Leaving San Francisco is hard—after all, it’s where we left our heart—but getting away for a weekend can be a fantastic choice. There are incredible destinations all around the city. Run north to see the beautiful cities on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge and penetrate into wine country, or head east for Lake Tahoe. Going south means visiting beach towns like Santa Cruz, Monterey and the ever-charming hamlet of Carmel-by-the-Sea. You’ll find a profusion of national parks, giant redwood forests and a long, iconic coastline for an epic Highway 1 road trip. Some of these spots are just an hour away.
The farthest spot we talk about is four hours away (but it’s so worth it to see Lake Tahoe in any season—and yes, many skiers and riders get up early and come back the same day). If you haven’t visited Yosemite National Park by now, this is your sign to go: 3.5 hours should get you to the Big Oak Flat gate (remember to check weather conditions before embarking, though: that stretch of road into the park can be terrifying in snowfall). The lesser-known Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park is another stunner with fewer crowds. Although we don’t discuss it because it’s not a breezy getaway, Los Angeles is six hours down the road if you want to stretch things out!
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