The Steinbeck Route

Highlight Destinations
San Francisco Santa Cruz Monterey Peninsula Yosemite National Park Lake Tahoe Downieville Shasta Ferndale Mendocino Bodega Bay San Francisco

Some Noteworthy Attractions
In and Around San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz... Between San Francisco and Monterey: The Santa Cruz Mountains wine region, Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Rookery, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, the Monterey Bay, Big Basin and Henry Cowell State Redwood Parks... On the Monterey Peninsula: 17-mile Drive, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, the Monterey Bay Aquarium... In Yosemite: the Mariposa and Tuolumne Groves of Giant Sequoias, Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, the Ahwahnee Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows, "the High Country"... Between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe: Mono Lake, the ghost town of Bodie... In Lake Tahoe: the ski resorts of Heavenly Valley, Kirkwood and Squaw Valley, Emerald Bay, casinos on the north and south shores of the lake... Between Tahoe and the Coast: the Gold Country, Mount Shasta, Lake Shasta, the Trinity Alps, the Trinity River... The Redwood Coast between Eureka and San Francisco: the Redwood Highway (Avenue of the Giants), spectacular coastline, Victorian architecture in Ferndale, the Skunk Train, the artistic communities of Mendocino and Gualala, the Trinity and Russian Rivers, Bodega Bay... In and Around San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz...

How does this route rate for...
Places to be
	Cities
	Small Towns
	Mountains
	Deserts
	Beaches
	Lakes
	Rivers
	Wilderness
	Resort Destinations

Things to see
Scenery
	Coastal
	Mountainous
	Desert
	Chaparel

of West Coast Interest
	Lighthouses
	Missions
	Gold Mining
	Vineyards and Wineries

Culture
	Museums
	Art Galleries
	Botanical Gardens
	Architecture

Nature
	Giant Sequoias
	Giant Coastal Redwoods
	Granite Peaks and Other Alpine Settings
	Desert Flora (Cactus, Joshua Trees, Wildflowers)
	Waterfalls
	Volcanos

Land Animals
	Deer
	Black Bear
	Bobcats, Mountain Lions
	Racoons, Skunks, Fox, Coyotes...
	River Otters, Beaver...
	Elk
	Squirrels, chipmunks...

Marine Wildlife
	Sea Otters
	Elephant Seals
	Whales
	Dolphins and Porpoise
	Seals and Sea Lions

Birds
	Aquatic Fowl
	Eagles
	Hawks, Falcons
	Ducks, Geese...

Things to do
Outdoor Leisure Sports
	Fishing
	Golf
	Bicycle Touring
	Sea Kayaking
	Sailing
	Camping
	Horseback Riding

More Adventurous Sports
	Hiking/Backpacking
	Scuba / Snorkeling
	ATV / Dune Buggy / Offroading
	River Sports - Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting
	Surfing, Kite Surfing, Wind Surfing, Jet Skiing
	Water Skiing

Thrill Sports
	Mountain Biking
	Rock Climbing
	Hang Gliding/Paragliding

Winter Sports
	Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
	Cross-country Skiing
	Snowmobiling

Specialty Tours and Activities
	Train Tours
	Jet Boat River Touring
	Local Nature Cruises and Harbor Tours
	Gold Panning
	Parasailing
	Hot Air Balloon Tours
	Flightseeing Tours
	Local Cruises (dinner, dance, sightseeing)

Entertainment
	Shows, Theatre, Music
	Dining
	Nightlife
	Sporting Venues (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Racing, Rodeo...)

Close-up

Overviews of Regions Visited

Times and Distances

Rough Driving Distance (not including local driving): about 1200 miles

Drive times between common stopping points (estimated drive times do not include stops):

Between San Francisco and Monterey via the coastal route: 2:45
Between Monterey and Yosemite: 4:00
Between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe: 4:00
Between Lake Tahoe and Downieville: 2:45
Between Downieville and Shasta: 4:00
Between Shasta and Ferndale: 3:30
Between Ferndale and Mendocino: 3:00
Between Mendocino and Bodega Bay: 2:15
Between Bodega Bay and San Francisco: 1:30