Pt. Reyes and Napa Valley

The region north of San Francisco Bay includes some very interesting attractions as well. Marin County boasts some amazing natural scenery including the Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Head east and and you’ll find yourself in Napa Valley, famous for its wineries and rolling hills.

Managed by the National Parks Service, Pt. Reyes offers over 70,000 acres and 80 miles of undeveloped coastline along with nearly 150 miles of hiking trails and a wide variety of wildlife viewing options (https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/basicinfo.html). The preserve surrounds Tomales Bay, a world-famous region for oyster fishing. Stop along CA Highway 1 and enjoy some fresh oysters right out of the bay, for sale by the pound, then spend the day exploring the unspoiled coastline throughout the park. Unlike many other NPS sites, Pt. Reyes does not charge any fee for entry.

Marin County also features Muir Woods National Monument – a dense grove of old-growth redwoods in the coastal range just north of San Francisco. Advanced reservations are required to park (https://www.nps.gov/muwo/index.htm) and the monument is often extremely crowded. Visiting the redwood parks in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties offers very similar experience with much less congestion.

Pt. Reyes lies roughly 60 miles west of Napa Valley – a world-famous wine-growing region. Some of the largest and best-known
wineries are headquartered in Napa Valley, producing some of the finest and best-rated wines in the world. Napa Valley features
a variety of wineries and world-renowned restaurants, spanning a wide range of style and price. While virtually any wine lover will
be able to fine something to their liking, be prepared for high prices and heavy congestion virtually anywhere in the valley. If you
intend to enjoy a wine-tasting, make sure to make advance reservations at your winery of choice. While some smaller wineries do
welcome walk-ins, the more established locations are almost always booked weeks in advance, months on the weekends. Also, be
prepared to pay $50-$150 or more per flight depending on the winery, location, types of wine, and time of day.

Thirsty for something other than wine? Stop by the tap room at Pond Farm Brewing in downtown San Rafael for some unique local
beers and excellent food on the way back south.

Distance: Pt. Reyes – 110 Miles, 2 hours 30 min drive, Napa Valley 88.6 Miles, 1 hour 52 min drive

Sacramento and Lake Tahoe

As our state Capital, Sacramento offers a variety of historical and cultural points of interest for visitors to explore. Beyond the
Capitol Complex, the town features a tourist-oriented historic Old Town region that preserves the heritage of Sacramento as
an Old West pioneer town. The district has numerous exhibits and museums from the California Rail Road History Museum
to a National Historic Park Site honoring Sacramento’s stop on the short-lived Pony Express mail route.

The Old Town district offers an impressive array of souvenir shops for visitors along with a unique variety of snack shops and
restaurants. Nearby Downtown Sacramento features a variety of other shopping and dining options, historical sites, and a
riverwalk. For sports enthusiasts, MLB’s Athletics will begin their first season playing home games in Sacramento in 2025.

Sacramento can be an excellent gateway for other interesting California explorations, whether through historic Gold Country
towns to the south, or Lake Tahoe to the north. Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is the largest,
deepest, and best-known alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Offering world-class snow sport resorts in the
winter, there is still much to enjoy the summer months.

Situated at more than 6200 ft (1890 m) of elevation at the water level and covering near 200 square miles, Lake Tahoe is famous
for its clear blue waters and year-round recreation. With South Lake Tahoe, CA and Stateline, NV anchoring the south shore and
Incline Village, NV at the north end, Lake Tahoe offers over 71 miles of pristine shoreline ranging from cliffs to sandy beaches.
The shore incorporates numerous State Parks on the California side, including Emerald Bay near the south end of the lake. Parks
offer hiking, biking, and running trails and various options for water access from private vessels to commercial cruises.

Distance: Sacramento – 119 Miles, 2 hours 9 min drive, Lake Tahoe – 227 Miles, 4 hours 4 min drive

Pinnacles National Park

California is a nature-lover’s paradise boasting nine full National Parks in state and several more National Monuments, Seashores,
and Preserves along with tens of millions of acres of National Forest lands. While Yosemite National Park is by far the most
famous and popular park in the state, the nearest National Park to the San Francisco Bay Area (and one of the newest National
Parks in the system) is Pinnacles.

Located approximately 75 miles southeast of San Jose in rural San Benito County, Pinnacles features over 25,000 acres of protected
volcanic rock formations and caves which are home to multiple protected species of bats along with the endangered California Condor.
Offering more than 30 miles of hiking trails through varied and rugged terrain, the park allows visitors an opportunity to explore some
very unusual scenery.

Pinnacles features volcanic rock formations shaped by wind erosion over thousands of years along with one of the largest and most
accessible networks of talus caves in the world. Higher elevations in the park offer close encounters with condors along with multiple
lakes.

