Tr1boy

Next week I'm in hospital for my third back operation in 11mths, getting some dampeners, springs and cables screwed into my spine. After 3, everybody say, aaah Triboy that's terrible, 1,,,2,,,3,,,

Now I've got your attention and sympathy, I was wondering if you could help me and Mrs TB plan our holiday later in the year

We are planning a driving tour of West Coast California. At the moment the very rough plan is to start in San Diego, through to Orange County (stay with Mrs TB's relatives) on to Santa Barbara, Big Sur, Yosemite Nat Park, then on to San Fran and fly home to the UK from there.

This will be our last big holiday before leaving the UK and moving back 'home' to Oz, so we want to make it a good one. With the exception of Yosemite and SD I've been to all the places numerous times but Mrs TB has never been there (only Vegas, GC).

We were thinking about two weeks, with the majority of the time spent between LA and Yosemite. SF will be a bit of a flyer. I don't mind to miss SD as we are not really Sea World type folks, but on the other hand I'm keen to go because of its triathlon history.

We can either go south/north or north/south, not really fussed. My big question is that whilst I've been before, I've never been in Nov or later. Would it be worth hiring a convertible at all, or would it be a complete waste? And what is the minimum time you would spend in Yosemite (1,2 nights?) it seems very expensive to stay there.

Any other tips would be gratefully received (and the planning will give me some thing to do other than cry like a girlieboy in hospital).

Cheers

joto

Last year we spent 3 days in SF and 4 in Yosemite area. Admittedley one of the days in SF we had a tour of some of the Sonoma Valley vineyards which was good, with a small tour group and not driving ourselves.
The Yosemite part we did was good, although we stayed in a really nice B&B quite a few miles from the entance. I'm not sure if Yosemite, or parts of it will be closed in November because of snow, but it's definitely worth seeing.

Poppy girl

Correct snow is the problem tried last year and it did not happen.

http://www.weather2travel.com/novemb...osemite-ca.php or course only a guide but I would not risk it November.

Giantaxe

It's hit or miss... I've been to Yosemite Valley several times between Christmas and New Year, for example. The road into the valley is ploughed. The Tioga Pass road, however, closes until spring on the first significant snowfall.

Noorah101

Along with Yosemite, don't forget Sequoia National Forest. It's along the same drive.

Rene

Tr1boy

Thanks all, very useful Sounds like we might have play Yosemite 'by ear' when we are in the US. We will take a laptop so can check the roads online etc.

What is your opinion on hiring a convertible that time of year, considering where we will spend most of our time, would it be worth it at all or still pretty chilly?

md95065

November weather in California is a bit of a lottery.

You can certainly expect that, along the coast, there will be quite a few warm days with good weather when having a convertible would definitely be nice.

But you should also be prepared for some rain - depending on your luck you might get no rain, or you might get some rain or you might get a lot - it's hard to tell.

Poppy girl

Convertible San Francisco in the fall or winter nope lol its flippen cold

Tr1boy

Yeah figured that, but we will not be in SF very long at all. Most of the time will be spent between Santa Barbara and SD. Still no good?*


* I've never driven a modern convertible so have no idea how good they are with the roof in place? All our cars need a hard roof, even in Oz because I have to mount the bikes on the roof.

Poppy girl

Pros and cons with a convert, I had one and sold it 6 months later, not ideal for driving on the freeway just about impossible with packages paperwork in the back, up down up down, slashed, and no protection in the awful event god forbid an accident!!...........LA area November can be rain as well!!

Personally I would get a decent size comfortable 4x4 or a mid size car, just my preferance, but at least you are driving something that will adapt to any climate

Tr1boy

That's great info, makes a lot sense, thx very much

N1cky

Depending when you will be in Yosemite (weekend, thanksgiving), playing it by ear won't work as you will struggle to get accommodation unless you book earlier. If you like walking you can easily spend 2-3 days in Yosemite.

November weather can be beautiful, I'd check the forecast just before you come out, you can always upgrade to a convertible if it isn't forecasting rain.

Tr1boy

Sorry, I missed this post before, thanks for the info

Tr1boy

From what I can tell on most of the review sites, folks don't seem to have had too much trouble on weekdays in Nov but I wouldn't take that for granted if you think unwise?.

I was thinking of maybe a Mon-Wed/Thurs type of deal. Thanksgiving is Nov 22nd isn't it? We will be there before that I'm pretty sure, if not I would make sure our time at Yosemite didn't clash. When would the Thanksgiving peak be over, following Sunday?

Thx

scrubbedexpat091

San Diego in November can be quite nice, its not the rainiest month and chances are good it wont rain, and there is more to San Diego then Sea World. The Zoo is nothing like Sea World in that its not a theme park with animals, and is one of the top zoo's in the world.

In my opinion no other city in California compares to San Diego.