Northern California- Favorite Spots?

[Brojoef]

We are planning a road trip/camping trip this summer and would love any advice on "the must see" places to stop along the way. We are considering San Francisco, Mendocino, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and maybe Sacramento area (Gold Country)

We will be driving from Portland, Oregon along I-5 South.

Please let me know if you have advice, favorite spots, camp grounds (we will have a travel trailer) Our kids are 13,8,3,3

Thank you!

 

[bcla]

In Sacramento I'd recommend a visit to Old Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum.

I'd point out that Sacramento itself isn't exactly "Gold Country" although parts of the greater Sacramento area are, like Folsom and Folsom Lake. Also - having spent some time in the area, it gets hot during the summer around the Central Valley all the way from Redding to Bakersfield.

If you're going down I-5 - then definitely the Harry & David Factory Tour in Medford. Maybe stop at Weed and have a good look at Mt Shasta. I loved the Sundial Bridge in Redding, and the kids would probably love the rest of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

http://www.harryanddavid.com/h/view/tours
http://www.turtlebay.org/

 

[usnuzuloose]

Sacramento gets very hot in the summer. You can also visit the State Capital. Old Sacramento has the Rail Road museum. If you want gold country you need to head up the 50 toward Lake Tahoe. Placerville is full of history. You can see the Gold Bug mine. It is an actual mine you can walk through.

With our drought Folsom lake uncovered an mine town, called Mormon Island, but since we finally got some rain it has been under water again. Placerville has some nice old shops. You can bring your own gold mine pans and try and pan for gold.

 

[southlakejr]

Sacramento area can get very hot in summer, but is usually only unbearable for a week or so out of each summer.

If you are going that way, might I suggest the Lake Tahoe region? It's a gorgeous area, lots of camping, and the weather is absolutely beautiful in summer. I'm not as well versed in the North Shore area, but lived in South Shore for several years so I would be happy to point you to anything in that area that interested you.

 

[barkley]

We are planning a road trip/camping trip this summer and would love any advice on "the must see" places to stop along the way. We are considering San Francisco, Mendocino, Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, and maybe Sacramento area (Gold Country)

We will be driving from Portland, Oregon along I-5 South.

Please let me know if you have advice, favorite spots, camp grounds (we will have a travel trailer) Our kids are 13,8,3,3

Thank you!

if you're heading over to Mendocino anyway-I'd suggest you go another 10 miles further to fort bragg. it's a cool little town and the home of the skunk train. the half day round trip ride on it is relaxing and enjoyable-and you get to ride through some beautiful wooded areas. as far as camp grounds-look early for these b/c they can be booked up months in advance along the coast.

depending on how you coordinate your sacramento/san Francisco leg of the trip (if you go down I-80)-the Jelly Belly Factory is in Fairfield. The tour is neat (free samples) and it's a nice place to sit and relax for a break with the kiddos.

 

[Butterfly123]

We love camping at Jedediah Smith Redwoods...we've done it twice, and are heading back there this summer...stopping on the way to Crater Lake. It is a beautiful area, and a really nice campground right by the river.

 

[BSOGfam]

If you take 101 north from Mendocino to Jedediah Smith, you will have a beautiful drive. It's one of the prettiest. Also, you can catch Trees of Mystery. It can be a fun stop. Have a great trip!

 

[GatorChris]

If you come to CA and skip Yosemite, you've missed everything. Try to get a day over there. It's beautiful.

Also, head over to Monterey. We just stayed there (Pacific Grove). You can hit the wharf and have awesome clam chowder in a bread bowl. The weather is awesome: usually 70 degrees in the summer. There's also 17 Mile Drive which takes you along Pebble Beach. It costs $10 to drive it, but it beyond worth it.

 

[Pucka1378]

Ditto Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel.... with the travel trailer you can stay at the monterey fair grounds(if they don't have anything going on a the time you are there) it is a no frills place but you are actually in Monterey and close with car to the beaches, aquarium, cannery row etc.

My kids love doing the Jelly Belly Factory tour in Fairfield(check their tour calendar factory will be closed down for a couple of weeks... you can still do the tour they just show video instead of getting to see the actual workers doing their job).

 

[Plutofan]

If you can make it to Santa Rosa our family had a great time spending the night and doing a safari at Safari West.

http://www.safariwest.com/

 

[Pucka1378]

We just drove from Gilroy, CA to Jacksonville, OR.

On the way up we stopped at the Jelly Belly Factory for the tour in Fairfield, CA tour is free... we took the 5 up.

ETA we did do the Harry and David tour and it was pretty good. They charge you $5 per person over the age of 12.


On the way back we took 101 and stopped at the Trees of Mystery and that was a nice time. You get some history, a bit of hiking and there is a sky trail(like a gondola) to ride up and had some great views.

We also did the Avenue of the Giants and drove through a redwood.

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

Coloma for gold rush...camp lotus for camping

 

[usnuzuloose]

Coloma for gold rush...camp lotus for camping

There is the Gold Discovery park you can drive through. We went for a drive last weekend through there. Love it.