California Travel Answers

Bakersfield is very central and is a good midpoint between Las Vegas and Yosemite. However, if you have more time for this route, you may want to consider adding Death valley National Park or maybe Kings Canyon National Park to your itinerary. Death Valley is close by to Las Vegas and DV is certainly worth a night or two.

I think you have a really good itinerary planned. My only suggestion would be to perhaps stay in someplace like Cambria rather than Paso Robles. I think it's more scenic (right on the ocean), and there is a wonderful restaurant there called The Black Cat. We did that last year and it was one of our nicest evenings on the trip. Perhaps when you are in San Francisco, you can take a one day tour to the Napa Valley (only an hour or so away). It's beautiful and a nice change from the city, although SF is a wonderful town. When you're in Carmel, be sure to also drive around Monterey and the other towns on the penisula.

I agree with Zuriga that staying in Cambria is better. By the way, what do you like to do? I would consider spending less time in LA and San Diego and spending more time in various parks nearby. That's only because I like the scenery, photography, hiking etc. Grand Canyon is very close by to Las Vegas and that's another spectacular national park.

Hello Terry, I have to concur that 8 days in Los Angeles is quite a long stay unless you have some particular destinations in mind. And also 3 days in Las Vegas is lengthy unless you have booked shows or are a serious gambler. Las Vegas/Bakersfield are normally quite hot in September, so you will not be able to get outside much at all. Only because it is so beautiful, I would myself plan to spend more time in Yosemite as well as perhaps see Sequoia & King's Canyon which are nearby national parks and quite spectacular: http://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm Am assuming that you are choosing Bakersfield as you will leave LV on Interstate 15. In which case I might opt to stay in Barstow only because it is one of the historic cities on old Route 66 and a bit more interesting. And you could also take Highway 395 which is the back way into Yosemite and much more scenic. But it sounds like you have a nice reasonable itinerary planned and will be able to see and enjoy a lot of beautiful countryside. Have a great trip!

I agree that knowing your interests and goals for each place you are going to would be a big help for us to make useful suggestions. Though I know many people here would push for more time in San Francisco then in Los Angeles, I would take some of the LA time for San Diego too. The weather here is usually warmer in Sepetember and early October and perfect beach weather. Your hotel is in a pretty good location. Within walking distance of downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter and along the Bay. If you mention your interests we'll be better able to give you ideas of things to see and do while here.

May I suggest that you skip the flight from San Diego to Las Vegas and drive the distance. Overall if you were to rent a car for the entire trip in LA and return it in LA it would be far cheaper than the one way rentals you will incur otherwise. As for Bakersfield why not choose Fresno instead since its closer to Yosemite.

Thanks for the suggestion to stay in Cambria instead of Paso Robles, you're right, by the ocean is much nicer. We'll be sure to have dinner at the Black Cat, thanks for that too. We had planned to go to the Napa Valley while we are staying in San Francisco, we thought on the wine train. That looks pretty good, has anyone been on that trip?

Thanks for your comments, we are staying in LA for 8 days and San Diego for 4 days with our daughter, son in law and grand daughter. Our grand daughter is dancing at a few events in LA and they are travelling with a dance group so there's no changing that part of the itinerary but thanks, on balance you're right there's too much time there. We too like scenery, photography, hiking, in addition dining, wine tasting. We have booked a plane/helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon while we are staying in Vegas. Looking forward to that, it'll be spectacular. Cheers. Terry

Hi, Terry, I'd like to suggest a far more scenic route that I think you may enjoy more: From LV take CA-190 to Death Valley-the lowest place in the United States-about 2 hrs 41 mins. Spend a few (hot) hours there, and then continue on CA-190 to Hwy 395 north. The beautiful, rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains will be on your left, including the highest peak in the continental US--Mt. Whitney. Within a few hours you go from the lowest point in the Continental US to a view of the highest. Travel about 4 hrs to the town of Mammoth Lakes--if you can, spend a day or two there. The area is gorgeous and there is so much to do--hike the mountains, visit Devil's Post-pile, Mono Lake and Bodie Ghost Town (Google them--all great places to visit), and then on one of the following days head for Yosemite and enter from the east side of the Park on CA-120; it's slightly more than an hour from Mammoth. I think you will enjoy your trip far more than spending a night in Bakersfield. If you don't want to drive the 6 and a half hours from LV to Mammoth you could spend the night in Death Valley or one of the small towns along Hwy 395 like Lone Pine or Independence.

