
FALL IS COMING PEOPLE. NOBODY PANIC. REMAIN CALM AND GRAB YOUR SCARVES, BOOTS, AND CARDIGANS IMMEDIATELY. THEN HEAD TO YOUR NEAREST PUMPKIN PATCH AS SOON AS YOU CAN. I REPEAT: EVERYBODY PLEASE. REMAIN. CALM.
But actually it’s impossible for me to remain calm because fall (or ~autumn~ as the fancy people call it) just happens to be MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SEASON. In fact, I love it so much, that I even wrote a聽bucket list of all the fall activities I HAVE TO DO every year. I think it’s about time to revisit that, shall we?
Feel free to steal my ideas. I’ll allow it.

And maybe in other places it’s freezing in autumn, but in Northern California, the weather is PERFECT at a balmy 60-80 degrees most of the time. Sometimes it can even climb up to over 80! Of course, this depends on where exactly you go (California is gigantic and spans many different climates, something I have to remind people often), but on average, I’d say that’s the temperature.

However, there are exceptions: San Francisco is never warm, places in the mountains will get snow in late October/November, and more inland it can still be in the 90’s. So definitely make sure to check the weather, and don’t just assume it will be perfect because it’s California!
So, what are you waiting for?! Grab your fall essentials and get to it! Here are my favorite places to visit in Northern California in the fall (and they ALL have some beautiful fall foliage for those of you that are leaf lovers like me):
GOLD COUNTRY IS APTLY NAMED (BECAUSE FALL FOLIAGE DUH)



APPLE HILL IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE

You can go apple picking, wine or beer tasting, snag some apple cider, and eat all the good fall-related sweets (aka apple and caramel galore.) If you go in September or October, you can pick up a pumpkin (or 5) and do fun fall activities like corn mazes! And of course, there’s plenty of opportunities to buy local farm veggies and fruits and products, oh my!
THE MAMMOTH AREA IS EASILY THE MOST UNDERRATED


Fall color. Lots and lots and lots of it!! Which makes it one of the BEST places to go in fall in Northern California.

Also, Mono Lake is beautiful and will be warm enough to swim in (yes, you can SWIM in it! And because of the high salt content, you basically just float!).


All you really have to do is drive up Highway 395 and experience the magic!
YOSEMITE IS A MAGICAL WONDERLAND

There will be a LOT less people (in the summer, the valley can feel a little like Disneyland), probs some fall color, and same as above – most likely no winter driving! Yay!



WINE COUNTRY IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA


BE STILL MY HEART. Except it won’t. Because then I’d be dead. And I want to drink a lot more wine before I die. But anyways, you get my point.

SAN FRANCISCO IS ALWAYS COLD ANYWAY

My favorite activities: Painted Ladies, Land’s End, walk or cycle along the Golden Gate Bridge, take the ferry to Sausalito, Academy of Sciences (and on Thursday nights you can go later in the evening and get drinks there! Plus no kids!), Haight & Ashbury, and Twin Peaks.
BURNEY FALLS IS A BUCKET LIST DESTINATION

If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can even continue north and drive up to Oregon – the fall colors will be amazing there, too!
LAKE TAHOE IS A REAL NICE LAKE


There are plenty of stands of aspen trees in that area, too, if you’re wanting to get your fall foliage party started. Hope Valley is supposedly a great place to see it!


There’s also a hike to Eagle Lake which is pretty, too. But to be honest, everywhere in Lake Tahoe is pretty, so you really can’t go wrong.


I’ve eaten at the Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge multiple times, and the food is good plus you can sit outside overlooking the water. Also get their Hula Pie if you can – so good! You even get it half price on your birthday! I would know as I’ve actually celebrated both my 25th and 26th birthdays there haha.

This post really made me smile. I also love fall. My husband I had been thinking about doing a California road trip in the spring sometime in the next few years, but this makes me really wish we could do it in the fall!
Spring is nice, too – then you get beautiful wildflowers and giant waterfalls! Each season has its perks. 馃檪
I love fall travel there are so many less tourists! These are some great options for my fall trip this year, thanks!
Yes, that’s the big reason why I also love fall travel, haha! Enjoy your trip 馃檪
I need to explore more of California! Mammoth and Lake Tahoe look absolutely beautiful in the fall!
YES they are 2 of my favorite places, regardless of the season! Although fall brings nice colors and no winter driving lol.
Wow this is such a good list of places to visit in California in the fall! Most of these places were not even on my radar at all. I love fall travel and had not considered California as an autumn destination. Mammoth looks amazing!
Yes I feel like most people think of California for summer travel! But it’s totally underrated in the fall. 馃檪 Mammoth is my fave!
I hear you! Fall is the best season and I can’t wait to break out the sweaters and PSLs. This is such a lovely list. Northern California seems to have all the beautiful vistas!!
Haha I feel the same! And thank you – it really does have so many beautiful spots!