USVI-On-Line

We stayed at the Hotel Pacific in Monterey during our post family reunion trip up the coast three years ago. Excellent/comfortable accommodations, and you may still be able to get summer rates.

There are some pretty cool things to do/see right in Monterey in addition to being centrally located to a lot of neat places. The drive up the Cabrillo Highway (US1) from there to San Francisco is amazing!

The time we were able to spend from Monterey north on that trip was limited, but included some of the most incredible scenery I've ever had the pleasure to look at.

I'd like to go back and take a full two weeks to traverse the area between Carmel and Eureka!

Augie, you are spot-on about the drive up Hwy. 1! Amazing, amazing scenery! And from Montery/Carmel south, also on Hwy. 1 it's the same rugged beauty along the coast. It's fun to visit Hearst Castle in San Simeon too!

http://www.hearstcastle.org/

Would December be a good time to take this trip? Would my 16 and 19 year old sons lie it?.

xoco

I believe most of Yosemite is closed due to snow in the winter, but the rest of the coast...San Francisco, Carmel, Monterey would all be fine. Cold, rainy maybe, not the best weather, but you could do it.

If your sons are "outdoorsey" they would love Yosemite in the Spring or early Summer. It gets crowded, but the hikes are awesome!

Our plans have developed a little further. We have reservations for three nights at Yosemite Falls Lodge in Yosemite Valley, then will spend one night in the Wawona Hotel. We kept checking in with the reservation system and eventually got close to what we were hoping for. We're coming up with flexible plans for hikes. We're finding some excellent info via TA.

From Yosemite we'll head for Carmel, where we made reservations at a B&B. We'll have a few days to go up and down the coast. Big Sur, Point Lobos, Monterey. Some general, but very flexible plans. Lunch at Nepenthe is a definite plan. Just about everything else is subject to change. Again, really helpful info via TA.

Eventually we get back to SF for a few days. We have reservations at a B&B where friends have stayed. I haven't even started thinking about what to do in SF.

This should be a good trip. It'll have a few very distinct parts that may feel almost like separate vacations.

Again, any info or suggestions will be appreciated.

When you're ready for SF suggestions, I have a few for you.

Lex.
In SF I would buy tickets for Alcatraz. You need to do it way before you leave online...excellent trip plans!! Oh yeah, China town for luch or dinner is a must

I must admit, going to Alcatraz never crossed my mind. What did you enjoy about it?

Something that is really a GOOD DEAL is a City Pass. If you want to ride the cable cars and go to several attractions, this is the way to go! It'll save you a lot of money over paying individual admissions.

http://www.citypass.com/san-francisco?mv_source=muni

Be sure to scroll down the page, because there is an option to add Alcatraz to your City Pass.