(Updated for 2023!) A lot of people visit this blog look for what to do in Northern California because I write so much about my home region (find more in the California Travel Tips). Find out what to do in Northern California in April.
You can find many suggestions for specific regions in my other “30 things to do” posts:
- What to do in Napa Valley
- What to do in the Monterey Bay area
- What to do in Lake Tahoe
- What to do in San Francisco
- What to do in Sacramento
- What to do in Sonoma County
- What to do in Mendocino County
- What to do in Lodi
- Which wineries to visit in Napa Valley?
And to save money: free things to do in Northern California, hotel deals in California, and affordable family travel ideas in Northern California
Of course this post can’t cover all the things to do in Northern California! The region is huge, and I’d need a book to cover it all, so I’ve chosen to include the places that I know well and love.
Table of Contents
Things to do on the Northern California coast
1. Hike at Bodega Head or Stornetta Public Lands
Bodega Head, a dramatic cliff that juts out into the sea, is a gorgeous place to walk and, in the winter and early spring, even watch whales. There was a whale playing in the water the day that I was there, and it was one of the most beautiful walks I had ever taken. The volunteers on site will let you know if any whales have been spotted that day. Learn more about how to spend a day in Bodega Bay.
Or try one of my favorite hikes in Northern California at near Point Arena. It’s uncrowded and offers the chance to see seals swimming in the calm waters between the rock tables.
2. See elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park
Elephant seals gather in this protected area just south of San Francisco year-round for mating, birthing, and molting. You can observe the elephant seals just about any time of the year, but the guided tour in the winter might be the best choice, especially if you want to see the huge males fighting. Find out how to make visit them here: where to see elephant seals.
3. Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes National Seashore is a peninsula that extends 10 miles out into the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. It is the best raw, rugged nature in this part of the state: dramatic cliffs, strong winds and crashing waves, elk and deer roaming the hills, and barking seals at the beaches.
The Point Reyes lighthouse sits precariously down a large staircase at the very tip of the peninsula. Winter and spring are good times to visit for whale watching and the seal viewing.
Learn more here: what to do in Point Reyes.
4. Russian Gulch State Park on the Mendocino coast
This is one of the state’s most stunning state parks. The entire Mendocino coast is worth visiting, especially if you like your scenery a bit rugged with fewer crowds. Bring a picnic lunch and eat at one of the tables with incredible views of the water, take in the scenery of the bridge and cliffside walks, and visit the Devil’s Punchbowl. Kids will love the beach, where a creek runs along the sand until it meets the sea.
Read more: What to do near Mendocino
Things to do in Northern California wine country
For more California wine country tips, check out my Napa Valley travel tips, 30 wineries in Napa Valley, and hotels deals in the wine country.
5. Cornerstone Gardens, Sonoma: What to do in Sonoma
This eclectic outdoor space just outside Sonoma consists of plots that have been designed by some of the world’s leading landscape architects. What results is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours, a nice way to break up wine tasting time, and a family-friendly stop if you have kids. Plus, Sunset Magazine now has its test gardens there.
6. The Meritage Resort & Spa: Where to stay in Napa
There are many excellent spas in Northern California. The spa at the Meritage Resort is built into a large cave just outside of the city of Napa in the southern part of Napa Valley. The gorgeous Meritage offers day-spa services plus great wine tasting at Trinitas, use of the hotel’s beautiful pool, and hiking in the hills above the spa. Looks for the lowest prices at the Meritage on Booking.com.
Insider’s tip: If you stay at the resort, ask for a room that’s not above the bowling alley. Take the hotel shuttle into town to avoid driving after dinner and wine.
7. Experience the quiet of Anderson Valley wine country near Mendocino
If the subtlety of Pinot Noir is your thing, don’t miss the quiet beauty of Anderson Valley. This narrow valley is nestled in the soft rolling hills just outside the redwood forest that leads to the rocky shores of the Mendocino coast. Wineries here are laid back –expect friendly service, very low tasting fees, and wines that reflect the cooler weather of this lesser-known wine country. Check out MendoWine for more information.
8. Road trip through Livermore Valley, Sonoma, or Alexander Valley wine country
Let yourself get lost on the small roads of Northern California wine country, especially in Sonoma, Alexander and Livermore Valleys. The hills and wineries provide the perfect scenery, which changes depending on the season.
In winter, expect bright yellow mustard growing between bare vines; in spring, expect rolling green hills; in summer, expect dry brown hills and full green vines; and in fall, expect vibrant fall colors in the vineyards.
Livermore Valley is located farther south (it’s east of the Bay Area) and offers beautiful scenery, friendly wineries, and excellent wines at places like Wente Vineyards and Murrieta’s Well.
