3 Days of Traveling Fun in Northern California: A Family Itinerary

Day 1

Navigate through the deep wooded forests in Eureka, California and stop at the most incredibly scrumptious gelato shop downtown.

Morning: Start with a morning hike which is easy for kids and adults. Cheatham Grove hike is located in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park and might be familiar as “Star Wars: Return of The Jedi” was filmed there in 1982. The hike in Arcata, California has a 10 foot elevation gain and it is highly recommended to bring bug spray along with you!

Afternoon: Take a stroll through Fern Valley in Humboldt County and view the fern growing on 50 feet high walls with a beautiful stream running through. This attraction has a trail going through it so visitors can roam through the enormous fern walls.

Night: Stop by the incredible “Living the Dream” gelato shop located on the water in downtown Eureka. The owner handmakes the gelato and the shop has a wide variety of delicious flavors.

Day 2

Travel down to South Lake Tahoe to go skiing in the winter or take a chairlift ride in the summer. Tahoe is full of family fun options.

Morning: Go for a morning ski session at Northstar Resort on the fresh powder and awesome trails.

Afternoon: Go kayaking, paddle boarding, or boating on Lake Tahoe as a family. Lake Tahoe Kayak Rentals is located in South Lake Tahoe and is perfect for families. This is a perfect opportunity to get some sun and look at the crystal blue water of Tahoe. You can take a lunch break at Base Camp Pizza which serves an amazing variety of pizza.

Night: Start putting at Kings Beach Mini Golf and team up to have a fun competition. This is a splendid way to end the night on a high note.

Day 3

Continue hiking in one of the top ten National Parks called Yosemite. It is $35 per vehicle to enter the park but all the hikes after are free of charge.

Morning: Explore the canyons of Bridalveil Falls and the beautiful sights of the waterfall. The hike is kid friendly, paved and only .5 miles long.

Afternoon: Lace up to ice skate in the winter of Yosemite and enjoy the warm tents and fire pits nearby for skate removal. To skate in Curry Village is $10 per person and $9.50 for kids under the age of 12.

Day 4

Make your last stop in the bay of San Francisco and get ready to explore the beautiful, yet foggy city. Tour many sights and partake of locals’ mouth watering favorites.

Morning: Make your way to B. Patisserie to start your day off with scrumptious croissants both savory and sweet. The cost of range for this bakery is $$ and well worth your money.

Afternoon: For a more local lookout, travel through the hilly San Francisco neighborhoods to see the Mosaic steps. These stairs in the middle of the neighborhood were created by the neighbors all around the area to make their neighborhood look beautiful. Many tourists may not know, but the stairs go beyond the mosaic sets. Just take a right at the top and keep going down the street until you find another set to take you to a stunning view of the city.

Night: For the most elegant picnic, you will want to get Chicago style pizza from Grinders and grab some Smitten ice cream made right in front of you. Smitten is on the pricier side of ice cream at $$ and the pizza at $. Take your meal to the Sutro Baths to eat on the beach and watch an amazing sunset.