Itinerary
Day 1-3: Learn to Surf at Stinson Beach
Known by locals as the most beginner-friendly surf spot in the area 🌊, we’ll spend two days on Stinson Beach receiving professional surf instruction 🏄♂️. You’ll learn techniques, water safety awareness, and etiquette before paddling out to watch for the perfect line 🌟. These mellow waves are so reliable, it’s not unusual to catch 20 to 30 lines in a day! 🌊
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Day 4-6: Whitewater Raft the American River
Next, we’ll head inland toward the American River 🛶. Don’t be intimidated by the South Fork’s rapids named “Troublemaker” and “Satan’s Cesspool” 😎—you’ll drop these lively class III rapids with ease with the help of professional raft guides. On the calmer sections, you’ll get to try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding and rock jumping into the river 🌊! Hemmed in by the rolling hills of the Sierra Nevada ⛰️, you’ll see relics of history: gold discovery on its shores triggered the California Gold Rush of 1849.
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Day 7-8: Explore Yosemite and Giant Sequoias
After traveling up into the mountains of Yosemite National Park, we’ll pile in the vans and take a short drive to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where more than 500 of the world’s oldest evergreens reside 🌲. Their branches are up to eight feet thick, while their bases can reach 40 feet in diameter! Just north of Mariposa is the famous Yosemite Valley, where we’ll marvel at the 3,000-foot-tall granite walls 🏞️ and hike Nevada Falls, which towers almost 600 feet above the valley floor. Its turbulent, powerful waters create a refreshing mist that’s sure to cool you off after a day of hiking! 💦
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Day 9: Rock Climbing at Fresno Dome
After exploring the park for a couple of days, we’re taking a different path today and going to see the beautiful and unique granite of this area 🏞️. We won’t be hanging out with throngs of tourists, though; instead, we’ll escape the summer heat and crowds and head to Fresno Dome, sitting above 7,000 feet in elevation ⛰️. Learn the ins and outs of rock climbing on the smooth Sierra granite 🧗♀️; you’ll even get to belay your peers! Fun fact: Climbing legend Royal Robbins spent much of his time developing routes here 🧗♂️.
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Day 10: Marin County Service Project
Head up the coast to Marin County for a day of community service with the Marin County Parks preservation and restoration program 🌿. You will learn about local species and work to restore their habitats through removing invasive European beachgrass, ice plant, Monterey pine, and Monterey cypress 🌱. We will learn about the area’s hydrological function and how removing these species helps build resilience around sea levels rising 🌊. On this day, we will get our hands dirty and gain a greater appreciation for the natural environment while taking in some beautiful coastal views 🌅.
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Day 11-12: Explore San Francisco
We’ll finish our northern California adventure with a tour of historic landmarks, including Alcatraz Island and the famous Golden Gate Bridge 🏝️🌉. We’ll walk the entirety of Fisherman’s Wharf, a historic fishing village turned tourist destination 🦑. While walking past clam chowder cafes and street performers 🎭, we will make our way to Pier 39 to see the lively California Sea Lions in residence! 🦭 With the Sea Lion bark echoing across the bay, we will make our way up the 209 steps to the top of Coit Tower 🏙️. This will wrap up our California Trip perfectly! From there, we will have a view over the entire city and a sneak peek of what we will see next, like the West Coast’s oldest operating lighthouse and the beautiful Gardens of Golden State Park 🌳. Then we’ll walk the entirety of the 1.7-mile-long Golden Gate Bridge before admiring Ghirardelli Square and picking up some namesake chocolate 🍫.
Accommodation: Camping 🏕️
Activities
✅ Community service: 5 hours
✅ Hiking
✅ Rock climbing
✅ Sightseeing
✅ Surfing
✅ Whitewater rafting