Weather in the region is highly variable and can range from the 35°F (2°C) overnight to 105°F (40°C) in the afternoon on average in
the month of June. The park does allow camping, but reservations fill up quickly well in advance. Parking is limited in the park and
lines at the entrance can range up to two hours or more on popular days and weekends.

You can access the park from the west near the town of Soledad or from the east near the town of Paicines, but no roads cross through the park. You can hike from one side of the park to the other.

Distance: 76.4 Miles, 1 hour 22 min drive (https://www.nps.gov/pinn/index.htm)

Big Sur and the Central Coast

The stretch of Pacific Coast Highway (CA-1) between Carmel by the Sea and Cambria along the central coast is one of the most
famous and photographed stretches of highway in the country. The concrete arch bridge spanning Bixby Creek north of the town
of Big Sur has appeared in countless car commercials. The stretch is dotted with nearly half a dozen state parks including Andrew
Molera, Garrapata, Julia Pfeiffer Burns and Pfieffer Big Sur. Point Lobos State Nature Preserve also sits at the north end of this
stretch, just south of the town of Carmel by the Sea.

The town of Big Sur sits inland from the high coastal bluffs that typify this stretch of highway and offers various resorts and camp-
grounds along the Big Sur River. Whether staying for the night or stopping for lunch, it’s well worth the stop to relax and cool your
feet in the river sitting in one of their iconic Adirondak chairs.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park offers a short and fairly easy walk out to an overlook of McWay Cove, featuring a bird’s-eye view of
a sandy cove with McWay Falls spilling over the cliff directly onto the beach (one of the few places on the West Coast this occurs).
It is one of the most photographed coves in the country. Further south, San Simeon houses the historic and iconic Hearst Castle, the
former residence of journalism and newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst (https://hearstcastle.org/)  

Unfortunately, this stretch is prone to serious land slides that close portions of the highway nearly every winter. It is not currently
possibly to drive continuously from one end to the other due to a road closure north of San Simeon. Visitors may access Julia Pfeiffer
Burns from the north and San Simeon from the south. However, this would likely take two days with current road conditions.

Distance: Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park – 110 Miles, 2 hour 5 min drive;
Hearst Castle – 194 Miles, 3 hours 5 min drive

Yosemite National Park

Additional Notes

Established in 1890, Yosemite National Park is the oldest and by far the most popular National Park in California and
consistently ranks in the Top 5 of National Park visitation throughout the system. On average, more than 3.5 million
people visit the park each year. Known for its sheer granite cliffs, glacially-carved monoliths, and the tallest waterfalls
in North America, Yosemite Valley is the hub of park activity. The entire park covers over 750,000 acres, but most
visitors never leave the confines of Yosemite Valley.

Yosemite offers over 800 miles of hiking trails, most of them through some very isolated and remote terrain. Yosemite
Valley is the lowest-elevation point in the park, sitting at 4000 ft (1220 m) above sea level while various trails ascend
cliffs as high as 10,000 ft (3050 m) or more. The elevation and dry air combined with significant elevation gain on most
trails makes many hikes in the park very strenuous, even for seasoned hikers.

The park features a variety of distinct areas, with the Merced River cutting through Yosemite Valley as the most
prominent and popular. Here you’ll find the most famous features like the granite monoliths El Capitan and Half Dome,
Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls, the historic Yosemite and Curry Villages, and the iconic Ahwahnee Hotel. Note that
Yosemite has implemented a timed entry reservation system daily from 0500 to 1600 during peak season in recent years,
though plans for 2025 have yet to be finalized. If you plan to visit, plan ahead and check the NPS website regularly for
updates (https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm). Reservations may be required to enter any portion of the park, not just
Yosemite Valley.

Beyond Yosemite Valley, the park offers a variety of other areas visitors can explore. The vast Yosemite Wilderness
offers hundreds of miles of trails through virtually untouched areas. Hikers can connect to legendary thoroughfares like
the John Muir Trail and Pacific Crest Trail (note permits may be required for PCT as well). For those looking for easier
and more accessible ways to escape the bustle of Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point Road offers driving access to a granite
outcropping at Washburn and Glacier Points that offer spectacular views of Half Dome and upper Yosemite Falls. The
town of Wawona in the southern end of the park is adjacent to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest of
several such groves in the park.

Tiago Pass Road (open summers only) takes travelers up through the higher elevations of the park, past several tranquil
alpine lakes, past Tuolumne Meadows, and eventually over Tiago Pass at the east park entrance. At nearly 10,000 ft of
elevation (3050 m), it’s the highest point in the park accessible by road. Beyond the east entrance, travelers descend rapidly
into the town of Lee Vining, which sits on the southern shore of Mono Lake in Mono County on US Highway 395. Note that
this is a seasonal road and its status depends on the snow accumulation and potential damage from the preceding winter.
It usually opens around Memorial Day, but check the park website to confirm road status before traveling.  

