USVI-On-Line

My wife wants to see the big trees. We're just starting to think about a trip for the fall (late Sept/early Oct). I had an initial plan to fly to SF, go to Yosemite, then on to southern Utah and down through Arizona to Phoenix. Mapquest brought me to my senses. Save Utah for a separate trip.

So---fly to SF, spend time in Yosemite. Not the best season for waterfalls, but it's the time we'll have available. What else? I've begun reading the TA forums, which are excellent for Yosemite. Sequoia NP? Death Valley? Eventually back to SF.

Ideas?

Lex--You might enjoy the area around Big Sur if you haven't been----the coastline there is very dramatic. Lots of good options for hiking, picnics, camping, funky lodges. Further north along the coast near Mendocino is also very beautiful. Lake Tahoe is another possibility---its a gorgeous lake---so blue.

I also love Sonoma/Napa, but I'm sensing your interest is in more natural areas.

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I love SF! There's so much to do around there. And you're going at the perfect time.

You can go north to Sausalito and Tiburon. Take a hike in John Muir woods and you'll see plenty of big trees! Lovely place.

If you're feeling adventurous rent a couple of good bikes in SF and bike over the bridge up to Sausalito, or all the way to Tiburon. Then you can take the ferry back (from either spot) with the bikes. If you're not up for a bike ride, it's still worth visiting that area by car.

If you go south, Carmel is a really neat place to stay for a couple of nights. You can visit Monterey and go kayaking in the Monterey Bay. We also enjoyed an outdoor play in the Forest Theater in Carmel-By-The-Sea. It's been several years but hopefully the Forest Theater is still around.

If you're in the Monterey area, take a drive on 17 mile drive... you can ogle some pretty amazing homes. I've got an oceanside one picked out.

Thinking about it makes me want to go back!

Lex – a great loop to do is SF to Napa/Sonoma to Sacramento (stroll old town along the river) to Lake Tahoe, tour Tahoe, then down the east side of Sierras to 395, down 395 then at Mono Lake climb up into east entrance of Yosemite which is a neat drive. If you are in Yosemite during a full moon, look to see if they still run the valley full moon tours. Very cool to see El Capitan glowing in the moonlight. Might want to look at in-valley lodging soon.
Then , out of Yosemite thru Gold Rush country in the Sierra foothills – stop at some old mining towns. Chicago gives you some of the SF area stuff above – Sausalito, Muir Woods etc.

At certain times of the days Mono Lake can seem other worldly
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffreysul ... 732060843/

Lex,
How many days do you have? It seems that you're trying to cover a lot of ground. I would say you need at least 2 weeks depending if you go north or south of SFO.

NM, AZ, UT is a seperate trip. Been there, done that.

Thanks for the ideas. I'll be PM-ing some of you as our plan develops. I've traveled some along the coast, so I think we'll be heading for the mountains. Maybe have a couple of days in SF on the return before flying out.

I do want to mention that jmq has a wonderful photo collection and a very interesting blog. I'd never stumbled upon either before. Lovely photos. Valuable resources. Click the link in his post earlier in this thread.

Not me Lex! Thats a flickr buddy. My bad. Shoulda said so. Glad its helpful anyway.