Being from the east coast (Florida) all my life, I decided to branch out and explore the West Coast with my dad and twin brother. It was an amazing adventure that balanced the busyness of a city to the tranquillity of nature. We started our trip in the City by the Bay, San Fransisco. We then rented a car and headed east to two of the most famous national parks in America, Yosemite and Sequoia National Park. Finally we returned to San Fransisco by road trip up California State Route 1.
San Fransisco:
Alcatraz Island - Are you a history buff? Love a good adventure? Or love to see natural beauty? Then Alcatraz Island is perfect for you. They have preserved the island very well and have an audio guided tour to tell you all about the many stories that took place there. I would recommend to buy your tickets in advance because the time slots sell out very quickly.
Pier 39 - Arf! Arf! Arf! What is that? That's right! Sea Lions! This is a must see that is enjoyable for all ages. They also have shops and restaurants on the on the pier so you can relax and enjoy the scenery of the beautiful bay.
Ride Bicycles on the Golden Gate Bridge - This was one of the highlights of our trip. We had a Groupon so it was relatively inexpensive. We used Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals and had a great time. They have a location near Pier 39 and where we made a round trip over the golden gate bridge and back. It is available to all ages but some of the hills may be a bit much for small children. (Pictured is my dad in front of the Golden Gate Bridge)
Lombard Street - This famous one block section was named 'the most crooked street in the world.'
('Full House' House) - As a kid, my family always used to watch full house before going to school. So for me this was a really cool sight to see. One could probably drive right by it without even realizing its significance, but it was just a great family experience. This is not far from the Painted Ladies.
Ride in a Cable Car - Finally, you must ride in a cable car. Not only is it one of the top things to do in San Fransisco, but after climbing hills all day you may just need the break.
Sequoia National Forest: The home of the redwoods! Here you will find the the largest currently living tree, General Sherman. Just to put it in perspective it has a height of 275 ft, a diameter of 25 ft, and an estimated age of 2,300–2,700 years! That is before even Christ! If this tree could tell stories, I'd love to listen. If accessible, I would also do the Trail of 100 Giants. Unfortunately, we went during the winter months so the roads were blocked off. Both Yosemite and Sequoia will close roads throughout winter, so be aware of the road closures. We basically drove an hour out of the way just to get turned around.
Yosemite National Park: All I can say is WOW! A majority of the Yosemite can be done by driving. One trail that I highly recommend doing is the trail to Mirror Lake. It is just a couple miles and you will be glad you did it. Tunnel View is a must (View is pictured at beginning of blog post)! You can get a great view of Yosemite Valley and get a spectacular shot of El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls, and much more.
Trip Up California State Route 1: This was not in our itinerary but we had a couple extra days so we thought "why not?" This allowed us to see many different sights such as:
Big Sur - We started our road-trip in Big Sur and headed North. Soon after you will see Bixby Bridge (pictured below). Bixby Bridge is one of the tallest single span concrete bridges in the world! There are many places to take pictures of this beautiful landmark to both the north and south side.
Monterey - We visited the Old Fisherman’s Wharf that gave us the opportunity to see a lot of wildlife. We saw sea lions, fish and even otters. If you don't get so lucky you can head to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which was the inspiration for the Marine Life Institute in the 2016 film Finding Dory! After you can shop and dine on Cannery Row. Cannery Row was a bit to touristy for me, but if you like that sort of thing you will get your fill here.
Santa Cruz - Although this area was packed with people, The Santa Cruz boardwalk is a must! This is one of the oldest amusement parks in California and a great opportunity for some family fun.
San Jose - While in San Jose we visited the Winchester Mystery House. With over 160+ rooms this house did not disappoint. With doors that lead no where and staircases leading nowhere this how is certainly a mystery. If you believe in to the supernatural there have even been multiple ghost sightings on the grounds. (House pictured below)
Hope this inspired you to book your own Californian Adventure! Thank you for reading.
