I've never been to Yosemite, but can attest that Big Sur is nothing short of amazing, I truly believe you really can't go wrong either way.

It depends on what you like to do. Yosemite is gorgeous, if you want to hike and commune with nature. But if you want to do things like visit really nice restaurants and shops and museums and cute towns, either go up to Napa and Sonoma (where you can also do wine tasting and get spa services) or do the drive down Highway 101. If you have never done it, I would do 101. So many lovely towns and great inns.

Lassen. :P

Yes, depends on what you like to do. I like Lassen too, but if coming from out of state I would pick Yosemite, you'll have more choices on where to stay, eat, etc.

If you like to hike at all...then don't miss Yosemite! Incredible. Fun to stay at the Ahwanee. If it is booked (most likely), and you're interested, keep checking back for a cancellation. We have had great luck that way. Tahoe is also beautiful (and quiet) in October - I would just avoid South Lake Tahoe (more congested with casinos, etc.). Enjoy your visit.

The Redwoods

https://www.nps.gov/redw/index.htm

I would tend to vote Yosemite, although there are many worthy National Parks in the North State. And the crowds are lower in October than in July.

The vibe of Big Sur and Carmel (which people normally do together) is still different than New England and Ireland. The weather can be excellent in the area in October (better than August, often times). With Big Sur, you can have a short drive into some very good restaurants, galleries and wineries, while in Yosemite it's the outdoors, primarily.

Can you get reservations in Yosemite? For many years you had to reserve a year in advance....this is a very dry year so it will not be as pretty as it can be. When we last went we stayed in June Lake and drove into Saddle Bag Lake and Tuolumne Meadows. But most first time tourists want to approach from the other side and enjoy the drama of Half Dome.

When we were in SF a few years ago we visited Muir Woods. It was about a half day trip. The redwoods are amazing!

Sushi, I loved Monterey (we were there on the same trip that included SF)! Would love to go back again when I can spend more time there.

Donna

I'd do Muir Woods and Pt. Reyes, but that is a (very close) day trip so I consider it part of visiting SF?

Thank you all so much for your feedback. A big part of the fun of a vacation for me is the planning--so I love reading everyone's responses.

My husband's preference is to skip Yosemite given our time constraints and his aversion to the 4 hour drive each way. Also, Right now we can't get accommodations inside the Park. But he will go along with whatever I decide.

He also just mentioned he would like to go to Sonoma or Napa. Any sUggestions for a day trip? I do not drink, so I would like nice scenery.

We are not true hikers. We are fairly fit and enjoy an hour or so scenic walk (think Cliff walk in Newport RI).

I really want to see Redwoods. Muir Woods or maybe Henry Cowell if we don't do Yosemite?

If we don't do Yosemite, I am thinking about seeing the acquarium in Monterey and maybe kayaking in Monterey Bay--does anyone have any thoughts about either?

Maybe 2 nights in Monterey --to see Montery and Carmel one day and then the next day to visit Big Sur area?

(Lassen looks incredible--but not for this trip.)

Additional thoughts are welcomed!!

We went to the aquarium in Monterey. The sea otters were very cute! We were on a cruise and that day they had to stop tender service for a while in the afternoon due to very rough seas. We were on the ship watching the tenders struggling to get back to the ship - they looked like fishing bobbers rolling around in the water. My DH and I have very good sea legs, but even we were glad we weren't on those boats!

We were there in September, so I don't know how different the ocean conditions would be in October.

Donna

Ocean will be more or less. You saw an extreme, which can happen any day of the year. Storms and rain rarely happen before November, until April, but some of the best weather (non-storm) is in the winter months.

Kayaking is very popular, drive 1/2 hour to Moss Landing and kayak in Elkhorn Slough, Not ocean waters, but a magnificent place to see wildlife very close up. There are also pontoon boat tours of the area. Great area for birding, since it's on the Pacific Flyway. And great restaurants, like Phil's Fish Market and Whole Enchilada.

For long walks, I recommend walking the coast in Carmel, and there's the Rec Trail through Monterey out to Pacific Grove.

Sushi--I will check out Elkhorn slough for kayaking. We want to kayak to see wildlife so it sounds great.

Thanks for the other recs--will check them out.

general question about kayaking as neither of us have been. DH is is a big guy--over 6 ft and about 275 lbs with most weight in his belly. He questions whether he will fit in a kayak. Also, does getting in require agility? He is somewhat clumsy when trying to manuever into small spaces and doesn't want to be embarrassed or flip the kayak.

Youngest adult son and myself just happen to be leaving this Thurs for a trip to SF. We'll be staying in the city for 3 days taking in many of the sites we didn't see on the last trip, although i'm leaving that up to him~we'll be renting a car. On the 4th day we're heading to Sausilito and will also take in Muir Woods, which I hear is beautiful. From there we'll drive down to Monteray and Carmel to spend a couple of days and then down to Big Sur. There is a restaurant which was featured on the food channel which gives a panaramic view of the Pacific but am still researching since am not sure of the location or the name(anyone know?). This will be our 3rd trip to N CA and we hope to finish up and start an East Coast trip next year. Am longing for fresh Maine Lobster. ;)

Sierra Mar ?

http://www.postranchinn.com/dining/

If my DH can get in a kayak, I think yours can :-) Slough sounds like a good option. Kayaked the bay in probably not the best conditions and I got seasick.

You could do a route to Big Sur that takes you by Henry Cowell on the way, Cowell is less crowded than Muir Woods, and there is a place to do a zipline tour if you are into that kind of thing. Most folks do the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito and Muir Woods as a day, though.

