14-Day Northern California Road Trip Itinerary: The Best Of NorCal!

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.

Northern California, or NorCal as it’s affectionately known, is a beautiful region made up of vineyards, dramatic coastline, redwood forests, and vibrant cities.

It extends from the hills of San Francisco to the tech capital of Silicon Valley before climbing up to the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valley.

The South of Cali is often noted for its beaches and surf vibes, whereas the north is more about relaxing in rugged nature. It’s much more our vibe, as we discovered on our own Northern California road trip.

Given how vast and diverse this region is, it can be a challenge putting together a Northern California itinerary, so we’ve done the legwork for you.

When you’re ready to trade palm trees for redwoods, this is the ultimate 2-week Northern California road trip itinerary that takes you to see the biggest highlights of this region!

The Ultimate Northern California Road Trip

In this 14-day itinerary, we’ll be starting and ending in San Francisco and doing a loop around the region. Feel free to adapt this itinerary as you see fit, as you may be traveling in from Nevada and pass through Lake Tahoe first.

Since this itinerary is a loop, you can start at any point and make your way back around. You will find a map at the end of this post which features the route and stopping points on this itinerary.

However, if you’re flying in, San Fran makes for the perfect starting point. Pick up a hire car from here, and get ready for an exciting 14 days!

Day 1-2: San Francisco

San FRancisco views from Coit Tower
Views from Coit Tower

We started and ended in San Francisco, one of our favorite cities in California. Spend a couple of days in San Fran and use this opportunity to prepare for the upcoing road trip – get your hire car, pack your road trip snacks, and get yourself orientated.

Then, explore the city! I always begin my trips by having a wander slowly around the city.

I took in the stunning views of Coit Tower (how did I not know about this before?) and then walked next door to Vesuvius Café where Jack and many other poets, writers and singers would gather.

If you’ve never been to San Francisco before, check out the Golden Gate Bridge, take a tour of Alcatraz Island, or head to the Fisherman’s Wharf to see the seals at Pier 39.

If you love museums, check out the De Young Museum, or SF Museum of Modern Art, one of the largest museums of modern art in the United States.

If you only have a day, here’s how to spend a in San Francisco.

Don’t miss these posts with lots of ideas on things to do in San Francisco, as well as these top San Francisco attractions and hidden gems to love.

Where to Stay: San Francisco Marriott Marquis

Marriott Marquis hotel room San Francisco
Huge rooms!

Marriott Marquis San Francisco is a great place to stay in San Fran before starting your Northern California trip.

The Marquis is a fantastic hotel centrally located in the SoMa district not far from Union Square. You will love the surprisingly large rooms, and San Francisco views. Do not miss cocktails from The View lounge – the views are sensational.

the view lounge san francisco
The View Lounge

Day 3: Sausalito, Point Reyes National Seashore, Sonoma, and Sacramento

On the third day, it’s time the drive out of San Francisco and the bay area over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Fingers crossed the typical marine layer is not fogging you in, as you’ll stop at one of the most famous viewpoints: Golden Gate Bridge View Vista Point Hello Fog! It’s beautiful even if it’s rolling in!

woman posing with camera in front of golden gate bridge view
A chilly San Francisco Day!

Sausalito

Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge is Sausalito, one of my favorite areas of San Francisco, especially on a sunny day. We stopped here for an hour.

As I’ve been here a few times before, I decided to walk along the bay just north of the main shopping area for a local’s favorite coffee at Sausalito Equator.

There are plenty of good views along the bay in Sausalito and boutique stores to peruse. Sausalito Books By the Bay is a cute independent community bookstore on the water worth visiting.

As you continue heading out of San Francisco the fog will drop and the temperature will rise as you make your way to the next stop.

Point Reyes National Seashore

A 50-minute drive north of Sausalito is Point Reyes National Seashore, a natural haven known for its craggy headlands, ocean views and rugged landscape.

