Welcome to Phase 10 of our 2-Year North America road trip, 2015-2016, written by your favourite family travel blogger. This leg of our family road trip is the other half of the Grand Circle Road Trip with Kids.
We’ve broken this epic family gap year journey into 12 can’t-miss road trip phases, so it’s easy to follow:
- Phase 1: We toured Eastern Canada for over one month.
- Phase 2: A little under one month in the Midwest USA.
- Phase 3: We made our way from Oregon to Vancouver, Canada.
- Phase 4: We discovered Western Canada with a quick side trip to Alaska.
- Phase 5: Drove more than 5,500 km from British Columbia to New York.
- Phase 6: A meandering journey from New York to Florida with stops in Nashville & Atlanta.
- Phase 7: 2,181 miles and one month crossing from Florida to the deep South – New Orleans, Texas, Santa Fe
- Phase 8: The top half of The Grand Circle Vegas, Colorado, Utah
- Phase 9: Another loop of the great Grand Circle Nevada, Arizona, and Utah
- Phase 10: A packed California Road Trip week from Sacramento & San Francisco
- Phase 11: A 2-week adventure through Nova Scotia
- Phase 12: Our big finale 2-week discovery of Florida
Come along for the fun, chaos, and unforgettable family moments on this North America road trip with kids.
Here’s your Phase 10 rewritten and structured to match the rest of your series. It keeps your voice, your stories, your kids, and adds strong SEO layering, structure, and flow.
Phase 10 – Sacramento → Folsom → El Dorado Country → Tuolumne Country → San Francisco
Dates: 6 Days
Total Distance: 934 miles (1,503 km)
Fuel: US$347.84
Groceries: US$291.12
California is big. Bold. And completely addictive.
We’d only scratched the surface of the Golden State earlier in our trip, but this time we went all in. Straight after finishing our first RV adventure through the Grand Circle, we jumped on a quick flight to Sacramento and kicked off one of the best California road trips for families, a 6-day journey through Gold Country to San Francisco.
If you’re looking for one of the best USA road trips packed with history, food, fun, and a little bit of chaos – this one delivers. Check out our Gold Country, California, map below.
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Best Things To Do in San Francisco USA
Day 1 – Sacramento, California
Accommodation: Embassy Suites Sacramento
Best Attraction: California State Railroad Museum
We landed, grabbed our rental car, and were straight back into road trip mode to see Gold County. No easing in here.
First stop was the Crocker Art Museum, and surprisingly, it was the kids who didn’t want to leave.
Hands-on exhibits, creativity everywhere, and yes… we made pop art that would make Taylor Swift proud.
Then came one of the best things to do in Sacramento with kids – the Railroad Museum.
Massive. Interactive.
And honestly fascinating. Mia and Caius disappeared into train exhibits while I soaked up the history.
We wrapped up the day wandering through Old Sacramento Waterfront, eating far too much, and somehow ending up in a slightly creepy but very entertaining candy store.
Sugar + kids = zero regrets.
Day 2 – Folsom, California
Accommodation: Staybridge Suites Folsom
Best Attraction: Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail
We kicked off with the Sacramento Zoo.
Then wandered into Fairytale Town, which the kids treated like their personal kingdom.
Then we hit the road to Folsom. Folsom Prison is best known as the location where country music legend Johnny Cash performed and recorded a live album with an audience of prison inmates.
This day was peak family road trip energy. Bike riding along the American River, Mia absolutely smashing the trail on her own, and Caius living his best life being chauffeured like royalty. There are over 95 miles of trails are spread across Folsom. We had wonderful guide led us down the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, along the coast of the glittering Lake Natoma and the American River.
We balanced it out with chocolate at Snook’s Chocolate Factory and a ride on the miniature Folsom Valley Railway.
Simple, fun, unforgettable.
Also located in City Lions Park is the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, more of a sanctuary than a traditional zoo. Every animal here has an incredible rescue story, starting with a bear cub orphaned by a forest fire in 1963.
The sanctuary provides a permanent home for animals that cannot be released back into the wild. It also cares for exotic “pets” that became too difficult to manage, and wild animals that have been injured. None of the animals are bred, sold, or traded. It’s a thoughtful and moving place, perfect for teaching kids the importance of caring for all creatures, big and small.
Day 3 – El Dorado County (Gold Rush Country)
Accommodation: Historic Cary House Hotel, Placerville
Best Attraction: Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
This is where the California Gold Rush towns began, and you can feel it.
We followed the story of James W. Marshall and then tried our luck panning for gold ourselves at Marshall Gold Discovery State Park.
Spoiler alert. No retirement fund yet, but the kids were thrilled with every tiny flake.
We doubled down on the experience at Gold Bug Park & Mine.
And ended the day in the most unique dinner setting. Inside a cellar built into an old gold mine.
We stayed in Placerville that night. It’s a charming California gold rush town named after the placer gold deposits found in its riverbeds and hills in the late 1840’s. Our gorgeous hotel was just as historic.
Dinner that night was as unique and interesting as the rest of El Dorado. We ate in the cellar of Smith Flat House, which is home to the entrance of an 1800’s goldmine. It was like dining in a cave, surrounded by fine food, mixing in a trendy atmosphere – definitely some of the best food we found on this road trip. My herb-crusted beef tenderloin was a 10 out of 10. I can’t recommend it highly enough!
