Yosemite to San Fran or Napa Valley
 

After leaving Yosemite , we are headed towards Napa Valley . Should we stay one night in Napa and then see Muir Woods/Muir Beach on the way into San Francisco?

Melissa

Not sure if you realize how far the Napa Valley is from Yosemite. From Curry Village where you are staying to say - St Helena - is a 5+ hour drive (and could be longer since you'd be driving in the morning rush hour on the I-5/I-80 corridor). So you will drive 1/2 the day and then leave again the next morning.

If you can stay 2 nights it would make more sense. But yes - Muir Woods is doable between Napa Valley and SF. (BTW - many prefer/recommend Sonoma Valley over Napa Valley for both scenery and vineyards.)

Where is Sonoma Valley?

The Sonoma Valley is the next valley west of the Napa Valley.
Sonoma to Santa Rosa is the Sonoma Valley.
Where are you before you go to Yosemite?
The logistics would be difficult but you could get to Yosemite by using Amtrak to Merced and renting a car there or riding the YARTS bus. Returning to Merced you would ride the San Joaquin train to Martinez which is about 40 miles from Napa.
I'm guessing it would be easy to rent a car in Martinez.

"<i>Where is Sonoma Valley?</i>"

Across the hills to the west from Napa Valley (they are essentially two parallel valleys). Generally the whole area is called the 'Napa Valley-Sonoma wine country'.

There are MANY other winery/vineyard regions all over California. A couple that are quite near Yosemite. Others around Monterey, in the Sacramento Delta, south of San Francisco, around Santa Barbara, and lots more.

The OP will be in SEKI, Yosemite & then onto the bay area. They must have a car.

Yes I have a car.

I really do not want to go to Napa Valley but my DH wants to.

He wants to see vineyards so what do you suggest we do?

We are headed down the coast after we leave SF
Thanks
Melissa

tom and I were posting at the same time. Don't let the amtrak and Martinez references muddle things. Since you will be in Sequoia/Kings Canyon, neither is applicable and the whole idea is awfully confusing.

"<i>We are headed down the coast after we leave SF</i>"

Problem solved! :)

You will be passing through several wine regions. Especially near Monterey and not far from Santa Barbara. So drive straight from YNP to San Francisco and plan on seeing vineyards on your trip south.

So we shall leave Yosemite and then go to Muir Woods and Muir Beach . From there we will go to SF

janisj - Don't forget Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo areas, as well as some very good wines in Monterey County. My mother lives near SLO, so visiting there is always a pleasure.

There are a plethora of wine regions in California. I've tried to visit them all, but a new one seemingly pops up every year, with great value wines and excellent quality.

My next exploration will be the Sierra Foothills, which, by the way, aren't that far from Yosemite.

My wife goes for name brands. I go for what tastes good and is a value for the price.

Rastaguy: I did say >><i>and lots more</i><< :)

I heard a wine industry rep on the radio today say that CA has 3300 wineries. WOW!

Here is a link to an interactive map of CA's wine regions:

http://www.wineweb.com/map_CA.cfm

May help you determine how to integrate wine tasting into your trip.

Thanks for the map.

that will hell

I meant help

LOL!

Now what is all the hulabaoo about? Fraidy cat drivers again?

You can drive from Yo to the Napa Valley in about 3 plus hours - and by this route - it's only 130 miles. Geesh:

http://www.distance-calculator.co.uk...o-yosemite.htm

But as noted - there are also some wineries by the Gold Country, a couple in Mariposa which is on your way out of Yo:

http://www.historichwy49.com/wine.html

Well not everyone is a fraidy cat but some, like me, get car sick which is a miserable way to travel and can be quite a bummer. Obviously people should choose the route that suits them best - which they can do if they understand all their options.