Another road trip! Advice needed!!

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Does anyone have any advice or critiques on our plans so far?

We don't really have the days for each worked out, but we are going in maybe mid June.

I really appreciate any tips.


Our plans:

Anaheim:
-a couple days at DL

Road trip to San Francisco:
-Santa Barbara
-Solvang
-Pinnacle National Forest
-Big Sur
-Monterey (for the aquarium)

San Francisco:
-night tour of Alcatraz
-walk the Golden Gate bridge
-Disney Family Museum
-Cable Car Museum
-Marin Headlands
-California Academy of Sciences
-Asian Art Museum
-Chinatown
-Fisherman's Wharf

Yosemite:
-not really sure of our plans here yet

Sequoia National Forest:
-not sure yet

Death Valley:
-also not sure

then we will end up back in Anaheim to head back home

 

[bcla]

Why Sequoia National Forest? There are a few interesting points like Boyden Cavern and some lightly visited sequoia groves, but the more interesting stuff in the area is at Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. Together they're often referred to as "SEKI".

SEKI is nice, but it's probably something you could do in one or two days unless you want to do a lot of hiking.

Death Valley can be interesting, but it can also be dangerous depending on the time of year. About every year or so they get someone who dies from the heat, thinking that they can handle hiking in summer temps. We were there last November, and the weather was just about perfect - maybe 75 deg F and clear. Our kid just went nuts at a sand dune. We probably should have picked up a sand bucket before coming.

Frankly I'd recommend Lake Tahoe. If you're short on time, maybe a drive around the lake and a few stops to sightsee.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I would say to make sure to purchase your tickets for Alcatraz before, as it is usually sold out. Yosemite is quite a drive. It is a very windy road.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Why Sequoia National Forest? There are a few interesting points like Boyden Cavern and some lightly visited sequoia groves, but the more interesting stuff in the area is at Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. Together they're often referred to as "SEKI".

SEKI is nice, but it's probably something you could do in one or two days unless you want to do a lot of hiking.

Death Valley can be interesting, but it can also be dangerous depending on the time of year. About every year or so they get someone who dies from the heat, thinking that they can handle hiking in summer temps. We were there last November, and the weather was just about perfect - maybe 75 deg F and clear. Our kid just went nuts at a sand dune. We probably should have picked up a sand bucket before coming.

Frankly I'd recommend Lake Tahoe. If you're short on time, maybe a drive around the lake and a few stops to sightsee.

So far I haven't done a lot of research into the drive from Yosemite back to Anaheim, which I thought would include stops at Death Valley and Sequoia. I just wrote them down because I figured they would be worthwhile stops. But now it sounds like maybe we can bypass Sequoia.

I would say to make sure to purchase your tickets for Alcatraz before, as it is usually sold out. Yosemite is quite a drive. It is a very windy road.

Thanks for the Alcatraz tip. My boyfriend is planning the Yosemite part, he has been there before and we are going to spend maybe 3 nights and do camping and hiking.

 

[BW DISfan]

I would think that if you want to go to Death Valley. You should just skip Sequoia and exit Yosemite on the east side and take 395 south until you get to the Death Valley exit around Lone Pine, I think. If you go that route you could check out Mount Whitney or the bristle cone national forest, both are just short detours on the way to Death Valley.

 

[ILUVALASKA]

I would include the new Exploratorium Museum on the Embarcadero near Fisherman's Wharf. Outstanding for all ages.It will take a long time to walk the bridge.

 

[bcla]

I would think that if you want to go to Death Valley. You should just skip Sequoia and exit Yosemite on the east side and take 395 south until you get to the Death Valley exit around Lone Pine, I think. If you go that route you could check out Mount Whitney or the bristle cone national forest, both are just short detours on the way to Death Valley.

Again, Death Valley is crazy hot during the summer. I speak from experience.

You might be able to see the summit from Whitney Portal.

