California · Aug 10–17, 2026 · Yosemite + SF + Mill Valley

The Milano California field guide.

Flights, car, Yosemite, Alcatraz, wedding weekend, confirmations, packing, and the “don’t forget this before you leave” layer — in one shareable page.

Timezone wrinkle: the wedding calendar snippets show Eastern Time, but the events are in Mill Valley, California. Confirm the true Pacific times on WithJoy or with the couple before planning rides/meals.
Trip shape: SFO Aug 10 → Beach House Half Moon Bay Aug 10–11 → Yosemite / Ahwahnee Aug 11–13 → Muir Woods Bungalow Aug 13–17 → Alcatraz Aug 14 → Mill Valley wedding weekend Aug 15–16 → SFO Aug 17.

Day-by-day itinerary

The backbone. Unknown hotel gaps are intentionally visible so they can be filled in later.

Monday, Aug 10 — Fly to San Francisco

UA 1147IAD 8:35 AM ET → SFO 11:19 AM PTSeats 46A/B/C/D
  • Pick up Fox rental car at 435 South Airport Blvd around 11:30 AM; flight arrival makes this tight, so expect some slop.
  • Car: Kia Sportage or similar, $447.02 due at pickup, itinerary #73490991597200.
  • Hotel: Beach House Hotel Half Moon Bay, Ocean View Junior Suite, confirmation #1084032710. Check-in after 4 PM.
  • Address: 4100 N Cabrillo Highway, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019. Phone: 650-712-0220.

Tuesday, Aug 11 — Drive to Yosemite / The Ahwahnee

Target arrival: ~2 PMHot midday arrivalSoft evening
  • Before entering: gas up, buy groceries/snacks/water, download maps, confirm Yosemite pass, and keep non-drowsy motion-sickness meds easy to reach.
  • At Ahwahnee: ask about parking/valet, shuttle stop, food storage, dining setup.
  • Evening: Ahwahnee grounds/lobby, Yosemite Village, easy valley walk, golden-hour viewpoint if energy allows.

Wednesday, Aug 12 — Yosemite Valley active day

Mountain Room 5:15 PMConfirmation #234356Table for 4
  • Morning: Mist Trail to Vernal Fall; continue toward Nevada Fall only if heat/energy allow.
  • Afternoon: bike/shuttle the Valley, Merced River cooldown, El Capitan climbers with binoculars.
  • Dinner: Yosemite Valley Lodge Mountain Room, reservation under Leslie Milano.

Thursday, Aug 13 — Yosemite choice day

Default: Mariposa + GlacierSwap: Tioga high country
  • Default: Mariposa Grove / Wawona / Glacier Point for sequoias and the biggest viewpoint.
  • Swap: Tioga Road / Tuolumne Meadows / Tenaya Lake if open and high country matters more.
  • Transition: Muir Woods Bungalow check-in is 3 PM at 538 Shoreline Highway, A, Mill Valley. Lockbox code arrives the day before.

Friday, Aug 14 — San Francisco / Alcatraz

Alcatraz 12:30 PMPier 33Confirm #i82269107 / 82269105
  • Arrive at Pier 33 by 12:00 PM or earlier for boarding/security.
  • Since the Airbnb starts Aug 13 in Mill Valley, use Mill Valley as the base and plan parking/rideshare/transit to Pier 33.
  • Official tour includes ferry and Cellhouse Audio Tour.

Saturday, Aug 15 — Welcome party

The Junction Beer GardenDressy casualConfirm Pacific time
  • Venue: 226 Shoreline Hwy / CA-1, Mill Valley, CA 94941.
  • Calendar shows 9 PM–1 AM Eastern; likely needs Pacific-time confirmation.
  • Keep daytime lighter: Sausalito, Mill Valley brunch, Golden Gate viewpoint, or Muir Woods if reserved.

Sunday, Aug 16 — Wedding day

Outdoor Art ClubSummer formalNo whites
  • Venue: One West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941.
  • Outdoor ceremony followed by indoor reception.
  • Calendar shows 6 PM–12:30 AM Eastern; confirm the true Pacific event time.

