San Francisco’s Top 10 : Day Trips from the City

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  1. Wine Country

    Taking
    at least a day to drive up into the Napa-Sonoma hill country should be
    on everyone’s list. Not only is the countryside beautiful, but you can
    also sample some of the best wines in the world, and dip into the
    restorative volcanic hot springs that feed the area .




    California wine

  2. Muir Woods

    At the foot of Mount Tamalpais,
    this 550-acre woodland is home to one of the few remaining first-growth
    groves of redwoods. The oldest of these giants is at least 1,000 years
    old, and such trees once covered the coastal area of California. The
    woods are named in honor of John Muir, the 19th-century conservationist.

    Muir Woods National Monument




    Muir Woods

  3. Monterey

    This
    town is renowned for its world-class aquarium, the Monterey Jazz and
    Blues Festivals, and Cannery Row, made famous by author John Steinbeck,
    who described it as a collection of sardine canneries and whorehouses.
    Established by the Spanish in 1770, Monterey was the first capital of
    California – some early buildings survive.

    Monterey Bay Aquarium




    Monterey harbor

  4. Big Basin State Park, Boulder Creek

    Highway
    9 is one of the most picturesque drives in the Bay Area, winding its
    way among the green Santa Cruz Mountains and through little towns where
    nothing much changes. Although it’s minutes from Silicon Valley, life
    has a backwoods feel here.

  5. Stanford University

    Just
    30 minutes south of the city, with a CalTrain depot right at the main
    gates, the palm-lined beauties of this campus make it worth a trip. The
    visual motif of sandstone and red-tile roofs has been carried forward
    since the Romanesque Quadrangle was built in the late 1800s. The ornate
    carvings that decorate the arches and pillars are extraordinarily
    lovely, setting off the elaborate mosaic that graces the façade of
    Memorial Church.

  6. Carmel

    Carmel-By-The-Sea
    was founded as an artists’ colony in the early 1900s, and is now one of
    the most exclusive communities in the world – having recently boasted
    actor Clint Eastwood as its mayor. Its old Spanish mission, one of the
    21 built along the coast  is considered California’s most beautiful.

    Carmel Mission




    Carmel Mission

  7. Coastal Beaches

    At
    least 20 different beaches line Highway 1 south of San Francisco. Some
    of the best include Gray Whale Cove, Montara State Beach, Miramar Beach
    and El Granada Beach, Roosevelt Beach, Dunes Beach, Francis Beach,
    Poplar Beach, Pelican Point Beach, Cowell Ranch State Beach, Martin’s
    Beach, San Gregorio Beach, Pescadero State Beach, Bean Hollow State
    Beach, and Pebble Beach.




    Coastal beach

  8. Point Reyes

    Some
    110 sq miles (285 sq km) of pristine natural coastline make this
    promontory a haven for all sorts of wildlife and a thing of
    unforgettable, windswept beauty. You can watch whales and sea lions from
    Point Reyes Lighthouse.

  9. Santa Cruz

    This
    beach resort has always had a reputation for the vibrancy of its
    countercultural way of life. Along the beautiful coastline, the most
    prominent feature is the Boardwalk’s Big Dipper Rollercoaster, which has
    been thrilling Santa Cruzers since 1923. The best swimming in the Bay
    Area is also here .

  10. Saratoga and Los Gatos

    Both
    of these towns, in the hills above Silicon Valley, have retained their
    frontier quality. One of the best things to do, other than drive the
    scenic roads, is to visit Hakone Gardens, a beautiful Japanese park .

    Hakone Gardens

    • 21000 Big Basin Way, Saratoga

    • 408 741 4994

    • Open 10am–5pm Mon–Fri, 11am–5pm Sat–Sun

    • Adm


    • www.hakone.com