Finally, Yosemite also includes the Hetch Hetchy Valley, which in 1923 became Hetch Hetchy Reservoir with the construction
of the O’Shaughnessy Dam on the Tuolumne River flooding the valley. The reservoir is accessible by car and open to hiking. It
features three additional seasonal waterfalls – Tueeulala, Wapama, and Rancheria. The reservoir has spurred controversy
since its conception with famed naturalist and Yosemite conservation icon John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club) being its most
famous and prominent historical detractor. The reservoir now provides drinking water to the city of San Francisco and much of
the western Bay Area including parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.

Yosemite is a true jewel of California, but it’s popularity can create challenges for visitors. If you intend to experience this
amazing place for yourself, plan ahead, obtain any necessary reservations, and anticipate delays. Try to visit on a weekday
if possible.

Distance: 195 Miles, 3 hours 56 min drive (to the Valley Welcome Center)

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park

Yosemite may be the most popular of California’s National Parks, but it’s not the only one situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain
range. Located around 100 miles south of Yosemite, the adjoining Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks offer visitors access
to even more unspoiled wilderness in the high Sierra region.

While these parks may not boast the iconic granite monoliths and stunning waterfalls of Yosemite, they do offer a much denser
concentration of Giant Sequoias and other trees like Ponderosa and Sugar Pines. In fact, the largest living thing on earth by volume
– a Giant Sequoia tree name the General Sherman Tree – calls Sequoia National Park home.

Most of Kings Canyon is accessible only by hiking trails, though the Grant Grove at the south end of the park offers a very accessible
short loop trail through an impressive grove of Giant Sequoia trees as well as a very well-appointed Visitor Center, Gift Shop, and
Café at Grant Grove Village. Traveling south along the Generals Highway, visitor enter Sequoia National Park and traverse a series
of alpine meadows and granite domes on their way to the Sherman Grove area. A nearby parking lot offers access to an information
center and shuttle stop where visitors can travel out to climb Moro Rock, a granite outcropping with a viewing platform at the top of
a winding staircase that offers sweeping view of the western range of the park and some of the peaks of the Eastern Sierra
mountains. The elevation atop Moro Rock is 6725 ft (2050 m).

The southern portion of Sequoia National Park winds visitors down through a canyon and alongside the Middle Fork Kaweah River
past Native American petroglyphs at Hospital Rock and eventually out the southern entrance and into the nearby town of Three
Rivers. Three Rivers offers a variety of lodging and dining options. The larger town of Visalia is under an hour drive. Always check
road status before visiting.

https://www.nps.gov/seki/index.htm

Distance: 205 Miles, 3 hours 38 min drive (to Grant Grove Visitor Center)

Eastern Sierra

The stretch along US Highway 395 from Carson City, NV down to Victorville, CA offers some incredibly unique and truly awe-
inspiring scenery. Quaint towns in the northern region include Bridgeport – the seat of Mono County – and Lee Vining, offering
access and views to the very unusual and oddly beautiful Mono Lake (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=514).  

A 13-mile diversion off US-395 near Dog Town (the last 3 miles are unpaved) takes intrepid travelers out to Bodie State
Historic Park (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=509). Once a bustling gold mining town, Bodie was largely abandoned in the
early 1900s and now stands as one of the best remaining examples of a true gold-rush era mining town in the country. Note the
road is very rough near the park and can be treacherous in bad weather. A high clearance vehicle with four-wheel drive is
recommended, but the experience is worth it.

The June Lake Loop offers a short diversion off US-395 and sweeps drivers past several idyllic mountain lakes. Further south,
the Mammoth Lakes area offer some truly stunning scenery combined with a well-developed resort area, serving snow sport
enthusiasts in the winter and other adventurers in the summer. (https://www.visitmammoth.com/)

Continuing south, visitors encounter the towns of Bishop and Big Pine, from which they can connect to CA-166 and White
Mountain Road and climb up above 10,000 ft elevation (3050 m) to visit the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Here, for a mere
$3, visitors can walk amongst the oldest living things on earth. Some of the trees in the park have been alive 4000 years or longer.
Note that road conditions are highly variable and elevation makes hiking in this area extremely strenuous.
(https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5129900).

