Things to do in Northern California?

[scaredychicken]

it has been 25 yrs since i was in California, but Northern California really appealed to me.

Former girlfriend was from Visalia, not too far from Fresno. Nice area. Went with her family to the Sequoia National Forest (awesome).

Sacramento - The Train Museum - terrific, esp if you like trains as I do

San Francisco - fascinating, the streets, trolleys, the bridges, and Alcatraz

Crescent City - went camping here for the weekend once (from BC, Canada) it was great. My kinda town, fishing off the pier.

Monterey Bay Aquarium - I've been to many many aquariums, this is my Favourite. (Scripps Aquarium was also great)

enjoy your travels

 

[Sigarms]

Did your kid like it?

Very much so. He had to get some pics for his friends with him in the picture and he had some good smiles lol

Thing is, I think we ran him to hard.

He doesn’t know what jet lag is, we got in Monday, had a pretty long day Tuesday at Calaveras big tree state park, then Ebbitts (sp?) pass, then a quick recoup and then drive to Fresno.

Yesterday got picked up at 0500, and by 3pm, he was starting to get a headache. Got back to Fresno around 6, he got into bed and has been sleeping since.

Lucky me, I’m back to being up between being up between 4-5 am now.

In defense of my son, even for us yesterday when we got back, let’s just say we were getting weary and a little worn.

Today we’re just going to rest and drive back to Angels camp. It looks like Sequoia National park has a strike going on with transportation along with some trails closed (just like Calaveras big tree state park had).

We’re we’re lucky at Yosemite because

1- it was a Wednesday

2- We got to the park very early

3- Our guide grew up literally in the valley next to Half dome (she pointed out the house she used to live in in the valley lol), whose parents worked for park service as she grew up, and was in a high school Graduating class of 2. She’s probably as local as you can get. Seemed like a lot of people who worked in the park knew her pretty well. She was a fantastic guide and gave us so much information the whole day it was unbelievable. She used to do horse riding tours in the park as well and has done her fair share of hikes in the park. Our God was really looking out for us when we got her. I’d guess she’s in her mid 20’s and she has no intention of leaving.

She also mentioned we were lucky because she normally doesn’t work weekends, and she got called in on week on a Saturday recently to fill in for someone, and she couldn’t even find a place to park with the van. Lucky us we were able to park everywhere she wanted to show us. My wife and I agreed she was truly one of the best guides we ever came across who loved what she was doing.

I do find it amazing that some people don’t understand that when you take a guided tour, and your guide is great at what they do and they literally spend 8 hours with you and can give you so much info as well as answer any questions, you tip accordingly. Sometimes the money you’re tipped actually makes the job financially feasible.

The park is really awe inspiring, my only issue is I’m not a big people person and crowds aren’t my thing lol. My wife commented that we will need to go back, just not in the summer months lol.

Pic of the day yesterday taken at Bridelveil (sp?) falls . Apologies, just scratching my head..

 

[Sigarms]

This may be a dumb question, but is it generally hotter in Fresno than LA?

Breakfast at hotel, calling for a high of 103f. I thought LA would be cooking, but LA’s high is mid 90’s.

I’d just figure further south it’s going to be warmer. I’d think Fresno would be higher in elevation (along with way north of LA) temps would be cooler in Fresno.

Or is this just an odd day?

 

[Hughman]

LA has a big heat sink called the Pacific Ocean. The central valley from Grapevine to Redding cooks like a brick oven. I think we have been 105-107 the last couple of days.

 

[California]

Breakfast at hotel, calling for a high of 103f. I thought LA would be cooking, but LA’s high is mid 90’s.

I’d just figure further south it’s going to be warmer. I’d think Fresno would be higher in elevation (along with way north of LA) temps would be cooler in Fresno.

I see Hughman said it better while I was drafting this. I'll post anyway.

LA's climate is moderated by proximity to the ocean. Fresno and the entire Central Valley are nearly sea level. It was once an inland sea. With the mountains surrounding the Valley it cooks in the sun with no relief. (This geography also traps smog). Areas inland from SF Bay - Stockton, Sacramento, etc can receive a cooling breeze that came in from the ocean via the Golden Gate in the evening, sucked in by heat rising, but this effect doesn't often reach as far inland as Fresno, Redding in the north, or the Gold Country (moderate elevation, Angels Camp etc).

Hot weather sends Valley folks to the mountains or the coast for relief! You'll see a few of them there.

 

[California]

Chance of rain and stormy weather in the Yosemite region midweek. This is extremely rare this time of year.

The Sierras are within the outer fringe of a historic storm that will soon hit southern California.

Lengthy description:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/18/weather/hurricane-hilary-rain-flooding-forecast-friday/index.html

Added: found a better map. NOAA:

Edit some more - this is a NOAA map that updates, so it's fresh whenever you see it!

