Today we are not talking about a complete itinerary, but about a stretch, a journey that in its entire journey counts about 187 miles; is the stretch Monterey Yosemite, which combines 2 rather beaten stages in traditional journeys on the road Americans: the town of Monterey, often used as an intermediate stop by those who love to whiz on Highway 1, and Yosemite Park, one of the best-known national parks in California.
I walked it in the summer of 2012; Coming from San Francisco I got off Highway 1, stopped one night in Monterey and, after visiting Carmel and Pebble Beach (two interesting places that I recommend you take a look if you are in the area), I turned inwards towards Yosemite.Index
- Travel time of the Monterey-Yosemite section
- What kind of landscape to expect
- Which soundtrack is best suited?
- Take it easy degli Eagles
- Ramblin’ Man della Allman Brothers Band
- And the surprise stage?
- The Tour
Travel time of the Monterey-Yosemite section
This stretch can be done in 3 and a half hours, but add at least a good half hour to stop in a really tasty surprise stage… which one? Read on and you will find out.
What kind of landscape to expect
It is a very suggestive itinerary, which will allow you to cross the golden hills and wavy lines of California, with the chain of California in the background Sierra Nevada, which gets closer and closer as you continue along the path. The golden hills (especially those in the Pacheco Pass area) are a typical Californian imagery, which helped to consolidate their mythology, and driving through them is thrilling.
In the second part of the itinerary you will have the opportunity to stop at Butterfly, a really interesting town as it still retains evident traces of its past from Far West. Here you can also stop by the visitor center to gather information about Yosemite Park and all the attractions in the surrounding area.
Which soundtrack is best suited?
A real on the road loses a lot of its taste without the right music, personally a similar landscape made me think of 2 songs above all:
Take it easy degli Eagles
Ramblin’ Man della Allman Brothers Band
And the surprise stage?
Right! The surprise stage. Did you know that fruit (both fresh and dried) in California is of great quality? Well, if you want to test the natural products of the Golden State, know that, just under an hour from Monterey, on the right, you will find the Fruit House.
What is that? A huge open country resale with an impressive assortment of natural products: fruit, dried fruit (never seen so many and varied in my life), caramelized apples, sauces, fruit chocolates. jams, honeys and all kinds of foodstuffs. You can taste everything (just ask the staff!)
The Tour
From Highway 1 you must take the CA-156 East and follow it up to the county of Santa Clara, where you will take the CA-152 (shortly after stop at Fruit House). Return to the same road and follow it for 55 miles. Then take the CA-59 (for about twenty miles) and then the CA-140, which will take you directly to Butterfly, collect some maps at the visitor center continue towards Yosemite National Park.
Does it seem too complicated? Here is the interactive map.
