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To
help you plan your trip, below are recommended travel itineraries
that ensure you won't miss a thing! Select the four-day San
Francisco Bay Loop Route, or the four-day
route from Southern California. If you are time-strapped,
you can also review our suggestions for one-day
excursions from San Francisco.
Four Day San Francisco
Bay-Peninsula Loop Route
Day 1
Rise and shine early for your first day in the
City by the Bay. From your hotel, catch a quick cab ride to the historic
Palace of Fine Arts. You saw it from the Bay, now it's time to explore
it up close. The Palace was built in 1915 as part of the Panama Pacific
Exposition celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and the
rebirth of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Once the exhibition's hall for fine art, it is
now home to the Exploratorium. Challenge your concepts of how the
world works with hundreds of interactive exhibits that blur the lines
between art and science. Not just for kids, this museum of science,
art and human perception, is for anyone with a sense of curiosity!
You can spend the rest of your day enjoying the
unique sites and shopping that San Francisco has to offer. From the
Exploratorium you can venture over to the Fisherman’s Wharf
for lunch. After lunch you can go take a stroll in Golden Gate Park,
go shopping at Union Square, or explore the nooks and crannies of
one of the many diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Overnight in San Francisco
Day 2
Today is the day to leave the confines of the
City behind and go exploring! Depart San Francisco by auto via- Highway280
South. This route takes you along the San Andreas fault-line paralleling
Crystal Springs Reservoir and the Santa Cruz mountain range to the
west. Approximately 30 minutes south of San Francisco, stop along
the way at the Junipero Serra scenic overlook for a spectacular view
and some great photographs!
Continuing south, this route will take you past several highly recognizable
communities nestled in the rolling foothills including Menlo Park,
an early home to the electronics industry, and Palo Alto, home to
Stanford University.
As you continue on your journey south, you’ll enter Silicon
Valley proper and exit at Winchester Blvd, the northern edge of the
city of San Jose. Make two left turns off the freeway ramp onto Winchester
Blvd. Go approximately 100 yards and on the left you’ll find
the Winchester Mystery House, the first stop on our excursion. Spend
the morning exploring this rambling mansion.
The Winchester Mystery House is a 160-room mansion built by Sarah
Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune. The mansion is
famous for its rambling size and the fact that it was built with no
overall plan, except to be continually rebuilt. Sarah Winchester believed
it to be haunted, and many continue this belief today. Curiosities
include staircases leading to nowhere and doors that open to nowhere.
Ready for a different sort of adventure. . . not spiritual but physical?
From The Winchester Mystery House you will be heading to Paramount’s
Great America for an evening that will leave you screaming for more.
Head south on South Winchester Blvd toward Charles Cali Drive. Make
a U-turn at Tisch Way. Turn right at Stevens Creek Blvd. Take the
ramp to I-880 North. Take exit 4C to merge onto US-101 N toward San
Francisco. Exit onto Great America Parkway.
California 's Great America is Northern California's favorite place
for fun and thrills, featuring live stage productions and the most
thrill rides in Northern California. The only place in the Bay Area
where kids can meet and play with their favorite Nickelodeon®
friends and the only water park within a theme park - Crocodile Dundee's
Boomerang Bay.
Overnight in San Jose
Day 3
Enjoy the early morning coolness and refreshing
drive as you head south on I-880 (Hwy 17) towards the Santa Cruz Mountains
and magnificent Redwood Trees. After crossing the summit, take the
Mt. Hermon Rd. exit approximately 3 miles to Graham Hill Rd. and go
left. About 1/2 mile down the road on the right is Roaring Camp &
Big Trees Railroads, a trip back in time.
See California's towering redwoods from two historic railroads. Ride
a steam train up a narrow-gauge track to Bear Mountain or take the
Beach train down the scenic San Lorenzo River to the sunny beaches
of Santa Cruz.
Upon exiting Roaring Camp, turn right onto Graham Hill Rd. for a "back
roads" view of the mountains on the way to Santa Cruz. Enjoy
this scenic six miles through the mountains as Graham Hill Road bends
to the right and becomes Ocean Street. Continue West on Ocean St.
West and follow the signs to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and its
parking area. Located on Monterey Bay, it's California's only major
seaside amusement park.
It includes more than 36 rides and attractions, featuring two national
historic landmarks: the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster and the 1911
Looff Carousel, plus dozens of fun food restaurants, shops, games,
indoor arcades, and miniature golf. Numerous events and celebrations
are scheduled for the Boardwalk's Centennial Anniversary in 2007.
Overnight in Santa Cruz
DAY 4
From Santa Cruz take Hwy 1 South following the
Monterey Bay coastline to Hwy 152 East. When in Watsonville, be sure
to stop at the roadside farm markets for some locally grown produce
before heading over Hecker Pass to Gilroy Gardens. The drive over
the mountain pass at Mt. Madonna has some of the most awe-inspiring
views.
