Northern California
SAN FRANCISCO
MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT
SAUSALITO
NAPA & CALISTOGA
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Summary
Northern California's got a little bit of something for everyone as far as we're concerned! Combining culture with nature, plus a massage and some jelly beans, and it's the making of a vacation that won't be soon forgotten.
Trip Tic
For: Families, Couples Travel Days: 9 Mileage: 500+/- Car Hours: 11.5 (one 5-hour day) Temps: 65-80° F (summer)
Route Map
Itinerary Outline
Day 1
- Arrive San Francisco International Airport
- Take a cable car to Chinatown, ride down the "Crookedest Street", and end the day on a sweet note with Dandelion Chocolate's chocolate tour and tasting (or just enjoy a treat at the cafe there)
- Lodging: The Marker San Francisco
Day 2
- Begin the day at Golden Gate Park, walking the paths and visiting the attractions that interest (choose from the botanical gardens, Japanese tea house, museum, aquarium, Academy of Sciences, playgrounds and more)
- Take a ferry to Alcatraz Island to tour the infamous penitentiary also known as "The Rock"
- Lodging: The Marker
Day 3
- Begin the day by driving 45 minutes from San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods National Monument
- Stop at the visitor center for guidance on trails to hike... there are half-hour and one-hour loops offering views of old growth redwoods (trail map)
- Drive 30 minutes to Sausalito for a photo op of the San Francisco Bay/Golden Gate Bridge at Vista Point and then grab lunch and window shop in town
- Afterwards, drive to 1 hour north to Napa
- Lodging: Napa River Inn or the Best Western Plus Elm House Inn
Day 4
- Spend the day touring the cuisine and/or wineries of the valley via walking food tours (options abound, but here are one and two) or the wine train
- Lodging: Napa River Inn or Best Western
Day 5
- Drive 45 minutes north of Napa, stopping in small towns and at wineries on the way to Calistoga where the afternoon should be spent splurging on spa treatments
- Lodging: Solage Spa & Resort
Day 6
- Drive 1 hour from Calistoga to Fairfield to tour the Jelly Belly Factory
- After stocking up on favorite jelly bean flavors, drive 4 hours to Yosemite National Park, entering at the Arch Rock Entrance (park map)
- Lodging: Ahwahnee Hotel
Day 7
- Drive to Tuolumne Meadows and hike the 1.5 mile Soda Springs/Parson Memorial Lodge trail
- Drive back to the Yosemite Valley and hike .5 mile (round trip) trail to Bridal Veil Falls before returning to the hotel
- Lodging: Ahwahnee Hotel
Day 8
- Hike a portion of Mariposa Grove to see mature sequoia stands (more here)
- Drive 3.75 hours from Yosemite NP to San Francisco International Airport
- Lodging: San Francisco Airport Hyatt Regency
Day 9
- Depart San Francisco International Airport