9 Unforgettable Fall Getaways From Sacramento
Boasting one of the longest and most varied autumn colors in North America, escape the fall blues in Northern California. As the weather is cooling to hit its wintertime lows in central and northern parts of the US, NorCal is no stranger to foliage displays through national parks like Yosemite and reflecting in infinite water bodies. It is also so romantic to gaze out into the moody sea, beating along the barren beaches and craggy bluffs to spy on scenery from clifftop trails south of Monterey.
And while Sacramento is not the worst of the concrete jungles, known as "Sactown," but also charmingly the "City of Trees," "River City," and "Camellia City," autumn leaves many wishing to escape the capital, and for thousands of Northern Californians, it is the road tripping season. If you can't manage a getaway without a beach scene, Stinson Beach is getting ready for surfing season while hiking, camping, and enjoying life north of San Francisco. Monterey is a hop across the Carmen Valley to the Big Sur. Find unforgettable fall getaways, all within a 3-hour drive from Sacramento.
Amador County
Just an inviting one-hour road trip outside of Sacramento, the Sierra Foothills American Viticultural Area was created in 1987 in the foothills of northern California's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Enjoy high-altitude wining while watching hundreds of rolling vineyards within its borders transform into autumn gold. As the Sierra Foothills AVA in California is becoming increasingly popular, producing some of the nation's best wines and grapes, this harvest season presents the perfect opportunity to soak up the culture and taste the flavors without overbearing crowds. Enjoy the region's bounty through over 50 wineries in the area, just the amicable views of the mountains.
The flavors are unique due to the higher elevation as opposed to the valley destinations. Often family-run, the wineries offer more personal experiences like tours and refreshing wine-tasting sessions, while intimate vineyards lend the opportunity for romantic strolls and seclusion. The local top picks include Helwig Vineyards, Jeff Runquist Wines, and Cooper Vineyards. Let the warm glow of the fall vines surround you, warm your hearts, and down your throat with reputable bottlings like Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Barbera, Syrah, and Viognier. The adventurous couples can take a side trip to the nearby Black Chasm Cavern or a walking tour of a historic Gold Rush town.
Apple Hill
A mere 50 minutes east of Sacramento, The Apple Hill Growers Association markets itself as "the happiest, most colorful, and most delicious place in Placerville and beyond." Being among the quickest, most affordable getaways near the city, come see what it can do for you during the harvest season. Extending over more than 50 family farms, each boasts fresh produce and unique family activities between June and December. From when the flowers bloom and the trees bear fruit, much of the produce is gathered through the fall. Founded in 1964, this El Dorado County gem, with a farm for each taste, offers picking and buying juicy pears, crispy apples, berries, peaches, and even pumpkins that give way to Christmas trees.
Boasting some of the best U-pick farms in California, Apple Hill also has nature trails and entertainment for every age in between or after gathering fruit. Find everything from real gem mining to souvenirs along the refreshing Sierra Nevada Foothills, like mind-boggling mazes, puppet theaters, giant bubbles, pony rides, and picnics. Since becoming a beloved family tradition, many stay for a whole weekend of pursuits at the Best Western Stagecoach Inn or the North Canyon Inn. Placerville, a small town just outside, boasts charming cafes like Buttercup Pantry and wineries, perfect for warming up after a cool fall weather hike. Pick up a batch of fresh apple donuts from a bakery and lounge over a coffee after a fun family day at the pumpkin patch.
Donner Memorial State Park
Under two hours from Sacramento, Donner Memorial State Park offers hiking, camping, fishing, and boating, plus the Emigrant Trail Museum and a historic monument. This high-country nature lover's playground is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the fall, surrounded by the alpine scenery of the Sierra Nevada. At 6,000 feet above sea level, snug between Tahoe National Forest and the northern Lake Tahoe shoreline, its own pine and fir forest features lodgepole pine and Jeffrey pine. Hosting a variety of fauna, the park is the site of fascinating geological events that shaped this portion of the range. Many come for forest adventures in the summer, plus water fun along the blissful three-mile-long Donner Lake and China Cove Beach, which stay uncrowded in the frame of foliage.
Before the snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, head to the Pioneer Monument, a National Historic Landmark dedicated to a group of American pioneers, the Donner Party in the mid-1800s, who starved to death. Opened in 2015, the Emigrant Trail Museum highlights the ill-fated party's experience with artifacts and those of the Land of the Washoe, Chinese construction of the railroad, and early motoring adventures over the Pass. The Multipurpose Theater offers state-of-the-art audiovisuals, while the information center provides connections to other state parks. Take a self-guided tour past the Donner Party's Murphy family cabin and a new paved path to the Pioneer Memorial, topped by a forward-looking pioneer family, and get a keepsake at the gift shop.
