Frank&MaryEllen wrote:
> My wife and I are planning to go to San Francisco the last week of
> July. We would like to do the usual tourist things like San
> Francisco/Alcatraz, Muir Woods, Napa Valley (we like wine), Sausalito,
> and Yosemite (don't mind a little hiking for some spectacular views).
> Would anyone recommend anything else? Would you recommend and of the
> "tours" or should we just rent a car and do it by ourselves?
Do it by yourself. However you might want to not get the car until
you're ready to leave SF, as it's usually expensive to park it at the
hotel, and you don't really need it for Sausalito, or Alcatraz, or
within San Francisco. You take a boat to these two places anyway. OTOH,
if it's a one week car rental, it may be better just to deal with paying
for the parking, than to get a shorter rental which can be more expensive.
I'd get the car, go to Muir Woods for a couple of hours (as early as
possible, as it gets amazingly crowded). Last time I was there it wasn't
crowded, as it was Xmas day 2005, and it was in the pouring rain (had to
show some visitors from the east coast the redwoods).
Continue up 101 and visit some wineries in Sonoma County
(http://www.sonomawine.com/) then cut across to Napa Valley on CA 12.
After a night in Napa, continue on 12 to 99, and go south to 120, then
east into Yosemite. Hopefully you already have accommodations reserved
in Yosemite.
One night in Napa should be sufficient. Plan on more time in Yosemite.
The wine country isn't that interesting in the summer, it's very hot,
and they are not doing any crushing.
As to other things, it sounds like you're already cramming a lot into
one week, so I won't suggest anything else, other than if it were up to
me, I'd buy a few bottles of wine at Trader Joe's or Costco, and skip
the winery tours completely. |