Things to do in Northern California?

[Sigarms]

Muir Woods and some private reserves just north of SF are gorgeous Redwood groves, well worth seeing. But I would cut over to the coast from 101 via Petaluma, an easy shortcut. Then beyond (farther north) of the Russian River is the prettiest part of coastal SR 1, sililar to the Big Sur region, but you would likely turn around and come back south the same way because there's no easy way to get back over to 101 north of there.

I might kick myself for asking, but if driving from Angels Camp and I wanted to drive over the golden state bridge to Muir woods, what type of drive time could I expect? Better days (perhaps weekend) to make the drive through the city? I see what you're talking about hitting 101 from Petaluma, but you could have been talking about from R1, because looking at the map, not certain how I would go west from Angels Camp.

I figure it we could do it in a day, depending on what time we had to leave Angels Camp, it would be worth it for the boy to experience "city" driving (particularly through San Francisco along with going over the Golden State bridge) no matter how insane I could go

 

[Sigarms]

You will be in the vicinity of the year-over-year #1 most requested campground listed on Reserve America-- New Brighton Beach. You can also drive in for day use. It's a pretty awesome bluff top view, and a spectacular beach.

New Brighton State Beach Campground - Santa Cruz County

New Brighton State Beach Campground, Santa Cruz County, with a marvelous campground on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Complete information including campground map, reservations.

www.californiasbestcamping.com

btw Old Navy stores just announced they are boarding up their "flagship" store in San Francisco and leaving. The article below cites that 95 retailers have now left. Apparently some due to the impact from covid, but many due to crime.

Many retailers say: "we will open again when it is safe to do so." Hmmm I wonder what must change for those circumstances to occur?

ANOTHER popular store announces closure in crime-ridden San Francisco

Old Navy is set to shutter a store in San Francisco, becoming the latest chain to exit the crime-ridden city.

www.dailymail.co.uk

I'm pretty much convinced that SF is a **** show at this point in time and after my wife read some of the responses, staying in the city due to the night life is out of the question.

I'm wondering if staying by the airport (overnight) and driving to Muir woods and even perhaps some photo shots of the gold state bridge may be worthwhile?

That would cut on our drive time to SF and we might be able to hit Muir woods off the airport quicker. Then I need to think about the drive back to Angels Camp...

There is some irony here IMO with man made "landmarks" and dealing with men.

 

[California]

Google Maps shows about 3 hours Angels Camp to Muir Woods, outside of commute hours. It suggests in the Bay Area to go north then west at Richmond but that misses the Bay Bridge (impressive) and the Golden Gate Bridge (spectacular!). Turning west over Bay Bridge, I-80 only adds a couple of minutes and I strongly recommend it.

I like your idea of staying overnight in the SFO airport region. An Air B&B in the neighborhood might give a better impression of the culture there, civilized, in contrast to downtown SF. We did this once and liked it. We learned a little of the local culture: Owner was a Chinese-American cancer researcher, probably a doctorate, I suspect born in China. His youth table tennis trophies were prominently displayed along with wedding photos etc. One of the DVD's available for entertainment was (approximately) How to get your baby into the right preschool that is on-track to advance through the right prep schools to qualify for Harvard. His elderly father lived next door, we didn't see him but were told he could respond immediately to anything. A nice variety of breakfast cereal and teas but no coffemaker! I texted him we need a coffeemaker for next morning, a new one from Ikea was there when we came back. The neighborhood looked working-class, and we saw every ethnicity of -Americans you can imagine (majority white). I expect every house was over $1m. Quiet neighborhood, decent people, must be hard-working to afford to live there. (Google Street View: 637 5th ave San Bruno). If you're traveling to learn, this beats staying in a generic hotel.

 

[Sigarms]

I like your idea of staying overnight in the SFO airport region.

