Exploring Northern California: The Ultimate Experience in 7 Days

Yaaaaassssssss, you read that right!

Northern California is a treasure trove of natural wonders, vibrant cities, and rich cultural experiences.

From West, all the way from San Francisco, the heart of Northern California to Lake Tahoe’s panorama in the East.

This experience for me was the perfect getaway for my summer vacation with my partner this year

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a history buff, or a foodie, this region has something to offer everyone.

In this blog, I’ll share my journey through some of the must-visit destinations in Northern California and how we hit all the fun spots in 7 days.

San Francisco: Where the Hills Meet the Thrill

OMG!!!

Words cannot express the DETAIL of this city’s diversity in landmarks, neighborhoods and landscape – especially the landscape.

San Francisco, sometimes referred to as a city of 7 hills (reminds me of Rome and Kampala), is a city with at least 63 documented hills – more details HERE.

The best way we reckoned to experience this iconic city was using Electronic Bikes.

Because y’allll the heights be heightinggg.

And electronic bikes, they know no such thing as a hill.

Below is a list of icons that we hit while cruising – literally – in San Francisco.

Cable Cars and Fisherman’s Wharf area

Before anything else, the city has a reliable train station – the Bart system that we used to get to our first adventure – Cable Cars.

Cable car at Powell St & Mason St

The world’s last manually operated cable car system is found in San Francisco, and there was no way we were going to miss that.

…….Not even with the long queues that required us to stay in line for an hour or so of waiting.

Once we got to the cars, we were taken through China town, one of the oldest neighborhoods in America enroute to our next destination; the Fisherman’s Wharf.

We had a vantage point of experiencing the bustling nature and architecture in China town over a span of 20 minutes.

Once we got to Fisherman’s Wharf – a vibrant local neighborhood and commercial center, we were able to rent our bikes for yet an even more exhilarating adventure through the city.

Golden Gate Bridge

What an Icon!

From a far, the PROMINENCE of the Golden Gate Bridge invites you from wherever you are to experience its GLORY.

Golden Gate Postcard Viewpoint

From the Fisherman’s Wharf, we rode across the bridge, with breathtaking views of the bay and city skyline serving as an obstruction from the CRAZY WIND.

Views enroute the golden gate bridge

On the other end of the bridge are view points from which one can appreciate the view of the impressive Golden Gate in comparison to cars, sky scrappers and everything else in its vicinity.

Golden Gate Park

On over 1000 acres of land, this park is a one-stop center of cultural institutions like museums, recreational activities and well-adorned fauna and flora.

Some of the places within the park

From one end to the other, the park has ample space for locals and tourists to engage in something – art, dancing, skating, running, walking and cycling.

Left to right: An piece during an Art showing within the park. Rideout Memorial Fountain

There is something to do for anyone at any point within the park.

We had the pleasure of walking through some of the beauties within the park, such as the Rose garden, the Rideout Memorial fountain, the garden’s recreational activities and Bison Paddock with Bisons – the country’s emblem.

Some of the Rose Species from the Rose Garden in the park.

Hidden Garden Steps

This gem is indeed, a hidden one.

And once you get there, the beautiful mural stairway leaves you in awe.

Hidden Garden steps

It is composed of nine stations that total up to148 decorative mosaic stairs.

The stations feature designs of flowers, plants and insects integrated by local artists to strengthen the existing sense of community in that area.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if its beauty is the one reason why someone would choose to routinely climb it for a workout session.

Alamo Square and Victorian Houses

Also known as painted ladies, these houses are the last standing of the over 40,000 houses built in San Francisco during the reign of Queen Victoria between 1837 to 1901.

They stand out for their colorful nature, steep, tiled roofs, painted brick, bay windows, and asymmetrical design.

This is something you don’t find anywhere in this day and age.

View of the painted ladies with the city’s skyscrapers

While there’s other streets with such houses, the Alamo Square is raised to give a view of not only houses but also a view of the city’s sky scrappers.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience

While on vacation, I think indulging in all things sweet is an excuse for a treat you wouldn’t have on a daily.

And for us, Ghirardelli was the perfect place for this.

With all kinds of chocolate creations at one stop, we were certain our sweet teeth would be satiated.

