That big summer — or spring break — road trip is looking distinctly less appealing as gas prices soar upward. But living in one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world means there’s plenty of adventure to be had close to home. Here are 9 fantastic Bay Area day trip jaunts to delight staycationers, all within 90 minutes drive — and in some cases, 10.
1 Take in Pescadero’s rustic charms
This charming town sits just inland from the sea, its lanes lined with village shops, a 1920s market — don’t miss the artichoke bread — and historic Duarte’s Market, which is known for its ollallieberry pie. That you can go wine and cheese tasting at Harley goat farm, too, just seals the deal. Here’s a full day’s itinerary for fun.
2 Explore Tiburon’s fizzy side
This Victorian seaside village was once a bustling railroad town and major ferry terminus for the Bay. You can still catch glimpses of that past at the depot museum. Today, the old railway is a paved, multi-use Rail Trail and the ferry goes to Angel Island. And Main Street offers posh boutiques, a Michael Mina restaurant and a century-old seaside cafe known for its brunches and epic gin fizzes. Here’s where to go and what to sip.
3 Ramble through Capay’s verdant valleys
The lush Capay Valley is lined with farms, verdant orchards and rolling hills. If you cut over to Highway 505 from 80, you’ll roll through the charming town of Winters and then wind your way through winding roads and tiny towns. Spend a day here and you can go olive oil and wine tasting at Seka Hills, celebrate the lavender harvest in Rumsey or grab some road trip noshes at the aptly named Road Trip Bar & Grill.
4 Soar above Golden Gate Park
Sure, you’ve been to Golden Gate Park before — but have you had a bird’s eye view of that lush expanse? To celebrate the park’s 150th anniversary in 2020, a 150-foot-tall SkyStar Observation Wheel was installed on the park’s Music Concourse and illuminated by a million colorful LEDs. The Ferris wheel has been such a hit, you’ll be able to ride it through 2025. The perfect day: Take in those views, hit up a nearby museum, then go picnic among the tulips with a picture-perfect windmill backdrop.
5 Explore Aptos’ coastal redwoods
Aptos’ spectacular Forest of Nicene Marks offers a 10,000 acre expanse of second- and third-growth redwood forest, hiking trails, prime picnic spots and gorgeous views. Here’s how to plan your day, including where to pick up tasty provisions, from breakfast burritos to California Dreamin’ Sammies.
6 Go fruit picking at Brentwood’s orchards
Brentwood’s U-pick farms will be reopening for the season soon, which means — hello, sweet Bings! This rural haven boasts nearly 50 family-owned farms and orchards, with many offering pick-your-own fruit, from strawberry (April-June) and cherry season (which begins in mid May) through the pumpkin harvest next fall. Pair that outing with a wildlflower hike or a brewery suds session (or both). Here’s where to go.
7 Take a woodsy amble in Woodside
There are hiking trails aplenty along this idyllic stretch of the Santa Cruz Mountains and plenty of beguiling picnic spots. We have some great ideas for where to pick up picnic fare, pre-hike lattes and post-hike wine flights, too. If you’re heading this way with kids — or you’re a history buff — the Woodside Store makes a great stop, too. It’s a restored 19th-century general store and county park that hosts Old Woodside Store Day, a living history day typically held in early May.
8 Go back in time on Alameda Island
Just a ferry ride or tunnel trek away, Alameda offers everything from urban hikes and splashy fun to a World War II-era museum, the USS Hornet Sea, Space & Air Museum, that offers guided and self-guided tours (and possible ghost sightings). Check out the details (including tips on where to grab a beer afterward) here.
9 Saunter through Sausalito
This idyllic seaside destination oozes Mediterranean charm. You can build your day trip itinerary around Sausalito’s waterside cafes and marina views, its galleries and boutiques or the legendary Heath Ceramics showroom where seconds can be scored with a discount.
The Bay Area boasts near-endless options for outdoor adventures, tasty bites and unexpected day trips. So we’ve created the Bay Area Bucket List, a project that asks our readers to help us find the best activities to cover in the Bay Area.
Send us your ideas below. Then we’ll post a sampling so readers can vote and help us pick what cool activities to explore. Be sure to include your contact info, so we can ping you if we select your idea to investigate.
Once we have chosen a selection of potential story ideas, we will open it up for a vote for readers to choose which idea we cover next. Check below for our latest voting round.
Source: www.mercurynews.com