Try a Northern California Vacation
Monterey
Cannery Row is a popular destination in Monterey.
Photo by jimg944.
On the southern side of Monterey Bay sits the small city of Monterey. The city's biggest claims to fame are its history as a location responsible for developing and being settled in by artists, and for its long ties to the fishing industry. The Monterey Jazz Festival is one of the most famous jazz festivals in the entire United States. The city is also home to a number of other attractions including the American Vinticultural Area, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Within an easy drive from the city are the quaint Pacific Coast communities of Carmel-By-the-Sea, Seaside, Big Sur, and Pacific Grove, as well as the scenic areas of Pinnacles National Monument and Los Padres National Forest. The city of Monterey is one of the coastal treasures of Northern California.
Monterey Travel Video
Monterey
The subject of songs and poetry, coastal Monterey lives up to its reputation as one of the premiere beach resorts in California. Veronica Hill of California Travel Tips takes you on a 3-minute journey through this historic city. Located two hours south of San Francisco and 5 1/2 hours north of LA, Monterey retains the charm of a small town while boasting some of the best dining, shops and attractions on the Central Coast. Cannery Row, immortalized in the 1945 John Steinbeck novel, is one of Monterey's top attractions. Today, Cannery Row's sardine factories are now home to quirky shops, chain restaurants and posh hotels. Monterey Bay Aquarium, housed in historic Hoven Cannery, is a must-see attraction. A downstairs exhibit displays Steinbeck memorabilia and vintage sardine machinery. For a fun day out with the kids, check out Old Fisherman's Wharf, originally built in 1846. It's a typical bustling pier, with million-dollar Monterey boats, fresh seafood, candy shops and amusements. We stopped for lunch at Old Fisherman's Grotto, known for its fresh cracked crab and the best clam chowder in Monterey. I have to say, it lived up to its reputation. For a great locals-style breakfast, pop in to Old Monterey Cafe on Alvarado Street. Next, rent a surrey from Bay Bikes and explore Monterey State Historic Park, just a few blocks up the street. You'll find some of the best preserved adobes in California here, including Custom House, built by Mexico in 1827 for sea trading, and California's First Theatre, built in 1846 as entertainment for local sailors. California's first state constitution was drafted at Colton Hall in 1849. When booking Monterey hotels, plan well in advance. The town books up quickly in September during the Monterey Jazz Festival and in June during the Monterey Blues Festival. Looking out at the pristine protected waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, it's easy to fall in love with this stunning coastal getaway. With so much to do and see, Monterey is one of the best beach vacations in California.
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Redding
Visit Lake Shasta in Redding.
Photo by ravi_raj.
The community of Redding is popular with tourists both as a destination itself, as well as being a great base of operations for visiting local attractions like Lake Shasta, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, and is even a popular road trip away from the Pacific Coast. Within the city, Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a popular place for outdoor fun and sits on both sides of the Sacramento River with a pedestrian bridge connecting the two different sections. Redding, though a sizable city in its own right, is known as a quaint slower-paced mountain town surrounded by forests and amazing scenery.
San Francisco
No visit is complete to San Francisco unless you take pictures around the Golden Gate Bridge.
Photo by zoonabar.
San Francisco is one of the most popular tourist destinations in California. The city is located right on the shores of both the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean and possesses a number famous landmarks including the world famous Golden Gate Bridge. Tourists love visiting downtown San Francisco's waterfront area, particularly an area popularly known as Fisherman's Wharf, where you can get unique souveniers, delicious fresh fish from restaurants and view performances by street vendors vying for your attention. The nearby Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a great natural resource for both locals and tourists to take advantage of. Alcatraz, in the middle of the bay, is also a popular attraction for many people visiting the city. Professional sports are popular in the bay area with Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's, the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, and the National Basketball Association's Golden State Warriors all playing in the vicinity. San Francisco is a popular destination for a big reason, it pretty much has something for everyone who visits.
San Francisco Video Overview
Sacramento
California State Capitol in Sacramento.
Photo by jimbowen0306.
While the cities of Southern California get far more attention than those in Northern California, the capital of the state is located in the northern region, it is Sacramento. The city sits appropriately along the Sacramento River in an area referred to as California's Central Valley. Among the many attractions within the city worth seeing are the State Capitol, Sutter's Fort, the Crocker Art Museum, Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park, and the California State Railroad Museum. Sacramento is popular with sports fans as it is the home of the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association and the Sacramento Monarchs of the Women's National Basketball Association. The city also is home to the Sacramento River Cats, a Triple-A minor league baseball team. Within an easy drive from Sacramento are several natural scenic areas including Eldorado National Forest, Lake Tahoe, Auburn State Recreation Area, and Lake Oroville State Recreation Area. Sacramento is the political hub of the state of California, but it is also a great place to vacation to, or use as a hub when visiting other locations in Northern California.
San Jose
Be one with nature at Guadalupe River State Park.
Photo by Amy The Nurse.
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, a unique vacation awaits for you at San Jose. San Jose is one of the largest cities in Northern California. San Jose is also wine country, a popular destination for many to enjoy magnificent views while sipping on wine. Some popular wineries include The San Jose Wince Center and A Perfect Finish. San Jose has tons of museums, sights to see and parks. From St. Joseph's Cathedral with incredible stained glass windows. Kelley Park and Guadalupe River Park and Gardens contain plenty of trails and scenic walks where you can watch tons of birds and flowers.
San Jose is an opulent neighborhood, being the hub of information technology. This leads to magnificent shopping areas as well as some of the best eateries and night life around. San Jose is also close to Mountain View, famous heaquarters of Google. Mountain view is filled with small boutiques and bookstores and is a major hub for dining as well. You can stroll to nearby Los Gatos, a great place for the avid shopper.
Santa Cruz
Giant Redwoods are a sight to behold in Santa Cruzy.
Photo by richardmasoner.
Sitting on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, the city of Santa Cruz is a popular destination for tourists wanting to experience Northern California's lesser known locales. Santa Cruz is famous for its beautiful and popular beaches and its great examples of coastal redwood forests. The city and surrounding area has a number of worthwhile and popular attractions including the arboretum at the University of California-Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Natural Bridges State Beach, and Lighthouse Field State Beach. The city is also within an easy drive of a number of other scenic areas including Wilder Ranch State Park, Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, and Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Santa Cruz truly does offer some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the entire state of California.
Santa Cruz Video
Santa Cruz, California by 71Miles.com
Travel video of Santa Cruz, California
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Travel to Northern California with Southwest or Expedia
Remember that in Northern California, outdoor recreation is a primary focus in this area of the state too, so anyone heading there should bring their hiking boots, their fishing pole, their mountain bike, or whatever else they'd like to bring because a great vacation is waiting for them.
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Please comment on Northern California Vacation Communities.
Youf thoughts and feedback are welcome. Please rate this lens if you have found it useful.
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- prosperity66 prosperity66 Aug 7, 2009 @ 2:14 am
- It's a good lens you made here! Like the big pictures as well!
May I ask for more? Once I started reading your lens, I knew I would like to get more places to visit, lol.
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- skiesgreen skiesgreen Aug 6, 2009 @ 11:21 pm
- Great pictures and nice description. Good quality lens 5 stars
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- LindaJM LindaJM Aug 6, 2009 @ 1:34 am
- I have lived in Northern California most of my life. There are so many wonderful vacation spots here, I've always found plenty to do.
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