Top 5 Limousine Tours to Take in Northern CA.

Travel in California isn’t always a picnic. Mind-bending traffic, shocking prices, and a heaping helping of snobs is worth it, though, when you experience California’s near-perfect weather, surreal scenery, and food so good you’ll forget what calories are. Why not travel in style with a luxury limousine service?

Before you book your limo, which  destinations are worth the bustle and big bucks? Instead of fighting your way through the mêlée of Fisherman’s Wharf or taking yet another photograph of El Capitan in Yosemite at sunrise (how cliché), hit up these oh-so-worth it NorCal destinations. Best of all, each is just a short limo drive from all the major Northern California cities and airports. You can thank us later.

1. Lassen Volcanic National Park

If you’d love to see the geological phenomenon that makes Yellowstone so special, without fighting the 3.4 million other visitors that go each year, consider a trip to Lassen. Here you can see the pristine, peaceful slice of nature left behind by a violent past. At Lassen Volcanic National Park, you can see mesmerizing fumaroles, which are literally openings into the earth’s crust that occur around volcanoes. The fumaroles steam and spew gasses from the earth, making the whole area look like something you’d find on a foreign planet. Lassen is also home to crisp, clear mountain lakes, rough and rugged mountain peaks, and during the warmer months, it’s speckled with wildflowers. All this majestic natural glory is tucked away less than four hours’ drive from San Francisco.

2. The Redwood Forest

Redwood trees aren’t scarce in Northern California, and you’ll no doubt see a few wherever you travel in the region. But the mammoth beauties that grace the postcards and magazine covers live in the protected reserves that bear their names. The Redwood National and State Parks are home to trees over 370 feet high and as old as 2,500 years! Yep, some of these trees were alive when Cyrus the Great forged the Persian Empire and when Athenians in Greece developed history’s first democratic government. The climate of Northern California is one of the only places on earth that can support these astonishing giants. There are no hotels or restaurants inside the parks, but there are many lodging and dining opportunities within a close drive, including some amazing places to camp and picnic. But the best way to experience this is through a private limo tour, so that you can focus on seeing the beauty (and wowing over the size of those beasts!) while someone else mans the wheel.

3. Burney Falls: The 8th Wonder of the World

If you’re willing to stray a bit further off the beaten path, Burney Falls is about 4 1/2 hours from San Francisco, inside McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park. The falls is unique in that, instead of all the water pouring over the top, much of the falls actually weeps out in sprays from the rocks of the hillside. It stands 129 feet high, and features an almost un-fluctuating flow of over 100 million gallons per day, even in the drier months of summer. It’s so unique that President Teddy Roosevelt dubbed it the Eighth Wonder of the World.

4. Hearst Castle

On a hilltop overlooking a rare unpopulated stretch of the Pacific Coast, just under 50 minutes from San Luis Obispo, Hearst Castle lords over one of the most scenic routes in all of the country. The former home of “The Father of Yellow Journalism,” William Randolph Hearst, this castle is what Orson Wells based Citizen Kane‘s Xanadu on. The estate was originally operated as a ranch, but is now a tourable property, including a museum, gift shop, and some one-of-a-kind scenic views. On a tour of the castle, you’ll be treated to Hearst’s immense art and antique collections, views of his stunning indoor and outdoor pools, and surreal views of both the ocean and the northern California countryside.

5. Sonoma Wine Country

Sonoma County is North America’s version of Bordeaux or Tuscany. Sonoma’s growers have mastered the art of winemaking from an impressive variety of grapes, including pinot noir, chardonnay, zinfandel, merlot, sauvignon blanc, syrah, and many others. From healthy organic wines to creative artesian blends, Sonoma is where it’s at if you’re a wine lover. Not into oenology? Come on, anyway! Sonoma County is home to an amazing variety of 4 and 5 star restaurants, upscale hotels and hospitable B&Bs, as well as several farmer’s markets where you can find anything from quaint souvenirs to fine gifts to incredible antiques. A limo wine tour is just the thing for your honeymoon, anniversary, retirement getaway, or to show your big new client some super special treatment. There’s no wrong time of year to visit, as winter brings mild temperatures, small crowds, and excellent prices. Spring delivers wildflowers and warm weather, while summertime is mild and exciting. Fall is ideal for the true wine connoisseurs, as the harvest comes in and the citizens prepare for the coming holiday season.

You don’t have to pick just one — enjoy them all with a custom tour with Elite Limo.  What are you waiting for? Plan and schedule your spectacular tour of Northern California’s best travel destinations today!