there are portions of the lake that are dotted with a few more strip malls than other areas. South Lake is different from the North Shore is different from the West Shore. I's say the West Shore is "old Tahoe" -- not much tacky, not much commercial development at all. South Lake is the most developed, and has the largest permanent population, hence it has more stores, supermarkets, etc. It also has the big casino hotels. I'm not a huge fan of South Lake, but others are -- I'm very partial to the North Shore. On the North Shore, you'll find small towns (with their share of strip malls -- you know, the ubiquitous pizza/sub place, nail salon, etc.) but they're not one after the other the way they would be in the suburbs, and each is much much smaller than South Lake Tahoe. The only big town on the lake on the North Shore is Tahoe City -- not particular attractive, but also easy to avoid! There are also one or two quintessential beach towns on the North Shore -- such as Kings Beach.

So, within each town, you might find tackiness, but overall, no I don't think of Lake Tahoe as tacky. It's not Myrtle Beach.

Lake Tahoe is spectacular. I would definitely stay there one night at least.

If you don't want casinos, I can suggest the Squaw Valley Lodge, at the north end. It is a condo/hotel property. We got a very good rate there in off-season a couple of Augusts ago. We had a large suite with kitchen and view of the ski hill. Very nice.

You can walk into the Squaw Valley village for shops and dining. Or it's a very short drive to lakeside. You can also take the tram from the Lodge to the top of Squaw Valley ski area. Site of the Olympics a long time ago. It is a beautiful view from the top. (Don't do the dinner package, though. It was not worth it, because the restaurant isn't special-- at least not three years ago when we were there).

I don't have the reservation agent's number with me now, but could post it tomorrow if you are interested.

Re Driving Times:
* It will probably take about 4 1/2 hrs to drive from Yosemite Valley to Napa via Hwy 140.
* Drive from Napa to SF is 45 min. to 1 hr.

* From Lake Tahoe (North Shore, Tahoe City) the drive to Napa is 3 hrs.

PS. I see you booked a hotel in Hollywood, which is tacky IMHO. People think it is glamorous, but most parts are not.

I recommend you re-consider for a hotel in Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, or the Venice Beach spot I mentioned. Some will complain about Venice Beach, and I agree it is 'college age tacky'-- unless you walk the beach in the direction I suggested, toward Marina del Rey, where there are spectacular oceanfront homes.

I am staying at the Inn at Venice Beach in early November and my queen room is just $134/night, including continental breakfast. Parking is just $8/ nite. It is the best value we have found there.

And nearby the Inn is a family favorite Italian restaurant for excellent value, C&O Trattoria. Not 'fine dining' per se, but has a lovely outdoor patio and good food at great prices. Amazing complimentary garlic rolls!

I don't think 1 night in Hollywood is a bad idea, especially if it's downtown sight-seeing that you are planning to do. I like Venice a lot (heck I was born there!) but it's not the most convenient base for things in downtown LA.

1) What do you think of 1 night at(near) Sequoia and 3 nights at Yosemite, as was suggested by dbdurand above? Wouldn't it be better to spend 2 nights in each?


You can easily spend 3 nights in Yosemite if you enjoy nature.

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Lake Tahoe: nice or tacky?


I don't think there's anything tacky about Lake Tahoe. Is it worth driving 9+ hours with less than a week to stay there? no. Worth a 3 hour drive? absolutely.

Does the OP want downtown LA.? I would guess they want to see more of the west side, and maybe go to Rodeo Drive, see Sunset Blvd, Malibu, Santa Monica?

Sunnyside lodge is right on the lake in best part of Lake Tahoe. Very old Tahoe and spectacular setting. Check out squaw valley for hiking and gondola ride and truckee is a great old town in tahoe. I would do 2 nights here and then drive to Healdsburg in Sonoma county. A nicer less touristy part of wine country. Drive along Tomales bay on your way to SF- beautiful. Stop in Pt. Reyes station for a great lunch.

after SF (one of the best cities in the world) drive to Carmel, take 17 mile drive and then drive down highway 1 to Cambria/Hearst castle. I would stay in Santa Barbara that night. We live in SB so if you have any questions...Also we spend part time in Northern Calif so love the whole state!

