I didn't have the time to visit everything I wanted to when I took my last trip to California last December and there are a few places I wanted to revisit. Sorry about the "itenerary" format..it's the OCD in me

Any suggestions/additions/comments would be greatly appreciated:

Day 1
Laguna Beach:
Lunch at Las Brisas
Hang out on the beaches
Dinner at French 75

Day 2
Snorkeling at Shaw’s Cove
Lunch at the White House

Day 3
7:00 a.m. Drive to Solvang 185 miles/ 3 hr 2 mins --> 4 hours
11:30 a.m Lunch at Los Olivos Café
2:00 Tasting at Fiddlehead
3:00 Tasting at Melville
5:30 Dinner at Hitching Post II

Day 4
Olsen’s Danish Bakery –OR- Paula’s Pancake House
Drive to Big Sur 249 mi/2 hr 49 mins-->5 hrs (?)
Lunch at Nepenthe (Big Sur)
17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach
Point Pinos Lighthouse
6:00 Dinner at Casa Nova

Day 5
10:00 Kayaking at Stillwater Cove
12:30 Lunch at the Forge in the Forest –OR- Roy’s (at the Inn at Spanish Bay)
2:00 Monterey Bay Aquarium
4:00 p.m. Drive to Mariposa --> 4 hrs

Day 6
Drive from Mariposa to Yosemite National Park 74.3 miles/ 1 hr 34 min
Need recommendations for where to eat in the park and which areas to visit

Day 7
Dinner at Sante Fe Baque Hotel in Fresno
Fly out of FAT next day

Skip Sanford and visit Clos Pepe instead.
If you take Highway 1, it will take at least 5 hours to get to Big Sur, not 3.
From Monterrey to Mariposa is about four hours.
Dinner in Fresno is not worth limiting your Yosemite visit to less than one day.

Thanks Paul_H. I took Sanford out.

I plan to spend the day frolicking on Highway 1 from Solvang to Big Sur.

As far as dinner in Fresno is concerned, that is after leaving Yosemite in the early evening. We are spending the night in Fresno and flying out of FAT the next day.

Not sure when you're going. Hwy 1 currently has some construction north of San Simeon. The signs claimed "delays up to 2 hours" (I didn't drive past the construction, so don't know what they're doing).

-Al

eat at the ahwanee in yosemite.

I'm staying in Mariposa...the Mobil station is NOWHERE close to either Yosemite or Mariposa

The drive from Solvang to Big Sur is about 170 miles. Did you make a typo? The 66 miles from Solvang to San Luis Obispo goes quickly, but don't overdo it. It's a major CHP enforcement stretch. Barring construction delays and uncooperative motorhomes a non stop trip should take under 3.5 hours.

If possible, you should adjust your schedule to allow more time at Fiddlehead. The visit there can be among the most educational you will experience. Request doing clonal tasting.

Are you doing an in depth tour at Melville? If it's only a tasting room visit, that doesn't take long. Often there are only a few wines available for tasting.

There was a lot of snowpack this year so the falls at Yosemite will be amazing. Keep checking on conditions there. If we experience a hot spell, there can be rapid snowmelt and flooding like last year. Currently the Merced River is a foot below flood stage.

buried....but I am on my way there for lunch right now, heading to Reno for a couple days.

I did a little changing around. Bold is what was added or changed.

Day 5 (Monterey area)
10:00 Kayaking at Stillwater Cove
12:30 Lunch at the Forge in the Forest –OR- Roy’s (at the Inn at Spanish Bay)
2:00 Monterey Bay Aquarium
5:00 Dinner at Casa Nova (Made reservations at Passionfish for the night before)
I decided to stay an extra night in the Carmel area

Day 6
7:00 a.m. Drive to Yosemite National Park from Carmel (4 hours)
11:00 a.m. Lunch at Yosemite Falls
6:00 p.m. Drive to Lee Vinings (45 minutes)
Dinner at Tioga Gas Mart
Spend the night in Lee Vining
I restructured this entire day and even where I stay that night to eat at this Mobile Gas Station

Day 7
8:00 a.m. Drive from Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite National Park (1 hour)
Spend the day at Yosemite
4:00 p.m. Drive to Fresno (3 hours)

Good call on dining at Passionfish. Food is generally good but the wine list is fantastic and priced at retail.

Carmel to Yosemite valley in four hours is optimistic. It's 260 miles with quite a bit of two lane foothill and mountain roads with several towns to pass through. Think more in terms of 5 hours.

In calculating the drive to Lee Vining at 45 minutes, what are you figuring as your starting point? From the Valley to Lee Vining is over 70 miles and the park speed limit is 35 (25 in the valley).

If you have time before you go, read up on Mono Lake. It will enhance your enjoyment of it.

Great itinerary. Have a great time.

Any recs on accoomdations in Lee Vining?

What is the realistic time from Lee Vining to the park?

Quote:

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10:00 Kayaking at Stillwater Cove

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I didn't know you could do this in Stillwater Cove. Are you doing this with a guide or are you just going out by yourself? Where do you leave from and return?

I've seen many people kayaking around Pacific Grove and the Aquarium.

I think this Stillwater Cove thing is new. It's 75.00/person As far as I know, it's offered as a group tour.

I think they drop off/pick up somewhere on 17 Mile Drive near Pebble Beach...that's all I know.

I've just never seen anybody kayaking there before (though I think sometime this past PGA season I saw one kayaker on TV during a tournament).

I'd suggest you take a look at another place that goes along the coast from Pacific Grove up past the Aquarium and Monterey wharf. Stillwater Cove should be a beautiful jaunt but the Pacific Grove will be a lot more "exciting" and I'm sure cost a lot less.

If you do leave from somewhere inside the Drive be sure you get your entrance fee (I think it is around $7 a car) back from the kayak company or the restaurant (Roy's).

I really think you would enjoy lunch at Roy's. It's a fusion of Asian/California and absolutely one of the greatest views in the world. Be sure to plan an extra half-hour though to walk the grounds of the Spanish Bay Resort.

Been out of town and computer access for a few days...I think you may need to change your schedule again. You will not me able to access Lee Vining / Mammoth Lakes from Yosemite in June. I have heard the Tioga Pass will not open until around July 4 due to snowpack.

Thanks dude. I have thought about going from Monterey to Oakhurst. And then Oakhurst to Yosemite since the road there has less of a chance of being closed. Whatcha think?

That will all be open, you just can't cross the Sierra range in the Yosemite region until July this year.