Trippin' in NorCal:
Tourist Attractions and Insider Secrets

Trippin' in NorCal is Discover Northern California's free monthly newsletter that keeps you up to date with what's new on our website and what's coming up in the way of events, fairs, and festivals.

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Trippin' in NorCal, August 2016 Issue #001

We're very proud to introduce our inaugural edition of Trippin' in NorCal as a venue for providing more value to our readers. Each month we will deliver a new issue to your mailbox that will include

• New pages, articles, photo galleries, hints & tips, etc., that have been published at Discover Northern California

• Additional tourist attractions and Insider Secrets to explore

• Upcoming events, fairs, and festivals for the month, and much much more!

This month's issue continues with:

• Discover days of yore at a local museum
  The Petaluma Historical Museum explores Petaluma's rich poultry, dairy, and Miwok Indian histories, featuring exhibits from the 1850s; the museum offers weekend tours of historic Petaluma led by docents in period costumes.

• A bite of history with a sip of nature
  Meander through the Sonoma countryside and up into the forested foothills for a visit to Jack London's home and ranch in Jack London State Historic Park. See the House of Happy Walls, pay your respects at the Londons' grave, and imagine writing your own novels in this idyllic setting.

• Together time with the kids
  Visit the Scientopia Discovery Center for major bonding time with your children. Spend family fun time exploring the mysteries of verbal instructions, creating and testing your own windmill, and learning about planetary motion with coins.

• On the river with or without a bottle of wine
  Plan your weekend around the Russian River with a stay at one of the lovely, historic, and iconic resort towns along the river like Guerneville or Monte Rio. Activities can include relaxing on the beach, kayaking or canoeing the Russian River, or exploring how and where the river finds its way into the ocean.

• Taste craft beers and pub food instead of wines and cheese
  Little known to most of humanity, the California Wine Country is also home to a thriving craft beer industry. Dempsey's Brewery is Sonoma's oldest craft brewery and offers handcrafted ales and pub food on a river-view patio, And Napa Smith Brewing Company is Napa's "only production brewery located in the Napa Valley" - they offer flights of 10 on-tap beers in their onsite Brewpub (no food offerings, but guests are encouraged to bring food in).

Don't rule out a visit to California's Wine Country just because your done with wine tours - make room in your travel plans for the flip-side of Napa and Sonoma Counties!

July 31 - August 13, 2016: The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music will continue with performances at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium on Church Street.

August 4, 2016: The Del Norte County Fair begins on Thursday and runs through Sunday, the 7th at the Del Norte County Fairgrounds on Highway 101 North in Crescent City.

August 4, 2016: The Mammoth Festival of Beers and Bluesapalooza returns to Mammoth Lakes from the 4th through the 7th. You'll find it at Sam's Wood Site on Minaret Road.

August 4, 2016: Celebrating 80 years, the Redwood Empire Fair returns to the fairgrounds off Highway 101 in Ukiah from the 4th through the 7th.

August 5, 2016: Magic of the Night heats up the streets of Historic Downtown Sonora on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. with music and entertainment.

August 5, 2016: Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival fills San Francisco's Golden Gate Park with the sounds of music Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

August 5, 2016: Gem Faire returns to the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Pleasanton Avenue in Pleasanton for a three day run.

August 6, 2016: The 9th annual Petaluma Music Festival fills the air with music from 12 to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the Sonoma Marin Fairgrounds on Fairgrounds Drive in Petaluma.

August 6, 2016: The Fremont Festival of the Arts sets up on Saturday and Sunday along Walnut Avenue and Paseo Padre in Fremont.

August 6, 2016: The Monterey Scottish Games & Celtic Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at the Monterey County Fairgrounds on Fairground Road in Monterey.

August 6, 2016: The San Jose Renaissance Faire takes place in Discovery Meadow on Woz Way in San Jose on Saturday and Sunday.

August 7, 2016: Downtown Livermore celebrates its annual Taste of Downtown with culinary tastings from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

August 10, 2016: The Nevada County Fair opens Wednesday the 10th at the Nevada County Fairgrounds on McCourtney Road in Grass Valley and runs through Sunday, the 14th.

August 10, 2016: The Siskiyou Golden Fair also opens Wednesday the 10th and runs through Sunday, the 14th. It's located at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds on Fairlane Road in Yreka.

August 12, 2016: For the Funk of It Music Festival invades Beldon (off Highway 70) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

August 12, 2016: The California Beer Festival gets underway Friday night at Aptos Village Park on Aptos Creek Road in Aptos. It also runs Saturday & Sunday.

August 12, 2016: Lassen Dark Sky Festival unites budding astronomers with sky rangers for constellation tours and stargazing Friday, Saturday, & Sunday at Lassen Volcanic National Park off Highway 36 East, near Mineral.

August 12, 2016: The Trinity County Fair has a three day run at the Trinity County Fairgrounds on Highway 3 in Hayfork - Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.

August 13, 2016: The Woodland Tomato Festival opens from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday along Main Street in downtown Historic Woodland.

August 13, 2016: The SF Street Food Fest has morphed into La Lucha de La Cocina at Pier 70 in San Francisco from 3:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday the 13th.