Take an hour or so to walk along the forested cliff tops and brushy hills. This region is known for its rolling coastal hills with views of the Pacific Ocean. There are several hikes to choose from. You can view them all here.

Gloria Ferrer Wines, Sonoma

Gloria Ferrer Winery sonoma
Gloria Ferrer Winery views

After having the cobwebs swept away by the sea breeze, head towards Sonoma, a more laid-back wine region compared to famous and glitzy Napa Valley.

My first (and limited) impression is that Sonoma is more my rustic, down-to-earth style and I want to come back.

First stop was Gloria Ferrer Winery, the first sparkling winery in the Carneros wine region of California, which has an ideal climate for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Jose and Gloria Ferrer bought their generations of Spanish-sparkling-winegrowing wisdom to this region, planting 50 acres of vines in 1984 and opening the winery two years alter. In 2016, Gloria Ferrer received the official sustainable certification from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

I loved learning this and more on a private wine tasting experience on the Vista Terrace with beautiful views and a flight of four award-winning sparkling and still wines.

They were paired with delicious local cheeses, pickled capers, house spiced almonds, and charcuterie.

My favorite wines were the Blanc de Blanc made from white 100% chardonnay and the pinot noir was sensational! I wish I bought a souvenir bottle!

Sonoma Plaza

wall with paintings of people on it
Welcome to Sonoma

I absolutely loved the vibe of this historical town centered around Sonoma Plaza in the heart of Sonoma Valley.

With its artistic vibe and historical Spanish architecture surrounding the square, it reminded me of a cross between Jackson, Wyoming and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

It invites you to slowly wander and soak up the old adobe storefronts, wander down alleyways and through courtyards, stopping for a bit of shopping or a drink or meal at the plethora of restaurants and bars on the plaza’s edge.

For a little history, explore the Sonoma City Hall, the Sonoma Barracks in the old Mexican military outpost, and the Spanish San Francisco Solano Mission village.

I loved the pomegranate tree out the front of the mission, which inspired me to get a pomegranate margarita at Maya Restaurant.

Napa Valley

Take a drive through Napa Valley on your way towards Sacramento, where you will stay for the night. Napa Valley is one of the most beautiful and scenic wine regions in Cali. It’s also extremely touristy so we don’t recommend hanging around too long if crowds aren’t your vibe.

Where to Stay: Embassy Suites by Hilton in Sacramento

Embassy Suites by hilton Sacramento riverfront living area

Stay two nights at the Embassy Suites By Hilton Sacramento Riverfront Promenade. The hotel is across from the river and near the golden Tower Bridge, which is worth seeing during sunset for how it lights up.

The hotel is only a short walk to Old Sacramento Waterfront District and about 30 minutes to Midtown Sacramento.

Embassy Suites hotel room  by hilton Sacramento riverfront

The suite rooms are spacious with a separate lounge area and desk for those who work as they travel. They also have evening social hour with free drinks and snacks! Look for their special cocktail of the day. Warning. It may be strong!

Day 4: Sacramento: Midtown & Old Town Sacramento

the tower bridge sacramento
Gorgeous Tower Bridge

Sacramento was never on my list of places to visit in California and I barely even knew anything about it – not even that it was the capital of California!

I assumed it would be a bland, capital city, but I love it when my travels show me I know nothing. Now I want to go back and explore more of this vibrant city (currently one of the fastest growing in California for affordability and lifestyle!)

As 80% of the food in the US is produced from the Central Valley region where Sacramento is located, you can expect to find a flourishing Farm to Fork foodie scene in the city.

State Capitol Building Sacramento California
State Capitol Building

Spend the day exploring Sacramento and taking in the sites.

I recommend to learn the history of Sutter’s Fort, where Sacramento started in 1839, by visiting the beautiful State Capitol Building and grounds where Sacramento was established as the capital after the Gold Rush in 1854.

