Advice if poss -Las Vegas, San Francisco, Pacific Highway, LA and San Diego

[dramaqueen]

Parking is very expensive in SF and can be even at Motels you are staying at. Are you collecting your car after your stay ? That was one of the other advantages of the Buena vista, [as well as cost and location] free parking.

Hi, we're hoping to stay three nights in SF (not sure yet if we should only stay for two). We arrive in SF airport 2:40pm. The idea was to hire a car on the 30th (or 29th) and collect from downtown SF thereby saving parking costs if we'd collected from the airport.

[Southwest Dave]

The flight and change in time zones can leave you feeling a little weary on arrival [although excitement keeps you going !] especially with non direct flights like we had. Although arriving at such a reasonable time would mean you could head straight downtown. The BART is OK for travelling from a Hotel to downtown, but I don't think I would fancy it with all the luggage on arrival. You will find many transport Co's that will take you downtown either in a shuttle van or by car from around $60 to $80 I would think. [The airport is about 12 miles from the City] You might want to book in advance, but allow plenty of time for clearing customs etc , or you might be able to book and then call them on arrival. [?] I would certainly collect the rental car on the day of departure from the City. Don't forget that if you are doing the loop trip, it might be nice to have a day or two in SF at the end of your trip to unwind and reflect before flying home and you should take that into consideration when deciding how many nights you want to stay there at the start of your trip.

[dramaqueen]

Hi guys, moving on from SFO (still not booked hotel yet). We're looking to stay at a working ranch - any suggestions? either on the way from SFO to San Diego or Sandiego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite areas

all suggestion gratly apprciated! fancy having a ride on a horse with fantastic backdrop!
thanks

[Mark Sedenquist]

I just received a press release about a ranch you might find intriguing. It might be too far from this year's trip, but one you should put in a tickler file. It's a working ranch in the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado.

There are a couple of dude ranches near Las Vegas -- but I don't know much about them.

Actually, there is a horse-riding outfit just outside of town -- in a VERY popular area for trail rides -- gorgeous red rock country scenery. I'm not positive of the name -- but I think it is this one.

Mark

[dramaqueen]

Change of plan
Originally we were going to do the loop SFO to LA, San Diego, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Yosemite, SFO

however we have now arranged accomodation at Santa Barbra for the 5th 6th April as we are meeting up with our LA friends. From there we will go back to LA to stay with them for a few days.

As the SFO, Yosemite, Las Vegas route is the longest we thought we'd do this first as we have more time on the first leg of the trip (we land 27th March return 17th April)

We land in SFO around 2:30pm on the 27th (after travelling from Newcastle-LHR-SFO). In your opinion would it be advisable to land, collect car and drive to Oakhurst (approx 3and a half hour drive) (not sure how long checking out bags and car would take). We thought as it was a reasonable time of arrival that we could get a head start on Yosemite by driving to Best Western Plus in Mariposa (VERY reasonable prices - £41 per night for all of us - amazing), rather than staying in an airport hotel. The idea then maybe to stay 2 nights there and one night at Yosemite Bug before finding somewhere else to stay (poss ranch) on route to las vegas.

advice greatly appreciated

[Southwest Dave]

I wouldn't advise the drive after flying in from the UK. What with check in times, the journey to the airport in the UK and the time difference, you really need rest and to let your body clock adjust. When you arrive you may feel able enough to do it with the excitement keeping you going, but most likely half way[or before] through the journey to Mariposa you will start to feel tired quickly and it's the next day you will suffer the most, not to mention the safety aspect. I would check into an airport Hotel, which by the time you have cleared customs, picked up your rental and checked in will most likely be well gone 4pm, relax for a couple of hours before an evening meal and an early night. You could still be on the road next morning before 6am and feel a lot better for it. Not to mention that a few small delays could put you right in the middle of the evening rush out of SF.

The most I would consider is heading out to Castro valley/Dublin area to give you a head start on the morning traffic.

[dramaqueen]

Hi Southwest Dave - thanks for the sound, sensible advice! we've getting carried away by the excitement of it all and don't want to waste a minute!
Will look at Castro and Dublin
thanks

[Southwest Dave]

thanks for the sound, sensible advice! we've getting carried away by the excitement of it all and don't want to waste a minute!

I know exactly what you mean, but starting out fresh will put you on the right footing, and your most welcome. :-)

One thing I neglected to ask, is what about visiting San Fran now ? Are you still doing the complete loop, but in the other direction, or are you planning on flying back from LA ?

[dramaqueen]

One thing I neglected to ask, is what about visiting San Fran now ? Are you still doing the complete loop, but in the other direction, or are you planning on flying back from LA ?

We thought it would be best to visit SFO on the way back. We are flying in and out of SFO.
The reason being as our very basic plans so far look like this:
1 - stay in airport or castro valley
2 - yosemite
3 - yosemite
4 - stay somewhere on way to LV - perhaps near sequoia nat park
5 - stay somewhere on way to LV - perhaps near death valley?
6 - LV
7 - LV
8 - LV
9 - stay somewhere between LV and Santa Barbra
10 - Santa Barbra
11 - Santa Barbara
12 - LA
13 - LA
14 - LA
15 - LA (with a visit to San Diego incorporated in one of these days
16 - 18 head up coast
19 - 21 SFO

we think doing SF at the beginning would compromise our stay in LA as friends only available for so long

[Southwest Dave]

That's cool ! I just wasn't 100% sure that your change of plans included SF. Your trip is coming together nicely and I'm sure you will have a wonderful time. Santa Barb would have fitted in nicely after LA on the way back up the coast, but if it doesn't fit with meeting your friends etc then no matter.

There are some lodgings available in Sequoia NP, or continuing south the nearest small town with lodgings is Three rivers, a little further is Exeter [not sure about Lemon cove]. If you were planning on visiting Mariposa grove near the south kiosk of Yosemite, [check the road is open for traffic or it's a 2 mile hike] you could consider doing that in the afternoon of day 2 in Yosemite and head out the park to the town of Oakhurst for the night. That would give you a good head start and more time through Sequoia NP. Your next port of call could be Panamint Springs or Stovepipe Wells. Either of these would give you plenty of time to explore the park next day on route to Vegas. The third option, Furnace creek, is the nearest location in Death valley to Vegas, but you could explore from there.

If you were up for a bit of a 'work out' there is a wonderful mountain drive between Porterville and Lake Isabella. You take the 190 past Camp Nelson to the Great Western divide highway. Watch out for the 'Trail of 100 giants', a little known gem of giant Sequoia trees, before turning left on M-50 [Parker pass] to Johnsondale. Take M-99 along the Kern river Highway to Kernville and around Lake Isabella. This is slow going and not for everyone, but we thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the feeling of isolation. The roads are all paved and although twisty in places, we managed it in a 30ft RV. Worth considering depending on how you feel on the day.