Lombard Street

Our Final stop for the day.

The crookedest street in the world.

“Okay seriously, how in the world would someone decide that there should be a street of this kind?” I curiously wondered.

From left to right: Lombard street on google maps and a portion of the road

Turns out it was all for safety, according to SF TRAVEL.

Being naturally and dangerously steep, the property owner at that time thought it wise to add hairpin turns that made it safer for pedestrians.

To have an understanding of how steep this road was, Filbert Street, which is often considered the steepest in the city, gives an idea of how Lombard Street would look like had it not had hairpin turns

A portion of Filbert street

Quite impressive if you asked me.

So much so, that the best way to navigate this road(Filbert Street) would be walking.

Yosemite National Park: Nature’s Masterpiece

The next big thing to visit and experience was Yosemite National Park, located at the center of Sierra Nevada Mountains and a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its stunning granite cliffs, waterfalls, and giant sequoias.

Into a rental car, we drove off.

The park lies about 3 hours of driving east of San Francisco.

In this section, I will share some of the stunning places within the park that are worth exploring

The Iconic Yosemite Valley

Depending on which route you take, the strong odor from tree barks within the Sierra National Forest  or Stanislaus National Forest hit you as you make your way into the park’s vicinity – such a grounding experience to experience the park’s diverse nature.

Driving into the valley alone is a SPECTACULAR experience of it’s own.

The landscape is just gorgeous.

Different viewpoints of the Half Dome

Dramatically-formed Sturdy grey rocks grace the park and around your small stature, living you in wonder.

Truly, as the saying goes, “In Yosemite, you may never witness the same view twice – John Muir”

And I totally agree.

At each point in the valley, we had the opportunity to view some of the best sights the valley has such as the half dome, El Capitan and the tallest waterfalls in North America – Yosemite falls.

Hiking the Mist Trail

Yosemite offers a variety of hiking trails with different levels of difficulty all offering unique benefits in terms of views and time – more information HERE.

With all factors considered, we considered hiking the mist trail to reach the gorgeous vernal falls.

Along the Mist Trail: To and fro the vernal falls

We did not only embark on trailing through the towering granite rocks, but also having a rewarding experience with awe-inspiring views and a refreshing mist from the cascading vernal falls.

My honesty: It was a challenging hike but worth every step.

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Hallelujah to the MIGHTY GIANTS – the Sequoias.

Some of the giants in Mariposa Grove

Growing up from Uganda, my idea of a giant tree has always been a mango tree with a stem girth of about 4 meters (12 ft) wide and a height of about 30 meters (100 ft).

….entering Mariposa Grove changed my belief as we speak.

Yooooo, the trees are actually HUGE – AS IN HUGEEE – we are talking about a height 3 times that of a typical mango tree and twice its diameter (More details here).

Their existence and grandeur – especially for a tall person like me🤗 – is a HUMBLING experience.

It’s nap time baby

The giant sequoias are some of the oldest and largest living organisms on earth.

We walked in amazement learning about special sequoias like The California Tunnel Tree, so huge a giant, that it was cut in 1895 to allow horse-drawn stages to pass through.

Sunset on the Sentinel Dome

I am onto the trend of appreciating life’s beauty through nature, magnificent landscapes and sunsets.

And finding the best sunset spots in an area is definitely a must do.

In Yosemite, that spot is the Sentinel Dome.

Quite a spectacular experience.

To beat a couple of birds with one stone, we drove up to Glacier Point for panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and High Sierra Peaks

A varied view of the Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, and High Sierra Peaks

Later that evening, we hiked to the sentinel dome where we indulged in the magnificent tunnel view of the valley at sunset.

Sacramento: A Blend of History and Modernity

Next big stop was California’s capital, Sacramento

Some of Sacramento’s Murals

This place offers a mix of historical attractions, modern amenities and most importantly WINE – hello wine lover!

There was a great deal of things to visit and below are some of those worth the ultimate California experience

Museums: California State Capitol Building and Crocker’s Museum

The city has a number of museums to visit all of which are great places to spend a few hours immersing oneself in art and culture

The California State Capitol Building in Sacramento is not only the seat of the state government but also a museum.

