Quick Summary:

  • Northern California refers to the 48 counties in the northernmost region of the state, including San Francisco Bay, Greater Sacramento, and the Metropolitan Fresno area.
  • It is home to redwood forests, the Sierra Nevada, Yosemite Valley, parts of Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta, and the northern part of the Central Valley.
  • The land is rich and natural, with varied landscapes that include mountains, sea, lakes, rivers, beaches, and agricultural regions like the Wine Country.
  • Here are the best things to do in Northern California.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Seymour Marine Discovery Center ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Attractions
Seymour Marine Discovery Center | Things to Do in Northern California
© Seymour Marine Discovery Center

2. McEvoy Ranch ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

McEvoy Ranch | Things to Do in Northern California
© McEvoy Ranch

3. Monterey Bay Aquarium

Category: Attractions
Monterey Bay Aquarium | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of fannyes - Fotolia.com

4. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

Category: Museums & Culture
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of Sarah Jane - Fotolia.com

5. California State Railroad Museum

Category: Kids & Family
California State Railroad Museum | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of alisontoon - Fotolia.com

6. The Triton Museum of Art

Category: Museums & Culture
The Triton Museum of Art | Things to Do in Northern California
© The Triton Museum of Art

7. SOMArts Cultural Center

Category: Attractions
SOMArts Cultural Center | Things to Do in Northern California
© SOMArts Cultural Center

8. Jack London State Historic Park

Category: Activities
Jack London State Historic Park | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of zauberblicke - Fotolia.com

9. Palace of Fine Arts

Category: Museums & Culture
Palace of Fine Arts | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of marcorubino - Fotolia.com

10. The Walt Disney Family Museum

Category: Kids & Family
The Walt Disney Family Museum | Things to Do in Northern California
© Walt Disney Family Museum

11. Historic Halter Ranch Vineyard

Category: Attractions
Historic Halter Ranch Vineyard | Things to Do in Northern California
© chiyacat/stock.adobe.com

12. Happy Hollow Park and Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of takebyju - Fotolia.com

13. Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

Category: Kids & Family
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park | Things to Do in Northern California
© Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

14. Ocean World

Ocean World | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of murmakova - Fotolia.com

15. San Francisco Zoo

Category: Kids & Family
San Francisco Zoo | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of Oksana Ariskina - Fotolia.com

16. Winchester Mystery House

Winchester Mystery House | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of Friday - Fotolia.com

17. Jordan Vineyard and Winery

Category: Food & Drink
Jordan Vineyard and Winery | Things to Do in Northern California
© Jordan Vineyard and Winery

18. Aqua Adventure Water Park

Category: Kids & Family
Aqua Adventure Water Park | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of starsstudio - Fotolia.com

19. Napa Valley Balloons, Inc

Napa Valley Balloons, Inc | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of ah_fotobox - Fotolia.com

20. Fairytale Town

Fairytale Town | Things to Do in Northern California
© Fairytale Town

21. Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Category: Activities
Turtle Bay Exploration Park | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of maemanee - Fotolia.com

22. Tallac Historic Site

Category: Attractions
Tallac Historic Site | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of James Phelps JR - Fotolia.com

23. The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of zinkevych - Fotolia.com

24. Alcatraz

Alcatraz | Things to Do in Northern California
© Courtesy of ThoPics - Fotolia.com

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