Summer Bay Area week trip ideas 2026

Sierra adventure

Sat Jul 11

• Safari West
• Stay near Healdsburg

Sun Jul 12

• Russian River float or kayaking
• Stay in Hotel Indigo, Napa valley

Mon Jul 13

• Cache Creek rafting OR
• balloon or castle/chateau/geyser/petrified forest/downtown/pool
• Stay in Hotel Indigo, Napa valley

Tue Jul 14

• Jelly Belly in Fairfield in the morning
• Old Sacramento / California State Railroad Museum or Sacramento riverfront
• Stay near Auburn / Placerville
  

Wed Jul 15

• Middle Fork American River
• Stay near Auburn / Placerville

Thu Jul 16

• Mono Lake in late afternoon
• Stay Mammoth / June Lake / Lee Vining

Fri Jul 17

• Devils Postpile / Rainbow Falls
• Stay Mammoth Lakes
  (shuttle required.) 

Sat Jul 18

• Yosemite (enter from east via Tioga pass)
• Stay Yosemite west side / El Portal / Oakhurst
  

Sun Jul 19

• Pinnacles East entrance.
• Stay in Hollister

Mon Jul 20

• Paintball, Hollister
• Check in Kimpton, Pacific Grove
• Explore Pacific Grove downtown

Tue Jul 21

• Kayak Elkhorn slough boat safari or kayaking OR
• Monterey Bay Aquarium + Carmel
• Return home