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.

You could travel north from Yosemite via Hwy 49 to Hwy 50 (Hwy 50 becomes I-80). This route would take you through the Gold Country which is steeped in history and small towns. It also would take you through the Sierra Foothills wine appellation. I live in the Sierra Foothills. Wineries and area are what Napa and Sonoma was 30 years ago. Here you can meet the owners and wine makers. Most wineries have no tasting fees. Many of the local wines have won awards around the world. The area is well worth the slight detour.

"<i>You can drive from Yo to the Napa Valley in about 3 plus hours </i>"

No -- one can't - unless the 'plus' is 90 minutes/2 hours . . .. Not if one leaves in the morning and hits bumper to bumper traffic on I-5. And you've sent them via hwy 12. It is called Blood alley for a good reason. It is one of the most dangerous roads in the state.

Tom - you have admitted before that your experience in Northern CA traffic is decades old.

Geesh: I have driven in Northern CA on average at least twice a year since we moved to SD. Four times last year actually. Can still get around pretty good. :)

And I drove this route - at least the part from Yo over to Interstate 80 - as recently as about 5 years ago. If one leaves from the Valley Floor at a reasonable time, say 8 AM, by the time you get over to the Freeway/-5 - the commute is over. And I didn't see any pileups in the dreaded "blood alley".

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

Absolutely not 3+ hours. It's gonna be 4+ hours from the Valley to Napa. No question. Not even an item for debate. The CHP is all about generating revenue. Expect to get a ticket for driving over 80 which is what it would take to get to Napa in 3+ hours.

OK - so drive very carefully and take 4 hours. What's the big beef? Leave Yo at 8 am or so - don't try to pass any big rigs in the "Blood Alley" - and be in Napa by lunch time.

It ain't rocket science.

No it's not rocket science that's why it's so surprising you got it wrong, tom.

And BarbAnn: We love going to/from the Folsom area/Sacto over thru Gold Country (along 49) when traveling to Yosemite. Probably driven that more than half a dozen times over the years. If you go in the fall - the Blackberries along the road are great. :)

One of my sister's college roommates recently moved/retired to Gold Country/Sierra foothills - and they love it, as do their grandkids when they come to visit. So many cute little towns and yes, the wineries are still small and charming and friendly - much like the ones in Napa/Sonoma were way back when....................

Suzie: Are you still wondering in the forest? :)

Interesting troll comment, tom. Not entirely unexpected coming from you though. Not very good at playing in the sandbox are you?

So you're not working for the Forest Service anymore?

Evidence that you do have a reading comprehension problem. Totally explains your nonsense posts that are unresponsive to the OPs needs. After "watching" you goad other long time well-traveled Fodorites it is now quite clear that you are a troll here.

Melissa, if you have further questions, ask away. I will let tom carry on in the background like a peksy yippy dog. I shall ignore his comments, attempts to distract. You should ignore him as well, if you your goal is to have a pleasent trip through northern CA.

I'm sorry for my contribution to this silly detour.

So you are not working for the Forest Service anymore?

Yes since you already have your rental car, visit one of several other wine regions in California.
I don't think the wine tastes any better in a tasting room than it does from the bottle you buy less than 10 miles from home.
No, I have not worked for the Forest Service since October 2010.
I do have my application in to work as a Lookout again.

Tomf - the Q was directed at Suzie - but hey - did you get at all lonely up there as a lookout?

The fun of visiting a winery - IMO - is to get to try some of their different wines and have a nice chat with the resident wine expert, about not only their wines but also that particular region.

New2CA: Unfortunately, info/advice based on visits from 50+ years ago just isn't that helpful. You'll have to decide who is giving legit advice and who is blowing smoke.