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| Monterey
Bay Coastline1 |
When one thinks of California,
visions of celebrities, beaches, surfing and sunny weather often come to mind,
especially for people who endure the sometimes grueling snow and cold of winter
in other parts of the world. Yet there is more than just tabloids and tan lines
to keep people up at night in a state that boasts the mysterious redwood forest
and wine country to the north, and the history of the Spanish missions, settlements
and the ethnic diversity to the south.
Starting in San
Francisco, even the pickiest of travelers will revel in a journey north
or south of this eclectic "city by the bay" but only after they have
discovered the city's numerous tasty restaurants
and explored the Golden
Gate Park and the craggy coastline spotted with brave surfers. Make
sure to breathe in the fragrant flowers that cascade along the hilly and winding
streets and listen for the calming sounds of the distant fog horns before leaving
this thriving metropolitan city.
A rental car, a warm jacket
and good walking shoes are a must for the traveler who wants to explore this
state, which is speckled with spectacular ocean views, magnificent mountains
and lakes and interesting historic towns, all of which await the eager adventurer.
HEAD NORTH
The best months to visit northern California are late August, September and
October, the warmest months of the year. This part of the state has a temperate
climate with cool evenings and a rainy winter season. Surprisingly, the fall
evenings in most cities in northern California are warmer than the summer nights,
which can be quiete chilly and foggy.
St. Helena & Calistoga
Northern California
is definitely a wine lovers paradise but there are surprises right around the
corner, such as St. Helena
and Calistoga. A
less crowded city than its more crowded Napa
and Calistoga neighbors, St. Helena is for the tourist who wants to experience
more than just wine tasting in the Napa County area. This city of approximately
6,000 people is a two-hour drive north, or 51 mi (81 km), from San Francisco
and a relatively short drive 18 mi (28 km) north along the St. Helena Highway
(Hwy 29) from Napa. Food as well as wine is the main focus of St. Helena due
to the placement of The
Culinary Institute of America (CIA).
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Culinary
Institute of America2 |
The CIA is home to the culinary
college, the Spice
Islands Marketplace and the
Wine Spectator Greystone Restaurant, an excellent place to
have lunch on the way to a wine tour or spa in Calistoga. During the day, the
CIA features public cooking demonstrations and dessert samplings from up-and-coming
chefs. Browse the Spice Islands gift shop for a wide selection of cook books,
cooking utensils and keepsakes or check out the display of 1940s cooking utensils
and machinery at the entrance to the building.
Calistoga is also worth a visit, located 25 mi (40 km) north of Napa. Once here,
explore the many hiking trails in the area and afterwards, enjoy a mud bath
or a massage at one of the many spas located in town. Cute shops and a variety
of restaurants line the main road running through the town. On a warm night,
reserve a table on the patio and select from a wide variety of wines at the
Wappo
Bar & Bistro on Washington Street.
Day Trips By Rail
For a few short day trips from San Francisco, travel on BART,
the city's rapid transit system which also connects to San
Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Oakland
International Airport.
BART runs daily from San Francisco to
South San Francisco and across the Bay Bridge to Oakland
and Berkeley, where
the weather is always at least a few degrees warmer than San Francisco.
Hearst Castle
The lure of warmer weather in southern California may prompt the desire to discover
the city of Los Angeles. But
if walking on celebrity stars, surfing or skateboarding isn't entertaining enough
to make the 348 mi (559 km) drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles, going as
far as Hearst
Castle may be just as satisfying or more so. Situated in San
Simeon, Hearst Castle can be made into a romantic day trip or part of
a weekend getaway. Halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, drive 162
mi (261 km) from San Francisco to San Simeon via the 101, heading south to Highway
46, and then exit on Hearst Castle Road. The history behind this castle is worth
the visit. William Randolph Hearst, a publisher, politician and media mogul
designed the castle after decades of dreaming of similar structures he saw in
Europe as a child. One of his former residences, this Mediterranean revival
style castle was built on an acreage owned by William's father, George Hearst,
and still showcases some of William's original collection of artwork. Stay overnight
at the Sand
Pebbles Inn in Cambria,
California, within walking distance to the ocean and only a short drive to the
castle. Decent restaurants with patios surround the inn, which boasts friendly
service and spacious rooms.
Sausalito
For those travelers
craving only a short jaunt in the San Francisco Bay area, head northwest to
Sausalito,
a two-hour round trip by ferry or car. Situated in Marin County, across the
bay from where many San Francisco commuters travel to and from every day, this
ungated marina is ideal for the outdoor adventurer due to the many biking and
walking trails in the area. Stop at one of several small pubs before heading
back on the ferry
to Pier
39 on the other side of the bay. The better quality of life in Sausalito
compared to its more expensive neighbor across the bay attracts many locals
and tourists alike who may dream of living in this beautiful city nestled amongst
the hills. Plan a visit over the Labor Day weekend, when the city hosts its
annual
Sausalito Art Festival, which brings in local, regional and international
talent to this charming waterfront community. For an overnight stay there are
a number of accommodations to choose from, including the Casa
Madrona Hotel & Spa, which features both traditional and theme rooms
overlooking the San Francisco Bay.
