California Road Trip..

[Bubble123]

Morning everyone,

Just after some advice please..

Booked flights for next May in to & out of San Francisco. For 11 nights in total.

Thinking we'll do 1 night on arrival in San Francisco, then plan to start driving Highway 1..

Was thinking 1 night in Monterey/Carmel area. Then carry on, stop at Big Sur on the way, then a night in Morro Bay.

Then would like to see Sequoia National Park & Yosemite, but unsure where to stay & how many nights. Is there somewhere we could stay in between to visit both?

Then on to Lake Tahoe for maybe 2 or 3 nights

Then back to San Francisco for a night before flying home..

Any advice on places to stay etc or sights to see would be appreciated! Thank you

[landandword17]

I have been to both Sequoia and Yosemite and I would say with such a short trip you’re better sticking with 1. I would chose Yosemite. There isn’t anywhere you can stay to visit both, the distances are a bit deceiving on a map. Places that look inbetween like Fresno would still mean about 2 hours or more each way into the parks.

[jdouds]

Hi with such a short trip you need to plan in detail. First of for this length of trip we be inclined to not do Lake Tahoe , even though we really enjoyed it last year. Some suggestion !
You will be very tired on arrival so suggest quick look around San Fran on arrival night. Next day do main sights and Alcatraz at night. Next day cycle to bridge and over to sausilito and get ferry back.
Then onto Monterey 1.5 hour drive, would suggest a 2 night stop. On arrival do 17 mile drive , aquarium and evening at Carmel. Please if you can then do whale watching the next morning relax around Monterey that evening.
Then a days driving and sightseeing down he coast to Santa Barbara , this will take all day. Make sure to stop and see elephant seals at San Simeon. Take a day to relax around Santa Barbara.
After this take your drive over to sequoia 1/2 nights followed by drive up to yosemite 2/3 nights.
This still leaves some time to pan things out a little but we believe to add Lake Tahoe would make everything a little rushed and not let You relax and simply enjoy where you are.
Hope this gives you some help.

[Bubble123]

Thank you.. Appreciate your reply.

We've already been to San Francisco & done Alcatraz & all the main sights.

The only thing on my list to do here is go to the beach by the golden gate bridge & maybe see Mrs Doubtfire's house from the movie. So we really are only staying the 1 night when we arrive & leave.

I was just reading about the 17 mile drive yesterday, and would love to visit the seal beach too.

Thanks again.

[jdouds]

Hi again as you don't need time in San Fran then Lake Tahoe is an option. Yosemite to Lake Tahoe 2.5 hours. Lake Tahoe to San Fran airport 3.5 hours

[Bubble123]

That's great, Thank you.

I Love planning holidays.

Any recommendations on whale watching tours companies in Monterey?

[jdouds]

Whale watching, we went with sanctuary cruises from moss landing. This is 15 mins north of Monterey and is quicker getting to the main areas for whale watching. Smaller boat than those going from Monterey , they have a marine biologist on board which is great for some relaxed information. If you have anybody who perhaps might suffer from motion sickness they hire out wrist bands that prevent this.

[Bubble123]

Thank you that's great.