Yosemite, Monterey Bay and Redwood National Forest. Need Advice
Jul 14th, 2018, 06:01 AM
#1
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Yosemite, Monterey Bay and Redwood National Forest. Need Advice
Four adults traveling to California September 24- October 6. Should we start our trip at Yosemite, next Monterey Bay and then north to Redwood National Forest? Or do it in reverse? Also any lodging advice or side trips or sites to see would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
DZ
DZ
Jul 14th, 2018, 09:17 AM
#3
Agree that getting accommodations in Yosemite Valley (if that's what you want) should be the first priority, then plan from there.
A couple of notes to consider in your planning. First is that Yosemite is more or less at the southern end of the fabulous gold rush country - a series of terrific historic and picturesque towns that for the most part are located along Calif. Hwy 49 (so numbered for the 1849 gold rush.) This is some of California's most scenic country, an up-and-coming wine zone, and well worth a couple of days' exploring either before or after Yosemite, depending on the order of things.
Second, don't overlook opportunities to see giant sequoia trees, which are inland cousins (not as tall but bigger around) to the coast redwoods you'll see closer to the Pacific. There are groves of sequoias in Yosemite (e.g. Mariposa grove) and also at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, on CA 4 not too far east of the town of Murphys, itself a key example of the gold rush towns in the region (and also home to a number of wineries and good restaurants.)
Third, if you want to go at a slower pace and spend fewer hours behind the wheel zigzagging around the countryside, consider visiting some closer state parks with coast redwoods every bit as impressive as those farther north. In the hills north of Monterey Bay, and again at Big Sur south of Monterey, there are terrific groves of redwoods that would give you a comparable experience as the northern ones, but which would allow you to drive less and spend more time in both the Sierra foothills and the Monterey Bay/Big Sur areas. By the time you travel the full length of CA Hwy 1 between Big Sur and the Hearst Castle will have been reopened, adding another possible destination on your trip.
Here's an imaginary map showing a possible outline route. This assumes you're flying into and out of San Francisco; if not please advise. Google the places indicated on the map. https://goo.gl/maps/ASdMDTT5TCr
A couple of notes to consider in your planning. First is that Yosemite is more or less at the southern end of the fabulous gold rush country - a series of terrific historic and picturesque towns that for the most part are located along Calif. Hwy 49 (so numbered for the 1849 gold rush.) This is some of California's most scenic country, an up-and-coming wine zone, and well worth a couple of days' exploring either before or after Yosemite, depending on the order of things.
Second, don't overlook opportunities to see giant sequoia trees, which are inland cousins (not as tall but bigger around) to the coast redwoods you'll see closer to the Pacific. There are groves of sequoias in Yosemite (e.g. Mariposa grove) and also at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, on CA 4 not too far east of the town of Murphys, itself a key example of the gold rush towns in the region (and also home to a number of wineries and good restaurants.)
Third, if you want to go at a slower pace and spend fewer hours behind the wheel zigzagging around the countryside, consider visiting some closer state parks with coast redwoods every bit as impressive as those farther north. In the hills north of Monterey Bay, and again at Big Sur south of Monterey, there are terrific groves of redwoods that would give you a comparable experience as the northern ones, but which would allow you to drive less and spend more time in both the Sierra foothills and the Monterey Bay/Big Sur areas. By the time you travel the full length of CA Hwy 1 between Big Sur and the Hearst Castle will have been reopened, adding another possible destination on your trip.
Here's an imaginary map showing a possible outline route. This assumes you're flying into and out of San Francisco; if not please advise. Google the places indicated on the map. https://goo.gl/maps/ASdMDTT5TCr
Jul 14th, 2018, 03:17 PM
#6
Are you making that time estimate based on some web mapping service like Google maps? If so, you should add at least 20% to 30% to that, and be happy if that's all it is. They're notoriously optimistic, particularly where mountain and city driving are concerned.
Jul 14th, 2018, 06:40 PM
#7
With that much car time just getting out here, I'd seriously consider Gardyloo's suggestion of getting your coastal Redwood-fix in the area between San Francisco and Big Sur. That would makes your drives much easier.