 

[Sigarms]

From AC, take 49 south to Sonora, then 108 east to 395. The dramatic part is between Kennedy Meadows and Leavitt Meadows. Figure about 3 hours each way.

A very sincere thanks to you and everyone else who mentioned both Ebbits (sp?) Pass along with Sonora pass.

My wife commented she liked the Sonora pass road better per pucker factor because it was a true two lane road, and I informed her both “first drives” to other side over the passes had the same affect on me. Both rides coming back over the passes seemed a lot easier once you got one under your belt.

The town of Sonora reminded me of the town Boone in NC, home of Appalachian State University.

 

[Sigarms]

Chance of rain and stormy weather in the Yosemite region midweek. This is extremely rare this time of year.

The Sierras are within the outer fringe of a historic storm that will soon hit southern California.

Honestly if our trip were to be cut short to this week only, I’d be happy with what we did.

That said, the weather still looks OK for the weekend and Monday on route 1 and in San Francisco.

The only time I spent in California previously was down around San Diego and that was decades ago. Being up in Calaveras county, seeing Yosemite as well as some of the Sierra Nevadas has really given me a true appreciation of what California has.

Looking forward to (weather permitting) next week to get to the Lake Tahoe area.

Posting now about the trip because when I get home, will be digging my way out of work that apparently isn’t waiting for me.

 

[Hughman]

This state is way too big to see in one visit. Better start planning your next trip. I'm still on my first visit which started in 1978 when I was 18. I'm still seeing new stuff every time I get a chance to venture out.

 

[California]

This state is way too big to see in one visit.
I'm still seeing new stuff every time I get a chance to venture out.

Yeah. California is as big as Atlanta to Boston.

Before I retired I spent 20 years going out to state highway projects all over. Eureka on the north coast and the Hoopa Reservation inland from that, to San Diego, wildflower season in the Mojave Desert, Blythe on the Arizona border. Redding, Monterey, Stockton, Fresno. Many weeks visiting contractors all over the LA region after the Northridge earthquake, for post-audits on emergency rush no-bid contracts that had haphazard cost records.

We see new stuff every time we go on family vacations. When the kids were little we camped with the little tent trailer beyond Bodie at the Nevada state line, high altitude desert with nobody around for miles and miles. Drove the Subaru to Death Valley via Crankshaft Junction in the north, miles of essentially jeep trails. Abalone gathering on the north coast. Lots of good times.

Sigarms we appreciate the pictures and narrative. More please!!

 

[Sigarms]

Yeah. California is as big as Atlanta to Boston.

I realize that’s the issue being here for only 6 days now wanting to explore.

We’ve already put 1,000 miles on the vehicle and have only stayed in two “hotels” the entire time at this point.

Having spent 20 years in NC and being somewhat of a redneck, I think Calaveras county is where I’d reside (I’m getting to old to follow some advice the locals gave me if we were ever to seriously give thought of to relocating here. Being 2nd generation from coal mining immigrants, I find the mining history more than interesting and what the people had to endure.

I deleted a portion about a man apparently people don’t like here because my wife and I had no clue who he was (kept seeing his name around on signs not in a good way), and let’s just say after I looked him up, I deleted it lol

Our guide in Yosemite pointed out it would be a good day at the park for pics because of the clouds. We’ve found that to be true here.

Just don’t know how to take care of the windshield glare when you can’t pull over and taking pics from the front windshield.

Couple non scenic, as I always like to take reminders of the local towns I find interesting.

Read up on the Chalmers mansion aa the house intrigued me, and debating about taking a trip out to Donner’s pass next week just due to the history. Not sure if we could do Tahoe and that area next week though.

The added reality is as strange as it sounds, I can find the same “peace” being alone on my own land in NC and be happy where I’m at (although nowhere as majestic looking).

Got to remember, I use to bounce around like a tumbleweed in my younger years never having settled down until I met my wife lol.

 

[ericm979]

Looks like you've had really clear skies (for summer) so far. The air is much clearer in winter and that's really the time to go to Yosemite valley.

The water off the whole west coast is cold. There is usually an upwelling current which brings up cold water. Since the prevailing winds are from the west to east, the land along the coast is kept cool by the cool air coming in off the ocean. How far the effect extends depends on the local geography but in most places it's hemmed in by the coastal mountains.

 

[Sigarms]

On early morning walks with my wife, very cool early in the morning (almost needing a light jacket or fleece) and starts getting warm by 0800.

Reality hit, as the house below was up for sale we walked by, only $730,000

 

[California]

If you're interested in mining, read about the Comstock Lode that made Nevada rich. Virginia City remains there as a tourist attraction, it still has the opera house etc, and mining museums. And the Sutro Tunnel therer was a genius high-stakes gamble. It was built from the canyon below to intersect all the shafts, to drain the water, provide cool air, and replace hoisting the ore. Virginia City isn' too far from Angels Camp, it's up behind Carson City in Nevada.

