Yosemite and San Fran

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » August 5, 2005 6:39 pm

Heading out to the Left Coast next week to visit phamily we don't often get to see.

We're also going to Yosemite Nat'l Park (**lower half**) phor the phirst time. What should we see/do in Yosemite and San Fran?

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » August 5, 2005 6:45 pm

Depending on what you like to do and how much time you have there are many things to do and see in that part of the country. Just a couple off the top of my head: take a cable car ride, see the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the Golden Gate Park, take the tour of Alcatraz, visit the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, visit old gold mining towns like Mariposa, visit China Town and take some time to explore and hike around Yosemite. That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure that some of the locals will have even better and more detailed suggestions.

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » August 5, 2005 10:44 pm

If you are going to stay anywhere near Yosemite this time of year you will need reservations. Same with the Alcatraz tour. Dont forget its a 5 hour drive from SF to YNP.

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » August 6, 2005 7:36 am

The reservations have been done for months. Five hour drive isn't so bad.

Brown Eyed Girl · Post by **Brown Eyed Girl** » August 11, 2005 12:49 am

Corey, I think you forgot to tell him that it will take 5 hours just to get out of the Bay Area...

okay, maybe not that long...usually....

Dutch Harbor PH · Post by **Dutch Harbor PH** » August 11, 2005 2:27 am

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:Corey, I think you forgot to tell him that it will take 5 hours just to get out of the Bay Area...

okay, maybe not that long...usually....

Then again if it is a Friday it will take 5 hours to get out of the bay area........

MikeInNOLA · Post by **MikeInNOLA** » August 11, 2005 9:22 am

The Lost Manatee wrote:Depending on what you like to do and how much time you have there are many things to do and see in that part of the country. Just a couple off the top of my head: take a cable car ride, see the Golden Gate Bridge and visit the Golden Gate Park, take the tour of Alcatraz, visit the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys, visit old gold mining towns like Mariposa, visit China Town and take some time to explore and hike around Yosemite. That's just off the top of my head, I'm sure that some of the locals will have even better and more detailed suggestions.

Although "Altered Boy" is probably one of my least favorite songs, my last trip to San Francisco I did drop by the "Tonga Room in the beautiful Fairmont Hotel". Very cool Tiki bar!

If you are driving, be sure to hit Lombard Street...the crookedest street in the world. Drive across the Golden Gate to the visitors center on the North side allows for great pictures of the Golden Gate and San Francisco. Just a bit further north is Muir Woods, which is a nice grove of redwood trees (first time I had seen one).

And...I left S.F. on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. heading south on Hwy 101...it probably took 3 hours to go the first 100 miles!

jonesbeach10 · Post by **jonesbeach10** » August 24, 2005 11:00 am

Well I'm back and had a great time. Did the 17 mile drive in Pebble Beach, drove down the Pacific Coast Highway, than across the valley to Yosemite. For the future, I highly recommend hiking to the top of Sentiel Dome. You get 360 degree views its one of the few places in the park you can see Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, simply breathtaking. Then back across California to San Fran and went on the streetcars, Ghriadelli square, Pier 39, and Alcatraz.
And of course there was In N Out. Best fast food burger I've ever had. (and heart attack

)

BuPHett · Post by **BuPHett** » August 24, 2005 11:04 am

Go north thru the Sonoma Valley to Rutherford...Francis Ford Coppolla has his winery there..the drive was beautiful and the winery was as well..Coppolla actually was there..