Yosemite National Park Travel Answers

Leave San Francisco on the afternoon of the 12th, drive to Yosemite, spend the night, then haul back to the coast to Monterey and follow it down from there. Skip Tahoe. It's beautiful, but you're missing a lot of other beautiful stuff anyway. You can never see everything there is, so it's really best to put effort into having a more enjoyable trip than a "full" trip, particularly when you only have a few days in what is one of the more beautiful cities in the country. It would be a big shame to skip out on San Francisco so quickly with just a (lame) tour to Alcatraz. That said, I would actually leave on the 13th and cut a night off LA. Maybe two.

I would agree with the previous poster about Lake Tahoe. It is a nice lake surrounded somewhat by mountains, but in June there will be little or no snow on the mountains which I think it is at its most scenic. Yosemite is a must if you are only going to be in the area one time. In Yosemite be sure to see the floor of the canyon and then go up and take in the valley from above. Also venture a little south from Yosemite and see the Giant Seqoias (sp?) trees. I would opt for more time in San Francisco also, but some people like the "glitter" of Los Angeles. Personally I would also spend more time in San Francisco and less in LA.

I would recommend that you skip both Tahoe and LA. Tahoe is nice, LA not so much. Yosemite should make your world list of not to be missed. And spending a night and part of two days does not, in my opinion, qualify as a satisfactory visit especially if you do not expect to be able to return. As a place to visit, San Francisco is to LA, what Yosemite is to Tahoe. I lived two years in LA and grew up not far from SF. For a relatively short visit, the decision is not even close. Alcatraz is OK, but not even the best of SF. Although there is plenty to do, and much to see in SF beyond beautiful vistas, if you wanted to escape the city there are some nice excursions you could take by car. Big Basin State Park (Redwoods) or the beaches south of SF are the first that come to mind, but you could go north.) The coast road to LA is a worthwhile 500 miles, especially if you have time for stops along the beach, Hearst Castle, Monterray, etc., but the destination (LA) itself even including Hollywood and Venice Beach is not in my opinion worth a short visit. If you had an extra week, . . . maybe. Good luck, bob

My first reaction to your question was skip Tahoe - it appears that is the general consensus. Tahoe is pretty, but Yosemite is better. To do Tahoe and back is too much and you'll just really be checking off a list rather than experiencing northern California. In three days, you'll only scratch the surface. It really boils down to you and your friends - why do you want to see Tahoe and/or Yosemite? You may just surprise yourselves and make it back to the west coast! :-)

Thank you so much for your help! We are actually going on the 10th of July (oops) but if anything the only difference would be that it will be hotter and busier from what I've read on here? the consensus seems to be to miss Tahoe, so I think that is what we will do to give us more time in Yosemite. I have heard quite a few times now that San Fran is better than LA so I will work on the rest of the group and try to convince them to knock a day or 2 off LA...me and my partner are visiting friends there so will actually be in LA for 10 days in the end without the other 2. So I'm very happy to lose a few days there and spend more in yosemite/San Fran as you have suggested! With LA, is there any day trips you would suggest as it sounds like there isn't much to do in LA then? We are already doing Vegas before San Fran. Sorry for rambling on! Thanks again for your help...we are 4 Aussies with no idea about America!!

There is plenty to do in LA, just that you will need a car to get around to the various places. I've only been to Los Angeles on business and the only time I had there for pleasure was one evening and I went to Disneyland. If you want to lay around at the beach you can do that in LA and not SF. July is actually one of the coldest months in SF, believe it our not. But SF is such a scenic city and you really don't need a car to get around.

By the way the answer to your earlier question about the tunnel view to Yosemite. That is on the Highway 41 entrance. I have a picture of it on my Yosemite pages along with other pictures to give you an idea of both the view from the valley and from above the valley.

As you said, "overly ambitiousto." I agree with the other posters. I would skip Alcatraz (good tour but not worth the time it will take). Realistically, you could do Yosemite and back to SF in one day. I would get a hotel on the 10th in SF, leave early on the 11th go to Yosemite and then back to you hotel in SF. SF to YNP will take about three hours. Then when ready to head toward LA, take Hwy 101, go over to Monterey, have lunch at Fisherman's Wharf. If you can spend a night there do the aquarium the next AM and then drive down Hwy 1 along the coast (rated in the top 5 drives in the world). You can spend the night in Cambria or San Luis Obispo (college town) and then go on down Hwy 101 to LA. If you don't have more than four days to see LA then don't even bother trying.

Another alternative would be to spend a few days in SF then do the day trip to Yosemite and come back to Monterey and spend the night. If you can convince the other two to forego trying to do LA in two days, then try to do one of tours at Hearst Castle on the way between Monterey and Cambria/San Luis Obispo.

Thank you so much...we will have a look at Monterey etc and see which way is easier to go. We will have a car in LA too so that will help us get around to things. I think we are going to stay in San Fran until the 14th and then start our drive down so we arrive in LA on night of 15th which still gives the other 2 four days in LA. Your advice has really helped us get organized! thank you