My family of 5 (3 kids – 12, 8, 6yo) is heading to Tahoe and Yosemite in the next few weeks.
I am looking for help in finalizing my itenary.
Any comments are welcome.

Day 1 – Arrive at Reno, get groceries, and check into North West Tahoe hotel
Possible kayak at crystal bay or go out on Tahoe gal – maybe just hang out

Day 2 – Emerald Bay (Eagle falls, Vikeshom)
DL Bliss (Rubicon Trail, Lester park, ?kayak)
Sugar Pine State Park (nature center, Ehrman Mansion, ?bike)

Day 3 – Raft Truckee
?go to donor lake?
Squaw Valley (cable car, ice skate, short hike)
Stop by Fanny Bridge

Day 4 – Sand Harbor (?kayak, swim)
Too early in season for Shakespeare
Will probably skip Thunderbird unless you all think it is a mistake)
? Go to cave rock
Eat a lone eagle

Day 5 – check out of hotel
Tallac (Rainbow trail)
Camp Richardson (?woodwind I to emerald bay and skip the hike down on day2)
Will probably skip but considered Desolation wilderness (?echo lake or angora lake)
Head to Lee vining
?stop at mono Tufts
?stop at Bodie
Stay at Lee vining

Day 6 – Go over Tioga pass
Lembert Dome (?hike out)
Visitor’s center
Hike in Tuolumne meadows
Look at Tenaya Lake
Olmstead Point
Check into valley hotel
Explore the valley

Day 7-- Panorama trail down to vernal falls
Swim and relax
Nature center

Day 8—Mariposa grove tram
Tunnel view
Bridal veil
Glacial point / sentinel dome / Taft point

Day 9 – Do whatever we couldn’t get to
Head to Sacramento airport

Thank for your help.
It has been hard to get a feel of the time needed and the must see and dos.

Are these things options for each day or you plan to do all but those that have the question marks? I can tell you, that's way way too much on most of the days. Day 3 especially--each one of those things (except check out fanny bridge which is a drive by) could take all day by itself. Take some pity on your children! The 8 year old and 6 year old for sure can't do all that.

Yes these were all options I was considering on these days.
I am looking for advice on what is or is not do-able.

kbouvetter--

We spent a few days in Yosemite last August with children aged 9 1/2 and 12. Here's a link to my trip report....you'll just need to scroll down to about Day 4 to get info on Vernal Falls Hike and day in and around Glacier Point.

Great trip!! You'll have a blast.

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...ccrosner&fid=1

We loved the Truckee rafting, do it early in the day. Squaw Valley cable car to the top to ice skate is a must. We were stuck up there because of an electrical storm, kids loved it! We did this sunset time and ate dinner up there. You can do Donor Lake on day 4 and then go to Sand Harbor. Skip thunderbird. We loved Mono tufts, kids will love all the tufts and sand flies. Not sure where you are planning on spending the night for Yosemite. Once in the Valley definitely do the rafting there also, kids will love it. Also rent bikes on the valley floor, fun for all.

ccrosner,
Your itenery was very enjoyable
Your descriptions are entertaining.
When you went to Taft did you also do Sentinel dome -- or would that be too much?
We are staying at the Awahnee right now. I'm making daily calls to try to downgrade to the Lodge, but no luck so far. This isn't our usual price range but it was all that was available in 11/06 when I booked it.

seremarcus,
Should we even bother with Donnor Lake?
Do you bike/kayak at Tahoe and where?
We tend to stay on our central time when we vacation so we are hoping to be up and at it by 6:00 and back resting at the hotel early.

My husband and son hiked from Taft Point to Sentinel Dome and then on to Glacier Point. Think my notes say it took them 1 1/2 hours to make that trek. From the parking lot to Taft Point is about 30 minutes at most (probably more like 15 or 20). You will need to be VERY careful with your 6 year old. The dropoffs are deadly and there is no protection other than signs.

