Explore Fascinating Attractions in Northern California

Golden Gate Bridge: Wonder of the Modern World
Travelers and locals alike marvel at this instantly recognizable icon. It’s a symbol of American progress and engineering prowess, a graceful masterpiece of spectacular beauty. The famous bridge links San Francisco to Marin County across the Golden Gate, a one-mile-wide strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to the San Francisco Bay. Painted bright red and often shrouded in fog, it’s truly an awe-inspiring sight. Driving or walking across the Golden Gate Bridge is a thrill, and you’ll find plenty of excellent photo opps at vista points on either side like the Presidio.

Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, and the San Francisco Bay
Encounter a colorful parade of coastal life on San Francisco’s beautiful waterfront. Brightly painted boats sail past historic piers and sea lions bask in the sun. The morning’s catch is hauled in for the city’s seafood restaurants. Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of this unique neighborhood. It’s filled with things to do: shops, museums, restaurants, boat tours, and trolley car rides. One of the most popular attractions is just offshore: Alcatraz Island. Board a ferry and sail out to this famed former prison. The secrets you’ll learn are almost as exciting as the views of San Francisco Bay.

SF Neighborhoods: Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury, and the Mission
You can walk for five minutes and pass through four completely different neighborhoods in San Francisco, each with a distinct personality and population. Wander past gleaming skyscrapers in the Financial District and warehouse parties in SoMa. Shop at hippie boutiques in Haight-Ashbury and at herbal shops in Chinatown. Find beatnik coffee lounges in North Beach and gay bars in the Castro District. From the colorful taquerias of the Mission to vintage barber shops of Nob Hill – San Francisco’s neighborhoods showcase the city’s impressive diversity.

Sunny Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Let the laid-back California lifestyle fill your soul at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Situated just south of the Bay Area and north of the Monterey Peninsula, this vintage boardwalk is lined with amusement rides and carnival games. Ride a wooden roller coaster or an easygoing gondola. Pick up a hand-dipped ice cream cone and walk along the beach in the sunshine.

Monterey Peninsula and Monterey Bay Aquarium
Cradled on three sides by the Pacific Ocean, the windswept Monterey Peninsula is a real charmer. Cruise the incredibly scenic 17-Mile Drive between artsy Carmel-by-the-Sea and quaint Pacific Grove, and then head to historic Monterey. Enjoy the fun shops and waterfront restaurants at Cannery Row, but save plenty of time to explore the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Pet bat-rays and be wowed by glow-in-the-dark jellyfish. Meet charming sea otters and psychedelic seahorses. Marvel at the wonders of the ocean world.

San Simeon’s Charming Elephant Seals
Discover two only-in-California attractions tucked at the south end of Big Sur on the Central Coast. No drive up the Pacific Coast Highway is complete without a break to see the elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas Rookery in San Simeon. You can see the playful creatures year-round on the beach from a boardwalk, getting up close and personal with the wildlife without disturbing their natural habitat. Watch pups and adults wriggle across the beach, bark and bray, swim and fight and eat. It’s a magical wildlife experience.

Historic Sites and Hearst Castle, a Palatial Hilltop Estate
Connect with Northern California’s past. Visit Spanish missions, ghost towns, and Gold Rush hotspots. Glimpse living history with horse-drawn stagecoach rides in Old Sacramento. Near the coast you’ll find Hearst Castle, the legendary hilltop mansion of the newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Opulent doesn’t begin to describe the gardens, pools, and fountains of this palatial estate with panoramic views of the sea. Book ahead for tours of the castle’s interior, which is filled with luxurious furnishings, fine art, and rare antiques.

Relaxing Train Rides and Hot Air Balloon Floats
Experience California’s beautiful countryside with moving attractions like vintage train rides and hot air balloons. Numerous restored train cars follow historic routes through Northern California, especially Gold Country. Find scenic train rides around Sacramento, Yosemite, Donner Pass, and the Sierra Nevadas. Prefer a sky-high adventure? Hot air balloon flights are surprisingly serene. Float over gorgeous vineyards in Wine Country, farmland in Sacramento, and wilderness in the Lake Tahoe region.