Well, it's a long, steep climb up into the mountains to get to any giant sequoia grove, and then a long steep descent to get back on the road to Valencia. It would turn a 6 hour drive into a ~10 to12 hour drive (if you want to get out of your car at Sequoia NP).

Not something I'd want to do in a single day. If you could take a day from somewhere else and stay and the park I think it would be more enjoyable.

The trees there are much bigger than those at Muir Woods, and just as tall, so it's a tough decision.

Thanks for your replies!

Belomiser - Thanks for the info. What I meant by "Worth it" was it a BIG difference from the redwoods. I do realize that it is very much to do. We might, might be able to do 11 days but probably not. Would you recommend doing a trip just to North or South California or would you do a specific city in this time span? We'll definitely review our route down from SF. I also am musing over the questions as you mentioned

Bayatuning - Knowing that climbing info, we will definately have to look at how we get to (if we go) the Sequoias. We might be able to squeeze a day from SD by removing Sea World (possibly).

Once again thank you both for your input!

Everyone has a different travel style so there is no one size fits all. Some make their trip to Ca -- once in a lifetime and want to do it all. Others like to spend more time in certain areas and not rush through it. You are going to be doing 600 miles of driving without detour. Personally with 10 days I would do just NorCal or SoCal and take time to see the area.

With Norcal SF, Monterey/Carmel and Yosemite with perhaps a trip to Six Flags since you are interested in it (this is the Vallejo)

With just SoCal, You could do SEKI and then Valencia, La and then San Diego.

As far as Coastal Redwoods v/s Giant Sequoias go, there is a lot more to see in Yosemite or SEKI than just the trees and it is an amazing National Park -- both actually. Muir woods is a 1-2 hour vist so one cannot really compare the two areas. I am not a person who stays trees are trees and parks are parks -- each has its own charm. If I had time I would do SEKI or Yosemite

Ten Days = Nine Nights. 2 days SF, 2 days Six Flags, 3 days L.A., 3 days San Diego

Day 1 Fly into SFO. Transfer to SF. Jet lagged.

Day 2 SF

Day 3 SF

Day 4 Boring 350 mile drive down I-5 to Valencia.

Day 5 Six Flags

Day 6 Six Flags

Day 7 Drive to L.A.

Day 8 L.A.

Day 9 L.A.

Day 10 Drive 2 hrs to San Diego

Day 11 San Diego

Day 12 San Diego

Day 13 Fly home

=================

I just don't see how you can do the things you've already planned in your limited time. It just doesn't work!

Use Google Images to see Coastal Redwoods and Giant Sequoias.

If you really only have ten days, try SFO - SF (3 n, pick up rental car when you leave) - Yosemite Valley (1 n) - {exit via South Entrance to see Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias} Valencia (1 n, visit Six Flags for ONE day only) - L.A. (3 n) - San Diego (2 n) - SAN or LAX

Have you already purchased airline tickets? Did you look at the one way drop fee for the rental car?

One more idea ... with only ten days, most folks would choose *either* SFO - SF - Yosemite - Monterey - SFO or LAX - L.A. - Six Flags - San Diego - LAX The Top Questions and Itineraries in the upper right have good info.

Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoias are completely different (though related) trees. To me, the sequoias are more impressive - they're huge at ground level, and a gorgeous cinnamon color. Plus, I love that Sequoia/Kings Canyon is so uncrowded. But other people are blown away by the immense height of coast redwoods. However, as has been pointed out, the mountains are a significant detour out of your way.

Yes, the giant sequoias are amazing! The base/trunk at ground level alone is jaw-dropping. People are just little specks next to them. Really something to see. But we each have our own preference. I'd take trees over Six Flags in a heartbeat, but that's just me.

Ok after reading all of these posts, I think what we're going to try and do is just hit the highlights (ish) of each city for now. Perhaps we'll come back later and do another Norcal trip since this trip will be mostly to the south. What we're going to try and do is fly into SF and stay just long enough to see the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz on a 1 hour harbor cruise. Then we are going to drive SW to Sequoia National Park and stay for 2 days (1/2 day driving, 1 day seeing (what we can), 1/2 day driving south). After that we are going to drive down to Valencia for 2 days and then spend the remaining 5 days between LA and SD. We are currently looking at both cities and trying to trim our things-to-do down in order to condense them into 5 days (3 at LA and 2 at SD or vice versa). Now then (lol), does anyone have any recommendations/precautions about the drive to SNP from SF or any advice on what to do at SNP other than sequoias? Thanks in advance for your replies!

Here is the direct link to the Sequoia - Kings Canyon NP forum page: tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g143050-i904 and here is the NPS Plan Your Visit page: nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/index.htm