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.
Inferred trip shape: SFO Aug 10 → Yosemite Aug 11–13 → San Francisco/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.
  • Aug 10 lodging not provided yet — add hotel/address.

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.
  • Backup: more Valley time or Hetch Hetchy if conditions/energy point that way.

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.
  • If driving from Yosemite this morning, it is tight — leave very early and have a parking/rideshare plan.
  • 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
  • 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 11–?The AhwahneeYosemite Valley hotelAdd hotel confirmation
Aug 12Mountain Room dinnerYosemite Valley Lodge · 5:15 PM · table for 4 · Leslie Milano234356
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.

  • Where are you staying Aug 10?
  • Exact Ahwahnee check-in/check-out dates and confirmation number.
  • Are you driving Yosemite → SF on Aug 14 morning, or already near SF?
  • Where are you staying Aug 14–17?
  • 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