Paulhelmick and spirobulldog – I have been looking at Goosenecks State Park, and will add it to our drive from Monument Valley to Mesa Verde.

I finally booked the rooms at the Far View Lodge in Mesa Verde – we will get there late in the afternoon. Is there anything you can see or do in Mesa Verde in the evening? And for our full day in Mesa Verde, should we book guided tours or just explore on our own?

Spirobulldog – I looked up kayaking in Moss Landing and found Kayak Connection: http://www.kayakconnection.com/tours...ds=3-hour_Tour

I am tempted by the 3-hour kayaking tour at 10 am, followed by our planned lunch at Phil’s. That would mean driving out from SF early in the morning (approx 2 hour drive) OR late evening the day before and add one night to Monterey. Will contemplate on that.

Still not sure how to work in Hearst Castle in the schedule since you have to book tickets in advance. Driving from Monterey on Hwy 1 and stopping by the McWay Falls and the Elephant Seals I find it hard to calculate what time we could count on being at Hearst Castle. Any thoughts on that?

By the way, tour #1 apparently doesn’t exist anymore – lots of people on tripadvisor have been complaining about the replacement tour.

Bachslunch – thank you for your tips and comments – the Yellowstone days have been a big blank up until now. I have been concentrating on getting the in-park lodging, and not what to do once we are there. I will note your hiking tips and match them to the map. Thanks also for the Arches tips; I am glad I added days in Moab since there seems to be so many hikes and things to do in that area.

Kayd – will buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass in Zion NP. Spirobulldogs comment made me laugh: “Just get the pass right at the entrance to Zion. It will not cost you any time at all. Maybe 2 minutes.” I guess I am not used to fast and efficient service, anything with “national” in its name is usually bound to take forever in my experience.

Suz24 – thank you for all your great tips! I have noted the Mono Lake visitor center before Tioga Pass, the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone at dawn, all your excellent, hands-on tips on Yosemite, like hiking Bridal Veil Falls before visiting the Mariposa grove, and the stop in Oakdale on our way from Yosemite to SF, and of course all possibilities along the Californian coast line. I have understood that Big Sur is a slow drive, so I will have a list of options ready and depending on how long everything takes, decide where to stop as we go along.

Thank you all for your tips on where to stop for food - I am working on a document with all your suggestions to have handy in the car.

If you are not a US citizen you can buy the annual pass for the NPs, not the senior pass, but if you have a US driver's license you might qualify for it too if you are over 62. They are good for all NPs , but not State parks or Navajo parks like Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon.

For a thrill ride after Goosenecks, continue up through the Moki Dugway, three miles of well maintained, gravel, switchbacks that get you up to 95, most of the road is paved and it comes out close to Natural Bridges NP which you could do a quick drive through and if you had time, a hike or two.

Have a great trip.

as you enter the yosemite valley you will pass the trailhead to bridalviel falls.if you took the very short hike then you save time later. I tried to look up a phone number to reserve seats on the bus to glacier point.the info given is that it can be booked one day in advance at (209) 372-1240.

Thank you emalloy and paulhelmick,

I will put Natural Bridges on the planning list, and see if there is time to make a stop there.

Thank you paulhelmick for that phone number!

grendel your trip is shaping up very nicely!

utahtea

Thank you all for your help, here is the trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...california.cfm

There are a couple of things I think you should modify.

If you go to Horseshoe Bend late in the afternoon the sun will be shining in your face.

Also, I wouldn't go to Antelope Canyon early in the morning as you want to be there when the sun is high in the sky.

<B>Myer:</B> The OP's trip is over and she has started a great trip report (see the link in her post directly above yours)

Oh. I didn't notice that.

Why isn't the report in a REPORT thread?

"<i>Why isn't the report in a REPORT thread?</i>"

Not sure what you mean. the link is to grendel's <i>trip report

I would highly recommend that on your way into the park you hike Tuolumne Meadows to Glen Aulen, one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. See if you can book at White Wolf Lodge and then go into the valley the next day. I did the Panorama Trail from top down and it took us all day because you aren't really going down all the way..you have to hike up several mountainsides. It's a great hike and I'd love to do it again, but I lost three toenails on that hike because the last part is straight down and my toes kept hitting the front of my shoes (and they were excellent hiking shoes.) Depending on what time of the years you are going (sorry didn't pay attention) the waterfalls may not be at their prime. June is a great month, but the wetter the waterfalls, the more mosquitoes on hikes. I like Camp Curry, but it can be noisy so take earplugs. There is a bear that lives very close to the camp that makes nocturnal trips all each night AND day! He's never hurt anyone, but he certainly makes for a good yarn to tell your friends. Make reservations ASAP (you can make them for Curry Village 1 year + 1 day in advance.) You can cancel without penalty if you cancel at least a week in advance. I don't know if I'd only give Yosemite 1.5 days. You're missing out on so much. I go up several times a year and just can't get enough. Have fun...if you have time, white water raft the Merced or Tuolumne rivers for a day...if its early summer, do the Merced, late summer the Tuolumne...most fun you'll ever have.

And another poster who didn't read all the posts. It's an epidemic.