Things To Do In Northern California

Dirty Sock Hot Spring is located on the southeast side of Owens Lake near Olancha California. The spring consists of a large concrete-lined pool that is fed by an underground spring. The natural hot springs water gives off a distinct odor that smells like dirty socks. While it is not certain how … [Read more...]

San Francisco Botanical Gardens are an enjoyable day trip destination located in Golden Gate Park. Admission only costs a few dollars. If you are a tight budget free days are the second Tuesday of every month. This beautiful garden features more than 8,000 varieties of plants from around the … [Read more...]

Fort Ross State Historic Park is situated along a pristine section of Northern California coastline. Once a Russian settlement from the mid-1800s that served as a base for northern Pacific trade, Fort Ross must have been a bustling place. Today, Fort Ross is quite sublime, but an interesting and … [Read more...]

California is known for its vast landscape filled with dozens of state parks and sitting at the top of the list is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park near Santa Cruz California. The 4,623-acre park opened in 1954 and has been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike ever since. With 15 … [Read more...]

Cottonwood Charcoal Kilns are located a few miles north of the small ranching town of Cartago in the Owens Valley of California. You can reach the kilns via a graded dirt road off Highway 395. This side trip can be made by just about any vehicle as long as your careful. The kilns are about one … [Read more...]

The Napa Valley Wine Train lets you enjoy award~winning dining while taking in the scenic beauty of the wine country. The train runs along a line built in 1847 to take visitors to the Calistoga resort. Today the train runs as far as St. Helena and is rated one of the top twenty rail journeys in … [Read more...]

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California's oldest state park, covering more than 18,000 acres, and reaching an elevation of more than 2,000 feet above sea level. In 1902 it launched the state park movement in California, but today Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz, California still … [Read more...]

The Eastern California Museum is a must stop for travelers passing through the Owens Valley along Highway 395. Located in the town of Independence this amazing museum displays historic artifacts and photographs from the Eastern Sierra, Death Valley to Mono Lake. Visitors to the museum will find a … [Read more...]

Bay Area Discovery Museum is an indoor and outdoor kids playground located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge in Sausalito California. The museum is great for a kids day trip and a perfect place to host a birthday party. Bay Area Discovery Museum is designed for children 6 months to 8 years … [Read more...]

Only 16 miles from Santa Cruz, California, and within easy day trip reach of San Francisco and Monterey, Sunset State Beach provides a diversity of experiences. Not only does the State Beach provide 3 miles of unspoiled Pacific coastline for visitors to enjoy, but also the approximately 167-acre … [Read more...]

When traveling to Northern California, it must-stop is Natural Bridges State Beach, a refuge for monarch butterflies and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Nestled in stunning Santa Cruz, California, this 65-acre California state park was named for the naturally occurring mudstone bridges that … [Read more...]

Winters rests on the foothills of the Coastal Range, nestled between Sacramento and Napa Valley. This cozy little town is a perfect day trip from Sacramento or the bay area. Many visitors travel to winters to visit the local wineries. Winters is up-and-coming wine country, not as famous as its … [Read more...]