Monday, Aug 17 — Fly home

Car return noonUA 1791SFO 2:00 PM PT → IAD 10:19 PM ET
  • Checkout from Muir Woods Bungalow by 11:00 AM.
  • Return Fox rental car by 12:00 PM.
  • Build in time for fuel, car return, terminal transfer, bag check, and security.
  • Seats: 35A/35B/36A/36B.

Reservation quick reference

The “standing at the counter with one bar of service” table.

DateItemDetailsConfirmation
Aug 10United IAD → SFOUA 1147 · 8:35 AM ET → 11:19 AM PT · Boeing 777-200Seats 46C, 46D, 46B, 46A
Aug 10–17Fox rental carKia Sportage or similar · 435 South Airport Blvd · $447.02 due pickup73490991597200
Aug 10–11Beach House Hotel Half Moon BayOcean View Junior Suite · 4100 N Cabrillo Highway · check-in after 4 PM / checkout before 11 AM · total $459.611084032710
Aug 11–?The AhwahneeYosemite Valley hotelAdd hotel confirmation
Aug 12Mountain Room dinnerYosemite Valley Lodge · 5:15 PM · table for 4 · Leslie Milano234356
Aug 13–17Muir Woods Bungalow Airbnb538 Shoreline Highway, A, Mill Valley · check-in Aug 13 at 3 PM / checkout Aug 17 at 11 AM · 2 adults, 2 childrenLockbox code emailed day before arrival
Aug 14Alcatraz Day Tour12:30 PM · Pier 33 Alcatraz Landingi82269107 / 82269105
Aug 15Welcome partyThe Junction Beer Garden · Mill Valley · dressy casualConfirm Pacific time
Aug 16WeddingThe Outdoor Art Club · Mill Valley · summer formal · no whitesConfirm Pacific time
Aug 17United SFO → IADUA 1791 · 2:00 PM PT → 10:19 PM ET · Boeing 737 MAX 9Seats 35B, 36B, 36A, 35A

Pre-trip checklist

Check boxes persist locally in your browser. They won’t sync between devices, but they will behave nicely on this one.

Documents

Yosemite / car

Wedding

Yosemite 3-day strategy

Compressed from the transcript-backed Yosemite guide.

Day 1: Soft arrival

Ahwahnee, Yosemite Village, easy valley walk, golden hour. Do not attempt to “win Yosemite” after a SF drive.

Check inHydrate

Day 2: Classic Valley

Mist Trail early, bike/shuttle the valley, Merced River cooldown, Mountain Room dinner at 5:15 PM.

Mist TrailDinner

Day 3: Choose

Default Mariposa Grove/Wawona/Glacier Point. Swap for Tuolumne/Tenaya if high-country scenery wins.

SequoiasGlacier Point

San Francisco / Alcatraz

The big fixed item is Aug 14 at 12:30 PM.

Alcatraz logistics
  • Departure is Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing, not Pier 39.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early; target 12:00 PM or earlier.
  • Ticket includes round-trip ferry and Cellhouse Audio Tour.
  • Parking is limited/expensive; rideshare/transit is often easier.
If coming from Yosemite that morning
  • This is tight. Leave very early.
  • Have a clear plan for parking or dropping people/bags.
  • If possible, sleep closer to SF the night before.

Wedding weekend

Mill Valley events, with the timezone caveat front and center.

Welcome Party · Aug 15

The Junction Beer Garden
226 Shoreline Hwy / CA-1, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Dress code: dressy casual. Calendar shows 9 PM–1 AM Eastern; confirm intended Pacific time.

Wedding · Aug 16

The Outdoor Art Club
One West Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Outdoor ceremony + indoor reception. Dress code: summer formal; no whites. Confirm intended Pacific time.

Open questions

Small holes to fill so the guide becomes operational instead of merely handsome.

  • Exact Ahwahnee check-in/check-out dates and confirmation number.
  • Confirm welcome party and wedding times in Pacific Time.
  • Transportation plan for Mill Valley wedding events.

Useful official links: Yosemite conditions · Yosemite reservations · Alcatraz City Cruises · Alcatraz NPS info · Outdoor Art Club · The Junction