# 🌴 US West Coast Trip β€” September/October 2026 ## The Group - KT, VT β€” Sofia, Bulgaria - MS, LK β€” Vancouver, BC --- ## Destinations - San Francisco (base: Daly City) - Yosemite National Park - Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Parks - Los Angeles - Las Vegas --- ## Bookings & Reservations | | Dates | Cost | Status | |---|---|---|---| | [🏠 Airbnb β€” Daly City](bookings/airbnb-sf-daly-city.md) | Sep 19–22 (3 nights) | $1,049.54 CAD | Payment due Sep 7 | | [πŸ•οΈ Cabin β€” Yosemite (Wawona)](bookings/cabin-yosemite-wawona.md) | Sep 22–24 (2 nights) | US$933.75 | βœ… Paid | | [🌲 Cabin β€” Sequoia (Miramonte)](bookings/cabin-sequoia-miramonte.md) | Sep 24–26 (2 nights) | US$542.73 | Payment due Sep 8 | | [πŸš— Car Rental](bookings/car-rental.md) | Sep 19–30 (11 days) | ⚠️ TBC | Confirm with KT | | [✈️ Flights β€” KT & VT](bookings/flights-kt-vt.md) | Sep 19 / Oct 3 | β€” | ⚠️ Confirm with KT | --- ## Timeline | Date | Day | Location | Notes | |------|-----|----------|-------| | Sep 19 | Sat | Daly City (SF area) | βœ… Airbnb check-in after 3 PM Β· KT picks up rental car at SFO | | Sep 20 | Sun | San Francisco | [See plan ↓](#sep-20--san-francisco-golden-gate--waterfront) Β· Golden Gate, Marin Headlands, Wharf (car day) | | Sep 21 | Mon | San Francisco | [See plan ↓](#sep-21--san-francisco-downtown--classic-sf) Β· Downtown, cable cars, Chinatown (BART day) | | Sep 22 | Tue | Yosemite | Check-out SF by 11 AM Β· Depart 7 AM Β· [See plan ↓](#sep-22--sf--yosemite-valley) Β· 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 Β· Drive Hwy 41 (~3 hrs) Β· [See plan ↓](#sep-24--yosemite--sequoia) Β· 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 Β· 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 Β· ✈️ LAXβ†’LAS (tickets TBD) Β· All 4 to Vegas | | Oct 1 | Thu | Las Vegas | β€” | | Oct 2 | Fri | Las Vegas | β€” | | Oct 3 | Sat | β€” | KT & VT fly to Sofia ⚠️ airport TBC (LAS or LAX?) Β· MS & LK return to Vancouver TBD | --- ## Detailed Day Plans > **Option to look into β€” Alcatraz:** ferry from Pier 33, ~2.5–3 hrs round trip. No car needed. If the group wants it, best slotted into the **Sep 21 morning** (BART day) β€” reach Pier 33 via the F-line streetcar, then do downtown after. This avoids clashing with the Sep 20 morning, which Marin Headlands wants for the pre-fog bridge view. **Sells out weeks ahead β€” reserve early.** > **Mondays:** some museums (incl. the de Young) are closed β€” check before counting on them Sep 21. ### Sep 20 β€” San Francisco: Golden Gate & Waterfront > **Sights menu:** see [`sf_sights.md`](sf_sights.md) for the full candidate list. *Car day β€” flexible for the north-side viewpoints BART doesn't reach.* - **Morning** Drive to **Marin Headlands / Battery Spencer** β€” the classic Golden Gate Bridge panorama; go early before fog and crowds - **Late morning** Cross back over the bridge β†’ **Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center** & Fort Point underneath - **Midday** **Palace of Fine Arts** β†’ **Crissy Field** (bridge + skyline) - **Afternoon** Drive **Lombard Street** (the crooked block) β†’ park near **Fisherman's Wharf** - **Late afternoon** **Pier 39** sea lions β†’ **Ghirardelli Square**; dinner on the waterfront ### Sep 21 β€” San Francisco: Downtown & Classic SF *BART day β€” park the rental in Daly City, ride in to skip downtown parking.* - **Morning** BART Daly City β†’ **Embarcadero**; **Ferry Building** marketplace for breakfast - *Optional:* **Alcatraz** β€” early ferry from Pier 33 (F-line streetcar from the Embarcadero); book ahead - **Late morning** Ride a **cable car** (California St line) over Nob Hill β†’ **Union Square** - **Midday** **Chinatown** (Dragon Gate) β†’ **North Beach** (Little Italy) β†’ **Coit Tower** views - **Afternoon** **Alamo Square** Painted Ladies; optional **Golden Gate Park** (de Young / Japanese Tea Garden) - **Evening** BART back from Powell St β†’ Daly City ### Sep 22 β€” SF β†’ Yosemite Valley > **Sights menu:** see [`parks_sights.md`](parks_sights.md) for the full candidate list + seasonal notes (firefall, water levels, etc.). - **7 AM** Depart SF - **Morning** Tunnel View (Hwy 120 entrance) β†’ Bridalveil Fall (5-min walk) β†’ Valley View (Merced River framing) - **Late afternoon** Cook's Meadow Loop β€” 1 mile, flat, Half Dome framing, good golden hour - **Evening** Wawona check-in (flexible) ### Sep 23 β€” Yosemite: Glacier Point & Mariposa Grove - **Morning** Glacier Point β€” best light on Half Dome early - **Midday** Mirror Lake β€” 2-mile paved loop via free shuttle (low water in Sep but great views) - **Late afternoon** Mariposa Grove β€” relaxed pace ### Sep 24 β€” Yosemite β†’ Sequoia - **By 10 AM** Check out Wawona - **Morning** Drive Hwy 41 south (~3 hrs) - **Afternoon** Giant Forest Museum (orientation) β†’ General Sherman Tree (shuttle) β†’ 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 β€” Kings Canyon - **Morning** Grant Grove & General Grant Tree β€” quieter than Sequoia - **Midday** Kings Canyon Scenic Byway descent - **Afternoon** Zumwalt Meadow β†’ Road's End - **Return drive** Canyon walls spectacular in afternoon light --- *Last updated: April 2026*