There aren't necessarily the star attractions like the ones at SEKI, but there are sequoia groves in Yosemite.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I would think that if you want to go to Death Valley. You should just skip Sequoia and exit Yosemite on the east side and take 395 south until you get to the Death Valley exit around Lone Pine, I think. If you go that route you could check out Mount Whitney or the bristle cone national forest, both are just short detours on the way to Death Valley.

Again, Death Valley is crazy hot during the summer. I speak from experience.

You might be able to see the summit from Whitney Portal.

There aren't necessarily the star attractions like the ones at SEKI, but there are sequoia groves in Yosemite.

I think we have decided to drop Death Valley off the list. I did some driving route research last night and it looks like Death Valley would add a lot of driving time. And it looks like if we want to do King's Canyon/Sequoia we would enter that park from the western side, as opposed to the eastern side which would be on the way to Death Valley.

So Death Valley is out (may try to fit that in if we ever do a Vegas trip). We may tack a day onto another destination or make a drive up to Lake Tahoe, as a PP mentioned.

I would include the new Exploratorium Museum on the Embarcadero near Fisherman's Wharf. Outstanding for all ages.It will take a long time to walk the bridge.

What do you like about the Exploratorium? I had figured to set aside a whole morning for walking the bridge, we'd most likely do one way and then find some public transportation back across.

 

[wiigirl]

I would say to make sure to purchase your tickets for Alcatraz before, as it is usually sold out. Yosemite is quite a drive. It is a very windy road.

x2!

 

[BW DISfan]

I liked Sequoia and Kings Canyon a lot better than Death Valley anyways. And the west entrance is the only way I have ever been into Sequoia National Park. Enjoy your trip!

 

[kitayama]

Yosemite reservations need to be made a year in advance... I am not sure how long your trip is going to be, or when it is going to be, but I would highly recommend spending the maximum limit of seven nights there if you can get a reservation. Disneyland is great, but nothing is beats the natural beauty of Yosemite!
(The hike to the top of Half Dome from the valley floor is a memory of mine that will never fade.)

 

[Crittsmom]

Death Valley is Hot, and not a whole lot to see besides desert. You gotta go to Yosemite, (south entrance) probably about 6-7 hour drive from Disneyland. If you can't get ressies for Yosemite, you can stay outside the park but then you'll have to drive in each day which can be a little time consuming. Sequoia/Kings Canyon is beautiful, I think these roads are much more winding though. How about some time at the beach. OC beaches are wonderful after June gloom has burned off.

 

[bcla]

I think we have decided to drop Death Valley off the list. I did some driving route research last night and it looks like Death Valley would add a lot of driving time. And it looks like if we want to do King's Canyon/Sequoia we would enter that park from the western side, as opposed to the eastern side which would be on the way to Death Valley.

There is no road entrance on the eastern side of SEKI. There are a few roads that stop at trailheads in national forest land just short of reaching the border. There are basically only two main road entrances in or out. There's also a narrow road to Mineral King, but that's lightly used. All the roads inside (including in this part of Giant Sequoia National Monument/Sequoia National Forest require going through one of the NPS entrance to get there.

 

[CPT Tripss]

Some right coast opinions. Death Valley is fascinating . . . Keep it on you bucket list. It does work well from Las Vegas. Stay in the park and enjoy air conditioned lodging.

If you have time, a bicycle ride from in town SF over the Golden Gate to Sausalito with a ferry return is fun and good views. Blazing Saddle bike rentals is one of a few companies that offer packages.

Night Tour of Alcatraz!!!

Check out the free walking tours offered by the public library . . . sorry, no link, but I'm sure a web search will work.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Thanks everyone for all the help!

I think death valley is still on our list, just not for this trip.


We have our schedule pretty much figured out for sure now.

Arrive and drive up the coast and stop in big sur.

Spend a day in Monterrey at the aquarium.

2 days in San Francisco. I will pre book the Alcatraz night tour. Then we will do many museums.

Then 3 days in Yosemite.

1 day at pinnacle.

2 days at kings canyon.

Then Disneyland.

Anyone have any fun San Francisco night time entertainment suggestions?