OurVacays Home Trips Guides About ← all trips

A Travel Diary

California 2023

Big Sur, the sequoias, Yosemite & San Francisco — Spring 2023

104Photographs

9Days

4Places

Scroll to explore ↓

Coast, crest & the city

Ten days up the length of California — the Lone Cypress and the wild Big Sur coast, Bixby Bridge and Point Lobos, the giant sequoias of Kings Canyon, the granite cathedral of Yosemite with its waterfalls and the rainbow on the Mist Trail, and finally San Francisco: the Golden Gate in the fog, Alcatraz, the sea lions of Pier 39, Lombard Street, the Painted Ladies, and Chinatown. Tap any photo to enlarge it, or open the map.

Day 1

Sun 28 May

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe Lone Cypress out on its point at Pebble Beach.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe rugged coast of 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurSea otters and the fisherman's statue at Monterey.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBig Sur, where the mountains fall straight into the sea.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBixby Bridge spanning the canyon.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurGoats grazing on the bluffs above the Pacific.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe Lone Cypress out on its point at Pebble Beach.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe rugged coast of 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurSea otters and the fisherman's statue at Monterey.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBig Sur, where the mountains fall straight into the sea.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBixby Bridge spanning the canyon.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurGoats grazing on the bluffs above the Pacific.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe Lone Cypress out on its point at Pebble Beach.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe rugged coast of 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurSea otters and the fisherman's statue at Monterey.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBig Sur, where the mountains fall straight into the sea.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBixby Bridge spanning the canyon.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurGoats grazing on the bluffs above the Pacific.

Day 2

Mon 29 May

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur · Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe Lone Cypress out on its point at Pebble Beach.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurThe rugged coast of 17-Mile Drive and Point Lobos.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurSea otters and the fisherman's statue at Monterey.

Monterey, Carmel & Big Sur — Monterey, Carmel & Big SurBig Sur, where the mountains fall straight into the sea.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonGiant sequoias, the largest living things on earth.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonThe General Grant Tree, broad as a house at the base.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonKings Canyon dropping away mile after mile.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonHume Lake lying quiet under the Sierra.

Day 3

Tue 30 May

Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonDeer out among the fallen logs.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonGiant sequoias, the largest living things on earth.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonThe General Grant Tree, broad as a house at the base.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonKings Canyon dropping away mile after mile.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonHume Lake lying quiet under the Sierra.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonDeer out among the fallen logs.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonGiant sequoias, the largest living things on earth.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonThe General Grant Tree, broad as a house at the base.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonKings Canyon dropping away mile after mile.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonHume Lake lying quiet under the Sierra.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonDeer out among the fallen logs.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonGiant sequoias, the largest living things on earth.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonThe General Grant Tree, broad as a house at the base.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonKings Canyon dropping away mile after mile.

Day 4

Wed 31 May

Sequoia & Kings Canyon · Yosemite

Sequoia & Kings Canyon — Sequoia & Kings CanyonHume Lake lying quiet under the Sierra.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Day 5

Thu 1 Jun

Yosemite

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Day 6

Fri 2 Jun

Yosemite

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Yosemite — YosemiteHalf Dome standing over the whole valley.

Yosemite — YosemiteA Steller's jay, blue as the sky.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Valley from Tunnel View — El Cap and Bridalveil.

Yosemite — YosemiteYosemite Falls pouring off the cliff.

Yosemite — YosemiteThe Merced River mirroring the granite walls.

Yosemite — YosemiteVernal Fall and its rainbow on the Mist Trail.

Day 7

Sat 3 Jun

San Francisco

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Golden Gate Bridge half-lost in the fog.

San Francisco — San FranciscoAlcatraz sitting out in the bay.

San Francisco — San FranciscoSea lions piled up on the docks at Pier 39.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe crooked switchbacks of Lombard Street.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Painted Ladies with downtown behind.

San Francisco — San FranciscoLanterns over the lanes of Chinatown.

San Francisco — San FranciscoDim sum in the city.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Golden Gate Bridge half-lost in the fog.

San Francisco — San FranciscoAlcatraz sitting out in the bay.

Day 8

Sun 4 Jun

San Francisco

San Francisco — San FranciscoSea lions piled up on the docks at Pier 39.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe crooked switchbacks of Lombard Street.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Painted Ladies with downtown behind.

San Francisco — San FranciscoLanterns over the lanes of Chinatown.

San Francisco — San FranciscoDim sum in the city.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Golden Gate Bridge half-lost in the fog.

San Francisco — San FranciscoAlcatraz sitting out in the bay.

San Francisco — San FranciscoSea lions piled up on the docks at Pier 39.

Day 9

Mon 5 Jun

San Francisco

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe crooked switchbacks of Lombard Street.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Painted Ladies with downtown behind.

San Francisco — San FranciscoLanterns over the lanes of Chinatown.

San Francisco — San FranciscoDim sum in the city.

San Francisco — San FranciscoThe Golden Gate Bridge half-lost in the fog.

San Francisco — San FranciscoAlcatraz sitting out in the bay.

Where we wandered