Need help with US west coast trip...

John259

visidigi wrote: »

Just not sure how much time the two Parks should take up for stops etc

You could spend a whole day in each, but on the other hand you could see the essence of Sequoia with a drive-through. I'd miss Kings Canyon though on this trip, too much driving for that day.

In March/April you need to keep an eye on weather conditions for those parks (including Yosemite) as there could be problems with snow and ice. If the park authorities insist on snow chains you have a dilemma because car rental companies don't allow them (risk of damage to tyres and bodywork). If there's no other solution then you can use the YARTS bus service to get to Yosemite Valley from Merced or the town of Mariposa http://www.yarts.com But you might be lucky and have totally clear roads. CA140 from Merced is the best road to take into Yosemite if winter weather is around. Some more info here:

Visiting Yosemite in winter - web page https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/winter.htm

Visiting Yosemite in winter - video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91hs-RE32o

Visiting Sequoia in winter - web page https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/pvwinter.htm

Using snow chains and cables in Sierra Nevada national parks - video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1padKLj7VVI

visidigi

Awesome information thank you!!!

We were doing Kings on the basis we could do the full loop, if we go into sequoia and back it would feel like a missed opportunity as both parks are one fee.

I guess we need to keep an eye on the weather. Starting to think the suggestion of not booking and playing it by ear is a good idea...

John259

I'd certainly advise doing this, weather permitting of course:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=CA-198+W&daddr=36.6106359,-118.7811735+to:CA-180+W&hl=en&sll=36.538329,-118.747101&sspn=0.797737,1.674042&geocode=FWnOKgIdgp_n-A%3BFUuiLgIdC4vr-CmrEZLwwl2VgDGOuPjKFSNdPA%3BFTdCMAIdy6vi-A&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10
but not this if time is short:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=CA-180+E&daddr=CA-180+E&hl=en&sll=36.628754,-118.641357&sspn=0.796803,1.674042&geocode=FTSSMAIdzL_o-A%3BFdBuMQIdy4Pu-A&mra=me&mrsp=1,0&sz=10&t=m&z=10

John259

visidigi wrote: »

Starting to think the suggestion of not booking and playing it by ear is a good idea...

Yes, weather, wildfires, floods, pestilence,...

Not booking ahead is generally a wise policy but you need to be flexible and accept that sometimes you'll need to drive a bit further than ideal, or pay more than you wish. At the time of year you'll be visiting there won't be the huge demand for accommodation that applies in the summer.

Some motel chains allow you to make a provisional booking which will be automatically dropped if you don't show up by a certain time (usually 4pm, 5pm or 6pm) with no charge to you, or a confirmed booking which will held for you all night but will be charged to your credit card regardless of whether you show up or not. So you often see queues of hopeful looking people outside motel offices at the drop-off times.
Example: http://www.motel6.com/reservations/policies.aspx

You can use the motel chains' toll-free phone numbers or their web sites to maintain bookings a few days ahead of yourself which is wise for popular places and over weekends.

All the motel chains publish free directory booklets with details of each of their locations, and you can use Google Maps to search for motels generically or by chain name, and use StreetView mode to view the exterior and surroundings. You can also check for nearby restaurants with Google Maps.
Example: https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=motel+near+Bishop,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&sll=37.6,-95.665&sspn=49.606082,107.138672&oq=motel+near+bishop,+ca&hq=motel&hnear=Bishop,+Inyo+County,+California,+United+States&t=m&z=15
and https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=in+n+out+near+Merced,+CA,+United+States&hl=en&ll=37.298428,-120.481498&spn=0.003085,0.006539&sll=37.365778,-118.399141&sspn=0.02466,0.052314&oq=in+n+out+near+merced&hq=in+n+out&hnear=Merced,+Merced+County,+California,+United+States&t=m&fll=37.298206,-120.481128&fspn=0.003085,0.006539&z=18&layer=c&cbll=37.298569,-120.481418&panoid=ULx5BzrVLa27CN-ljK6blA&cbp=12,245.64,,0,-0.59

Some motel chains have promotional videos of their locations on YouTube. Examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmyCXgdYH4A
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FENagwkNzjY
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9dhSXxCbC4

Most states publish free accommodation guides which also include non-chain properties. You can sometimes pick these up at chambers of commerce, motel lobbies, welcome centres on interstates, restaurants, etc.

visidigi

Thanks again for the info - greatly appreciated - we've shuffled our agenda on the basis that if we need to miss out the parks due to weather we will move up SF, extend it and the PCH by a day each. All our hotel bookings have been done individually (for cashback) and one a refundable basis)

We wanted to end the trip with a two day rest down the coast from LA, most likely in Del Mar or in Palm Springs way.

Here's our intended itinerary...

