10-day Eco Green Tour of Northern California North Coast & Shasta Cascade Region The tradition of “Going Green” is nothing new in Northern California. In fact, the heritage of living in harmony with nature goes back to the area’s first explorers, and still remains the heartbeat of residents and visitors alike today. From the oldest living Redwood trees on planet Earth, to hundreds of miles of breathtaking coastline, to the world’s leading research centers for sustainability, Northern California is truly a mecca for green adventurers. Experience the wonder of eco-friendly Northern California with a 10-day tour that encompasses six areas: DAY 1:
ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO San Francisco is pretty darn green, and is a great place to start your eco-voyage of Northern California. Notice the amazing architecture and realize that most of the wood used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire came from Northern California! Get ready for your trip north. Overnight in San Francisco
DAY 2:
SONOMA COUNTY Once you cross the Golden Gate Bridge, you will soon enter Sonoma County, known well for wine, food and amazing natural beauty. Your tour includes a stop at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve in Guerneville, with 800 acres of magnificent ancient redwoods, guided nature trails and the perfect setting for the ultimate picnic. The Redwoods here are the largest remaining old-growth forest in the County! You will see Green in action at the Bodega Marine Laboratory and learn about sustainability. And there is no better way to see the beauty of Sonoma then to get up close to nature with a hike or casual bike ride – or, for the ultimate bird’s eye view of acres of forest and miles of sprawling vineyards, hop in a hot-air balloon. Overnight in Sonoma County
DAYS 3 & 4: MENDOCINO COUNTY From Sonoma County, we’ll continue north on US 101 towards Mendocino County. Just past Cloverdale we’ll stop at the world-renowned Solar Living Institute Hopland, where the greatest minds in solar-power are hard at work studying and sharing energy tips. In fact, the interactive learning center offers classes, workshops and the Real Goods store provides your chance to pick up a solar powered generator for just about anything. You can even gas up your biodiesel car here. From Hopland, we will head over to the Mendocino Coast, where (depending on the season) you can behold the wonder of whales. California Grays, Humpbacks and
Orcas can be seen migrating north along the Mendocino Coast from March through April, and then returning south from late September through December. Four weekend festivals are dedicated to whales in March and April in Fort Bragg, Mendocino Village, Little River and Gualala. Visit the Only Coastal Botanical Gardens on the Continent. Discover 47 acres of beauty and serenity while strolling in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens by the sea. An easy half-mile walk takes you from well-tended gardens, through a fernfilled canyon, to spectacular vistas at the ocean’s edge. A must for bird-watchers and picnickers alike! Your Mendocino County green tour also includes a visit to the drive-through tree, historical lighthouses, a rare animal sanctuary and optional activities like sea cave kayaking, beach horseback rides or some well-deserved relaxation at one of the many eco-spas. Two nights in Mendocino County DAY 5:
HUMBOLDT COUNTY Just north of Mendocino County lies Humboldt County, known globally as the home of the world’s tallest redwood tree. This world champion tree is more than 379 feet tall, almost six stories taller than the Statue of Liberty. Redwood National Park, and nearby Humboldt Redwoods State Park, are home to virtually all of the twenty tallest trees in the world! Many are more than 2,000 years old. Your expert guide will share more on how Humboldt County preserves this area and how locals live the greenest way possible. No stop to Humboldt County would be complete without a visit to the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the perfect location to see more than 300 species of birds, animals and hundreds of indigenous plants. Humboldt State University Marine Laboratory offers amazing explorations of local ocean and beach ecosystems. Overnight in Humboldt County
DAYS 6-8:
SHASTA CASCADE REGION Begin your day by driving east on Hwy. 299 from Eureka, then take Hwy. 3 North Stop at the Etna Brewing Co for lunch and a tour of the brewery. Etna Brewing Co has strived to be eco-friendly in as many ways as possible, recycling and composting most of their waste and using no additives or preservatives in the brewing process. Continue on to the Historic Mining town of Yreka, where you may want to see the new Siskiyou Arboretum Demonstration Garden & Interpretive Trail at Greenhorn Park, designed to showcase the use of decorative native plants in a water-conserving landscape. From there, continue back down Hwy 97 to I-5 South into Mt. Shasta City, nestled at the base of the majestic mountain that is its namesake. Here you can enjoy great little shops and delicious food at a number of different restaurants that offer vegetarian and vegan options and are very ecofriendly. Overnight Mt. Shasta In the morning you will continue your journey down part of the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway. Enjoy the beauty of this scenic drive as you make your way down to one of the regions most prized attractions: McArthur-Burney Falls State Park. It is an easy hike out the beautiful falls that President Roosevelt even called the “eighth wonder of the world.” And it is well worth the stop. As you drive there are a number of opportunities to stop along the road for some hiking as you follow along streams
and rivers toward Lassen Volcanic National Park. Don’t forget to stop at the amazing Subway Caves just outside of Old Station for a voyage into some of the region’s volcanic history as you hike into a volcanic lava tube. Remember to bundle up and bring a flashlight, it is dark and cold, but worth it. From there, continue down Hwy 89 into Lassen Volcanic National Park and spend the day hiking in the amazing volcanic landscape of the Shasta Cascade. Don’t miss out on the Bumpass Hell trail and if you are up for it, a hike to the summit of Lassen Peak provides a stunning view of the area. From there, head west on Highway 44 toward Shingletown where you enjoy the rare opportunity of viewing wild horses at the Wild Horse Sanctuary if you fancy a stop before continuing on back into Redding. Overnight in Redding A 10-minute drive will take you to Whiskeytown National Recreation Area where you can enjoy a number of environmentally friendly activities such as free kayaking or hiking to one of the many beautiful falls in the area. Back in Redding, be sure to stop by Turtle Bay Exploration Park for a peek at local wildlife as well as local Native American History. Don’t miss the opportunity to try out their Segway tours as an environmentally friendly way to see the area as you ride around in style. While you are there, marvel at the beauty of Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge, the largest Sundial in the world and take a relaxing stroll or bike ride along the Sacramento River National Recreation Trail. Overnight in Redding DAYS 9:
LAKE COUNTY The last stop on our tour is Lake County, home of the largest natural lake in California. The Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center is the base to explore the Mayacamas Mountain Range, where steam plumes waft up from the ridge tops, vestiges of Lake County’s volcanic past. A large chamber of magma lies beneath Mount Hannah, and today The Geysers is known as the world’s largest geothermal area. You will also take in some great bird watching for amazing Great Blue herons, Clark's and Western Grebes, Ospreys, Green Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, and Black crowned Night Herons, to name just a few. Overnight in Lake County
DAYS 10:
SAN FRANCISCO Return to San Francisco with a whole new appreciation for some of the great adventure and green news happing to the north! If time permits, visit the gorgeous new Science Center right in Golden Gate Park, ride one of the new cutting edge allelectric bicycles or visit one of the hundreds of eco-centric shops and restaurants.
Karen Whitaker Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association 1699 Hwy. 273 Anderson, CA 96007 530-365-7504 / fax 530-365-1258 www.shastacascade.org Email: karen@shastacascade.org
Scott Schneider North Coast Tourism Council 120 S. Franklin Street Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-9010 / 866-836-7557 www.northcoastca.com Email: info@ northcoastca.com