photoSIG's Northern California Trip 2009
San Francisco, Yosemite, Mono Lake, Bodie, and the California coast.

Next summer, you're invited to spend 10 days with other photoSIG members, visiting some of Northern California's most photogenic locations and — most of all — having lots of fun!

In previous years, we have made similar trips with small groups of people. We have found that the more diverse the group, the more everyone gets out of the experience. With that in mind, here is what we're doing to make 2009 the best trip yet:

Participants who are new to photography are encouraged to take advantage of this trip as a great way to learn from more experienced shooters. Bring along your significant other, this will be experience you'll always remember. Because lodging in and around the National Parks fills up quickly, you're strongly encouraged to sign up early. Just leave a reply below, and we'll add you to the list.

Locations

San Francisco

We begin our trip in San Francisco. San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination famous for its landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown, its steep rolling hills, and its eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. The city is also known for its diverse, cosmopolitan population. Official website.

Points of interest

Mono Lake

Next, we will travel 5-6 hours to Lee Vinings, on the edge of Mono Lake. Located in California's spectacular Eastern Sierra, Mono Lake is an oasis in the dry Great Basin and a vital habitat for millions of migratory and nesting birds. For 30 years the Mono Lake Committee has been working to protect Mono Lake from destruction, to heal the damage done in the Mono Basin, and to educate the public about the natural environment and wise water use. Official website.

Bodie

From Lee Vinings, it's a short day trip to Bodie... A town frozen in time. An original ghost town from the late 1800's, at one time there was reported to be 65 saloons in town. Amongst the saloons were numerous brothels and 'houses of ill repute', gambling halls and opium dens. Needless to say there was entertainment for every taste. Bodie stands today in a state of "arrested decay". Official website.

Yosemite

Yosemite National Park, one of the first wilderness parks in the United States, is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. Official website.

Points of interest

California Coast

For those who are interested in extending the trip just a bit longer, consider exploring some of the California coastline with us. We'll take a leisurely and relaxed 3 days to follow the Pacific Coast Highway from San Francisco to Los Angeles without an itinerary, just stopping whenever we get the urge to take some photos.

More photos

Points of interest

Tentative Itinerary (specific locations TBD) June 19-29 2009

Date Sunrise 5-8am
(sun rises between 5:47 and 5:50am)		 Breakfast 8-9am Day/Lunch 10am-5pm Dinner 5-7pm Sunset 7-9pm
(sun sets between 8:34 and 8:35pm)		 Night 9pm Lodging
Fri Jun 19 travel to San Francisco SF SF
Sat Jun 20 SF photoSIG meetup dinner in SF SF SF
Sun Jun 21 SF SF SF
Mon Jun 22 SF drive to Lee Vining, lunch enroute ~6 hours
 Mono Lake Mono Lake Lakeview Lodge
Tue Jun 23 Mono Lake Bodie Bodie Lakeview Lodge
Wed Jun 24 Bodie Mono Lake Mono Lake Lakeview Lodge
Thu Jun 25 Mono Lake drive from Lee Vining to Yosemite hotel ~2 hours Yosemite Yosemite
Fri Jun 26 Yosemite Yosemite Yosemite
Sat Jun 27 Yosemite Yosemite Yosemite
Sun Jun 28 Yosemite Yosemite Yosemite
Mon Jun 29 Yosemite drive to SF ~5 hours, return home
Tue Jun 30++ California Coast

Map

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More info

sun and moon calendar courtesy sunrisesunset.com

Previous photoSIG Trips