San Francisco to Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a favorite weekend getaway destination for many people from the San Francisco Bay Area. Most people just drive straight to Tahoe with a gas stop and perhaps a food stop, but there’s plenty of interesting things along the way!
So whether you’re going to Tahoe for skiing at Squaw Valley, hiking in the beautiful mountains, or relaxing on the lake, here are some of my favorite stops along the way to Tahoe.
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Check out:
Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield
I’m sure you’ve had some Jelly Belly jelly beans before and thought they were fun and delicious! So why not stop by their factory in Fairfield for a free tour to see how they’re made?
If that doesn’t pique your interest, there’s several pieces of art entirely made of Jelly Belly jelly beans such as portraits of Benjamin Franklin, John Wayne, Martin Luther King Jr, Ronald Reagan, and other famous people.
At the end of the tour, everyone gets a free bag of jelly beans!
If you’re hungry, you can grab some jelly bean shaped burgers, pizzas, sandwiches, and more at the Jelly Belly Cafe.
UC Davis Arboretum, Davis
A beautiful green space occupying over 100 acres and maintained by the University of California Davis, this lovely park has a large choice of ever changing flora, birds, and other local fauna to explore.
In fact, there are over 22,000 trees and plants here arranged to represent different geographical areas and plant groupings.
It’s free to visit the park but on weekdays there is a $9 charge for parking.
In N Out, Davis
They say you’re either an In N Out or a Five Guys fan when it comes to burgers. I’ve tried both chains many times and you can count me squarely in the In N Out corner. It’s hard to beat a freshly made Double Double Animal Style with extra lettuce/tomatoes for only $3.45! I love the crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, special sauce, sautéed onions combined with the expertly cooked meat patties with melting cheese!
Add in a milkshake and you’re golden!
You might like:
Toads Hollow, Davis
If you like quirky roadside discoveries, this one is definitely for you.
Basically, back in 1995 concerned locals created a ‘frog tunnel’ so frogs could cross safely underneath the highway. It’s decorated complete with a couple of houses to resemble a small town, aptly named ’Toads Hollow’.
It’s not clear if frogs are still using the tunnel since birds seem to have taken a liking to the tunnel, but it’s a cool story!
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento
If you’re driving through Sacramento, you must stop to see the grandeur of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The elegant clock tower is built in Italian Renaissance style while the inside architecture is simply stunning.
Admission is free with masses held daily in English, Chinese, and Spanish.
There are also free guided tours after the morning mass on Wednesday and Sunday.
South, Sacramento
One of the best Southern Food joints in the area - locals can’t get enough of their amazing fried chicken with it’s crispy coating and juicy insides. Also try the Nashville hot chicken sandwich, cheesy grits, and po-boy sandwiches. Totally worth stopping in Sacramento for!
Ikedas Pies, Auburn
Achieving legendary roadside status for having some of the best pies, you really have to stop to try one of the 17 freshly baked pies they have on offer at Ikeda’s. Most of the fillings are from their own orchards or local farms nearby. The hardest part is first picking which pie flavor to get and then whether to get a slice or a whole pie!
Check out:
Foresthill Bridge, Auburn
One of the tallest bridges in California at 750 feet high, it’s worth checking out this interesting piece of architecture that not people know about.
I recommend driving across the bridge and then pulling on the side of the road so you can walk onto the bridge to experience the scale of it. After that, you can scamper off to the side and check out the bridge from right below.
Yankee Jims Bridge, Colfax
Built in 1930 with a nice swimming hole right below - this is a unique piece of Americana named after a famous horse bandit.
The bridge is sort of janky and makes all sorts of creaking sounds when crossing. If you’re brave enough, you can drive across the bridge as long as your car is under 3 tons.
Fair warning, you’ll have to drive thru a one lane dirt road for about 3 miles to get here from the highway. You’ll also need to drive across the bridge to park. Definitely an adventure!
Make sure to download the offline map of the area because I lost reception halfway in!
Apple Hill, Placerville
An area full of apple orchards and pumpkin patches - Apple Hill has several great orchards to pick from!
High Hill Ranch has a great apple cider milkshake, a seasonal pumpkin patch, and pony rides.
Abel’s Apple Acres is famous for its homemade candies and baked goods.
Boa Vista Orchards has apple picking, apple wines, pumpkin patches, and a delicious tri-tip sandwich at the on site restaurant.
Larsen Apple Barn is one of the oldest ranches in the area and is famous for its delicious apple dumplings and Apple Hill Cake.
Horsetail Falls Trail
A gorgeous hike that’s worth stopping for if you have the time, Horsetail Falls Trail is a quite popular 3.1 mile out and back moderate hike. Along the way to the waterfall, you’ll see so much gorgeous scenery!
You’ll want to park at the Pyramid Creek trailhead which has flush toilets and running water.
Once here you can take the abbreviated hike by taking the Pyramid Creek Loop Trail or do the full hike via the Pyramid Creek Trail that branches off towards the Wilderness Boundary. If you do the second option, note that at times you’ll be scrambling over granite and once you get to the waterfall, just turn back.