Good luck moving down to the Lodge. You'll be glad you're in the Valley so that you can park your car and forget it. Be sure to have at least one dinner at the Ahwahnee. It's definitely special and memorable.

If your kids know the Donnor Party history and are interested in it, they will enjoy it, if not, I am not sure I would make the trip there when there is so much else to see and do Before or after your rafting you can stop at fanny Bridge, we ate dinner right next to it. We didn't rent bikes or kayak in Tahoe, we did do the parasailing, which was a blast! My kids always loved the hike at Pope-Baldwin Recreation Area in South Lake Tahoe from the Visitor Center, perfect for all ages. (We rented bikes in Yosemite which I think had much better trails for biking. I have always had luck getting last minute cancellations at Yosemite lodge. I call almost every hour everyday until I get a cancellation. Keep trying all the way to the last day, it is persistence and timing that does it.

My kids would love the parasail idea.
Can this be a last minute add on to an afternoon or do I need to pre-book it?
They have always wanted to do this.

Will also consider the biking in Yosimite.
Are the bikes readily available or do we need to plan ahead.

How about the Bodie stop?
Worth it?

Is the hike to Vikeshom worth it or is it boring for the kids?

When in Tuolomne Meadows remember that you will be at close to 9,000 feet and you won't have a lot of time to acclimate to the altitude since this is going to be a drive by visit, so go easy, don't over do it and drink plenty of water. Lembert Dome would nice as you get a great view of the meadow from the top. Take a short walk out into the meadow as well as you get a great perspective on the surrounding mountains and peaks. I hope the wildflowers are blooming for you! The restaurant at the Tioga Pass Reosrt a few miles before the park entrance might be a good place to stop for breakfast if you didn't eat in Lee Vining before you left. The food is stick-to-your-ribs good.

The Panorama hike is one of my favorites, but it is ten miles long, might that be too long for the 6 year old? If you do this, you could knock off Glacier Point before you do the Panorama Hike as the hiker bus drops you off in the same general vicinity. Just a thought.

Day 5 is a lot of driving, so I'd stick with making Lee Vining your goal while stopping at Bodie and seeing Mono Lake which is just before Lee Vining. Be aware that it is going to be HOT in the middle of the day at Bodie. Bring big floppy hats and slather on the sunscreen.

I share your concern about the panorama hike.
The day hike book says it is a 4 hour 8.5 mile hike.
I chose this thinking it would give a variety of views and is one way from Glacial back to Happy Isle.
The Vernal falls said 3 miles and 2.5 hours; on up to Nevada = 6 miles and 5 hours.
I was hoping his little wild legs would do better going down the hill.
I do know I really do not want to carry him.
Would you suggest just keeping to the Mist trail to Vernal for this trip for all of our sanity?
I think either way I am planning to bring lunch and take it slow and easy.

Looks good, we were in Tahoe in May for 3 nights at the Timber Lodge. The Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt is very good, the scenery is gorgeous here.

We did the 2 hour cruise on the MS Dixie II around Emeraled Bay which was really fun. Enjoy your trip! ***kim***

There are discount flyers for parasailing and we used those. We did book it the night before. That and rafting the Truckee were my kids favorite thing in Tahoe. In Yosemite there are 2 places to rent bikes, and it is easy enough to rent at the last minute. As for the falls, I wouldn't go past Vernal Falls with the little ones, and they will be very happy at Happy Isle, and eating lunch along the river there also. Once you are there you will be able to decide easily. Remember the trams run all through the park so it is easy to decide where to go and how it all plays out. Be careful at Glacier Point with the young ones. My husband ended up crawling on all 4's becasue the drop off was so scary for him.

I did the Panorama Trail hike with my 17 year old son, and 6 year old daughter in tow. (Actually, I was the one in tow most of the time.)

The day hike starts up at Glacier Point; you can take the hiker bus up early in the morning.
It's an all-day hike and you won't be able to do anything else. It's worth it.

