RV/Camping: Lassen Volcanic National Park – if possible stay in the park! So come dressed in the right clothes! 10 Things to do this weekend in Northern California | November 22-24 This weekend is chock full of festival, craft shows and other events sure to get you into the holiday spirit! If you are looking for nature and relaxation this is the place for you. This is the place!! California is well-known throughout the United States as one of the most diverse ecosystems. If you’re planning a trip to Northern California, make the most of your visit and add these popular destinations to your itinerary. This was a fun campground with an area to put tubes in the creek and ride it down about a 100 yards and then get out and walk back up to do it all over again! 10 Unusual and Cool Things to do in California. Related: Best Things to Do in Northern California. Visit Santa Cruz, Oakland, Sacramento, Napa and other unique destinations. With such diverse terrain, it’s not surprising that this region offers practically an endless number of things to do. A beautiful state park area that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco and Yosemite and out in the middle of nowhere. See more ideas about Northern california, California, California travel. California is a state where you can shake hands with Mickey Mouse and touch an Orca whale in the same day. Consider booking a day tour of the best wineries in the area! You can probably guess that our favorite things to do in NorCal revolve around flying, but we’re open-minded enough to make a few more suggestions to help fill out the feet-on-the-ground part of your fun. Read the article to know various fun things to do in California. They include sights, landscapes, restaurants, parks, and hotels. Mendocino may be a small village in Northern California but it has plenty to do, in many cases more than a town would. Interested in skiing more of the United States? In the coastal town of Klamath, these trees have somehow grown into odd and downright strange shapes and formations. Sure, you could visit some of the more normal sights and attractions in Northern California. It was a beautiful beach area – though very dangerous so don’t plan to get in the water! In Northern California, we are lucky to have seasons that change throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean we let the weather get in the way of our adventures. One of our family’s travel bucket list goals is to see all 50 states , so of course, we were excited to hit the Golden State and experience all of the things to do with family in Northern California. Check them out here. Check them out here. We did end up with a few bumped heads and scraped knees, but it was totally doable without all the gear. One of many travelers biggest dreams is to visit California, and jump head first into all the great things to do in California. There are also great children’s museums and other museums to visit in the city along with the awe-inspiring Muir Woods and Point Reyes Seashore just a short drive outside of the city across the Golden Gate bridge. Egg Vending Machine, 3100 Valencia Rd, Aptos, CA 95003, USA, A post shared by Lynne (@cycloexplorer) on Oct 28, 2017 at 6:32pm PDT. This included rebuilding the 1911 water tower into the shape of an actual coffee pot. It looks like the planet is getting sucked into itself – 100% mesmerizing! Map to recommended offbeat attractions, and road trip sights -- museums, monuments, tourist traps, folk art, pet cemeteries. This magnificent Redwood forest is extremely popular due to its excellent trails, views and unique history. 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. The most famous, and the oldest, national park in the world, Yosemite National Park in north California is 1,200 square miles of some of nature’s most beautiful creations, from deep valleys, wildflower-covered meadows, and 3,000-year-old giant sequoias to the vast High Sierra Mountains wilderness and thundering waterfalls that dry up in August, and so much more. Maybe you're a contrarian vacationer who'd rather see things others miss. This site uses cookies. 10 Fun Things to do in Northern California with Kids. Whether you are looking to explore the California beaches and looking to explore the incredible forests of California, there is … Worlds Largest Swedish Coffee Pot #kingsburg #kingsburgca #worldslargest #swedishcoffeepot #watertowers #coffeepot #coffeepots #swedishcoffeepotwatertower #watertower #roadsideamerica #roadsideamericana #roadsidepeek #roadsideattraction #roadsideattractions #bigstuff #bigthings, A post shared by David Kamada (@david_k747) on Aug 6, 2016 at 2:10pm PDT. This is one of the most unique states on the US mainland. You may get lucky and see a game happening right then and there. Top Things to do in California Conclusion. Airbnb: There are so many great Airbnb options in San Francisco too! If you are a beer person you don’t want to miss Russian River. The Trees of Mystery, 15500 U.S. 101, Klamath, CA 95548, USA, Paul Bunyan & Babe The Blue Ox Ι © get directly down/Flickr. We stayed at a campground that had a fun rapids/stream/river that the kids played in for hours. But Yosemite camping is totally worth it! Pygmy Forest is a complete wonder where there are tons of tiny 100-year-old trees. If you are looking for fun things that are not tourist stops. Looking for an overnight getaway that’s a little out of the ordinary? Sightseeing & landmarks. It was really cool to walk down into the cave, walk around it and come back out to the bright sunshine. But we did it all with only