Sequoia is NOT an improvement to their already overloaded schedule.Sequoia is a MUCH more visitor-friendly park in summer than winter. While there are many impressive sights in Sequoia, a LOT of them are OFF the highway, and require walking....or possibly SNOWSHOEING or Cross-Country Sking to reach at this time of year. Most of Yosemite's most famous vistas can be seen from a roadway...most of Sequoia's can not. Chains are not just a good idea, but almost manditory, and are NOT going to be provided with a rental car in SFO. Roads are more subject to closure due to snow and ice than the entry/exit to Yosemite. Further, they will still be at the mercy of the weather in the mountians and the CA's Central Valley (Tule Fog) Yosemite is much more visitor friendly in winter.

And getting reservations in EITHER of these park's accomidations this late is going to be difficult.

If they insist on the schedule as they have locked it in, here's my best suggestion...

If they *must* go to Yosemite...
Take a SFO to Yosemite 1 day motorcoach tour.

If they *must* go to the Grand Canyon...
Take a Las Vegas to Grand Canyon scenic flight or 1 day motorcoach tour.

Take advantage of the low-cost airfares, bus fares (www.megabus.com), and train fares (yes, even Amtrak) rather than flogging themselves driving hundres of miles a day in a rental car in potentially dicey road/weather conditions.

Not that I expect they will listen to this good advice...
...but when they need a vacation, after returning to Spain from their vacation, they can't say that the forum did not warn them.

Since the rim of the Canyon is between 6500' and 7000' (2000-2150 m.)above sea-level, it's not very suprising to find that it's darn cold in winter. Your Spanish friends might note that it's altitude is comparable to the more elevated villages of Anducia. The canyon is a desert *at the bottom.* But the top is in pine forests at fairly significant altitude.

Agree with mlshanks post # 16. BTW - post-trip report back on how it went & their final itinerary/travel methods. Cheers.

Ok, Yosemite is back in, perhaps on a bus trip. Grand canyon by helicopter is a great idea. I've got just a couple more days to advise them before they fly out. Am I correct that taking the main hghwy via Bakersfield to Vegas may require chains. Yes, of course I'll share what should be most interesting adventures in the USA. Aruba, a little past its prime or downright dangerous.

Of course, they should always check beforehand, but that particular road should be fine. That's the high desert, not the mountains, which is the reason why the road (California State Highway 58) runs this way. I don't think they're very likely to run into snow or need chains ... on this part of their itinerary.

Much as I'd like to agree with iapetus, Highway 58 over Tehachapi is anything but "high desert." Tehachapi pass is the joining point of the tail end of the Sierra Nevada Range and the California Southern Coast Ranges, and is roughly 3800 feet above sea level. While not quite as likely to be closed for chains as Tejon Pass on I-5, it certainly does get that way during winter storms....and is apt to be closed longer if it is closed, since there are less CALTRANS crews assigned to keep this secondary route open than for THE interstate artery of the State.

I'd recommend checking the weather reports carefully in Bakersfield or Barstow, and getting chains as appropriate if you plan this route in winter.

Again my thanks to all who have taken their time to give advice. Current ammended itinerary as follows-
26 and 27 SF Hilton
28 Sonoma
29 Yosemite(weather permitting-backup plan an extra day in wine country)
30 Drive toward Vegas and stop along the road at chain motel when tired
31 Arrive Vegas (cancelled Aruba-thanks for the warnings- and booked Hyatt Place across the st. from Hard Rock-a new years eve steal at $103 via Hotwire
1 Go Grand Canyon weather permitting or just stay in Vegas(MGM $110 w-$25 food credit
2 and 3 To LA
4 and 5 Carmel and Monterey
6 Depart SFO 7pm
They have read all your responses and accept the fact that they'll be busy and doing a lot of driving. Any last advice. Open for ideas if they stay outside of Yosemite, for LA, and Carmel. Again, my thanks and theirs for your generousity. As we say in Barcelons-Bones Festes!(Happy Holidays)

No need for chains for the tires. Once installed, you can only drive 20-30 mph (30-50 km/h), and with a tight driving schedule, it's probably better just to cancel that portion of the trip instead of driving there slow.

