Northern CA
 

We are planning a trip to Northern CA the end of July. Want to go to Mt Shasta. What else is there to do and see in the area, or on the drive from the San Fran area. We have traveled up the coast as far as Mendicino, so I guess we are lookiing for sights, parks, etc. north of Mendicino. Also, suggestions on great places to stay. Thanks for your help!!!

We enjoyed our visit to Mount Lassen National Park. My son and I walked to the top of the peak for a grand view all around, including Mt. Shasta. There is the Bumpas Hell thermal area that is interesting. <BR> <BR>In northern California driving east and west is not easy. We tried California 36 and wished we had not. But if you have the time, drive to the coast and explore the redwood groves. <BR> <BR>Hopefully others will have some suggestions.

I know you can rent a houseboat on Lake Shasta and there is a trip on the lake that then takes you to some caverns. Dunsmuir is the main town and just west of Mt. Shasta is Weaverville, which is a nice little town. The beauty of that area is that there aren't a whole lot of tourist attractions or tourists either. Fishing is very popular. From SF I would take I 80 to I 5. Not very interesting, but the best road. As stated above, going from west to east in most places in CA is not easy! My suggestion would be to take 299 over to Eureka. From there up to Crescent City are the redwood parks and then you can take 101 back to SF, stopping if you want in the Sonoma wine country near Healdsburg or Geyserville or in Sonoma itself. In Santa Rosa is the super Vintners Inn which has the John Ash &Co restaurant. Friends of ours rave about the Carrville Inn in Trinity Center, not far from Lake Shasta and there is a U.S. Forest Service tour that is about 100 miles long starting at Weaverville to above Mt. Shasta. Maybe you could search and find something on the Internet.

North of Mendicino (11-15 miles) is Ft. Bragg. Formerly lumber & fishing, now mostly tourists but still enjoyable.New & remodeled motels north of town ,with access to old logging road- goes north 3 miles(good for bikes) to great state park with beach.(water very cold!) Nice hiking trails on bluffs along the ocean. <BR>Of course has the Skunk Train-1/2 day ride into western hills. I think it is a bit pricey but the experience is "O.K." <BR>North of Ft. Bragg (highway one) eventually turns west and joins up with highway 101.This will take you to some of the Redwoods==on to Eureka.. If you were to drive Eureka to San Francisco on 101, takes about 5 hrs. <BR>FYI-getting from 101 to Ft.Bragg- you have 2 basic choices--Willits-highway 20 is the shortest,about 30 miles however 11 miles are"switchbacks"(slow going and promote nausea) but is beautiful drive. <BR>2nd choice is to turn off 101 at Cloverdale(highway 128) and go east through Boonville to ocean (highway 0ne) then north to Mendicino/Ft.Bragg This route is longer, little twisty about60-70 miles..

If you want to go WAY up into Northern Cal, might I suggest going to AShland, Or. Yes -- OREGON. It's about 30 miles over the border from Ca. It's a great, classy town, kinda like Mendicino. They're big into Shakespeare there (oddly enough).