"Drive along Tomales bay on your way to SF- beautiful. Stop in Pt. Reyes station for a great lunch."

Or better yet, stop at Nick's Cove for lunch right on Tomales Bay. Why dine in a town when you can have a table with a great view of the bay and also enjoy some wonderful food? Of course, you should only drive out there if the weather is going to be clear. In October, you have a better chance of catching a decent day than during the summer.

I do question some of your itinerary. You say you have 2 weeks and are going to visit Sequoia, Yosemite, Tahoe, Napa/Sonoma, San Francisco, and then leave only three days for the drive down the Central Coast to LA. I would recommend cutting out Sequoia and Tahoe and adding those days to the drive South so you can better appreciate this highly scenic drive and are able to fully explore places like Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, and Santa Barbara. Five nights along this route would be just about right.

Sequoia is a great National Park (you can read my recent trip report) but it's out of the way and the main draw is the Giant Forest. If you are really into Giant Sequoia trees then that's fine but, otherwise, you can go to Yosemite and also see sequoias without having to make the detour and drive hours out of your way for a few minutes with the General Sherman tree. As far as seeing fantastic alpine scenery in Sequoia, it's not visible from the road. You have to hike/backpack to see the backcountry. King's Canyon is another story but you would have to add another day to visit it and you will be seeing very similar scenery in Yosemite.

If you do go to Sequoia, I would stay at the Wuksachi Lodge up by Lodgepole rather than in Three Rivers. In October, you shouldn't have any problem getting a room there. Three Rivers is a pretty dismal place.

Bear in mind that there is also serious road construction on the General's Highway between the entrance at Ash Mountain and the Giant Forest. The delay can add an hour to the trip up the mountain.

The only major thing I would do differently is that I would stay directly in the parks. Wuksachi is great in Sequoia. I would probably stay 1 night @ Wawonna and 2 nights at anything I could get in the valley for my 3 nights @ Yosemite. 3 nights in the valley would be fine as well. In the valley you have the choice of super nice hotel, nice hotel, decent cabins, or luxory camping in tents. The tents don't have private bathrooms and may or may not have heat. If you are there over a Sunday, be sure and have brunch at The Awahnee.

I would include a visit to The Channel Islands on my trip back to LA. Pt Reyes is very nice to the north of San Fran. If you have never been tidepooling, time your visit with low tide.

Sounds like you have a nice plan. You can never predict the weather. But, I bet you will experience far more good weather days than bad for that time of year.

I have noted all your suggestions around Sequoia/Yosemite and from SF to LA - thanks.
But no comments about Lake Mono, rated nbr 1 "thing not to miss in California" by the Rough Guide??

While in Los Angeles, do something fun, like go to The Huntington Library or a show at the Pantages ( I think most of October it's Phantom of the Opera.) We love going to a show and looking at the stars on the sidewalk! Find a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, go to Griffith Park etc... Do your research online and have a plan. There is nothing worse than being in LA and having nothing to do. Traffic is too crazy to not plan in advance. :) Have a wonderful trip!

Mono Lake is beautiful and really different. You will see it easily from the road when you join Highway 395 at Lee Vining after leaving Tioga Pass out of Yosemite. (This will be on your way to Lake Tahoe from Yosemite). Can't miss it! I've taken some remote hikes and drives there for a class I was taking but haven't explored it in the normal tourist way. There is a big visitor center there now and a nice place for a picnic.

We just returned from our annual family trip to the Eastern Sierra. Mono Lake and the Eastern Sierra are very interesting and completely different from what you'd see in Sequoia/Yosemite/Tahoe, but you only have two weeks and are already trying to cover a lot of geography. There's also a slight chance the highway (Tioga Pass) between Yosemite Valley and the Eastern Sierra will be closed for the season because of snow. In fact, you should be prepared clothes-wise for possible snow in Sequoia, Yosemite and the Lake Tahoe area.

I agree with the suggestion of reducing your itinerary, but only you can decide whether to devote more time to mountains or coast.

Thanks All. Lake Tahoe is no longer on our itinerary - keep it for next time. And Sonoma Valley is now replacing Napa Valley.