Yosemite National Park sits in the Sierra Nevada Mountains approximately four hours east of San Francisco. One of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, the park includes Yosemite Valley, which stretches for only eight miles but includes nine waterfalls---including the 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls. Another sight to see in Yosemite National Park is the Mariposa Grove of giant Sequoia trees. Visitors can stay in several hotels the National Park Service manages as well as at several camping sites throughout the valley. There are also private motels and campgrounds near the park. For convenience and other points of interest, the park service has its own museum, a visitors' information center, several restaurants and snack bars, a riding stable, a gift shop, a convenience store and tour guides. For visitors who love hiking, there are numerous hiking trails around the area, ranging from easy walks to more difficult treks.
Yosemite National Park
9039 Village Drive
Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
209-372-0200
Big Sur is a 90-mile stretch of coastline approximately 300 miles north of Los Angeles along Scenic Highway One on the way to San Francisco. Big Sur is known for its rugged beauty, with the merging of the sea and the land and its array of private coves and beaches that are vastly different from the beaches of Southern California. A host of activities await visitors in the area, including hiking and backpacking. One of the most popular places to stay in Big Sur is the 810-acre Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which has many loop hikes along trails dotted with redwood, willow and oak trees as well as 218 camping sites. Another attraction is Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur's most popular coastal access point. One mile south of the U.S. Forest Service in Pacific Valley is another popular beach, Sand Dollar Beach---a naturally protected crescent-shaped beach with the widest expanse of sand on Big Sur. There are 15 hotels around Big Sur as well as numerous campgrounds.
Big Sur
Scenic Highway One (Between Carmel and San Simeon)
Big Sur, CA 93920
831-667-2315
San Francisco is a tourist attraction in itself because of its steep streets, its own bay, and other attractions both natural and man-made. If you are a first-time visitor to the city, visit the most popular destinations such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Park, Union Square, Fisherman's Wharf and the Castro District. San Francisco also has the most crooked street in America, Lombard Street, which goes down past houses on each side with very sharp curves and turns. Another attraction is Alcatraz Prison in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It has a long and colorful history, and there are tours to the site year round. North Beach is another attraction notable for its restaurants, parks and cafes that resemble Italy.
San Francisco
Visitor Information Center
900 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-391-2000
sanfrancisco.com
