Top Day Trips from San Francisco
San Francisco is a beautiful town, yes, but one of its charms is its close proximity to the natural rolling countryside of the central Californian coast. So for those who have had enough of the Bay fog, consider a foray into the golden hills of Sausalito and beyond.
Muir Woods
Just 20 minutes across the Golden Gate, neighboring Sausalito, sits Muir Woods, a national park and grove of majestic redwood trees. Home to some of the oldest redwoods on Earth, you’ll immerse yourself in this special ecosystem and feel like you’ve been transported to a different land.
Napa and Sonoma Valleys
Considered one of the world’s premier travel destinations, Sonoma’s breathtaking views of rolling vineyards abound at every twist and turn. Alongside Sonoma, Napa Valley is renowned for its incredible wines, but any vacationer would be charmed by the quaint bed and breakfasts, mud baths, and world-famous restaurants. Napa Valley is the true wine lover’s hideaway, but it is a nature lover’s getaway too, and tours are available to cater to both.
Yosemite
Perhaps needing no introduction, Yosemite National Park is one of the United States greatest national treasures. In nearly 1,200 square miles of untouched wilderness, grizzly bears, salmon streams, grand meadows and ancient sequoias, lay in wait to be explored by the thirsty adventurer. Day trips running out of San Francisco are a great way to get a taste of the Californian countryside, and some local wildlife knowledge to boot.
The 49 Mile Scenic Drive, Monterey, Carmel, and Winchester
The 49 Mile Scenic Drive is perhaps one of the best ways to see all that lovely San Francisco has to offer. From hotspot to hotspot, you’ll see some of the city’s most memorable sites. And since you’re already in the car, consider continuing on just further south of San Fran, to San Jose and the Winchester Mystery House. Built by an eccentric heiress, this house has developed a fan following for its oddities, absurdities, and unexplained phenomenon surrounding the property. Further on south, you’ll see California’s stunning coast and the beautiful seaside towns of Monterey and Carmel. Alternatively, if you’ve had enough of driving at this point, why bother? Carmel and Monterey are easily accessible by tour bus as well.
excellent, we were the first tour group at muir woods and the experience was breathtaking, the silence was beautiful, about half hour later the flood gates opened and then everyone ruined what was so perfect, the wineries were nice and our tour guide was very knowledgeable , overall worth every penny
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Our tour guide was Andy through Extranomical Tours. He was very knowledgeable, fun, and laid-back. We arrived at Muir Woods before the crowds got there, which was nice so that we could peacefully enjoy the park. We went to 3 wineries in the Sonoma and Napa valleys. The first winery only offered 1 free wine to taste - had to pay for any other tastings. The second and third wineries let you try basically any wine that was available to buy. We ate lunch in the town of Sonoma, which has several good restaurants/eateries. On our way back to San Francisco, we stopped on a hill overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco - such a great view! Overall, it was great to experience a redwood forest and see what wine country in CA is all about! Nice day trip!
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Our guide, Mark, was very friendly and informative. He was also an excellent driver, which I think is very important on a trip like this. I had a great time and would recommend this to anyone who was looking for a day trip from San Francisco.
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- Cultural Experience
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- Good for Families
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- Good Place to Eat
- Good Place to Shop
- Holiday Activity
- Live Music
- Monument - Historical
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- Viator Top Pick
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- Festival
- Golfing
- Good for Honeymoons
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- Island
- Market
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- National Park
- Off-the-Beaten Path
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3 Days in San Francisco: Suggested Itineraries Written by Viator
San Francisco Bay Cruises Written by Viator
