North Coast

California’s North Coast is home to many artists, and galleries and festivals in small communities along the way are dedicated to their work, drawing art lovers by the thousands. Several communities host monthly art walks and sponsor community theatres. You’ll also find annual music festivals as well as performance venues throughout the region.

California’s North Coast boasts kilometres and kilometres of wide-open beaches that offer a contrast to the crowded coastlines farther south. Even in the summer, they are windswept, edged with redwood trees, and dotted with dramatic cliffs and rocky coves. This region also has many natural inland lakes that make for cool dips on hot summer days.

Towering redwood trees, empty windswept beaches, and dramatic rocky shores are all hallmarks of California's wild North Coast. Redwood National and State Parks has quiet hikes and many of the world's tallest trees. The best family stop on the Mendocino coast is the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg, which winds through a redwood forest. In Sonoma County, make time for history lessons and the Traintown amusement park in the town of Sonoma and a thrilling look at wildlife at Safari West , an Africa-themed adventure park.

Coastal nature preserves and redwood forests offer plenty of hiking along rugged trails, along with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Avenue of the Giants in Redwoods State Park will remind you how small we really are. This region’s many rivers and lakes farther inland provide the ingredients for excellent fishing, waterskiing, swimming, and boating.

With Sonoma wineries long receiving top marks from critics, and those around Mendocino and Clear Lake gaining attention, many restaurateurs have set up shop on the North Coast to serve weekenders with sophisticated palates. All the same, you can still find good, old-fashioned comfort food to warm you after a hike along the coast or among the redwoods.