Trip to San Francisco & the Northern CA Coast

In October 2012, we journeyed to San Francisco and the Northern California Coast, including Monterrey, Santa Cruz, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the Big Sur. This area has a bounty of historic sites, parks and scenic places.  We saw sunshine every day the entire week, with mild days and cool evenings.

Here’s the travel itinerary:

Day 1 – Saturday

• San Francisco, CA
  • Riding BART
  • The Ferry Building
  • Cable Car Ride
  • Fisherman’s Wharf / Pier 39
  • Dinner at Fog Harbor Fish House
  • Ride on MUNI (From Pier 39, Chinatown, Little Italy)

Day 2 – Sunday

• San Francisco CA Main Attractions Tour
  • Lombard Street (new guided walk)
  • Chinatown (guided walk)
  • Grace Cathedral
  • Nob Hill
  • Alamo Square Park “7 Sisters”
  • Golden Gate Park
  • Japanese Tea Garden
  • Palace of Fine Arts
  • Golden Gate Bridge
  • Sausalito (lunch, shopping & Exploring)
  • Muir Woods
  • Muir Beach Overlook
  • Ferry/Bay Cruise
  • Ferry Building

Day 3 -Monday

• Santa Cruz (lunch – self-guided tour)
• Highway 1 (through CA farmland/roadside markets)
• Monterey Downtown
• Cannery Row
• Monterey Pier
• Carmel-by-the-Sea (Shops)
• Carmel Beach City Park

Day 4 – Tuesday

• Hwy. 1 towards Big Sur
• Bixby Creek Bridge
• Point Sur Lighthouse
• Big Sur River Inn (lunch)
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• Gravity Garden – Carmel (video/links)
• Wild Boar Crossing Signs (near Point Lobos)

Day 5 – Wednesday

• 17-Mile Drive (Pebble Beach, Del Monte Forest)
• Pacific Grove (Self-Guided Tour / Lunch)
• 17-Mile Drive (Return to Carmel-by-the-Sea)

Day 6 – Thursday

• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve (Monterey CA)
• Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf

Day 7 – Friday

• Highway 1 (Pacific Coastline from Monterey to Half Moon Bay)
  • Pigeon Point Lighthouse c. 1872
• San Bruno, CA