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
