Huell Howser passed away four years ago. Chapman University has a permanent exhibit of his works and collection:
His video archives can be viewed online at the above linked web page.

Love that show. Here's the Bakersfield episode: https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-hows...ll-howser-112/

Huell seemed not to want to leave the Basque restaurant.

LOL! I know it's probably a small boring town, but it'll just be a place to sleep. It just seems central to everything.

Yosemite - 3:30
Death Valley - 4:00 (if we do it)
Vegas - 4:00
L.A (touristy sites) - 1:30 - 2:00
PCH - 2:00

Heck, even San Jose/San Fran is only 4 hours away.

While my solution is to hotel hop, everyone else hates it and insist I find a "base" so to speak this year. While I was originally planning on staying in L.A proper, the long drive to/from Yosemite plus the traffic made me think otherwise. 6+ hours is simply too long.

Everybody else makes jokes about Fresno but people from Fresno make jokes about Bakersfield.

So Bakersfield is like watching a tumbleweed roll around boring. Got it.

I assume it's a okay place just for sleeping though?

While many will turn their noses up, Bakersfield has a fascinating Country Music Museum honoring the town and its artists' very important contribution to one of American country music's most dynamic streams.

http://www.bakersfieldmusichalloffame.com/

The Hampton Inn near the Bakersfield airport (used to love flying in and out of there) is a very nice place to stay, with very nice staff.

Those drive times seem incredibly optimistic to me.

I would suggest that your group get together with a couple large scale maps of California and study the geography. California is big. If the group starts looking at the maps (not Google maps!) and calculating routes and realizing the actual distances, factoring in things like narrow, windy mountain roads, traffic - the LA area has world class traffic jams almost 24/7, you will likely come to see that the "base" idea is not workable. Going to and from the "base" will mean driving the same less-than-exciting stretches of road repeatedly and spending time in an area with nothing to recommend it. Going point to point will allow you to spend more time at each point, no backtracking, less sitting in traffic, less time on nausea inducing mountain roads, etc. If you can book rooms in Yosemite Valley you'll be able to enjoy the simple pleasure of sitting in the magnificent valley and staring up at the stars over the valley, and maybe even see a bear stroll by.

Sure, it's fine for that. Maybe have dinner at the Basque restaurant I mentioned:

Wool Growers Restaurant
620 East 19th Street
Bakersfield, CA 93305

Huell Howser loved the place.

I would agree. Those times are very optimistic. Add +25% to 50% to allow for traffic, road conditions and weather.

I strongly endorse this post, having traveled to all the places you are considering.

I'll definitely check it out.

Personally I would be all over point to point as it's a good way to requalify my hotel status. Unfortunately the base is a must. We stayed at 14 hotels last year out of a 19 day trip and the majority of the party, grumbled and complained the entire time about re-packing luggage (never mind that I was the one who was physically carrying the luggage to/from the car and lifting them).

They have no problems with long drives. That's part of the purpose of the trip; to see the scenery. 4 hours each way is quite fine. We will not be in LA traffic so won't have that to worry about. I did pass bakersfield going into L.A last December and I found 1:45 to be spot on; avoiding rush hour traffic of course.

I was thinking about Yosemite Valley but the elevation is a problem. The person with the oxygen concentrator freaks out at having to sleep at a high elevation. She starts complaining about her oxygen dropping, yada yada. It ruins it for everyone else. She uses one of those finger devices that tells your oxygen count/heart rate and watches it like a hawk.

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.

Thanks cblaisd. It's definitely going to be a Hilton branded hotel so I can re-qualify my Diamond status. I'm looking at the Homewood Suites. The full size refrigerator will be a must.

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.

I was already looking into this. We'll end up doing both probably on different days, with maybe Death Valley thrown in as well. I know your against doing the roundtrip drive, but we have no problem hitting the road at 3 am to avoid any traffic and be at each park early with a rest day in between.

We'll have 6 capable drivers out of 9 persons, so fatigue won't be a issue.

I've spent in Yosemite in every season and I disagree about the waterfalls. Seeing them in ice and snow is every bit as awesome as in full spate. Plus, in November they would be unlikely to have deal with the Merced flooding their campground (been there...).

The OP mentioned traveling in mid November. By early November Sequoia may have snow and cars are required to carry chains: https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvis...er_driving.htm
Is the OP prepared to put chains on a rental vehicle?

The OP also mentioned being a party of 9. The roads into Sequoia are not fun with a large vehicle and there are size limits. Don't know what they plan to drive, but that's something to consider.

In winter weather, getting around Sequoia, especially for a person with mobility problems, is going to be much harder than Yosemite. Ever since the park restoration activities started (maybe 18 years ago?) it's become increasing more challenging to get near to the most special features in Sequoia and King's Canyon without some serious walking. Plus the altitude is 6,600 to 7,200 ft versus 4,000 ft in Yosemite Valley - more challenging for the person with oxygen concentrator.

We haven't had snow conditions in early November in many years. I agree that Yosemite in winter is magical. Winter, however, means January-February. Maybe as early as Christmas. I go up in early November for fall photographs. The image below was taken on 11/15 a couple of years ago.

In November, the waterfalls will not be in ice and snow, they will be dry, except for the largest which may or may not have flow.

The comment about elevation is well taken which is why I mentioned it. That could be a problem.