Alexander Valley lies in the northern part of Sonoma County. Its vine-covered hills, quirky towns, and off-the-radar wineries make this area very worth exploring. It’s a wilder version of Napa Valley — much less crowded, less expensive, but just as beautiful. Try Dry Creek Road. See more of Alexander Valley here
9. Hiking in Napa Valley and Sonoma County
The wine country isn’t just about wine — the nature there is also beautiful, and there are many great areas for hiking. Look for state parks, search for hiking suggestions online for the specific place you’ll be, or ask at the tourism offices for trail information. There’s the beautiful Oat Hill Mine Trail hike in the hills just outside Calistoga in Napa Valley , or combine a hike with some history at Bale Grist Mill State Park.
10. Visit boutique wineries
Boutique wineries produce wine in small quantities. Most boutique wineries sell their wines only at the wineries or at a few local collectives or specialty shops. The wines are usually very good, and because there are only a few hundred to a few thousand cases of the wine, a certain feeling of experiencing something special comes along with the tasting.
Boutique wineries are generally smaller, friendlier, and offer a more personalized experience. If you do go to the bigger wineries, get there early and then spend the rest of the day at small wineries that will be less crowded.
Some of my favorites are the small wine tasting rooms in Downtown Napa, Blair Estate in Carmel, Bella Grace Vineyards in Sutter Creek, the wineries in Lodi like m2, Murrieta’s Well in Livermore Valley, Lula Cellars near Mendocino, Amador Cellars in Amador County, and Three Wine Co. in Clarksburg.
11. Art in unexpected places in Napa Valley
Several wineries in Napa Valley house art collections, and wineries and tasting rooms all over Northern California host art exhibits. For much more about art in Napa Valley, click here.
12. Napa Valley’s historic wineries
There are many well-known wineries in Napa Valley but for me, the best way to experience this special part of California is to dig into its history and heritage. Try Chateau Montelana, Beringer, and Robert Mondavi for some of the valley’s most important history. Plus, these wineries have beautiful gardens, impressive architecture, and fun tours.
Don’t miss the Stags Leap District, off the Silverado Trail — the history goes back to the mid-19th century when the Silverado Trail was just a quiet horse path, but the district is now known for some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon from the Napa Valley. To learn about historic vines, try Biale Vineyards, who make Zinfandel from old vines that date back to the 1880s.
13. See redwoods at Armstrong Redwood Preserve, northern Sonoma County
This state park is located north of Guerneville in Sonoma County and provides a completely different look at the nature in rural wine country. From camping to day hikes and easy family-friendly walks, this forest is a wonderful place to experience the beauty of Northern California.
Plus where to eat in Napa and Sonoma wine countries:
Oh my Lord, the food in Northern California is just amazing, and the wine country has some of the region’s best restaurants. Try Catelli’s in Geyserville, The Girl and the Fig in Sonoma, and Oenotri, Tarla Grill, ZuZu, and Grace’s Table in downtown Napa. Less expensive options include Gott’s and purveyors in the Oxbow Public Market in Downtown Napa.
Things to do in Northern California: the Bay Area
14. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, Berkeley
The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places in Northern California. Its 34 acres of plants from around the world, including rare and endangered plant species, are beautifully displayed among the hills above Berkeley. It’s also a wonderful place for children to run and explore nature.
Read more: Berkeley Botanical Garden
15. Ferry Building, San Francisco
The Ferry Building is not only the place where commuters get on and off the ferry; it’s also an indoor food market that showcases the best local food products from the San Francisco area. Stop in here to browse and grab a quick lunch or sit down for a meal–you can even take a spot outside overlooking the water.
Depending on your schedule, take a ferry to Sausalito or around the Bay, or cross the street and check out the huge fountain sculpture.
16. Museums in San Francisco
I’m a firm believer in spending as much time outside in a destination as possible, which means that even though I love art and museums, I often skip them in lieu of a long walk or slow afternoon in a cafe. Many visitors to San Francisco might not realize what they’re missing in the museums because the city has so much to see outdoors.
The world-class exhibitions at the de Young, Legion of Honor, SFMOMA, and Asian Art Museum, plus the insanely cool kid-friendly exhibits in the California Academy of Sciences and Exploratorium, are definitely worth looking into.
Read more: 30 things to do in San Francisco
Insider’s tip: Enter the de Young Museum, go directly to the right, and head for the tower elevators. Take the elevator to the viewing platform and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Then exit through the museum and take a stroll through the sculpture garden. Both are free and open to all.
Save time to hike around the Legion of Honor Museum. Just down the path from the museum are wonderful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands, especially nice at sunset.
If you plan to go to 3 or more attractions, save money by buying a pass here.
Things to do in the Sacramento area
17. UC Davis Arboretum, Davis
University of California at Davis is known around the world for its programs with plants, agriculture, and now wine and even beer making. The university’s campus in the cute college town of Davis sits about 20 minutes west of Sacramento. The arboretum’s 100 acres of gardens include plants from all over the world, divided into collections, such as Australia, the Desert, and East Asia.
