10 Legitimately Fun Things You Can Do In Northern California Without Spending A Dime

This 71,028-acre park preserve is located on the Point Reyes Peninsula in Marin County, California. It's maintained by the National Park service and is free of charge!

Located in Lava Beds National Monument, these prehistoric images are usually in an area that you need to pay admission fees to access. There are a few free days throughout the year, however, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, National Park Week in April, National Park Service Birthday Weekend in August, National Public Lands Day in September, Veteran's Day in November.

This beautiful bridge crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. It's a great place for pedestrians to take in the beauty of the surrounding Turtle Bay.

Located near Folsom, CA, the Nimbus Fish Hatchery Chinook salmon and steelhead for release to the American River. The Nimbus Hatchery Visitor Center offers fun and educational activities for children and adults of all ages.

There are tons of public beaches in Northern California where you can pull off to the side of the road and take in the view as the sun slips slowly below the horizon.

There's plenty of hiking and exploring to be had if you research where the larger rivers that flow through the lower elevations of Northern California begin. Pictured here is the North Fork of the American River way up high in the Sierra Nevada.

Every year in the spring time, California is lush and verdant before the heat of summer sets in. This photo was taken in gold country.

These interesting and unique gardens in Sonoma are a celebration of modern architechture and landscape design. They are a truly magnificent showcase of these artist's talents.

This free museum in the Redwoods is dedicated to showcasing the lost arts and interesting artifacts of Native Americans. You'll be amazed by the ingenuity and designs to be found here.

This quaint town near Mt. Shasta has a festival for everyone in the family! Pictured here is the Annual Lumberjack Fiesta, but other popular events include Bike-toberfest, McCloud Mountain Bluegrass, the Apple Harvest Festival, the Annual Dog, Pony and Bike Parade, and the Annual Mushroom Festival, just to name a few!