flashlights. You’ve read that right, there’s a real vending machine that dispenses very real eggs. There are so many things to do in Northern California that you could very easily decide that you need to move here to complete them all. An interesting city for sure! California is a state of many beautiful things. There is a 2 mile loop you can drive that has 20+ caves you can explore! Katie Dowd is the SFGATE Managing Editor. We didn’t recommend a hotel since this stop is all about the state park campground! We had heard Yosemite was amazing and they were right! It was a really cool experience and if you have a group that can crawl under low openings I would highly recommend it! From waterfalls to volcanos and lava tube caves, there is an abundance of epic things to do in Northern California. This state seriously has it all! Most people who visit California think Hollywood and go south. Here is a map of the locations we will visit: Here is an interactive map with most of the stops (Google didn’t let me add all of them on the interactive one): https://goo.gl/maps/6wEYYPEtr1aaTeqv6. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. We will start at the southern part of northern California and make our way from San Francisco up to the Oregon border. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. But if you’ve missed the festival this year, don’t fret, Garlic World is open all year-round. RV/Camping: Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous tourist attractions in California. We have listed the top 50 things to do across the Golden State including Southern California, the Central and Northern California Coast, the high Sierra’s and the Southern California desert area’s. But back to the beer. A very well-known and interesting attraction of Northern California is the Old Faithful Geyser. Northern California is a magical destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers. RV/Camping: Red Wood Coast Cabin and RV is the campground we stayed at when we visited the Redwoods and Arcata. I thought it was like other National Parks where you went to the Visitor Center and then followed a map around the National Park. If you’re visiting California and wondering what the best things to do are then you must see this California bucket list. California’s, Outsiders may laugh but in Northern California, there’s a pretty massive, Boardwalk path through the Pygmy forest, Van Damme State Park Ι, A very well-known and interesting attraction of Northern California is the. It would make a great RV road trip! After the Redwoods we headed inland to what was named: The Most Beautiful Waterfall in California – McArthur Burney Falls. We have reviews of the best places to see in California. Not quite. If you are doing the more difficult ones I can see why you need all that. By Niraj Kakade on Jan 29, 2019 * Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and book something (there is never any extra cost to you for using these links). Known as the garlic capital of the world, the town if Gilroy even holds an annual garlic festival, complete with garlic ice cream. It is located in Eureka. Northern California would be fun to explore by car but we have to say we are partial to RV travel! Things to do in Northern California Explore the Lake Shasta Caverns. After conquering that one we felt like we could do a hard level cave. Check them out here. Learn more about visiting Lake Tahoe in Summer here: 24 Spectacular Things To Do In Lake Tahoe This Summer. This wrapped up our North California trip and next we headed into Oregon! California local, Constance from The Adventures of Panda Bear, shares some fun things to do in Northern California.. California is well-known throughout the United States as one of the most diverse ecosystems. By Daisy Barringer. California really has amazing National Parks! RV/Camping: San Francisco RV Park – Basically a parking lot, but you can walk to a bus stop that will take you to the Metra that you can take into the city. You can also camp here and the campground was beautiful and the spots were big with plenty of room. If you love mountains, national parks, hiking, and sweeping vistas, you’re going to love Northern California! Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park Just 45 minutes north of Eureka, the largest coastal city in Northern California is Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. Check out the Airbnb options by and in Yosemite. It is also a pretty beach area and nice to just sit and look out over the ocean. If you like garlic, you’ll think you’ve had died and gone to a very pungent afterlife when you visit here. After coming from Yosemite this was so nice!! It doesn’t quite look like what it does in the pictures. It is definitely a place to stop and take the short hike down to the waterfall. This was is ranked as a medium difficulty trail. We have 25 unique destinations waiting to be discovered. All aboard! One day was spent just walking around by Pier 39, going up the crookedest street in America, and checking out the botanical gardens. Prairie Creek Redwoods offers more than just towering trees; there are giant ferns, scenic drives, hiking trails, and an opportunity to see Roosevelt elk in their natural habitat. See the latest prices. Hundreds of feet inside the McCloud Limestone Mountain Range are the alluring and mysterious Lake Shasta Caverns. Check out: Stunning Spots You Must See In Northern California. Queen Califia Magical Circle This sculpture garden located in the north part of San Diego County is only open a few days a week, but it is a