ETA: zipline place http://mounthermonadventures.com/adventures/

If I had limited time in that area I would most definitely not spend it at the aquarium. There's so much more to do and see! Carmel is a lovely town but usually crowded; still worth at least a drive through.

Patty cakes - I think the restaurant is Nepenthe. Magnificent is an inadequate word for the setting. Orson Welles built it for Rita Hayworth but they never lived there, so it was sold and turned into the most famous eatery between Big Sur and Carmel.

More later when I have some time -

Nepenthe and Ventana are well known restaurants with views. If you can, make

reservations for outside or window table and hope that the weather cooperates!

Just google "restaurants in Big Sur" and the names will pop up with other choices too. By the way, Muir Woods and Sausalito are north of San Francisco, so if you're planning on going there and then turning around and going down to Big Sur/Carmel

the same day, you might want to reconsider. Muir Woods can get very crowded so I would suggest making that your first stop and then seeing Sausalito on your way back to San Francisco

There are two kinds of kayaks, one you sit on (I think all sea kayaks are like that) and one you sit IN (IME, these are usually in freshwater but I've also taken them in bays).

I don't have great balance and years ago went kayaking in Hawaii using the kind you sit ON. I kept flipping it. It was like a rotisserie.

Fast forward , we buy a lake house with sit-IN kayaks and canoes ... No problem at all. Today, Our primary residence has a very large pond and we all kayak on it all the time.

We just rented Kayaks in Oregon and they had both kinds, your choice. There are also a lot of 2 person kayaks, which is nice for a couple.

So, I would ask what kind, and I might go out locally this summer to try it too. It's VERY easy and such fun! One of my kids taught his kindergarten class to kayak for show and tell.

Seeing redwoods is not a big trick from SF. Muir Woods is one option, but the East Bay Hills have redwoods--Redwood Park of the East Bay Regional Parks District has a very easy hike up a creek through dense redwoods (start at the Redwood Gate off Redwood Road--there's a theme here, I think). It's lovely and way less crowded than Muir Woods.

I think sticking with one home base and doing day trips (Point Reyes, Napa/Sonoma, redwoods) would be make for the most relaxing trip.

I've done sightseeing loops in Napa/Sonoma that have hit Bale Gristmill State Park, the Calistoga Geyser, the Petrified Forest, and Sonoma State Park. You can throw in a winery tour, which are interesting even if you don't like wine.

True redwood trees grow closer to the coast, in Yosemite they have giant Sequoias, which are related but not the same thing.

My best friend has lived in the SF Bay Area for 25 years, and I have been to the places mentioned and wouldn't try to pack Yosemite into such a limited amount of time. Even if you don't drink, the wine country has some fabulous restaurants and it is gorgeous.

On our last trip we spent some time in the Russian River valley, and enjoyed it too-lots of recreation on the river as well as many wineries and great food. Lower key than Napa. We stayed at Applewood Inn and literally had one of the best meals of our lives there. We then went up to Redwood Natl Park, but wouldn't do that with your time frame.

Another thing we have done after SF is stay in Pacific Grove (right next to Monterrey) as our base, then took trips to Carmel (too touristy and crowded IMO), stopped at Nepenthe to eat, etc. We even went all the way down to Hearst Castle in San Simeon one day-incredible. There is a wonderful walking path along the ocean in Pacific Grove. I would buy a cute cottage and retire there if I could! We stayed at Old St Angela Inn all three times.

Whatever you decide, you will love it. California is a beautiful state.

Dsg, I questioned taking the time going to the aquarium. I welcome other thoughts. However, I do really really like aquariums.

mtn, what you described is just what DH is afraid of (and me too if we are in a 2 man kayak). We will have to rent some kayaks this summer.

Cawaps-thanks for the sightseeing loop suggestion

duvetcover--thanks for the restaurant Rec.

patty--have a wonderful trip-- and please report back

oaktown--I will check out the zip lining--I had a great time zip lining over the ocean in Mexico.

texanjana--thanks for the Pacific Grove suggestion.

My friend was visiting and I was telling her about my dilemma, and turns out she got married in Yosemite. So her vote was to fit it in.

I just found out BIL is willing to watch my kids a few days, so we may be able to extend the trip to 10 days and fit both big sur and Yosemite. I am getting so excited!

How about heading south and touring Hearst Castle?

Do you drink wine? If not, I'd skip the wine country. The Steinbeck museum in Salinas was really interesting as was the Maritime Museum in Monterey. It is such a dry year here, everything inland is just dry and not nearly as pretty as it would be in other years. I would probably stick to the coast if I were you. I thought the idea of driving down from Carmel for the day was a great idea.

I agree. Don't rush through Yosemite. Pictures don't do it justice. The place is so astonishing and you feel like a tiny bit of humanity in that valley. It's like the Grand Canyon because you know it's big but until you're there, you can't get the feeling of being overcome by the majestic grandeur of the valley. Also, some of the best intimate parts of Yosemite are on a small hike so you need a few days to do that. The upper meadows are completely different and charming, but again, you need a separate day to drive up and see them.

I wouldn't want to choose what to see in Yosemite in a few hours. It would be like going and then missing out on what makes it so special. Also, there is traffic in the summer so parking is hard to find. Most of the time you need to use the free shuttles in the summer when time is limited. I like to have all day to walk around the valley. It gives me time to see everything and hear the wind in the trees, the birds, the sound of waterfalls and rivers, laughter of children.

For anyone wanting to visit, please see the excellent short films online called Yosemite Nature Notes by the park service. America is incredibly lucky to have this precious valley.