Hiking in Yosemite is great, but many trails (except the easiest ones) will take the better part of a day. I went with a group of friends for a week in April (5 years ago) specifically to go hiking. We did longer and more difficult hikes on one day and then did easier ones on the next day. We hiked Half Dome, Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls (Mist Trail)—which were difficult and took most of the day. Mariposa Grove, Mirror Lake, and Cook’s Meadow Loop, and Bridal Vail Falls were easy. We also did a tour with a ranger that was focused on taking photos in the park. On the last night we had dinner at Ahwahnee (now Majestic) Hotel.
We rented a car at the SFO and went straight to a house we rented just outside of Yosemite (can’t remember the town but it wasn’t too far). We drove to the park each day and returned home after our hike. We ate dinner at the rental housr and packed lunches. I think Yosemite is a must see!
http://www.sfcityguides.org/ City guides gives great free walking tours of San Francisco neighborhoods. I’ve done several of them. The Japanese Tea Garden one was particularly good, though it’s also gorgeous without a guide! I also did an eating tour (not free) of the North Beach neighborhood which was a hoot.
We liked staying at Yosemite Lodge, just so we didn’t have to drive in and out of the park each day. On the way back to SF, we stopped at Hetch hetchy reservoir.
I’ve done about a dozen of the Cityguides tours @mathmom mentioned. Most are delightful and given by passionate volunteers (it’s a partnership with the Library and Parks depts). They are free…but give them a donation to keep this wonderful program going…
Thank you all, for help planning a great trip!
Our stay in SF included city tour, Alcatraz ,Golden Gate Bridge, cable car ride and dinner in local, not tourist eateries! We didn’t go to Muir Woods, tired to make parking reservation 1 day in advance ,but timing didn’t work. Left SF at 630am no traffic. Used the southern entrance of Yosemite, stayed at Tenaya Lodge, visited Mariposa Grove ,as suggested above, on our way to the valley. 3 nites in the park, including staying 1 nite in the presidential suite at the Majestic Hotel! Hiked most easy to moderate trails; Glacier Point at sunset …amazing pictures!