Day 1
Plan for the Day: Arrive, collect car, dinner and and check in
Distance Driven: N/A

Day 2
Plan for the Day: LA - Up early, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, PCH drive to Camarillo then over to Ontario Mills and other shopping

Day 3
Plan for the Day: LA - Hollywood, Observatory, Beverly Hills and Farmers Market

Day 4
Plan for the Day: LA to Sequoia, through Kings Canyon and stay in Fresno
Distance Driven: LA to Clovis - 308 Miles - 6hr 22min

Day 5
Plan for the Day: Clovis - Yosemite National Park - Merced
Distance Driven: Clovis to Merced - 172 Miles - 4hr 7min

Day 6
Plan for the Day: Merced to Gilroy to San Jose to SF (possibly Emeryville for Hotel)
Distance Driven: Merced to SF/Emeryville - 162 Miles - 2hr 58min

Day 7
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 8
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 9
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 10
Plan for the Day: Pacific Coast Highway 1
Distance Driven: SF/Emeryville to Monterey - 161 miles

Day 11
Plan for the Day: Pacific Coast Highway 1
Distance Driven: Monterey to San Luis Obispo - Pismo Beach - 139 miles

Day 12
Plan for the Day: Del Mar or Palm Springs
Distance Driven: San Luis - Pismo Beach to Del Mar or Palm Springs - 290 Miles

Day 13
Plan for the Day: Del Mar or Palm Springs

Day 14
Plan for the Day: Fly Home - LHR

John259

That looks good. I guess you realise that Palm Springs is well inland?

davetrousers

Go to Morro Bay on PCH to see the sea otters. Also make sure you stop for a moment to see the Elephant Seals.

Solvang is a nice little place to stop for a couple of hours ( a couple hours north west of LA)

We stayed in the John Muir Lodge at Kings canyon
At Yosemite we stayed in a condo called Yosemite scenic wonders.

Definitely consider Palm Springs and go up Mt Jacinto in the cable car.

visidigi

John259 wrote: »

That looks good. I guess you realise that Palm Springs is well inland?

Yup, its not the preferred option of the two as I want to go back to SD and go to Coronado for lunch (went last time, we both loved SD)
- but if the first 12 days beats us up we'd go to PS instead and chill

Murphy_The_Cat

visidigi wrote: »

Thanks again for the info - greatly appreciated - we've shuffled our agenda on the basis that if we need to miss out the parks due to weather we will move up SF, extend it and the PCH by a day each. All our hotel bookings have been done individually (for cashback) and one a refundable basis)

We wanted to end the trip with a two day rest down the coast from LA, most likely in Del Mar or in Palm Springs way.

Here's our intended itinerary...

Day 1
Plan for the Day: Arrive, collect car, dinner and and check in
Distance Driven: N/A

Day 2
Plan for the Day: LA - Up early, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, PCH drive to Camarillo then over to Ontario Mills and other shopping

Day 3
Plan for the Day: LA - Hollywood, Observatory, Beverly Hills and Farmers Market

Day 4
Plan for the Day: LA to Sequoia, through Kings Canyon and stay in Fresno
Distance Driven: LA to Clovis - 308 Miles - 6hr 22min

Day 5
Plan for the Day: Clovis - Yosemite National Park - Merced
Distance Driven: Clovis to Merced - 172 Miles - 4hr 7min

Day 6
Plan for the Day: Merced to Gilroy to San Jose to SF (possibly Emeryville for Hotel)
Distance Driven: Merced to SF/Emeryville - 162 Miles - 2hr 58min

Day 7
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 8
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 9
Plan for the Day: SF

Day 10
Plan for the Day: Pacific Coast Highway 1
Distance Driven: SF/Emeryville to Monterey - 161 miles

Day 11
Plan for the Day: Pacific Coast Highway 1
Distance Driven: Monterey to San Luis Obispo - Pismo Beach - 139 miles

Day 12
Plan for the Day: Del Mar or Palm Springs
Distance Driven: San Luis - Pismo Beach to Del Mar or Palm Springs - 290 Miles

Day 13
Plan for the Day: Del Mar or Palm Springs

Day 14
Plan for the Day: Fly Home - LHR

If you are staying at SLO on a Thursday night, be sure to visit the farmers market. The middle of town gets closed off for a giant social gathering. Lovely stuff.

visidigi

We've just got the San Fran part of the hotels to book now and I'm really struggling to make a decision.

If we stayed out of the city (we're not much for cities tbh). Then whats the situation like with driving in to the city and street parking with access to transportation?

The Cow Hollow Motor Inn is still being considered, but I could do with the nights to add to my hotels.com rewards and the cashback is an added bonus - and hotels.com only lists the bog standard rooms which reviews seem to indicate aren't too good.

We have a few options in Emeryville, where the bus is a route in, we've also considered coming in from Oakland or somehere like that (we don't mind the travel in as we won't just be going to San Fran everyday (I'd like to go north for one iykwim.

Anyhoo, any suggestions? We're trying to work off a budget of £600 for four nights (although for the right setup I'll pay)