Welcome to the Travel in the United States Series. This series will explore family friendly vacation options in each of the 50 states (and as a bonus, I will include our Nation’s capital, The District of Columbia). An index to all the 50 States posts can be found here.

UPDATE: Visit California has a game for you to play. Enter now to win a trip to either Northern or Southern California! Contest ends June 1, 2013.

Northern California Travel

Northern California is a diverse area with loads of fun family travel destinations. From the High Sierra to the San Francisco Bay area, you will find activities to please everyone. Northern California can be divided into six areas: High Sierra, San Francisco Bay, Central Coast, Gold Country, Shasta Cascade and the North Coast.

High Sierra

When I was growing up, our family’s vacation destination of choice was Yosemite located in the High Sierra area. We would rent small cabins with my Dad’s brothers and enjoy fishing, hiking, sightseeing and horseback riding. In the past few years, we have held a couple of family reunions in the same spot! Our favorite place to stay is The Redwoods in Wawona located just inside the park. Year round vacation rentals are available.

Besides Yosemite, King’s Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are in this area. The oldest trees on earth, the sequoias, can be found in these parks. Follow the John Muir Trail that starts in Yosemite and continues 215 miles through the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Sequoia National Park, King’s Canyon National Park, and ends at the highest peak in continental United States, Mount Whitney. Farther north is Lake Tahoe, located on the Nevada border where you can ski in the winter and jet ski in the summer.

San Francisco Bay

There is so much to see and do in the San Francisco Bay area. I have been there a few times and I have still not seen everything! A great way to see San Francisco is to purchase the CityPass. This pass includes unlimited cable car rides plus admission to four must-see San Francisco attractions including the California Academy of Sciences, Blue & Gold Fleet Bay Cruise, The Aquarium of the Bay OR the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Exploratorium OR the de Young Museum. You can also add a trip to Alcatraz Prison. This prison is located on Alcatraz Island and tours are given daily of the Island and the infamous federal penitentiary.

TIP!
Trips to Alcatraz are booked well in advance. Make sure you book your trip before you arrive in San Francisco. It is a sight not to be missed!

Don’t forget to take a ride (or walk) down Lombard Street. One of the crookedest streets in America, this steep, hilly street with its sharp curves winds down amid flowers and beautiful Victorian homes. To see the full street, head to the bottom at the corner of Lombard and Leavenworth Streets.

TIP!
If you want to drive your car down Lombard street, try first thing in the morning before the other tourists are out and about. The congestion around the street can get pretty bad!

Pier 39

One place you can’t miss when traveling to San Francisco is Pier 39. Located along the Embarcadero waterfront, Pier 39 has something for everyone. There are shops, boutiques, candy stores, great dining and you will have a great view of the Bay, Alcatraz and even the Golden Gate Bridge! The Aquarium of the Bay is also located here. Don’t forget to check out the Sea Lions who love to bask in the sun down at the marina.

Central Coast

The Central Coast highlight is Big Sur, Monterey and Carmel-by-the-sea (Clint Eastwood was once Mayor there) on the Coast and the Hearst Castle toward the interior. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best aquarium’s that I have visited! Plus, you can’t miss a tour of the famous Hearst Castle. The castle, which took 28 years to build, was designed by architect Julia Morgan for newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. There are 165 rooms, ornate swimming pools and beautiful gardens. There are four different tours available.

Gold Country

Here you will find the Sierra foothills which are perfect for hiking and biking.  This is the area that was famous for the California Gold Rush. You can find local landmarks, annual celebrations and museums all celebrating this event.  The best cities to visit if you are interested in the Gold Rush are Auburn, Nevada City and Angel’s Camp. You will be able to pan for gold on the same rivers as the early settlers.  One of my favorite trips in this area was a inner-tube rafting trip.  Lazily float down the river and enjoy the beautiful surroundings! For the more adventurous there are also white-water rafting trips. Why not try Pine Grove’s Roaring Camp Gold Mining Company activity where you will learn to the tricks of panning for gold and be treated to an evening barbecue!

The capital of California, Sacramento, is also located in this area. Take a walking tours  through downtown Sacramento and learn about the 150 years of state and local history.

Shasta Cascade

The Shasta Cascade region is located at the top of California. Here you will find less known parks, but just as beautiful and less crowded. Mount Shasta, stands at 14,162 feet and is visible for miles around. The Circle of Mount Shasta is a 50-mile mountain bike route that circles the mountain. You will be able to see glaciers, lava flows, pine forests and more! Don’t worry – you don’t have to ride the whole trail! Bike rentals are available. Nearby is Lake Shasta known as the houseboat capital of the world. Houseboats are available for rental, as are other watercraft.

To the south is Lassen Volcanic National Park. The 2.5 mile trail makes its way to the volcanic peak and you will be able to see mountain lakes, lava rock, steaming mud puts and sulfur vents. The trail can be completely in about 5 hours and is perfect for kids ages 10 and up.

North Coast

You will find beautiful beaches in the North Coast area, but watch out – they are a little chilly! Crescent Beach is the perfect beach to visit tide pools and explore the rocks. Photographers will love the breathtaking scenery!

Sonoma Wine Country is also located in this area. The first vineyard was stated at the Mission San Francisco de Solano in 1824. Today, there are more than 200 wineries in the area. There are plenty of tours to choose from that include wine tasting and good food. Why not try the Trolley Tour that visits four wineries and includes a picnic lunch.

My favorite are in the North Coast has to be Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Here you will find the Avenue of the Giants, a 31 mile portion of old Highway 101 that takes you through the majestic Redwood Trees (this area can be quite crowded in the Summer). One of my favorite memories as a kid is camping the State Park and enjoying fishing, swimming and hiking. Hotel are also available if camping just isn’t your thing.