first backpacking trip spot recommendations

This summer I'd like to take my two older girls (ages 9, 11)backpacking.  It would be a long weekend (Thur afternoon through Monday).  Ideally it would be a short circuit or a few miles from where I park to a nice sport as home base to use for day hikes.  Higher elevation lakes (swiming holes) with fish a big plus. 

I'm also playing with the idea of packing my 2 year old in as well.  I figure a short hike to base camp would make that doable. 

Thanks in advance for the recs.
Nate

I like Emigrant gap. Many trails and ponds in this area..

Emigrant wilderness out of Kennedy meadows.

Check out the Grouse Ridge area near where 20 hits 80 before Truckee. Lindsey lake is at the end of the road and would make a very close base camp. The Grouse Ridge area is full of lakes with fishing possibilities.

Now that I looked at the map I'm thinking I might have started at Carr Feeley lakes area.

Not in the mountains but Tomales has some great hike in spots. I meant to say Point Reyes.

+1 on Emigrant Wilderness, though some 5 mile hikes could be a bit challenging for 2 yo (i.e. his/her carrier).

Bear Lake (https://goo.gl/maps/zH7zFYYEGoD2) is a pretty easy hike (3.5 miles I think), my then 9 yo girl made it w/o any problems (after I halved her backpack ), not terribly steep either. But - because of this it will likely be packed.

Check out the Grouse Ridge area near where 20 hits 80 before Truckee. Lindsey lake is at the end of the road and would make a very close base camp. The Grouse Ridge area is full of lakes with fishing possibilities.

+1 on this idea, If you started at the Carr Lake trailhead you could camp at feeley or island lakes depending on how far you wanted to hike. Day trip to milk, round, downey,long. Milk has beautiful rainbows, island has lots of little brookies. My final destination that trip was glacier lake. Just don't leave vaulables in car when I went a few years back I was warned of breakins at the trailhead, but I guess that goes for anywhere these days.

Pic of milk lake


Pic of Island Lake


Little Brookie

when's the best time in the summer to go to these places?

Skyline to the sea trail?  Many bugout points, could be as much car camping as it is backpacking, but you could also go seriously off script as the trail permits much exploration.  Its been pretty lush in the hills and you could practically just sleep in the stix 4 rill.  This year, Berry Falls will be pumping serious volume.  no fishing tho.  ppl hump the whole trail in 3 days.

http://www.redwoodhikes.com/BigBasin/S-to-S.html

here's a list

http://www.sfgate.com/outdoors/article/Northern-California-s-top-50-places-for-camping-7393944.php

 Since Santa hooked my 8 year old (9 in June) daughter up with a ton of backpacking gear,, we plan on doing her first pack in trip this summer.. So stoked.
 We plan on hitting May lake in Yosemite. Short 1.2 mile hike in that is mostly flat. From there we will set up camp,,explore, fish, and just chill. Might give Mt. Hoffman a run for the money.
 Really can't go wrong with Yosemite in my opinion.

This was my first backpacking trip, and was my daughter's as well.

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/lake-aloha-hike
https://www.theoutbound.com/lake-tahoe/backpacking/backpacking-trip-to-lake-aloha

Desolation wilderness feels like being in a "real" mountain range...all rocks and such. 
The lake is awesome...

when's the best time in the summer to go to these places?

for the sierras anyway my opinion is to go in late summer early fall to avoid masses of mosquitos and the tourists for that matter But really once the snow melts, its game on! Go when you can as many times as you can, with all the suggestions listed you could start on the coast now and work your way uphill as the months progress!!!

I've hiked in to Penner Lake a couple times. The trail starts at Lindsey Lake or was it Carr Feeley. People car camp there by hauling their gear in from the parking lot but you could backpack camp also. As you hike the four miles or so to Penner lake you go by several spots next to other lakes along the trail. It's national forest so pretty much anywhere you can find room you can camp. Below is a link to a map showing the trails and lakes in the non-wheeled vehicle area. Below that is a link to some photos from Penner Lake.

http://www.truckee-travel-guide.com/support-files/grousemap.pdf

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjC2mCzS

Another spot is White Rock Lake. You can drive in with high clearance. Some of the camps can only be reached with a 4x4 and you can hike to them. The PCT crosses the road a mile or less from the lake. You could hike the Pacific Crest Trail as a day hike in either direction. The camp site is nothing but a fire ring.