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North Coast
The North Coast of California is a land of rugged coastline, rivers, ancient redwood forests and vineyards. Stretching nearly 645km (400 miles) north of San Francisco to the Oregon border, the region reaches 80km (50 miles) inland to encompass the world-renowned vineyards of Napa County.
NAPA COUNTY: Located less than 80km (50 miles) northeast of San Francisco, Napa County is the USA’s best-known wine region. There are 200 wineries, many offering tours and wine tasting. The valley town of Calistoga is famous for its natural springs and attracts mud and mineral bath devotees year-round. It is also home to one of the world’s three ‘Old Faithful’ geysers. There is a petrified forest nearby, with a museum and walking tour. At St Helena, the Silverado Museum displays memorabilia connected with the author Robert Louis Stevenson. For a bird’s eye view of the valley, adventurers can take to the sky in a hot-air balloon or a glider.
SONOMA COUNTY: The hub of Sonoma County is Santa Rosa, with many visitor attractions and a variety of accommodation. To the north is the wine country surrounding the charming town of Healdsburg, while to the south is the historic village of Sonoma, where a historic plaza is flanked by an 1823 Spanish mission, the last to be founded in California. Nearby, the river city of Petaluma features stately Victorian-era homes and steamboat excursions, as well as over two dozen antique shops. On the outskirts is the Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park, once part of a sprawling ranchero. To the north is the coastal resort of Bodega Bay and historic Fort Ross, a 19th-century Russian outpost.
MENDOCINO COUNTY: This is a gateway to the more romantic regions of the North Coast. Ukiah is the county seat and the centre for yet another flourishing wine region. The Grace Hudson Museum and Sun House feature artefacts and paintings of the Pomo Native Americans. Nearby is Little River, with golfing, tennis, whale watching and fine dining. On the coast is the seaport of Fort Bragg, now the headquarters for 1885 ‘Skunk Train’ excursions through redwood forests to Willits. At Willits, the Mendocino County Museum displays local historic exhibits. Nearby is the charming village of Mendocino, founded in the 1850s as a logging town and now a thriving artists’ colony. Sights here include Ford House, the 1854 home of Mendocino’s founder, where Pomo Native American artefacts are on display.
LAKE COUNTY: Inland from Mendocino, Lake County is the home of premium wines and an abundance of lakes. Clear Lake, with more than 160km (100 miles) of shoreline, is the largest natural freshwater lake in California, known as the ‘bass capital of the world’. There are opportunities in Lake County for attending one of the many festivals as well as water-skiing, fishing, swimming, boating, bicycling, birdwatching and rock hounding. The Anderson Marsh State Historic Park near Clear Lake, once home to the Pomo tribe, is rich in archaeological history.
DEL NORTE COUNTY: Visitors to this northern county will be welcomed by the towering statues of legendary lumberjack Paul Bunyan and his blue ox, Babe, near Klamath. The Klamath River and Smith River recreational areas attract anglers from around the world. Crescent City, the northern gateway to Redwood National Park, boasts scenic excursions and the Battery Point Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse on the Pacific Coast, built in 1856. The revered Redwood National Park covers 110,000 acres of land and includes three State Parks, the world’s tallest tree, stunning shorelines and the world’s largest free-roaming herd of Roosevelt elk. It also features two of the most scenic panoramas on the West Coast: the Crescent City Overlook and the Klamath River Overlook.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY: Much of the Redwood National Park is located in the county, as is the Avenue of the Giants, a 53km (33-mile) scenic route with hiking and picnicking. Along the coast is the 19th-century seaport of Eureka, where General Ulysses S Grant was commander of Fort Humboldt (now a State Historic Park) in 1854. The Victorian village of Ferndale, the ‘Lost Coast’ and the King Range Wilderness are other attractions. To the east is high mountain country, ideal for fishing and river rafting. At Arcata Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, guided nature walks and a visitors’ centre cater for nature-lovers. Trinidad offers a variety of bed & breakfast accommodation set along the coast.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Visitors will find a variety of events held in the region throughout the year, including wine tastings, vineyard tours, wine appreciation classes, picnics and markets. A selection of events scheduled for 2003 includes: Feb-Mar 2003 Tenth Annual Napa Valley Mustard Festival (celebration of Wine Country food, wine, art and history), Napa Valley. Mar 25th Annual Napa Valley Marathon. Apr April Flower Show, Napa. Jun Napa Valley Wine Auction. Jul 16th Annual Wine Country Film Festival. Sep Providian Relay Race (199 mile relay race from Calistoga to Santa Cruz).
TRAVEL: Redwood Highway 101 connects the region with San Francisco. Scenic and Heritage routes include Avenue of the Giants (Route 254), North Central Coast Heritage Corridor (Highway 1), Route 116, Smith River Scenic Byway (State Route 199), Tahoe-Pacific Heritage Corridor (Route 20, 101, 80 and 89), Trinity River Scenic Byway (Route 299), Valley of the Moon Highway (Route 12). Visitors to Napa County can fly to Oakland International Airport (OAK) (website: www.flyoakland.com), which has quick access to the wine country.
CLIMATE: Summers are very warm, with cool evenings, while the spring and autumn months are mild, with cool evenings. The winter ‘rainy season’ is gentle and occurs between January and March.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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