Because the weather is nice here most of the year, you can spend an easy day in Davis soaking up the town’s quirky atmosphere and walking the arboretum with a picnic stop along the way.
Insider’s tip: Find out which the areas you want to visit first because unless you have a bike, you probably won’t want to walk the whole 3.5 mile loop. Visitor parking is available along the route (get a map here). The Desert areas and Redwood Grove are must-sees.
18. Sacramento restaurants, Midtown Sacramento
Sacramento has been called the Farm-to-Fork capital of the United States. This means that the food here tends to be very fresh, coming from all the farmland that surrounds the city, and that restaurants prepare menus from what’s seasonal and local. There are many good places to eat and drink, especially in Midtown, including Red Rabbit, Centro, Grange, Ella, Kru, Pushkin’s, Magpie, Hook & Ladder, and Thai Basil. Find out where to eat in Sacramento.
And Vietnamese food, Sacramento
Sacramento is home to a huge Vietnamese population, so this is a great place to try their food. Little Saigon is the center of the Vietnamese community, but you can find pho places all over town.
Because I don’t eat much meat, my favorite Vietnamese place is Andy Nguyen’s, a vegan restaurant on Broadway, alongside many good ethnic restaurants. The owner is a Buddhist and takes great care in serving cruelty-free, fresh food that honors Vietnamese traditions and health at the same time.
And breakfast in the outdoor garden of Tower Cafe, Sacramento
Tower Cafe is a fixture in Sacramento, especially loved for its lush outdoor garden and fun food. The restaurant serves an always-changing mix of globally-inspired dishes in a casual atmosphere. My favorite way to experience Tower is to come in the morning and have a slow breakfast outdoors.
The seasonal French toast is famous — custard-filled baguettes with a compote of beautiful seasonal fruits. Insider’s tip: If you go on a weekend, get there early to avoid a long wait for a table outside.
19. Sacramento’s Coffee Culture
Sacramento is one of the nation’s hottest coffee cities now with local roasters taking awards and plenty of variety to please anyone’s taste. The award-winning coffees at Temple (with three cafe locations) make it the city’s best-known coffee roaster, but other standouts include Insight Coffee, Naked Coffee and Chocolate Fish Coffee.
20. Capitol Park, Sacramento
Capitol Park, in the center of Downtown Sacramento, is one of the city’s nicer outdoor spaces. Go inside the large capitol building to see the dome and the historic rooms. Then spend time walking the park and admiring the variety of trees from all over the world as well as the rose garden and war memorials.
21. Experience farm-to-fork at farmer’s markets, Sacramento, Davis and Lodi
Most of California’s cities and towns have frequent farmers’ markets, especially in the summer when the variety of local produce will make your head spin. Sacramento has a market just about every day — get the schedule here — but make time for the Midtown Farmer’s Market with blocks of fresh local produce, artisan wares, food trucks, live music, and much more.
The farmers’ market in Davis is quite an event, complete with musicians, food stalls, art, and many different food products from the region, including great organic produce, local cheeses, and olive oil. While the Sacramento markets have a similar variety of products, the Davis market stands out because it’s a community event that is fun for the whole family. It’s open Saturdays and, in the summer, Wednesday evenings.
The market in Lodi is a big event with locally grown produce plus cheese, local wines, and small bites hosted by area restaurants. Thursday evenings in the summer in Downtown Lodi.
22. Bike the 32-mile trail
Definitely one of the best things to do in Northern California! The Sacramento area is perfect for biking because it’s flat and has good bike trails. The best trail is the American River Bike Trail that runs 32 miles from downtown Sacramento to Folsom.
There are many points where you can get on the trail and, if you don’t have a bike, you can rent one. The Nimbus Fish Hatchery makes a fun stop along the way, especially if you have kids. Visit the bike trail website here.
Things to do south of Sacramento
23. The wines of Clarksburg
Just south of Sacramento is a quiet wine country nestled in farmland along the Sacramento River. The Old Sugar Mill is an old building where you can taste wine from 10 local wineries. Tasting fees are about $5 per person, and it’s open 11-5 every day. Try the wines at Three Wine Co. and Due Vigne.
Bogle Winery is hidden down small winding roads. The atmosphere is casual and friendly, tastings are free, and the property has a nice outdoor picnic area. Friday evenings in the summer mean lots of fun with live music and people sprawled on the grass with wine and picnics. Open 11-5 daily.
24. Lodi Wine Country
Lodi wine country is one of my favorite Northern California finds. If you like wine country where tasting costs next to nothing and comes without pretension (but really good wines!), Lodi is for you. It’s home to about 100 (!) different wine varieties and many excellent California wines, including their most famous grape, Zinfandel, as well as less expected ones like Verdelho, Tempranillo, and even Cinsault.
