Northern California, Pacific Coast, vineyards and mountain lakes


Trip description

Three weeks is enough to really explore Northern California. This route allows you to discover both San Francisco and the contrasting landscapes of the region, such as the beautiful Monterey and Big Sur, or Mammoth Lake and Lake Tahoe. Each traveller will find their happiness as there are so so many options.

Day 1: San Francisco, Downtown

Day 2: Alcatraz and the heights of San Francisco

Day 3: Designers, Hippies and Golden Gate Park

Day 4: Geographic, administrative and historical heart of San Francisco

Day 5: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey

Day 6: Pacific Grove, Carmel, Big Sur

Day 7: Arrival in Yosemite National Park

Day 8: Hiking in Yosemite

Day 9: Yosemite High Country

Day 10: Between glacial lakes

Day 11: Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake

Day 12: In-depth discovery of Mammoth Lakes

Day 13: Lake Tahoe

Day 14: Shasta County, a volcanic territory

Day 15: Lassen Volcano Park

Day 16: Humboldt County

Day 17: Redwoods National Park

Day 18: From Humboldt County to Mendocino Coast

Day 19: Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley

Day 20: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Calistoga

Day 21: Napa Valley, land of vineyards

Day 22: Sonoma Valley

Day 23: Bodega Bay, Point Reyes National Seashore, Stinson Beach

Day 1 : San Francisco, Downtown

©Audrey DOHET


Visit of SFMOMA in the SoMa neighbourhood. Go north on Union Square. Continue with Chinatown and visit the neighbourhood. Go up to Nob Hill for the panorama and the Huntington Park square. Visit Grace Cathedral and enter in luxury hotels. Take the Powell-Mason Street line on the cable car as and get out at Green Street. Visit North Beach and spend the evening in the neighbourhood.




Day 2 : Alcatraz and the heights of San Francisco

©Audrey DOHET


Departure from Pier 33 for Alcatraz. Don't forget to book your tickets one week in advance to leave early in the morning. Visit of Alcatraz. From the boat, view on the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Financial District with the Transamerica Pyramid of San Francisco. Back on the dock, take the Powell-Hyde Street line on the cable car and get out at Lombard Street. Discovery of Russian Hill. Get out at Union Street in Marina & Cow Hollow. Do shopping at Union Street. Go up to Fillmore Street to reach Pacific Heights. Visit of Japantown and dinner in the neighbourhood. Spend the rest of the evening in the bars of Tenderloin.




Day 3 : Designers, Hippies and Golden Gate Park

©Mike NORTON - Fotolia


Discovery of Hayes Valley neighbourhood with a shopping session in the shops of local designers. Tour of Alamo Square for the panorama on the Financial District with Victorian houses in the foreground. Walk in Lower Haight then in Haight-Ashbury. Continue on Haight Street to the Golden Gate Park. Visit the De Young Museum or the California Academy of Sciences. Go to Japanese Tea Garden. Dine and spend the evening in the neighbourhood.




Day 4 : Geographic, administrative and historical heart of San Francisco

©Tom Pepeira - Iconotec


On Sundays, start the day at Glide Memorial Church's 9 am mass. Otherwise, departure on the Civic Center square, the administrative heart of San Francisco. Visit of the Asian Art Museum. Take the line F of the streetcar to reach the Castro area, the geographic heart of San Francisco. Walk in Castro and lunch. Go to Mission Dolores, historic heart of the city and visit. Break in Dolores Park. Discovery of the District Mission. Dinner in the neighbourhood and evening in the local bars.




Day 5 : Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey

©Stéphan SZEREMETA


Rent a car in San Francisco, take the Highway 1 at the southern exit of the city. Follow the coast till Santa Cruz. Stop at Princeton-by-the-sea, on the beautiful Half Moon Bay beach at Pigeon Point Lighthouse and as often as possible. In Santa Cruz, make a tour at Boardwalk before going to Monterey. Visit of Monterey and night on site.




Day 6 : Pacific Grove, Carmel, Big Sur



Take the 17 Mile Drive in Pacific Grove and go to Carmel. Visit the city and the San Carlos Borromeo mission, one of the most beautiful Spanish missions in California. Don't miss Carmel Beach. Discover Big Sur with hikes and breaks on the beach. Visit the Henry Miller Memorial Library and have a drink at Nepenthe. Night in Carmel or in Big Sur for nature lovers.




Day 7 : Arrival in Yosemite National Park

©Bakstad - iStockphoto.com


This day allows you to reach the national park, buy its license and finish preparations for the following days. Walk in the giant Redwood of Mariposa Grove and along the Yosemite Valley. Night in a lodge if you have made reservations in advance, or in a camping tent. 




Day 8 : Hiking in Yosemite



Hiking in the park according to your physical health level and your objectives. Night on site, in lodge or a camping tent.




Day 9 : Yosemite High Country



Departure to the east, in the Yosemite high country.




Day 10 : Between glacial lakes

©David GUERSAN - Author's Image


Down the Bodie road, you can discover the gorgeous scenery of Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes. Arrival in Bodie late in the day, night in the surrounding area.




Day 11 : Mammoth Lakes and Mono Lake

©David GUERSAN - Author's Image


Arrival in Lee Vining in the morning of the day 10. Visit of Mono Lake and the ghost town of Bodie. Night in Mammoth Lakes.




Day 12 : In-depth discovery of Mammoth Lakes

©David GUERSAN - Author's Image


Hiking in the Mammoth Lakes region or skiing session on the slopes. Night on site.




Day 13 : Lake Tahoe

©David GUERSAN - Author's Image


Departure from Mammoth Lakes in the morning to reach Lake Tahoe. Tour of the lake by car with frequent stops to enjoy the landscape. Night in North Lake Tahoe.




Day 14 : Shasta County, a volcanic territory



Head to Sacramento then Redding to the north through the vast plain of Sacramento Valley. Visit of Lake Shasta caves and night in Dunsmuir or McCloud.




Day 15 : Lassen Volcano Park



Continue the visit of the Shasta County, hike in Castle Crags State Park and visit the Lassen Volcanic Park.




Day 16 : Humboldt County



Visit of Eureka and Arcata and sea-kayak outing. Night in Eureka.




Day 17 : Redwoods National Park



Visit of the Redwoods National Park with its giant trees.




Day 18 : From Humboldt County to Mendocino Coast

©Mpiotti - iStockphoto


Departing from Eureka, take the Avenue of the Giants. Go to the Highway 1 along the Pacific coast and drive to Mendocino. Visit the city and spend the night in Mendocino, Little River or Elk.




Day 19 : Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley



Take the highway 1 south along the coast. In Jenner, drive into the land by Highway 116 to follow the Russian River. Stop in the Russian River Valley areas along River Road. Sleep in Healdsburg.




Day 20 : Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Calistoga



Spend the day discovering the fields of Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley and take a look at Geyserville. Take West Springs Road at Fulton more to the south to reach Calistoga in Napa Valley. Sleep in Calistoga.




Day 21 : Napa Valley, land of vineyards



Discover the Napa estates Valley along the Silverado Trail. Sleep on site.




Day 22 : Sonoma Valley



Go to Sonoma then Glen Ellen. Visit Jack London Park. Stop in the wineries of the region and sleep on site.




Day 23 : Bodega Bay, Point Reyes National Seashore, Stinson Beach

©Stéphan SZEREMETA


Cross Santa Rosa and Sebastopol and reach the coast at Bodega Bay which you will visit. Further to the south, visit Point Reyes National Seashore by taking the Highway 1. Further south, stop at Bolinas and Stinson Beach. Reach San Francisco again.




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