The Coast
My west coast tour guide, Rich, drove us north on Highway 1 to Point Reyes, where we hiked about 8 miles along the ocean. Later in the week, we stopped in Carmel, just south of San Francisco, to check out the shops and the beach. From there we drove another 200 or so miles along Highway 1 through Big Sur before heading back inland.
San Francisco
Our first clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge was from the recreation area across the bay. We fought the wind for photos, then enjoyed fresh seafood and Sierra Nevada Pale Ales on Fishermans Wharf. The next day we took in the city sites atop a tower and from a classic trolley car.
Yosemite
I was fortunate to have a former Yosemite local to show me around the park. Rich and I hiked the Mist Trail on our first day, then spent the night in Campsite 4 with some serious rock climbers. We set off the next morning for the Yosemite Falls Trail. The treacherous hike was well worth enduring for the view from the top!
Lake Tahoe
We spent the final days of our trip at Rich's house in South Lake Tahoe. I fell in love with the area — from the sunny south shore beach and the shades of blue on the north shore, to the views from Heavenly and Emerald Bay. We even found time to soak in the hot springs and enjoy a sunrise over the lake.