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Trip to West No.2 - National Parks in California

710 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Swimmerbee, 
Yo Sake
<p>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. </p>
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<p><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></p>
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<p>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. </p>
<p>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;</p>
<p>-  Yosemite (cabin booking done!) - 3 nights</p>
<p>-  Kings Canyon/Sequoia (lodge booking done!) - 3nights (may shorten)</p>
<p>-  San Francisco</p>
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<p>Questions;</p>
<p>-  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.</p>
<p>-  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. </p>
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<p>Any suggestions/advice would be appreciated.  </p>
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MBannon
<p>Sequoia is not on the way to or from anywhere, unfortunately.</p>
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<p>Mono Lake is interesting for about 30 minutes.  Maybe less.</p>
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<p>Eastern Sierras (Bishop, etc) are AWESOME, but require a lot of research, driving, wandering, and improvising.  I would avoid the area for this type of trip.</p>
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<p>Yosemite is incredible.  Be sure to get up to Tuolomne Meadows and hike around.</p>
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<p>Red Woods are great for a couple hours, but Yosemite has a Sequoia grove that is 80% as good and a whole lot easier to visit (since you are already in the park).</p>
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<p>Death Valley - haven't been.</p>
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<p>Joshua Tree is phenomenal in the off season.  Wouldn't want to be there in prime time (April-Oct).  Would be too hot and too crowded.</p>
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<p>Lassen is neat for about 20 minutes.</p>
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<p>The beach is...the beach.  Great, but crowded.</p>
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<p>Tahoe/Donner is crazy-awesome if you are willing to rent mountain bikes for a day.  No joke, some of the most amazing biking EVER.  If you don't bike, the area is beautiful, but rather crowded and touristy.</p>
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<p>Wherever you end up settling on, let me know - I know lots of "semi-secret" gems down in that area.  Natural hot springs, cheap camping, etc.  I could spend my life exploring California without ever getting bored.</p>
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