help plan itinerary for northern California trip
 

In July we want to travel from San Francisco to Pacific Coast Highway to Muir Woods, Point Reyes National Seashore, Bodega Bay, Sonoma Coast State Beach, Jenner, Fort Ross state park, Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve,Point Arena Lighthouse, Mendocino, Mendocino Headlands State Park,Russian Gulch State Pk, Mendocino Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg, Calpella , and the redwood Valley, Clearlake upper and lower , Calistoga, St Helena, Napa, Vallejo(maybe do 6 Flags Marine World (time permitting) and back on I 80 toward Richmond and Berkley and onto San Francisco for maybe a night and fly home next day to Florida.

Need help in planning how much time to spend in each place and which towns to overnight in. Want whole trip to be no more than 5 or 6 nights. We are more interested in the scenery and some easy hiking than actually tasting lots of wines. Would like to visit maybe 2 wineries.

Would like hotel or B&B suggestions. (am a hotel snob!!!)

You can certainly do all the sights in a week or so, but it'll be mostly driving and stopping for a short time in each area. My husband & I did a similar trip a few years ago and that is what happened, which was fine for us.

Depends on what you want to do at each place. For Muir Woods probably 2-5 hours. For Point Reyes anywhere from 2 hours to 2 days.

It will take you much more time to travel up the coast to Mendocino than back down to San Francisco. I have lived in Ukiah and Nor Cal many years. By the list of your places, I can see the route you plan to take. If I where taking this trip, I would cut out the loop around Clear Lake. It is not nearly as pretty as other places. Calpella and Redwood Valley are simply places you pass on Hwy 20. Personally, I would travel Hwy 128 from the coast via Philo and Boonville to reach Calistoga. Lake Berryessa is a beautiful area. Jack London State Park out of Glen Ellen is worth a visit.

Have fun.

Since you'll be traveling north, I'd drop Muir Woods for Armstrong Woods. Muir Woods is lovely but crowded.

Thanks Barb Ann. We are taking your suggestion about taking 128 to Calistoga and visiting that park out of Glen Ellen.

'Any suggestions as where to explore for a day on way back to San Fran Cisco from Calistoga or things of beauty or interest near Calistoga
karennorm4801

I don't want to discourage you, since one man's meat is another man's poison, but you might want to reconsider 6 Flags:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/six-flags-di...ingdom-vallejo

Unfortunately, the nicer large theme parks are in Southern California.