Expert: Ernest Tufft - 2/27/2008

Question
Hi -
Thanks for providing such good info!
We Just got plane tickets for our first trip to California.
Coming into San Francisco in mid april, Arrive at noon on Friday and leave
early the next Sunday (9/10 days)
We live in Orlando FL - so want to stay away from "tourist traps", We aren't
city people either, but figured we have to at least take a quick tour of the city
Friday & spend the night at Fishermans wharf. Then leave Saturday to head
north.
Question is I'm not sure of where to stay & how long because of stops & drive
times. We want to stop & enjoy the view, parks & lighthouses. I want to go at
least as far as Mendocino. Then head over thru wine country to Yosemite,
then head back to the coast & back to San Fran via Big Sur. What are some
good towns to stay & what would realistic routes & drive times be? My
husband also likes to fish, so any good places to stop for that?

Whatever info you provide will be most helpful!
Thanks:)

Answer
Probably the best fishing experience for your husband would be on a boat out of Fort Bragg, a port town just north of the town of Mendocino.  He might be able to catch ocean salmon or sea bass, depending upon the season.  Usually, the gear is part of the deal, but when you first arrive in town scout out the best boat providing the service, or you might try researching this ahead on-line.  Neither Mendocino nor Fort Bragg are "tourist traps" although both depend upon a steady stream of honeymooners and others seeking escape from the grind in the Bay Area.  This beautiful coastline was the setting for "Murder She Wrote" TV series.  I would try to find a B&B in Mendocino or Fort Bragg by browsing this on-line now.

On the return trip south from Mendocino through the Napa/Sonoma wine country, get off Hwy 101 to Hwy 128 at Geyserville and continue through to Calistoga for a "backdoor" entrance to the Napa Valley.  This entire route is lovely wine country area rarely visited by ordinary tourists, and the wineries in this area will be happy to see you.  Consider staying in Calistoga.  A mud bath, massage, or geyser water spa will be still very nice in April.  Again, browse the online resources to learn more, or go to my pages at Virtualtourist.com.

You can continue south through to Napa, and then take Hwy 12 EAST (study the map) through the Delta region.  A stop at Foster's Big Horn for lunch in Rio Vista will provide a rare surprise of the world's largest collection of big game taxidermy from all over the world.  Rio Vista also is the center for sport fishing in the Sacramento River Delta region and often has bass fishing tournaments.  When Hwy 12 gets to I-5, go south about 20 miles to Hwy 120 East.  You will drive through my hometown of Stocton along the way.  Follow the signs for Yosemite; this Hwy will take you all the way to the Big Oak Flat entrance for Yosemite National Park.  A brief stop along the way in the Gold Mining town of Sonora is worth a lunch stop.

When you leave Yosemite, exit by the EL Portal entrance on Hwy 140 WEST to drive through Merced then follow signs to Los Banos (study map).  Skip 140 west of Hwy 99, and take Hwy 33 through a wildlife refuge in California's Great Central Valley.  Not much to see, but authentic valley tule habitat not much traffic either.  Near Los Banos, take the Pacheco Pass Hwy 152 route through to San Juan Bautista.  Stop and visit one of best kept old California mission towns.  Then, at Hwy 101, follow the signs leading you to Monterey.  

On the way back from Big Sur/Carmel/Montery, take Hwy 1 through to Santa Cruz, and then, depending on available time and willingness to take winding roads, either take Hwy 9 through the Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods to Saratoga, or take Hwy 17 (the freeway) direct to Hwy 280, and on back to SF.  If you have a lot of spare time, it's possible to take the coast route back to SF through Half Moon Bay.

Use Mapquest for the details here, but if you need more help, please ask :-)