Page 77 - 2017 Travel Guide to California

PIGEON POINT Lighthouse in Santa
Cruz, right; fireworks light up the night
on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco,
opposite.
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,
and the spa town of Calistoga.
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 universities. Neigh-
boring 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 red-
wood-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.
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
» SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUMS
The reopening of the expanded San Francisco
Museum of Modern Art made the city a must for
international modern art lovers. Other don’t-miss
museums with major exhibits are the de Young, the
Legion of Honor, the Exploratorium and the Contem-
porary Jewish Museum.
› sftravel.com
» EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS Marin County is
San Francisco’s backyard, with Mount Tamalpais and
the Marin coast a playground for hikers, bikers and
anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Mount Tam
affords stunning views and redwood forests while
the oceanfront towns of Stinson Beach and Bolinas
have a laid-back vibe that is part of their charm.
› visitmarin.org
» EAST BAY EXPLORATION The university
town of Berkeley offers much to discover, including
the UC Berkeley campus and a revitalized down-
town with the new Berkeley Art Museum and
Pacific Film Archive. The outdoors beckons at
2,000-acre Tilden Park, which has a lovely botanical
garden and steam train that children adore.
› visitberkeley.com
» SONOMA SOJOURN Sonoma County’s vine-
yard-covered landscape offers dozens of wine tasting
rooms, including in the Russian River appellation.
Stroll among the shops of Sebastopol, Graton and
Forestville and pick up picnic goodies for alfresco
dining while sampling the county’s famous pinot noirs
and other varietals.
› sonomacounty.com
» SILICON VALLEY AND MORE Explore a
major Silicon Valley hub, the college town of Palo
Alto and Stanford University, before heading into
the Santa Cruz Mountains for a drive along Skyline
Boulevard and its redwood forests. Take Highway 92
to Half Moon Bay and drive Highway 1 along San
Mateo County’s spectacular rugged coast, stopping
to stroll along the beaches.
› smccvb.com
2017 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 75