10 Places to Visit in Northern California
Searching for the best places to visit and things to do in Northern California on your road trip? Well, you are in the right place! What follows are the places I explored on my recent four week road trip, and I hope you’ll enjoy them too.
- My Favorite Road Trip in Northern California
- - #1. Big Sur - #2. Santa Cruz - Oakland - #3. Sonoma - #4. Calaveras County
- Best Places to Visit in Northern California
- - #5. Aptos - San Francisco - #6. The Madrones in Anderson Valley - #7. Petaluma - #8. Los Altos History Museum - #9. Sebastopol - #10. Plymouth
- Best Time to Visit - Worst Time to Visit Northern California
- How to Get to Northern California - How to Get Around
My Favorite Road Trip in Northern California
Last month, I gave myself three and a half days (and three nights) to re-visit my favorite spots in Northern California. I asked my friend Liz to come along and do some driving so that I could take notes and plan our next stop. Moreover, I also included a few of my favorite places to visit in Northern California from my previous NorCal day trips and vacations with my husband and son...
Liz is from Austin, TX like me so we took a nonstop flight on Southwest (for $197) round trip that took 3 hours and 35 minutes. We left super early because we wanted to check out a few attractions in San Jose but drive a bit and spend the night in Santa Cruz on the coast.
But first things first...We landed in San Jose around 7:30 am. As soon as we landed, I adjusted my watch to the Pacific Time Zone. Avis makes it easy to get out of the lot quickly if you join their rewards program before you book your. We were heading to San Jose before 8:30am.
I highly recommend stopping for a few hours (or days if you can extend your road trip). You can head right to The Tech Interactive or Computer History Museum for a quick Silicon Valley immersion. I also love Los Altos History Museum. I took Liz for lunch to Voyager - St. John, one of my favorite spots downtown San Jose to fuel up before our drive and watch the city through their large windows.
After San Jose, we drove to Santa Cruz one of my favorite California beaches. We were to spend the night here but we still had a couple of hours to go before check-in at Hotel Paradox.
A food highlight? The laid-back brunch at Café Brasil, just a short walk from the beach. I had the acai bowl topped with granola, banana, and honey, plus a strong cup of Brazilian coffee. We watched the surfers after lunch.
Driving to Big Sur
We were both eager to head out and take a scenic 1.5-hour drive south along Highway 1 to reach Big Sur. Even if you only get to Bixby Creek Bridge, it's worth your time, I promise!
I've been here lots of times on vacation and Liz and I didn't have an extra day to spend here but if you do, I highly recommend it. You can go hiking, beachcombing, or just watching the waves. You can easily drive to Carmel and San Simeon from here too. In fact, his entire area is made for road tripping!
My highlight? The dreamy cliffside lunch at Nepenthe. I sat on the terrace with sweeping views of the Pacific and ordered the Ambrosiaburge. Juicy, smoky, and served on a French roll.
Driving on Bixby Creek Bridge
However, unless you want to add a night in Big Sur and check out this beautiful area in detail, I suggest heading back before dark and enjoying a sunset on the Santa Cruz boardwalk which is what Liz and I did on our journey through NorCal.
Day one Driving Map (from San Jose to Santa Cruz to Big Sur and back)
Walking along the boardwalk in Santa Cruz
Back in Santa Cruz, we had dinner at Stagnaro Bros. And, wow, was it worth it just for the views! We spent the night at Hotel Paradox, but there are many places to stay. Basically, the closer you get to the ocean, the higher the room prices here.
I recommend this city when someone tells me they want a classic California coastal town that completely won me over. To recap, it’s just about 30 miles from San Jose (45 minutes), tucked on the northern edge of Monterey Bay. If you’re like me and love beach days, you’ll adore the sandy beaches here. I've spent long lazy days here with my family, but not on this trip!
A short stop in Oakland
Next day it was time to depart Santa Cruz and head on to Oakland on our road trip. The drive itself was about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Although Oakland is San Francisco’s neighbor across the bridge, it's truly a place of its own. I used to bring my son here because it's a family-friendly city. My son always had fun at the Chabot Space & Science Center and Children’s Fairyland (when he was little).
What I love most about Oakland is that you can pair peaceful escapes like the Morcom Rose Garden with cultural experiences at places like Esqueleto and Johansson Projects, then wrap it up with exceptional food at Grand Lake Kitchen.
Liz and I had a quick lunch in Oakland. My personal highlight was aamazing Shredded chicken at Lucuma Kitchen and Bar where are refueled for lunch. We kept driving because we planned on spending the night in Sonoma. So we had at least another 2 hours of driving ahead of us.