My favorite stop was the 15-stories high Johnny Cash Mural, created by the same artist who did the 2008 Obama Hope poster to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his Folsom Prison Blues album.

Johnny Cash mural Sacramento
The Man in Black

If you’re a Johnny Cash fan, you might want to visit the Folsom Prison Museum to learn more about Cash’s work for Prison reform and his performance of Prison Blues in 1968 at the prison.

Midtown Sacramento

murals of midtown sacramento
Midtown murals

We continued our theme of mural appreciating on our cultural walking tour of Midtown Sacramento.

Midtown is the hip and trendy region of Sacramento located mostly along the residential community with old homes and tree-lined streets, which reminded me a lot of Raleigh.

It is also the center of Sacramento’s art, music, and cultural scene where you’ll find more of a diverse cultural story, breweries, hip cafes, upscale dining and clubs, artisans and vibrant murals. The kind of local experience we look for when we travel.

First stop in Midtown will want to be the Temple Coffee for a delicious cup. Pay attention to the 500,000 pennies that make up the café’s floor. I’m sure you’ll find good luck.

Temple Coffee has various locations in the city. My research before visiting told me it’s some of the best coffee in Sacramento.

The area around Midtown MX (on K Street) is where you’ll find a little taste of Mexico with cool restaurants and the Placita MX a building courtyard area that houses six different small artisan businesses.

You may even see artist, John S. Huerta, at work in his studio.

Around the corner is Catina Alley, where we stopped for some deliciously fresh and spicy Asada steak and Baja fish tacos.

Cantina Alley has Oaxaca and Mexico City inspired ala carte street food; most known for their tacos. They’ve replaced the chips and salsa typically served in Mexican restaurants with chicharrons – fried pig rind.

I loved the ambiance of this restaurant, with its outdoor seating, huge mural, sculptures, and bar covered with photograph-covered ceramic tiles. It definitely made me want to go to Mexico City!

You can easily walk to this area from the hotel (about 30 minutes).

We walked back from the Midtown walking tour, which gave us a greater insight into Sacramento life.

Old Sacramento

Old Town Sacramento District
Old Town Sacramento District

Are you ready to step back into Gold Rush times?

The Old Sacramento Waterfront has been preserved to maintain that 1850s feel with recreated or restored buildings from the Gold Rush era.

You’ll find wooden sidewalks, horse drawn carriages or maybe even a living history character or two. Museums will tell the story of the California Gold Rush and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad which began in Sacramento.

Dereck took us on a short walking tour of the area before dinner and told us more of Sacramento’s history.

Old Town Sacramento building

I was worried this region may be a little kitschy, but I loved it!

The architecture of the buildings were stunning and it was tastefully set out and designed and it had such a fun wild west vibe that felt authentic to that spirit, more than poorly fabricated!

I love finding connections between places when I visit and the style of Sacramento’s buildings with their wrap around upper decks/ verandahs were exactly like Fremantle in Western Australia, which also has a rich gold mining history!

It has a very similar buzzing night time atmosphere, where everyone was having a good time. I felt like I was visiting Sacramento and Fremantle in the one experience and I was so joyful.

A group of us from the tour went to Fanny Ann’s Saloon for dinner. It’s named after the steamboat that was used for transportation during the Gold Rush (and later helped the North in the Civil War!)

Franny Ann’s has been serving up burgers and beers since 1973! The peanut butter burger is the specialty!

There’s three levels of memorabilia, including an ancient firehose on wheels, posters, arcade games and funky nooks and crannies.

It has a Wild West quirky feel. Some of the posters gave us a great laugh for days after! Other people on the tour wen to the River City Saloon bar and love that experience!

people dining at Rio City cafe old
Lovely group dinner at Rio City Cafe

On our second evening, we ate as a tour group at the Rio City Café right on the River running through Sacramento.

The building is designed as a replicate steamship warehouse of the 1800s, perfect for its riverside location. The outdoor patio overlooks the river and historic Tower Bridge and is serene at sunset.