Hope Valley
Just a two-hour drive from the city to the eastern side of Carson Pass, Hope Valley meets the weary travelers at 7,000 feet above sea level. Attracting artists, photographers, and hikers to savor the dynamic falltime beauty with plentiful day hikes, fly fishermen enjoy the river length. One of the best hikes, Crater Lake, begins 1.3 miles west of the Blue Lakes Road turnoff, along a 4-wheel road towards mining prospects on the slopes of Stevens Peak. Climbing to 8,650 over 2.5 miles reveals the iconic lake in a crevice between Red Lake Peak and Stevens Peak. The hike to Scotts Lake begins the same, veering right along the mountainside for over two miles before a sharp climb to the lake at 8,050 feet.
Foregoing the development, the meadows display unspoiled beauty, from the crystal clear West Carson River to the granite peaks, decorated in the foliage of the region's famous Aspen Trees. The 2,869-acre Wildlife Area is designed to protect the habitat of various animals, including northern goshawks, blue grouses, Clark's nutcrackers, deer, bobcats, and black bears. There's a general store at the Desolation Hotel for art, books, gift cards, wines, and gourmet food, plus Sorensen's Cafe, open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Backpackers are allowed east of Highway 89 only, while open fires and motorized vehicles are not allowed in the Wildlife Area. The golden aura persists through October before turning into pristine snowfields.
Lake Tahoe
Just two hours east of the city, this large freshwater body is a treasure in the state, with attractions around its perimeter. Cave Rock is a craggy remains of a prehistoric volcano above Lake Tahoe, on the eastern shore, sacred to native Washoe people. While the waters are too cold for swimming, lakeside opportunities abound, like hiking, biking, and even sailing through October. With leaf peeping around each corner, let the fall daze cloud your mind over a pursuit of choice in the frame of fall colors reflecting in the clear, calm waters. Before the skiers, snowshoers, and snowboarders get their paws on the wintery wonderland, Treetop Adventure Park in the Tahoe National Forest features climbing walls and ziplines in foliage at 50 feet above the ground.
Considered one of the best getaways from Sacramento, the vast lake offers various areas, with plenty of great restaurants and bars to scavenge on a scenic drive. Once you're hungry or feeling winded, find awesome eateries and cozy cabins in South Lake Tahoe or Tahoe City, plus shopping and spa visits, popular among couples and a girls' retreat alike. Truckee is a top choice among hikers, mountain bikers, floaters, and whitewater rafters along the Truckee River from the doorstep. Or, if you're looking for something low-key, its historic downtown boasts cozy cafes and many restaurants, while the nearby several ski resorts get you planning for another holiday escape.
Monterey/Monterey Bay
Seeking a small seaside town experience for a memorable falltime escape? Just three hours to the coast, Monterey unravels itself against the cooling Pacific breeze along the eponymous bay. Home to the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and plenty of sea-faring activities through the fall, autumn is a lovely season to gaze out into the ocean. From coastal strolls to whale watching and kayaking, the aquarium is one of the largest and most popular in North America, with over 35,000 animals of over 550 species, plus educational programs and hands-on activities. Offering fewer crowds, Cannery Row has a whole other feel than in the summer. Enjoy the proximity to shopping in Carmel-by-the-Sea, plus the Garland Ranch Regional Park with meadows and redwood groves.
Starting the morning at Alta Bakery over breakfast, each indoor pursuit feels cozier. Among the nearby scenic hikes, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve features breathtaking coastal views, diverse plant life, and bird watching. Just south, Cypress Grove Trail and Sea Lion Point Trail present unique flora and fauna, while Creamery Meadows Trail and Bluff Trail have river and ocean vistas. Garrapata State Park boasts rugged terrain overlooking the sea for adventurous photographers to capture the moody surf. Onwards sprawls the beautiful Big Sur coastline and Andrew Molera State Park over the coastal bluffs. Minutes from town, the challenging Soberanes Point Trail gets you the rewarding coastal vistas to celebrate after at Alvarado Street Brewing over dinner or drinks.
Napa Valley
The fall harvest is beautiful in Napa Valley—a real pot of gold for wine enthusiasts, producing some of the world's finest wines. The city of Napa, just an hour southwest of Sacramento, is a joy in itself. Offering over 350 vineyards in near proximity, visitors enjoy a mix of breathtaking landscapes, cultural sites, and comfortable accommodation options of a sizeable town, with attractions catering to its popularity. Napa Valley, a delightful destination, may seem overwhelming, especially for first-timers on a weekend escape, but a couple of activities plus an artful dining experience get you in on the hype of what this valley can do. Kenzo and La Toque are the city's two Michelin-starred restaurants; just reserve ahead and savor.