Day two driving map: Santa Cruz to Oakland and on to Sonoma:
Sonoma
Our drive from Oakland to El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen in the "Valley of the Moon" took about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We were planning to have a gourmet dinner and spend the night here.
After checking in, we were able to forget about the car for a while and stroll everywhere. I recommend this location if you like exploring on foot.
Sonoma County always feels like I landed in another world. If you love nature, good food, and enjoy relaxing in beautiful surroundings, you’re going to adore it too. There are nearly 500 wineries here in Napa and Sonoma and I'm sure we could have spent a week here, easily! (see my day trip to Petaluma)
But we planned to do a lot more driving next day...
My highlight? The dinner at the girl & the fig on Sonoma Plaza. The starter was the fig and arugula salad, followed by duck confit over creamy polenta, paired with a local Rhône-style red. The rustic-chic setting with jazz in the background, made it a perfect wine country evening.
Liz and I both woke up early and decided to get an early start because we were about to do a lot of driving. Our next destination? Yosemite Valley, about 3.5 hours from where we were in Sonoma.
I wanted to see this mile-wide (and seven miles long!) valley and I wasn't disappointed. It was absolutely worth the drive. You get to see the famous granite domes. I recommend more than a day in Yosemite if your schedule permits.
Visiting Gold Rush towns in Calaveras County
We continued our drive towards Calaveras County because I've always found it to be one of NorCal’s most underrated spots. It was the opposite to all the touristy spots we saw so far.
Nestled in the Gold Countrys, Calaveras County has this High Sierra small-town feel. We went to Calaveras Big Trees State Park to see Giant Sequoias and spent the night at Arnold Meadowmont Lodge (rooms from $184).
See our day rhree driving map below (from Sonoma to Yosemite to Arnold Meadowmont Lodge)
If you’re up for a bit of adventure (and have the time), I highly recommend exploring the Mercer Caverns. There are some great lakes here too if you are into fishing.
Liz and I had to part ways next day in Sacramento (my #8 best place to visit in Northern California). Liz returned to Austin while I met up with Chris and our son where we spent another two exciting weeks in San Francisco, taking day trips around NorCal from our comfy base there.
Best Places to Visit in Northern California
Beyond this recent road trip with my friend Liz, over the years, we've enjoyed exploring many other destinations in Northern California. Here are my absolute favorite day trips when we were based in San Francisco for four weeks:
Aptos - 1 hour 30 minutes from San Francisco
We started our Aptos day trip driving along Highway 1, had early lunch, then drove inland to admire California's famous redwoods .
You can head to Seacliff State Beach where you can admire S.S. Palo Alto just offshore. From there, it’s easy to head along the sand to Rio del Mar or hike into the forest trails at The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, depending on your mood and energy level. Do you want open skies and blue ocean views or shaded creek-side trails with ferns? Or both? You can have both in Aptos.
What I loved best:
My personal highlight was dinner at The Hideout where Chris and I had amazing short ribs!
Pacific Grove - 2 hours from San Francisco
Just a 45-minute drove from our last stop in Aptos (or a 15-minute drive along the fabulously scenic coast from Carmel) is one of my favorite places to visit in Northern California: Pacific Grove! I love that the "Butterfly Town, U.S.A." (as it's nicknamed) feels like you've gone back in time.
Now, first things first, walk along the scenic Ocean View Boulevard, but be sure to stop at Lovers Point Park (look out for sea otters!). In the afternoon, explore the trails through Asilomar State Beach where we admired the dunes and tide pools with our son.
What I loved best:
On our winter trip, thousands of monarch butterflies gathered at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary.
A downside? Summer weekends are crowded and parking lots fill up quickly so be sure to get an early start.
San Francisco
The reason San Francisco is one of my favorite places on the West Coast to visit is because there are heaps of things to do here: iconic views, more museums than you can count, and great restaurants.
I still remember my very first visit decades ago and I want to mention it because it's a great alternative to driving! In fact, I have to warn you that driving is difficult in San Francisco. We took Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor from Sacramento to Emeryville (about 2 hours, $24), then hopped on the connecting Amtrak bus over the Bay Bridge into downtown San Francisco. The train ride was very scenic near the water.
Once we reached the city, we enjoyed a stroll through Yerba Buena Gardens, followed by lunch nearby at Rec Room by East Brother Beer Co. in downtown San Francisco located inside the Metreon.
After, we explored Golden Gate Park, a must-see place for sure.
In the evening, we made our way to Champagne Society, very stylish, a real standout for couples!
Local tip: Since there is so much to take in, joining a guided tour on your first San Francisco visit is a good idea. You can choose from food tours, history, photography tours and many more.
If you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, you can't go wrong with fresh seafood at the wharf and 3-Michelin-starred flavors at Benu in SoMa.
