Help needed to plan a CA trip!

[Jeannie]

We're flying from the east coast to San Francisco for a wedding in mid/late spring. Looks like flying in on Wednesday and returning on Tuesday has the lowest cost. The wedding is in Big Sur and the hotel block is in Monterey. We have that hotel booked for Friday and Saturday nights. Since it's nearby, we plan to go to the Monterey Aquarium on Thursday or Sunday. Since I don't see any other west coast vacations in our future, I'd like to visit Sequoia National Park. I know a lot of driving will be involved. I'm open to other things to see, just not sure what's worthwhile! What would be the best itinerary with Monterey in the middle?
Thanks!

 

[citruscurtis]

We're flying from the east coast t. Since I don't see any other west coast vacations in our future, I'd like to visit Sequoia National Park. I know a lot of driving will be involved. I'm open to other things to see, just not sure what's worthwhile! What would be the best itinerary with Monterey in the middle?
Thanks!

So what are your pastimes and what do you imagine the West Coast to be and are you visiting Frisco

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Since I don't see any other west coast vacations in our future, I'd like to visit Sequoia National Park. I know a lot of driving will be involved.

Yeah, it's 220 miles from Monterey to Sequoia NP, about 4 hours one way. That would be a pretty long day for you.

 

[VandVsmama]

We're flying from the east coast to San Francisco for a wedding in mid/late spring. Looks like flying in on Wednesday and returning on Tuesday has the lowest cost. The wedding is in Big Sur and the hotel block is in Monterey. We have that hotel booked for Friday and Saturday nights. Since it's nearby, we plan to go to the Monterey Aquarium on Thursday or Sunday. Since I don't see any other west coast vacations in our future, I'd like to visit Sequoia National Park. I know a lot of driving will be involved. I'm open to other things to see, just not sure what's worthwhile! What would be the best itinerary with Monterey in the middle?
Thanks!

I'd suggest to consider something like this:

• Wed - fly to CA. Stay Wed night somewhere in/near Silicon Valley or Santa Cruz instead of SF.
• Thurs - go to Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• skipping ahead to Sunday...drive from Monterey to Sequoia National Park. Stay somewhere near the national park. 4 hr drive from the aquarium to the national park.
• Mon - in Sequoia National Park. Plan on leaving early-ish, though, from the national park because without rush hour traffic, it's almost a 5 hr drive to the San Francisco airport. And you will want/need to stay overnight near the airport on Monday night.

HOWEVER:
If what you REALLY want is to experience big redwood trees, then you should consider SKIPPING Sequoia National Park entirely and stay in the Santa Cruz-Monterey areas and explore:

• Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railway in Felton, CA (this is in the Santa Cruz mountains in between San Jose & Santa Cruz).
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - also in Felton
• Muir Woods - 1 hr drive north of SF. I think you have to make a reservation to be able to visit there, so plan accordingly.
• UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

You could also explore Capitola, which is adorable...and eat a meal at Shadowbrook.

 

[mikehn]

I could spend a couple weeks just doing wine tours up and down the coast

 

[SueInBoston]

I second Muir Woods - Beautiful park.

 

[diznygirl]

I second Santa Cruz - we really enjoyed the train ride through the woods.

 

[bcla]

How much do you need to visit? Sequoia National Park is actually run as one unit with Kings Canyon National Park. They're known together as "SEKI" and some of the best parts are technically within Kings Canyon National Park or even Forest Service land (primarily the Giant Sequoia National Monument portion of Sequoia National Forest.

I do have some concerns about the state of our national parks for this year - especially staffing levels as it concerns visitor services, maintenance, and law enforcement. Nearly all seasonal staffing hires have been rescinded and existing staff are resigning or being fired. I'll leave it at that, but it's not a trivial concern for the quality or safety of any visit to a national park. Or national forests.

 

[LKing]

There is a forum on this site for people planning trips in California & the West. You might find some of the threads there helpful.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/california-the-west.131/

 

[lovesmurfs]

Soooo... ChatGPT is my go-to in terms of itineraries (using it for Ireland in June).

Here’s a rough itinerary that balances your priorities while minimizing excessive backtracking:

Wednesday: Arrival in San Francisco​

• Land in San Francisco (SFO).
• Pick up a rental car and explore SF if time allows:
  • Golden Gate Bridge (viewpoints at Battery Spencer or Crissy Field)
  • Fisherman’s Wharf & Pier 39 (see sea lions)
  • Alcatraz (if time allows, requires advance booking)
  • Drive to an overnight stop near Sequoia (optional: stay in SF and leave early Thursday)

Thursday: Drive to Sequoia National Park​

• Early morning (~5-6 AM) drive to Sequoia National Park (~5-hour drive).
• Highlights:
  • General Sherman Tree (largest tree by volume)
  • Tunnel Log (drive-through tree)
  • Moro Rock (short but steep climb with stunning views)
• Stay overnight in Three Rivers or Visalia.

Friday: Drive to Monterey​

• Early morning (~5-6 AM) departure for Monterey (~4-hour drive).
• Check in to your wedding hotel.
• Relax, explore Cannery Row or 17-Mile Drive if time allows.

Saturday: Wedding in Big Sur​

• Enjoy the wedding!

Sunday: Monterey Aquarium & Coastal Drive​

• Morning visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium.
• Afternoon drive south along Highway 1 toward Big Sur:
  • Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (stunning coastal hikes)
  • Bixby Bridge (famous scenic spot)
  • Pfeiffer Beach (purple sand, unique rock formations)
• Return to Monterey or overnight in Big Sur/Carmel.

Monday: Drive Back Toward San Francisco via Scenic Route​

• Stop in Carmel-by-the-Sea (charming town, art galleries, beaches).
• Drive up Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1):
  • Stop at McWay Falls (beautiful waterfall into the ocean)
  • Visit Santa Cruz (Boardwalk, Natural Bridges State Park)
  • Arrive in San Francisco, overnight there.

Tuesday: Departure​

• Morning in SF (if time allows), return rental car, and fly home.

---

This plan gives you a mix of coastal scenery, giant trees, and some time to enjoy each stop. Let me know if you want to tweak it!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you don't plan to spend time in San Francisco and want to concentrate on Monterey/Santa Cruz/Big Sur/Sequoia, check flights in and out of San Jose. It's a smaller airport and much easier to navigate than SFO. It's also closer to the Santa Cruz/Monterey area. However, from the East Coast, it's usually less expensive to use SFO and there are more direct flights. But San Jose (SJC) is worth checking out as an option.

 

[pezgirlroy]

If what you REALLY want is to experience big redwood trees, then you should consider SKIPPING Sequoia National Park entirely and stay in the Santa Cruz-Monterey areas and explore:

• Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railway in Felton, CA (this is in the Santa Cruz mountains in between San Jose & Santa Cruz).
• Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park - also in Felton
• Muir Woods - 1 hr drive north of SF. I think you have to make a reservation to be able to visit there, so plan accordingly.
• UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

You could also explore Capitola, which is adorable...and eat a meal at Shadowbrook.

I agree with this. Muir woods is amazing.

 

[bcla]

I agree with this. Muir woods is amazing.

I visited Redwood National and State Parks fairly recently. Was the best viewing experience I’d ever had. I’ve seen redwoods around Santa Cruz and was a Muir Woods annual pass holder a few years. But there, the crowds were far more manageable, the trees are generally larger, and the overall experience was amazing.