This is a great spot for a fancier Sacramento dining experience with delicious food and cocktails.

You can read more in our one day guide to Sacramento.

Day 5: Sacramento to Humboldt County

It’s a six hour drive to Humboldt County from Sacramento, so consider stopping off in Mendocino, a charming coastal town roughly halfway between the two areas on the Northern California Coast.

It’s known for its slow pace of life, quaint coffee shops and boutiques, and small town charm.

You could also stop at Trinidad, Arcata, or Eureka for the night if you don’t want to continue on to Crescent City, were we recommend you stay for the Redwood National State Park.

Where to Stay: Hiouchi Motel, Crescent City

The Hiouchi Motel in Crescent City is basic but comfortable and does the job for one night. Since it’s a motel, it has plenty of parking, and each room comes with A/C, a kitchenette, a seating and dining area and a private bathroom.

All rooms have a coffee machine.

Day 6: Redwood National and State Park to Burney Falls

giant redwood tree in Redwood National and State Park

There are two natural highlights of Northern California, Yosemite and Redwood National and State Park.

Depending on how much of a tree-lover you are, you may want to spend a full day here and stay one more night in Crescent City, or you may only wander for an hour and take the long drive to the next stop.

Note: It’s a four hour drive from Redwood National and State Park to Shasta Lake, the stop for the night before visiting Burney Falls. Remember this when you are exploring that you might arrive late to your accommodation.

Redwood National and State Park

Redwoods National & State Parks California

It had been a dream of mine to walk amongst the giant redwood forests in Northern California (the largest tree by height).

Planning a vsit to the redwoods is a little confusing as Redwoods National Park actually consists of 4 parks, with three of them being State Parks. The entire perimeter is made up of:

  • Redwood National Park
  • Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park
  • Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
  • Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

There is also Humboldt Redwoods State Park in Redwood National Park and State Park, the most famous place in North America to see Redwood trees.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is the 3rd largest of the California state parks and home to the world’s largest remaining contiguous old-growth forest of coastal redwoods.

Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Combining all the parks, there are some incredible hiking opportunities and scenic drives.

One of several highlights was hugging a Redwood tree, but not any tree, a 346 foot giant Redwood tree at Humboldt State Park.

It’s not as big as The General Sherman Tree in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, which is the largest tree in the world at 1,487 cubic meters, or the second largest tree, The General Grant Tree, at 1,320 cubic meters – but it was still mighty impressive.

kids holding hands wrapped around a gigantic redwood tree in a forest
Humbolt Redwoods State Park, California

We also loved the gorgeous drive though old forests, small farms, and a few small towns.

Cheatham Grove is a true hidden gem of Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park (one of the best California State Parks) and you might recognize it from as backdrop from the scooter chase scene in the Star Wars movie, Return of The Jedi.

And it’s here you can drive the 32 mile Avenue of the Giants, making this one of the best places to see redwoods by car. If you want to see some other beautiful nature sites as well as redwoods, check out Fern Canyon and College Cove Beach.

Where to Stay: Inn at Shasta Lake

Since there are no hotels in Burney Falls, a great place to base yourself nearby is Inn at Shasta Lake. This 3* bed and breakfast has cozy rooms decorated with modern furnishings, each with their own private bathroom.

They are located in Shasta Trinity National forest and surrounded by woodlands, making for a quiet natural escape. It’s in a rural location, but it’s only 5 miles to Redding where you can get a bite to eat. Also note that cell phones go “out of range” in the area here.

Day 7: Burney Falls, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Tahoe City

One of the main reasons why you had a long slog of a drive the day before is to see Burney Falls. From here, you will start to loop back South towards Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and back towards San Francisco. There will be about 3.5 hours of driving today, but it will be broken up with the first two stops.

Burney Falls

a close up shot of Burney Falls in northern california

Wake up early to see Burney Falls. This is one of the most impressive waterfalls in the state, standing at 120 feet high and with a sheer power of 100 million gallons of water flowing through it each day -it’s size and power will leave you stunned.