The Madrones in Anderson Valley - 2.5 hours north from San Francisco
For me, one of the absolute best parts of our road trip through Anderson Valley was discovering this hidden gem. You'll find it right off Highway 128 in Philo, California (Google Maps Pin).
If you are like me, you'll find it fascinating to learn from locals that vineyards here date back to the mid-1800s. It goes back to when European settlers planted grape vines along the Navarro River.
Things to Do in Petaluma - 1 hour from San Francisco
This Sonoma County town is one of my favorite vacation ideas on the romantic West Coast when I want a mix of incredible food, local wine, and easy outdoor adventure.
This time, I timed my trip for Butter & Egg Days, Petaluma’s spring parade celebrating its agricultural roots. Also, the Art & Garden Festival (free admission) filled downtown with music.
First, we strolled along Kentucky Street looking at antique shops and stopped at a local cafe.
Next, I loved the cheeses we picked up at Petaluma Creamery...Chris is still talking about the amazing flavors months later.
In the evening, our riverside walk was peaceful and romantic, followed by a candlelit dinner at Risibisi.
What I loved best:
Next day, we stopped by the Central Market, where local olive oil and heirloom produce were amazing.
Los Altos History Museum - 45 minutes from San Francisco
Ready to step back in time when you visit Silicon Valley? I love Los Altos History Museum so much because it's such a contrast to computers and everything digital that the valley is famous for. You'll find it just 20 minutes from San Jose, so it's a super underrated stop on your road trip that adds so much to the experience!
Located in a shaded corner of downtown Los Altos, Los Altos History Museum is a hidden gem that let us learn about the valley’s agricultural past in an interactive way.
What I loved best:
The museum is housed in a farmhouse-style building. The grounds are so beautiful (with gardens, exhibits, and shaded benches, my favorite)!
Sebastopol - 1 hour 15 minutes from San Francisco
This bohemian-spirited town in West Sonoma County is one of my favorite weekend getaways from San Francisco. You'll find incredible food, organic wineries, and beautiful outdoor spaces.
Enjoy wandering through The Barlow first thing, an open-air market district with artisan shops, craft breweries, and local food.
After, one of my favorite moments was walking among the art installations and murals around town. We stopped for lunch at Goldfinch where we shared plates and had a fun family meal.
What I loved best:
A drive through the apple orchards.
A downside? Mornings can be cool and foggy especially from fall through spring.
Plymouth, CA - 2 hours 15 minutes from San Francisco
This is one of my favorite places to visit in the Sierra Foothills for a last minute romantic weekend getaway from San Francisco!
First, Chris and I visited Iron Hub Winery. You'll find it set on a hilltop so it has these amazing panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards, a true hidden gem!
Next, we visited a small farms and olive oil producer, and enjoyed a short hike after.
What I loved best:
For me, Plymouth is one of the best places to visit in Northern California because it's slow-paced and unique.
On our autumn visit, the vineyards were turning shades of bronze and burgundy. The whole valley had that harvest-season glow, my personal highlight.
BTW, If you are looking for Southern and Central California destinations or California beaches, I recommend those articles as well.
Conclusion & Travel Planning
Best Time to Visit Northern California
While each season has its charms, if you want nice weather and fewest crowds, the best times to visit are May to June and September to October.
Worst Time to Visit Northern California
The least ideal time to visit is winter (December to February). Heavy rain makes travel uncomfortable. Plus, snow may close mountain roads. Also, if you go in late summer, keep an eye on the local news for warnings about wildfire smoke.
How to Get to Northern California
- By Air: Fly into San Francisco International (SFO), Oakland International (OAK), or Sacramento International (SMF).
- By Car: NorCal is perfect for scenic drives, with routes like Highway 1 along the rugged coast, US-101 through redwood country, and I-80 and I-5 connecting mountain and inland destinations.
- By Train: Amtrak routes such as the Capitol Corridor (Bay Area–Sacramento) and Coast Starlight (Los Angeles–Bay Area–Pacific Northwest) provide scenic rail options.
How to Get Around Northern California
Having a car is the easiest way to explore the county-side.
In cities, public transit options such as BART, Muni, ferries, and rideshares make getting around easier.
Booking Checklist
1. Book Your Flight - I use Expedia because I like their mobile app with my itinerary. They've helped me re-book flights on many occasions. Once you reach their Gold tier, support is especially good.
2. Book Your Hotel - I use Booking.com or Expedia, depending on my destination.
3. Book Your Rental Car - I use Expedia.
4. Book your tours on Viator or Get Your Guide.
5. If you are planning to visit more than three national parks in the next 12 months, we've found that buying the America the Beautiful Pass is cost effective.
