Originally Posted by
Yellowjj
... The good news is all they really care about is scenery. I can carry them to any mountainous part of California, tell them that's Yosemite and they are quite happy. ...
That would be a disservice. Yosemite is unique.
If you will be in Bakersfield, it will be a MUCH shorter drive to Sequoia National Park than Yosemite. Take your group to see the Giant Sequoia trees instead of the cliffs of Yosemite. The famous waterfalls will be very disappointing in November anyway. Save 3+ hours of driving round trip and see part of our state that doesn't change much by seasons. Sequoia is a little higher in elevation but also has some nice sites that don't require much walking.