Bay Tour
- A sightseeing tour around the San Francisco Bay.
- What to See: The iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown San Francisco, the Silicon Valley, and the Pacific Ocean.
- 1 - 2 hour total flight time.
Wine Country Tour
- Fly across the San Francisco Bay to the Napa/Sonoma Wine Country.
- Destinations: Petaluma, Napa or Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa is my favorite because we get a free car to explore the town.
- What to See: The Bay Tour sights and the wine country.
- Things to Do: Beer gardens in Petaluma; wineries in Napa and Sonoma.
- 30-minute flight each-way, usually a half-day trip.
Monterey & Big Sur
- Fly over the Monterey Penisula for unrivaled ocean views.
- Destination: Monterey. Free ride to the Old Fisherman’s Wharf.
- What to See: Monterey Bay, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, California Highway 1, Bixby Bridge.
- 45-minute flight each-way.
Central California
- Fly along the California Coastal Highway to Central California.
- Destinations: San Luis Obispo; Oceano (walking distance to the beach).
- What to See: California Highway 1, Big Sur, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach.
- Things to Do: Restaurants & beer gardens. ATV Rental at the beach.
- 1.5-hour flight each-way, usually a day trip.
The Lost Coast of California
- Fly along the Northern California coastline to my absolute favorite getaway.
- Destination: Shelter Cove (walking distance to the beach); Little River.
- What to See: The most pristine black sand beach in California. Good food.
- 1.5-hour flight each-way, usually a day trip.
Paso Robles
- Fly to the Central California Wine Country.
- Destination: Paso Robles.
- What to See: California Highway 1, Big Sur, Central California Wine Country.
- Things to Do: Wine tasting; Sensorio Field of Lights.
- 1-hour flight each-way, usually a day trip.
Santa Barbara
- Fly along the California Coastal Highway to Southern California.
- Destinations: Santa Barbara; Santa Ynez (Solvang).
- Things to Do: Sunshine, beach, food, wine.
- 2-hour flight each-way, day trip.
Catalina Island
- Fly to Los Angeles and visit this island 26 miles offshore of California.
- Destination: Catalina Airport (“Airport in the Sky”).
- Things to Do: Avalon is a mini-Hawaii; Two Harbors is a campground.
- 2.5-hour flight each-way, probably better as a two-day trip.
Yosemite Valley
- Fly to Yosemite National Park and land at its foothill.
- Destination: Columbia Airport, a historic gold rush town.
- What to See: Yosemite from above. Half Dome. El Capitan. Columbia is a fun town to visit too.
- 1-hour flight each-way, usually a half-day trip.
Lake Tahoe
- Why take a 4-hour drive when you can take a 1-hour flight?
- Destinations: South Lake Tahoe, Truckee. Both airports offer rental cars.
- Things to Do: Ski in the winter; mountain biking/hiking in the summer.
- 1-hour flight each-way, usually a day trip.
Mammoth Lakes
- Fly through Yosemite National Park and across the Sierra Nevada range.
- Destinations: Lee Vining; Mammoth Yosemite.
- Things to Do: Ski in the winter; mountain biking/hiking in the summer.
- 1.5-hour flight each-way, usually a day trip.
Mount Shasta & Trinity Lakes
- Fly to Northern California’s volcanic national park.
- Destination: Trinity Center.
- Things to Do: Hiking; camping.
- 2-hour flight each-way, can be a camping trip.
- * I have not done this trip before so I’m extra willing to go!
(Picture found on the Web)