South Lake Tahoe and Yosemite advice, please.

[Nottingham Nick]

I have just booked, what looks like a great deal for three nights at the Grand Residences by Marriott in South Lake Tahoe for September (no timeshare tours involved either).

While we are there, it is Sue's birthday, so I wonder if the regular Tahoe visitors have any advice for 'must sees' and for a nice restaurant for a birthday meal, please?

Also, we are thinking about spending a night in Yosemite before we drive up to Tahoe. If anyone has done this, or has any tips that they can pass on, I would be grateful.

Nick

I'm starting to plan a similar trip myself.
We'll be staying in San Fran for a couple of nights then heading to Vegas via Tahoe/Yosemite/Death Valley.
I haven't got far with it but found this site useful so far http://www.roadtripamerica.com/forum/index.php (the main site is useful as well as the forums) I think the 'Las Vegas' forum will have some info for you but you'll need to search around.

Well the must do in Tahoe is the Heavenly Gondola for the views and if you're brave enough, the Heavenly Flyer zip line - as long as they're both open that is! [:w]

I done Yosemite in a day this year before driving to Tahoe the next, so what would you like to know?

[HighFlyer]

Paging Juliet ... [:)]

We ate at Riva Grill on the Lake in South Lake Tahoe but I am sure seasoned visitors can advise if they have other favorites. A boat trip out on the lake would also be a great activity.

Yosemite is a great place, but one day may be a little tiring, it takes forever to drive into Yosemite and we spent a good day just seeing a couple of the sites, then the several hours drive back out again. Really might be worth staying two nights if you are going to go that far.

If you are driving from SFO we can give you a few 'mom and pop' places to visit enroute. We took the 'less travelled road' and went by the 120 I think, stopping in a little town called Strawberry (pop. 50!) to buy some cherries. There are loads of cool little towns past Yosemite on the way to Death Valley as well, if you had thought of going out that far.

Thanks,
Sarah

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer

Yosemite is a great place, but one day may be a little tiring, it takes forever to drive into Yosemite and we spent a good day just seeing a couple of the sites, then the several hours drive back out again. Really might be worth staying two nights if you are going to go that far.



Actually depends on where you stay in Yosemite. I stayed in Fish Camp which is 2km from the southern entrance to the park but you are then very, very close to Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Tunnel View and the Valley (30 min drive).

Also staying in Fish Camp meant that we were able to join the CA-49 to get us to Tahoe without doing the very slow drive through Yosemite itself.

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks for the advice so far.

With regards to Yosemite, what we are looking for is a place to stop-over. We are leaving SFO very early Monday morning, and want to be in Tahoe by late Tuesday evening. We have done Yosemite a couple of times, but never stopped over in the park.

I will have a look at the Fish camp. The ones we have looked at so far seem to be well under $100 - (some without running water or a/c) or in the region of $300. We want something in between with scenic views - shouldn't be hard to find in Yosemite. [8D][:D]

Nick

Tenaya Lodge Yosemite

Tenaya is nice; just outside the park, but not like trekking it in from some of the towns on 120, like Groveland. It does sound like you plan on spending time in the park itself both Monday and Tuesday, so you will be leaving for Tahoe from the park; assuming you are leaving from the valley, it's about a four hour drive to South Lake Tahoe, crossing over to Mono Lake. Doesn't really make sense at that point to drive back out to 49. Won't make much of a difference where you stay obviously.

Yosemite Lodge would have been the obvious place (though might still be a bit pricey, and often not available). There's a little enclave in the park called Yosemite West, which has some wonderful accommodations, but usually better suited for groups, as opposed to couples.

Riva Grill is good. You might also want to check out Evan's.

Ah, Labor Day on the Monday, so I wouldn't wait too long to make a decision. It's going to be busy in the park that day [:)]

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by MarkedMan
Ah, Labor Day on the Monday.....


Oooh! Thanks for that - I hadn't realised. [:I]

Thanks for the other advice, as well.

Tink - thanks for Tenaya. [y]

Nick

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

Tink - thanks for Tenaya. [y]



I took a load of photos there if you wanted to see them.

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
While we are there, it is Sue's birthday, so I wonder if the regular Tahoe visitors have any advice for 'must sees' and for a nice restaurant for a birthday meal, please?


Its been quite a few years since my trip to Tahoe but I would recommend The Edgwood Tahoe Restaurant for a memorable dinner.

My most enjoyable experience at Tahoe was a trip on a cattamaran called something like 'Windjammer' which had a large flat open deck - perfect on a hot day with a cool breeze.

Whatever you decide to do you can't fail to enjoy yourself at Tahoe. The only disappointment to my mind is the over-development of the South shore but you don't have to drive far to leave that behind.

quote:Originally posted by pkatmk

Whatever you decide to do you can't fail to enjoy yourself at Tahoe.


Might disagree with that one - depends what time of year you go! [:w]

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
quote:Originally posted by pkatmk

Whatever you decide to do you can't fail to enjoy yourself at Tahoe.


Might disagree with that one - depends what time of year you go! [:w]


Oh Dear! What time of the year did you go?

[Nottingham Nick]

Thanks again for advice - following what MarkedMan said about Labo(u)r [:D] Day, and Tink's advice about Tenaya, we have booked a two bed cottage there. [y]

We are looking forward to Tahoe, as the only time we have visited before was during an August weekend and it looked wonderful, but it was full!

Lots of traffic queues - we are hoping that visiting midweek wiil ease those problems.

Nick

quote:Originally posted by pkatmk


Oh Dear! What time of the year did you go?


In the gap between winter and summer seasons when EVERYTHING is closed! [xx(]

Well. Sorry to Tink about the closed gondola and zip line... It is also often subject to Wind and Lightning delays!!

As for restaurants, Riva is great, as is Evans and Edgewood. Probably the finest cuisine in the French style is at Mirabelle. Best fish is at the Fresh Ketch, if you get the right day. The Tahoe Queen do a sunset dinner cruise which is lovely and also has great views and reasonable food. So... What kind of meal were you thinking?

PM me as I now live in South Lake Tahoe and can give feedback or even book things for you.

Have fun anyway, and look me up!

With regards to Yosemite, maybe you'd want to spend MORE time there? Try Napa or Sonoma, or come up to Tahoe early and try the north part of the lake, as it is really quite different!

(oh, and sorry for the late input... have been remiss in my v-flyer browsing!)[:I]

[RichardMannion]

quote:Originally posted by Juliet
(oh, and sorry for the late input... have been remiss in my v-flyer browsing!)[:I]


You're not the only one - that day job thing keeps getting in the way in my case....

[Darren Wheeler]

Not been to Tahoe (campsite was closed due to snow) but can thoroughly recommend Yosemite. If pushed for time, try to do the walk to Vernal and Nevada falls. The views from the top are spectacular. In September the water flow will be at its lowest unless a very wet summer but still worth it. The path can be steep but is wide and well maintained.

Last time I did it, a bear wandered out of the undergrowth in front of us. A change of underwear later, I was fine.

According to this piece in the Guardian some of the parks may be closed ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ju ... et-deficit


'All of the parks in Lake Tahoe are proposed for closure,' said Verardo Torres. 'If [they] close there would not be a way legally for the public to access the lakes.'


Not sure of this might affect your trip


(note edited to put the correct link in - sorry)