“School’s out forever. I’m bored to pieces,” so sang Alice Cooper in his 1972 rock anthem “School’s Out.” Parents can put the kibosh on their kids’ boredom with a good old-fashioned road trip. Keep learning alive and fun this summer and consider a trip to Northern California.
Santa Cruz
Learn about the history of surfing in Santa Cruz, the birthplace of the sport in North America. Maybe even crash some waves with the kids. Then ride the 98-year-old Giant Dipper, the oldest rollercoaster in California at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I rode it and the experience took me back to the glory days when wooden coasters ruled the planet.
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Santa Cruz is also home to amazing Natural Bridges State Park. See the million-year-old geological wonders, the mudstone bridges. Spend a day under the sun and explore the beach for tide pools with abundant sea life.
Monterey
Just an hour south of Santa Cruz, along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll discover the seaside town of Monterey. Visit historic Cannery Row and learn about the bygone era of the sardine packing industry. Adjacent to Cannery Row is the popular Monterey Bay Aquarium, one of my favorites! The aquarium is beautifully intimate, situated on the ocean, with huge floor to ceiling underwater window views of the natural sea kelp forest. There’s a raised boardwalk outside leading down to the water, where aquarium staff guide kids in wetsuits and snorkels in shallow water tide pool explorations. Advanced reservations are required. Nearby Pacific Grove is bicycle heaven. An oceanside pedestrian-bicycle-only paved pathway is a great way to watch a sunset. Maybe even observe a sea otter floating on its back riding the current, as I did.
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Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Continuing south on the Pacific Coast Highway toward Big Sur, stop at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Keep whatever camera you have with you at the ready. I can’t think of any piece of natural real estate with more photo ops: landscapes, plants and flowers, butterflies, and marine life. Make sure you bring binoculars, too. Nothing’s more entertaining than observing hundreds of sea lions barking, swimming, and frolicking on the off-shore rocks. Hike the Seal Lion Point trail to see them, or just follow your ears!
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Big Sur
If you continue on to Big Sur, pull over just before you cross the Bixby Bridge. Bixby is one of the most photographed bridges in the world, especially for Hollywood movies, TV commercials, and even video games. Built in 1932 for $200,000, Bixby is also one of the tallest bridges in the world at 260 feet above its canyon floor. From here you get breathtaking views and photos.
When you cross the bridge, stop and visit Andrew Molera State Park and learn what it was like to be an early pioneer rancher. The ranch house museum is a historic site with many preserved artifacts from the days when settlers first arrived along Big Sur and the California coast. Walk the beach or settle under one of the many driftwood huts dotting the shoreline.
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Yosemite National Park
What I love about Northern California is you can drive from the beach and be in the mountains in just a few hours. In the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is Yosemite National Park, a majestic treasure full of towering waterfalls, Giant Sequoias, and flowing meadows of wild flowers. Yosemite is a climber’s paradise, too. From the floor of Yosemite Valley, look skyward from the bases of magnificent Half Dome and El Capitan, two granite rock formations 3,000 feet and 5,000 feet tall, respectively. You’ll see climbers ascending to the top. Binoculars are a must. For a spectacular view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the mountains, drive your vehicle up to the Glacier Point Overlook. Sunset is a popular time to visit.
One of the best hikes in Yosemite is the relatively easy Carlon Falls Trail, something parents in reasonably good shape with adolescent and teenage kids can do. The 3.8 mile roundtrip trail through the forest leads to a natural swimming hole. It’s the coldest water I ever jumped into, but the most refreshing experience ever on a hot summer’s day. Stepping on wet rocks can be a bit slippery, so walk cautiously into the water. Swimmers often climb to the waterfall’s top and jump in feet first or do cannonballs. Diving is not recommended and no lifeguards are on duty.
No visit to Yosemite is complete without visiting the Ahwahnee, the grand lodge and National Historic Landmark in Yosemite Valley. The Ahwahnee opened in 1864 and is known for its grand architecture. The social gathering rooms are massive, as are the stone fireplaces. The restaurant has large wraparound picture windows that overlook nature and spectacular Yosemite Falls. The food is delightful as well.
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Point Reyes National Seashore
A five hour drive northwest of Yosemite brings you back to the coast and Point Reyes National Seashore, another one of my favorite places in Northern California.
If you feel the earth move under your feet, as songwriter Carole King would say, it’s because the San Andreas Earthquake Fault runs through the Point Reyes peninsula. Walk the Earthquake Trail and discover the geology of this unique space. Explore the paved loop lined with signs describing the impact of earthquakes. You’ll see how the land has changed and what caused the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Point Reyes has 80 miles of shoreline with beach access. McClures Beach is one of those isolated special beaches. It’s below a towering cliff. You have to hike down to get there, but well worth the effort. Just make sure you have the proper footwear. Flip flops will be a problem. Once you’re on the beach, you feel a sense of seclusion, just you and the massive waves crashing against the rocks.
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Just above McClures Beach is the Tomales Point Trail. Hike the trail for dazzling views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and Tomales Bay on the other. The hike is popular for visitors who want to see Tule Elk. Mid-summer is a great time for elk activity, as the males spar to gain the affections of females for mating season. The sound of males bugling is distinct and loud.
Visit the Point Reyes Lighthouse and go back in time to the early days of seafaring. The historic lighthouse stood as a sentinel on the Point for over 100 years, beginning in 1870 and ending in 1975, when it was retired by the Coast Guard. Be prepared for a long walk down and a steep walk back up. Take advantage of the pullouts along the way to stop and rest, especially on the way up. The weather out there can be harsh, with stiff wind and dense fog, even during summer.
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So get the car, van, or recreational vehicle ready for an incredible journey to the Golden State. Make lasting family memories that will keep you California Dreamin’ forever.
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