I-80 and CALIFORNIA

As you cross the San Francisco - Oakland Bay you will pass over the Treasure Island Naval Base (exit 4). Reaching the 'East Bay' mainland, exit 8 is a short cut to I-880 which expresses (except during rush hours) you south through Oakland, San Leandro, Hayward, Fremont and, eventually, San Jose.

Exit 11 (University Ave) is probably your best access point if you intend to visit the University of California at Berkeley. The Lawrence Hall of Science is a great attraction for kids. They get educated without even realizing it. A well kept secret, you can read about it at What-Where.

Soon you'll cross the bridge over the narrows between San Pablo and Suisun Bays through which the ships heading to and from Sacramento must pass. (Hey - last toll bridge in California!) The waters, now navigable by large ships due to the dredging of the 43 mile channel (more at What-Where) was quite a political hot potato during the planning and funding stages but really paid off for Sacramento.

If you wish to visit Marine World - Africa USA, take exit 32A and follow the signs. This is a fascinating place but not too well known to outsiders. Their collections, exhibits and education programs go far beyond the expect concerning sea life. They recently started a program about bats, flying foxes and other unusual but fascinating creatures.

Exit 52 is your access to Travis AFB. Many of the more badly wounded returning to the USA from Korea remember this place as their first touch-down on American soil after a traumatic absence.

Davis is home to the University of California at Davis. UC-Davis operates one of the most highly respected Agricultural Colleges in the world. They also have a fantastic library - open to guests (but you can't check anything out).

Exit 88B (I-80 Business) takes you into downtown Sacramento. The first exit on I-80-Bus is Harbor Blvd which is the access to the Port of Sacramento. As of this writing, they didn't conduct tours (but they should). The majority of California's agricultural products heading to Asia are shipped out of this very busy port

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Exit 89 in West Sacramento is the portal to the California Highway Patrol Academy - considered the best training institution of its kind. They used to allow yours. Who knows, if you ask just the right way you may be able to get one. You will be amazed at what these rookies have to learn. Their 'driving school' is world famous and they don't mind telling you about how important safe driving is to you as well as their own personnel.

I-80 swings around the north side of Sacramento. There is so much to see - and do - here it is a shame to pass it by. You can read more about Sacramento at What-Where.

Passing through Auburn, exit 124 provides access to CA-49. This is the road you take to Grass Valley, Nevada City and many of the gold country attractions. If you wish to tour this area, plan on spending at least one full day and, more probably, two.

Now you are ascending the Sierra Nevadas to pass through Emigrant Gap and Donner Pass (7,239 feet elevation), site of the 1846 Donner party disaster. There is a California State Park and Memorial (which includes a very interesting museum). The park also has a boat ramp (it is on Donner Lake) but limited RV facilities. They are usually thoroughly occupied but you can get information (and make reservations) by phoning the California Parks' central reservations desk at (toll-free) 1-800-444-PARK.

Exits 194 and 195 in Truckee provide access to Lake Tahoe. An interesting, an very scenic, detour takes you around the lake. The east side is in Nevada. A possible routing would be to take exit 194 and follow CA-89 to the lake and southward along the shore to US-50. Head east on US-50, back up along the east side of the lake. At the junction of NV-28, US-50 makes an abrupt right turn to descend, steeply, down the mountain, to US-395 at Carson City (much to see, here). Head north on US-395 to Reno and return to I-80 at exit 13. Of course, you may wish to take in Reno. Not the size of Las Vegas - nor as flamboyant - it is easier to tour and certainly has its share of Casinos and museums.

Needless to say, you will have now left California either via the above detour or by remaining on I-80.

^{contributed by Bob Masters}