around the bay

Our favorite SF neighborhoods

Marina District, Pacific Heights, North Beach, Hayes Valley, Bernal Heights, Valencia Street, and Haight-Ashbury are all beautiful neighborhoods to check out and grab some food. Avoid the tourist traps in Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf for the best SF experiences. A great (and flat) walk is to start on Union street in Pacific Heights near the Bus Stop (Bengals bar), go towards Balboa Cafe then turn towards Chestnut street, walk down this to the Palace of Fine Arts, then go to Crissy Field to see the bridge. For something more in the city, start at Alamo Square and walk down Haight Street or the Panhandle into Golden Gate park.

Great cities around the Bay Area to explore:

Sausalito, Mill Valley, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Palo Alto, Sebastopol, Bodega Bay, Point Reyes

Pacific Coast

Drive south along the California Coast on Highway 1, starting in SF and going to Big Sur and the famous Bixby Bridge. Stop in Santa Cruz to grab a breakfast burrito at the Point Market (cash only) or fish tacos at Taqueria Los Pericos and watch the surfers at Pleasure Point. Continue on and find a nice hike (or camp) in Big Sur State Park. A bonus stop for redwoods on your way to Santa Cruz is Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (no reservation or hiking required). If you want to spend the night somewhere with a bed, Carmel by the Sea and Monterey are both fantastic spots. Check out the 17 mile drive and play a quick 9 at Pebble Beach before heading back north to SF. Alternatively, drive north to Mendocino through the forests and redwoods, then turn around and head back south along the coast. Bolinas Beach, Mt. Tamalpais, Muir Woods (reservation required), and Mill Valley are all fantastic spots to check out on your way.

Yosemite National Park

One of the most beautiful places in the country, and a great drivable national park! May could still have snow on the ground but the waterfalls will be at full flow. Check https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2991 to see if reservations are required for your entry date. Be sure to check out Tunnel View on your way in/out of the valley. Some great hikes include: Four Mile Trail / Panorama Trail / Mist Trail Upper Yosemite Falls Want something a bit more intense? Try Cloud's Rest for an incredible view of Half Dome, or combine a few of the above hikes into one long day. Still not good enough? You can free solo El Capitan. If you don't get a hotel reservation in the park, there are plenty of options to camp nearby for free.

Lake Tahoe

In May, there's a decent chance of snow in Tahoe still for skiing. You can fly into Sacramento or Reno for easier access to the mountains. If the weather is warmer, there are plenty of cabins around the lake to rent. Check out Desolation Wilderness or a nearby National Forest for some amazing hikes to alpine lakes. Want to really see what your rental car can do? Check out the famous Rubicon Trail which starts near Lake Tahoe.

full SF list

Still not sure?

Let us know! We've done plenty of weekend or week long trips around California. If you want to do something specific, chances are we can help get you in the right direction.