How to Visit Northern California

While mention of Southern California immediately calls to mind images of surfer dudes and movie stars, Northern California has a completely different aesthetic. From mountain refuges to city bustle, Northern California offers the traveler a dizzying amount of activity choices.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Visit Wine Country
   Head to Sonoma and Napa and spend a few days roaming among picturesque vineyards enjoying winery tours and free samples of wine.

2. Visit San Francisco
   There is definitely something for everyone in San Francisco.
   
   *Chinatown - The street is packed with shops where you can find all sorts of fun, cheap, Asian accessories and gewgaws.
   *Museums - San Francisco has many fine ones, but the De Young Art Museum and the Museum of Asian Art are two favorites.
   *Alcatraz - Enjoy the fantastic views of the city on your boat trip out to this famous prison.
   *Haight Street - Those seeking the last vestiges of the hippie culture should head to Haight Street, where The Grateful Dead once roamed and there's still plenty of tie dye to be seen.
   *Fisherman's Wharf - Yeah, it's a tourist trap, but there's a lot of good shopping there. Make sure to check out the Mechanical Museum to see all sorts of turn of the 20th century mechanical games. If you like seafood, you'll get a fantastic meal at Scoma's.

3. Visit Some Beaches
   While perhaps not as famous as California's beaches in the south, Northern California has plenty of sandy stretches of beach for surfers and sun worshippers alike to congregate. A couple to try are Black Sands Beach in Humboldt County and Russian Gulch State Park Beach in Mendocino County.

4. Visit the Mountains
   The beauty of Northern California is that you can spend your morning on the beach, drive a couple of hours, and enjoy dinner in the mountains. The area around beautiful Lake Tahoe is a favorite winter destination for skiers, snowboarders and those who just like a mountain getaway.

5. Enjoy the Scenery
   Northern California's Highway 101 is known for its magnificent views. Take a drive along it to enjoy the area's scenery.

[lildutchgirl56]

on 4/21/2009 Visiting northern Califorina sound wonderful, hopefully I can visit there in the near future. 5*