AboutErnest Tufft Expertise I am knowlegeable about most all parts of California, but am most knowlegeable about San
Diego, San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas, Wine Country regions, North Coast, Yosemite,
Mother Lode, Tahoe, and Central California.
Experience I'm a fourth generation Californian and know the history, culture, and geography of the state very well. Born and raised in the Francisco Bay Area, I lived 8 years in San Diego, and now reside in Stockton, CA. I worked 6 years in the Napa/Sonoma wine industry. I have also traveled to 19 different countries, on all continents of the world except Australia and Antartica
Organizations I'm a gold star member at VirtualTourist.com.
Publications Virtualtourist.com
Education/Credentials I have a Master's degree in English, and have teacher's credentials for grades K through 12. I currently teach at the community college level.
Past/Present clients I have helped many visitors from all over the world appreciate the great state of California, and I have also helped Californians visit other parts of the world.
Expert: Ernest Tufft Date: 5/28/2008 Subject: Flying to Vegas, flying home from San Fran
Question 3 adults are flying to vegas in July, staying there for 3 nights. We then will pick up a car. We definately want to see the Grand Canyon but are unsure of what route to take to get back to San Francisco. We will be in the USA for 14 nights in total and dont mind driving distances but do want to take time and see places properly.
Can you advise which route would be more worthwhile for people coming from Northern Ireland?! Via death valley and Yosemite or up the coast?
Answer Sharon,
That's a tough call, coast or moutain/desert, both are fantastic, and within 14 days, a return flight from either San Francisco or Las Vegas would have been convenient and possible.
I think though that since Ireland is bounded by sometimes wonderful coastline--and has no desert nor mountains to speak of--I would recommend the a drive through Death Valley and appreciation of Yosemite, but I'll recommend a bit of the coast enroute to San Francisco.
Don't plan to stop overnight in Death Valley, in July temps won't allow not much outside the comfort of the airconditioned automobile, but cross over through Death Valley from Las Vegas to Hwy 395, and then proceed north to Mono Lake/Lee Vining (see Mapquest for specific routing, mileage, and time).
Go over Tioga Pass (a spectacular and steep grade, so be careful) to Tuolumne Meadows, the main base for alpine backpacking in Yosemite. Stay the night at either Lee Vining motel, or better at Tuolumne Meadows campground (or rented tent cabin). You are now within Yosemite National Park, so proceed across spectacular Hwy 120 toward Yosemite Valley, and hopefully stay in Camp Curry or wherever you can find accomodations. You are already running late on this, but if not found in the valley, try Wawona/Glacier Point or White Wolf as fallback. Yosemite is worth also 3 nights, actually more than Grand Canyon. Make sure to appreciate the Mariposa Grove of Redwoods near Wawona, as well as the many treasures of the Yosemite Valley.
When leaving Yosemite, I recommend driving through Merced and over the Pacheco Pass to the Monterey Bay. Depending upon time available and preferences, older folk tend to enjoy the scenery and upscale atmosphere of Carmel/Pebble Beach/Pacific Grove/Monterey, whereas young adults tend to enjoy the surfer/pot smoking excitement of the warmer beaches and boardwalk at Santa Cruz/Aptos. Enroute to San Francisco, drive through Santa Cruz in any case, and up winding Highway 9 through the coastal redwood forest. See Felton, Boulder Creek, and Saratoga before finding the freeway 280 north for San Francisco. You may want to drop off the rental car early at the airport an then take BART into San Francisco as driving and parking within the city are a time wasting nightmare for tourists. The city's MUNI public transportation is excellent, and provides adequate access back to the airport. Use BART and MUNI within Google to learn more.