This is a good area to experience harvest and crush (without the crowds and prices of Napa Valley). The town is a real slice of rural California valley and has several good restaurants. My recommendations are m2 Wines, McCay Cellars, Harney Lane Winery, Oak Farm Vineyards, Bokish Vineyards, plus Riaza Wines and Jeremy Wine Co. for downtown tasting rooms. Find out what to do in Lodi.
25. Go birding & See Sandhill Cranes, South of Sacramento
The valley of California is a haven for migrating birds. In late fall and winter, enormous sandhill cranes and other birds from far north settle here. Places to see birds include the Isenberg Crane Reserve near Lodi and the Cosumnes River Preserve between Sacramento and Lodi.
Things to do in Northern California: in the Sierra Nevada
26. Lassen National Park
California’s national parks can be crowded (have you been to Yosemite over Spring Break?!), but Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of the state’s lesser-known and less crowded parks. There are several places to camp in Lassen: the most convenient choice is Manzanita Lake, which also has new rustic cabins. Note that the park gets cold at night as early as September, so plan your camping accordingly.
While at Lassen, do the Cinder Cone (above) and Lassen Peak hikes to learn first-hand about geology and see stunning views.
27. Eat at Trokay Restaurant, Truckee
28. Go hiking in the Sierra Nevada mountains
If you haven’t been to Lake Tahoe, it’s reason enough to come to Northern California. It really is stunning, especially in the winter and spring when the mountains are covered in snow, contrasting with the deep blue of the lake. Try hiking at Squaw, the Flume Trail, the Shirley Canyon Trail, and the trails from D.L. Bliss State Park.
There is something for everyone in the Sierra Nevada, especially around Lake Tahoe. Above is the view from above Squaw Valley. Most of the year, you can hike the state parks, bike the flat trails near Lake Tahoe, or go boating, kayaking, and river tubing. In the winter and spring, you can snowshoe in the state parks, ski, and take in the spectacular views.
Insider’s tip: Avoid the casino hotels; instead, rent a house near the lake or try one of the area’s elegant hotels or inns.
Near Lake Tahoe, Truckee is a nice town to spend a couple of days–there’s shopping, excellent food, and, of course, many skiing and hiking options. Try walking on the Truckee River Legacy Trail. Donner Memorial State Park is a nice stop for walking, a picnic, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing when there’s snow, and learning about the Donner Party in the park’s small museum.
29. Calaveras Big Trees State Park
In the old Gold Country east of Sacramento and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, this area has beautiful scenery, growing wine production, and historic towns like Columbia and Murphys.
This is a side of California that many don’t expect: rugged, rural, and totally fun, but the Big Trees State Park is a true wonder. Giant sequoias and other varieties of large trees withstood the exploitation of the 19th century, and now easy walking paths take visitors through groves of both new and old trees.
30. Apple picking in Apple Hill
Apple Hill just outside of Placerville in El Dorado County is a wonderful place to spend a day no matter the season, but it’s especially fun in the fall. Come here for apple picking (try 24 Carrot Farm for organic you-pick apples) and fresh apple pies (try Apple Pantry Farm for the best). Learn more: Day trip to Apple Hill.
And besides Apple Hill, little stands selling just-picked fruit and other products like vegetables and eggs are all over Northern California. Some simply have a box for you to put your money in. Others sell fruit that is pesticide-free even if the farm is not certified organic.
Insider’s tip: Summer is the best season for fruit in Northern California. Early summer brings apricots, cherries, and strawberries, while mid-summer brings nectarines, peaches, pluots, plums, raspberries, and blueberries. Late summer and fall are good times for figs and persimmons.
What are your favorite things do in Northern California?
Recommended places to stay in Northern California
The City of Napa:
The Meritage Resort: A full service resort with spa, dining, pool, hiking and wine tasting on-site
RiverPointe Resort: A budget option with individual mini cottages, family-friendly amenities, and a walking trail
The Westin Verasa: The quality and upscale design you expect from Westin in a convenient location
Sacramento:
The Citizen Hotel: Located in the heart of downtown, this is a beautiful boutique hotel
The Westin: Luxury on the riverfront
Mendocino:
Little River Inn: A beautiful family-friendly property
Brewery Gulch Inn: Award-winning small hotel where local food is king
San Francisco:
The Westin St. Francis: Historic hotel on Union Square
Super 8 Union Square: A clean budget hotel in a superb location
Kensington Park Hotel: Boutique hotel in a historic building one block from Union Square
This apartment is amazing (click here for $40 off your first Airbnb stay)
Lake Tahoe/Truckee:
The Hyatt North Lake Tahoe: The convenience of a full resort with beach access on the North Shore
Condos at Northstar: My family loved staying here–the condos are cozy & comfortable
The Ritz-Carlton at Northstar: If you’re looking for luxury and a superb ski location, this is it.