I would think a late night stay around the airport on a Friday or Saturday night and then a early morning drive over the bridge to Muir woods would be the better option given traffic? (I have no clue). Just figure on the weekends, less of a workforce heading to the concrete jungle and traffic to deal with. I could deal with traffic on the way back to Angels Camp.

Need to look, will just be my luck Muir woods is closed on the weekends...

 

[ericm979]

I'm pretty much convinced that SF is a **** show at this point in time and after my wife read some of the responses, staying in the city due to the night life is out of the question.

I'm wondering if staying by the airport (overnight) and driving to Muir woods and even perhaps some photo shots of the gold state bridge may be worthwhile?

A lot of people here are talking about SF in the 1990s. Or they're getting their info from the media, which greatly exaggerates the crime in big cities. Even "liberal" media like the NYT does it. SF's a lot better now as far as crime goes. It's been cleaned up so much that I barely recognize parts that I used to go to in the '90s. If you really want to spend some time in the city and have dinner there, I'd go ahead and stay there for a night.

The SF airport is in an industrial area. There's not much in the way of tourist stuff or food there. I'd stay in San Bruno, or even go over the hill to Half Moon Bay or stay on the north side of the bay in Sausalito. HMB is a small funky seaside town about 45 min from downtown SF along highway 1. Sausalito is a bayside town that's a little more upscale than HMB. I'd personally pick one of the latter two options as they have more character.

 

[Sigarms]

A lot of people here are talking about SF in the 1990s. Or they're getting their info from the media, which greatly exaggerates the crime in big cities. Even "liberal" media like the NYT does it. SF's a lot better now as far as crime goes. It's been cleaned up so much that I barely recognize parts that I used to go to in the '90s. If you really want to spend some time in the city and have dinner there, I'd go ahead and stay there for a night.

The SF airport is in an industrial area. There's not much in the way of tourist stuff or food there. I'd stay in San Bruno, or even go over the hill to Half Moon Bay or stay on the north side of the bay in Sausalito. HMB is a small funky seaside town about 45 min from downtown SF along highway 1. Sausalito is a bayside town that's a little more upscale than HMB. I'd personally pick one of the latter two options as they have more character.

I like the Half Moon Bay option, thank you.

I'm assuming R1 will take you to the Golden Gate bridge? Looks like it on a map.

The bigger question is if you stay at a semi decent hotel in San Francisco, does the hotel actually have parking? It seems like a crap shoot as parking is not included in the price.

 

[California]

Yes I should have clarified San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame etc. the neighborhoods across the freeway from SFO. Not the immediate airport area! This is if you want to see how the locals live, but not spend much time before getting back on the road.

Half Moon Bay and Sausalito are prettier if you want to explore around where you are staying.

The problem with being a tourist in downtown SF is because that's where the predators go to harass naive tourists.

Younger Daughter commutes on BART from Millbrae to the SF financial district and says she's isn't hassled, but she sees stuff like the scary sterotypes portray. Luckily after Covid hit, her office is now nearly 100% work-from-home and she says she and the analysts who report to her are more productive now than they were when everyone had hour or more crowded commutes (each way), which wore them out.


Yes hotels have parking but its an extra-cost option. As an international destination, not everyone arrives by car.

 

[mx1alex]

I haven't read all the posts but Yosemite is one of the most beautiful places you can lay eyes on. Just wish I could have seen it 200 years ago. We went in December and there was hardly anyone there but I've seen the pics in the summer and don't think I can stomach that.

There's also Kings Canyon National park east of Fresno. They have the giant sequoia trees. They're different than the coastal redwoods. Not as tall but much wider bases. Both are incredible to see and no pictures can do them justice.

 

[Sigarms]

The problem with being a tourist in downtown SF is because that's where the predators go to harass naive tourists.

I don't consider myself a naive tourist, but with my wife and son, no doubt we'd stick out like a sore thumb as a "potential" (you'll pick me out easy with the shorts and sandals LOL). I was thinking if staying at half moon bay, get up early on a weekend, perhaps beat the potential of influx of people, and even perhaps stop so my son could get a picture of the bridge.