 

[ultrarunner]

California the Golden State and Nevada the Silver State…

Keeping on a tractor theme there is also the overlooked California Agriculture Museum with over 100 tractors not from Sacramento on the way to the Bay Area…

This is a great museum of 45,000 square feet of interest to anyone wanting to know about AG and Tractors...

***Highly recommend if desire and time permits...***

California Agriculture Museum & Event Center - Woodland, CA

The California Agriculture Museum & Event Center is home to the nation's most unique collection of tractors and artifacts. Interactive exhibits tell the history of farm to fork, dating back to the Gold Rush era. The Museum, Banquet Hall, or Courtyard are available for special events.

www.californiaagmuseum.org

and Old Sacramento with train musuem…

California State Railroad Museum - Old Sacramento Waterfront

The California State Railroad Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, offers a sight of rail history with over 2.5 acres of ...

www.oldsacramento.com

On a side note driving through the Delta on Levy roads with fertile farm Land at lower elevation is something I only experienced in California and free vehicle free river crossing by ferry boat…

Delta Ferries | Caltrans

Caltrans operates two ferries in the Sacramento Delta Region, The Real McCoy II and the J-Mack. Both ferries operate 24/7 and are free of charge.

dot.ca.gov

 

[ultrarunner]

Enjoy following along and it’s one of those things that if you don’t seize the moment time passes you by…

Building shared memories exploring the vastness of the United States as a family…

Great parents is all I have to say…

 

[Sigarms]

If you're interested in mining, read about the Comstock Lode that made Nevada rich. Virginia City remains there as a tourist attraction, it still has the opera house etc, and mining museums. And the Sutro Tunnel therer was a genius high-stakes gamble. It was built from the canyon below to intersect all the shafts, to drain the water, provide cool air, and replace hoisting the ore. Virginia City isn' too far from Angels Camp, it's up behind Carson City in Nevada.

Coming back Monday night to Calaveras county. May plan for Carson city instead of Tahoe, need to talk to the better half.

Staying in Sacramento next thurs night so we’re close to the airport for Friday early morning flight.

How long of a drive from Carson City or Tahoe to Sacramento? Might be able to squeeze 2 separate trips in from Angles Camp as I think trying to see both Tahoe and Carson city is pushing it in one day (if not impossible).

Next Tues we have planned to finish a hike we didn’t get to at Calaveras big tree state park last week, and that’s not far from us (something the boy wants to do so that’s happening).

Thinking doing Carson city first on weds, then Tahoe on Thursday and then just drive to Sacramento Thursday night from Tahoe?

 

[ultrarunner]

Carson city is very close drive time...

The oldest settlement in Nevada is Genoa and the Fort still there... along with the oldest Bar should you want to wet your whistle...

Genoa Bar & Saloon | Oldest Bar in Nevada

Nestled against the toe of the Sierra Nevada in Nevada’s first permanent settlement, 1851-built Genoa Bar and Saloon is the oldest bar in Nevada. Explore this self-described thirst parlor and drink in some Genoa Bar history from locals and longtime visitors alike.

travelnevada.com

There is a mine exhibit at the small Carson City museum...

Tahoe and Carson city are next door neighbors... no reason not to see both.

I like to leave Tahoe via Kingsbury Grade to the Carson Valley floor then head to Carson City passing by Genoa... places to eat along the way... Scenery goes from Alpine at Tahoe to Desert in Nevada...

Mormon Station State Historic Park | State Parks

Mormon Station is the site of Nevada’s first permanent, non-native settlement. A replica of the original trading post, built in 1851, houses a museum with pioneer-era artifacts. Large, lush lawns and mature trees make the park a lovely location to picnic.

parks.nv.gov

 

[ultrarunner]

Coming back Monday night to Calaveras county. May plan for Carson city instead of Tahoe, need to talk to the better half.

Staying in Sacramento next thurs night so we’re close to the airport for Friday early morning flight.

How long of a drive from Carson City or Tahoe to Sacramento? Might be able to squeeze 2 separate trips in from Angles Camp as I think trying to see both Tahoe and Carson city is pushing it in one day (if not impossible).

Next Tues we have planned to finish a hike we didn’t get to at Calaveras big tree state park last week, and that’s not far from us (something the boy wants to do so that’s happening).

Thinking doing Carson city first on weds, then Tahoe on Thursday and then just drive to Sacramento Thursday night from Tahoe?

Tahoe/Bay Area not far if traffic light...

I had business in Tahoe and drove up and back same day via Highway 50 and enjoyed lunch at Tahoe...

 

[ericm979]

How long of a drive from Carson City or Tahoe to Sacramento?

It depends on when you're doing it. In the summer both 80 and 50 west from Tahoe get crowded and slow on Sunday afternoons.

I find the google maps time estimator to be useful, especially the feature where you can set the arrival or departure time and it will take typical traffic for that time into account.