What to Do in Northern California: Attractions & Travel Guide

San Francisco needs no introduction, but Northern California is more than the popular city and the Golden Gate Bridge. Read this post to find out what to do in Northern California, and be prepared to plan your trip for exciting experiences.

What to Do in Northern California

The list of places to visit in Northern California is endless and depends on one’s expectations. On our end, we love the fantastic landscape of the region, so we will focus this post on what we believe are the best things to do in Northern California.

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

Northern California Itinerary Suggestions

Northern California Road Trip Itinerary: 7 Days

Day 1: San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Yosemite National Park
Day 4: Lake Tahoe
Day 5: Napa and Sonoma Valleys
Day 6: Redwoods National Park
Day 7: San Francisco

Japanese Tea Gardens, San Francisco

Northern California Road Trip Itinerary: 10 Days

Day 1: San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Monterey Bay & 17-Mile Drive
Day 4: Yosemite National Park
Day 5: Lake Tahoe
Day 6: Napa and Sonoma Valleys
Day 7: Pacific Coast or Avenue Of The Giants
Day 8: Point Reyes National Seashore
Day 9: Redwoods National Park
Day 10: San Francisco

Lonely Cypress by Monterey

Northern California Road Trip Itinerary: 14 Days

Day 1: San Francisco
Day 2: San Francisco
Day 3: Monterey Bay & 17-Mile Drive
Day 4: Silicon Valley
Day 5: Yosemite National Park
Day 6: Lake Tahoe
Day 7: Napa and Sonoma Valleys
Day 8: Mount Shasta
Day 9: Lassen National Park
Day 10: Lava Bed National Park
Day 11: Pacific Coast or Avenue Of The Giants
Day 12: Point Reyes National Seashore
Day 13: Redwoods National Park
Day 14: San Francisco

Inside a Lava Tube, Lava Beds National Monuments

Northern California Attractions

San Francisco
Yosemite National Park
Bodie State Historic Park, a historical gold-mining ghost town
Death Valley National Park
Sacramento, capital of the U.S. state of California
Shasta Volcanoes
Big Sur Coastal Highway
Santa Cruz
Silicon Valley
Oakland
Berkeley
Redwood National Park

Half-Dome, Yosemite National Park

Fun Things to Do in Northern California

Hiking in Yosemite National Park
Trekking in the Sierra Nevadas
Wine Tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valley
Exploring the neighborhoods of San Francisco
Picnicking in Golden Gate Park
Whale-watching
Eat in one the Michelin-star California Fusion restaurants

Elephant Seals Ano Nuevo

More details will come shortly to provide complete information about our trip, including travel tips and how to organize your Northern California Itinerary.

For now, here are some Californa photos that will make you want to pack and go right away!