Northern California help

[melk]

We are tentatively planning a trip to Northern California this fall sometime. I hope people on this board could give me some suggestions.

We would like to spend some time in wine country but I’ve heard that Napa and Sonoma are very expensive so we would probably limit our time there. Are there wineries anywhere else, off the beaten path, that are worth visiting? We would also like to see redwoods as well as part of the coast. Is September very warm or should we do October or November?

Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated! We’ve already been to San Francisco and Yosemite so I think those will be off the table this trip. Thanks!

 

[bcla]

Sure wine country itself can be fairly expensive, but you don't necessarily have to stay there if you have a car. I've taken guests to wine country from home in the East Bay. The big thing is going to be the cost of lodging. Staying in Napa, Sonoma, or St Helena is going to be pricey. But it's cheaper in Santa Rosa or American Canyon. American Canyon might just be 25 minutes to Youtville, and it's a pretty nice drive too.

As far as redwoods go, there's going to be a much better experience further up north, although it takes several hours to get there. The time we went, even normally cheap motels were pretty pricey in Eureka and Arcata. But the best experience is going to be at Redwood National and State Parks. The trees are bigger, the crowds are smaller, and weather will be tolerable. We went during July and the temperatures were actually a bit cold. I would imagine it would be even cooler in fall.

As far as temperatures go overall, there's accounting for unusual weather, like the high temps we recently encountered in late winter. Fall can have "Indian summer" but it's unpredictable and it often cools just as soon as it heats up. Definitely dress in layers and be prepared to adjust how much you wear.

 

[China Expat]

Paso Robles is n wine country and has a lovely downtown and affordable hotels

 

[Psymonds]

We are tentatively planning a trip to Northern California this fall sometime. I hope people on this board could give me some suggestions.

We would like to spend some time in wine country but I’ve heard that Napa and Sonoma are very expensive so we would probably limit our time there. Are there wineries anywhere else, off the beaten path, that are worth visiting? We would also like to see redwoods as well as part of the coast. Is September very warm or should we do October or November?

Any other tips or suggestions would be appreciated! We’ve already been to San Francisco and Yosemite so I think those will be off the table this trip. Thanks!

If you can't do the trip to redwood NP, you can see huge trees at either Muir Woods or Armstrong State park, both are closer in.

There are also redwoods in oakland but they're less impressive than the old growth groves in those locations.

September is warm, october is 50/50. November can be sunny at the coast, but fall is generally a toss up, either gorgeous or warm rainy.


There are wineries all over: we go see wineries in Napa and Sonoma that aren't the "name" brand but long gone are the free tastings and free tours. Most wineries make more profit from visitors at the winery (and wine club sales) than in their distribution. If you have a favorite winery, just splurge and do that, then spend time in Calistoga, Napa and St Helena: its free to shop, only costs money if you buy stuff.
ETA: you can go see Healdsburg in Sonoma as an alternative to above. Then hit up Armstorng SP and guernville out to the coast.

ETETA: Santa Rosa has a bunch of normal hotels and is close to the center of the Sonoma County Wine Scene, it's a real city, etc, so you can get a Homewood Suites for cheap, it's just not a "quaint Sonoma inn"

 

[citruscurtis]

We are tentatively planning a trip to Northern California this fall sometime. I hope people on this board could give me some suggestions.

We would also like to see redwoods as well as part of the coast. Is September very warm or should we do October or November?

What are your previous Coast experiences as a traveler?

What have you heard or read about the California North Coast?

What do you wish to experience on the North California Coast,?

 

[melk]

What are your previous Coast experiences as a traveler?

What have you heard or read about the California North Coast?

What do you wish to experience on the North California Coast,?

Previously we drove from San Francisco down to Big Sur. I’ve heard the North CA coast is very pretty, we were hoping for a scenic drive. I wondered if Bodega Bay is worth a visit, I’m not a huge Hitchcock fan but have seen The Birds.

I do think the Redwood NP looks more north than we’ll really have time for.

 

[wabbott]

bookmark

 

[Psymonds]

Previously we drove from San Francisco down to Big Sur. I’ve heard the North CA coast is very pretty, we were hoping for a scenic drive. I wondered if Bodega Bay is worth a visit, I’m not a huge Hitchcock fan but have seen The Birds.

I do think the Redwood NP looks more north than we’ll really have time for.

