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Northern California photo locations?
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Oct 10, 2018 21:08:26   #
fromo1946 Loc: Sacramento, CA
 
Just a quick note, DO NOT LEAVE ANYTHING IN YOUR VEHICLE in San Francisco, there were over 38,000 vehicle break-ins last year. Just be aware of your surroundings, sorry, but it’s a fact, don’t want you to be a victim of that. Other than that enjoy your visit and take plenty of shots and please share them upon your return.

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Oct 10, 2018 22:43:41   #
fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California
 
Don't forget Avenue of the Giants father north near Eureka - It's just stunning

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Oct 11, 2018 00:08:19   #
zphotorayz
 
Although Muir Woods is a great place to see redwood trees, I would recommend Big Basin state park off of highway 9 in the Santa Cruz mountains. It is one of the oldest of California's state parks, has more and bigger redwoods, is far less crowded and does not require a reservation.

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Oct 11, 2018 06:54:31   #
hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH
 
Love that place. I’m from Fremont so used to there on weekends.

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Oct 11, 2018 06:59:04   #
hawleyrw Loc: Dayton, OH
 
Yep. Part of what I went through on my long trip through the redwoods. Beautiful

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Oct 11, 2018 11:58:20   #
DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca
 
Love the Gold country! Easy drive into Yosemite also.
Bipod wrote:
Since San Jose came up, there is an interesting hitorical site about 30 minutes south of
the city, in New Almaden: the site of the New Almaden mercury mine, now a park
with a small museum. Some wildlife, perhaps, but great old mine buildings and
trails--mostly up and down hills. The mining started in Spanish colonial days
and continued until after 1927, to a maximum depth of 1800 ft. Miners encountered
flooding, boiling geothermal water and CO2 gas.
http://www.newalmaden.org/AQSPark/newalmmus.html

On the subject of mining: Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch
(near the Sacremento Delta) has got to be the most unusual preserve in the country
the visitor's center is 200 ft underground! It's located in an old sand mine that once
fed the Hazel-Atlas glass works in Oakland. Mine tours cost $5/person and are
offered on weekends March - Novermber. Surrounding it are numerous coal mines
hand-dug by Cornish miners beginning in the 1860s. The entire area is rolling hills
with scattered oaks and good views of Mt. Diablo. (Other than the Black Diamond
preserve, Antioch is a place to avoid: high crime.)
https://www.ebparks.org/parks/black_diamond/

This site lists 5 historic gold mines in California with surface tours:
https://sacramentokids.net/2012/02/22/five-historic-sierra-gold-mines-worth-a-visit/
1. Marshall Gold Discovery SHP & Sutter’s Mill -- Hwy 49 between Placerville & Auburn
The spot where the Gold Rush began.
2. Columbia State Historic Park -- Columbia, CA
3. Empire Gold Mine -- Grass Valley, CA
4.Gold Bug Mine -- Hangtown. CA
5. Kennedy Gold Mine -- Jackson. CA
367 miles of abandoned and flooded tunnels.
Since San Jose came up, there is an interesting hi... (show quote)

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Oct 14, 2018 14:52:31   #
taxman Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
 
Thanks for all the great tips - much appreciated. Will digest and form a plan.

Best,

Howard

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Oct 19, 2018 00:30:27   #
DJphoto Loc: SF Bay Area
 
taxman wrote:
Hi all,

I will soon be traveling to Northern California for a week and am looking for suggestions for photo locations. We'll have a car and are pretty flexible in where we go. I'd like to stay within ~3-4 hours of San Francisco. We like nature photography and primarily shoot landscapes and wildlife. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

Howard


I'm a Bay Area native and have lived my whole life here; we live 30 miles east of San Francisco. I'm convinced that there is more to see within a 4 hour drive than anywhere in the country, maybe the world. Many others have mentioned many great places and you will have a tough time narrowing you choices.

If you're up for a long drive, we did one of my favorites last Saturday: Up over Sonora Pass (the second highest pass in California at about 9,700 ft), a beautiful drive. Then down to US 395 and south past Mono Lake, with a great viewpoint along the way. There are some beautiful fall colors along the way (the primary reason for our trip). Continue south to the June Lake Loop; beautiful colors right now, especially at Silver Lake. Then north a few miles to Tioga Road to Tioga Pass, which is the highest pass in California at 9,945 feet, and is the eastern entrance to Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows at 8,600 feet, lakes along the way (Tanaya Lake is beautiful) and great views from Olmsted Point. Then back to the Bay Area or other places. We did it in one day of about 14 hours and 500 miles. Rather than going back to the Bay Area, Lake Tahoe is about 4 hours from Tuolumne Meadows and is spectacular.

A favorite of ours is the Monterey Peninsula, as there is so much to see. We really enjoy the drive along the coast from Monterey to Asilomar. There are several places to stop for photos and just enjoy the scenery. Then you are just a few minutes from Carmel and the beach; the scenic drive is really nice as is the 17 mile drive. Then continue down to Big Sur for lunch at Nepenthe and many places to stop along the way.

Another favorite is to go to the Napa Valley, and make sure you drive at least part of the Silverado Trail. From there, continue on CA 128 to the coast, another of my favorite drives that ends up a few miles from Mendocino which will give you plenty of photo ops.

If you want to get some spectacular views and you get it on a clear day, drive to the top of Mt. Diablo (we live at the bottom of it); bring your long lens and get views of San Francisco Bay and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

And then you can go to....................

Enjoy your trip!

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