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Places to visit in Northern California.

Beantown

Beantown

Well-Known Member
So Ive lived out here in the Bay area for a few months now and we have decided were not going back to Utah for Christmas. We still want to do a little weekend trip over the Holiday so just looking for ideas. We thought about driving down to San Diego or Disneyland but 5-6 hours seems like a little far for a weekend trip. Trying to keep the driving at around 3 hours.

So Ive though about Santa Cruz or Monterey but Ive never really been there before. Keep in mind I have two small children as well.


Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.
 
There's always Rio Linda.

Seriously, little bit further south but Santa Barbara is nice. Solvang isn't bad either.
 
Santa Cruz and Monterey are pretty great places. The Monterey Aquarium is a great way to kill a few hours for sure. Yosemite and King's Canyon/Sequoia National Forest are always great options too if you've never been there before - but might not be all that fun depending on how young your kids are.
 
^^^

The Sequoia's would be magical around Christmas (they always are). If your kids are at least 4 years old, they'll never forget it.
 
What city do you live in now? Some of those outdoor national parks are probably going to be significantly cooler than wherever you are at so I vote no to doing those in late December. Yosemite is a lot better when you're not worrying about freezing your *** off.
 
^

I would love to drive through the sequoias with some snow dusting .. I never have, but would imagine it would be life-changing .. I'm kind of an experience/romantic like that though ..
 
the Sequoias aren't exactly in northern Cal. But, yeah, I snowshoed through the park last year (with nobody around, just the silent park under snow). I'll never forget it.

The sequoias cousins (the redwoods) are on the northern coast.
 
NAOS said:
the Sequoias aren't exactly in northern Cal. But, yeah, I snowshoed through the park last year (with nobody around, just the silent park under snow). I'll never forget it.

The sequoias cousins (the redwoods) are on the northern coast.
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True .. I was more echoing another posters suggestion than thinking of drive time. Having said that, a drive south to the sequoias and then over to the warmer parts of southern California wouldn't be all bad, imo.

I would also consider a wine tasting region. Make a few stops/tastings and mommy and daddy will be plenty entertainment for the kiddos.
 
Beantown said:
So Ive lived out here in the Bay area for a few months now and we have decided were not going back to Utah for Christmas. We still want to do a little weekend trip over the Holiday so just looking for ideas. We thought about driving down to San Diego or Disneyland but 5-6 hours seems like a little far for a weekend trip. Trying to keep the driving at around 3 hours.

So Ive though about Santa Cruz or Monterey but Ive never really been there before. Keep in mind I have two small children as well.


Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks.
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dude, SD is way way way further than 5 hours. Like, almost double that.
I'd go along the northern coast. Find a warm cabin within your 5 hour radius.
Just a warning, though: some of those small coastal towns are pretty ****ing weird.
 
Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park will be under many many feet of snow. FYI.
 
Also, you could just take the short ride south thru Monterey bay and into Big Sur. Again, find a warm place. ****ing beautiful there.
 
NAOS said:
the Sequoias aren't exactly in northern Cal. But, yeah, I snowshoed through the park last year (with nobody around, just the silent park under snow). I'll never forget it.
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That would be cool. You didn't run into any skiers or other shoers the whole time or just for long stretches?
 
Duck Rodgers said:
That would be cool. You didn't run into any skiers or other shoers the whole time or just for long stretches?
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I think it was a Wednesday. The park was empty. I was out for 10 hours and didn't see ANYBODY.

The snow also allows you to break off the trails and get right next to the trees. Provided you bring markers that bring you back to the trails (which are marked on other tree trunks), this is a fabulous idea.

I've travelled a long way for nature, but it doesn't get any better than this.
 
bordelais7 said:
Correct. Assuming you're going through Nevada to get there.

Last time I did Disneyland to Bay Area was just under 5 hours.
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You're high. Or, you had absolutely zero traffic and were going 85 to 90 the whole way. And, still, SD can take two hours more from DLand even with just moderate traffic.

SD to SF is 9 hours on a good day. I've done it many times.
 
NAOS said:
Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park will be under many many feet of snow. FYI.
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Never been there thus time of the year and wasn't sure how cold and snowy it got there. Thanks for the info.
 
NAOS said:
You're high. Or, you had absolutely zero traffic and were going 85 to 90 the whole way. And, still, SD can take two hours more from DLand even with just moderate traffic.

SD to SF is 9 hours on a good day. I've done it many times.
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Google maps is saying 6.5 to SD and 5 hours to Disneyland. But yes gridlock traffic would change that number. i figure when I drive down south I will be doing night driving.
 
Why am I repeating myself? You're talking to a seasoned vet here.... plan for 9 hours to SD (especially if you are IN SF/Oakland), and if you make it on less time then you'll be happy. Night driving is a good idea, but hard on the kids.
 
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