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

[dramaqueen]

Thanks the extra drive sounds fab. Something hubby and I would love to do but will have to see how the kids handle the lengthy drive.
The kids have also said they'd rather stay at oakhurst for a couple of nights (think the swimming pool at the best western swung it for them ) than stay in Yosemite so we should be fine for the south entrance.
So I'm now moving on to the trip from Yosemite to las Vegas.

I have seen quite a few mention of the ghost town at Brodie. I think well have to check it out!

[Southwest Dave]

I have seen quite a few mention of the ghost town at Brodie. I think well have to check it out!

I expect you mean Bodie ghost town and that's probably too far out of the way with your time limits. Bodie is north of Mono lake and as the Tioga pass CA120] across the mountains will be closed, it's an even bigger diversion. Not only this, the road in is partly unpaved and would most likely breach your rental contract agreement.

[glc]

2 problems with Bodie - the road to it closes for the winter and it may not be open yet - and the last 3 miles are rough and unpaved and may jeopardize your vehicle rental contract. It's also a long way out of your way from Yosemite to LV if you take the southern route.

[dramaqueen]

2 problems with Bodie - the road to it closes for the winter and it may not be open yet - and the last 3 miles are rough and unpaved and may jeopardize your vehicle rental contract. It's also a long way out of your way from Yosemite to LV if you take the southern route.

hmmm, will have to rethink and look for another "ghost town" on our route and wilth paved road!

[Lifemagician]

hmmm, will have to rethink and look for another "ghost town" on our route and wilth paved road!

The information on this link includes road condition to most ghosttowns.

Lifey

[Utahtea]

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

What happened to the Grand Canyon?

[dramaqueen]

The information on this link includes road condition to most ghosttowns.

Thanks Lifey, great link. Will spend some time exploring

What happened to the Grand Canyon?

we thought it might be a little far/too much of a rush to visit Grand Canyon as we really wanted a couple of days in Yosemite and a visit to Death Valley and we have to be in Santa Barbra on the tenth day. We don't want to force too much driving into a day.

That said, we have three nights in vegas and we may take a trip out there one day.

itinery, i think will take a while to be completed - there are so many things we want to do!

[Midwest Michael]

That said, we have three nights in vegas and we may take a trip out there one day.

The Grand Canyon does not make a good daytrip location from Las Vegas. Its simply too far away to go there and back in one day and have time to enjoy anything. Its about 5 hours of driving each way.

[Utahtea]

The Grand Canyon does not make a good daytrip location from Las Vegas. Its simply too far away to go there and back in one day and have time to enjoy anything. Its about 5 hours of driving each way.

I was worried that you were considering a day trip from Las Vegas and I agree with Midwest Michael, that it's to far for just a day trip. You would want to spend at least one night there.

[dramaqueen]

Hi All, Happy Christmas or should it be HAPPY HOLIDAYs
Itls been a while, Christmas took over priority of our holiday planning, but i'm now back to it and hope to get things moving before i get back to work!

We're considerinf South West Daves suggestion

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.

I'm looking at accommodation in Kernville. Do you have any suggestions other than Whispering Pines (tad too expensive for us) also, Death Valley - we would love to stay at Furnace Crrk Ranch, but again too expensive. Is there anywhere on Death Valley where we could get a similar experiencE? Or are these areas generally quite expensive?

Thanks