Day 1

Arrival in Los Angeles. Randy's Donuts and drive to Anaheim

We fly from Nuremberg via Frankfurt directly to Los Angeles. In recent years, we prefer to change planes already in Europe.

Best Western Courtesy Inn, Anaheim, California ***

45mi

Day 2

A few weeks before our visit, Galaxy's Edge opened at Disneyland. That was the reason why we took Disneyland into the program at short notice.

Best Western Courtesy Inn, Anaheim, California ***

15mi

Day 3

It is well over 30 degrees and accordingly exhausting is the stroll through downtown. Hollywood is crowded and very touristy.

Best Western Plus Glendale, Los Angeles, California ***

67mi

Day 4

We spend the morning at Hollywood Lake Park and Griffith Observatory. Then we head for the coast. Because of the holiday weekend we are stuck in traffic until Santa Barbara. In Morro Bay there is dense fog, in Cambria fortunately the sun is shining. Stopover in Pismo Beach at Old West Chinnamon Rolls.

Cambria Palms Motel, Cambria, California **

267mi

Day 5

The drive to Hearst Castle takes about 30 minutes. You can plan half a day for Hearst Castle. Then we drove, with numerous stops, up the coast in direction Monterey.

Best Western Park Crest Inn, Monterey, California ***

258mi

Day 6

Monterey in the morning. There is fog on the coast. In San Francisco the sun is shining. Therefore we and 1000s others drive to the Golden Gate Bridge. Battery Spencer and Baker Beach for sunset. At Baker Beach it is very cold and windy.

Cow Hollow Inn & Suites, San Francisco, California ****

152mi

Day 7

We use the Big Bus Hop on Hop off for our days in San Francisco. From our hotel there is a shuttle from Big Bus to Station 1, so you don't have to wait until 10:30am for the first bus to come by. Program: Rincon Park, Ferry Building, Financial District, Downtown, Chinatown, Alamo Square, Golden Gate Bridge, Pier 39.

Cow Hollow Inn & Suites, San Francisco, California ****

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Day 8

Early in the morning we take the shuttle to Pier 39 again. Program: Alcatraz. For this you can also plan at least half a day. Pier 39 - lunch at the Hard Rock Café, fog rolls in, so we mainly use the bus in the afternoon.

Cow Hollow Inn & Suites, San Francisco, California ****

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Day 9

In the morning Luke's movie and Mosaic Stairway in San Francisco. It is still too foggy for the viewpoints. Since the hotel is right by Old Town, you can walk to everything in Sacramento.

Vagabond Inn Executive Old Town, Sacramento, California ***

132mi

Day 10

Getting parking near the Capitol is an impossibility. It takes forever to find anything. State Capitol tour in Sacramento. The afternoon is all about the Peanuts.

Hampton Inn & Suites Rohnert Park-Sonoma County, Rohnert Park, California ****

135mi

Day 11

Bodega. Fort Ross is great and takes more time than planned. Sea Ranch Chapel very nice stop. Point Arena Lighthouse is already closed. We just make it to the sunset at Glas Beach in Fort Bragg.

Best Western Vista Manor Lodge, Fort Bragg, California ***

156mi

Day 12

Today is a driving day. Because we still want to have time to set up our camping cabin, we don't want to arrive so late.

Manzanita Camping Cabins, Manzanita Lake, California ****

269mi

Day 13

Today we hike on the Cinder Cone. If you don't go straight to the top but walk the bypass first, you get very close to the Painted Dunes. Quite a great hike. With arrival and departure we need the whole day.

Manzanita Camping Cabins, Manzanita Lake, California ****

69mi

Day 14

It is raining, so we skip the planned hike today and drive once through the park.

Manzanita Camping Cabins, Manzanita Lake, California ****

62mi

Day 15

In the sunshine we drive through the park again today. With several stops, it takes a few hours. China Wall and Donner Railroad Tunnel in Truckee are fun. Here you can spend as much time as you like.

Hampton Inn & Suites Tahoe-Truckee, Truckee, California ****

201mi

Day 16

Lake Tahoe. Sugar Pines SP, Emerald Bay. Both quite nice but especially Emerald Bay is totally overcrowded. Carson City. Visit to the State Capitol. Virginia City, stroll through the city.

Best Western Fallon Inn & Suites, Fallon, Nevada ***

160mi

Day 17

Long day of driving to Hidden Canyon. Stopps: Sand Mountain, Pony Express Station, Earthquake Falt, Stokes Castle in Austin, Ely.

Hidden Canyon Retreat, Baker, Nevada ****

370mi

Day 18

Baker offers hardly any overnight accommodations. Hidden Canyon Retreat is about 25 minutes from Great Basin NP, making it a great place to stay. 9 a.m. Lehman Cave Tour. Bristlecone Pines Trail, Alpine Lakes Trail.

Hidden Canyon Retreat, Baker, Nevada ****

65mi

Day 19

Drive to Mammoth Lakes. Stopps: Ward Charcoal Ovens, Black Rocks Lava Flow, Hot Creek Geological Site.

Sierra Lodge, Mammoth Lakes, California ***

415mi

Day 20

June Lake Loop. Tioga Road. It is extremely windy. Soda Springs Trail. It starts to rain heavily, so we drive only a short distance into the Valley. No traffic jam.

Yosemite Lake Cabin, Harden Flat, California ***

192mi

Day 21

It is very crowded in the Valley. The shuttle buses are extremely crowded. The further the day progresses, the more crowded it gets. It's not really very much fun. Also at Glacier Point you have to wait for a parking space. The view, however, is insane.

Yosemite Lake Cabin, Harden Flat, California ***

104mi

Day 22

Drive via Fresno to the Andresa Fold in Parkfield. James Dean Memorial Junction and Memorial. In the evening a little shopping.

Best Western Plus Fresno Inn, Fresno, California ***

391mi

Day 23

General Grand Cove. It is not very busy and so you can enjoy the trees nicely. Kings Canyon is impressive and great. Hike along the river at Roads End.

Cedar Grove Lodge, Cedar Grove, California ***

110mi

Day 24

In contrast to Kings Canyon, Sequoia NP is a hive of activity again. The trees are great, the crowds less so. At the General Sherman Tree you have to stand in line for a photo. In the afternoon again General Grand Cove. Ranger evening program and stargazing in Kings Canyon.

Cedar Grove Lodge, Cedar Grove, California ***

142mi

Day 25

At Vasques Rocks it has become really warm again and we have the 30 degrees again. There is not much going on.

Best Western Plus Desert Poppy Inn, Lancaster, California***

328mi

Day 26

Packing and Great Wall of Los Angeles. Another Randy's Donut and then we are at the airport at 3 pm.

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102mi