USVI-On-Line

I mentioned a few months ago that we're thinking about a trip to Yosemite. After watching Ken Burns' series on the national parks we vowed to do more stateside traveling. My wife has never seen the big trees and they're high on her list. I haven't seen them for a very long time and I've only seen the Redwoods, not the Sequoias

We have tickets to fly to San Francisco in late September (direct flights Boston-SF). We'll go straight to Yosemite and stay four nights. We have reservations in Yosemite Valley, but keep checking back for more desirable places. The TA forum has been very instructive about this. After Yosemite we'll head for Carmel/Big Sur for a few days, then have a few days in SF before coming home.

That's the outline. We have a lot to fill in. We're pretty good at doing a bit of research then just winging it, but would appreciate hearing anyone's experience and recommendations.

That sounds great! We need to travel stateside more too. Do you remember the thread with the top 10 stateside places? I couldn't believe how few we have been to. I was going to travel to more of them with my family but it is easy to get sidetracked with things like Kauai.

I can't wait to hear about it. Please give a trip report. Then I can just copy it and save myself a little research work like you are doing right now.

xoxo

Hi Lex!

I can recommend 2 places in Yosemite....
#1 - The Wawona Hotel http://www.yosemitepark.com/accommodati ... hotel.aspx As they say, it's 4 miles from Yosemite's south entrance. We didn't stay there, but we had breakfast there and checked the place out. I'd stay there in a heartbeat. It's a little funky and very picturesque.

#2 - Yosemite's Four Seasons http://www.yosemitelodging.com/ We rented a room that was part of a "condo." It was only one room with a kitchenette and a nice deck with a hot tub. It was a long time ago, and even though the Four Seasons still exists, I think they've changed things around some. The room we stayed in was called "Upper Yosemite Falls", I think. The Four Seasons, is actually inside the Park gates, but you take a side road to the resort, thus leaving the Park. We really enjoyed it a lot.

Oh, and BE SURE when you're in the Valley to not leave ANY food in your car! Not chips, not a bag of sunflower seeds, and certainly not a cooler! The bears are very, very good at peeling your car door off to get to it!

You're going to LOVE Yosemite...it's my 2nd favorite place on this planet!

Lex - check the lunar calender to see if there will be a full moon when you are there. They do tours at night, and if its clear, it is very cool to see El Capitan etc. glowing in the moonlight.

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jmq wrote:Lex - check the lunar calender to see if there will be a full moon when you are there. They do tours at night, and if its clear, it is very cool to see El Capitan etc. glowing in the moonlight.

That sounds so cool!

We're going to spend our last night in Yosemite in the Wawona Hotel. It's near the Mariposa Sequoia Grove and will be on the way back to the coast. Our first 3 nights will be in Yosemite Valley.

And as fortune would have it, we will be there during the full moon.

We knew that we wanted to get to Yosemite first and wanted a few days in SF at the end. We were deciding between Tahoe, Napa, and Carmel/Big Sur/Monterey. We finally decided that mountains and sea would be a good mix. We're leaning toward staying in Carmel and venturing up and down the coast from there, although there are some very unique accomodations in Big Sur.
My wife would like more time in SF than I would so we're negotiating on that.

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Great trip you've got planned there. No disrespect to the Tahoe area, it doesn't hold a candle to the trip you've got planned. You'll probably find not enough to do everything in Yosemite and it will no doubt be busy. But don't let that bother you. You'll be in one of the most amazing places in the world. If you're into hiking I would definitely do the hike from the valley floor to Vernal Falls. From there you can go if you have the time, further up to Nevada Falls. Make sure you do the obligatory stop for the Valley view. If you get there earlier enough in the day there will be less haziness. It's from the campers. Wonderful view. If you get a chance, drive up to the Yosemite high country.

I might suggest on the trip to the coast that you stay in Monterrey. It'll be easy to get to Carmel, next door and Big Sur down Hwy 1. It's also a bit less expensive. When you're in Big Sur have a bite to eat at Nepenthe. Sit outside and view the wonderful coast line.

