California
San Francisco, Yosemite, Sequoia, Hearst Castle, Big Sur, Pinnacles
Day 1: After arriving in the beautiful “City by the Bay,” drive to the Presidio for some great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and then drive your vehicle or walk down the famously windy Lombard Street. Afterwards, get some sourdough bread and clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf before checking into your hotel for the night. Day 2: In the morning, head to Pier 33 for your tour of infamous Alcatraz Island. (It would be best to book your ferry tickets in advance.) The ferry will take you to the island where you get your listening device and take the interesting audio tour through the prison and grounds. When you return from Alcatraz, walk to Pier 39, where sea lions normally congregate. Afterwards, drive to Yosemite National Park (4 hours), where you will stay in your reserved cabin for three nights (Note: make your reservations far in advance especially during the busy summer season). Day 3: After breakfast, pack water and a lunch for your hike up the incomparable Mist Trail from the Happy Isles Trailhead to the top of Nevada Falls and then return via the John Muir Trail to Happy Isles (6.5 miles). The Mist Trail is slick in places, so watch your step. Be careful on the rocks around both Vernal and Nevada Falls as people have fallen to their death after being swept away by the current. In the late afternoon, wind down by taking a leisurely stroll to serene Mirror Lake (2 miles) in the glow of the setting sun on the monolithic Half Dome above. Day 4: Get up early for a hike to the top of Yosemite Falls (about 7 miles roundtrip). The hike is demanding and will take you several hours (bring water and a lunch), but will give you magnificent views of the falls as well as the Yosemite Valley. If the hike to the top of the falls is too difficult, then you can end your hike early at Columbia Rock (2 miles roundtrip). After your hike, drive to Glacier Point for equally grand views from the other side of the valley. If you want to do some more hiking, consider a short hike to Taft Point or Sentinel Dome (about 2 miles to either one). Drive back to your cabin for your last night in this park of natural wonders. Day 5: Today, drive to Sequoia National Park (about 3 hours) to see the largest living organisms on earth. First, tour Grant Grove, a half-mile loop leading to the enormous General Grant Tree and then continue driving on the Generals Highway to the General Sherman Tree, the largest of the sequoias. After marveling at the size of the massive tree, hike the Congress Trail, where a beautiful two-mile walk will take you to more—albeit younger and smaller—sequoias. After your hike, check into your cabin at Giant Forest Village (make reservations far in advance) and get some dinner before lying down to sleep among the gentle giants. Day 6: After a restful sleep, drive to San Simeon (about 4 hours) and get your tickets to tour Hearst Castle, the grand estate of the late William Randolph Hearst. After the tour, drive a short ways north along California’s famed Highway 1 to Piedras Blancas, where (especially during the winter months) you can observe elephant seals on the beach. After being entertained watching these fascinating creatures, get dinner and check into your nearby hotel, where you will fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean. Day 7: Today you complete your California adventure by driving gorgeous coastal Highway 1, stopping briefly to stretch your legs at Julia Pfieffer Burns State Park Overlook Trail to see picturesque McWay Falls as it plummets into the ocean. Continue the wonderfully scenic drive up the coast to Monterrey and then back to the bay area, where this magnificent journey began a short seven days ago. |