Sea Ranch/Gualala:
Vacation rentals in Sea Ranch, our favorite place for wild beauty on the coast!
Additional resources for things to do in Northern California
Fodor’s Guide to Northern California
The Perfect Day Trip to Napa Valley
The Perfect Day Trip to Sacramento
The Perfect Day Trip to San Francisco
Top 25 Things to Do in California
More things to do in Northern California on Lonely Planet
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LOVE this list!
I would include Tilden Park in the East Bay – the steam trains, Little Farm, Botanical Garden and Merry-Go-Round make it a perfect spot to go with little ones. You definitely need a car to get there and from place to place.
San Francisco has great playgrounds. We spent a day last summer going from one to another using a city map and a parent user group list. http://www.ggmg.org/Playgrounds/playground_summary.html
Riding BART was a treat for our little one and she would have happily stayed on the train all day.
The Train Museum in Sacramento is a perfect place for toddlers. It’s gigantic, everything in there was meant to be touched and there is an entire room upstairs with toy trains to play with. Perfect place for rainy, windy, or too hot days.
Northern California, you spoil us!
Yes, it does spoil us. That is, until the valley temps hit 100s like they will this week. Eek.
Thanks for the suggestions. I haven’t been to Tilden Park but it’s on my list now!
I actually have another big post of things to do with kids in the area, and the train museum will be in that post for sure. I love that place.
Jenna
We’re getting married in Vegas, May 1st, (elegant not Elvis impersonators). We are trying to plan a honeymoon trip. We’ve decided to drive from Vegas May 2nd to Lake Tahoe, for 2 or 3 nights, then driving to San Fran/Northern California for 2/3 nights. We have 4 days, 5 nights. We’re 52 and 51, not hikers or joggers, mostly seeking the BEST VIEW of Lake/Mountain from our room/deck in Tahoe. Our plan is simply REST, kick back and not feel rushed. However we surely don’t want to just sit and read a book the entire time. Our flights leave San Fran airport on Saturday May 7th. So we have We generally consume about 9 or 10 bottles of wine/week. Our favorite is LaCrema Red/Pinot Noir (Williamette/Russian Valley/Sonoma Coast/Monterrey) My fiance’ would love to visit their winery.
We’re big sports fans, (Alabama Football!! ROLL TIDE!!) So, naturally we’ll get tickets to San Francisco Giants baseball game. And of course we would love to get pictures and views of Golden Gate Bridge. I wish we had time to visit everything, Fishermans Wharf, China Town, ride a cable car…..My fiancé would enjoy anything considered “fun”. We’re not arts and crafts people although she might like a museum.
Being from Fairhope ALabama we’re conservatives. We would like to visit an area pub, wear our jeans one night, then the next night find some fine dining, experimenting with west coast fish. We live 2 miles from Mobile Bay, 25 miles from Gulf Of Mexico so we really enjoy our Oysters, Shrimp, Grouper, Snapper, Red Fish…..
Can you share with us your ideas. We may never get to visit the west coast again, although we visit Vegas two or 3 times per year. So its very possible we’ll plan another NOCAL visit. I hope you have a chance to offer your input for 2 true southerner’s. We’ll return the favor if you ever want to visit our Alabama Beaches, or our lovely town of Fairhope. Its very nice here. Very peaceful, great schools and the folks love trees and flowers. Every street corner is planted with beautiful flowers for each season. We have many festivals, Mardi Gras and a great book store, Page and Pallet.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Brady, Sounds like a really fun trip! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I will send you an email as soon as I can. However, in a situation like this where you are looking for a lot of ideas, I usually recommend that people contact the tourism office of the place you’ll be visiting. They know the ins and outs of the destination and are experts at recommending where to stay and what to do based on your interests and budget.
Wow, i agree awsome list !
Too bad that Yosemite is not considered as in northern California, it was my favourite place in California, and one of the most famous I’m sure : http://peertinet.com/rv/Places_to_Visit_in_California.php
Maybe I would have added some village where we can discover the gold history (I don’t remember the name of the one I visited)
Columbia is a nice town to discover gold rush history.
Awesome. Pinned for future reference! Have done southern Cal but never north. Would love to see Lake Tahoe, do the wineries and up to Redwoods!
You will love Northern California! And Tahoe is a great place to take your kids.
Great list! There are some wine areas you listed tat I’d love to visit! Another thing on my bucket list for Northern California are the Red Woods and Sequoia National Park.
The Redwoods are on my list, too.
I will be forwarding this to my friend – a fellow art historian. She is moving to San Francisco in September and now I have a reason to visit more often!
Great list!
Murissa
Great! I hope it’s useful. Your friend will have a blast living in SF!
Very extensive post about the many things to do in Northern California! I’d recommend it for any travelers!
Thanks, Naomi. You must know a lot of great things to do in the Bay Area.
