neshkah

Hi, all. I'm an easter coaster who's starting to plan my first trip to Yosemite. We're figuring we'd fly into SF, spend 2 nights, then drive to Yosemite and spend 4 or 5 nights there. I've.been doing some reading and I'm beginning to get overwhelmed, both by the amount of information and the stuff there is to do. So I was wondering if you folks could help.

My main question comes down to this: if YOU had a week to spend in SF and Yosemite, how would you divvy it up? What would you do and what would you see?

As part of that:

1) What are must-sees for a couple days in SF?

2) I understand that staying in the park is better than staying outside. But if we needed to stay out, what would be the most convenient place? We'd like someplace fairly centrally located, since we want to do Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove. Or should we just give this up?

3) Should we also try to include King's Canyon and/or the high country meadows (can't think of the name)? Or is this too much?

Many thanks.

Tomsd

Personally - while I love Yosemite - I would add another day to SF and maybe take a drive/tour of wine country - Napa/Sonoma.

And I don't think anything is convenient staying outside of the Valley Floor in Yo. Just keep trying as they usually have cancellations. But worst case scenario - maybe Mariposa Grave.

By the high country meadows, if you mean Tuolumne Meadows, they are beautiful, as is the drive over there. Would suggest if for an early morning drive - to beat the slower moving traffic -and on the way/or one the way back - stop by the grove of big trees - at Big Crane Flat is it?

Tomsd

Here is a page with some more info. And the drive from the Valley floor to Tuolumne Meadows is about an hour and a half - and you might want to stop for some of the other sights along the way. If you don't mind moving around - you could even spend a night there if you can get in. http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/placestogo.htm

boom_boom

If you go to Tuolumne Meadows and want more of the high country, continue on over Tioga Pass (the highest road pass in the Sierra Nevada) and on to Mono Lake. You will find nothing like it.
If you can't get into anything on the Valley Floor, try Wawona Hotel. If you have to leave the park entirely Fish Camp and El Portal are the closest communities.
You might also look fora vacation home (vrbo.com) rental just outside the park.

MichelleY

Spend 3 nights SF, 2 Yosemite, head over Tioga Pass thru the spectacular high country. You can then head to Mono Lake in the high desert and end up in Lake Tahoe for a night or two before heading back to SF. Or do this trip in reverse.