OT,Advice appreciated please on how busy Easter time will be in LA,san Fran etc?

[kazzie]

Sorry to go off topic here but you are the only people I can trouble to ask

I was planning a trip last year for this year but had to put it off until next year.I was hoping to go in October but I'm now working as a classroom assistant in a school so cannot take that time off in October.That leaves end July/August or Easter next year.

As I want to fly to San Fran then drive to Carmel,Yosemite,Death Valley,Las Vegas then LA over a two and a half week period.I think July/August is out because of Las Vegas & Death Valley weather wise,so I'd like to go for Easter........ BUT will it be very busy in those places? Is this a holiday/break time in the US too?

Which time would you choose?

Thanks in advance if you can give me any advice

 

[Floydian]

Yes, it is holiday time here in the US also.

If I was choosing, I'd pick the Easter times. Either way, those places will still be busy with visitors due to the typical family vacation times. Easter for our "Spring Breaks", and July/August for "Summer Vacations".

So, the crowds being similarly equal, I think you'd be well advised to travel those areas in cooler weather. Especially when driving to/through Death Valley. Somehow, I doubt that's a place that most people want to be during the hottest times of the year. I, for one, just can't handle 120+ degree temperatures (Farenheit of course...I'm not sure what that'd convert to in the Metric system... ).

 

[kazzie]

Thanks Floydian You've confirmed what I was thinking.

Bearing in mond as a Londoner I've never experienced anything even close to 100º,I think I would die in that heat

I want to stay in Yosemite and Death Valley,I will try to book Yosemite especially at the year out mark as I'm sure it will get fully booked very quickly.

Thanks again, and any other advice??

 

[dcfromva]

kazzie,
Wow! You have a very ambitious schedule for only 2.5 weeks. You have a lot of really long driving distances planned on your itinerary.

We have gone to Yosemite from the SFO airport (in the springtime) and I believe that drive alone was about 5 hours. If you are able to book it, the Ahwahnee Hotel is the place to be.
link to lodging at Yosemite (They have a fabulous dining room there, too)

link to National Parks in California

Even though you are planning to go in the spring, you will find some of the roads at Yosemite are still shut because of snow and ice.

On the other hand, Death Valley can get quite hot --even in March or April. Of course, if I were given an option between summer or spring, I would definately opt for the spring. We went there at the end of June one year, it was so hot that the ranger didn't recommend taking ANY hikes! (We've also driven through in March and had days that were plenty hot).

Enjoy!

-DC

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

It was the Ahwahnee that I wanted to stay in,I'll try to book that as soon as I'm able.

I am concerned too about the amount of driving,I think it may well be too over ambitious This can all be be thought about in my many hours of planning/dreaming