Hotels in Northern California, United States

Northern California stretches from the rugged Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountains, famous for giant redwoods, Napa Valley wines, and Yosemite's granite cliffs. Summers are warm and dry along the coast-perfect for hiking through Muir Woods or surfing at Santa Cruz's Steamer Lane in 70°F (21°C) weather-while winters bring snow to Lake Tahoe, where you can ski at Squaw Valley in temperatures around 40°F (4°C). If you visit in fall, the grape harvest in Sonoma and Napa offers tastings at small family wineries, and spring reveals wildflower blooms in Yosemite Valley, with daytime highs near 60°F (16°C) and fewer crowds.