San Juan Bautista
Finding a town that is a little different from what is typical of this sunny
state is worth a page or two in any travel journal. Heading south on Highway
101 from San Jose in Santa
Clara County to San
Juan Bautista is one of those discoveries. This city is less well-known
but definitely worth a day trip or an overnight stay. Take the 101 towards the
San Juan Valley, 80 mi (129 km) south of San Francisco. This historic agricultural
town is home to the largest mission in California, Old
Mission San Juan Bautista and an interesting Spanish plaza at the State
Historic Park. A small town feel takes over on the drive into this town
as roosters roam the sidewalks leading into the Main Street. The town's history
prompted Alfred Hitchcock to film Vertigo in this city. An interest in art will
also be satisfied by a visit to the Mission
Gallery, a gallery and print shop on the main drag that hosts local
artists' work every other weekend. Call ahead before making dinner plans at
the
Fault Line Restaurant & Gazebo on Franklin Street for a home-cooked
meal and to hear locals talk about the history of California's ranchos era (1836-1848).
The Cutting Horse Restaurant is also a good dinner option and there
is no rush to leave the Mission
Cafe, a great coffee and breakfast location in the middle of town. Theater,
hiking, art events and several cozy places to sleep are also attractive features
of this place. On the way to San Juan Bautista, stop in to taste some garlic
ice cream at the annual Garlic
Festival in Gilroy,
16 mi (26 km) from San Jose.
Salinas
The next stop is Salinas.
With a population of 148,000, it is the largest municipality of Monterey County.
Located approximately 8 mi (12.9 km) from the Pacific Coast in the Salinas Valley,
the city is the hometown of writer John Steinbeck and boasts being one of the
most expensive cities to live in the United States, making it an excellent place
to visit. Known as the salad bowl of America, the Salinas Valley produces 80
per cent of the country's lettuce. It has a mild climate but bring a jacket
as fog often rolls in from the Monterey Bay. Visit at the end of September to
experience the annual California
International AirShow Salinas at the city's municipal airport or take
in some cowboy poetry and a rodeo competition at the California
Rodeo Salinas in July.
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Monterey
Bay Aquarium3 |
For some of the most scenic
surprises on the west coast of the United States, drive along Highway 1, also
called Cabrillo Highway, which runs along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean.
Monterey
Head south from San Francisco to find Monterey,
California, which deserves at least a day to fully discover the bay's interesting
marine life. Be sure to spend at least a few hours at the Monterey
Bay Aquarium, a 86 mi (139 km) drive from San Francisco, where visitors
will spend the day learning about the history of cannery row, discover jelly
fish and the kelp forest, spot sea otters from the aquarium's on-site restaurant
and watch the volunteers feed the black-footed penguins. Don't miss the Outer
Bay exhibit, a 15 ft (5 m) tall, one-million gallon underwater tank offering
a world view of the sea life in the bay. Here hammerhead and great white sharks,
bluefin tuna and sunfish are just a few of the creatures that will amaze and
educate visitors both young and old.
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| Pebble
Beach4 |
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Carmel
From Monterey, get back onto Highway 1 heading south or for a more scenic drive
explore the coastline by taking the popular 17-mile
drive to Pacific
Grove and Carmel.
For the golf enthusiast, the Pebble
Beach Golf Links is an obvious stop, especially in the month of February
for their annual AT&T
Pebble Beach Pro-Am Tournament. Situated on the outskirts of Carmel,
this course is one of the most well-known courses in the state of California.
While the clubhouse's somewhat fancy exterior may scare away weary travelers,
anyone can stop in for a drink or a bite to eat either in the lounge or in the
pub tucked in the back of the clubhouse. After a leisurely walk around the grounds,
away from the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, hop in the car for a relatively
short drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea, commonly called Carmel, this town is full
of seaside restaurants and numerous golf courses to the north. Carmel is a small
town that boasts crashing waves at every turn, sea otters that bask in the sun
and Clint Eastwood's Mission
Ranch lodge and restaurant.
Pacific Grove
Coming straight from San Francisco, Carmel is only an 89 mi (143 km) drive and
worth every minute on the road. An interesting pit stop on the way to Carmel
is the city of Pacific Grove.
In the fall, watch out for hundreds of thousands of Monarch butterflies that
flutter through this town. Lover's
Point is situated in Monterey County, only 4 mi (7 km) north of Carmel
and makes for a popular stop for a picnic lunch. This point is simply rocks
that jut out into the ocean but acts as a cozy spot to rest tired feet and a
perfect setting for camera-happy tourists. For music lovers, think about attending
the Carmel
Bach Festival, a three-week music festival featuring music by Bach,
Beethoven, Handel and Vivaldi. A day trip is possible but many visitors will
want to stay overnight in this picturesque town. The
Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel is ideal for a romantic night or just a relaxing
night of dreams for the solo trekker. On those cool Californian evenings, a
dip in the hot tub or some reading by the fireplace will satisfy.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
- Monterey Bay Coastline;
Monterey, CA, USA
- Debbie McGarry; Culinary
Institute of America, St. Helena, CA, USA
- Randy Wilder; c/o
Monterey Bay Aquarium; The million-gallon Outer Bay exhibit; Monterey, CA,USA
- Debbie McGarry; Pebble
Beach Clubhouse, Carmel, CA, USA
United States
