Bsr112712

Hi all, considering a 7-10 day trip to SF and northern CA the first full week of October for family of 4 from the East coast (2 adults, 2 children ages 10 and 13). Adults lived in SF in the 90's, kids haven't visited since infancy. Goals: see iconic northern California sites/coastline, some cultural opportunities in SF, lots of outdoor and nature-centric activities. Leaving Wine Country for another trip as well as Yosemite due to drive times. Wanting to avoid long one-day drive times and not sure how to calculate those due to demographic changes since we were last there. Don't care about shopping (other than food, wine and related items). Tentative itinerary: 2-3 nights in SF, drive north within striking distance of Lost Coast/Humbolt Redwoods State Park, 2-3 nights in that location to explore those sites (like the looks of Shelter Cove but a bit worried about the 30-minute drive on winding roads to/from 101), back down coast to Mendocino or Sea Ranch or Inverness or other similar locations (no particular preference at this point) for last 2-3 nights, then fly home from SFO. We are looking for lodging choices with full kitchens for the coastal portion. We're set for the SF lodgings so really looking for input on coastal part: are we trying to cover too much in too short of a time frame? thoughts on choice of bases? best bases for families with kids? travel times between locations? cool outdoor activities for kids beyond hiking, beachcombing, etc.? Thanks in advance for your expert help!

MichelleY

I can't give specific recs, but your plan sounds doable for the amount of time you have. Hopefully, others will chime in. Great time of years to visit the North Coast!

MmePerdu

Bsr - your post is very difficult to read. My eyes go fuzzy trying to work it out. If you could re-post your specific questions succinctly & separately I think you'll get more help.

fishee

I don't like driving further than 3.5 hrs from SF which lands us in Mendocino and then our second spot back in towards the city is Pt Reyes station. I do love Sea Ranch although I don't have the endurance to stock up groceries and cook every meal now that I have young kids. We have rented wonderful, charming homes in town so we were able to walk to the bluffs and to the grocery co-op and restaurants in Mendocino and the same with Pt Reyes Station. It's great to be able to walk to bakeries, markets, and restaurants and my young nephew always loves the book store at Pt Reyes and would want to be left there for at least an hour.

These are 2 of our favorites rentals:

Mendocino: https://www.vrbo.com/324124

--quirky place but inexpensive and location is just awesome. You are walking along the bluffs over the water within minutes from his door.

Pt Reyes Station: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/55233

Jim lets you play tennis in his court and lends you a couple of racquets, balls. Nicest guy ever and his place is very inexpensive for a 2 br rental.

jamie99

Have you actually booked your SF lodging yet? Because the huge Dreamforce convention is Oct. 4-7 (last year they had 60,000+ attendees and chartered a cruise ship to house the overflow).

Diamantina

I'm mentioning several activity options, as I don't know what will appeal.

Besides hiking and beachcoming, you and the kids might enjoy mountain biking or horseback riding in Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Have a look at these outfitters (mostly in Olema and Pt. Reyes Station):
https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvis...rsandtours.htm

Pt. Reyes' Bear Valley trail is fairly easy.

You can kayak on Tomales Bay (it's calmer than the ocean).
https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/kayak.htm

Visit the Pt. Reyes Lighthouse.
https://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/histo...lighthouse.htm

Wildlife spotting: Pt. Reyes' Tomales Point trail is gorgeous on a sunny day and has Tule Elks herds (October is a great time for viewing them, as it's rut season):
https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvis...ng_tuleelk.htm
"On weekends from August through October, Tule Elk Docents will be stationed at the Tomales Point Trailhead from 10:30 am to 4 pm and at Windy Gap (1 mile north along the Tomales Point Trail) from 11 am to 3:30 pm to interact with visitors curious about the tule elk. This is an exciting time of year on Tomales Point where visitors will likely hear bull elk bugling and see them attempting to round up harems of females. The lucky visitor may even get to see a couple of bull elk sparring. Spotting scopes and binoculars will be available for visitors to better view elk up close."