If you are visiting NorCal in Spring or Fall, you will find the waterfall at its fullest as the snowmelt and rainy season fills the river. Pack a breakfast picnic and enjoy the serene surroundings before driving 45 minutes to our next stop, Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Lassen Volcanic National Park

Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

One of the lessor known national parks in the USA is Lassen Volcanic National Park. It’s rich in hydrothermal sites like Bumpass Hell, with its acres of bubbling mud pots, steaming sulphur vents, and, boiling springs. It’s like a mini Yellowstone National Park.

Lassen Peak Volcano blew its top in 1914. Now it’s dormant, and trails and overlooks let you these amazing sites from within dense woods and sparkling lakes. The summit offers views over the surrounding wilderness.

After exploring the park, drive 3 hours to South Lake Tahoe.

Where to Stay: The Jeffrey Hotel

Stay in South Lake Tahoe in the beachside hotel, The Jeffrey Hotel, a serene mountain resort with spacious and comfortable rooms. Each room has been individually styled and comes with a private bathroom.

Some rooms have a fireplace or sun terrace. The highlight of this hotel is the private beach, less than 1 mile away.

Day 8: Lake Tahoe

water with mountains in the background
Lake Tahoe

I recommend you spend a full day at Lake Tahoe, taking in the wonderful views and driving the “Most Beautiful Drive in America,” the highway circumnavigating the eastern side of Lake Tahoe on the way to Mammoth Mountain.

Lake Tahoe has been on my USA bucket list for some time after watching so many friend’s fun adventures in the region – both during winter and summer.

While our trip was fleeting and was mostly stunning viewpoints, it’s inspired me to return for more in-depth explorations, lake fun, and hiking in the surrounding mountains.

We got to experience Tahoe from the Nevada side as well, which was great. We stopped in at Sand-Harbor State Park and Logan Shoals Vista Point in Nevada for these stunning views:

Sand Harbor Lake Tahoe
Sand Harbor Lake Tahoe views
logan shoals vista point lake tahoe nevada
Logan Shoals

In case you’re wondering, the reason Lake Tahoe is so blue is thanks to the clarity of the water, which is fed purely of snowmelt from the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains.

You can sometimes see down to a depth of 100ft. At 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake at 6,225 feet above sea level.

It’s the second deepest lake in the USA after Crater Lake (which Tahoe reminded me of with its brilliant blue color). We stopped for a great lunch of Mexican and Monday Margaritas at Azul Latin Kitchen in Heavenly Village in the South Lake Tahoe area in California and a little shopping after it.

I picked up some lovely gifts for the girls in the Earthbound Trading Company.

Day 9: Emerald Bay State Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lakes, Mammoth Mountain

On the ninth day, you’ll be visiting three attractions that are vastly different from each other! There is about 3 hours of driving today, so be sure to have a big breakfast and fuel up!

Emerald Bay State Park

Drive 15-minutes to Emerald Bay State Park and enjoy an early morning hike before you set off towards your next stop. Head to Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian manion that once belonged to Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight in 1928.

There is a steep one mile trail to the house, but once you are there, you can admire the intricate design of the house which has been built using natural timber.

It’s said that 200 workers were hired to hand hew the timbers, carving the intricate details and plane the interior walls. It’s an architectural gem!

Bodie Ghost Town Tour

bodie ghost town building california
The homes on the good side

From Lake Tahoe, head to Bodie Ghost town, which ended up being a wonderful experience and a highlight for me. The drive here from Lake Tahoe is about 2 hours 40 minutes.

Bodie State Historic Park is the largest and most interesting gold-mining ghost town I have been to. Bodie became a boom town in 1876 after the discovery of gold and by 1879 it had a population of 7,000–10,000.

