Hello Juxie

It's all quite flexible because we haven't booked anything just yet.

We are scheduled to fly out of S.F from the 7th Nov. but we are changing the departure date.

We are in Chicago from the 27th Oct-7th Nov.

We have friends who live in Sacramento(We are staying with them)We have a car and our son is 4 1/2 yrs old.

I'm allowing about 4 days all up.Not really interested in doing anything in S.F was there 5 yrs ago.

Many Thanks

Cetta: I hope you come to enjoy Sacramento. Many people find the following places a great site to visit:

Old Sacramento, and the state Railroad Museum

Sutter's Fort, for a living history exhibition

The state Capitol Building and the hourly guided tours

The Towe auto museum has some interesting relics.

Recently, Hornblower cruises has started a day trip in sacramento that tours the river. I believe its a luncheon. I have not taken it, but this is a reputable company that runs tours all about the west coast. I am sure they have a website.

Numerous other specialty museums abound- Crocker Art museum, California Museum on O st., the old Govenors Mansion, which Mrs Reagan called a firetrap, The agricultural museum in Woodland.

The above is certainly not a comprehensive listing. I am sure others will augment. Others will chime in on how some of these are boring, or a rip-off as well. But the great thing is, you get to decide. If I had to do just two of these, it would be the Railroad Museum and the Capitol.

By the way, Yosemite has its own trip advisor site, as do Wine Country (Napa), Lake Tahoe and other locales near Sacramento. Placerville is a real neat town to visit, (Old Hangtown), we take the nieces there for the free stage rides over Thanksgiving weekend.

Have fun here, and do enjoy the restaurant scene as well. we have wonderful places to eat, many reviewed right here on TA.

dave

Thankyou so much Dave we absolutely love the States and it will be our 4th trip.Unfortunately we can't stay until thanksgiving but would have loved too.

I will check out all the sites.

Thanking you again.

Yosemite would be my first choice. If you take Highway 49, you'll see lots of interesting Gold Country towns. Highway 32 west of Sydney reminded me a lot of Highway 49.

Second choice would be Lake Tahoe.

The train museum is great. Also - a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory can be fun. My kids enjoyed it. Just go on a weekday when it is operational. Weekends you can still tour - but it is only videos - the actual machines are not working. Yosemite is wonderful!!! We also really like Gold Country with the kids. They enjoy panning for gold, exploring caverns, and there is even a river rafting trip that children three and older can go on - okay - it is more a river float - but still fun.

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i12008-Gold_Cou…

Don't write off San Francisco completely - it is one of my kids favorite destinations. A completely different city with kids in tow. tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i16048-San_Fran…

Have fun planning.

I think the weather will dictate if some things might be unavailable as will teh CA budget woes. By November we will know what state parks might be closed due to budget cuts.

Here's a list:

calparks.org/takeaction/may2009_closedparks_…

There's a great state park you could visit, if open, called Big Trees. My kids really liked it. You could head east on 50 to 49 and visit all the little towns on 48 til you get to 4 and then visit Big Trees or if you go to Yosemite you could stop by. If it has snowed then Big Trees might be closed for the winter.

Yosemite is a wonderful trip. A bit of a long drive from Sacramento, but definitely doable. A 4 1/2 year old might be a bit challenging, but if you're relatively active, it shouldn't be a problem.

Closer to Sacramento and not already mentioned...take a trip to Apple Hill near Placerville during a weekend. Your child will love it, and plenty to see and do. Lots of apples to taste and crafts to purchase!

Also consider Columbia State Park. This is a true gold rush town that has been restored.

Lake Tahoe is also a very beautiful trip and not too far from Sacramento.

Enjoy!

Thankyou everyone for your help.

I can't wait to go!!!

I would defintely go to Yosemite. You could spend a night there, or in Mariposa then drive up during the day. Staying in Mariposa would put you on highway 140 into Yosemite which is a lower route and more passable if there's snow. Do carry tire chains at that time of year. It is absolutely beautiful, don't miss it.

In Sacto the must do's are the Railroad Museum and Old Sac. Also the State Capitol.

Placerville and the nearby Gold Discovery site in Coloma are fun too.