5 Perfect Day Trips Just Outside of San Francisco
My partner has lived in the Bay Area for years, and we put our heads together to offer weekend activities for all types of visitors to the region. This list is designed to take you way beyond the tourist activities into the beauty of the Bay that locals enjoy. To get the most out of this guide, skim it at least a week before your trip. A few of these activities require reservations! Table of Contents: 🌊 Explore the Point Reyes coast 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surf in Pacifica 🚴🏽‍♂️ Bike in Santa Cruz ⛰ Hike in Marin 🍻 Imbibe in the East Bay
17 Places • 4 Saves • ago
Free

1. For lovers of the coastline

The California coast is one of the world’s most beautiful, and the national preserve just north of the bay boasts all its amenities— even elephant seals if you’re lucky.

do
do
Point Reyes National Seashore
Details

If it’s Tuesday or Thursday, sign up for a guided tour of this oyster farm. If it’s not, drop by and ask to look around anyway, and then head a mile down the road to their restaurant to try their oysters for yourself.

do
do
Hog Island Oyster Co
Details
eat
eat
Tony's Seafood Restaurant
Details

2. For the surf curious

do
do
Pacifica State Beach
Great for beginner surfers. Rent gear down the street or book a lesson!
Details
eat
eat
Taco Bell
The only Taco Bell I’ve ever been to in my life. So worth it.
Details

3. Santa Cruz is for lovers

This is a pro tip: you can rent these top or the line mountain bikes (worth thousands of bucks) for $60 for the day from their factory store. Then you can explore the miles of trails just down the road.

do
do
Santa Cruz Bicycles
Rent a brand new mountain bike demo for $60 for the day. Reserve several days in advance.
Details
do
do
Wilder Ridge Vista Point
Details

After mountain biking you deserve some beer and tacos.

eat
eat
Taqueria Los Pericos
Details
drink
drink
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
This is a nationally recognized brewery for funky beers. And don’t miss their unfiltered lagers!
Details

4. Marin headlands hike

There’s a reason it’s so expensive to live in Marin.

Park here and check out the trail map. The falls could be your destination depending on how many miles you have in you that day!

do
do
Tennessee Valley Trailhead
Details
do
do
Cataract Falls
Details

This incredible Puerto Rican sandwich spot is exactly where you should head after your hike:

eat
eat
Sol Food
Details

5. East Bay fermentation day

You’re adjacent to wine country, and luckily some real gems lie just over the Bay Bridge in Berkeley.

do
do
Fieldwork Brewing Company
Lovely brewery with true California charm.
Details

These two wineries are *natural* meaning they don’t add anything to their wine, and their grapes ferment with the yeast that already lived on them.

Go enjoy the East Bay sunshine and sample a few glasses of wine, then beer. Or vice versa:

do
do
Broc Cellars
Details
do
do
Donkey & Goat Winery, Tasting Room & Wine Shop
Details

If you still have the energy, drive 10 minutes into the heart of the east bay for some queer and women led beer experiences:

drink
drink
The Good Hop Bar & Bottle Shop
Details
do
do
Temescal Brewing
Details

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this guide, consider leaving a tip <3

Send A Tip
Send Gab Bonfiglio some gratitude.
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5 Perfect Day Trips Just Outside of San Francisco
My partner has lived in the Bay Area for years, and we put our heads together to offer weekend activities for all types of visitors to the region. This list is designed to take you way beyond the tourist activities into the beauty of the Bay that locals enjoy. To get the most out of this guide, skim it at least a week before your trip. A few of these activities require reservations! Table of Contents: 🌊 Explore the Point Reyes coast 🏄🏽‍♀️ Surf in Pacifica 🚴🏽‍♂️ Bike in Santa Cruz ⛰ Hike in Marin 🍻 Imbibe in the East Bay
17 Places • 4 Saves • ago
Free

1. For lovers of the coastline

The California coast is one of the world’s most beautiful, and the national preserve just north of the bay boasts all its amenities— even elephant seals if you’re lucky.

do
do
Point Reyes National Seashore
Details

If it’s Tuesday or Thursday, sign up for a guided tour of this oyster farm. If it’s not, drop by and ask to look around anyway, and then head a mile down the road to their restaurant to try their oysters for yourself.

do
do
Hog Island Oyster Co
Details
eat
eat
Tony's Seafood Restaurant
Details

2. For the surf curious

do
do
Pacifica State Beach
Great for beginner surfers. Rent gear down the street or book a lesson!
Details
eat
eat
Taco Bell
The only Taco Bell I’ve ever been to in my life. So worth it.
Details

3. Santa Cruz is for lovers

This is a pro tip: you can rent these top or the line mountain bikes (worth thousands of bucks) for $60 for the day from their factory store. Then you can explore the miles of trails just down the road.

do
do
Santa Cruz Bicycles
Rent a brand new mountain bike demo for $60 for the day. Reserve several days in advance.
Details
do
do
Wilder Ridge Vista Point
Details

After mountain biking you deserve some beer and tacos.

eat
eat
Taqueria Los Pericos
Details
drink
drink
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
This is a nationally recognized brewery for funky beers. And don’t miss their unfiltered lagers!
Details

4. Marin headlands hike

There’s a reason it’s so expensive to live in Marin.

Park here and check out the trail map. The falls could be your destination depending on how many miles you have in you that day!

do
do
Tennessee Valley Trailhead
Details
do
do
Cataract Falls
Details

This incredible Puerto Rican sandwich spot is exactly where you should head after your hike:

eat
eat
Sol Food
Details

5. East Bay fermentation day

You’re adjacent to wine country, and luckily some real gems lie just over the Bay Bridge in Berkeley.

do
do
Fieldwork Brewing Company
Lovely brewery with true California charm.
Details

These two wineries are *natural* meaning they don’t add anything to their wine, and their grapes ferment with the yeast that already lived on them.

Go enjoy the East Bay sunshine and sample a few glasses of wine, then beer. Or vice versa:

do
do
Broc Cellars
Details
do
do
Donkey & Goat Winery, Tasting Room & Wine Shop
Details

If you still have the energy, drive 10 minutes into the heart of the east bay for some queer and women led beer experiences:

drink
drink
The Good Hop Bar & Bottle Shop
Details
do
do
Temescal Brewing
Details

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this guide, consider leaving a tip <3

Send A Tip
Send Gab Bonfiglio some gratitude.
Select your tip amount
$3
$5
$10
$20
Or type in other amount
$