Gilroy Gardens is California's only horticultural theme park! Come
enjoy the over 40 rides, gardens, educational exhibits and attractions
the park has to offer. This horticultural wonderland is home of six
majestic gardens including Monarch Garden a 60ft tall green house
and Holly Garden home of over 20 different varieties of holly in shrub,
tree and topiary form.
Children of all ages will enjoy our collection of horticultural and
historically theme rides throughout the park. Plus experience our
unique learning environment with interactive educational activities
including Honey Bees, Big Trees, and Butterfly exhibits. For more
information visit www.gilroygardens.org or call 408-840-7100.
Day 5
From here you can extend your trip by heading south to Monterey Peninsula, Big Sur and beyond or you can return to San Francisco. (Take Hwy 101 either direction.)
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Four Day Traveling From Southern
California Route
Day 1
Driving up the Coast Highway (Route 1) Follow Hwy 1 along the Monterey
Bay coast north and exit at Hwy 152 East/ Watsonville.
When in Watsonville, be sure to stop at the roadside farm markets
for some locally grown produce before heading over Hecker Pass to
Gilroy Gardens. The drive over the mountain pass at Mt. Madonna has
some of the most awe-inspiring views.
Gilroy Gardens is California's only horticultural theme park! Come
enjoy the over 40 rides, gardens, educational exhibits and attractions
the park has to offer. This horticultural wonderland is home of six
majestic gardens including Monarch Garden a 60ft tall green house
and Holly Garden home of over 20 different varieties of holly in shrub,
tree and topiary form.
Children of all ages will enjoy our collection of horticultural and
historically theme rides throughout the park. Plus experience our
unique learning environment with interactive educational activities
including Honey Bees, Big Trees, and Butterfly exhibits. For more
information visit www.bonfantegardens.org or call 408-840-7100.
After departing Bonfante Gardens, retrace your steps to Hwy 1 north
to Santa Cruz.
Overnight Santa Cruz
Day 2
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Located on Monterey Bay, it's California's only major seaside amusement park.
It includes more than 36 rides and attractions, featuring two national
historic landmarks: the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster and the 1911
Looff Carousel, plus dozens of fun food restaurants, shops, games,
indoor arcades, and miniature golf.
Depart Santa Cruz via Hwy 17 through the picturesque Santa Cruz Mountains. Take the Mt. Hermon Rd. exit and follow the signs to Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroads (approximately 3.5 miles)
See California's towering redwoods from two historic railroads. Ride a steam train up a narrow-gauge track to Bear Mountain or take the Beach train down the scenic San Lorenzo River to the sunny beaches of Santa Cruz.
Retrace your route taking Hwy 17 North to San Jose.
Overnight in San Jose.
Day 3
Spend the morning exploring The Winchester Mystery
House a rambling, 160-room mansion built by Sarah Winchester, heiress
to the Winchester Rifle fortune. The mansion is famous for its rambling
size and the fact that it was built with no overall plan, except to
be continually rebuilt. Sarah Winchester believed it to be haunted,
and many continue this belief today. Curiosities include staircases
leading to nowhere and doors that open to nowhere. The Winchester
Mystery House is located at 525 S.Winchester Blvd. in San Jose .
Ready for a different sort of adventure. . . not spiritual but physical?
From The Winchester Mystery House you will be heading to California’s
Great America for an evening that will leave you screaming for more.
Head south on South Winchester Blvd toward Charles Cali Drive. Make
a U-turn at Tisch Way. Turn right at Stevens Creek Blvd. Take the
ramp to I-880 North. Take exit 4C to merge onto US-101 N toward San
Francisco. Exit onto Great America Parkway. California's
Great America is Northern California's favorite place for fun and
thrills, featuring live stage productions and the most thrill rides
in Northern California. The only place in the Bay Area where kids
can meet and play with their favorite Nickelodeon® friends and
the only water park within a theme park - Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang
Bay.
Overnight in San Jose
Day 4
Get an early start to your day and head north
on I-101 to San Francisco.
San Francisco Day Adventure
From your hotel, catch a quick cab ride to the historic Palace of
Fine Arts. You saw it from the Bay, now it's time to explore it
up close. The Palace was built in 1915 as part of the Panama Pacific
Exposition celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and the
rebirth of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.
Once the exhibition's hall for fine art, it is now home to the Exploratorium.
Challenge your concepts of how the world works with hundreds of
interactive exhibits that blur the lines between art and science.
Not just for kids, this museum of science, art and human perception,
is for anyone with a sense of curiosity!
You can spend the rest of your day enjoying the unique sites and
shopping that San Francisco has to offer. From the Exploratorium
you can venture over to the Fisherman’s Wharf for lunch. After
lunch you can go take a stroll in Golden Gate Park, go shopping
at Union Square, or explore the nooks and crannies of one of the
many diverse neighborhoods in San Francisco.
Overnight in San Francisco
We suggest the following One-Day
Excursions from San Francisco
• The Winchester Mystery House and California's
Great America combo
• Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad and the Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk combo
• Gardens Tour: Winchester Mystery House and Gilroy Gardens
Combo
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