Trip to West No.2 - National Parks in California

713 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Swimmerbee, Jan 14, 2011

Yo Sake

Discussion Starter · Jan 8, 2011

We had a great trip to PNW last year. Thanks, Matt/Joe and others for your help. I have never posted photos so here are some. 
 
 
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/71567/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="111_1537.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15875" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15875/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/71569/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="SAM_0226.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15876" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15876/width/375/height/500" style="; width: 375px; height: 500px"></a><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/71571/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="SAM_0306.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15877" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15877/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/71573/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="SAM_0358.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15878" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15878/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/71575/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="SAM_0368.JPG" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="15879" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/15879/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a>
 
Now I have started planning a trip to California. We would like to cover some of the places you guys mentioned last year but we couldn't visit due to our focus on OR/WA. 
Here is a list of places we are going for sure (in this order due to lodging limitations). We are likely to flying to San Jose;
- Yosemite (cabin booking done!) - 3 nights
- Kings Canyon/Sequoia (lodge booking done!) - 3nights (may shorten)
- San Francisco
 
Questions;
- We would love to visit Mono Lake/Lake Tahoe area. It doesn't seem to make sense to drive from Sequoia to the area and then to S.F. Should we drive via Mono/Tahoe Lake to get in Yosemite, from San Jose? We can fly one day earlier than planned so we have a day to spend around the lakes. Then Yosemite, then Sequoia.
- We have a total of possible 11 days; it would be great if we could extend our trip to Death Valley (from Sequoia), or going north from SF to Redwood. There seems to be no direct way to east from Sequoia to DV... not sure how long it will take to get to DV going around the south of Sequoia. Plus once you get DV, driving back all the way to SF seems to be a pain. Would it make sense to come back to the Bay area after Sequoia then drive to Redwood and spend a day? Or, forget the additional park and enjoy SF and Napa and all that fun for 4 days or so. 
 
Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.

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jenotter

· #5 · Jan 8, 2011

So many parks/cool places, so little time!!
 
Personally, I love the Mammoth/June Lakes area - it's awesome any time of the year. Make sure to see Devils Postpile - quite an amazing sight. I think further up that highway is a small city called Bridgeport and there used to be a place to stay called Doc & Al's that was very close to fishing and a fun, rustic place. I have no idea if it's still there or what shape it's in, but it was great when I was younger!
 
I would also put in a plug for visit to the Bristlecone Pine Forest...super old trees, really neat to see. We went there on a camping trip when I was a kid and it has remained one of my favorite memories.

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jenotter

· #8 · Jan 9, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Yo Sake <a href="/forum/thread/72048/trip-to-west-no-2-national-parks-in-california#post_1975103"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> Jen - I got to check out the area/place!
 
Speaking of memories.... when I was 16-yrs old (living in Japan), I had a great opportunity to come to CA as my city's ambassador/exchange student for 6wks. The city I lived in had a sister city relationship with Burbank CA. I spent 3wks near Burbank and another 3wks near Sacramento. One of the trips was to Mammoth Lake with many new Japanese & American friends. Boy, I had a time of my life, still remembering all-night conversation about the life (how we the bunch of teenagers knew) with them in my poor English. Wonderful memories. 
</div>
</div>
 
Definitely! There's really some amazing things in the eastern Sierras.
 
Ok, let's talk food. If you make it to Bishop, you have to stop at Schat's bakery - <a href="http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/" target="_blank">http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/</a>. Just amazing. And if you make it further to Big Pine, there's a place called BBQ Bills that used to be really good. Ohhh...only 3 stars on Yelp. But I loved it! <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bar-b-q-bills-oneys-bishop" target="_blank">http://www.yelp.com/biz/bar-b-q-bills-oneys-bishop</a>. And in Mammoth, Oh! Clutch my pearls...there's a Schat's there too. That must be new! There is a Chart House - it's a chain (west coast??), but the food is always fantastic. Best blue cheese salad dressing.
 
Yeah, I'm a foodie.

I grew up not far from Burbank and I have a cousin who lives there now! Small world!

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