August 13, 2016: The 70th annual Japanese Food and Culture Bazaar is held Saturday and Sunday at the Buddhist Church of Sacramento on Riverside Blvd.

August 13, 2016: The 2016 Gravenstein Apple Fair runs Saturday and Sunday at Ragle Ranch Park on Ragle Road in Sebastopol.

August 13, 2016: Gualala's Art in the Redwoods Festival begins Saturday and ends Sunday. It's located at the Gualala Art Center on Old State Highway in Gualala.

August 13, 2016: The 2016 Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest spends the weekend at the Village at Squaw Valley on Village East Road in Olympic (aka Squaw) Valley.

August 15, 2016: The Monterey Auto Week & Concours d'Elegance begins Monday and continues through Sunday the 21st at a variety of venues throughout the Monterey area.

August 17, 2016: The Yolo County Fair runs from Wednesday through Sunday at the Yolo County Fairgrounds on Gum Avenue in Woodland.

August 19, 2016: Main Street Union fills up the streets of Napa with a Show & Shine and a classic Car Show on Friday and Saturday.

August 19, 2016: The Modoc County Fair opens Friday night at continues through Sunday at the Modoc County Fairgrounds on Center Street in Cedarville.

August 19, 2016: The California State Home & Garden Show brings new ideas and expert solutions to the Sacramento Convention Center on J Street in Sacramento on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.

August 20, 2016: The 54th Klamath Salmon Festival begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday at the Klamath Community Center on Salmon Blvd in Klamath.

August 20, 2016: The Timber Heritage Association presents it's annual Steam-Up at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park off Highway 101 near Samoa from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

August 20, 2016: The Willits Kinetic Carnivale is take 2016 off, but says they will return in 2017.

August 20, 2016: The annual Cotati Accordion Festival fills La Plaza Park at Old Redwood Highway & W. Sierra Avenue in Cotati with accordion music on Saturday and Sunday.

August 20, 2016: Burlingame on the Avenue presents art, food, wine, & music on Saturday and Sunday in the Historic Burlingame Avenue area of Burlingame.

August 20, 2016: The Graeagle Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday for its 31st year. The fair is is located in Graeagle.

August 20, 2016: The Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival is also Saturday and Sunday at Skypark on Kings Village Road in Scotts Valley.

August 20, 2016: It's time for the 6th annual Sacramento Banana Festival at Shasta Park on Shasta Ave in Elk Grove. This event runs Saturday and Sunday.

August 25, 2016: The Butte County Fair runs Thursday through Sunday at the Butte County Fairgrounds on Hazel Street in Gridley.

August 25, 2016: The National Park Service celebrates 100 years with free entrance days Thursday through Sunday at Northern California National Parks.

August 26, 2016: Mammoth Rocks & A Taste of the Sierra runs Friday and Saturday at Village Events Plaza, Mammoth Lakes.

August 26, 2016: The Railroad Days Festival is a three day fest at Portola City Park on the corner of S. Gulling & 1st Avenue in Portola (Fri, Sat, Sun).

August 26, 2016: Three days of Reggae at Hammon Grove Park off Highway 20 along the Yuba River in Brows Valley (Yuba County).

August 26, 2016: Fresno Greek Fest is so popular it covers three days with Greek food, music, and dance at St. George Greek Orthodox Church on N. Orchard in Fresno.

August 27, 2016: The 2016 California State Duck Calling Championship takes place on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park, 10th & Market Streets, in Colusa.

August 27, 2016: Its Grills 'n' Grilles BBQ & Car Show for one day only at Western Gateway Park in Penn Valley (Nevada County).

August 27, 2016: Hops in Humboldt presents good beer & live music on Saturday at Rohnert Park on 14th Street in Fortuna.

August 27, 2016: It's Blues, Brews & BBQ on Saturday around Main Street in downtown Napa from 12 to 6 p.m.

August 27, 2016: The Palo Alto Festival of the Arts is Saturday and Sunday along University Avenue in Palo Alto.

August 27, 2016: The 2016 Art, Wine & Jazz Festival sets up at The Streets of Brentwood, Sand Creek Road, on Saturday and Sunday

August 27, 2016: Check out the Italian Family Festa in History Park on Senter Road in San Jose, Saturday and Sunday.

August 27, 2016: The Tequila & Taco Music Festival fills San Lorenzo Park Saturday and Sunday at Dakota Street in Downtown Santa Cruz.

August 27, 2016: The Bodega Seafood Art & Wine Festival runs Saturday and Sunday at Watts Ranch on Bodega Highway near the town of Bodega.

August 27, 2016: Silicon Valley's Pride Parade & Festival kicks off Saturday night and continues with a parade and festival on Sunday. That's in at Plaza de Cesar Chavez Park in San Jose.

August 30, 2016: Sample the fare as the Oakdale Chamber presents Taste of Oakdale on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bianchi Community Center on 2nd Ave in Oakdale.

Well, that's about it for this month's newsletter. We'll be in touch again next month with more Tourist Attractions & Insider Secrets!

And thanks once again for subscribing to Trippin' in NorCal.