Norcal Winter Weather?

I need you Norcal guys' help: My wife and I would like to take a small local vacation right after the holidays and I thought about heading up north to San Francisco and maybe hitting up Mammoth Mountain on the way back. My question is, Whats weather like up there around January time? Lots of meteor showers? Consistent tsunamis? Acid Rain? Any places worth stopping at on the way up?

 

It's cool in the city in January we don't get that much rain if we do it don't last long bring an umbrella just in case.

Solvang is a cool little town to check out along the way and they have good beer.

 

Norcal sucks. But theres some cool stuff. It wont get below 40 and probably will be around 50. It rains. What are you guys looking for?

 

Not looking for anything in particular. Just wanted to check out San Francisco and the cool attractions/sites in the area (GG Bridge ,Alcatraz, Union Square, Downtown, etc) and weve never been to mammoth so we figured we could kill 2 bird with 1 stone with the trip up there.

 

If you're heading up to SF that's pretty much a good amount of the attractions I suppose. Maybe Pier 39 (?) or something as well. As far as weather it's pretty much what Trey said.

 

Dont forget to drive down Lombard St. Its wicked to take pics of also.

 

well thats kind of depressing, that I named most of the attractions off the top of my head. LOL. I was hoping there would be many more upon looking further into the city.

Sweet. Ill definitely keep that one in mind. Thanks!

 

Fog and cool weather but not to bad

 

Where you coming from in CA? You driving up the coast (PCH 101 or Hwy 1)? Beautiful drive. Big Sur is on the 1. Monterey isn't too far off the 101 and it's aquariam is world renowned. Drive over the Golden Gate into Marin County. The woods and beaches up there are beautiful (Point Reyes, Stinson Beach, Muir Woods, Mount Tamalpais). You're also not that far from Napa Valley (if you like winery tours, wine sampling, etc.). If you're heading to Mammoth I'm assuming you'll drive through the Tahoe area taking either 80 or 50 over the Sierras and then down the 395 (which is an awesome drive). Towns like Lee Vining, Bishop, Lone Pine, and of course Mammoth and June Lake are spectacular. In SF don't forget Fisherman's Wharf and riding a cable car. If you're driving a stick, you best be really good with it on SF's streets! Steeeeeep.

 

Ya cable cars in SF is a must. Point Reyes is epic. Thats the one where they take all the sweet pics of the Golden Gate bridge.

 

as far as frisco... you can go to GG Bridge, Fishermans Wharf on Embarcadero, go shopping all up n down Market St, etc. not much to do out here. So Cal SD is the place to be. we just have all the jobs, thats it. pretty boring imo

 

O SNAP! If youre feeling classy go tour wine country aka NAPA VALLEY. And hit up a couple wineries and GET DRUNK!!! Loljk. Not Classy. But ya. Wine Country is beautiful.

 

Im reading your guys' posts on attractions and things to see, and [honestly] the only additional thing tempting me to go out there right now is the drive up the coast and through the forests. My buddies have told me about the drive and I thought itd be cool to go, enjoy the drive, checkout lots of cool sites, and ride mammoth for a few days.

Im starting to think that if I decide to go up to SF, Im not gonna enjoy the first half as much as I'd like to, and will only be looking forward to mammoth.

For the past couple hours I was checking out alternative destinations and I'm bringing Lake Tahoe into the mix. I think driving alongside the Sequoia Natl Forest and Yosemite National Park would be pretty cool, in addition to a handful of days at Heavenly and Squaw.

Im sorry if you guys feel you wasted your time on my thread, but I dont think you did. You guys helped me spend my vacation money on something I would truly enjoy better. Thanks.


PS: Taco meet at Heavenly/Squaw?

 

I wish I could do that man but Im such an idiot when it comes to wine. I really havent taken the time to find the right wines and pair them with foods and such. My wife has asked me in the past, "which wine should I try". And my response is. "Bluemoon" lol. Napa seems pretty romantic and hope to one day educate myself enough to take her there and truly appreciate wine tasting in a cool setting.

 

Thats what were here for! Suggestions. But ya Sequoia Nat'l forest is beautiful along with Yosemite. I'll be up in Cali from November to January so I wouldnt be able to meet the Norcal guys if you decided to have a meet in Jan... Norcal is where I'm originally from.

 

Ya I'm no help there either. I always hear my parents talk about it. I've been but I cant tell one wine from another. I just dont drink that much i guess... Anyway beautiful no matter where you go up there. But if its for a vaca then stay out of the cities and stay in the Nat'l parks. Its what Norcal is known for.

 

Take it from somebody in the industry- forget Napa, if you want a real, learning wine experience where the tasting room people are genuine people and know their shit stinks. Go to Sonoma, Mendocinco or Lake counties. You'll enjoy yourself alot more, the wines are just as good if not better and cheaper becasue they don't have Napa on the labbel.

 

Tahoe > SF.

Not much to do in SF really.

 

x2


oh and take 101 definitly beautiful drive. And depending on the day you do it from salinas to king city it is not cost effective for police to patrol the roads. Ive got some buddies in the chp there

 

Manny,

If you wanna go wine tasting, i can hook you up with approx 30 Vintner's that i know through my work. Some on a more personal relationship than others. There are a few i can think of that would definitely be fun for you and the lady.

SF is fun, there is plenty to do. Specially once the sun goes down! Tahoe is pretty fun though too. Either place be ready to spend some money for a good time. Tahoe is a little more dangerous IMO with all the ski resorts and casinos

Either way, have fun!