Yosemite > Gold Country/hwy 49/Calaveras/Columbia State Park > Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur > Henry Cowell and/or Big Basin SPs . . . OR do it in some other order AFTER first nailing down accommodations in Yosemite Valley. If everything in the Valley is full, try Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal which is the closest place to Yosemite Valley. (or a condo/cabin in Yosemite West which is the next closest place)
Yosemite > Gold Country/hwy 49/Calaveras/Columbia State Park > Monterey/Carmel/Big Sur > Henry Cowell and/or Big Basin SPs . . . OR do it in some other order AFTER first nailing down accommodations in Yosemite Valley. If everything in the Valley is full, try Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal which is the closest place to Yosemite Valley. (or a condo/cabin in Yosemite West which is the next closest place)
Jul 14th, 2018, 10:41 PM
#9
For Yosemite - one needs to book as soon as their dates are set. People book a year or more in advance. But that also means there are pretty frequent cancellations. So if everything is full - reserve rooms at Yosemite View Lodge mentioned above. Then keep trying for a place in the Valley. If you get lucky, then you can cancel Yosemite View. Other locations (places in Oakhurst, Groveland, etc. ) will say they are 'near the park' but will be a 1 to 2 hour drive each way.
And most places on the coast will book up pretty far ahead, especially over weekends
Jul 16th, 2018, 07:37 AM
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If you find lodging options on the sites you've been checking, be sure to confirm the real location. Anything listed as "Near Yosemite" can be very misleading.
As far as locations go, this is a priority order
Rule #1. IN Yosemite valley
- Yosemite Valley Lodge - basic motel rooms, best value/location anywhere (my 2c)
- Magestic (aka Awahnee) - $$$
- Half Dome village (aka Curry Village) - mostly platform tents with cots, some cabins, fewer motel rooms
Rule #2. See rule #1
If you can't find something inside the valley, then consider
Rule #3. Right outside the park in El Portal
- Yosemite View Lodge
Rule #4 - anything else and you'll have 1-2 hr drive, each way, to get to the valley, each day.
But keep checking for YV lodge openings.
As far as locations go, this is a priority order
Rule #1. IN Yosemite valley
- Yosemite Valley Lodge - basic motel rooms, best value/location anywhere (my 2c)
- Magestic (aka Awahnee) - $$$
- Half Dome village (aka Curry Village) - mostly platform tents with cots, some cabins, fewer motel rooms
Rule #2. See rule #1
If you can't find something inside the valley, then consider
Rule #3. Right outside the park in El Portal
- Yosemite View Lodge
Rule #4 - anything else and you'll have 1-2 hr drive, each way, to get to the valley, each day.
But keep checking for YV lodge openings.
Jul 16th, 2018, 03:02 PM
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I did look at Spindrift, but with 2 couples it seems crazy high to spend so much on lodging. Unless they had something with 2 rooms, 2 baths. Wondering if it would be better to stay inland a short drive, but where?
Thank you everyone for your help. Please keep responding to help me out.
Thank you everyone for your help. Please keep responding to help me out.
Jul 16th, 2018, 03:47 PM
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We did a 2 week trip to the same area last September -
A few nights in Carmel @ La Playa were perfect for us. The location was fantastic - 2 blocks to the beach where we could walk each morning & evening, 5 blocks to downtown Carmel where we could eat & play. Wine & appetizers on the patio overlooking the sunset could not be beat.
For us, staying inland and driving was a non starter as we like "be" somewhere, as opposed to driving, parking, then visiting. Same applies to downtown SF, or Yosemite. Being able to come and go at will throughout the day is priceless.
A few nights in Carmel @ La Playa were perfect for us. The location was fantastic - 2 blocks to the beach where we could walk each morning & evening, 5 blocks to downtown Carmel where we could eat & play. Wine & appetizers on the patio overlooking the sunset could not be beat.
For us, staying inland and driving was a non starter as we like "be" somewhere, as opposed to driving, parking, then visiting. Same applies to downtown SF, or Yosemite. Being able to come and go at will throughout the day is priceless.
Jul 16th, 2018, 04:06 PM
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There are a lot of price points between staying at the Spindrift and staying inland and driving into the Monterey area - Spindrift is out of my league also.
In Monterey, there is a row of budget lodging on Munras Avenue - these are all nice places, just basic in their amenities, and close to downtown and everything else on the Monterey Peninsula. Casa Munras and Colton Inn are also good options - less expensive than the Sprindrift and right on the edge of downtown, so easy walking to restaurants and things. I've found good rates at the Portola Hotel, so that's worth a look. Hotel Pacific is right there too. Both are closer to the water and are right downtown.
If you want to be close to the water, but don't mind being a bit outside of town, check out Asilomar hotel and conference grounds.
In Monterey, there is a row of budget lodging on Munras Avenue - these are all nice places, just basic in their amenities, and close to downtown and everything else on the Monterey Peninsula. Casa Munras and Colton Inn are also good options - less expensive than the Sprindrift and right on the edge of downtown, so easy walking to restaurants and things. I've found good rates at the Portola Hotel, so that's worth a look. Hotel Pacific is right there too. Both are closer to the water and are right downtown.
If you want to be close to the water, but don't mind being a bit outside of town, check out Asilomar hotel and conference grounds.
