START. San Francisco. Begin your journey at Fisherman's Wharf, where San Francisco's maritime history comes to life amid sidewalk vendors and fresh seafood stands. Liz Taylor, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jackie Chan and 277 other celebrities are immortalized at the Wax Museum. Browse through two levels of waterfront shops and attractions at PIER 39. Stop by the California Welcome Center for statewide information. Enjoy a cruise to Alcatraz Island, or watch hundreds of sea lions-who now call the pier home-bark and frolic. Ride a cable car to Chinatown, indulge in upscale shopping at Ghirardelli Square or enjoy panoramic views of the city, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from the top of Coit Tower. Drive east along The Embarcadero, a scenic waterfront route that leads to San Francisco's bustling Financial District. Follow the signs to the Bay Bridge (I-80 east), which will take you over the bay to...
>> 13 MI. (21 KM.) BERKELEY. Visit the vibrant and spirited campus of the University of California, Berkeley, pamper yourself at the historic Claremont Resort and Spa, or enjoy lunch at Alice Waters' famously innovative Chez Panisse-the restaurant that pioneered California cuisine. Then browse through specialty shops along the fashionable Fourth Street shopping promenade before continuing on I-80 west to I-580 east to ...
>> 5 MI. (8 KM.) OAKLAND. Enjoy cuisine and shopping from around the world along edgy Lakeshore and Grand avenues. Take a stroll around Lake Merritt, home to Children's Fairyland, a bird estuary, a nature center and even singing gondoliers. Drive through downtown Oakland, past the majestically restored Art Deco Paramount Theatre, to Jack London Square, named for the famous author, who spent his early years in Oakland. Drive south along the waterfront, and turn right onto the green Park Street Bridge into Alameda. This charming "island city" is graced with stately Craftsman homes as well as ornate Victorians. Continue on I-880 south past Fremont to...
>> 38 MI. (61 KM.) SAN JOSE. Known as "The Capital of Silicon Valley." The state-of-the-art Tech Museum of Innovation shares how technology shapes every aspect of our lives. Now Northern California's largest city, San Jose's revitalized downtown offers many dining and shopping choices. Get all wet at Raging Waters or lose yourself in the bizarre, 160-room Winchester Mystery House. Continue south on I-880 to...
>> 4 MI. (6 KM.) SANTA CLARA. Discover the beginnings of California at the Mission Santa Clara de Asis, founded in 1877 by Father Junipero Serra, the eighth of 21 California missions. For movie-themed thrills and adventure, Paramount's Great America will leave you breathless. Outlet shopping at Great Mall of the Bay, and the Intel Museum are a must. Depart Santa Clara on Hwy 17 south to Campbell, once an important rail center for exporting fruit. Historic buildings and landmarks, such as the Ainsley House, commemorate the old cannery days. Continue south on Hwy. 17 to Los Gatos. Nestled at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this small, picturesque town is filled with quaint shops, cafes and restaurants. Along Hwy. 17, wind your way over the Santa Cruz Mountains to Hwy. 9 north to ...
>> 21 MI. (34 KM.) FELTON. In the heart of the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains is Felton's Roaring Camp Railroads. Narrow-gauge, steam-powered trains take passengers on scenic tours that include some of the steepest rail grades in North America. Enjoy special events such as chuck wagon barbecues, great train robberies and moonlight rail excursions. Henry Cowell Redwoods SP features a nature center, camping, and in the winter, anglers fish for steelhead and salmon. Go back to Hwy. 17 and head south on to...
>> 7 MI. (11 KM.) SANTA CRUZ. Santa Cruz is the epitome of California's laid-back beach and surf culture. Head to the Beach Boardwalk to take a spin on dozens of rides-including the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and a 1911 carousel. Nearby, upscale Aptos combines rustic escapism with pampering indulgence, while charming Capitola has proudly earned the right to call itself "California's oldest seaside resort." Drive north along Hwy. 1 to...
>> 15 MI. (24 KM.) DAVENPORT. Once a whaling town, this secluded seaside community is now an artists' enclave brimming with specialty shops, art galleries and cozy cafes. Davenport offers the perfect vantage point for whale-watching during their annual migration, January through March. Enjoy dramatic bluffs, mesmerizing tide pools and winding curves along Hwy. 1 as you make your way north to...
>> 23 MI. (37 KM.) PESCADERO. South of Pescadero are two of California's extraordinary state parks. At Año Nuevo State Reserve, hundreds of northern elephant seals come ashore every winter to give birth and mate. Once hunted almost to extinction, the resurgence of this protected species has been remarkable. The mating season continues through March, and ranger-led tours are offered daily, by reservation only. Established in 1902, Big Basin Redwoods SP, California's oldest state park, is more than 18,000 acres of old growth and recovering redwood forests. Continue north along Hwy. 1 to...
>> 35 MI. (56 KM.) HALF MOON BAY. This rural seaside community is home to century-old Victorian bed and breakfasts, scenic golf courses and an all-American, historic Main Street. The annual Pumpkin Festival is held every October. Nearby, where ocean waves crash against the rocky shore, Mavericks offers what may be the most daring surfing conditions in the world. Continue north along Hwy. 1 and the Cabrillo Hwy. to...
>> 14 MI. (23 KM.) PACIFICA. Perched in the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco. Fish or crab off the pier, or hike along protected hillsides. Tour the Sanchez Adobe Historic Site, which began life as an Indian village. From Pacifica, take the Cabrillo Hwy., I-280 and I-101 north back to...
<<14 MI. (23 KM.) SAN FRANCISCO.