I just like the idea of being closer to SF so I don't have the haul from AC and then traffic to deal with.

Figure worst case scenario, stop at a hardware store for a black iron 1/2" X 24" pipe nipple just to have in the car. Learned that from my dad LOL

 

[Sigarms]

We went in December and there was hardly anyone there but I've seen the pics in the summer and don't think I can stomach that.

Going in August is called "doing it for your son" This trip won't be cheap overall, but it's where he wanted to go and he's leaving in September.

 

[Sigarms]

Booked a night in Half Moon Bay on a Saturday night. Plan would be to drive through SF to Muir woods Sunday.

It would make more sense to connect Half moon bay from Monterey, but I'm thinking a weekend morning through SF would have less commuter traffic.

2 questions for those with experience

1 - Best route? Assume R1 up and over the Golden Gate Bridge?
2 - Best place to take some pictures of the the Golden Gate Bridge? (honestly, if there is crime in the area, the thought of a place like this for pictures being a "targeted spot" for tourons aka tourists, would be high on my list).

 

[ericm979]

Yea highway 1 is the quickest way through. When I transit through SF that's how I go. You're not seeing much of the city this way though. I think the waterfront and the tourist stuff there is worth a visit.

Everyone stops at the rest stop on the north side of the golden gate. I have stopped there a zillion times and never seen even broken glass from car breakins let alone any sign of criminals. I feel like a broken record but really, crime is not something to worry about.

From there you can access the walking path that takes you onto the bridge. Don't be surprised if its foggy. Also there will be a lot of tourists there. The Presidio just south of the golden gate is kinda nice but to be honest I'd keep going to Marin and the headlands.

If you are wearing shorts and sandals in SF you will a) look like a tourist and b) be really cold. It's common for there to be a cold wind blowing fog through the city, in summer. Bring jackets.

This is often true of the whole coast. When I lived 6 hours north on the coast in the summer the fog rolled in every day at 11am. When the interior of CA warm up it pulls in cold air from over the ocean (which is cold here) and that generates fog.

 

[MGP4506]

First family vacation in a while. Planning on two weeks around Yosemite middle of August with wife and son (before he ships out for basic). Boy always seemed enamored with Yosemite, so we're planning the trip around that national park.

Flying into Sacramento, renting a vehicle. Wife has the town picked out, forget the name, but not to far from the park.

Used to spend a lot of time out in Idaho and Montana in my youth Kayaking, but always traveled early may because it seemed the tourists (which we will be a part of) exploded in those states right after Memorial day.

1 - How bad will the crowds be? (hate to ask, but have to)

2 - Looks to be a 8 hour drive to the redwood forest from Yosemite. Always wondered what that place is like myself, and would it be worth the drive?

3 - What other things would one consider worth doing and visiting around that area. I'm blind when it comes to northern California (anything North of San Diego).

The #1 thing to do in CA (Northern, Southern, Central...) Pack up and leave

 

[California]

Booked a night in Half Moon Bay on a Saturday night. Plan would be to drive through SF to Muir woods Sunday.

It would make more sense to connect Half moon bay from Monterey, but I'm thinking a weekend morning through SF would have less commuter traffic.

2 questions for those with experience

1 - Best route? Assume R1 up and over the Golden Gate Bridge?
2 - Best place to take some pictures of the the Golden Gate Bridge? (honestly, if there is crime in the area, the thought of a place like this for pictures being a "targeted spot" for tourons aka tourists, would be high on my list).

Yes, SR 1. Expect congestion but the alternatives are boring freeway, and longer. You go through Golden Gate Park which is a worthwhile destination itself - museums, exhibits, Japanese Tea Garden.

More than you asked for. Your kid might like to hike down to Marshall's Beach, the most likely spot for nude sunbathing.

