Page 75 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

A CALIFORNIA STREET CABLE CAR
crests Nob Hill, opposite.
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
Also in the North Bay, Sonoma and Napa counties are home to acres
of vineyards and dozens of wineries producing some of the world’s
finest wines. Among the small towns full of boutiques, shops and
tasting rooms is the Napa Valley hamlet of Yountville, a foodie dining
mecca, with several Michelin-starred restaurants.
South Bay: Palo Alto & Santa Cruz
In Palo Alto on the peninsula south of San Francisco, lies the bucolic
campus of Stanford University, one of the country’s leading universi-
ties. Neighboring San Mateo County’s coastline still shows its
traditional fishing and agricultural roots. It’s within a short drive of
major population centers yet a world away, with its sprawling arti-
choke fields and miles of pristine beaches. Santa Cruz County to the
south offers visitors a wealth of attractions, including parks and
wineries in its redwood-covered mountain range, and laid-back
beaches where surfers polish their technique.
DRIVE
»
TOUR
Start by crossing the Golden
Gate Bridge driving north,
stopping in SAUSALITO.
Head northwest to MOUNT
TAMALPAIS STATE PARK and
take the steep, twisting road
to the Pantoll Ranger
Station and drive the
PANORAMIC HIGHWAY for
ocean, city and mountain
views. Drive to MUIR WOODS
NATIONAL MONUMENT for a
short walk among redwoods.
Head back toward Sausalito
and Highway 101 and drive
north to the wine country town of SONOMA. Explore its shady plaza,
surrounded by shops, wine tasting rooms and historic sites. From
Sonoma, it’s a short drive to California’s other major wine region, Napa
Valley, and the city of NAPA.
» San Francisco’s Museums The Exploratorium, a
kid-friendly science museum that re-located to a striking
new building on Pier 15 in 2013, is just one of San Fran-
cisco’s many museums. The California Academy of
Sciences and the de Young Museum, both in Golden Gate
Park, and the Legion of Honor overlooking the Pacific are
other standouts. The Asian Art Museum is one of the
world’s largest museums devoted exclusively to Asian
art. Smaller museums such as the Jewish Contemporary
Museum and the Walt Disney Family Museum also are
well worth a visit.
› sanfrancisco.travel
» Wine Country During Crush Sample Northern
California’s top-rated wines during the height of the har-
vest, known as “crush,” in September and October. You
can even join in at wineries such as Napa’s Grgich Hills
Estate, which offers a day of stomping grapes from Labor
Day to Halloween. Or, for a more sedentary time have
lunch or dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train that takes
visitors through vineyards turning reds and golds during
the harvest, the season when the wine country’s weather
is at its best.
› napavalley.com
» The San Mateo Coast Plan a trip to the San
Mateo County coast during the height of whale watching
season, December through May, or to the elephant seals’
breeding grounds at Ano Nuevo State Park, where
docents offer guided tours December through March. In
October, orange pumpkins dot the fields and Half Moon
Bay’s Art and Pumpkin Festival rocks the town.
› sanmateocountycvb.com
» San Francisco’s Bridges Rent a bike and pedal from
San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge, taking new trails
that skirt Civil War-era Fort Point, stopping at the Bridge
Pavilion, a visitors’ center with exhibits tracing bridge his-
tory. Drive the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and its
spectacular east span that opened in 2013 and includes a
walking and biking path that will eventually connect Oak-
land to Treasure Island.
› sanfrancisco.travel
» Sample Local Food The Bay Area is heaven for
food lovers, and farmers markets thrive year round,
including at Marin’s Civic Center and in San Francisco
where three of the most impressive are the Ferry
Building, Civic Center and Alemany markets. The food
truck boom also puts the area’s food-loving culture on
display with Off the Grid events, including a popular
evening event at Fort Mason on Fridays.
› Sanfrancisco.travel
› offthegridsf.com
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