Honestly, this was one of those “only in California” moments. Visiting a California Gold Rush Town in Country CA.
Day 4 – Tuolumne County
Accommodation: Lazy Z Resort, Twain Harte
Best Attraction: Columbia State Historic Park
We accidentally timed this perfectly.
The Columbia Diggins was on, and it felt like we stepped straight into 1852. Costumes, school lessons, street fights, old-school games. The kids were completely immersed.
We followed it up with a ride on a historic train from Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, yes, the one from Back to the Future Part III. It’s a 6 mile, 45-minute scenic trip through California’s Mother Lode country.
Then we arrived at Lazy Z, and honestly… I didn’t want to leave.
Day 5 – San Francisco, California
Accommodation: Hotel Griffon
Best Attraction: Pier 39
City energy hit immediately.
We rolled into San Francisco and went straight into food mode. Then sunset at Pier 39, arcade games, sea lions, and one of those moments where the kids are so happy you just sit back and take it all in.
Dinner with views of Alcatraz Island. Not bad at all.
Day 6 – San Francisco Highlights
Accommodation: Hotel Griffon
Best Attraction: Golden Gate Bridge Scenic Cruise
We packed everything in.
I enjoyed every minute of my walk through The Hunger Games Exhibit situated in the Palace of Fine Arts Exhibition Hall. Our kids had never heard of the story, but they enjoyed the interactive hands-on exhibits. The costumes were incredible!
While we were in the neighbourhood, we stopped by the Lucasfilm campus for a selfie with Yoda.
Driving west, we went down the iconic Lombard Street – the most crooked street in the world. Free parking is available at the bottom of the hill.
Coit Tower was next on the agenda, which offered the best views of city. Simply stunning!
After checking with a few food-savvy bloggers for recommendations, we landed at Kokkari Estiatorio for lunch. The moment we stepped inside, it felt like we’d been transported from California straight to the Greek Islands.
The kids were ready for their turn of fun after such a classy dining experience, so we headed back down to the waterfront for some freaky fun at Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
We crossed over to Wharf 43½ for a 60-minute Red and White Golden Gate Bay Cruise. The city skyline, Alcatraz, and the Golden Gate Bridge made for absolutely stunning views. A free recorded audio guide shared plenty of fascinating city history, but even without it, the cruise was an unforgettable experience.
Since the kids couldn’t get enough of Pier 39, we headed back for another visit. They had a blast tackling the laser maze challenge, and afterwards we all dug into a steaming bowl of saucy clam chowder at Chowders.
By the end of the day, we were exhausted, happy, and not quite ready for it to end.
California Gold Country Road Trip Itinerary (6 Days)
- Day 1: Sacramento
- Day 2: Sacramento → Folsom
- Day 3: Folsom → El Dorado (Placerville & Coloma)
- Day 4: Tuolumne County
- Day 5: Tuolumne → San Francisco
- Day 6: San Francisco
Travel Tips for a Northern California Road Trip
- Book accommodation early in San Francisco. It fills fast.
- Allow extra time in Gold Country. There is more to see on road trips in California than you expect.
- Mix activities. Museums, outdoor play, food stops. Keeps kids engaged.
- Bring layers. California weather changes quickly.
- Don’t rush San Francisco. It deserves time.
More Things to Do in Gold Country
Even though we packed our 6 days full of adventure, there’s still plenty more to explore in Northern California’s Gold Country if you have extra time – or a reason to come back!
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Park (Coloma) – We panned for gold, but if you haven’t tried it yet, they also offer gold panning classes and guided history tours. Perfect for a deep dive into Gold Rush history.
- Empire Mine State Historic Park (Grass Valley) – Step inside one of the oldest, richest gold mines in California and explore the restored miner’s cottages. Bonus: the gardens are a peaceful spot for a picnic.
- Nevada City & Grass Valley Downtowns – Quaint streets filled with cafés, antique shops, and local markets. Ideal for strolling and picking up unique souvenirs.
- Railtown 1897 State Historic Park (Jamestown) – We caught the train from Back to the Future III, but they also run special seasonal rides like murder mystery evenings and steam locomotive weekends.
- Coloma Outdoor Recreation Area – Hiking trails, swimming, or a relaxing day by the American River. Great for families looking to escape into nature.
- Historic Sutter Creek – Known as “the most charming small town in Gold Country,” with boutique shops, art galleries, and local wineries.
If you’re a history buff, a foodie, or just love a good scenic drive, Gold Country has hidden gems around almost every bend. Honestly, we could have spent weeks exploring and still not seen it all!
The Bottom Line
This 6-day California road trip surprised me.
We didn’t find gold, but we found something better. Slower moments, big laughs, and those little in-between memories that stick long after the trip ends.
Most people think of California as beaches and theme parks. But Gold Country? That’s where the magic quietly lives.
And honestly. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.
For more of our best family road trips across the USA, check out:
👉 Read Phase 11 – Nova Scotia Family Road Trip
👉 Or head back to Phase 9 – Grand Circle Part II
