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Northern California

Northern California is positively stuffed with cool places to visit. Whether you want to go forest bathing in the coast redwoods, do a wine tasting tour or go skiing in Lake Tahoe, we've got you covered. These Northern California destinations will help you fulfill a weekend getaway or a longer California vacation.

4 Cool Northern California Regions to Visit

At 163,000 square miles, Northern California is a huge territory. And while this can seem overwhelming, it also presents a great opportunity. NorCal's terrain varies widely, spoiling you with it's unparalleled nature and cool metropolitan experiences. Here are four California regions with a bit about what makes them special.

The San Francisco Bay Area

The Bay Area was fueled by California's gold rush and that entrepreneurial spirit is still alive today. And sure, there's Silicon Valley, but there is also a lot of cool culture, wine tasting, redwoods and some lovely coastline...all within 20 miles of the San Francisco airport. You can explore the Bay Area's cutest coastal town by visiting Half Moon Bay, explore surf culture in Santa Cruz or take a scenic and historic hike on SF's Lands End.

The North Coast Redwoods

There are only three types of giant redwoods and two of them are only found in Northern California. The Coast and Giant Sequoia Redwoods found in Northern California are some of the tallest trees in the world...and they smell good too. You can see them by taking a multi-day redwoods road trip which transits three scenic byways and 9 key redwood state and national parks. Or you could visit individual parks like Hendy Woods and Van Damme, which are near Mendocino.

The Central Coast

The Central Coast presents a perfect opportunity for folks who like their wine tasting with a side of nature (or perhaps their nature with a glass of wine?) There are laid back beach towns like Cayucos, quirky hippie towns like Harmony and California's best coastline along Big Sur. And the Paso Robles wine growing regions has tons of fun wineries and even a distillery trail.

Lake Tahoe Basin

Lake Tahoe is California's most popular playground. During the summer, you can play on it's beaches, hike the Donner Tunnels or take the scenic drive around the lake. In the winter, you can explore the ski resorts or find fun winter activities, even if you don't ski. And after all of that, you can rehydrate at one of Tahoe's many breweries.

Round-ups of Popular Northern California Destinations

Northern California coastal towns: Trinidad beach at dusk

Chill & Charming Northern California Coastal Towns

These 12 towns feature gob smacking, jaw dropping coastline with beaches, craggy cliffs, river estuaries and redwood forests.

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Hippie towns in California green vintage van

10 Hippie Towns in California

San Francisco was ground zero for the Summer of Love, so it's no wonder that 8 of these 10 hippie towns are in NorCal.

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All 43 Redwood Parks in California

ALL of California's Coast Redwoods and Giant Sequoia are located in Northern California....and our guide will make you want to go now!

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Visit San Francisco

Cool places in SF: Embarcadero heart sculpture

Local's Guide to Non-Touristy SF


Best View of Golden Gate Bridge: Welcome Center

How to Visit The Golden Gate Bridge (Full Guide)


Where to stay in San Francisco - Virgin hotel room

Where to Stay in SF


The Best of the Central Coast

Bixby Bridge Big Sur road trip. art deco bridge

How to Do Big Sur in a Day


17 mile drive Carmel California Cypress tree- carmel day trip

Carmel Getaway Guide


Cayucos beach and pier with surfers at sunset

Cayucos Getaway Guide


Explore Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay Scenic Lake Tahoe Drive lake and pine trees

13 Key Stops on the Lake Tahoe Scenic Drive


Lake Tahoe in winter Emerald Bay. lake, snow and pines

Lake Tahoe Winter Fun Guide


South Lake Tahoe brewery - Sidellis. Beer pint

Lake Tahoe Brewery Guide


Peruse the Blog Roll for More Northern California Destinations

Where to Find Pretty Mosaic Stairs in SF

Last Modified: April 22, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Mosaic steps SF: 16th street mosaic steps

Your full guide to finding lovely mosaic steps in SF. Get the backstory on the tiled staircases and get tips for visiting, parking and public transportation.

The Closest Airport to Sonoma, California (With Trip Planning Tips)

Last Modified: May 5, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Sonoma County airport tower. STS airport

Figure out the best and closest airport to Sonoma to serve your upcoming trip. This thorough guide also offers rental car and trip planning resources.

San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip Itinerary: Explore the Scenic Backroads

Last Modified: February 20, 2022 by Carol Guttery

San Francisco to Yosemite road trip: Yosemite bridal veil falls

Your full guide for a San Francisco to Yosemite road trip, featuring the National Park plus Native American culture, gold rush history, cool hikes and culinary tourism.

The Closest Airports to Lake Tahoe (With Trip Planning Tips)

Last Modified: January 4, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Lake Tahoe shoreline and rocks

Figure out the best and closest airport to Lake Tahoe to serve your upcoming trip. This thorough guide also offers rental car and trip planning resources.

Find the Best Hiking in Half Moon Bay: 11 Trails for all Levels

Last Modified: December 24, 2021 by Carol Guttery

Half Moon Bay Hiking Trails: Pillar Point trail beach and bluff

Find the best hiking in Half Moon Bay, California. This guide has 11 awesome hikes of varying distances and difficulty but they also have eye-popping landscape views.

San Francisco to Lake Tahoe Road Trip: 2 Routes with Key Stops

Last Modified: December 22, 2021 by Carol Guttery

San-Francisco to Lake Tahoe. SF skyline and Tahoe rocks and lake

Head from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe with this detailed road trip guide. Get routing suggestions from SF to Tahoe with ideas for fun stops along the way.

16 Fun Things to Do in The Presidio of San Francisco

Last Modified: December 19, 2021 by Carol Guttery

The Presidio National Park sign

Explore San Francisco’s Presidio National Park site. Find cool things to do in The Presidio like hiking, beaches, golfing, bridge views, quirky attractions, public art and nature.

The Closest Airport to Fort Bragg & Mendocino (With Trip Planning Tips)

Last Modified: March 18, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Mendocino Coast Point Cabrillo lighthouse

Figure out the best and closest airport to Fort Bragg and the Mendocino coast to serve your upcoming trip. This thorough guide also offers rental car and trip planning resources.

Why and How to Visit the John Muir National Historic Site

Last Modified: February 20, 2022 by Carol Guttery

John Muir Historic Site home exterior

Visit the John Muir National Historic site in Martinez, CA. Learn about Muir’s conservation legacy, his family and his ranch. This guide offers practical advice on how to visit.

Why & How to Visit the Trees of Mystery (+ Get Yelled At By Paul Bunyon)

Last Modified: November 24, 2021 by Carol Guttery

The Trees of Mystery California- sign

Trees of Mystery in Klamath, CA is a cool roadside attraction that celebrates coast redwoods. This guide offers practical advice on how and why to visit.

All 33 California National Parks: Full Guide and Map

Last Modified: May 19, 2022 by Carol Guttery

California National Parks: El Capitan in Yosemite

Get inspired to visit California’s national parks. This guide lists ALL 33 national park sites in California with park info, activity ideas and a map.

Van Damme State Park: Hiking & Camping Guide

Last Modified: January 20, 2022 by Carol Guttery

Van Damme State Park Fern Canyon hike. woman hiking on bridge

This guide has everything you need to know to hike and camp in Van Damme State Park. Enjoy the Coast Redwoods and fern canyon in lovely Mendocino County.

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Carol Guttery Welcome to California Crossings, your gateway to the Golden State. I'm Carol, your friendly travel buddy, here to help you plan an extraordinary California vacation. Visit the about page for more info and resources.

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