What a great list, thanks for sharing this 🙂
Great! I hope to meet you one day when you explore this region 🙂
gorgeous photos here! i’m coming to Napa in September and will have to go back to this post for ideas. i’ve heard the wine train is great. 🙂
My posts about Napa Valley would be even more useful, I think. I love that area! Let me know when you come through–maybe I could meet you for a glass of wine? 🙂
Inspiring post, Jenna, especially the photo of the Davis Arboretum–gorgeous!
Great list–will be so helpful for me when I visit Tahoe later on!
The longer I live here in California the more I realise that we’re so lucky. So many things to do all year around.
I feel the same way.
How can you list “Northern California” without actually mentioning the northern part of California? Haven’t you ever been up here? Nothing beats the beautiful waterfalls of Whiskeytown Lake, and McCloud. Also, Mt. Shasta is unbelievably gorgeous!
I was specific in the first part of the post in mentioning the area this post covers. There is no other term for the areas that this post includes, but because it doesn’t cover the entire northern half of California (which is HUGE!), I made sure to be clear that I was covering the areas from the Bay Area in the west to Lake Tahoe in the east, Lodi in the south and the top of Sonoma County in the north. Northern California is technically the entire northern half of the state–it starts down in Monterey County and goes all the way up to the Oregon border. No, I have not been to the places you mentioned, but I look forward to doing so, hopefully early next year.
Agreed! I married into a Redding family, and have absolutely fallen in love with the area. Burney Falls is also a must see!
I’m a second generation Reddingite, my mother’s parents came from Trinity Co. so I’m quite a native here. As a young adult, I couldn’t wait to get away. And I did, for 5 years. But I found that I missed the mountains that surround us on all sides but the south.
For anyone who loves nature, this is the place to come! Redding is a nice town, but within minutes you are up in the mountains with access to all types of outdoor adventures to choose from. We also have wineries that you can tour and taste. It doesn’t get much better than it does here I feel.
Great post! I have lived in CA my whole life, but just moved to Northern California 5 years ago. Many of the things you mention I still need to try. I would say you definitely need to make it to the far north part of the state. There really is gorgeous scenery up there. The Redwoods, Crater Lake, Mt. Shasta, and the drive up Hwy 70 up to Quincy are so worth the trip. In the spring there are literally hundreds / maybe even thousands of waterfalls off of HWY 70 and the Feather River winds through the canyon below. It really is breathtaking. The coast all the way up to Oregon is gorgeous too. Way Northern California has the rugged, sparsely populated terrain and even makes you think maybe you aren’t still in the most populous state.
Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, I definitely am looking forward to exploring more of the state. The Lassen area has been on my list for quite a while. There is just so much to see and do within 2-3 hours of here that we end up traveling a lot in the lower half of NorCal.
There is so much more to northern California than Napa, Bay area, and Sacramento. I am sorry you have not taken the time to explore. For those of us who really live here, Sacramento is thd crntral valley and the Bay area is central coast. Napa and Sonoma are Wine country.
Thank you for your comment, but a more careful look at the post will show that I cover more than just the 3 areas you mention, that I do in fact live here, and that I did not intend to cover Northern California in its entirety. As I mentioned above, Northern California is considered everything from Monterey up to the border with Oregon. I wanted to give suggestions for the areas listed (which also include Tahoe, Amador Cty, Lodi, the Delta, and Sonoma County), which are all parts of Northern California.
Wow! These are all wonderful places to visit in Northern California but I think my number 1 choice would be to check out and explore the seafood in Bodega Bay because that’s just one of my favorite dishes. Thanks for sharing these amazing places in Northern California, hoping to explore more soon.
Good places. BUT… Technically, these aren’t really Northern CA. I know locals call it No. Ca. (I lived there for over 20 years), and it has bugged me the whole time. These are all locations in, essentially the Bay Area… Which is about mid-way in the state. There’s nearly half a state North of the Bay Area, which I consider Northern California. You should be more accurate.
Thanks for the comment, and while I know that Northern California includes much more than this post covers, I would have to disagree with your definition of the places. I’ve lived here for 15 years total, and as you said, not only do people who live here refer to this area as NorCal, but Northern California is considered the northern half of the state on many, many resources I’ve checked. If I called this post “30 things to do in the Bay Area,” that would not be accurate at all since the Bay Area doesn’t even include Sacramento or any places east of that. It’s hard to find a title when these specific regions don’t have a name that encompasses them, so I did my best.
Resources aside Jenna, people that live north of Sacramento consider anything north of Sacramento as Northern Cali. From south of Sacramento is Central Cali, and from Bakersfield south is Southern Cali. I’ve lived here all my life, you will not find any reference to this. It’s a far Northern Cali thing.
Good point that people who live in the far north of California would not consider the area north of Sac as Northern California. Since I live in Sacramento, I will stick to the words–we definitely consider this to be NorCal!
