Explore NorCal
National parks, state parks, coastal gems, mountain towns, and cities worth your time. Filter by region, type, or whatever catches your eye.
11 destinations
landscape
Central Coast
Big Sur
Scenic Coast
90 miles of the most dramatic coastline in North America. Bring a full tank of gas and low expectations for cell service.
terrain
Sierra Nevada
Lake Tahoe
Lake / Recreation Area
The bluest lake you've ever seen, surrounded by mountains that look too perfect to be real. Summer playground, winter wonderland.
filter_hdr
Shasta Cascade
Lassen Volcanic National Park
National Park
Mud pots, fumaroles, and a volcano that last erupted in 1915. NorCal's most undervisited national park by a mile.
landscape
Central Coast
Monterey & Carmel
Coastal Towns
Cannery Row, the best aquarium in the country, 17-Mile Drive, and a coastline that made John Steinbeck put down the whiskey and pick up a pen.
location_city
Bay Area
Mt. Diablo State Park
State Park
The East Bay's backyard summit with views of 40 counties on a clear day, wildflower explosions in spring, and tarantula parades in fall.
location_city
Bay Area
Muir Woods
National Monument
Ancient redwoods so tall they block your GPS signal and so beautiful they'll make you forget the parking reservation drama.
local_bar
Wine Country
Napa Valley
Wine Region
World-class wine, rolling vineyards, and tasting room prices that remind you that you are, in fact, in Napa.
landscape
Central Coast
Pinnacles National Park
National Park
California's most underrated national park. Talus caves, California condors, and volcanic spires — just skip July.
waves
Coast
Point Reyes National Seashore
National Seashore
Dramatic cliffs, tule elk, and fog so thick it has its own zip code. The Scottish Highlands of California.
location_city
Bay Area
San Francisco
City
Hills, fog, sourdough, and a bridge that launched a thousand Instagram posts. Skip Fisherman's Wharf, you're welcome.
terrain
Sierra Nevada
Yosemite National Park
National Park
Granite cliffs, giant sequoias, and waterfalls that make every other waterfall feel like a leaky faucet.