The 17 Best Views of the Golden Gate Bridge. A Local's Tips.

Here's a map and directions, with photos, for all the best places to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

www.inside-guide-to-san-francisco-tourism.com

Some places there is risk your car will be broken into if you aren't there and luggage is visible. Personal risk of mugging etc is zero. Pickpocket? Maybe. Ordinary urban 'street smarts' needed.

Added, again after seeing Eric's related post:

Yes. You will freeze in shorts. Dress for bone-chilling fog and wind. SF is notorious for summers colder than winter. As he noted, heat inland draws ocean fog in through the Golden Gate (lowest point in the coast range). You will likely see 90-100 degrees when you land in Sacramento (central valley), similar in Angels Camp, and what feels like fall weather at the coast.

 

[California]

The #1 thing to do in CA (Northern, Southern, Central...) Pack up and leave

Better yet stay home.

 

[Sigarms]

See image below.

A = a smart arse comment that does nothing for me per my question seeking help. Added the fact that the poster from "A" only has 62 posts and joined in 2023.

B = a guy from California who has been here since 2004 and has over 13,000 posts and knows California.

IMO it's not the post count that matters, but how much help you offer when giving advice on a internet forum when someone is asking for help.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not fond of California (the state, not the member LOL) just due to my own industry and how California affects what I need to know per federal guidelines (generally picked up from California) but just because someone lives in a particular area you may not like does not make them a bad person. Heck, I own guns and that's one reason why I stay out of California. That said, my son on this trip trumps anything I want, I'm doing what HE wants.

From my own experience in dealing with people from anywhere in the world, people are more similar than you would think. Good people, bad people, smart arse people, and people with common sense who due unto others as they would have done unto them and actually try to lead a good life with others.

MGP4506 - "no crap sherlock, go suck on it" and thank you for nothing per your response.

California - A sincere thanks.

One could argue that better people live in California then wherever MPG54506 is from. Go figure...

If we stop to take pics, common sense tells me not to leave the car out of site. That same comment would go for a lot of cities OUTSIDE of California as well. That's one reason why I would look for a 1/2"X24" pipe nipple. When I pick up the rental vehicle (RAV4 new, $800 for two weeks which we didn't think was bad), I need to check the jack. Need to ensure that the inside diameter of the nipple will fit the jack so it will make it easier to get the vehicle off the road if I need it. You need to think about these things when a LEO asks you why you have something in your possession that could be construed as a weapon

MGP4506, no reason to respond since you've show your true colors in your first response per a sincere question of mine

EDIT - Apologies MGP4506, I can be just as big as an arsehole.

 

[Sigarms]

If you are wearing shorts and sandals in SF you will a) look like a tourist and b) be really cold. It's common for there to be a cold wind blowing fog through the city, in summer. Bring jackets.

What's ironic is I have the same habit as my dad and my FIL had. I'll wear the same clothes even when they get holes in them and they're ready to fall off. My wife has accused me of dressing like a bum.

Honestly surprised it would be that cold in California that time of year.

 

[kenmbz]

What's ironic is I have the same habit as my dad and my FIL had. I'll wear the same clothes even when they get holes in them and they're ready to fall off. My wife has accused me of dressing like a bum.

Honestly surprised it would be that cold in California that time of year.

At nightfall in summer the sheatshirt vendors appear in droves.
It's the temp difference, warm day and cold night that gets ya.

 

[Sigarms]

And thanks California and Eric!

I really kind of hate this. When I was single and went away for a couple of weeks, I'd go where I wanted and never had a plan other than knowing what activity I was doing. Things change a little when your married and taking a son.

 

[California]

Only cold out at the coast where the ocean fog is sucked inland, as the heated inland air rises. Warmer a few miles inland. And of course it can be chilly up at the snowline in the Sierras.

You'll see Santa Cruz hoodies wherever you go in tourist country. Unexpected surprise purchases by tourists who froze their tails off.