Things To Do In Northern California
I’ve been lucky enough to live in San Francisco since 2010 and want to share all my favorite spots for things to do in Northern California:
Table of Contents
Yosemite
One of the most beautiful national parks in America, this is at the top of any list of places to visit in California. You’ll be able to pick from sweeping vistas, surging waterfalls, lush redwoods, and serene lakes when you visit Yosemite.
The best time to visit is late May/early June when the waterfalls are in full force and there are less visitors. Fall is a great time as well with perfect temperatures and less crowds as well. The summer swells with people during peak season, but if you can still find relative peace and quiet amongst the less popular trails.
Highlights include:
Sentinel Dome Trail
Taft Point Loop
Tunnel View
Glacier Point
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
Half Dome
Cooks Meadow Loop
Tenaya Lake Trail
If you can stay inside the park, do it. The park is ginormous, so if you stay outside the park boundaries, you’ll find yourself driving an hour to get to the trailhead.
San Francisco
My home for the past 11 years, the ‘City by the Bay’ is an interesting mix of art, culture, beautiful architecture, Silicon Valley techies, breathtaking views, and of course an amazing food scene.
I’ve made a fantastic 3 day itinerary and guide to San Francisco here.
When you visit will definitely impact your time in San Francisco.
San Francisco doesn’t have to be expensive - here’s my best picks for cheap eats.
There are also so many amazing hikes in the city and nearby.
You also need to get over to Battery Spencer for the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Napa & Sonoma
Wine Country is a beautiful area just north of San Francisco, with the two largest regions being Napa and Sonoma. Full of picturesque vineyards, delicious restaurants, and farmer’s markets - this is a foodie and wine lover’s paradise.
My tip is to start with Sonoma, which is less popular than Napa but has just as many highly rated wineries.
Highlights:
Scribe Winery
Glen Ellen Star
Landmark Vineyards
Yeti
Then you can head over to Napa and explore from there.
Highlights:
Castello di Amorosa
Chateau Montelena
Comaine Carneros
Inglenook
Boon Fly Cafe
Ciccio
Miminashi
Big Sur
A road trip on Highway One through Big Sur is a must do for any road trip fan. You’ll encounter some of the world’s most beautiful coastlines and jaw dropping views. Along the way there are many interesting stops and towns you can stay the night.
Mendocino
From the coastal views to the jaw dropping bluffs, Mendocino is a beautiful jewel along the coastline that is well worth a weekend or two to explore.
Highlights:
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse
Fern Canyon
Wineries
Hot Springs
Ukiah
Point Reyes & Marin
I’ve spent many day trips from San Francisco exploring the beautiful area of Point Reyes. There are so many things to see including the famous Cypress Tree Tunnel, the shipwreck, the famous lighthouse, Hog Island Oyster Company, and so many stunning hikes.
Lake Tahoe
A great place for all seasons - Lake Tahoe is where many Californians go to escape their urban digs. It has world class skiing/snowboarding and all the warm weather activities during the summer.
For winter sports I love Northstar and Kirkwood.
In the summer you can choose from rock climbing, kayaking, parasailing, mountain biking, and swimming. Here is a great guide for summer in Tahoe.
Russian River
Just a few hours from San Francisco, Russian River is full of outdoor activities, wineries, and relaxing glamping options.
Highlights:
Tubing/Kayaking down the Russian River
Russian River Brewing Company
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Glamping
Lassen Volcanic National Park
An underrated national park full of interesting geological formations - this gem offers stunning blue lakes, jaw dropping mountain views, geysers, volcanic fields, and spring meadows. You can easily spend 3-5 days here exploring the park. Since it’s a bit under the radar, you’ll most likely have the park to yourself as well!
Sierra National Forest
Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park are famous for their redwood and sequoia trees, vast and raw wilderness, and amazing beauty.
Spring and summer yields beautiful blooms and raging waterfalls while fall reveals the fall foliage colors. Winter has its own beauty here but you’ll encounter many closed roads during this time.
The great thing about these parks is they get much less traffic than nearby Yosemite Park.
Glass Beach
This beach is full of glass rocks that have been softened from years of the ocean waves crashing into them. The glass is actually from broken bottles from a nearby dump that got washed ashore over many years! The beach is slowly disappearing, however from tourists who illegally collect pieces of glass when they visit.
Humboldt State Park
This is the worlds largest group of standing redwoods and includes the Avenue of the Giants. You can drive through the whole thing in your car but we suggest getting out every now and then to smell the pine air and walk amongst these giants.
The best time to visit is spring or fall to avoid the crowds.
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
If you like gigantic trees, Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the place to go! The giant sequoias here are literally the largest living things on the planet and live up to 3,000 years!
The biggest tree in the park is called Louis Agassiz with a diameter of 25 feet!
Unfortunately, in the 19th century, they cut down about 1/3 of the trees here - with some most likely larger than the current giants.
Devils Postpile
This bizarre basalt column structure is actually a natural formation caused by lava flow and glaciers from a long time ago. It’s even crazier when you see it in person!
The easiest way to get here is to catch the shuttle from Mammoth Lakes into the park. From there, take the 2.5 mile trail to Rainbow Falls.