We don't get to escape the city too often, and we're starting to feel slightly worse the wear for it. So when Escapes Month started here at AT:SF, we felt hard pressed to come up with much. Then we began thinking of those hidden gems around here that are mini-escapes all on there own...
Of course we can name the standard weekend destinations in the area (Napa! Monterey! Yosemite!), but we'd love you to tell us about the hidden gems you love... you know, the places you daydream of during the work week. Ours? We were probably only 17 at the time and highly trepidatious on walking up to the place, but the barbecued oysters we had at this little shack along Tomales Bay were on another level - absolutely delicious.
Image: Dotpolka
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Half Moon Bay!!!
Marin Headlands.
Bodega Bay.
Muir Woods, Occidental.
Tilden Park, Berkely.
Jenner.
Ocean Beach.
North Beach neighborhood -- Italian & Beach Blanket Babylon.
My vacation is a trip to SF this coming weekend. My plans include the Sausalito Arts Festival, lunch on the roofdeck at Guyama's (Tiburon), dinner at Sushi Ran (Sausalito), the de Young, maybe a trip to St. Helena (wine tasting along the way) to have dinner at Tre Vigne. Any other suggestions?
Way back in the 1970's, whenever we drove to San Francisco (we lived in the San Joaquin Valley), we drove through Hayward to take the San Mateo bridge. We would always stop at Val's Coffee Shop before getting on the bridge. They had the best burgers. It's been a very long while since I've been there. I look forward to stopping by on my next visit to the bay area.
Bloomingdale's in the Westfield Centre
Kabuki Cinema
La Boulange for weekend breakfasts
Target! (it's such a treat for city-dwellers!)
Berkeley Bowl
Yeah - that oyster shack out on Tomales bay is pretty great! The back "porch" (or "dock" as it sits above the water) seats only about 8 people (and usually the owners dog is hanging out back there too). Hopefully this place will remain *somewhat* undiscovered, as even 10 people can make the place feel overcrowded!
A few other favorite, maybe not too well known, weekend spots include:
- Moss Beach Distillery (and Moss Beach itself)
- Pizzetta @ 211 23rd Ave (for the pizza, not the surly service! Again, very small space…)
- Lake Anza in Tilden Park, Berkeley (on a hot weekend – one of the few Bay Area spots where you can actually go to the beach and *swim*)
- San Bruno Mountain State Park (wonderful views of the City, seemingly unknown even by most SF “nativesâ€)
- Pelican Inn, at Muir Beach in Marin (“authentic†English pub – go in winter, sit next to huge fireplace, drink warm beer!)
- Viks Chaat Corner (Great Indian food in hectic cafeteria setting).
- The Berkeley Cheese Board (for their pizza too)
There's a lot more but i need to get back to work...
The Yuba River near Nevada City. It's about a 2.5 hour drive, 80 to 49. The water is warmest in July and August. Hike a half a mile in and it's heaven. http://www.tufox.com/jim/digipix/YubaRiverBridge.jpg
Guerneville. Swimming in the Russian River, and communing with the ancestral redwoods in Armstrong woods. <3
Anne, thanks for reminding about Sausalito Art Festival! We'll definitely be going (not We, Royal Highness, but we, my husband, son and I :)
Kayaking in Moss Landing, just south of Santa Cruz. It's unbelievable how many sea otters and other cool sea critters and birds are out there. Everyone can do this - i was worried when i went but it's easy peasy.
Rent kayaks cheap from Kayak Connection.
Afterward eat dinner at Phil's fish market and Eatery. yum!
Also, a lot of organic farms in the Santa Cruz area have u-pick available and you can come home with some nice tomatoes, berries, all kinds of goodies!
I second the Marin Headlands recommendation -- so close to SF but feels like a true escape! Same with Mt Tam. Picnicking in the City is one of my very favorite easy SF-based escapes. We've watched the sunset from the Fort Mason park/green while sipping some champagne or we'll go to BiRite or get a pizza to go from Pizzeria Delfina and take it to Dolores Park (assuming the park isn't totally packed). I also love the arboretum (now called the botanical garden) in Golden Gate Park -- you can be surrounded by redwoods or in flowers or in a big grassy field, all without leaving the City (and if you get hungry, Arizmendi is nearby).
I'm going to share my secret:
Just 47 mi. north of Truckee the topography flattens out to reveal a prairie-like dry prehistoric lake bed rimmed by mountains that reminds me of Middle Earth...There is a hot springs resort in Sierraville where you sit and soak with nothing but an infinite expanse of earth and sky for as far as you can see...this area was founded by James Beckwourth a freed slave and there are tiny towns like Calpine and Graeagle (sounds like 'grey eagle') to explore...It is seriously magical...get outta town!