A bike ride along the Napa Valley Vine Trail is a great and easy way to explore the wine country in the fresh air under the sun. Hop on the Napa Valley Wine Train, a vintage locomotive and traveling restaurant, for a three-hour, 36-mile roundtrip from Downtown Napa to St. Helena. Transforming into a vivid landscape of colorful grapevines and radiant trees, consider a balloon ride with Balloons Above the Valley to see the colorful patchwork and golden vines under the clear blue skies. If you prefer to stay grounded, a stroll through some of the hundreds of hillside vineyards offers an up-close examination of the fruit-bearing treasures, with a wine tasting after at T-Vine Winery along the river. Stop nearby at Oxbow Public Market for regional gourmet food.
Stanislaus National Forest
Established on February 22, 1897, and named for the Stanislaus River, whose headwaters rise within forest boundaries, Stanislaus National Forest is among the oldest of the National Forests. A treasure chest of natural wonders, it is a year-round playground for adventures and recreation, including mountain biking, snowmobiling, and off-roading. Covering the entire Emigrant Wilderness and portions of the Carson-Iceberg and Mokelumne wildernesses, the pristine and dramatic scenery in these areas backdrops outstanding hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding opportunities. Just an hour and 45 minutes east, Stanislaus National Forest welcomes city escapees with mountain wilderness, scenic foliage drives, and foliage-ridden trails.
While the rivers are renowned for rafting in the spring and summer, California's mild fall weather complements activities on the water, like fishing along 800 miles of rivers, including the exciting 29 miles of the Tuolumne River, designated Wild and Scenic River. From sandy beaches to cold, clear streams, get lost in nature along one of the shimmering trails, like Shingle Springs Trailhead near the largest Cherry Lake, gorgeously reflecting nature's colors, with boating, swimming, fishing, and a campground, Beardsley Dam Campground. There is also the 11 miles of the Merced River, preserved in a free-flowing state with excellent water quality, and the smaller Lake Alpine and Pinecrest, perfect for sailboats and canoes.
Stinson Beach
Boasting white sands and oceanfront attractions, Stinson Beach is renowned as one of the state's best swimming destinations in the summer. Feeling a beach this fall? Just over two hours from Sacramento, north of the Golden Gate, Stinson Beach is a beautiful, uncrowded slice between the peaking Mount Tamalpais Watershed and the Pacific. Having been attracting year-round visitors for over a century, the small town welcomes after a steep drive along the winding road. Home to Red Rock Spring and Table Rock, a vista point, there is a hiking adventure for every sightseer, like the Steep Ravine Trail through Mount Tamalpais State Park to the epic Dipsea Trail. Stinson Beach is open year-round every day from 9:00 a.m., with restrooms along the beach.
Beachfront activities like volleyball, hiking, and picnicking continue year-round, so you can escape the frantic pace of everyday life in your favorite way. Enjoy easy falltime parking in town and by the beach, while Marin Stagecoach (Sausalito-Bolinas) operates year-round with a stop in town. From rafting to bodyboarding, bring your tack and lures for a day of fishing. Surfing is considered best in January, while windsurfers enjoy the prevailing northwesterly winds in the afternoon. Bring your four-legged friend tack along on a leash to the picnic areas and the adjacent county beach. Reconvene with your friends by the beach at the charming mom-and-pop Parkside Cafe over classic American dishes, plus patio seating, a bake shop, and a snack bar.
With sunny days getting shorter, there is no time to waste in the outdoors, and luckily, NorCal boasts show-stopping displays around each corner. Donner Memorial State Park offers hiking, camping, fishing, and boating, plus history about the fateful Donner Party. If you are not into escapades, perhaps you are in the mood for apple picking, cider, and donuts. From orchards to pumpkin patches and corn mazes, California's range of elevations and Mediterranean climate make for an agricultural neverland.
Peak fall foliage season in California stretches from September through December, perfect for spying on a balloon ride in Napa or taking the Hop on the Napa Valley Wine Train, a vintage locomotive and traveling restaurant, for a three-hour, 36-mile roundtrip from Downtown Napa to St. Helena. From the favorite Lake Tahoe and Napa to the more obscure Amador County wine country of the Sierra, these nine getaways are within a three-hour drive of Sacramento.