Does anyone have any suggestions for where would be the best area to visit to see the big trees in No Cal? It looks like there are different areas for Redwoods and Sequoias. Crater Lake sounds really neat too and I’d like to see Alcatraz. Is it impossible to see these things in one week? I am very geographically challenged and with CA being so big, it’s hard to wrap my head around planning a trip. We’d be coming from the East Coast so we’d like to get as much bang for the buck as we could. Our son is in LA, is it feasible that we could fly into LA and drive north and see alot that way. Any suggestions? It would all be new to us so I’m sure we’d be happy seeing most any of the many beautiful areas but the big trees are at the top of the list. Many thanks!
You can see the big trees at the Avenue of the Giants, Redwoods National Park, Muir Woods near San Francisco, Armstrong Redwood Preserve in Sonoma County, and Calaveras Big Trees State Park south of Lake Tahoe. The latter has a nice collection of Sequoias, but the park is small. You can also see them farther south at Sequoia National Park, which might make more sense if you’re starting out in LA.
Yes, you can fly into LA and do a coastal trip driving north and doing a lot along the way. If you have only 1 week, it would be hard to squeeze it all in, but you could drive up up from LA quickly and skip the sights.. I’m not sure what you mean by Crater Lake, which is in Oregon. Lake Tahoe? If you want to see Alcatraz and Lake Tahoe, you could split your time for one week with 4 days in San Francisco, including a stop in Muir Woods, then 3 days in Lake Tahoe with a stop at Calaveras Big Trees.
Huge help, thanks so much!
I look forward to trying these (at least the ones I haven’t already done). Thank you for sharing!
No your correct this is nor cal.everything above Yuba is Jefferson and we like it that way!!!
I live in Auburn and you must check out our rivers! The American river is basically in my back yard and is stunning, the Yuba river however is my favorite. There is University falls outside of Georgetown that is a must see all out water slide adventure! Also sister hot springs Harbin and Sierra hot springs are a must!
A friend of mine got married there, and it is beautiful. I need to spend more time there. Thanks for the tips…I will check them out!
Jenna, very nice post for the area you covered. Would love to see you write about Northern California, north of the area you covered. Lassen Volcanic National Park, Burney Falls, Subway Caves, Whiskeytown, Shasta Caverns, Turtle Bay Museum and much more. Please feel free to contact me if you need ideas. Lassen Park is only 3 hours from Sacramento.
I would love to visit Lassen soon. My husband and I have talked about it many times, but there is just so much to do around here that we end up visiting places that are a bit closer. Now that my younger son is almost 4, we can take longer car trips with him.
Wait for you son to get a bit older first. And you want to make sure you can make it to the peak because there is a glacier there that is a MUST SEE! I can’t remember the name of the lake there, but there is a glacier lake there that is such an incredible color of light blue. It’s amazingly beautiful.
And very close is Bumpass Hell. You want to take that short hike to see the active sulfur pits and such. It’s very fascinating if quite stinky.
Great ideas. We’ve been trying to make plans to go to Lassen for the last year, but I can see that waiting until my kids can do more vigorous hikes would be smart. They’re 3 and 7 now. Thanks for the suggestions, Tammy!
i am such a hopeless romantic love all your ideas Jenna….skydrifters is located in sacramento county …such an amzing DATE…you tailgate over to hwy16 and stonehouse or pack a picnic and be in the air for the sunrise….hotair ballooning is incredible…come fly the california sky.
we need to do sonoma county. we’ve only done napa.. but we always hear great things about sonoma. 🙂
You’ll love Sonoma County. The region has just about everything, from fantastic food and wine to rugged coastline and redwood trees.
And what the best why to visit the beautiful California, is in a luxury RV from http://luxervrental.com You can stop and park anywhere.
Great article.
The one thing that I would add would be the majestic Mendicino coast, as well as the town of Mendocino itself.
This has to be one of the most gorgeous stretches of coastline in the United States. I think it probably gets overshadowed by Big Sur, but it shouldn’t be.
And I’ve read good things about Dry Creek Valley and its many wineries, which I intend to visit this summer during my annual trip to Mendocino.
Yes! I hope to finally get to Mendocino this summer. I’ve been to many places near it but just haven’t quite made it to the Mendocino coast yet. You’re right about Dry Creek Valley. That whole area is gorgeous, and I love Healdsburg. Here’s a nice map of the area w/ a list of wineries: http://www.drycreekvalley.org/files/WGDCV_map_2013.pdf
Just a little critique. It is the Sierra Nevada, it’s one mountain range, so it is not plural.
Thanks for mentioning that. I know it’s one mountain range, but I think I’ve heard it plural as a way of shortening the Sierra Nevada mountains. Will make the edit.
You can add some of California Missions to your fantastic list. They deserve to be mentioned indeed. Thanks for this fantastic article and recommendations.
