Great Escapes: Northern California provides at-a-glance trip ideas to major destinations such as San Francisco and Lake Tahoe and lesser-known areas such as the Gold Rush towns of the Sierra foothills and the isolated beaches of the Sonoma coast. Activities range from catching the sunset from the best spot on Monterey Peninsula to hiking to a Sierra Nevada lookout point. Carefully-chosen places to stay all have unique charm or historical significance, and dining options range from Michelin-starred restaurants to local favorites.