My MW family this is not a DL post but if anyone can help me it's you guys. We are taking the kids to Yosemite next month. We have a cabin and will be diving from San Diego. We are looking to drive half way or a little more then half way one day and drive the rest the next day. My question is where should we stop? What sites do we have along the way. I know DL but we are looking to drive more the first day and we do DL a lot. Any and all positive advice welcome.. Please and Thank You
I don't know how far you are planning to drive exactly. I live in Fresno which is about an hour south of Yosemite. You can stay in Bakersfield (3hrs from Yosemite) or Visalia (1 1/2hrs from Yosemite) It all really depends exactly how far away you want to stay. - Armenda
992.5 #89 10:23PM
We really haven't decided how far to drive because we aren't sure what's on the way. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:30PM
I'm really jealous that you only live 1 hour from Yosemite!! I think I'd be there every weekend!! This coming Saturday you should be able to get in for free. All National and some State Parks are supposed to be free!! - caramiapoohAKAface 1440.8 #54 10:39PM
My family has never been. I'm pretty excitied. I'm a little worried about bears I've read too many stories. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:41PM
where will you be staying while visting Yosemite ( btw, it's up there with DL for our girls) - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1797.3 #42 10:46PM
Just make sure you don't keep any food or scented products in your car or tents. Make sure you put that stuff in the lock boxes provided!! You are going to love it!! The first time you see the view at Inspiration Point will be something you will never forget! Have fun :) - caramiapoohAKAface 1440.8 #54 10:48PM
We got a cabin. I think it's 14b the pictures look amazing and it's on a little creek and has a hot tube on the patio. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:50PM
I just got a new car.. No food allowed in the car - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:51PM
Yes.. Cabin 14b. Is that good or bad? - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:54PM
we LOVE The Redwoods! like the best kept secret! staying IN Yosemite, IN a cabin and it's comfy for the kids. the river is so close. cute lil market, library. super close to the giant sequoias! and the valley is great. there is a pizza parlor upstairs in the village. very good pizza! - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1797.3 #42 10:57PM
I was a little worried when you asked. The web site pictures look awesome. I know my kids will love the creek and the hot tube. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 11:03PM
just looked at the pics- i remember looking at that one- think the dates didn't work for us. i am so excited for you! a hot tub! Be sure to visit the area by the lil grocery store/ golf shop (across the parking lot) on the history of the area. there's a house to peek in, a jail, equipment. very cool. splash in the river below - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1797.3 #42 11:04PM
also, outside of Yosemite is a cool open air train to ride. we really enjoyed it. oooh! Bridalveil falls! being in the valley, at the river, looking up and the just how stunning and amazing Half Dome is. it's incredible! - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1797.3 #42 11:06PM
I've thought about having my wedding there because the views are so gorgeous! Everything the ladies above me said are all soo true! - Armenda 992.5 #89 11:12PM
Gotta visit YOSO because YOLO! - Armenda 992.5 #89 11:18PM
I'm really jealous you're going!!!! It's my favorite place! It's truly heaven on earth!! - caramiapoohAKAface 1440.8 #54 11:19PM
The Winchester mystery mansion near (or in Visalia) is neat. I went when I was maybe 9 and remember liking it. - Nicole
380.2 #356 10:25PM
I thought that was in San Jose? - Jillian 765.4 #129 10:25PM
I'll check into this I have a 9 year old and two 8 year olds.. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:27PM
Yeah I just looked it is San Jose. It was many many years ago. I'd like to take my daughter some day when she's older and see it from an adult perspective. - Nicole 380.2 #356 10:30PM
Winchester Mystery House is in San Jose. That's way out of your way, but near me! :) - HandMeAChurroImmaFaint 1797.3 #42 10:41PM
Might be worth a trip to San Jose if I got to meet you - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:43PM
Mammoth is 6 hours hours from L.A and
2 hours from Yosemite gate. There's alot of cool stuff to see there....lakes, craters, earthquake faults, fishing, hiking. - dug_one
1431.6 #55 10:25PM
