7-day Beer Tour California North Coast and Shasta Cascade Regions
A wild coastline, the tallest trees on the planet, volcanic lakes, waterfalls, mountains, pioneer
history, steam trains, and frontier towns all provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy the delicious
wines, gourmet restaurants and abundant natural bounty of our regions. Northern California is
one of the few destinations where you can find it all.
DAY 1:
ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
Rest up and enjoy your first night in San Francisco. Take a stroll around Union
Square or Fisherman’s Wharf before dinner and a get a good night’s rest. Don’t
worry about missing anything as you will be back for a couple of days at the end
of the tour. Overnight San Francisco.
DAY 2:
SONOMA COUNTY
Your introduction to the microbreweries of Northern California begins in Sonoma
County, just north of San Francisco. Take US 101 north across the iconic Golden
Gate Bridge, up into Sonoma County (which covers 1,575 square miles (2,534
square km).).
Sonoma County has long enjoyed big business in beer. The area was well known
for its hops production from the 1870s into the 1950s, and several significant
hops facilities still stand today.
Some of Sonoma County’s more famous microbreweries include Lagunitas
Brewing Co. in Petaluma, Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa and Bear
Republic Brewing Co. Inc. in Healdsburg.
Your one-day Sonoma
beer tour will feature stops
at all three of these
breweries and a tour of
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Overnight in Sonoma
County.
DAY 3:
MENDOCINO COUNTY
From Sonoma County, continue north on US 101 toward Mendocino County.
Stay on Hwy 101 winding through beautiful wine country and gently rolling hills.
Mendocino County is famous for its earth-friendly farming and ranching.
America’s Greenest Wine Region™ is also home to some of the world’s best
small breweries. Let your tasting adventure start here. Mendocino County can
also claim the nation's first certified organic brew pub in Ukiah as well as the first
brew pub to be established in California after prohibition.
Stop in Ukiah to visit Mendocino Brewing Company, which produces 25 different
microbrews including Eye of the Hawk and Red Tail. They also produce an
organic line of brew.
Just up the road is the Ukiah Brewing Company, which holds the distinction of
having been the first certified organic brewpub and the second certified organic
restaurant in the United States. Their beers are unfiltered and handcrafted in
small batches, just like it was done before mass production was introduced to the
industry. The beers are strong and lush, not watered down or over- carbonated.
While in Ukiah explore the downtown area. The historic downtown buildings
celebrate the heyday of brick construction (even the crosswalks are brick inlaid in
the street). On the rear walls of the buildings, you can still make out the old
advertisements painted there (“White Owl Cigar 5¢,” “The Toggery!”).
Overnight in Ukiah.
OPTIONAL OVERNIGHT SIDE TRIP TO THE SPECTACULAR MENDOCINO
COAST
At this point there are two choices; continue north on highway 101 from Ukiah or
take a side trip to the beautiful Mendocino coast where you will have an
opportunity to savor beer from two famous microbreweries.
To choose the coastal alternative, take highway 101 south a few miles to
highway 253. Continue west on highway 253 to the intersection of 253 and
highway 128 where you will find the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in
Boonville. Try their famous Boont Amber Ale, named after Boontling, a language
developed in isolated Boonville. The tap room provides tastings of their many
beers including Poleeko Pale Ale.
Turn west, towards the coast on highway 128, which ends at highway 1, the
iconic Pacific Coast Highway. Continue north, marvelling at constantly changing
Pacific Ocean views, about 20 miles to Fort Bragg where the North Coast
Brewing Company awaits. Established in 1988 with beers such as Red Seal,
Acme and Old Rasputin and served all over the world, the variety and quality of
their brews continue to amaze. Stay and eat at the Tap Room.
There are many wonderful hotels at all price ranges in Fort Bragg to choose
from.
Overnight in Fort Bragg.
After spending a night marvelling at the ocean from your room, continue north on
highway 1. You will eventually merge with highway 101 at Leggett. Continue
north to Humboldt County.
DAYS 4 & 5: HUMBOLDT COUNTY
If you opt to skip the side trip, continue north from Ukiah. Stop in Willits (about 20
minutes north) and take a ride on the Skunk Train. This 3.5- to 4-hour round trip
on the vintage rail cruiser departs Willits and begins the steep ascent (3.5%
grade) to the summit at 1,740 feet. Traveling through Tunnel No. 2, the trip
descends into the Noyo River Canyon. In one spot, the vintage rail cruiser travels
8.5 miles to cover a straight-line distance of less than one mile in a serpentine of
switchbacks. The Skunk Train also serves Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s
special “Skunk Beer” on board the train.
From Willits continue north on Hwy 101 toward Humboldt County where you
enter the land of Giant Redwoods. Just 15 miles North of the Humboldt County
border take the exit for the Avenue of the Giants.
The Avenue of the Giants - a world-famous scenic drive, is by far the most
outstanding display of giant trees in the California redwood belt. Surrounded by
Humboldt Redwoods State Park, which has the largest remaining stand of virgin
redwoods in the world, this 31-mile portion of old Highway 101 runs parallel to
Hwy 101 and is accessible by most vehicles.
Along the Avenue, stop at Founders Grove for a half mile loop trail that will take
you through some of the tallest trees in the world as well as the famous Dyerville
Giant. This fallen colossal is 362 ft. in height, 17 ft. diameter, 52 ft. in
circumference and possibly 2,000 years old.
Continue on the Avenue of the Giants and then onto Hwy 101 for 35 miles. Take
the Ferndale exit and drive 10 miles through beautiful dairy land to the Victorian
village of Ferndale.
