yosemite for disabled
 

hello everyone,<BR><BR>my husband and i would like to take my mom and dad to san fran and yosemite for the christmas holiday. my dad just turned 60 and is partially paralized. although he can walk short distances (no more than a couple of miles at a very, very slow pace) with a cane, i want to know if we should bring his wheelchair (he hates it). <BR><BR>also, how far (in terms of time and distance) is the french laundry from san fran?<BR><BR>thank you very much for your time.

I would suggest you get for him a seat cane (folding chair type walking cane) so he can rest. It may be useful for museums, shopping, waiting for buses if you don't rent a car.

French Laundry to Yosemite is a long haul. I'd guesstimate 5 hours depending on traffic and how fast you drive.<BR><BR>There is a shuttle service that circles Yosemite valley. I don't know if it goes out to the Ahwanee or not, but it goes everywhere else. There are frequent benches as well.<BR><BR>The seat cane is a good idea because you never know when you're going to have to hurry up and wait and San Francisco is not quite so generous with benches.

thank you for the seat/cane suggestion. i had never heard of it.

The Yosemite Valley shuttle runs to all the different lodgings in the valley. It is a fantastic way to get around the valley and see the sights.<BR><BR>One note: In December you can run into snow and Yosemite requires you carry chains even with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. If you are renting a car they usually don't allow you to put chains on their cars. If you are renting you are between a rock and a hard place on the chains.<BR><BR>Utahtea<BR><BR>