Road Trip - LA to San Fran to Vegas

Hi all,

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)
Wed Head from Monterrey to San. Fran. (walk around the
city, pier, golden gate)
Thurs San. Fran.
Fri San. Fran. (Alcatraz tour etc.) head to Napa.
Sat Wine tour, stay in Napa
Sun Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)
Monday Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas
Tuesday Vegas
Wed Vegas
Thurs Vegas
Fri Drive to LA to catch flight

MANY THANKS!!!

Whateverdudejustgo wrote:
Hi all,

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

If you're a big gambler than three days in Vegas might be okay, but if
you're not really into gambling then one day is more than enough, and
zero days would be better. Note that there are plenty of casinos
(Indian) and card clubs (where you're not playing against the house) in
California.

August isn't a great time to go to Napa. They aren't crushing, and it's
extremely hot. You'd be better off in the other wine region near Santa Rosa.

Go to Muir Woods. Then go over to Mount Tam (Pantoll) down to Stinson
Beach (on Sat and Sun you can hike one-way down (use the Steep Ravine
trail) and take the bus back up).

Actually, I'd do an excursion that included Marin county (Muir Woods,
Mount Tam, Point Reyes, and Sonoma county wine country then headed to
Yosemite, and that included more than just driving through. You should
stay at least one night in Yosemite.


Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)
Wed Head from Monterrey to San. Fran. (walk around the
city, pier, golden gate)
Thurs San. Fran.
Fri San. Fran. (Alcatraz tour etc.) head to Napa.
Sat Wine tour, stay in Napa
Sun Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)
Monday Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas
Tuesday Vegas
Wed Vegas
Thurs Vegas
Fri Drive to LA to catch flight

MANY THANKS!!!

"Whateverdudejustgo" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)
Wed Head from Monterrey to San. Fran. (walk around the
city, pier, golden gate)
Thurs San. Fran.
Fri San. Fran. (Alcatraz tour etc.) head to Napa.
Sat Wine tour, stay in Napa
Sun Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)
Monday Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas
Tuesday Vegas
Wed Vegas
Thurs Vegas
Fri Drive to LA to catch flight

MANY THANKS!!!

Make sure you have advance reservations to Alcatraz. Entry is free, but
tour boat ride over to the island is not. And tour boat reservations are
what you need.

On Jun 4, 2:07*am, Whateverdudejustgo
wrote:
Hi all,

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Monday * * * Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday * * *Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)
Wed * * * * * *Head from Monterrey to San. Fran. (walk around the
city, pier, golden gate)
Thurs * * * * * San. Fran.
Fri * * * * * * * San. Fran. (Alcatraz tour etc.) head to Napa.
Sat * * * * * * *Wine tour, stay in Napa
Sun * * * * * * Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)
Monday * * * *Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas
Tuesday * * * Vegas
Wed * * * * * *Vegas
Thurs * * * * * Vegas
Fri * * * * * * * Drive to LA to catch flight

MANY THANKS!!!


So you are not staying in LA at all? That's fine. I think it's a
good schedule.

through Death Valley

Death Valley will be extremely hot in August, so be sure to read the
safety advice at the official site, especially if you're thinking of
doing any hiking.

Vegas

It will also be extremely hot, so you'll want to spend most of your
time indoors. You probably don't need 3 full days if you just want to
sightsee at some of the casinos on the Strip. But if you plan to spend
time gambling, or plan to visit some nearby attractions (such as
Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, or Valley of Fire) then 3 days would be
good.

James

are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

No, in fact you'll probably wish you could stay longer.

You'll be there 3 days, which sounds like a lot, but keep in mind that
2 of those days are only partial.

James

It seems to me I heard somewhere that Whateverdudejustgo wrote in article
:

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Sun Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)

This looks like an extremely long day of Sunday driving with little time to see
some don't-miss scenery; you essentially cross the entire width of California
(very roughly 120 miles EW by crow-flight) while also angling south to reach
the Sierras and Yosemite--quite a bit of it in mountainous terrain. From there
you still have to make about forty miles over the pass to Lee Vining and another
25 miles south to Mammoth Lakes. August will be vacation season (though this
year traffic may be lighter because of gas prices); I would still expect the
Yosemite area, particularly the valley, to be crowded with slow traffic.
(Distances are estimated from a map and will probably be somewhat longer in real
life.)

Monday Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas

Not a day trip I'd like to make in August, but cars are much better now than
when I did most of my driving around the state.

"Whateverdudejustgo" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

We are planning the trip below during two weeks in mid August and
would love some feedback. Our priorities are seeing the main sights
and not getting off the beaten path too much, but allowing ourselves
enough time to relax at certain points...we enjoy some activities such
as hiking etc. but are not planning too much time in the national
parks (unless someone recommends something that we're not aware of).
Are we spending too much time in Vegas? Should we focus on anywhere
else? Are we spending too much time in San. Fran?

Please let us know what you think if you've done any of what we're
proposing and any must do's or don't's. Thanks in advance for any
feedback!

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)
Wed Head from Monterrey to San. Fran. (walk around the
city, pier, golden gate)
Thurs San. Fran.
Fri San. Fran. (Alcatraz tour etc.) head to Napa.
Sat Wine tour, stay in Napa
Sun Napa drive through Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes (stay
somewhere around here)
Monday Mammoth Lakes to Vegas (through Death Valley) Arrive in
Vegas
Tuesday Vegas
Wed Vegas
Thurs Vegas
Fri Drive to LA to catch flight

MANY THANKS!!!

Unless you are really keen gamblers I wouldnt stay more than
2 nights in Las Vegas, use the time to stop at Yosemite.
Going from Napa to Mammoth Lake without spending at least a
full day there would be a crime IMHO. I'd also reconsider the route you plan
on using to get there.

I love DV but NOT in August, taking SR 168/266 may be
a better option.

While in Mammoth Lakes take the time to do the
short hike to the Devils Postpile and stop off at Mono
Lake on the way there.

Keith

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)

Just one comment. The coastal scenery is magnificent, but only if the
weather is good enough for you to see it -- and the coast makes its own
weather. You might want to have an alternate plan in mind in case the
forecast calls for conditions like this:

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~ted/fog/04...f-catalina.jpg

The obvious alternative is to do your whole route in reverse.

Of course, if you're reserving hotel rooms in advance, having an alternate
route doesn't work -- and if you aren't, you risk having problems finding
a hotel. Now you decide.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | I still remember the first time his reality check
| bounced. -- Darlene Richards

My text in this article is in the public domain.

On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:13:07 -0500, (Mark Brader)
wrote:

Monday Arrive in LA late afternoon head one hr north and stay at
motel (maybe Ventura?)
Tuesday Drive up coast 101 and costal route from Cambria to
Monterrey (prob. see Santa Barbara - 1 hr)

Just one comment. The coastal scenery is magnificent, but only if the
weather is good enough for you to see it -- and the coast makes its own
weather. You might want to have an alternate plan in mind in case the
forecast calls for conditions like this:

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~ted/fog/04...f-catalina.jpg

The obvious alternative is to do your whole route in reverse.

A good point. Most visitors to California aren't aware of the
coastal fog season, and you don't want to try driving up through
Big Sur in the fog.

The fog will be pretty much restricted to the coast itself, and
the coastal mountain range keeps if away from the interior. This
is common all along the California coast.

--
************* DAVE HATUNEN ) *************
* Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow *
* My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps *