For great views of the bridge, drive north on CA Hwy-1 crossing the bridge. Head to one of several major vista points like Hawk Hill, Battery Spencer, or Slacker Hill. Note: most of the spots are only available to turn off and park when headed northbound. The best spots to view the bridge from the San Francisco side (without crossing the bridge): Golden Gate Overlook, Fort Point, Marshall’s Beach, Baker Beach, or Crissy Field.
The best place to see the Redwoods; perfect for all ages and abilities. We highly recommend stopping in either Mill Valley or Sausalito for lunch or dinner after walking amongst the giant trees. Be sure to book your parking in advance (especially on weekends!) at www.gomuirwoods.com Tip: cell service can be very limited, so plan accordingly
Take a ferry across the SF Bay for a tour of the former infamous prison known as “The Rock” on Alcatraz Island. Night time tours are also available of this supposedly haunted venue that once housed inmates like Al Capone, Whitey Bulger, Mickey Cohen, and Machine Gun Kelly.
Carmel is a quaint town in Monterey County, California, located on the Central Coast of California. It has tons of cute shops, art galleries and great restaurants. It is also home to the famous Pebble Beach Golf Course. Be sure to check out Point Lobos & 17 Mile Drive (mentioned below) while you are there! Fun fact: Clint Eastwood was the mayor of Carmel in 1986.
For under $12/car, enjoy one of the most scenic drives in the world. Vista points include Pebble Beach’s famous Lone Cypress Tree, Monterey’s incredible ghost trees, views of Spanish Bay and Cypress Point Lookout, and a chance to spot marine life like Harbor seals and sea otters. Plus, you get to drive directly through Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Great for all ages and abilities, this is a short and gorgeous walk at an incredible stretch of coastline, just south of Carmel. An awesome place to stop along Hwy 1 (especially if you’re heading to Big Sur).
This incredible stretch of coastline features several stunning tour stops along CA Hwy-1 south of Carmel / Monterey, most notably Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls. Stop at Cafe Kevah for breakfast or lunch, or its sister restaurant Nepenthe for dinner, to enjoy unparalleled cliffside views of the Pacific Ocean. Tip: be sure to have plenty of gas and access to a phone charger - filling stations are limited and cell service becomes non-existent as you head south into the Big Sur’s wilderness.
Ranked as one of the top public aquariums in the world, and located in the middle of Monterey’s historic Cannery Row waterfront street.
If you are driving south to Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey or Big Sur, we recommend stopping in this quaint seaside town along your way. We typically park by Lovers Point Park and then walk the coastal trail along the ocean. Keep an eye out for otters floating in the waves.
Santa Cruz is a beach town known for having some of the world's best off-shore surf breaks. It's the home of the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It is only about a half hour drive from Los Gatos!
A small beach town next-door to Santa Cruz. You may have seen photos of the brightly colored condos that sit basically on the sand at Capitola Beach. We recommend grabbing a sandwich from Reef Dog Deli while you are there.
Half Moon Bay is a gorgeous, scenic spot to view the California coastline, and features tons of our favorite food and drink spots. For vista points, take a walk along the Half Moon Bay Coastal Trail. You can park by any of the beach trailheads (in order, North to South: Half Moon Bay State Beach, Poplar Beach, or Redondo Beach). We recommend walking the trail south toward the Ritz Carlton, where you can walk through Half Moon Bay Golf Links and catch some amazing ocean sights at the Ritz. Our favorite beach to sit on in HMB is Montara State Beach. Half Moon Bay food/drink recommendations: Barbara’s Fish Trap for a fresh fish fry, Sam’s Chowder House for lobster rolls, JettyWave Distillery for great food and even better drinks, Breakwater Barbecue for… BBQ, and The Barn for farm-fresh burgers and sandwiches.
Pacifica is a town on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay. It is known for its breathtaking and dramatic coastal views and its Taco Bell Cantina which is set right on the beach. It is home to one of our favorite hikes which takes you through a eucalyptus tree forest and along the beautiful coastline. We recommend grabbing a beer from Humble Sea Brewing or a coffee from Soul Grind. If you are hungry check out Gorilla BBQ which is a takeout bbq joint in converted rail car.
Take a scenic ferry or sunset cruise on the SF Bay, dine Al Fresco at one of several waterfront restaurants, or catch a glimpse of the town’s famous floating homes - this is a wonderful stop on your way to or from Muir Woods, or Sonoma/Napa Valley.
Tiburon is a picturesque town nestled along the shores of the San Francisco Bay. It is know for its stunning views of SF and the Golden Gate Bridge, charming streets, and charming waterfront shops and restaurants.
Want to visit the beach where we got engaged? Head to the Tennessee Valley Beach Trailhead parking lot in Mill Valley (part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). After parking, walk approximately 1.5 miles on a mostly flat path to the black sands of Tennessee Beach.
California's famous wine country.
Reservation only: this park is amazing when open (unfortunately it’s been undergoing restoration from 2020 wildfires and more recently, storms). If open, this is a great place to see the Redwoods and it’s a short and scenic (albeit winding) drive from the Bay Area.
America’s first (and some would say best) National Park, this gem is a 3.5-4hr drive from San Jose (times can be longer to enter the park itself depending on arrival time). Reservations are required on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays - including Monday, October 14th.
Located less only ~75mi from San Jose, Pinnacles National Park is the closest Nat’l Park to the Bay Area.
Home to the largest trees in the world in terms of sheer volume, including the largest tree in the world (General Sherman) - this park is one of the few places on Earth to see old-growth groves Giant Seuquoias. It is also home to Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous US. Combine a trip with its sister park, Kings Canyon National Park. While both parks are less known than Yosemite, they are also less busy and arguably just as spectacular.
The sister park of Sequoia National Park, this glacier canyon is home to the second largest sequoia tree in the world (General Sherman tree).
Lesser-known haven for vineyards compared to Napa and Sonoma, but extremely well-regarded by wine connoisseurs. This Central Coast valley region is packed with esteemed wineries, restaurants, shops, and hotels/spas. If you extend your stay and plan to drive to SoCal, look at making a detour in Paso Robles.
A shopper’s paradise - this outdoor fashion mall features luxury retail stores and a great restaurant/bar scene. For even more luxury shopping and food options, take a quick walk across the street to the Westfield Valley Fair Mall, where you can even sign up to test drive a Lucid Air.
Luxury shopping and food options galore. Dining recommendations include Eataly’s rooftop terrace, world-renowned Chinese food at Din Tai Fung, and ice cream from Salt and Straw. If you’re feeling adventurous, sign up online to test drive a Lucid Air at their studio.
Not to be confused with the San Jose Heritage Rose Garden (trust us, don’t go to that one!), this has been voted the best Rose Garden in America numerous times. It’s free and worth a visit for flower fans - the roses should be in bloom in October.
Our favorite Mexican restaurant - we love all of their tacos, but highly recommend their chimichurri steak tacos and salmon tacos. The chile relleno is also great. If you like some spice, make sure to start off with an order of their tres salsas + chips.
Our favorite breakfast spot in Los Gatos. Try their famous (and HUGE) cinnamon rolls!
Amazing wood-fired pizza!
Quaint trattoria with handmade pasta & other Italian dishes, many wine options & sidewalk seating.
Looking to taste a California Chardonnay without the drive to Napa Valley? Try Testarossa Winery, located a few miles outside of downtown Los Gatos. This is a short drive from our recommended hotels and our wedding venue.
Offers tons of local craft beers on draft.
This winery and events venue is well-known for hosting big name concerts for over 65 years. Located a short distance from our hotel recommendations and wedding venue. Some recent performers include names like The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Ringo Starr, Rod Stewart, Megan Moroney and Dwight Yoakam. Catch dinner and a show or enjoy a historical tour + wine tasting.
Modern spot for seasonal Californian cuisine, classic cocktails & artisanal spirits.
Enjoy food and drinks while playing bocce ball. Includes indoor and outdoor bocce courts.