blast to explore. But there are a lot more things to do in California, many more places to visit than just Hollywood. In San Francisco, the wave organ was artistically installed right along the bay. Ridgecrest:the town of Ridgecrest seldom gets noticed, it’s typically just a quick stop on your way to other places in the deserts. It’s cute, it’s caring, and is worth stopping and taking a quick photo. If you like garlic, you’ll think you’ve had died and gone to a very pungent afterlife when you visit here. But don’t let this stop you from going. Check them out here. I set out on a road trip voyage to discover the unique places to visit in California. It is also home to the popular Golden Gate Bridge. That sent us to Hercules Leg and Juniper Cave. Check out this great post: The Ultimate Guide To National Parks in Northern California. A very well-known and interesting attraction of Northern California is the Old Faithful Geyser. This geyser, located in Calistoga, is a natural wonder that steadily erupts every handful of minutes or so with tall streams of mist. Discover 1217 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in California from The Wave Organ to The El Segundo Butterfly Preserve . Joe Parks / Flickr. Here’s a list of some legitimately fun things that will get you out and about but won’t cost a thing. But you can check out this link to learn more about the options, Stunning Spots You Must See In Northern California. I love how family travel is such an amazing way to deepen your family bond! Fort Bragg has a pleasant, mild climate all year and is perfect for a few days getaway. New Year's Eve in the Rest of California Sacramento: The state capital hosts two fireworks displays during their year-end Sky Spectacular : an early one accompanied by family-friendly tunes and a midnight show with rock music. You can also use the guide to New Year's Eve in San Francisco to find parties and other great things to do for non-dancers and non-drinkers. Whether it is a hike, a restaurant, or just a collection of odd things, this list is dedicated to the unique stuff I have found in Southern California (from Kern County down). 10 Fun Things to do in Northern California with Kids If you love mountains, national parks, hiking, and sweeping vistas, you’re going to love Northern California! Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. I grew up in that area as a kid and wouldn’t trade it. RV/Camping: Russian Gulch State Park is the campground we stayed at when we visited Fort Bragg and Glass Beach. Some of these places are popular already by the travelers who come to these rural areas, and some are just regular local places, not on any tourist trail. Then stopped at the second visitor center to sit out on the patio and have some beer and ice cream. RV/Camping: Campground By The Lake – Located right across from the Lake in South Lake Tahoe this is a beautiful campground to stay at. 10 Legitimately Fun Things You Can Do In Northern California Without Spending A Dime. Golden Gate Bridge. Located in Ramona, It bills itself as “an oasis from the ordinary”’, and that’s the truth. “House on the Hill,” Sathish J. California local, Constance from The Adventures of Panda Bear, shares some fun things to do in Northern California. If you’re planning a trip to Northern California, make the most of your visit and add these popular destinations to your itinerary. From waterfalls to volcanos and lava tube caves, there is an abundance of epic things to do in Northern California. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. RV/Camping: McArthur-Burney Falls Campground is the campground we stayed at when we visited the falls and also Lassen (it was about an hour drive to get to Lassen from here. Over the last 30 days, unique hotels in California have been available starting from $113, though prices have typically been closer to $189. I’m excited to have my good friend, Evi on the blog today! We ended up doing the Fern Canyon hike which was amazing since it is where they filmed part of the 3rd Jurassic Park movie! We did make it on our big California trip a few weeks ago to visit him at Stanford’s graduate school of business, and thanks to all of your fabulous suggestions, we had the best time! We pulled in to camp here and it was another beautiful and peaceful spot. It didn’t disappoint. The Lake Berryessa Glory Hole was built as a drain system to keep the lake’s water from flooding over the dam. RV/Camping: Lava Beds Campground. There is a creek running through the park, a trail at the back end of the park and a beautiful beach that you can walk to. Then heading over to Chinatown where we literally felt like we were in China. Hidden gems from San Francisco to the high Sierra, California north coat to Monterey Bay. Katie Dowd. Having a Pliny The Elder out of the tap was a highlight of our California trip for Craig and we went home with a case and a t-shirt! In this blog, we’ll tell you about four unique places in Northern California you must see! This list features lesser-known travel destinations in Northern California. Up for even more of an adventure think about renting an RV for your trip! We’ve compiled a list of Northern California’s most unusual attractions that you’ve got to see to believe. It was yummy and a great place to bring the kids along to hang out, play games and listen to music while I tried a flight of Cider beer. One of our family’s travel bucket list goals is to see all 50 states, so of course, we were excited to hit the Golden State and experience all of the things to do with family in Northern California.