<p>I agree with Beil. That itinerary sounds exhausting. Just the walking in LV will wear you out! I’ve never walked so much in my life. Everything is spread out, and you have to walk up, over, and down a pedestrian bridge each time you get to an intersection. There is a monorail, but it was not convenient to reach. I think we used it only one time.</p>
<p>For the most relaxing trip, I’d cut out Tahoe and Vegas. San Francisco and Yosemite and points in between like the Gold Rush towns along highway 49 would make a perfect week long trip. You will not be bored or looking for things to do. </p>
<p>I did this trip with family a few years ago. We went to all the usual sites in San Fran, went to the state park where gold was discovered and a few other of the little towns. In Yosemite, we went to Glacier Point, climbed Sentinel Dome (only two miles RT if you are not a hiker, but the view is unforgettable). It’s on the Glacier Point road. We rented bikes in the Valley and nearly ran into a bear on the bike path. If you can’t find reservations in the Valley, the Yosemite View Lodge is just outside the entrance in El Portal and is a nice palace to stay.</p>
<p>Oops. Place. It’s not a palace, ha. Rooms do have balconies overlooking the rushing Merced River, fireplaces and small kitchens.</p>
<p>You need one day for Alcatraz anyway and what can you do in SF for half a day? You need another day for Hoover Dam. There are way too many things you will like to visit among those 4 points. Driving is going to be 3 days alone, even though the actual driving hours are only 4 here and 5 there because you want to stop by attractions along the way with relaxing driving.</p>
<p>The better shows in LV is going to set you back $1000 per day for family of 4, consider the food and lodging. </p>
<p>You should cut out one or two destinations to make the trip more enjoyable, instead of rush, rush and more rush. Perhaps Tahoe? Could it be a separate trip in the winter for skiing? The views of the lake from Diamond Peak or Homewood skiing area are breath taking.</p>
<p>I would do the followings:</p>
<p>Day 1 to 3 SF
Day 4 on the way to Yosemite and visit ghost towns along the way
Day 5 to 6 visit Yosemite
Day 7 to LV and see a show that night
Day 8 Hoover Dam and walk around in LV after returning
Day 9 fly home</p>
<p>And speaking of Alcatraz, you’ll need to reserve a few months ahead of time if you want to take the boat ride there. For other tourist attractions you can find very good deals on Groupon or Goldstar such as this one as a random example:</p>
<p>[Red</a> and White Fleet’s Golden Gate Bay Cruise | Goldstar](<a href=“http://www.goldstar.com/events/san-francisco-ca/red-and-white-fleets-golden-gate-bay-cruise]Red”>Red and White Fleet's San Francisco Golden Gate Bay Cruise San Francisco Tickets - Coming Soon at Golden Gate Bay Cruise. 2021-05-28)</p>
<p>^^ Yes, vball, that Alcatraz tickets! We ordered it on line way ahead when BF of our daughter visited. The ferry ride to Sausalito is not bad either, giving Sausalito itself is a great attraction.</p>
<p>I thought I saw along the Embarcadero there are Alcatraz tickets for sell at “value added” price and you can buy just about any day you wanted if you have the doe…</p>
<p>Artsloverplus–I like your plan!</p>
<p>We are not adverse to lots of driving and sightseeing along the way, and realize that we will not see every single thing. We are quite accustomed to very busy vacations.</p>
<p>I hate to give you more to think about, but if you haven’t been on the Pacific Coast Highway before, I would add it to you list of things to consider doing on your trip. The coast is breathtakingly beautiful. I would take one of the SF days and go down the coast to Carmel. The aquarium in Carmel is wonderful. The ride down also takes you through Pebble Beach golf course. It would be sad to miss seeing the beauty.</p>
<p>We’ve actually done that on a separate trip. Quite spectacular!!</p>
<p>If we start getting normalish precipitation, the overlap between when Tioga Pass is open and when it’s not hellish to drive through the desert to Las Vegas will be zero.</p>
<p>Check out the Evergreen Lodge (evergreenlodgedotcom)! We stayed there on a similar trip a few years ago and it was just amazing. It’s on the way into the park from San Fran. When I go back, I’d stay there again in a heartbeat. Oh, and try and include Hetch Hetchy in your Yosemite plans. </p>
<p>I also agree with the poster who suggested the San Fran-Yosemite-Vegas solution, and cut out Tahoe.</p>
<p>Aquarium in Carmel? Do you mean the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is NOT in Carmel?</p>
<p>How were you thinking of driving from Lake Tahoe to Yosemite? You have to go over a mountain pass. Were you thinking Highway 50 (Carson Pass) or Highway 120 (Tioga Pass)? Tioga Pass might not be open.</p>
<p>And then what is your plan from Yosemite to Las Vegas? Again, make sure Tioga Pass is going to be open if you plan to go that way.</p>
<p>Not traveling until July, so Tioga Pass shouldn’t be an issue.</p>
<p>dmd77 - You are right. I meant the aquarium in Monterey. 
</p>
<p>When I went through the Tioga Pass in mid-June (quite a few years back) the snow on the side of the road was still pretty high. Maybe around 10 feet? It was impressive.</p>