17 - 24 September 2008 View Image Gallery | View Itinerary Map | Read Feedback

Northern California

Day 1Flew to San Francisco Intl. airport on British Airways and transferred to Old Sacramento… and after a few sunset beers on the deck, we spent the night aboard the Delta King… an authentic riverboat that now serves as a fabulous hotel – and a great focus for the historic aspect of Old Sacramento.

Day 2Departed early in glorious Californian sunshine to El Dorado County and its truly golden, leafy countryside. Headed for the Upper Fork of the American River and the Gold Rush Whitewater Rafting operation for an exhilarating and hilarious trip down-river. Lunch was a gourmet picnic on the lawns surrounding the 85-acre David Girard Winery where we sampled their delicious product! Our second winery stop of the day was at Boeger Winery, a small, family-run establishment producing new and exciting wines of the highest quality. Dinner was a two-stop affair as guests, firstly, of La Terraza Mexican restaurant on their open balcony overlooking the main boardwalk of “Old Sac”… then secondly Fats to sample their legendary Banana Cream Pie. Yum! Finally… an evening stroll along the boardwalk to check out the unique shopping and nightlight!

Day 3Breakfast in the stylish environs of the Hyatt, Sacramento and a chance to visit the incredible upgrade works now being completed. A short walk across the street took us to the State Capitol building – the political heart of California - and a visit to Governor Schwarzenegger’s private office! A chance to get some fresh air in the beautiful gardens that surround the Capitol and a quick visit to the Vietnam War Memorial… and it was back to Old Sacramento, and one of its five museums and a chance to pan for gold. A quick lunch on-the-run and it was goodbye to Sacramento and off to Shasta Cascade.
On arrival in Anderson, we had time to orientate ourselves at the California Welcome Centre there before heading out to Mount Shasta. Having learned more about the area at the Sisson Museum, we checked into a selection of great little hotels and then set off to McCloud, and the start of an amazing evening aboard the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train… an incredible way to enjoy fine food, wine and the stunning views of the region!

Day 4After breakfast we departed for the McArthur Burney Falls State Park with great overviews of the falls themselves, and then it was on to the Lassen Volcanic National Park, and a short hike to the Martian-like landscape of Bumpass Hell… a cauldron of sulphurous, bubbling mud and steaming fountains! The entire area is geologically active and offers a really interesting backdrop to the beauty of the mountains themselves. Then it was on to Redding, the largest city in the region, and after checking in to the hotels, it was off for cocktails at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park… and tours on jet-boats and Segways! Dinner was followed by a late night at a local hostelry… and a few more cocktails (well it was Saturday night after all)!

Day 5Heading northwest after breakfast and we were off along the Trinity River Scenic Byway through green forests, past lakes and rivers and over wide mountain passes towards Arcata, and the second California Welcome Centre of the trip. The afternoon was spent in the famous Redwood National Park (home of Bigfoot), and a chance to visit the largest living organisms on the Planet! In the company of a local naturalist, we learned about the conservation work being undertaken to protect these incredible trees and the wildlife that depends on them.
Teatime was spent in the company of wild Elk, and then it was on to Trinidad and it’s great sandy beaches, and finally a short visit to the neighbourhoods and historic homes around Eureka. Dinner was hosted at the Lost Coast Brewery… and was accompanied by plenty of the local product!!

Day 6Breakfast at the unique Samoa Cookhouse showed us the history of the area was based on the timber trade and we were able to sample the hugely generous portions that set us up for the rest of the day (if not the week)! Now it was time to head south to Mendocino County, and a private trip aboard the Skunk Train through the redwood forests and on to enjoy a barbeque lunch in the heart of the woodlands. South again, and we were back on the wine trail… with visits to Saracina’s wine caves and a meeting with John Fetzer, one of the best-known names in wine production! Checking in to the quirky, historic Hopland Inn was like walking back in time… but beers and great food at the Ukiah Brewing Company brought us back to reality!

Day 7Leaving Northern California was certainly a wrench! It’s a stunning and diverse area full of warm, welcoming people, but we had to head south through Sonoma where we were able to stop and shop for a while at Petaluma Village Premium Outlets… so the pain was eased somewhat! Flights from San Francisco airport meant we were able to cross the Golden Gate Bridge and follow a classic route through the City by the Bay before flying to San Diego…and a final evening’s entertainment at the Wavehouse on Mission Beach where our group won the prize for the best fam trip report – hooray!

Day 8 Morning at SeaWorld to see the amazing Shamu ‘Believe’ Show before heading back to LAX Airport for the flight with British Airways back to London.

What did you think?

Ben Mason, American Express Travel Services, speaks about his Superfam experiences... California adventure, relaxation, beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, big cities and quaint little seaside towns. Americans are some of the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met.

What we did: We were based in California’s capital Sacramento and stayed on the Delta King, a mighty paddle boat which is now a unique hotel. While in Sacramento, we ventured out to experience some of California’s outdoor adventures and white-water rafted on the American River. We also saw stunning waterfalls, boiling springs and mudpots in McArthur Burley Falls State Park and Lassen Volcanic State Parks, and visited the breathtaking Redwood National Park. We also visited California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s offices, but sadly the Governator wasn’t there.

What I discovered: California adventure, relaxation, beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes, big cities and quaint little seaside towns. What surprised me most about the trip were the Americans themselves; the Brits have a view of the Downturn Huntington BeachAmericans as brash and loud, but I found them to be some of the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met. If I was sending clients on the same itinerary we experienced, I’d recommend at least three weeks and tell them to go in September as the weather was perfect. My one must-see would be Trinidad, a beautiful little seaside town.

Top tips:

• Stay at the Delta King in Old Sacremento, a great experience staying on an authentic paddleboat!
• Pick up a Californian cook book – you might think of American food as fatty, but the Californians are all about organic, healthy, nutritious food.
• Drink some Californian wine. Most wineries have small distribution areas so you will taste wines you'll not find elsewhere.