Nestled in a verdant, pastoral valley Ferndale was founded in 1852. A
prosperous dairy industry provided the economic base, and the blend of
agriculture and architecture produced splendidly ornate buildings that are known
as "Butterfat Palaces. Stroll the town's Historic Main Street District, where art
galleries, antique shops and boutiques complement a dazzling array of 19thcentury Victorians.
Take the 10 mile road back to Hwy 101 and continue North. In 30 minutes you
will arrive at the Victorian Seaport of Eureka. Stroll the streets of old town Eureka
with its Victorian architecture that has lovingly been restored. The shops in Old
town are all one-of-a-kind, locally owned stores with unique Humboldt made
products.
Overnight in Eureka.
Begin with breakfast at the famous Samoa Cookhouse. As the last surviving
cookhouse of the west, all meals are still served "lumber camp" style. Your food
is brought to the table in large bowls and platters, allowing you to help yourself
and pass it around. Seconds are always offered so no one walks away from the
table hungry. After eating in one of the traditional dining rooms, browse the
complimentary museum full of relics and photographs from the old logging and
cookhouse days. The walls are lined with an extensive pictorial review of this
history.
After breakfast begin your tour of the six microbreweries of Humboldt County;
Lost Coast Brewery, Mad River Brewery, Eel River Brewery, Redwood Curtain
Brewery, Six Rivers Brewery and Humboldt Regeneration Brewery and Farm.
Humboldt Beer Tours is the best way to experience all six of Humboldt County’s
breweries. The tour includes roundtrip transportation to and from the breweries
and a beer bar, complementary tastings at each brewery, lunch at a brewery, a
behind the scenes tour of one brewery and a Humboldt Beer Tours logo pint
glass.
Before your evening winds down, take a guided tour on the Madaket. The last
survivor of seven original ferries that transported mill workers and families around
Humboldt Bay, this 8.5 mile one-hour cruise travels along the Eureka Waterfront.
Narration includes all points of interest, including the discoveries of Humboldt
Bay, timber industry, wildlife, shipping, maritime history, Indian history and more.
Overnight in Eureka
DAYS 6: SHASTA CASCADE
Begin your day by driving North on Hwy 101 toward Hwy 299, which continues
onto Redding with a stop at either Market Street Steakhouse or Moonstone Bistro
for a delicious lunch. At Market Street Steakhouse be prepared for a burgundy
and black motif with hardwood flooring, backed by an array of high-end food and
mixed drinks. The Moonstone Bistro takes pride in buying locally and producing
delectable fresh dishes.
After lunch make a stop at Wildcard Brewing Co. With names like ‘Double Down,
Imperial Red Ale’, ‘Liar’s Dice, Indian Pale Ale’, ‘Shot in the Dark, Oatmeal
Porter’ and ‘Suicide Jack, California Cream Ale’ these beers will peak anyone’s
curiosity. The tasting room offers all these choices as well as some seasonal
favorites.
Explore Redding’s Sacramento River after lunch by stopping at Turtle Bay
Exploration Park for a peek at local wildlife and local Native American History.
Don’t miss the opportunity to try out Segway tours as an environmentally friendly
way to see the area.. While there, marvel at the beauty of Redding’s Sundial
Bridge, the largest Sundial in the world, and take a relaxing stroll down the
famous Sacramento River National Recreation Trail.
From Redding take Interstate 5 South to Hwy 99 South. Head for the Sierra
Nevada Brewery in Chico.
The Sierra Nevada Brewing company is the
second bestselling craft brewing company in the
U.S. An in-depth, hour-and-a-half tour of Sierra
Nevada give you an inside look at the brew house,
grounds, sustainability practices, and packaging
facilities. You will also learn the history of the
brewery and Sierra Nevada’s role as a pioneer of
the craft brewing movement. Visitors over 21 years
of age can enjoy a guided beer tasting of new and
limited release beers at the end of each tour.
Overnight in Chico
DAY 7:
RETURN TO SAN FRANCISCO
From Chico, take the 3-hour drive back to San Francisco.
Spend your final two days in the City by the Bay. Drop your car back at a
downtown depot, as you won’t need it once back in town. Explore all the diverse
areas of San Francisco from Chinatown to North Beach, from the Mission District
to Fisherman's Wharf. While
exploring, stop in at the oldest
Anchor Brewing Company opened in 1896
craft brewery in the U.S.
with roots dating back to the California gold
rush. Their beers are handmade from an allmalt mash in the traditional copper brew
house. The process combines the timehonored art of classical brewing with carefully
applied, state-of-the-art modern methods.
The available tour will give you a brief history
of the brewery and walk you through three
floors of the building. A tasting session
follows the walking tour. Altogether, the tour
and the tasting lasts for about 1.5 hours.
DAY 7:
DEPART SAN FRANCISCO
On your final day in the city head over to the San Francisco Ferry Building
Marketplace, a people's plaza serving residents and travelers alike. Located
within the historic Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street, shops large and
small celebrate food in all its forms, offering everything from artisan cheeses to
the freshest of local fish. Restaurants and cafés serve cuisine representing the
quality and cultural diversity of San Francisco’s best chefs.
For further information, please contact:
Megan Parfitt
Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau
1034 2nd St.
Eureka, CA 95501
707-443-5087 ext. 203
Website: www.redwoods.info
Email: megan@redwoods.info
Richard Strom
Visit Mendocino County
345 N. Franklin St.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
707-964-9010
Website: www.visitmendocino.com
Email: richard@visitmendocino.com
Laurie Baker
Shasta Cascade Wonderland Association
1699 HWY 273
Anderson, CA 96007
530-365-7500
Website: http://shastacascade.com/
Email: laurie@shastacascade.org