The southern-most stretch of US-395 take travelers past the rugged Mt. Whitney Range in the southern Sierras. Mt. Whitney is the
highest peak in North America at 14,505 ft (4421 m). For history buffs, the Manzanar National Historic Site commemorates the
location of one of the largest Japanese internment camps during WWII. Check the site’s webpage for information on hours and
accessibility (https://www.nps.gov/manz/index.htm)

Distance: Bodie – 304 Miles, 6 hours 51 min drive; Bristlecone – 412 Miles, 8 hours 52 min drive

Southern California

Southern California offers a variety of noteworthy locations within a day’s drive of the San Francisco Bay Area. A brief summary of major areas of interest follows:

Santa Barbara – Santa Barbara sits along the southern coast roughly 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. Home to nearly 90,000 Californians, the city boasts one of the biggest and best-preserved examples of the California Missions. With several miles of sandy beaches and bustling dining, shopping, and cultural options, Santa Barbara offers a lot of charm for a mid-sized beach town. The surrounding area houses one of the largest and most prolific wine-growing regions in the state outside Napa Valley. The nearby town of Solvang is also an interesting tourist attraction with a variety of Danish shops, food, architecture, and culture (https://solvangusa.com/).  

https://santabarbaraca.com/

Los Angeles – Los Angeles is the largest city, metropolitan area, and county in the state, and one of the largest in the country. Over 3.8 million Californians (roughly 10% of the state population) live within the city limits. LA is famous for many things, most notably being the world leader in producing films and television shows. Nearly every major network and production studio has facilities in and around the county (mainly in Burbank and Studio City) and some are headquartered there. The city is also home to other famous places like Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Hollywood sign. The city of Anaheim in neighboring Orange County is home to several renowned theme parks including Disneyland, and Knott’s Berry Farm.

https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/

San Diego – The city of San Diego sits at the far southern end of the California coast on the border with Mexico. It is home to over 1.3 million Californians, the second-largest city in the state behind Los Angeles. San Diego offers big-city amenities with a slower-paced beach-town feel along with world-class beaches, surfing, and scenery. Enjoy a stroll and a meal in the historic Gas Lamp Quarter or Balboa Park, tour through one of San Diego’s many museums or its famous zoo, enjoy a day at the beach, explore the historic Hotel del Coranado, or travel up to Cabrillo National Monument for a stunning view of San Diego’s harbor and skyline with views well into Baja Mexico on a clear day.

https://www.sandiego.org/explore.aspx

National Parks – Southern California houses several National Parks including Death Valley (one of the lowest-elevation and hottest places on earth), Joshua Tree, and the Channel Islands. The desert parks are extremely hot in summer and Channel Islands requires advanced reservations. Plan accordingly.  

Distance: Santa Barabara – 278 Miles, 4 hours 35 min drive; Los Angeles – 339 Miles, 5 hours 37 min drive; San Diego – 459 Miles, 7 hours, 24 min drive

If you intend to explore more of our state, the following information may be helpful.

• Expect to encounter significant traffic especially around major cities that could affect projected drive times. Road work and construction are also common especially in the summer and this may force you to consider an alternate route.

• Book accommodations in advance where possible. Most of the suggestions in this guide are quite popular and draw large crowds, especially in the summer when schools are out. Hotels and other accommodations in the vicinity may fill up quickly. Always plan and check in advance.

• You may encounter snow and road closures into early June due to snow and winter road damage. Some roads in California require drivers to carry tire chains and/or have a four-wheel drive vehicle under certain conditions. The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) website is an excellent resource for information on road conditions. https://roads.dot.ca.gov/

• Usage fees for parks and protected spaces vary. Most California State Parks charge $10 per vehicle for day use entry, though some (like Bodie State Historic Park) charge admission per person. National Parks range from free entry to $40 per vehicle. Entry passes are generally good for five days from purchase. Note that Yosemite may implement reservation requirements to enter the park between 0500 and 1600 daily during the summer. If you intend to visit multiple sites in the NPS system, you can obtain an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $80. This grants admission to all National Parks, Monuments, Historic Parks, and Preservers for one year. Reservations are still required for applicable parks whether you are a pass holder or not. The California State Park system offers a similar annual pass (called the Golden Poppy Pass) for $125, though there are more restrictions on its use.

• Plan your route. Beyond road conditions and traffic, note that many of the National Parks and other wild spaces described here reside in very remote and rural parts of California, far from any developed towns and cities. You may encounter stretches where you travel 100 miles or more at a time without encountering any services. Plan accordingly.

• Weather in California can be unpredictable, especially on the coast. California is notorious for “microclimates;” many long-time residents joke, “if you don’t like the weather, get in your car and drive five minutes.” It’s very common in the summer for inland areas like San Jose to reach over 90°F (32°C) while just 35 miles away in Santa Cruz it could be under 60°F (15.5°C). Warm weather inland tends to draw in marine moisture on the coast, meaning a hot day in San Jose often means a foggy evening in Santa Cruz. Weather at higher elevations can be even more unpredictable and sudden thunderstorms are common in the Sierras in the summer. It’s important to dress for a wide range of conditions, bring layers, and be prepared for anything.

Bon Voyage!