Just one more suggestion since I notice you like wine-tasting. Before you leave the Yosemite area and the Sierra Foothills, the California Gold Country is an up-and-coming wine-tastig area. Lot's of small boutique wineries; many wine tours are available in this historic area. In the fall it's very beautiful. Here's an idea for an area to visit--Sutter Creek--that is about 2 hrs 40 mins from Yosemite and 2 hours 20 mins from SF: goldcountry.winecountry.com/...

Terry, right off-hand I can't remember the name of the nice place where we stayed in Cambria. You can find it on my travel page.. it's on the road that runs right next to the ocean. They served a nice breakfast and late-night snacks, too. I think the restaurant is only open certain nights so check that out to avoid disappointment. Enjoy!!

I've been on the wine train for lunch. Food is good and so is the scenery. It was very relaxing. If you are driving go also to Yountville and St. Helena. They are all in the Napa area. I also agree with Sandyn's route to Death Valley etc. I was in Death Valley for the first time this January. It's a different kind of place. Keep in mind however that it may be a bit longer of a drive.

Thanks for the tip, it was Pelican Cove Inn. It looks like a nice place to stay.

The route through Death Valley national park and staying at Mammoth Lakes sounds much nicer. Thanks for the tip. It might be a longish day but it sounds like it will be worth it and it's only a short day the following day to get to Yosemite, we're booked in at the Yosemite View Lodge which is on the wester side of the park as far as I can tell.

Terry, I have a lot of photos we took at Pelican Cove. If you send me your email address (you can email me here privately at VT), I'll be happy to send them and you can see more. I'm jealous of your trip. My brother lives near L.A. and he was the smart one in the family! I ended up with British weather. :-)

Hi, Terry, If you stay in Mammoth you will take hwy 395 north to hwy 120 for Yosemite. Hwy 120 crosses the beautiful Tioga Pass into the Park. You may want to stop for a bit and hike the gorgeous Tuolumne Meadows area--here's a link about the hiking trails there: tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R.... It will take you just over two hours to travel from Mammoth Lakes, cross the Sierras at Tioga Pass, and reach your hotel. We have stayed at Yosemite View Lodge--it is very nice. We loved our room which overlooked the Merced River. It's actually outside the Park--about 15 minutes to the main gate, I think. So plan on spending time in Yosemite before you head to your hotel so you don't have to backtrack.

Thanks Sandy, will take your advice, the itinerary is looking so much better now. Thanks everyone for all your help.

I am Super Jealous of this trip! Can I come too! haha JK Well my only Suggestion would be out of Las Vegas Take Hw 160 through Pahrump. There is a little Winery there that is great! Then turn off onto HW 190 and you will stay on 190 all the way through Death Valley until it turns into 136. Then turn North on 395. You will be in Lone Pine, CA and it’s about a 4 hour drive from Las Vegas and the view is just amazing! I took this route last July and came back to Las Vegas the next day and I think It has been one of my favorite trips! From Lone Pine it is only about a 2 1/2 hour drive into Yosemite. I think going into Bakersfield is just out of your way. If you have more time, in Death Valley try and drive up to Scotty’s castle. Lone Pine is a really small town (if you blink you will pass it) But the history there is really neat. And it is the base of Mt. Whitney the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states. It is a quick drive up to the portal of Mt. Whitney and on the way up, there are the Alabama Hills where hundreds of Old western movies were filmed. If you decided to take this route, then look into the Dow Villa Motel in Lone Pine. It is the oldest hotel there and they have rooms that John Wayne and several other famous actors stayed in while filming. As for Las Vegas, If you like to have fun 3 days is great! There is a lot of shows and things to do and see. Good Luck with your trip planning and I hope this helps a little! Whitney

A couple of thoughts in addition to the great suggestions already made. I have taken the wine train twice. I found the food good and the train enjoyable. My suggestion would be however to book a brunch as opposed to a dinner. Not only is the cost lower but you can see much more out of the train cars during the morning than you can in the early evening. As for your drive from Las Vegas I would not stay in Bakersfield. With due respect to the nice folks who live there the town has the combined smell of cattle feed lots and oil. Not a nice place to visit. Instead I would drive an additional hour and stay in the town of Visalia. A much nicer place than Bakersfield and I have stayed in both many times. I also like the suggestions of driving from San Diego to Las Vegas rather than driving. The drive to the desert if you are willing to take a slight detour to Death Valley can be very enjoyable since the Valley cools off by late September.