The museum offers a free guided tour to tourists that entails California’s rich history and visiting offices where laws are made amid beautiful California-Emblem-inspired architecture.

Some of the rooms where laws are made in the California capitol

Crockers museum on the other hand, requires an entrance fee to indulge in the impressive collection of Californian Art, Master drawings, international ceramics and works from Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Some of the art from Crocker’s Museum

Both of these destinations offered a unique blend of history, culture, and beauty, that made our stay in Sacramento truly MEMORABLE.  

Wineries: Heringer Estate Wineries

If you happen to visit the northern part of California and are into drinking wine, Napa Valley would be the first thought that comes to mind when you think of the places to go for a great wine tasting experience.

It has built its brand around being a wine lover’s paradise.

In Sacramento however, locals will not hesitate to alert you that Napa Valley does not offer the organic wine tasting experience as it did in the past.

Instead, all you get is a commercialized experience as you would compare to Disney.

The closest we got to the ultimate relaxed wine experience was at Heringer Estate Wineries, filled with sipping on different varieties of great wine amidst live music.

At Heringer Estate Wineries

Rose Gardens: State Capitol Park World Peace Rose Garden and McKinley Rose Garden

Dear lover of peace and everything serenity, I know a place for you!

In fact two.

Varieties of roses from both the State Capitol Park World Peace and McKinley Rose Gardens

State Capitol Park World Peace and McKinley Rose Gardens offer a VARIETY of roses with different scents that adorn the gardens with beauty.

The former garden particularly goes the extra mile to educate visitors about which flower inspires what scent and what peace means to kindergarten kids – is that not SUPER CUTE😊?!

Organic Sacramento Stay

Have you watched the movie Lady Bird?

If yes, then you know that once the heavens permit that you go to Sacramento, it’s mandatory to go find the Blue House that was featured in the movie.

This was one of the the things we were sure we didn’t want to miss during our visit in Sacramento.

Besides the wineries, some of the other best spots worth the ultimate experience like a local include Gunther’s Ice Cream as the best Ice cream place to go to deheat in the scorching heat – more details in the map above.

And, In-N-Out Burger, California-based Fast food chain that is definitely worth a try.

Lake Tahoe: A Nature Lover’s Playground

Straddling the borders of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is known for being a mesmerizing destination, its crystal-clear waters and surrounding alpine beauty. 

Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it is the LARGEST FRESHWATER lake in the Sierra Nevada and the LARGEST ALPINE lake in North America with 99.994% water purity – locals will assure you how this is true, and in fact drink their water straight from the lake.

In this section, I will share the fulfilling yet relaxing experience at this beautiful Gem as a way to conclude our vacation.

Cycling: Tahoe City Public Utility District Multi-Use Trails

The city of Tahoe has such a well organized Trail system that is efficient for both cycling and hiking.

With all levels of difficulty catered for, we decided to go with the Truckee River Bike trail that leads into the Olympic Valley known for hosting the 1960 winter Olympics.

With ordinary mountain bikes, we set out to have a beautifully-filled scenery ride of the Truckee river into the mountains.

Once in Olympic Valley, we then set out to The Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram, a 1.5-mile long aerial tramway at the Palisades Tahoe ski resort that offers beautiful views of the palisades and the lake on its way to yet another exciting spot – High Camp

At 8,200 feet above sea level, High Camp offers some of the best panoramic views in the Sierra Nevada and hiking trails into MOUNTAIN goodness.

With our energized spirits from all the sight seeing and easy biking, we still had time to ride yet another trail along the shore.

Leisure Walking and Sunsets Along the Shore of Lake Tahoe

The shores of Lake Tahoe offer such vibrant TOURISTY vibes during day.

There are art galleries peppered allover the shore, Outdoorsy Gears + Souvenir shops and a Cabin – the Oldest in Tahoe – all worth paying a visit.

And in the evening, we had the pleasure of crossing the border from California to Nevada to watch the sun paint the sky!

My Conclusions

Northern California is a DEFINITE diverse and captivating region that promises unforgettable experiences.

From the bustling streets of its cities to the serene beauty of nature lands, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

If you have any questions or comments, I am more than happy to respond to them in the comments section below.