The 5 Best Day Trips From San Francisco

Linked by the spectacular Pacific Coast Highway – a 17-mile (27km) road that weaves past rugged wilderness and grandiose mansions – the ocean-hugging cities of Monterey and Carmel exude coastal charm, and have been home to their fair share of celebrities. The former’s aquarium brims with a menagerie of psychedelic sea creatures, while Carmel’s storybook cottages are a particular highlight, and almost as wanderlust-inducing as the white sands of its dog-friendly beach.

Berkeley’s laid-back energy seeps out of its ’80s-style record stores, grassy parks and curious bookstores. The city’s most famous feature is the prestigious university, known as the birthplace of the 1960s free-speech movement and listed among the top in the world. It has also carved out a culturally diverse reputation with sites such as the Chilean-American La Peña Cultural Center and plays host to a variety of annual arts festivals.

The sleepy stretch of Bodega Bay has served as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s flocks of frenzied birds, the witchy terrors of cult film The Puppet Master and even the vampirish prelude to Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers. Despite its Hollywood-horror popularity, the fishing village is a picturesque combination of crescent-shaped beaches, fresh seafood and secret coves. Day-trippers are often found hiking its shores or renting a kayak to paddle round the secluded lagoon.

Set in the heart of the famous wine region, the town of Napa aims to replicate the glamorous airs that its beloved libation is often associated with. Years ago, the sleepy county capital was hardly a tourist hotspot, but with the increasing popularity of wine and a foodie focus, it’s now firmly on the map. Look out for fine-dining restaurants, bustling farmers markets and artisanal chocolatiers – and relish their culinary delights with a glass of wine. Napa’s buzzing downtown is also known for its 19th-century architecture and romantic riverfront promenade.

Napa Valley’s wine-growing reputation has put it firmly on the map. Hundreds of wineries have cut the undulating hillside with strips of twisting vines, giving the countryside a natural emerald glow. Excess is the region’s forte – whether it’s feeling the buzz from sipping a spectrum of wines, dining out at one of the gourmet restaurants or sinking into the pillowy bed of a luxury lodge, you will be quite at your leisure to enjoy its delights.