Five Counties of California Off the Beaten Track  

California doesn't have to mean LA, Beverly Hills, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica or even San Francisco. To the north is a far less packed, populated and polluted playground in which to vacation, far from the bright lights and not a Disneyland in sight. You can discover the delights of the North California Coast, which is perfect for hiking, fishing and relaxation country - unspoilt and wild.  

Way up Highway 1, which itself is worth a spin as it's one of the most scenic drives in the world, is a less-discovered world of coast, lakes, forest and vineyards. From the Point Reyes national park to Napa Valley, there are timeless small towns and a landscape with plenty of opportunities for outdoor pursuits. It's accessible however, with airports in San Francisco to the south and Sacramento - the state capital - to the east.  

There are five main counties in northern California: Del Norte Humboldt Lake Mendocino Sonoma  

Del Norte, literally 'the north', is where the wild rivers and redwoods meet the Pacific Ocean, on the borders with Oregon. Here you can find excellent river fishing, whale watching at the coast and abundant wildlife. It's a haven for bird watchers and you may even spot bears. This is the rugged outdoor life at its Californian best. 80% of the entire county is made up of national or state parks, so walking and enjoying nature are the order of every peaceful day. There is only one city - Crescent City - which has a beautiful harbour and a population of some 7.5 million. For the beach lovers Pelican State Beach, some 30km north of the city on Route 101 is the place to go. Pebble Peach is Crescent City's own stretch of seafront real estate and, despite its name, does have sand too. It's a great place for rockhounds with abundant agate. If fresh water adventures are more your thing, head inland to the Smith River. Kayaking is a great option for all the family and there are many clear, calm and safe stretches. In the rainy season - November through to March - particularly in the Middle Fork South River and near the Oregon Hole Gorge are some exhilarating rapids, some Class III, for rafting with professional companies. Those who prefer to keep at least one foot on dry land will find excellent fishing, especially for salmon, steelhead and bass on the South River, with guides readily available.  

Humboldt county is the real home of the giant redwoods. It has also been declared “America's most scenic rural county”, with picture-postcard towns and lighthouses. An absolute must is driving the Avenue of the Giants, where you can steer your car through the enormous tree trunks of the ancient redwood trees, some as many as 2,000 years old. Five of these are actually taller than the Statue of Liberty! Not to be forgotten, however, is the 100 miles of pristine Pacific coastline. Whether you choose to stay on the rugged coast or venture inland, this is hiking country.  Places to stay include Eureka, Arcata, Fort Bragg and Trinidad. Why not take the steam-powered Skunk Train right through the redwoods from Fort Bragg?  

Lake County is only two hours north of San Francisco and is ideally situated between three of the best known wine-producing regions: Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. If you love the grape and its product, this is the up-and-coming place to be. It is also home to Clear Lake, a vast freshwater lake and the biggest in California. Above the lake rises Mount Konocti, an ancient volcano at over 1,300 metres in height with incredible views and some great walking and climbing.   

Mendocino stretches along the coast from Piercy in the north to Gualala in the south. This makes it just ninety miles from the Golden Gate Bridge and yet here you find yourself in another country. There are some fantastic trails, good fishing, whale watching and canoeing: blending river and sea together in a pristine environment far from the city. Mendocino is also in the heart of wine country. A must to visit is Bowling Ball Beach. Just off Highway 1 about 30 miles south of Mendocino itself, the rocks here do indeed look like gigantic bowling balls, half buried in the sand. Another unique beach is Glass Beach. Amazingly, this used to be a public rubbish dump but nature has made man's mistakes into something of beauty over the past 45 years. The beach now boasts colourful, rounded glass pebbles transforming an eyesore into a rather wonderful place.  Find it at Fort Bragg. When looking for places to stay in Mendocino, you should look at Mendocino itself, Willits, Manchester and Ukiah.  

Sonoma County is the closest to San Francisco and stretches inland to the real wine country of the Napa Valley. Here you can spend your days visiting some of the country's best vineyards and wineries, especially around Healdsburg. After all the strenuous sipping, you could head to the coast at Santa Rosa for some relaxing spa treatments. Nature lays on its own restorative treatments for you at Boyes Hot Springs just up Highway 12 from Sonoma itself. For over half a century, people have been coming to the small town for its geothermal activity and many of the hot springs are thought to be healing. There are also horse riding, tennis and golf facilities at the nearby Larson Regional Park. Sonoma is only an hour away to the north of San Francisco Airport, winding around San Pablo Bay. It's therefore very accessible for short breaks or for heading inland to visit Yosemite National Park, one of the most spectacular locations California has to offer with the iconic Half Dome, and the forests and waterfalls made famous by Ansel Adams.  

The climate in northern California is more temperate than the south, between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius for most of the year. This makes it an ideal summer destination, avoiding the crippling high temperatures found nearer the Mexican borders.