Mountain highway passes in Southern California are most likely either closed or open, instead of requiring chains like in Northern California and in Southern California's ski resorts. When they clear the snow, they'll reopen the road.

O.K. so far... Although it depends on *what* weather caused them to abort Yosemite.

If it's snow (or the threat of snow in the Sierras), they might think of hitting nearby Columbia SHP, which is mixed in with a town somewhat preserved from the 1850s gold rush... At 2100' elevation, rather than nearly 4000' elevation, it's *much* less likely to get road closing snow or ice.

If it's Tule fog (like I hit last night on my way back from SFO), they'd do better rolling down I-5 during 12-5 in the afternoon when it's apt to be thinnest... and leave themselves plenty of time.


They are apt to find their best opportunities in Bakersfield or Barstow. Have them stop in one of the rest areas for the usual "travel coupon book" in the free racks which is more useful for alerting them to where there are hotels/motels than their quality...


Sound options...

If the idea is to do the Hollywood thing, I'd be terribly tempted to stay in Universal City or North Hollywood...and if close to the metro station, grab the red line subway to Hollywood & Highland for Gruaman's Chinese theater, the Walk of Fame and such... Universal Studios, while out of production due to the writer's strike and holidays will still have interesting tours, and is right at another subway stop.


Rather than locking their thinking into "Carmel and Monterey," they might rather think of this as two days driving up the coast, stopping at what seems interesting. I'd suggest hitting Santa Barbara in the morning, and maybe plan on staying up at Morro Bay, Cambria, ro San Simion. If they can get tickets Hearst Castle in the morning and then spend the day driving up Highway 1 to Carmel and Monterey, the views will be spectacular...and there are interesting places to stop at Big Sur along the way. Not that Carmel and Monterey *aren't* nice to explore... They definitely are.

Lots of good options this last day... I'd think either of continuing up Highway 1 maybe hitting Ano Nuevo State Beach (call in advance to get reservations for the guided walks to see N. America's largest Elephant seal colony) and Half Moon Bay... Or turn inland at Santa Cruz and visit the giant trees at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park & the steam railroad at Roaring Camp (near Felton).

Well, they're 4 days in and I haven't heard from them yet. They're probably too busy driving! Can you imagine New Years Eve in Vegas for 1st time U.S. visitors. When I hear something I'll give you a trip report.

I humbly stand corrected. But, I haven't heard of that portion of road being subject to chain requirements. And, having lived in Colorado for 7 years, I must admit that I'm not used to thinking of 3800' as being very high!

I know it's too late to affect the schedule of jim87's friends, but I'd like to give mlshanks a ^ on Morro Bay, California!

Well, it looks like they lucked out... with the big storm coming *after* they did the mountian sections in CA & AZ!

Just as a note, the National Weather service is predicting for early tomorrow morning:

Several inches of snow typically will close both I-5 and Highway 58...at least until they can get it cleared.

Trip Report-My friends have returned from the USA having put 3000k on their rental car! They love the US, are eager to revisit Vegas, and were consistantly treated well by Americans.
SF-Castro, Haight Ashbury, wharf, seals, bridge, Union Sq. et al
Wine country-Spanish (Catalan) wineries Torres and Ferrer(Freixenet)They are in the wine biz.
Skipped Yosemite
Vegas -3 nights including mind bogling NYE
Skipped the Grand Canyon
LA- All the Hollywood stuff added in Disneyland(which they loved)
Skipped Carmel and spent extra day in SF
Maria reports great outlet mall shopping(especially using Euros)

So in the end they incorporated many of your suggestions. Please accept their thanks as well as my own.

Glad they had a good time & thanks for the 'trip report'.

Cheers.

That, particularly what I but in bold, is excellent to hear! ^

Wow! Sounds like they had to cut out a lot, as most of us suggested, and that is a shame. But, I think was for the best. Still sounds like a nice itinerary!

Well, if you're earning your paycheck in euros, I'm quite sure that shopping in the US is a delight!

I, too, would like to thank you for the final report!

(And, I will now be more wary of US 58 in the winter. )