San Francisco and pacific coast highway advice (1 Viewer)

[Perthmike]

So my trip is almost locked up now and the part of my itinerary that I need some help with is as follows.

Land in LA on 28th May, pick up car and drive to Vegas for 7 days of poker degeneracy (I’d love to catch up with any pcfers in the area during this time for some poker and/or beers).

Maybe a mini low stakes casino meet up.

4th June - Leave Vegas on 4th in the am and pick the wife up in LA at lunchtime. Drive through and stop briefly at Santa Barbara or Solvang for lunch before heading onto Cambria to stay for the night.

5th June - drive up the rest of the pacific cost highway towards San Fran (4 hours apparently). I’ve got most of the day to do this drive if I want. Where would people recommend stopping? So far i’m thinking Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur or elephant seal rockery.

The evening part is where I’m confused. I need to leave San Francisco on the morning of the 7th to head to Yosemite. I mostly want to see the Golden Gate Bridge and an evening alacatraz tour. Should i drive straight to San Fran and get there for lunchtime on the 5th and do 2 nights? Or should I go to Monterey for one evening and only do just the 1 day and night in San Fran?

Also, how do people feel about staying in downtown San Fran? I don’t want to spend too much cash, because i will barely be in the room.

 

[fish72s]

The Avenue of the Giants is pretty cool if you want to see the Redwoods.
http://avenueofthegiants.net/
There are some in Muir woods closer to SF but as I remember they weren't quite as impressive.
Then again, that was 12 years ago ; maybe they are taller now.

(just googled it and AotG is farther north than I remember. Still I'd recommend the northern PCF; all the way to the Olympic peninsula. Thats a great road trip

 

[Perthmike]

A few others have suggested the Muir Woods. If I do the 2 full days in San Fran I will definitely check it out.

 

[B.C.]

Personally, I'd skip Monterey and go straight to SF (stop off and look around though and also do the same in Carmel). Downtown is perfectly fine with the right hotel selection.

Make sure you book Alcatraz in advance. Often sells out.

 

[K ALL IN 9]

Definitely book Alcatraz early and agree on the skipping of Monterey. It's a nice little town but not much to do other than cannery row and the aquarium. There a buttload of things to see and do in SF:

-Twin Peaks will give you great views of the city (parking on the hill sucks)
-Bernal Heights park will give you the same views. Parking is easier but you'll have to walk 10-15 min up the trail to get the views
-Crissy field (beach) has tons of parking and some nice views of the GGB
-Palace of Fine Arts
-Lombard Street
-Fortune cookie factory in Chinatown (warm, unfolded cookies are the nuts)
-Fishermans wharf. Tourist trap that I hate with a passion
-The Painted Ladies
-the best view of the GGB imo is on the north side, if you can get a parking spot

If you need Google pins for locations let me know

From the north side

Crissy field beach

 

[RichMahogany]

As noted, buy Alcatraz tickets in advance or you can risk the tours being sold out.

Downtown is actually the best place to stay IMO, you’re centrally located to most of the must see/do areas of the city. You’ll be near a ton of bus/.train lines and you could also take Lyft or Uber as an alternative(highly recommended!) You’ll only be in the city for 2 days, do you want to spend a lot of that time sitting on a bus?

Depending on where you stay downtown you can easily walk to China Town, North Beach, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s wharf and walk down the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building all in one day if you’re motivated

 

[Perthmike]

San Fran for 2 nights it is then.

 

[Mongoose]

Big Sur is a great stop along Hwy 1. A beautiful drive. Go to Nepenthe’s for lunch. A very cool place that’s been there forever. Have a great time!

 

[RocAFella1]

Also, don't say San Fran. SF or The City

 

[Perthmike]

Also, don't say San Fran. SF or The City

Well I’m certainly not typing it out in full

It will have to be SF, because the city could be any city. I’m going to several on this trip.

For any South Park fans, will I need to bring a wine glass at all times?

 

[RainmanTrail]

Ya, do SF for 2 nights. But Monterey is a nice spot to stop for lunch. Especially if you are into aquariums. It's a nice place to spend an hour or two at.

 

[RainmanTrail]

There a really great lookout spot in SF that you can get to called twin peaks that gives you a panoramic view of the whole city from several hundred feet up. You should check that out as well as the Golden gate bridge lookout spots like battery east. Also be sure to check out baker Beach in SF. All are great spots.

 

[Numerobis]

It’s an amazing trip. I did the same last summer with family. Unfortunately PCH1 was still closed but I think it reopened since. Enjoy

 

[ReallyGoodUsername]

Same as everyone else, SF, Alcatraz, Muir over Monterey. I loved the aquarium there but otherwise it can’t hold a candle to SF which you can spend a week in and still have things to do. Went two years ago to SF for a week and really enjoyed it. As others have mentioned Alcatraz “tours” aka boats to the island sell out in advance. HINT: most of the services have tickets available the morning of if you go directly to the ticketing office but you generally have to get there SUPER early to get in line for them.

Also check out Super Duper burger in SF, it’s a good time and they sell pitchers of beer. Last thing - kayaking around the bay is pretty cool as well you’ll get to see sea lions all over.

 

[Don Clay]

@Perthmike I hope you don't mind if I ask this, what do you plan after visiting Yosemite? I mean, you're going back to SF? To LA ? Or another place in East? In this last case, it looks like crossing Yosemite from west can be very difficult or simply impossible. The main road is close all winter and most of Spring too.
I'd be interested by any info that local can give me about this.

Thanks!

 

[Perthmike]

@Don Clay my plan is to drive to lee vining via tioga road and then back to Las Vegas to spend 3 nights there with the wife.

I’m aware that tioga road is sometimes shut, but I found the following information which shows when tioga road has opened each year. I’ll be leaving Yosemite on 8th June, so I’d say my chances are decent that it will be open.

If not, then I’ll have to go the long way down the i-5.
I

 

[ekricket]

As noted, buy Alcatraz tickets in advance or you can risk the tours being sold out.

Downtown is actually the best place to stay IMO, you’re centrally located to most of the must see/do areas of the city. You’ll be near a ton of bus/.train lines and you could also take Lyft or Uber as an alternative(highly recommended!) You’ll only be in the city for 2 days, do you want to spend a lot of that time sitting on a bus?

Depending on where you stay downtown you can easily walk to China Town, North Beach, Lombard Street, Fisherman’s wharf and walk down the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building all in one day if you’re motivated

Check for air conditioning if it’s important to you. Don’t assume, especially if your staying someplace “boutique” or historic in any sense.
Weather is nice, but last time we were there was the time of the Napa Fire, so keeping windows open was bad, and then when it died down and we thought we were ok the place across the street burned down at 2 in the morning.

 

[Don Clay]

@Don Clay my plan is to drive to lee vining via tioga road and then back to Las Vegas to spend 3 nights there with the wife.

I’m aware that tioga road is sometimes shut, but I found the following information which shows when tioga road has opened each year. I’ll be leaving Yosemite on 8th June, so I’d say my chances are decent that it will be open.

If not, then I’ll have to go the long way down the i-5.
IView attachment 239372

Yes I think you'll be able to go through on June 8th
It must be superb up there.