Northern California

California is an enormous state, and sometimes visitors only have the time to explore part of it. Maybe I'm biased after living in the area for more than 20 years, but the northern half of the state is where it's at!

Northern California is home to memorable beaches, glorious redwood trees, towering mountains, historic sites from the Gold Rush and railroad boom, wine growing regions, and more. There are big cities like San Francisco for urban explorers and truly remote areas where you can really escape the crowds and connect to the great outdoors.

Here are some of the NorCal destination highlights that fellow family travelers will enjoy.

get outdoors!

Ultimate Guide to Northern California's National Parks

Forget Utah's Mighty 5 - Northern California is home to five national parks of its own. Find out where you can get outdoors in the northern part of the state.

Read the guide