Stay : Northern California, Pacific coast, vineyards and mountain lakes
If you really want to explore Northern California, three weeks won't be enough. This itinerary allows you to discover both San Francisco and the region's contrasting landscapes, such as the superb Monterey and Big Sur, or Mammoth Lake and Lake Tahoe. There's something for everyone, with so many options to choose from.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
23 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : Northern California, Pacific coast, vineyards and mountain lakes - 23 days
Day 1: San Francisco, Downtown
Steps: San Francisco
Visit the SFMOMA in the SoMa neighborhood. Head north to Union Square. Continue into Chinatown and tour the neighborhood. Climb Nob Hill for the view and Huntington Park Square. Visit Grace Cathedral and enter the luxury hotels. Take the Powell-Mason Street cable car and get off at Green Street. Visit North Beach and spend the evening in the area.
Day 2: Alcatraz and the San Francisco skyline
Steps: San Francisco
Departure from Pier 33 for Alcatraz. Don't forget to book your tickets a week in advance for an early morning departure. Visit Alcatraz. From the boat, view of the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Financial District with San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid. Back on the pier, take the Powell-Hyde Street cable car down to Lombard Street. Discover Russian Hill. Get off at Union Street in Marina & Cow Hollow. Store on Union Street. Walk up Fillmore Street to Pacific Heights. Visit Japantown and dine in the neighborhood. Spend the rest of the evening in the bars of the Tenderloin.
Day 3: Designers, hippies and Golden Gate Park
Steps: San Francisco
Discover the Hayes Valley district with a shopping session in local designer boutiques. VisitAlamo Square for a panoramic view of the Financial District, with Victorian houses in the foreground. Stroll through Lower Haight and Haight-Ashbury. Continue along Haight Street to Golden Gate Park. Visit the California Academy of Sciences. Visit the Japanese Tea Garden. Have dinner and spend the evening in the neighborhood.
ALAMO SQUARE - PAINTED LADIES / DE YOUNG MUSEUM / CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES / JAPANESE TEA GARDEN / GOLDEN GATE PARK
Day 4: Geographical, administrative and historical heart of San Francisco
Steps: San Francisco
On Sundays, start the day at the 9 a.m. service at Glide Memorial Church. Otherwise, off to Civic Center Square, the administrative heart of San Francisco. Visit theAsian Art Museum. Take the F dustreetcar to the Castro district, the geographic heart of San Francisco. Stroll through the Castro and enjoy lunch. Join Mission Dolores, the historic heart of the city, for a visit. Break in Dolores Park. Discover the Mission District. Dinner in the district and evening in the local bars.
Day 5: Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey
Rent a car in San Francisco, take Highway 1 south out of town. Follow the coast to Santa Cruz. Stop at Princeton-by-the-Sea, the beautiful Half Moon Bay, Pigeon Point Lighthouse and as many other places as the road allows. In Santa Cruz, take a walk on the Boardwalk before continuing to Monterey. Visit Monterey and spend the night there.
Day 6: Pacific Grove, Carmel, Big Sur
Take 17 Mile Drive through Pacific Grove 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. Explore Big Sur with hikes and beach breaks. Visit the Henry Miller Memorial Library and have a drink at the Nepenthe. Overnight in Carmel or in Big Sur for nature lovers.
Day 7: Arrival in Yosemite National Park
Steps: Yosemite National Park
This is the day to get to Mariposa Grove and along Yosemite Valley. Overnight in a lodge if booked in advance, otherwise camping.
Day 8: Hiking in Yosemite
Hiking in the park, depending on your level of fitness and objectives. Overnight in a lodge or camping site.
Day 9: Yosemite High country
Departure to the east, in the High country of Yosemite.
Day 10: Between glacial lakes
Steps: Mammoth Lakes
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
Arrival at Lee Vining in the morning of day 10. Visit Mono Lake and the ghost town of Bodie. Overnight at Mammoth Lakes.
Day 12: In-depth discovery of Mammoth Lakes
Steps: Mammoth Lakes
Hiking in the Mammoth Lakes region or skiing session on the slopes. Night on site.
Day 13: Lake Tahoe
Steps: Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes
Depart Mammoth Lakes in the morning for Lake Tahoe. Drive around the lake with frequent stops to enjoy the scenery. Overnight stay in North Lake Tahoe.
Day 14: Shasta County, volcanic territory
Head north to Sacramento and Redding through the vast plain of the Sacramento Valley. Visit the caves of Lake Shasta and spend the night in Dunsmuir or McCloud.
Day 15: Lassen Volcan Park
Continue your discovery of Shasta County with a hike in Castle Crags State Park, followed by a visit to Lassen Volcanic Park.
Day 16: Humboldt County
Steps: Arcata
Visit to Eureka andArcata and sea kayaking. Overnight in Eureka.
Day 17: Redwood National Park
Visit the Redwood National Park with its giant trees.
Day 18: From Humboldt County to Mendocino Coast
Steps: Mendocino
Leaving Eureka, take the Avenue of the Giants. Join Route 1 along the Pacific coast and drive to Mendocino. Visit the town and spend the night in Mendocino, Little River or Elk.
Day 19: Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley
Take Route 1 south, still following the coast. At Jenner, turn inland on Route 116 to follow the Russian River. Stop at the Russian River Valley estates along River Road. Sleep in Healdsburg.
Day 20: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and Calistoga
Spend the day discovering the Dry Creek Valley and Alexander Valley estates, and check out Geyserville. Take the West Springs Road south from Fulton to Calistoga in Napa Valley. Sleep in Calistoga.
Day 21: Napa Valley, land of vineyards
Explore the Napa Valley estates along the Silverado Trail. Sleep on site.
Day 22: Sonoma Valley
Join Sonoma and Glen Ellen. Visit Jack London Park. Stop off at local wineries and spend the night.
Day 23: Bodega Bay, Point Reyes National Seashore, Stinson Beach
Steps: Point Reyes National Seashore
Drive through Santa Rosa and Sebastopol and reach the coast at Bodega Bay, which you can visit. Further south, take Route 1 back to Point Reyes National Seashore. Further south, stop at Bolinas and Stinson Beach. Return to San Francisco.
Ideas for holidays and week-end breaks Point Reyes National Seashore
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