Travel addicts, we’re trying to get acquainted with just about all (within reason) of the US and Canada. About every two or three years we’ll make a trip out to our westernmost neighbor for a week of sightseeing. We’ve been “doing” California in thirds, and could maybe extend it to quarters. Working our way up from San Diego, we’ve loosely covered much of the state east and west up to San Francisco.
Late in May, we’ll be in Napa on a Friday evening and would like to solicit suggestions on two things: a) where to stay Thursday in SF proper and b) where to spend the three days following Friday.
So… Thursday night in San Francisco. Maybe an older, historical, nice hotel in a part of the city with lots of good restaurants, sights, etc. Is there a dining or other establishment we just shouldn’t miss?
Then, On a Saturday morning we were thinking of hitting Tahoe, Yosemite on Sunday, King’s Canyon and Sequoia on Monday. Is that wise this time of year? Will they be too crowded and should we head to other destinations further north? If they are a good choice, are there places there that we should make reservations? Routes we should follow?
The weather should be good. Everything should be in bloom and green. The river and waterfalls should be fairly full from the currently melting snow-pack. Crowds should be lower than they will be during the summer months.
At this point I doubt you will be able to get reservations for lodging anywhere in the park for when you plan to be there. However, you may be able to get something nearby. El Portal, on Hwy 140, is just outside the park, about 45-60 min from the valley, and has a number of small motels. There are other hotels at various points along that road. Hwy 41 south of the park has an Indian casino/hotel somewhere, If that’s your speed. Hwy 120 west of the park has a number of campgrounds, but few if any hotels IIRC. I’m not sure about this road east of the park.
Since you’re planning on coming from Tahoe you may want to consider taking US-395 to Hwy 120 to get there. This will take you by Mono Lake, which is supposed to be real nice (haven’t made it there yet myself). this will also give you an excuse to take the Tioga Pass, which is supposed to be a beautiful part of the park (another area I’ve yet to hit). Make sure this road actually open if you wish to do this, as it is closed during snow season.
Yes, indeed, late May will be a good time to visit Yosemite.
Call RIGHT NOW and see if you can get reservations somewhere in the Park. I find that the Wawona Hotel often has openings, even at the last minute, even during the busy season (much to my amazement). It’s easier to get a room on a weekday than on a weekend, though. And, you never know. You might find an opening at Curry Village or Yosemite Lodge. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
The Wawona Hotel is near the South entrance of the park. It’s about a 40-45 minute drive from the Wawona to Yosemite Valley, (where Half Dome, El Capitan and Yosemite Falls are). About halfway North up the 41 from the Wawona is the turn-off for Glacier Point.
I love the Wawona Hotel! If you do stay there, see if Tom Bopp is playing the piano there in the lounge. He’s great. I always make sure to spend my evenings listening to his “old time” piano music.
It’s doubtful that road up to Tuolumne Meadows will be open in May, but it has happened before. Though, if you only have a day to spend at the Park, you probably won’t have time to take the 2 hour or so drive up to the High Country. (It is gorgeous, though!) You can take a tram tour of the Valley, do the little walk to Mirror Lake, hike up to the base of Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall, etc. etc., and definitely fill up your day. Enjoy! And take LOTS of pictures!
I could be wrong, but it sounds like you’ll be spending most of the long weekend driving. The distances from San Francisco to Tahoe to Yosemite valley to Sequoia may not be much as the crow flies, but the last few hundred miles will be mostly winding mountain roads. I wouldn’t think you would have much time to enjoy your surroundings, unless you don’t mind enjoying them from your car.
Maybe we were planning on doing too much driving Saturday through Tuesday. Several days in Yosemite alone, provided we can find accomodations, might be time better spent.
Waaaaaaaaaaay too much driving, I’d say. Perhaps that’s your thing. You’d spend as much time, if not more, in the car as you would at your destinations, but some like the whirlwind tour. It’s 3.5 hours, at least, from SF to Tahoe, depending on traffic, and 4 to Yosemite. Ah, but you’ll be leaving from Napa, so it might only be 3 hours to Tahoe, but 5 to Yosemite. Anyhow, if you’re headed up 80, stop in Auburn for a hamburger and fruit pie at Ikeda’s. Tioga Pass might be open, so that you could catch 395 between Tahoe and Yosemite, and that’s about 4 hours, too. But since you’re going up on a weekend, you could hit some major snarls on 80 to Tahoe, as it might be the last weekend of skiing. Tahoe is nice, especially if you want to do a little gambling in Nevada, but Yosemite is a truly spectacular place. A friend was up last weekend and said it was awesome.
A cool place to stay in SF is the Red Vic on Haight, unless you don’t dig the hippie groove. It’s close to the park, interesting neighborhood with some good resteraunts.