You can go whale watching out of Bodega Bay. Though I think whale watch tours out of San Francisco to the Farallones are much more interesting (see link below).
October is a great time for seeing humpbacks (and often blue whales). Humpbacks can often be seen right from shore. Seasickness medication must be taken.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Attrac...alifornia.html
https://www.oceanicsociety.org/whale-watching/farallons

How about birdwatching?
When I was a kid, I enjoyed my visit to Audubon Canyon Ranch:
http://www.egret.org/visit_martin_griffin

October is a great time for viewing the fall raptor migration from "Hawk Hill" in the Marin Headland (Golden Gate National Recreation Area).
http://www.parksconservancy.org/visi...hawk-hill.html

Also in GGNRA, you can visit Marine Mammal Center, which rescues and rehabilitates marine mammals for re-release into the ocean:
http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/visiting-us/

I'm thinking your kids might not enjoy freshly shucked oysters, but how about a picnic next to a cheese factory?
On the Petaluma the Cheese Factory, a popular picnic spot:
http://www.marinfrenchcheese.com/

Diamantina

On the Sonoma Coast, visit historic Fort Ross. Watch the movie in the visitor center before you walk around the fort:
http://www.sonomacounty.com/cities/fort-ross

Bsr112712

Thank you for all the helpful replies. We have narrowed the scope of the trip. Now we're flying into SFO, doing just one base on the coast for 5-6 nights (Sea Ranch), then 2 nights in SF before flying home. We'll be arriving at SFO before noon. I'm wondering what the experts would recommend for sightseeing and iconic "first day in Northern California" stops en route north to Sea Ranch? Any good stops with quick and/or easy access to great views or unusual sights?

Diamantina

You'll be arriving before noon, so after picking up your car, I'm assuming you'll be on the road by noon or around that time. Sunset in early October will be around 7 p.m., mid-October around 6:30 p.m., so you'll have around 6 to 7 hours to get to Sea Ranch before it starts to get dark. You wanted to see the iconic northern California coastline, so after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge follow the signs for Highway One and drive up the coast. There are so many places to stop, I'll just name a few.

You can follow Highway One to Stinson Beach (good spot for lunch, though cafes are not on the beach itself), This route, also known as Shoreline Highway, will take you through Muir Beach, and you'll be able to stop at the Muir Beach Overlook.
https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/muirbeach.htm
This is curvy route with spectacular views.
Or you can turn off at Panoramic Highway and take this route to Stinson Beach instead. This curvy road climbs up through Mt. Tamalapais State Park. Though a little out of your way, the views at MTSP's East Peak are fabulous. This map will show you the two routes:
http://www.friendsofmttam.org/wp-con...Directions.pdf
If you don't feel you have the time to drive and hike to East Peak, you can stop at Mountain Home Inn to look at its views, which are almost as good:
http://www.mtnhomeinn.com/location
Either way you take, you can detour to Muir Woods, though if it's a weekend, it could be extremely crowded.
https://www.nps.gov/muwo/planyourvisit/directions.htm

From Stinson Beach continue north on Highway One. If you haven't stopped for lunch at Stinson, you'll have another chance in Olema, Pt. Reyes Station or Inverness. Around here, you can decide if you have enough time to see a bit of Pt. Reyes National Seashore. Before visiting the park, look carefully at the map because there's not just one road into the park.
https://www.nps.gov/pore/index.htm
https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/maps.htm

Or continue north on Highway One. If you haven't yet had lunch, you'll have many chances in Bodega Bay. Follow Highway One north to Jenner (sometimes there's wildlife on Goat Rock Beach). From your base at Sea Ranch, you'll be able to visit attractions and beaches along the Mendocino and Sonoma coasts, including Fort Ross. I also recommend visiting Mendocino town and headlands, Van Damme State Park, and Point Arena Lighthouse. See these links:
http://www.sonomacounty.com/articles...astline-travel
http://www.russianrivergetaways.com/...wns/jenner-sea

