12 Once In A Lifetime Adventures You Can Only Have In Northern California

Northern California is the go-to place for people when they think about fun and adventure. Most people put these adventures on their bucket lists and only dream about them, but when you live in Northern California, they're right in your own backyard! You don't need a million dollars to enjoy an adventure of a lifetime here; some of the best ones are a lot less painful on the pocketbook and a lot closer to home than you might think.

1. Napa Wine Train

The Napa Wine Train has been in service since 1989. It carries over 2 million people along its tracks from Napa to St. Helena annually. You're able to enjoy fine dining and even finer wine as you wind through one of the most beautiful parts of our state.

2. Safari West, 3115 Porter Creek RoadSanta Rosa

Who needs Africa when you can travel to your neck of the woods for your very own safari. Come face to face with giraffes and elephants. You can even spend the night here - seriously!

3. Hike Burney Falls

Take a hike into a paradise place right in your backyard. Burney Falls is a true Northern California favorite. There's nothing sweeter than a summer hike with a backpack full of munchies. Stop along the bank of the waterfall and pull out a picnic lunch while you're serenaded by the sound of nature on steroids.

4. How about a River Cats Game?

Watching the boys of summer is a favorite pastime. How about enjoying a good old fashioned AAA baseball game? The River Cats are the AAA ball team that feeds into the San Francisco Giants.

5. Houseboat on Lake Shasta

Putt around on a rented houseboat this summer. Fill up on food, bring your fishing pole and live in a swimsuit for a week. How's that for an adventure?

6. Opaque - Dining in the Dark

Feel like a dining adventure? How about eating in the dark? At Opaque, they believe that your sense of taste is heightened when using your sight is no longer an option. People who work here are also sight-impaired and work in the dark to bring you a unique experience.

7. Ride a Bike

The historical gold rush town of Folsom has some of the best routes for cycling. You don't need to be a professional; just throw your bikes in the car and get out there. Take a ride around Folsom Lake, then head to Sutter Street downtown to grab lunch.

8. Summer Concerts at Wente

Summer nights are gorgeous in Northern California. Grab your honey and head to Wente for their Summer Concert Series. Diana Ross was singing here last month. There's nothing better than a delicious glass of wine with friends while listening to music.

9. Enjoy the Trees of Mystery

Klamath is home to a 49-foot-tall Paul Bunyon and his sidekick Babe the Bull. A mere 36 miles south of the Oregon border, your mystery tour includes 36 chainsaw carvings of the story of Paul Bunyan, along with a lot of nature's mysterious redwood trees sprinkled in for good measure. My parents took me here when I was a kid and I returned the favor with my own four. Definitely worth it.

10. Let's Go Berry Picking in Camino!

It's that time of year for a berry adventure. Get the kids together and leave early when it's still cool out. Camino is also known as Apple Hill. A bevy of farms dot the tiny town. Grab a map and you're off to pick berries until your heart's content. Make jam or freeze for later. MMMMmmmmmm!

11. Take a Sunset Bay Cruise!

You've driven across the San Francisco Bay too many times to count, but when was the last time you cruised it on a boat? Enjoy a champagne brunch or a sunset dinner cruise. It's an adventure that we all would love to take right along with you!

12. UC Davis Arboretum

Over 100 acres of some of the most incredible gardens and nature around. The loop around the arboretum is around 3.5 miles so you'll get your exercise, too!

Remember, the word adventure is a subjective term for fun. Whether you choose to take advantage of the Wente concerts or a River Cats game in Sacramento, the point is to stop talking about it and just do it!