Lakes and craters could be cool.. I'll search this too - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:28PM
I was thinking Mammoth too. - Spoonful_O_Sugar 435.9 #285 6:32AM
I live in Bakersfield, I don't know what there is to see here. There's dewars famous ice cream shop, and a few museums, buck Owens crystal palace but we have cheap rooms. - akpoppins
243.3 #1066 10:27PM
Cheap rooms is always good as long as there is a pool - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:32PM
Well it is averaging 90 degrees here and everything has a pool! If you decide to stay here, I can help you pick a hotel. I always have my family stay at the double tree on rosedale hwy, nice rooms and nice pool. - akpoppins 243.3 #1066 10:36PM
Bakersfield is one of the stops we are thinking.. I will keep you posted and for sure take any hotel info. I do not want to end up at a crappy hotel - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:40PM
Other options, la zoo or Hearst castle. I love Hearst castle but it might not be that fun for kids to see a giant mansion with amazing furniture! - akpoppins
243.3 #1066 10:41PM
I think my kids would like it but my husband wouldn't. I keep looking at the maps for ideas but I keep coming up blank - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:45PM
Hearst Castle is to far. Its more coastal. - MissyluvsDisneyland 357.6 #395 10:45PM
There is also Griffith park, there is tons of stuff to do there. There is a place called travel town there that is basically a big train museum and it's free, well they ask for donations to maintain the train cars. You can even have lunch in one. - akpoppins 243.3 #1066 10:50PM
I hope you have a great time! We are going in June@ I am very excited, it is beautiful!!! I can't help with the stop suggestion since we drive straight through. - Boundin
424.5 #298 10:42PM
We could drive straight but were thinking it would be fun to stop along the way. 4 years ago we did a coast drive from San Diego to the Redwoods and we stopped at so many cool little places - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:47PM
Lifeguardmom, great idea! Road trips are a lot of fun, there is so much to see! - Boundin 424.5 #298 11:42PM
HMACIF we are going up June 1 on the 41 and staying near Wawona. - Boundin 424.5 #298 11:43PM
Such great ideas!!! Thanks guys keep them coming - Lifeguardmom
292.5 #657 10:53PM
If you have time, you might want to consider driving up the 395 instead of the 5 or 99. 395 is much more scenic and has great tourist spots along the way. If you go that route, Bishop might be your best bet to spend the night. If you take the 99, Bakersfield as Armenda suggested, is just over halfway. - Gia
783.5 #120 10:54PM
Now that's a good idea.. I just mapped it on my phone so of course it took me on the 5.. Thanks!! - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 10:56PM
It's a great route...Bodie, Mono Lake, so much to see! - Gia 783.5 #120 11:03PM
Yeah, I was thinking that there's just not much to see on the 99 or the 5. 395 would be good, or travel up the 101 to stay in SLO and cut across the valley to Fresno the next day :) - Spoonful_O_Sugar 435.9 #285 6:34AM
We have left San Diego around 5 am get to Bakersfield around 9 am or so for breakfast and Yosemite main gate around 1 pm ish? The drive goes by pretty fast. The last time we did this drive was with a 2 year old! You are going to be in awe of Yosemite. Once you get in through the South Gate you MUST take a right and go to the Marposa Grove. All the huge Sequiouas are there, they have a fun tram ride. And after June do the river float in the Merced River. Most relaxing activity ever!! - PrincessDuckie
586.9 #187 11:05PM
You guys are awesome!!! You all have been so helpful. Thank you! I'm even more excitied now - Lifeguardmom
292.5 #657 11:08PM
I'm more of a Jellystone kind of guy myself.....but I might have to try this place out this summer. - SuperCooper
818.0 #112 11:47PM
I've never been there either.. It's on our list.. As is a cruise, Hawaii, WDW, Grand Canon... Some day! - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 6:21AM
We've did Yellowstone too. They both have amazing merits, but Yosemite is really full of awe!! - PrincessDuckie 586.9 #187 6:51AM
Hi LGM. We just went last week to Yosemite. I'm from NorCal so not much help for your halfway. Once stayed bass lake - E-Ticket
772.1 #128 6:25AM
We looked into Bass Lake but it seemed do far from some of the stuff we wanted to see at Yosemite. I'm pretty excitied and all the ideas and info everyone has posted has just made me more excitied. - Lifeguardmom 292.5 #657 6:31AM
You've got great ideas here! You might also consider driving up 101 to San Luis Obispo and cutting across the valley to Fresno the next day 😃🌊🐳 - Spoonful_O_Sugar
435.9 #285 6:54AM