Tentative California trip itinerary
 

Hashing out an itinerary to visit Northern California in August. I've family and friends to stay with in San Francisco and surrounding area. Would go with camping in Yosemite with friends.

Taking the California Zephyr sleeper car out there, flying back to Chicago. I am aware of delays on the Amtrak.

Trip will happen late August/early September, over Labor Day weekend. I am going to get a guide book to help, but figured I'd also post here.

Day 1 -- Depart Chicago on Amtrak
Day 2 -- In transit on Amtrak
Day 3 -- In transit/arrive SF late
Day 4 -- In SF
Day 5 -- In SF
Day 6 -- Rent car, drive Route 1 to Big Sur for the day/maybe overnight?
Day 7 -- ?
Day 8 -- Depart for Yosemite
Day 9 -- camping in Yosemite
Day 10 -- camping in Yosemite
Day 11 -- camping in Yosemite
Day 12 -- Depart Yosemite
Day 13 -- Fly back to Chicago

Questions mostly regarding the middle couple of days of the trip...Big Sur doable for a day trip? Would you stay overnight? Drive back to SF in the p.m.? Continue on Route 1? What other destinations in this general area are worth looking into? I'm open to suggestions within a 3- or 4-hour drive of SF.

I usually go for urban atmosphere and fun cities. Monterey?

You need to make sure your party has reservations for the Yosemite campgrounds. They fill up very fast.

Don't do a day trip to Big Sur. Stay overnight in the Monterey/Carmel/Pacific Grove area. Head to Yosemite from there.

Good luck and have fun,

MY

Overnight in Big Sur/Carmel/Monterey area. Too much to see for just a day trip. Actually, just an overnight will not be enough.

Unless Yousemite is the main objective of your trip, that's a lot of time allocatd for it. Can you squeak out 3 extra days?

My FIL took the Zephyr out here 1 month ago. The leg from Chicago to Denver was boring - but the rest was excellent. Consider catching it in Denver (fly to Denver & do an "open jaw" flight).

Stu Dudley

I would definitely overnight in the Monterey area or Big Sur - 2 nights if you can. We love to camp in Big Sur - our favorite campground is the tent camp at Limekiln state park.

Although I think 4 nights is great for Yosemite - spent 4 nights there last month :) - I would probably choose to spend only 3 nights in Yosemite to give another night to Monterey or Big Sur.

Thanks to everyone. Very helpful. I know nothing about this area except for San Francisco, the city itself.

A good friend camps Yosemite every year. I spoke to him about it very briefly last night, so honestly I don't know how many days he plans on spending out there.

I'm decidedly not a camper, so this will be a new experience for me. Usually head toward urban atmosphere/fun cities/nightlife, etc. But, things to do before you die...it'll be that kind of trip for me.

Since you are more interested in urban things, for your time in the Monterey/Big Sur area, I would stay in Monterey rather than down in Big Sur. Big Sur is a remote, mountainous area on the coast known for gorgeous scenery. See it as a day trip from Monterey.

You might enjoy Santa Cruz too - not an urban area, but a good mid-sized city, laid-back vibe, usually something going on, the university is there too.