Places to visit this summer? Around California.?

Question

Ok, so I'm thinking about going to California this summer just because it is so close to Nevada. I've been there quite a few times, but I wanted some suggestions as to where I should go, places I should visit and such. I decided to go to California just because there's so much to do there, but I'm open to any suggestions, so long as the destination is any of the states bordering Nevada. We're thinking about going on a train so that's the reason behind that. I don't want to travel too far on a train.

Answer 1

It really depends where in Nevada you're on.  If Vegas, then you'd probably go to L.A.  But there's no train to Vegas.

If Reno, then Sacramento or San Francisco.

Either city has tons of tourist destinations but San Francisco is a LOT more accessible if you don't have a car.

I'm sorry I was unclear whether I meant "For the carless, San Francisco is more accessable" or "Exploring San Francisco is better if you ditch the car".  The answer is both.

Answer 2

Sacramento, depending on the time of your visit.

Sutter's Fort, Old Sacramento, California State Railroad Museum, etc.  If taking the train to Sacramento, you're nearly within walking distance of it all.  Book hotel early.

If visiting later this summer, the California State Fair will be happening in Sacramento, usually end of August.  That is definitely good entertainment for the whole family.

Day trips, such as to Gold country and historic Placerville and Eldorado are fun.  Drive an hour or two further and you're at Lake Tahoe.  Say hello to the "Ponderosa" of "Bonanza" fame.... great fun for all.  

Head a couple of hours south out of Sac and you're in the City by the Bay;  Cable Cars, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park (Definitely do the Aquarium and Steinhart Museum of Natural History.  It's all in the same place), Ghirardelli Square, Pulgas Water Temple, The Pacific Ocean, the list goes on.

Have fun and enjoy the Golden State.

Answer 3

In California:  The Redwoods National Park, Lake Tahoe, Jacksonville, Cannery Row, Big Sur, Downtown San Francisoc,  Yosemite National Park,  Bodie Ghost Town, Town of Calico (Ghost town) Santa Barbara, Hearst Castle.. and on and on

Answer 4

Depends what kind of thing you are looking for.  California has everything, from big cities to mountains to beaches.

Answer 5

Emma-

I will assume that you are coming out of Sparks/Reno on which you would probably be traveling on the California Zephyr into Sacramento or as far as Oakland.  

In the Sacramento area there is of course our State Capitol Buildings and The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento.  In the outlying area of Sacramento as already mentioned is the Sutter's Fort area, though that is a little closer to Folsom, and you will need a rental car.

If you are heading into Oakland you can get bussed into San Francisco and you have a few more options as you can use Cal-Train to move up and down the Peninsula as far south as Gilroy.  

If you are going to obtain a rental car once in California the it entirely depends on how far you want to travel.  Personaly, if I was going to choose to make this a rail event for your family, then you might choose to layover in Sacramento overnight then hit the #14 Coast Starlight and make a run to Seattle, layover there for a couple of days and enjoy the cooler weather, see the sights and enjoy the area, then jump the Coast Starlight #11 back into Sacramento, layover again, and see some of the Gold Country, then hit the California Zephyr and head home.  If you set this all up correctly, you could have yourself one heck of a nice summer trip.

Just a suggestion.

However, if you are looking for some of the lesser known options to visit, you might consider a trip into Northern California and check out Lassen Volcanic National Park, hike Mt. Shasta and enjoy Shasta Caverns at Lake Shasta.  Yes some of these areas are remote and my require a camping trip, but I can tell you from expereince the camp sites at Lassen are very well equipped and very nice.  

Though this is off the beaten path of the railroads, its worth the drive into the Northern Sierra Mountain Range as it meets the Cascade Range.  The little city of Dunsmuir is very nice and is accessable by the Coast Starlight #11 and #14.  The little town of Burney is know for Burney Falls, Lava Beds National Park.  Over on the Pacific Northwest California Coast there is Lagoons National Park, and the Roosevelt Elk Herds along upper Highway 101.  Crescent City, and Eureka area, and into Southern Oregon are two little towns called Brookings and Gold Beach.  

In Gold Beach there are the Mail Boat Tours and Jerry's Rogue Jets that take tours of the Rogue River, and get you nice and wet.

In Brookings, the best time to go there is for their 4th of July Fireworks Celebration at the Harbor Jetty.  Its never a disappointment.

If you return back south and had down Highway 1 you will soon come upon a town called Fort Bragg, CA which is famous for its Skunk Train that travels from Fort Bragg to Willits, CA and back.  

If you choose to stay in San Francisco there are many things to do there too, especially visiting Fisherman's Warf and Golden Gate Park.  Visiting Alcatraz is also quite an experience.

Well I hope that gives you some ideas for a visit to the north end of the State.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Disneyland and Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags. If you want to do the tourist thing go to Santa Barbara, it is gorgeous!