preliminary itinerary for road trip 2009

Hello,

We (no kids) are planning a trip in June 2009 and have made a rough draft of an itinerary.

This will be an approximately 2 week trip starting in Apple Valley:

Death Valley NP (1 night)

Yosemite NP (3 or 4 nights??)

Half Dome hike for one of us brave souls)

Napa Valley/ San Fransisco area (would like to go to wineries in Napa and visit SF, fishermans wharf,golden gate bridge) (2 nights?)

Pacific Coast highway to just north of LA

stop overnight ( 1 night?)along the way..maybe half way between SF and Oxnard??

see Big Sur

visit some missions

Channel Islands NP...which town recommended to stay overnight for good access to the Channel Islands??

(planning 2 nights(?) in this area)

Trip ends in Apple Valley

Have never been to California..any thoughts on this agenda appreciated.

Thanks

pozj

preliminary itinerary for road trip 2009

Looks like a great trip! For Napa wineries, consider Nicholson Ranch, Domaine Carneros, Artesa and Del Dotto. Have fun! :)

preliminary itinerary for road trip 2009

Also look at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Worth a day or 2 also.

When I was in San Francisco, went to the coast and visited Cliff House and Sutro Baths and also Golden Gate Park (not the bridge)

Between SF and LA area... Santa Cruz, a number of beautiful state parks, Monterey (nice aquarium, Cannery Row), Pebble Beach, Carmel, Big Sur, San Simeon (Hearst Castle tour), Morro Bay, Santa Barbara.

Here%26#39;s a link to missions: http://missions.bgmm.com/

California State Parks: http://www.parks.ca.gov/

syrahgirl and Casa,

These recommendations and links are very very helpful. I think I need to narrow my future posts to individual areas as posts in the general ';California'; forum move into oblivion very quickly!!

Nice to see you over here Casa..I may pick your brain for more info..although you and I both know that our brains are on summer vacation!

:)

pozj

Hi Pozj,

I like the places on your itinerary; you will see a very diverse and beautiful cross section of California.

Glad you%26#39;ve included missions on your list. Most are located within close proximity to the 101 Freeway (which used to be ';El Camino Real';.)

We like to stay in the Pismo Beach/San Luis Obispo area or in Cambria, tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g32148-c2-Cambria_Cal… both of which are about 1/2 way between Oxnard and San Francisco. Two hotels we’ve stayed at in Pismo Beach are The Cliffs at Shell Beach tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32894-d79286-R…

And Spyglass Inn tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32894-d79768-R…

The boats to the Channel Islands http://www.nps.gov/chis/ leave from either Oxnard or Ventura—which are adjacent cities. (We prefer to go out of Ventura, so we can make a stop at Channel Islands Information Center.) Of course a hotel in Ventura would be closer, but Oxnard is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. The Embassy Suites at Mandalay Beach (Oxnard) is a lovely beach-front hotel. Ocean front rooms are pricey, however.

tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g32837-d78181-R…

If you have a chance, do see the elephant seal refuge. A large colony of these seals congregate there; and a docent/naturalist often is there to answer questions. The “sanctuary” is located on Hwy. 1, just north (I believe) of San Simeon (Hearst Castle area). tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28926-i29-k112664…

Have fun planning.

I look forward to your Trip Report when you return from Yellowstone. (We have just a little less than a year before we%26#39;re there, but who%26#39;s counting?)

Oops, the elephant seal link didn%26#39;t work. Here it is again--you may have to copy and paste.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28926-i29-k112664…

Hi again, Pozj,

Here%26#39;s another link for the elephant seals.

http://www.elephantseal.org/Rookery/where.htm

Hi 1travelingfamily,

Thanks so much for the information. I will surely check out the reviews and links you provided.

I will definately post trip reports and hotel reviews when we get back from our trip out west. I can%26#39;t believe it is only 3 weeks til we leave.

Your year will fly by..I know ours did!

Thanks again,

pozj

You%26#39;re welcome, Pozj.

Planning on TA is so much fun (and addictive), isn%26#39;t it?

The main mission road ran inland from the Pacific Coast Highway but there are still a few worth seeing along your chosen route. Mission Carmel is on the north end, near Monterey. Mission San Luis Obispo and Mission Santa Barbara are at the south end. They all stand in the midst of civilization now, but you can try to imagine how it would be with no other structures in sight.

Much as I love Yosemite, three nights might be better than 4 so that you can give SF at least 2 nights. Napa Valley will take all or most of a day and you%26#39;d barely scratch the surface with just one full day in SF.

webspinner, you may be right about adding a day to SF area. We may have to revisit. Thanks .

1Travelinfamily..you bet it%26#39;s addictive. There is so much great advice out there. This is an awesome place!

(21 days and counting)

:)