Bodega bay is fun, and there are gorgeous short hikes at the bodega headlands. A couple of great crab sandwich places there on the marina side. The park on the spit has a beach. most of the beaches on that stretch are not safe to swim at, so having a safe beach is an oddity.

 

[cruisehopeful]

We did Henry Cowell State Park for redwoods and Santa Cruz Beach in the same day before. We drove, but there's actually a train from one to the other

Big Basin is another redwood park "nearby." I haven't been because there was a closed road when we tried to visit.

 

[Psymonds]

We did Henry Cowell State Park for redwoods and Santa Cruz Beach in the same day before. We drove, but there's actually a train from one to the other

Big Basin is another redwood park "nearby." I haven't been because there was a closed road when we tried to visit.

big basin is only partially open from a wildfire a few years back.

 

[bcla]

Previously we drove from San Francisco down to Big Sur. I’ve heard the North CA coast is very pretty, we were hoping for a scenic drive. I wondered if Bodega Bay is worth a visit, I’m not a huge Hitchcock fan but have seen The Birds.

I do think the Redwood NP looks more north than we’ll really have time for.

Yeah. The north coast was a bucket list item for us. I say that as someone who had a Muir Woods annual pass and enjoyed the experience. But it was crazy finding parking, to the point where they require parking and public transit reservations now. If someone can just drop you off at the entrance there's no reservation needed. But I wasn't kidding about the size of the trees. The largest redwoods in Muir Woods are in the low 200 ft range. At Redwood National/State Parks they can get over 300 feet and the tallest tree is close to 400 feet, although the location isn't public. And once I just dropped into an almost empty parking lot, and it was maybe one of a dozen places we could have stopped.

I don't know about Bodega Bay. I have gone there a few times, but I didn't really find it all that interesting. Point Reyes National Seashore is more interesting to me.

https://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm

 

[bcla]

We did Henry Cowell State Park for redwoods and Santa Cruz Beach in the same day before. We drove, but there's actually a train from one to the other

Big Basin is another redwood park "nearby." I haven't been because there was a closed road when we tried to visit.

It's been explained to me that the trees up north have the genetic potential to be taller. Also the weather supposedly provides more moisture up north.

But yeah - I remember taking the kiddo to visit Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railway, but Cowell was next door and we took a trip around that short loop before heading out. Roaring Camp used to be a logging camp where the trains were originally there to facilitate the hauling of logs. But there are still old growth trees there.

 

[bcla]

If you can't do the trip to redwood NP, you can see huge trees at either Muir Woods or Armstrong State park, both are closer in.

There are also redwoods in oakland but they're less impressive than the old growth groves in those locations.

September is warm, october is 50/50. November can be sunny at the coast, but fall is generally a toss up, either gorgeous or warm rainy.


There are wineries all over: we go see wineries in Napa and Sonoma that aren't the "name" brand but long gone are the free tastings and free tours. Most wineries make more profit from visitors at the winery (and wine club sales) than in their distribution. If you have a favorite winery, just splurge and do that, then spend time in Calistoga, Napa and St Helena: its free to shop, only costs money if you buy stuff.
ETA: you can go see Healdsburg in Sonoma as an alternative to above. Then hit up Armstorng SP and guernville out to the coast.

ETETA: Santa Rosa has a bunch of normal hotels and is close to the center of the Sonoma County Wine Scene, it's a real city, etc, so you can get a Homewood Suites for cheap, it's just not a "quaint Sonoma inn"

The population center of Sonoma County are around Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, and Petaluma. But sometimes I just like saying Cotati. And around there it's often beer, like Lagunitas in Petaluma or Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa/Windsor.

As far as wineries go, there are vineyards and wineries all around California. Livermore has a bunch like Wente. Or Lodi. I would have thought that the old Paul Masson Winery would have been the most famous in California. Of course it's now the Mountain Winery performance venue.

There are also some boutique wineries in the Bay Area. Like a few around Berkeley like Donkey & Goat or Broc.

But the large majority of wine grapes in California are grown in the Central Valley. Heck - Gallo is the biggest wine producer in the world. I don't think they're really all that interesting to visit other than maybe around Lodi.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Paso Robles is n wine country and has a lovely downtown and affordable hotels

^ This
Paso and Atascadero have lovely little downtown areas, and staying there is very affordable compared to Sonoma. It does get hot there, but, good news, go south on the 101, down Cuesta Grade and that puts you in San Luis Obispo which is easily 20 degrees cooler. That is a top-rated (not just me saying it, though I do love my Alma Mater!) college town that is quiet, if not vacant in the summer when all the kids go home. The coastline is a short drive north or south from there. Pismo and Avila to the south are sunnier, though Pismo does get windy nearly every day. Go north to Morro Bay and it's a lot foggier and cooler. Cambria is another 20 miles up the coast and is the jumping-off point if you want to do the drive up to Big Sur. Hearst Castle is in San Simeon and that may be the best representation of true, "old Hollywood" still around - well worth a visit.

