| Highlight Destinations |
- San
Francisco
- Santa Cruz
- Monterey
Peninsula
- Yosemite National Park
- Lake Tahoe
- Downieville
- Calaveras County
- Sacramento
- Napa/Sonoma
- Bodega Bay
- Point Reyes
- San
Francisco
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| Some Noteworthy Attractions |
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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,
Aņo 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"...
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 San Francisco: the Gold Country, the Napa and Sonoma Wine Country, the Russian River, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes State Park and Elephant Seal rookery... |
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| How does this route rate for... |
| Places to be |
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Cities |
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Small Towns |
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Mountains |
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Deserts |
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Beaches |
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Lakes |
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Rivers |
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Wilderness |
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Resort Destinations |
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| Things to see |
| Scenery |
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Coastal |
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Mountainous |
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Desert |
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Chaparel |
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| of West Coast Interest |
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Lighthouses |
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Missions |
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Gold Mining |
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Vineyards and Wineries |
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| Culture |
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Museums |
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Art Galleries |
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Botanical Gardens |
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Architecture |
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| Nature |
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Giant Sequoias |
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Giant Coastal Redwoods |
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Granite Peaks and Other Alpine Settings |
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Desert Flora (Cactus, Joshua Trees, Wildflowers) |
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Waterfalls |
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Volcanos |
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| Land Animals |
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Deer |
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Black Bear |
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Bobcats, Mountain Lions |
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Racoons, Skunks, Fox, Coyotes... |
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River Otters, Beaver... |
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Elk |
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Squirrels, chipmunks... |
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| Marine Wildlife |
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Sea Otters |
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Elephant Seals |
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Whales |
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Dolphins and Porpoise |
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Seals and Sea Lions |
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| Birds |
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Aquatic Fowl |
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Eagles |
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Hawks, Falcons |
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Ducks, Geese... |
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| Things to do |
| Outdoor Leisure Sports |
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Fishing |
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Golf |
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Bicycle Touring |
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Sea Kayaking |
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Sailing |
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Camping |
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Horseback Riding |
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| More Adventurous Sports |
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Hiking/Backpacking |
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Scuba / Snorkeling |
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ATV / Dune Buggy / Offroading |
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River Sports - Canoeing, Kayaking, Rafting |
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Surfing, Kite Surfing, Wind Surfing, Jet Skiing |
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Water Skiing |
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| Thrill Sports |
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Mountain Biking |
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Rock Climbing |
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Hang Gliding/Paragliding |
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| Winter Sports |
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Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding |
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Cross-country Skiing |
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Snowmobiling |
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| Specialty Tours and Activities |
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Train Tours |
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Jet Boat River Touring |
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Local Nature Cruises and Harbor Tours |
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Gold Panning |
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Parasailing |
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Hot Air Balloon Tours |
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Flightseeing Tours |
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Local Cruises (dinner, dance, sightseeing) |
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| Entertainment |
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Shows, Theatre, Music |
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Dining |
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Nightlife |
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Sporting Venues (Baseball, Football, Basketball, Racing, Rodeo...) |
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| Overviews of Regions Visited |
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| Times and Distances |
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Rough Driving Distance (not including local driving): about 950 miles |
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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 Calaveras County: 3:00
- Between Calaveras County and Sacramento: 1:00
- Between Sacramento and Napa: 1:15
- Between Napa and Bodega Bay: 1:15
- Beetween Bodega Bay and San Francisco: 1:30
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