climbing honeymoon in Yosemite next week - Plan B options?

An East Coast climber friend was planning to climb in Yosemite with his new bride on their honeymoon. He and I have spent some time in Yosemite but nowhere else in CA. They have tickets to SF for this coming Monday so wondering if I could get suggestions for alternatives (within reasonable driving distance - call it 8 hours) in the event that the shutdown continues? They aren't so into bouldering and I don't think she can second much more than 5.8 or 9.
Just some ideas for where to look would be appreciated. I'm sure he is already trying to figure it out as well, but he's also moving and prepping for the wedding.
Thanks.

Look up Tahoe vicinity here in MP. Since it's a honeymoon they can get a nice cabin and do all kinds of things on top of climbing.

You have Lovers Leap which is only 3 hours from SF/next to tahoe and all the other different crags in the area.

Forget California and come to Mexico.

magicedspotrerochico.com

Forget climbing - it's a honeymoon, do something like exploring wine country by bike. Sounds like it was ' his' idea of honeymoon anyway...

check out the eastern sierras. there are a ton of moderate climbs and ridge traverses that will put them on some pretty sweet summits. i went down to lone pine and poached mt whitney and russell over the weekend, no rangers in sight.

tell them to check these out

peaks

mt whitney: east butt-5.7
mt russell: fishhook arete-5.8/9
mt humphreys: e arete-5.5
temple crag: venusian blind-5.7 or moon goddess arete-5.8
bear creek spire: n arete-5.8
matterhorn peak: n arete-5.7

traverses

thunderbolt to sill traverse-5.9
sawtooth traverse-5.8
minaret traverse-5.9 (not too sure about access)

Definitely hit up Lake Tahoe or the Bishop area, PLENTY of options!

The Needles and Dome Rock are beautiful and there are many multi pitch routes in that range (though a bit burly)

For a shorter approach, Calaveras and Hammer Dome are wonderful with many nice secluded camping spots (make sure they rent a higher clearance car if they're renting)

Forget about making a honeymoon into a climbing trip. This is a once an a lifetime opportunity to do something special together. Napa Valley would be fun.

Don't make the mistake we made: My wife went on a month long cycling trip around the country and I went to Alaska to climb!

Thanks for the suggestions all. (I've sent him a link to this forum)

doligo wrote:Forget climbing - it's a honeymoon, do something like exploring wine country by bike. Sounds like it was ' his' idea of honeymoon anyway...

This was my wife's view when I proposed the Dolomites for our honeymoon - we ended up in Kauai, Although I did get an hour of bouldering in while there... ;-)

Get a cabin at Sorenson's for a few days. Do day trips to Lover's Leap, Carson Pass (hiking) and Lake Tahoe (rent sea kayaks). Visit Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville. Also have an amazing dinner at the Stonefly restaurant in Markleeville.

sorensensresort.com/
mountainproject.com/v/lover…
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=508
stoneflyrestaurant.com/Site…

ze_dirtbag wrote:check out the eastern sierras. there are a ton of moderate climbs and ridge traverses that will put them on some pretty sweet summits. i went down to lone pine and poached mt whitney and russell over the weekend, no rangers in sight. tell them to check these out peaks mt whitney: east butt-5.7 mt russell: fishhook arete-5.8/9 mt humphreys: e arete-5.5 temple crag: venusian blind-5.7 or moon goddess arete-5.8 bear creek spire: n arete-5.8 matterhorn peak: n arete-5.7 traverses thunderbolt to sill traverse-5.9 sawtooth traverse-5.8 minaret traverse-5.9 (not too sure about access)

All great options but I would not recommend them for an out of town couple on their honeymoon in October - one good storm and they could be honey-popsicles.

My suggestion would be to drive the coast and find some nice hikes with B&Bs near by.

Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville ?

Dome Rock ?

The town of Bishop ?

These are all weekend warrior status suggestions , not Honeymoon , 'let's start our new life together in paradise' type suggestions .

Of all the info here , I'd second a couple of days in Napa during harvest , maybe a night or two in the City (San Fran.) , and maybe a night or two in Carmel / Big Sur .

I think Dome Rock/the Needles is a little far given that there isn't really anything easy in the Needles with just a couple of suggestions and the only thing on Dome Rock of that grade is the Tree Route, again with a few exceptions. Everything else is harder and runout. I love that area--great hiking, biking, Sequoias, but a little far for only a few routes in your range.

Personally, I'd have to agree with everyone else recommending a non climbing trip. Napa, Big Sur, the Redwoods, etc. Santa Barbara would be great but way too far from SF. When my wife and I got married, we had the cash and money to go to Italy for three weeks (including the Dolomites) which, in retrospect, I'm really glad we did. You won't get that many opportunities to take that much time off and spend that much quality alone time with your spouse. Do it before life, work, kids, intervene.

vincent L. wrote:Grover Hot Springs in Markleeville ? Dome Rock ? The town of Bishop ? These are all weekend warrior status suggestions , not Honeymoon , 'let's start our new life together in paradise' type suggestions . Of all the info here , I'd second a couple of days in Napa during harvest , maybe a night or two in the City (San Fran.) , and maybe a night or two in Carmel / Big Sur .

I was married on Dome Rock...but would never recommend it for a honeymoon destination. Also, the thought of a honeymoon in Bishop makes me shudder...and I love the East Side.

The Tahoe area may be a good option. Plenty of beautiful climbing, hiking, swimming, and chilling-by-a-pretty-creek-or-lake type destinations within a short distance.

I also like the above recommendation for Big Sur (and the northern CA coastline). Beautiful area.