If you want to mix in a day in Monterey and see the aquarium, it is actually very doable from Paso Robles. Monterey is very expensive, and the aquarium does not take a full day. It's about a 2 hour drive from Atascadero, so if you get up early, you can have breakfast in Monterey, see the entire aquarium, and be back in Paso Robles (or Atascadero, or San Luis Obispo) in time for dinner. If you want to stay in a place that is on the water, there are much cheaper, and IMHO better options in Pismo, Morro Bay and Cambria, than you will find in Monterey.

One final note - Pinnacles National Park is outside of King City, just North of Atascadero and is often overlooked. It's home to the California Condor and there are some easy-ish hikes on either side of the park that will allow you to see pretty much the whole thing in a couple of days.

 

[melk]

As far as wineries go, there are vineyards and wineries all around California. Livermore has a bunch like Wente. Or Lodi. I would have thought that the old Paul Masson Winery would have been the most famous in California. Of course it's now the Mountain Winery performance venue.

I was unaware of this performance venue. Looks like a cool place to see a concert so I checked out their schedule. Might be fun to add into our agenda, thanks!

 

[G'sMaman]

Stay in the Healdsburg/Santa Rosa area (just north of San Francisco) and explore the wineries in that area. Downtown Healdsbury is charming, with everything from casual spots to Michelin-starred restaurants.

From Healdsburg, I’d plan a long day trip, especially if you’re short on time, to drive the Avenue of the Giants. It’s absolutely not to be missed! You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time into a primeval forest. You’ll see both towering coast redwoods, the really tall, slender ones, and massive sequoias with enormous trunks. There are plenty of spots to pull over for short hikes, and the visitor center at the start of the drive is really informative.

Nearby, Santa Rosa is home to Russian River Brewing Company. Even if you’re not a big beer person, it’s worth a stop. Beer lovers will definitely recognize the name for their famous Pliny the Younger.

You’re also within easy driving distance of the coast. If you have time, the Jenner Beach area is beautiful, with dramatic rocky shoreline views. You’ll pass through the quirky town of Guerneville, and Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is along the way, though I’d skip it if you’re already doing Avenue of the Giants.

Happy to answer any questions. It really is such a beautiful part of the country!

 

[bcla]

Nearby, Santa Rosa is home to Russian River Brewing Company. Even if you’re not a big beer person, it’s worth a stop. Beer lovers will definitely recognize the name for their famous Pliny the Younger.

Russian River Brewing in Windsor has expanded their production and overall a nicer place. In Santa Rosa it feels like a neighborhood bar, but in Windsor it feels like a winery. Plus there's free parking at their place in Windsor.

 

[bcla]

From Healdsburg, I’d plan a long day trip, especially if you’re short on time, to drive the Avenue of the Giants. It’s absolutely not to be missed! You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time into a primeval forest. You’ll see both towering coast redwoods, the really tall, slender ones, and massive sequoias with enormous trunks. There are plenty of spots to pull over for short hikes, and the visitor center at the start of the drive is really informative.

They don't have sequoias. Their natural range is in the Sierra Nevada. I have seen planted sequoias near sea level, but I don't believe they have any at Avenue of the Giants.

 

[G'sMaman]

Russian River Brewing in Windsor has expanded their production and overall a nicer place. In Santa Rosa it feels like a neighborhood bar, but in Windsor it feels like a winery. Plus there's free parking at their place in Windsor.

Yes, good point. The brewery in Windsor offers a tour/tasting for around $20 which I thought was nicely done. The other location in Santa Rosa (they are about 10 miles apart) is just a pub/restaurant.

 

[G'sMaman]

They don't have sequoias. Their natural range is in the Sierra Nevada. I have seen planted sequoias near sea level, but I don't believe they have any at Avenue of the Giants.

It all gets very confusing! The trees there are coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), which I believe are actually in the sequoia genus, while the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) are a different but related species found naturally in the Sierra Nevada mountains.