If self-catering and need groceries, there are a couple of supermarkets in Gualala (a little north of Sea Ranch). Or stop at the COSTCO close to SFO. Or at the Trader Joe's in Stonestown Shopping Center in San Francisco (it's right off 19th Avenue). They're not far off your route from SFO to the Golden Gate Bridge/Highway One.
Costco:
http://www.costco.com/warehouse-loca...co-ca-422.html
TJ's
https://www.yelp.com/biz/trader-joes-san-francisco-4

When you leave Sea Ranch for SF, you might want to drive through Russian River Valley (Highway 116) to Sebastopol, then to Highway 101.

Here's a link to a time lapse of the Highway One drive on You Tube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkZNBYzGnGg

DMartin336

Well sadly it may be a bit too late to help you out now, especially for a place to book in Sea Ranch (http://www.searanchabalonebay.com).


But for the next time, or next person seeking info for a road trip, especially one that includes The Sea Ranch:

Luckily Diamantina's post on Aug 30, 16 provides lots of info that I heartily second.

IMHO- Hwy 101 is not as curvy as Hwy 1 is...BUT it is a road well worth the effort and white knuckles. Luckily there are plenty of rest stops to let the blood flow back to the finger tips and take photos of the incredible scenery. See: ROAD TRIP! COAST HIGHWAY 1- A MUST DO FOR YOUR BUCKET LIST
http://searanchabalonebay.com/vacati...ast-highway-1/

Getting Sea Ranch or other points north of SF, do be aware of the road work that goes on. During the fall/winter months not so much (just watch out for flooding!)
Here are tips for traveling: http://searanchabalonebay.com/directions/

As a Sea Ranch Harbor Seal Docent- I second the suggestion of a stop in The Marine Mammal Center. While at Sea Ranch you'll also be able to view up close the harbor seals. Then plan for a trip back between March and July to witness the pups being born. See:
TOP 10 INCREDIBLE SEA RANCH HARBOR SEALS SECRETS REVEALED
http://searanchabalonebay.com/marine...-harbor-seals/

Late fall/early winter the whales begin their migration south. If you book an ocean front home or other lodging you'll most likely be able to view them from comfort of your easy chair. But truly there is nothing more exciting than to be on the bluff waving to them as they pass.
See: http://www.searanchabalonebay.com


Even better is to book a boat to do whale watching, and maybe even some fishing boats may be book for trips at most of the larger city locations (Bodega & Ft. Bragg). For the fishing and diving enthusiast see:
http://searanchabalonebay.com/diving-and-fishing/

For self catering/ lugging up stuff... be very careful about the location you book. If you are flying in you'll most likely be short on space. Check closely for the amenities included in the home your book. Does it have basic supplies, linens, even bath robes- for example: http://searanchabalonebay.com/our-house/

For food shopping:
A Costco stop is a good suggestion- there's one in Santa Rosa, not too far off Highway 101 and just before the turn off to Hwy 16/River Road (road through Gurneville that connects with Hwy 1).

There is also a Safeway in Gurneville.

Above Sea Ranch, about 10 miles is the town of Gualala. It has two grocery stores: The Surf Market (caters to tourists and a clientele with a more City-like palette) and Gualala Market - located right across the street- is where you'll find more locals shop. Both are good, and what one is lacking the other may have.

See shopping- http://searanchabalonebay.com/best-s...ing-locations/

For times you want to eat out there are many wonderful restaurants. Sadly though, in Gualala they have had 3 closures. But in Pt Arena they seem to be adding more. Also Timber Cove reopened this summer, and having eatten there recently I really recommend it! See other recommendations here:
http://searanchabalonebay.com/mendon...nts-sea-ranch/

For ideas of what to do while in Sea Ranch.. see: http://searanchabalonebay.com/explore-experience/

Hope that helps...for the next time