Post Yosemite Driving.
May 11, 2011 2:03 PM Subscribe
So I am staying in Yosemite for one week in a friend's cabin in Fish Camp, and as long as I'm gone by the 23rd I get it for free. I have full lightweight camping/survival gear, food and a partner but no real clue if we should stay in Yosemite (can't afford a cabin, might not be any more wilderness/overnight passes left) or just slowly drive home.
So, included is a MAP of our path home. If anyone knows of a great place to stop, be it for an hour or for a day, feel free to offer it up!
We don't have a lot of money, but we do have camping gear/food already so as long as it's not too far off the path we won't have any problem with the gas budget : )
I wouldn't count on being able to get through Tioga pass by that date to go down the eastside, but you might get lucky. You can still access the southern sierra from the westside though. Plenty of free unimproved camping around the Needles through Lake Isabella. Fire lookout at the Needles is cool, but may not be accessible due to the high snowpack this year.
posted by doctord at 2:21 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by doctord at 2:21 PM on May 11, 2011
Oops, doctord has an excellent point.
You can still get through at Luther Pass but that might be too far out of your way...
posted by dolface at 2:29 PM on May 11, 2011
You can still get through at Luther Pass but that might be too far out of your way...
posted by dolface at 2:29 PM on May 11, 2011
I would highly advise taking Old Route 66 from Bartsow to Flagstaff, with must stops in Newberry Springs to lunch at the Bagdad Cafe, Oatman to feed the burrros, Seligman to visit a fellow named Angel Delgadillo, and Hackberry for the General Store.
posted by timsteil at 2:31 PM on May 11, 2011
posted by timsteil at 2:31 PM on May 11, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the responses!
395 is not open where it meets 120, we called a couple days ago, but we are crossing our fingers anyway for some luck on that. I even have my halfdome pass but the cables were pushed back for the same snowy reason.
Free camping around Needles, check! Thank you.
I'll take a look at Luther Pass, if it's worth it, it's worth it ; )
The 66 Route is a great idea and it also incorporates the Needles camping.
Thank You all, this is a great start.
posted by MansRiot at 3:03 PM on May 11, 2011
395 is not open where it meets 120, we called a couple days ago, but we are crossing our fingers anyway for some luck on that. I even have my halfdome pass but the cables were pushed back for the same snowy reason.
Free camping around Needles, check! Thank you.
I'll take a look at Luther Pass, if it's worth it, it's worth it ; )
The 66 Route is a great idea and it also incorporates the Needles camping.
Thank You all, this is a great start.
posted by MansRiot at 3:03 PM on May 11, 2011
Here are some suggestions around Fresno.
First of all, there's the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which are interesting in a Roadside America sort of way.
If you love retro and will be doing the drive Thursday-Saturday, don't miss the warehouse-sized vintage mecca Yoshi NOW!, open 10-6. It's not far from the Tower District, which would be a nice spot for a stroll before or after dinner (maybe after, when the oppressive Valley heat has lessened).
Dusty Buns Bistro Bus is the current hot dining ticket (and cheap), if you'll be around when they're out. If not, let me know your food preferences via MeMail and I can give you a restaurant list, if you like.
More Roadside America south of town: The World's Largest Box of Raisins at the Sun-Maid plant in Kingsburg. Kingsburg is a cute, sleepy Swedish town.
The stone fruit season will be well underway at that point. Here's a list of some places you could stop and pick some up. (Here's the map of that list.) I promise it'll taste way better than what you can buy at the supermarket. There'll still be strawberry stands open at that point too. There's a list of those at the link as well.
posted by jocelmeow at 4:25 PM on May 11, 2011
First of all, there's the Forestiere Underground Gardens, which are interesting in a Roadside America sort of way.
If you love retro and will be doing the drive Thursday-Saturday, don't miss the warehouse-sized vintage mecca Yoshi NOW!, open 10-6. It's not far from the Tower District, which would be a nice spot for a stroll before or after dinner (maybe after, when the oppressive Valley heat has lessened).
Dusty Buns Bistro Bus is the current hot dining ticket (and cheap), if you'll be around when they're out. If not, let me know your food preferences via MeMail and I can give you a restaurant list, if you like.
More Roadside America south of town: The World's Largest Box of Raisins at the Sun-Maid plant in Kingsburg. Kingsburg is a cute, sleepy Swedish town.
The stone fruit season will be well underway at that point. Here's a list of some places you could stop and pick some up. (Here's the map of that list.) I promise it'll taste way better than what you can buy at the supermarket. There'll still be strawberry stands open at that point too. There's a list of those at the link as well.
posted by jocelmeow at 4:25 PM on May 11, 2011
Response by poster: The website(s) for go fresno county are all down, but we'll keep trying! The underground garden is definitely interesting but we head out tomorrow (monday) and no tours until Wednesday but awesome suggestion.
posted by MansRiot at 7:58 PM on May 22, 2011
posted by MansRiot at 7:58 PM on May 22, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
The eastern side of the Sierras are stunning, and you could stop and see the bristlecone pines on your way. You'd also drive right by Mono Lake, and Devil's Postpile if those sound interesting to you.
There are also plenty of hot springs and opportunities for day hikes.
posted by dolface at 2:15 PM on May 11, 2011