Need idea - Northern California getaway
 

We live in the Bay Area and are thinking of a road trip this weekend. Would prefer to stay within three (3) hours driving of SFO. We like to poke around small towns (Cambria-typem or even Los Gatos or Mill Valley), ride bikes on scenic bike paths, hike, historical sites and buildings. We like to eat in funky local places (like The Marshall Store). No camping, especially in winter. Any suggestions?

Sounds like Fort Bragg/Mendocino would be a good choice. Both are fun towns for poking around and have plenty of independent, local places to eat. And the scenery cannot be beat. From Fort Bragg, you can bike the old haul road north to MacKerricher state park.

We were thinking along those lines, but didn't know about the biking path. Thanks!

The haul road is neat - it is the old road that the loggers used to take into Fort Bragg. Now it is just for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians. There is a portion just north of the main beach at MacKerricher that has washed out (and I am sure they haven't repaired it yet), but there are trails to get around the washout - not paved, but if you have fat tire bikes, you can ride the detour trail. With road bikes, you'll need to carry them if you want to go farther north.

The Delta - Walnut Grove, Locke, Grand Island, Clarksburg, winetasting at Bogle or the Old Sugar Mill. Courtland Bridge is closed, so will have to choose which side of the river or go down one side, and up the other.

Winters, then bike to Davis or bike the back roads to Vacaville/Nut Tree area.

>>We live in the Bay Area and are thinking of a road trip this weekend<<

What !!!! and miss the GAME???

Stu Dudley

Have you thought about Yosemite?

Yes, it's more like a four hour drive. The high country and all the passes are still open. In January. Tenaya Lake is frozen over (like usual) but you can still get out there (which is very unusual). I went there a few weeks ago and had a blast. Then you could rent (or bring) bikes and ride around the Valley.

Yosemite is free this weekend, too! In honor of the Martin Luther King holiday.

Stu, we may have to watch the game elsewhere, but we'll watch!

Shanti, I read your post about your winter trip to Yosemite, and it's still a possibility!

We just got back from a trip to Carmel and Big Sur. Lots of hiking there. Beautiful scenery and Carmel is a cute town with lots of good places to poke around!

Have you done Napa yet? We loved to bike around to the various wineries, take a picnic lunch, whatnot. Many possibilities - and we loved staying at my brother in law's ranch outside of Sonoma, even if we had a little hill climbing to do to get there. :)

And Carmel/Monterrey area is also great. Ride the 17 mile drive if you can - very beautiful. The road gets a little narrow around Big Sur and I never feel comfortable cycling in such a situation.

And yes, you should find a TV somewhere to watch the game. :)

Have you done Napa yet?

Tom, I chuckled when I read that --- I've lived in the Bay Area for 39 years this month, and yes, I've "done" Napa :-) Was just looking for something "new" (recognizing that you all don't know what we have and haven't done, for example, we haven't been to Mendocino since the late 70s and Yosemite since the early 90s, but in the last couple of years, we've "done" Yountville, St. Helena, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Occidental, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Hwy 1, Cambria, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Pasadena, LA (all parts), San Diego (all parts), Lake Tahoe, and seemingly all of the nicer downtowns in the Bay Area! And that's just off the top of my head).

sf

As you know, my wife & I have been in the Bay Area for 37 years. We're planning on a 3-5 day trip into the Trinity Alps in Sept. First time there for my wife, and I haven't been there since I was in High School and on a summer vacation to a "dude ranch" with my parents (we lived in LA Co.).

Calif is a big state !!! Don't think I've ever visited the Lake Shasta area. Lots to see in Calif.

Don't see how you're gonna fit in a 3 1/4 hr Niners game in, mid-day on Sat.

Stu Dudley

I wonder if Safari West still run their meals and lodging.

Oh, yeah, they are still very much in business (you never know! :) )

http://www.safariwest.com/visit/

We only did their jeep tour and lunch, all ages loved it!

<<<Don't see how you're gonna fit in a 3 1/4 hr Niners game in, mid-day on Sat.>>>

Looks like the Niners game is taking precedence :-) We're going to stay home and just go somewhere for the day on Sunday. Nice to have lots of ideas for the future, though, so thanks everyone.