This isolated town in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is preserved in a state of Arrested Decay, meaning it’s exactly as it looks when it was abandoned in 1942, right down to goods still on the grocery shelf and the weights lying around on the gym floor.

Mono Lake

tuftas of Mono Lake California
The mystical Mono Lake, California

Drive 45 minutes to Mono Lake, a mystical beauty known as the Dead Sea of California It’s one of the oldest lakes in North America and known for its Tufas – columns and spires of solid calcium carbonate formed when freshwater springs met the alkaline water of the lakes.

There is a mile long boardwalk that loops along the waters edge and takes you up close to the tufas and mud pots.

Minaret Vista

minaret vista sunset mammoth
Stunning Minaret Vista

Before parking up for the night, hike the 3-mile return Minaret Vista trail behind the Mammoth Inn. It was a beautiful and easy hike through the forest leading to spectacular sunset views of Mammoth Lakes’ signature skyline, the sharp, jutting spores of the the Minarets.

I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to do this.

Mammoth Mountain Village

We had a later arrival to our Mammoth Mountain Inn accommodation where we headed straight down to cute Mammoth Village for dinner in the outdoor garden of Mammoth Brewing Company. The burger here was one of the best I had, and many agreed the food was sensational, as was the beer!

Mammoth Mountain is known for being California’s premier skiing resort, but if you’re visiting in the Spring or Summer time, this gorgeous alpine region is alive with pine trees and glistening lakes.

Where to Stay: Mammoth Mountain Inn

Mammoth Mountain Inn loft bedroom
Looking down from the loft

Mammoth Mountain Inn is located at the base of Mammoth Mountain across from the main lodge of the ski area. The lodge rooms were cozy with a loft bedroom that kids will love if you are traveling with them. I liked this feature for families to get a little extra privacy and space.

The lodge has a restaurant and bar with great food and drink choices. It’s a cozy atmosphere and the place for our group impromptu September 21 Spring Equinox Dance. There may or may not have been Slippery Slope dessert cocktails involved.

Day 10: Mammoth Mountain to Yosemite National Park

Mammoth Laes and Mammoth Mountain
Mammoth Mountain

The Mammoth region is known for its mountain peaks, expansive valleys, and crystal clear mountain lakes. It’s an adventure lovers’ playground year round.

We had activities planned for the surrounding areas down off the mountain rather than on it.

Spend the morning exploring the Mammoth Mountain region, take the Gondola ride to the top of the mountain for views, or take a kayak out on Mono Lake (my choice), before driving on to perhaps the biggest highlight of this Northern California road trip!

Where to Stay: Tenaya Lodge

tenaya lodge yosemite
Tenaya Lodge

Everyone was excited to have three nights at the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The resort is not located within Yosemite National Park, but in Fish Camp, which is just outside the Mariposa Grove region of the park.

Craig and I stayed here in 2019 with the girls and loved it, so I was thrilled to return.

It’s the most upmarket property on this road trip, and you get access to amenities to match with indoor and outdoor pools, landscaped gardens, firepits (remember to S’mores), relaxing Spa treatments, and the Jack Cantaloupe Restaurant which has noteworthy food and drinks.

The burgers are great as is the flourless chocolate torte! I loved soaking up some free time by the resort pool (so happy it was heated!) and one evening we grabbed some s’mores kits around the fire pits on the patio and enjoyed them over warm chocolate cocktails and conversations contemplating the truth of ghosts!

All deep conversations (and much laughter) happen with new friends over crackling fires.

Read our full review of the Tenaya Lodge

Day 11-13: Yosemite National Park

yosemite valley half dome views
Yosemite Valley views of Half Dome

The highlight of this Northern California tour is Yosemite National Park. This was my third visit to the park, so I enjoyed a more leisurely experience that involved mostly appreciating the many different viewpoints.

I recommend spending at least two full days, preferably 3, exploring the park and stopping at all the major viewpoints.

views of water and granite cliffs in yosemite valley view
Look at those reflections
view of yosemite valley from tunnel view
The stunning Tunnel View

The biggest treat was driving along the Tioga Pass Road, a more off-the-beaten path section of Yosemite that is closed most of the year due to snow.