First, I will say I love reading about your love for Northern California, as you correctly stated, the entire area was not covered, but that which was on this blog is in fact NorCal. That being said, I really don’t understand why anyone residing in the region, would be arguing about it not being the “best” and competing for highest choice. Allow me to argue that this state alone is a marvelous treasure of nature, and there is nothing that compares to it in the rest of the country, and I am sure that there are many little hidden treasures all around it that neither of us, as much as we wish, can experience in its entirety, I hope so to one day!
I am an immigrant of desert land, and I have to say that living in Sonoma County makes me feel thankful every single day. I live in paradise, and have nothing to envy to any other corner of the world I would dare to say. I have gorgeous coasts with stunning cliffs and rocky formations, rolling hills, mountains, creeks, lakes, and mudslides, flowers, trees of a multitude of types, giant redwoods I admire, fog, rain, clouds and sunshine, ideal weather (most of the year), food, wine and beautiful wineries all around me. Any drive I take for an hour or less on any direction is sure to leave me an awe and thankful for this paradise every instant of my life. Thanks for sharing the love! <3
Thank you, Brenda! I can understand why you love living in Sonoma County. It’s perhaps my favorite part of this state.
Love the list and I have at least 10 more things to do to finish visiting all I have to do. Also I love the ghost tours in Northern California.
These are some nice, enjoyable classy activities but there are also some fun and free ones like these too!
http://marriedwithmaps.com/2015/10/18/2-free-tours-in-fairfield/
And growing up in Vacaville, one of my favorite areas was Old Sacramento
Oh yes, good point! There’s so much free stuff to do around here.
Napa and Sonoma are nice, but you can’t leave out the Livermore Valley wine area! It is gorgeous, and produces fabulous wines. In fact, it is where Petite Sirah originated and just about every Chardy in Napa Valley was cloned from Wente Chardy grape! Awesome history and friendly people. Much less expensive too;)
Thank you for bringing that up! I should update my list to include Livermore Valley. I went there just once but loved it and enjoyed Wente and Murietta’s Well wines.
Thank you for many great ideas.
Ohh this made me just a little homesick! Im from San Diego but practically grew up in Sacramento!
🙂 Sacramento has changed so much over the past 10 years or so. If you haven’t made it back here lately, come back and visit!
This is one impressive list! You know…as a German we often thing America has beautiful nature but little else to offer. This really comprehensive guide proofs most of us are dead wrong. I’ve been long in the planning of an US road trip and North Carolina has always been on my list. Sooo beautiful
There are so many things on this list I already love and have done. Never new my town Sacramento had so much to do!!! Awesome list.
Check out my post of things to do in Sacramento: https://thisismyhappiness.com/2016/06/17/what-to-do-in-sacramento/ I think there is so much to do around here! 🙂
Thank you for a great list! We’ve only lived in the Bay Area three years and have done many of the things already. (Not an easy feat with three kids, I might add.) Need to visit Sacramento one day soon and Lassen National Park. It’s also been way too long since the kids were taken to Cal Academy of Sciences. I’m really itching to go north, too. And we’ve barely seen southern CA! We moved thinking 3-4 years for husband’s job, but now I don’t want to leave! We will literally never run out of wonderful places to visit just in our own gorgeous state. We just returned from Monterey. I can’t believe that is considered northern CA. Everything I’ve ever seen calls it the Central Coast. Hard to know exactly where to draw that line. Thanks again. I’m pinning this.
You’re right, it is central coast, but some sources simply split the state in half and call everything from there north “Northern CA.” i agree, though, that it feels different there, too. And yes, there’s so much to do in California. We’ve been here 14 years and still visit new places all the time (and revisit old ones, of course). We’re off to Mendocino for the first time this week!
This is an awesome list! There seems like there’s so much to do in Northern CA! The pool at The Meritage Resort & Spa is stunning.
Hi, this is a great list! There’s so many things to do here in Sonoma County. One of my favorite things to do lately is eat at Sally Tomatoes. They have really great food, and a very fun comedy night. Check it out, if you haven’t already.
We plan our next vacation – summer 2017 – this is a great list. I get inspired by all those beautiful places and will go for as many as possible.
We want to mix our trip by using a vehicle and supply it with bikes – are their routes for bikes?
Can you recommend any routes around Sacramento?
Great blog and list! Lived in California most of my life but it is always great to get new ideas!
Spring in Northern California is my favorite season—right when it’s warming up and before the fog casts a dreary shadow over the Bay for the coming 2, 3, 4 months 😉
This spring has been kind of crazy–windy, rainy, much cooler than usual–but I love spring here, too. Love those first days when we can eat outdoors again.
Beautiful blog, nice list of things to do in Northern California. Really these are must-visit places, uncrowded and close to nature.
California is so vast and beautiful. There are numerous choices of places to visit in Southern California as well. Explore best of California with us.
Thanks for this wonderful post.