TRAVEL-202609-uswest/itinerary.md

# 🌴 US West Coast Trip — September/October 2026

## The Group

- KT, VT — Sofia, Bulgaria
- MS, LK — Vancouver, BC

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## Destinations

- San Francisco (base: Daly City)
- Yosemite National Park
- Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Parks
- Los Angeles
- Las Vegas

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## Bookings & Reservations

| | Dates | Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| [🏠 Airbnb — Daly City](bookings/airbnb-sf-daly-city.md) | Sep 19–22 (3 nights) | $1,049.54 CAD | Payment due Sep 7 |
| [🏕️ Cabin — Yosemite (Wawona)](bookings/cabin-yosemite-wawona.md) | Sep 22–24 (2 nights) | US$933.75 | ✅ Paid |
| [🌲 Cabin — Sequoia (Miramonte)](bookings/cabin-sequoia-miramonte.md) | Sep 24–26 (2 nights) | US$542.73 | Payment due Sep 8 |
| [🚗 Car Rental](bookings/car-rental.md) | Sep 19–30 (11 days) | ⚠️ TBC | Confirm with KT |
| [✈️ Flights — KT & VT](bookings/flights-kt-vt.md) | Sep 19 / Oct 3 | — | ⚠️ Confirm with KT |

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## Timeline

| Date | Day | Location | Notes |
|------|-----|----------|-------|
| Sep 19 | Sat | Daly City (SF area) | ✅ Airbnb check-in after 3 PM · KT picks up rental car at SFO |
| Sep 20 | Sun | San Francisco | — |
| Sep 21 | Mon | San Francisco | — |
| Sep 22 | Tue | Yosemite | Check-out SF by 11 AM · Depart 7 AM · [See plan ↓](#sep-22--sf--yosemite-valley) · Wawona check-in (flexible) |
| Sep 23 | Wed | Yosemite | [See plan ↓](#sep-23--yosemite--glacier-point--mariposa-grove) |
| Sep 24 | Thu | Sequoia | Check-out Wawona by 10 AM · Drive Hwy 41 (~3 hrs) · [See plan ↓](#sep-24--yosemite--sequoia) · Gilmore Cabin check-in from 4 PM |
| Sep 25 | Fri | Kings Canyon | [See plan ↓](#sep-25--kings-canyon) |
| Sep 26 | Sat | Los Angeles | Check-out Gilmore by 11 AM · Drive to LA |
| Sep 27 | Sun | Los Angeles | TBD |
| Sep 28 | Mon | Los Angeles | TBD |
| Sep 29 | Tue | Los Angeles | TBD |
| Sep 30 | Wed | Las Vegas | Car dropoff at LAX · ✈️ LAX→LAS (tickets TBD) · All 4 to Vegas |
| Oct 1 | Thu | Las Vegas | — |
| Oct 2 | Fri | Las Vegas | — |
| Oct 3 | Sat | — | KT & VT fly to Sofia ⚠️ airport TBC (LAS or LAX?) · MS & LK return to Vancouver TBD |

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## Detailed Day Plans

### Sep 22 — SF → Yosemite Valley

- **7 AM** Depart SF
- **Morning** Tunnel View (Hwy 120 entrance) → Bridalveil Fall (5-min walk) → Valley View (Merced River framing)
- **Late afternoon** Cook's Meadow Loop — 1 mile, flat, Half Dome framing, good golden hour
- **Evening** Wawona check-in (flexible)

### Sep 23 — Yosemite: Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove

- **Morning** Glacier Point — best light on Half Dome early
- **Midday** Mirror Lake — 2-mile paved loop via free shuttle (low water in Sep but great views)
- **Late afternoon** Mariposa Grove — relaxed pace

### Sep 24 — Yosemite → Sequoia

- **By 10 AM** Check out Wawona
- **Morning** Drive Hwy 41 south (~3 hrs)
- **Afternoon** Giant Forest Museum (orientation) → General Sherman Tree (shuttle) → Congress Trail (2-mile paved loop, better than just the Sherman stop)
- **Late afternoon** Moro Rock
- **From 4 PM** Gilmore Cabin check-in

### Sep 25 — Kings Canyon

- **Morning** Grant Grove & General Grant Tree — quieter than Sequoia
- **Midday** Kings Canyon Scenic Byway descent
- **Afternoon** Zumwalt Meadow → Road's End
- **Return drive** Canyon walls spectacular in afternoon light

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*Last updated: April 2026*