I discovered one of my favorite views at Olmsted Point overlooking the back of half dome.

Olmsted Point Half dome view Yosemite NP
Olmsted Point and the back of half-dome

We took a couple of hours to wander Yosemite Valley floor, which I enjoyed doing with a couple of my fellow travelers.

Sadly, due to the time of year (September) the Yosemite waterfalls had dried up, as they are mostly snowmelt fed.

California is also in drought so had one of the worst snow years.

It was so bizarre seeing a completely dry Yosemite and Bridalveil Falls where last I saw them in May when the granite walls of Yosemite Valley were thundering with water!

Day 12: Yosemite National Park Photography Tour

cathedral rock rising up from yosemite valley
One of the photos I captured on the tour

This may not be for everyone, but if you’re into photography, I recommend the STROLL: A Kaleidoscope on Black and White Photography tour courtesy of the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Since Craig is usually the photographer, I though this would be a great way for me to learn a little more about photography and connect to Yosemite in a different way.

Ansel Adams is known throughout the world for spectacular black and white images of America’s natural beauty, in particular, Yosemite. He was a visionary in his efforts to preserve America’s wild and scenic areas.

ansel adams yosemite photos
One of Ansel Adam’s Yosemite photos

Our guide, Blake took us on a short walk through the valley sharing Ansel Adam’s life, how Yosemite impacted him, and the importance of his photography work for helping to protect national parks.

We also learned some of his black and white photo techniques and how to apply it to our own digital photography.

The treat for most of us was getting a look at a Chamonix 45 4×5 view camera, similar to what Ansel Adam’s would have used.

It was extraordinary to see the amount of time, consideration, and care went into to taking one photo. You had to know what you were doing and set everything up to capture a perfect photo.

But, as we learned on the tour, sometimes it took Ansel months, if not years, to perfect a shot.

We need experiences like this to remind us how easy we have it now! It helps me appreciate those who came before us and trailblazed that easy path for us. It inspired me to improve my photography. (Which I soon forgot about after the trip, when I gladly handed the camera back to Craig!!)

Day 14: Yosemite National Park to Tuolumne Grove to San Francisco

An hour and a half drive away from Yosemite are the Giant Sequoias at Tuolumne Grove. The biggest sequoia grove at Yosemite is Mariposa Grove, which is right near Tenaya, but you can see them without the crowds at Tuolumne Grove.

As I had been to Mariposa before, so I was keen to visit Tuolumne Grove.

It was a 2 mile return hike down to the grove – noting it was quite steep coming out. It was a peaceful wall to experience the largest living trees on earth!

After a couple of hours exploring this forest, head on back to San Francisco at your own pace. This is a 3.5-hour drive, so be sure to stop for a coffee along the way.

Right next door to Yosemite and completing the Majestic Mountain Loop is Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. If time allows, I highly recommend you adding this into your California road trip itinerary. Here is a road trip itinerary for these three California national parks.

Final Thoughts

omsted point tioga pass road yosemite
Happy tour experience | Photo by Lina from Divergent Travelers

After a long drive back to San Francisco, we were exhausted but amazed by the beauty of this region! When you travel remember to be present and soak up all of it.

Because before you know it, it’s over, you’re onto the next adventure and the memory of it will soon start to fade – but those feelings you had along the way won’t – that’s what continues to transform.

I stayed an extra night in San Francisco and spoiled myself with cocktails and dinner at The View Lounge. Enjoy the next chapter of your journey!

Map of this Northern California Itinerary

To help you plan your itinerary, here is a map of this road trip itinerary with each of the stops mentioned in this guide.

More USA Travel Tips

Join our email community through the form below so you don’t miss them + gain access to lots of USA travel tips!

Pin To Save On Pinterest

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top