Forget crossing bridges to get across the Bay – San Francisco locals are notorious for not wanting to leave the city.
But visitors shouldn't impose that limitation on themselves. Combine the city's best things to do with day trips into the surrounding area's mix of fast-paced culture, natural beauty and history for the ultimate experience.
While popular places to go – like the majestic redwoods of Muir Woods or the massive Monterey Bay Aquarium – are classic, also consider lesser-known wine regions, underrated cities and getting acquainted with the animal kingdom. Days out from the city are plentiful and enriching no matter what direction you travel. Here are our top choices of places to visit within a couple of hours of San Francisco.
Travel time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Suisun (suh-SOON) Valley is a wine region just northeast of SF with its own microclimate and tends to be less crowded than the popular, neighboring Napa and Sonoma valleys. "Suisun" is Indigenous Patwin for "where the west wind blows," and local weather can present itself as a gentle, cooling breeze that yields signature cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit sirah. Visit soon, though, as more people are starting to take notice.
Caymus Vineyards in the palm tree-bordered Caymus-Suisun Winery has a grand tasting room. The rest of the wine trail includes Suisun Valley Wine Co-op and the expanded BackRoad Vines at its Village 360, all anchored by the community of Mankas Corner, which also has the valley's best dinner option at steakhouse Mankas Grill. There's plenty on offer for beer lovers, too, particularly at Pioneer Tap Room, with a variety of beers on tap and a row of bar seating made of saddles, plus a spacious outdoor area with a stage for live music. Farmers stands and shops also abound, such as Cal Yee Farm, which sells dried fruits, nuts, and even dog sweaters hand-knitted by the owner.
Suisun Valley is close enough to the city that you can go and return on the same day. If you want to take a more leisurely approach to the trip and fit in tastings in more regions, such as the neighboring Green Valley or the more mainstream Napa Valley, the most plentiful accommodation options lie in mostly chain hotels and motels in the nearby, though less exquisite, Fairfield. If you're a jelly bean fan, though, a plus of Fairfield is its proximity to the Jelly Belly Factory. Otherwise, groups of up to 16 can rent the entire estate of the bucolic Suisun Valley Inn.
How to get to Suisun Valley from San Francisco: It's 45 miles from San Francisco to Suisun Valley, and driving via I-80E is the fastest way to get there. No regular tour lines run between SF and the valley, but once you are in wine country, you can contact a wine tour company to craft a
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