You start out with steep switchbacks down to Illilouette Falls, then steep back up to the ridge. I thought that was the hardest part. Then you hike a flat portion around the valley rim. We had lunch at the top of Nevada Falls, then hiked down the mist trail to the Valley. Going down all those uneven stairs was really hard, too, at the end of a long day. If you're getting tired of stairs, take the trail at the bottom of Nevada Falls back to the Valley instead of continuing down to Vernal Falls by stairs.

Day 1

You don’t have to get groceries in Reno. There is a terrific Raleys in Incline Village right on the main road through and a Safeway in Kings Beach right on the main road.
We went on a late afternoon sail out of the Hyatt Incline on the Sierra Cloud. It was fantastic
http://www.action-watersports.com/

Day 2

Emerald Bay (Eagle falls, Vikeshom)
DL Bliss (Rubicon Trail, Lester park)
Sugar Pine State Park (nature center, Ehrman Mansion,

All good and close enough together to do all. May be too hard to get into DL Bliss for the day as that parking lot fills up super early in the morning. But you can do the walk from Emerald Bay around to DL Bliss.
If you want to lounge after hiking and touring you can hang out on a great beach between DL Bliss and Sugar Pine Point called Meeks Bay. There is a Fire Station right to the entrance of Meeks Bay. They have a little store and an on-beach grill.
Also hanging around the grass at Ehemann Mansion is great too.
While you are in the neighborhood stop in at Chambers is you want a cool drink. They sell ice cream and other treats on the pier for kids too.

Day 3

Raft Truckee YES
This is not an all day thing. After we raft we go back to our home beach for the rest of the day. Maybe go to Sand Harbor after this since your hotel is on the north side anyway you could hang out on the beach for the remainder of the day and then it’s a short trip back to your hotel.

go to donor lake – NO
Squaw Valley (cable car, ice skate, short hike) - Save for a different day maybe day 4?
Stop by Fanny Bridge - YES

Day 4

Squaw Valley day instead?

Sand Harbor (?kayak, swim) – if you haven’t done that yet
Too early in season for Shakespeare - Bummer
Will probably skip Thunderbird unless you all think it is a mistake) – Ok to miss
Go to cave rock – Nothing to really see here.
Eat a Lone Eagle Grille – Great Idea what took you till day 4?

Day 5 – check out of hotel – I’d head out toward Lee Vining rather than do any of these things.
Tallac (Rainbow trail)
Camp Richardson (?woodwind I to emerald bay and skip the hike down on day2) –
Will probably skip but considered Desolation wilderness (?echo lake or angora lake)

Head to Lee Vining but stop at Jolly Cone in Bridgeport for old fashioned ice cream cone or milkshake and burgers. We stop in for our annual chocolate shake!
Stop at Mono Lake visitors center - Yes
Stop at Bodie - Yes
Stay at Lee vining – Yes. Pick up dinner at

Lee Vining dinner at Whoa Nellie Deli

http://thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/default.html

You all are all awesome.
Your thoughts and ideas are extremely helpful.

We are going to save the biking for Yosemite.

I still vote for the Panorama trail, but I have been vetoed by the hubby. We'll just go up to Vernal (and maybe me and my 12yo boy scout will go up to Nevada)

Suzie that is just what I was looking for -- yes and nos on the ideas.
There is so much to do --- and I want to do it all but don't have the time.

You all have exceeded my expectations and I am so grateful.

Bodie is really fascinating as it is huge when you consider only 5% of the town is still there. Our favorite place to stay is Bridgeport. We like the Walker River Lodge. Bridgeport is a great little town, with good old-fashioned eating places (like the Sportsman's Club). The old courthouse is interesting to visit as is the Museum with Indian artifacts. We LOVE visiting Bodie, have been many times, and recommend going in the morning as it gets very very hot there - little to no shade - and there is much to see.
Heading south on 395, Bridgeport is first. Stay there and go to Bodie next morning, then go to Mono Lake/Lee Vining for lunch/picnic/views. Then drive up Tioga Pass from Lee Vining.

You have a lot planned, but I'm sure it will work out just right. Have a wonderful trip!