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Northern Cali questions
I had posted on here about San Fran a little bit ago. H and I decided to split our trip this July with 4 days in SF and 2.5 days in the Carmel/Monterey area. I had a few questions for people familiar with this area.
Will 2 full days and a partial day be enough time to spend in Carmel/Monterey? We'd be driving down from SF probably mid-day Wed. We'd have to leave bright and early Sat morning to catch our flight. So really we'd be looking at Thurs. and Fri. We wanted to do some scenic hikes in Carmel, possibly do the 17 mile (?) drive, do some shopping and maybe some beach-going (I know it isn't a swimming type beach but we'd still like to enjoy it). Would two full days be enough? We really didn't want to stay a third night for cost issues.
Also, do you think Sat. afternoon-Wed. morning is enough time in SF? We've never been before. We wanted to do some touristy things like Alcatraz, Muir Woods, bike the bridge and explore Sausalito and we also really wanted to do a day tour to Napa wineries. I don't mind being on-the-go, but also don't want to miss something I had my heart set on.
Any advice on our itinerary? Would you spend more or less time in either of those locations? Any other must-dos in Carmel/Monterey that I didn't mention?
Re: Northern Cali questions
In Monterey, you really must go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Words can't describe how incredible this place is and you could easily spend half a day there. It's a must-do IMO. However, this might come at the sacrifice of something else on your Carmel/Monterey list since you only have two full days there. Personally I'd drop the beach and shopping, but I don't know your preferences.
I think you'll have just enough time in S.F. for everything on your list if you don't mind running around a bit, as you said. Alcatraz, the bridge, and Sausalito are doable in one day. Can I ask why Sausalito is a priority though? I mean, it's cute but there are lot of other SF things I'd rather do as a first-timer than go to Sausalito (Lombard St., shopping on Union St. or Union Square, checking out the MOMA or Asian Art Museum, eat your way through the Ferry Building, Golden Gate Park and the Japanese Tea Garden/bison pen/etc. there...).
I had heard about the aquarium. Have you ever been to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago? I only ask because, growing up near there, I've been multiple times, and was wondering if the Monterey one is similar or if it really is that much more amazing that we should make sure to see it.
I guess our hope was that SF would be sort of crazy busy and then the second half of our trip would be a little more laid-back, hence wanting to spend some time just hanging at the beach. As far as Sausalito, everyone we talked to who had been to SF recommended we go there. There is SO much we want to do there, I think some things will have to get sacrificed or put off for a future trip. I did want to check out Lombard St. and Golden Gate Park if we had time.
I haven't been to the Shedd. I've heard great things about it though. I went to the Field a few weeks ago and will eventually hit all the other great places in the museum area out there.
So, unfortunately, I can't compare the two aquariums for you. Does the Shedd have a giant two-story tank?
FWIW, Alcatraz/Ghiradelli Square/Lombard St./GG Bridge are in the same general area. I always used to take tourists to the first three in one afternoon. I prefer driving across the bridge and going up to the Marin Headlands just on the other side for a great view and photo opp. In July it will likely be very windy and cold across the bridge, so be prepared during your bike ride. It could also be either foggy or really sunny--hard to say.
Monterey Bay Aquarium is amazing. I haven't been to the Shedd, so I can't compare their overall good-ness, but the MBA is focused on the sea life of the bay, so I can say that you'll probably see things you haven't seen before. I'd skip either hiking or significant beach time to fit the aquarium in.
I think your SF-area schedule looks pretty packed but could be doable. You've got basically 3 days plus an afternoon. Alcatraz can be the afternoon (the evening tour is awesome!), and I'm guessing you're thinking you'll bike the bridge in the morning, drop the bikes of in Sausalito for lunch and then continue on to Muir Woods somehow? Not sure how the transport will work for all of that. Then Napa's your second full day, and you've got a full day for sightseeing in the city itself.
I think the stuff over in Marin County sounds like the hardest to organize since either it means two trips, which eats up a lot of time, or somehow figuring out bike drop off and then getting to Muir Woods/back into SF, but I'm not an expert since despite growing up in the area, I've never been to Muir Woods.
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Thanks for the tips. More and more, we're thinking about skipping Muir Woods. I'd love to see it, but without a rental car in SF, I don't know how we'd work it.
Thanks for the info on the aquarium. It sounds like something pretty awesome, so we want to try to fit it in.
One more question: how far is Big Sur from the Monterey area? I have seen pictures online which are absolutely stunning. I'd be willing to give up some sightseeing time in Monterey or Carmel to make it down there, but didn't know how long it would take and also if there are places to eat lunch and what not once you get there.