Nate Cavalieri - Lonely Planet Northern California

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Winding paths traverse mist-covered redwood groves, granite canyons and sun-washed vineyards, and lead into the inimitable City by the Bays wild heart. Nature, culture and adventure exist in abundance.

Coastal cliffs, Marin County
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Drama is in Northern Californias DNA: the edge of the continent between the Sierra Nevada and the sparkling Pacific holds the wests most accessible wilderness. Even the regions major city, San Francisco, shrinks when compared to the scale of surrounding nature, as the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge get enveloped in ethereal fog and a crashing coastline encroaches from north and south along Hwy 1. The regions diversity is evident in its three national parks: steep granite canyons and rushing waterfalls in Yosemite; mist-shrouded prehistoric ferns, spectacular seaside and immense forests in Redwood; and pitch-black lava caves and thermal geysers in Lassen. Add white water rivers that rush out of the mountains, trails that bypass innumerable peaks and the sparkling blue waters of Lake Tahoe, and Northern Californias natural beauty leaves visitors gobsmacked. The regions great conservationist John Muir claimed that thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find outthat wilderness is a necessity. A trip here is more necessary than ever.

Pots of ceviche, Santa Barbara
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How cruel that most people only have an appetite for three meals a day. Bordering Americas most agriculturally rich valley and blessed by long growing seasons, the region offers amazing food. A dinner reservation might be reason enough to book the plane ticket. Even putting aside the fancy digs revolutionary fine-dining restaurants and famed wine regions theres still a burden of riches. Locals wax poetic about burritos in San Franciscos Mission District, make weekend trips up the north coast for fresh crab and have the pick of hoppy microbrews. Its all part of a food scene thats dedicated to high quality and constant reinvention (have we mentioned the fine-dining food truck trend?) where even baguettes chewy, perfectly crusty sourdough are sterling. Have pity on the traveling foodie, this little piece of culinary heaven might be a bit overwhelming. Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

The wonder about hitting the byways of Northern California is that things get better with every winding mile trees get bigger, picturesque towns get cuter, roadside swimming holes get more inviting. An idyllic escape is constantly within reach. Theres the cliffside route on Hwy 1 between Big Sur and Oregon, or a winding jaunt traversing wineries and Gold Country along Hwy 49. There are looping back roads between vineyards and the B&Bs of Napa Valley, organic farm tours in Sonoma and Marin Counties and a weekend drive to the slopes around Lake Tahoe. A lifetime of weekends wont cover it, so consider calling in sick and extending the trip.

Yosemite National Park

Northern Californias cherished national park () is rewarding at any time early on a summer evening when the granite of Half Dome warms with a pink glow, late in the spring when icy waterfalls thunder down the rock faces, and all winter when snow brings silent serenity to the peaks and meadows. A visit to the park is a chance to get into the heart of Northern Californias remarkable natural wonders, and to become acquainted with one of the most impressive mountain ranges on the planet.

Above: Yosemite Falls
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San Francisco

Bold, brassy and perennially young at heart, San Francisco () is a city that loves to play dress-up. It can look iconic while viewed from the side of a cable car rattling up the hills, mysterious while strolling through its fog bridge or the alleys of Chinatown, and urbane from the window seat of its renowned restaurants. The home of 60s holdovers, dreadlocked squatters, dot-com moguls and people from every corner of the globe, it feels like no other city in America.

Right: View of the Transamerica Building (architect William L Pereira; ) and downtown San Francisco
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Lassen Volcanic National Park

The rugged peak of Mt Lassen glowers on the horizon as visitors plunge into the inky depths of lava caves, wander to the edge of bubbling thermal fields and ponder geological oddities that seem poised on the brink of a meltdown. Even at the peak of summer, this remote national park () is an uncrowded natural playground. And just when the place starts to resemble the sinister setting of a Lord of the Rings battle, a flock of migrating birds adds an elegant flourish to the skies above.

Below: Mt Lassen and Manzanita Lake
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Mono Lake

The haunting gem of the Eastern Sierra, the spectacular, alien, inimitable terrain of Mono Lake () is hard to believe. With millions of migrating birds, an abundance of thermal hot springs and tufa (terrifically bizarre rock formations), this ancient salty lake seems like it was sketched from the pages of a sci-fi novel. Its a visually stunning place, offering solitude, unreal photo opportunities and dramatic sunsets. Plus, the snowy peaks of Yosemites eastern edge are a constant reminder of the regions limitless possibility for outdoor adventure.

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Skiing Tahoe

Epic powder, long seasons, fantastic panoramic views and an amazing variety of runs make Lake Tahoes ski areas () some of the most exciting in the nation. You can go glam and hit upscale slopes at Squaw Valley or Heavenly, or find a down-home local run in the backcountry. Its worth visiting for the view alone: a birds-eye vista of the lakes shimmering blue water. By the time you snuggle in the glow of a fire back at the lodge, youll know youve arrived at Californias winter wonderland.