Two of my most favorite places in California.

I had a friend who lived in Monterey for several years. Excellent little town. I would definitely stay there, and if you need a hotel recommendation, I can ask her. She used to manage the Army lodging there -- the Presidio of Monterey.

Lulu--I'd appreciate any suggestions

Promo--the Vernal/Nevada Falls hike was sounding good to me. September isn't supposed to be a good time for waterfalls, but we've never been there before, so won't know what we're missing. We were also thinking of taking the bus to Glacier Point then hiking back down to the valley from there. Touloumne Meadow sounds beautiful but I can't imagine wanting to drive that far given what's going to be so much closer.
What appeals to you about Monterey that you'd stay there rather than in Carmel (in addition to cheaper rates)?

Lex wrote:Lulu--I'd appreciate any suggestions

Promo--the Vernal/Nevada Falls hike was sounding good to me. September isn't supposed to be a good time for waterfalls, but we've never been there before, so won't know what we're missing. We were also thinking of taking the bus to Glacier Point then hiking back down to the valley from there. Touloumne Meadow sounds beautiful but I can't imagine wanting to drive that far given what's going to be so much closer.
What appeals to you about Monterey that you'd stay there rather than in Carmel (in addition to cheaper rates)?

You're right about going all the way to Toulomne Meadows. It's a distance. But have to agree with the two adventures you want to take. Here's another hike if you have a lot energy but 'guts'. It's the hike to the top of Half Dome. I don't like heights so have never done it. There are rope 'railings' to get to the top and am not sure but you have to reserve ahead of time. Vernal and Nevada are very doable. Actually the best time to visit Yosemite is in May. However, this year there was a lot of snow in the higher Sierra so you might have some nice run off. In any case it's beautiful

I like Monterey other than just the cost because it it easy to travel between Carmel and Monterey. And even a decent drive down to Big Sur. I don't think you'd want to use Big Sur as your headquarters. It's just my preference.

Sounds like a gret trip. We visited Yosemite in the early 90s in Sept (rented a motor home in SF and drove there) and absolutely loved it. Its still on our list to go back.

We stayed in the Yosemite Valley, but also visited Wawona and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It was a long drive from the Valley, but spectacular scenery on the way and the Sequoias were wonderful. On the way to Wawona from the Valley, there was a picnic area that was on the edge of cliff and overlooked Half Dome (I think it was Half Dome - maybe one of the other major summits). It was an awe inspiring view from the picnic table. It was a "crawl on your belly to go to the edge" kind of place (no guard rails at the time). As CG said, Wawona was a neat lodge. I would have liked to stay there - very historical place.

Toulamne Meadows was wonderful too - also a good drive from the Valley. Different types of flora and fauna as it is at a higher elevation. We would have liked to spend more time there.

When I was working in Oakland one summer, I took a day trip to Monterrey to the aquarium. It was a wonderful aquarium with super tall tanks of kelp beds and a great sea otter display. I highly recommend it if you love sea life, like I did. The other day trip I took from SF was to Muir Woods. Love those big trees and really nice park, not far from SF.

Have a wonderful trip!

B&J in VA wrote: On the way to Wawona from the Valley, there was a picnic area that was on the edge of cliff and overlooked Half Dome (I think it was Half Dome - maybe one of the other major summits). It was an awe inspiring view from the picnic table. It was a "crawl on your belly to go to the edge" kind of place (no guard rails at the time).

You're thinking of Glacier Point. There are railings, but people always like to "push the envelope".

(picture from the website)


There's more on Glacier Point here, http://www.yosemitefun.com/glacier_point.htm and some really spectacular pictures of Half Dome taken from there. I'd put it on the "don't miss" list! We were there very early in the morning and there was still a mist down in the valley. It was pretty cool!

Wow, I've never considered this trip and now that I look at everyone's suggestions and links, I want to go too!

I'll file this away for a future year and can't wait to hear a trip report from you!