Famous for grand dame Victorian buildings, classic cable cars, dynamic diversity, trend defining Michelin starred cuisine, a beautiful waterfront and a soaring crimson bridge, San Francisco, aka the 'City by the Bay', truly has it all and stands out as an ultimate must see.

Pedal across the Golden Gate Bridge and back, then explore the lush Presidio, a former military base that’s now a park or head into Golden Gate Park to visit museums and row across a secret gem, Stow Lake. Continue along the flat Embarcadero to the bustling Ferry Building Marketplace, the Exploratorium science and learning museum and colourful Fisherman’s Wharf.

Take a cable car ride to the high-end shops in bustling Union Square, with a stop for Italian pastries and cappuccino at Emporio Rulli in the square itself. At night, catch a show in the theatre district. For more nightlife and dining, stroll along Valencia Street in the Mission, a trendy and eclectic hot-bed of restaurants and bars and enjoy some awesome late night scoops at Bi-Rite Ice Cream.

Jutting miles out into the ocean, Point Reyes National Seashore is loaded with amazing discoveries, including remarkable wildlife, deep forests, dramatic cliffs and remote beaches.

Regardless of the time of year, there’s always something extraordinary to see and do. In winter, travel to the tip of the point to look for migrating grey whales passing remarkably close. In spring, walk to Chimney Rock to see countless wildflowers or follow a path lined with irises into a rare Bishop pine forest. In summer, watch the fog tumble in, then have a cup of hot chocolate in the cosy village of Point Reyes Station. And in autumn listen for the eerie bugle of tule elk; you can usually spot individuals or small herds in the Tomales Point reserve area, at the tip of the park.

To get your bearings, call in at the Bear Valley Nature Center, with its child friendly displays, maps and helpful rangers. The fairly flat, pushchair friendly Bear Valley Trail is a popular walk or bike ride.

Mendocino is a charming North Coast hamlet, perched on a wave-carved headland, sandwiched between thick forests and a restless sea. Its dramatic location is a natural magnet for artists, and you can often see them capturing the scene on their canvases. The town is meant for walking, so wander through the streets of shops selling local artwork, then pop in for a coffee and chat with the locals. Take a walk along the cliffs, especially at sunset on fog-free evenings. Victorian-era homes, converted into B&Bs of every level of luxury, look like gingerbread houses come to life. Mendocino also knows how to throw a good party, especially when it comes to food, and annual festivals celebrate mushrooms, wine and crab, as well as the region’s largest inhabitants, whales.

With its roots as a military garrison and then a gritty logging town, Fort Bragg used to skirt under the radar of most visitors. But these days, Fort Bragg has buffed up its image, with new things to see and do. There are some long-standing attractions, most notably the Skunk Train, which chugs inland into the redwood forests to the town of Willits, and Glass Beach, a rainbow of sea glass at MacKerricher State Park. Whale watching boats and fishing charters depart from rustic Noyo Harbor. But perhaps the most telling indicator of the town’s evolution is the Union Lumber Company Store on Redwood and Main. Where sawmill employees used to shop for basic provisions, visitors and locals can shop at boutiques and galleries before refuelling with a plate of local artisanal cheeses and a glass of Pinot Noir from a Mendocino County winery.

A drive down the 50-kilometre-long Avenue of the Giants is a guaranteed jaw-dropper. The narrow road snakes along one of California’s most beautiful greenbelts, a prehistoric forest featuring 2,000-plus-year-old trees. Children love to squeeze through the privately-operated Shrine Drive-Thru Tree, and there are plenty of short walks that are perfect for little legs. Call in at the Humboldt Redwoods State Park Visitor Center for a map and a ranger will help you to choose a few groves to explore along the way. Favourites include the Immortal Tree, which has weathered floods and a lightning strike, and Founders Grove Nature Trail, where you can wrap your arms around a 325-foot/99-metre-tall giant.

Get up close to the remarkable giants of the plant world in Humboldt Redwoods State Park and explore their emerald-green habitat. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy walks in this 53,000-acre/21,448-hectare park, just ask for suggestions at the excellent park headquarters in Weott. Avenue of the Giants runs right through the park, so you can easily turn off to explore on a variety of trails. A great way to go is to follow the Bull Creek Loop for as long as you like. The first mile or so takes in impressive trees, including those in Founders Grove honouring the formation of the Save the Redwoods League in 1918, an organisation that played a critical role in the permanent protection of these remarkable trees. Or, if you are feeling ambitious, complete the entire 7.5 mile/12 km loop, which lets you experience the remarkable Rockefeller Forest, home to the world’s 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th tallest trees.

Trinidad is what happens when picture perfect headlands collide with a teacup shaped harbour dotted with wave sculpted sea stacks. One of Northern California’s prettiest villages, the seaside community makes a great base for exploring up and down the Redwood Coast or staying local and discovering under the radar beaches. Off Stagecoach Road, forested paths lace across the Elk Head cliffs, dropping down to secluded College Cove Beach. Sprawl on the sand and enjoy breathtaking views of tree covered Pewetole Island and offshore sea stacks. At Patrick’s Point State Park, search for sea polished agates and moonstones at Agate Beach, before climbing to the top of Wedding Rock. Without leaving town you can kayak around Trinidad Bay to see seabirds, seals and rockpool creatures, or hike to the top of Trinidad Head to look for whales. Afterwards, refuel at the Lighthouse Grill with a mashed potato waffle cone loaded with bacon and cheese. For the trip home, pack your car with smoked, line caught seafood from Katy’s Smokehouse.

Redwood National & State Parks is one of California’s crown jewels, a World Heritage Site protecting nearly half of the world’s tallest trees. This spectacular network of national and state parks has dozens of paths that allow you to walk among soaring coastal redwoods, which grow to over 350 feet/107 metres high. Learn about the region at the Thomas H. Kuchel Visitor Center. Ask about ranger led walks through emerald green Fern Canyon or where to see majestic Roosevelt elk. (Our tip: head to Elk Meadow, or to Gold Bluffs Beach dunes, both in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.) Consider a guided horse ride with the Redwood Creek Buckarettes or ride mountain bikes with Redwood Adventures. Camping is popular here with pitches in lush groves or on sheltered cliffs or wild beaches; booking is strongly advised.

Insider tip: the region is green for a reason: annual rainfall, which normally falls from October to April, averages 60 to 80 inches/152 to 203 centimetres, so bring waterproofs and sturdy, non-slip shoes.

Crescent City is home to California’s northernmost lighthouse stations. The 1856 Battery Point Lighthouse sits on a tiny island only reachable at low tide, when visitors can walk across the causeway and climb to the lamp room for a spectacular 360-degree view. A few miles away is the lighthouse at St George Reef, 6 miles/9.6 kilometres offshore, built after the 1865 shipwreck of the Brother Jonathan, which is rumoured to hold 1.5 tons/1,361 kilograms of gold coins and bullion, much of which was never recovered. The lighthouse’s original Fresnel lens can be viewed at the Del Norte County Main Museum.

In town, wander the Crescent City waterfront. At Ocean World, sea lions balance balls and play catch with visitors, while at the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, injured elephant seals and sea lions get some TLC before being released back into the wild. Pebble Beach at the west end of the town, is a great place to search for semi-precious gemstones.