The best part about living in San Francisco is its central location. There are endless road trip adventures surrounding this city. Weather you are looking for a 1-day get away or a long weekend out of the city, I got you covered.
Listed below are some of my favorite go-to spots south of San Francisco! I will cover everything North of San Fransisco and San Francisco itself in separate posts.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo AKA “SLO” is a really cute college town off the coast. The drive from SF can take anywhere from three to four hours. We spent a long weekend here exploring restaurants, beaches, and hiking trails.
Hearst Castle
The property is insanely beautiful. Yes, it is a bit touristy, but worth it in my opinion. If you are into architecture or real estate, you will love it. The thought and design behind every detail of the estate is breathtaking.
This is an easy spot to drop by while driving to or from San Luis Obispo.
One of the guest houses at the Hearst Estate
Big Sur
The hype around Big Sur is REAL! There is a reason why this drive is so iconic. You will find some of the most beautiful views and coastal hikes here.
The cell reception in the area is not great, so make sure to plan ahead.
Sites:
Highway 1 drive: There is only 1 road to drive in Big Sur, and the costal views are what makes Bir Sur what it is. Make sure to stop at all the vista points!
McWay Falls in Pfeiffer National Park!
Pfeiffer Beach
Bixby Bridge - One of the most picture esq views
Nepenthe Restaurant- It is elevated and right off the coast with beautiful views.
Limekiln Falls Hike - You will hike through giant redwoods to get here!
Point Sur Light House
Accommodation:
Glamping at Ventana! Such a cute getaway spot with BEAUTIFUL grounds.
Treebones Resort also has great glamping.
The camp grounds get packed here, especially in the warmer months, so if you do plan to spend the night, make sure to book in advance! There are plenty of places to stay nearby in Monterey if you decide not to spend the night in Big Sur.
McWay Falls
Carmel
Ive been here a few times on 1-day long road trips, and once for a long weekend! The drive is only about 2.5 hours from SF.
Carmel by the sea is such a cute town to walk around! It is filled with boutique shops, galleries and restaurants.
Things to do:
Carmel Beach - You have to watch the sunset here. I recommend grabbing some drinks/snacks at the grocery store beforehand. It is so beautiful, but make sure to dress warm because it does get a bit chilly!
Point Lobos
Mission Trail Park
Walk around the Village
Accommodation:
We stayed at Carmel Valley Ranch, which I highly recommend. It is a bit pricey, but worth it. Beautiful grounds, pool, spa, and food! The restaurant in the hotel is spectacular. Great destination for a special occasion—a lot of people get married here.
There are a lot of great inns in the village downtown too.
Restaurant Recommendations:
La Bicyclette (French-Italian)
Flaherty’s Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar (Classic American grill offering a seafood-focused menu)
Cultura Comida Y Bebida (Mexican)
Pebble Beach
If you are a golfer, Pebble Beach is a must see! A great way to see the area is by following the Scenic 17-Mile drive road. You will see it all on this drive—the coast, forrest, golf course, beaches, and real estate.
Restaurant Recommendation:
The Bench - we always eat here! It is right on the golf course with beautiful views. It is a very cute area to walk around too. Try to make a reservation in advance, but they do accommodate for walk-ins.
Pebble Beach
Capitola
Super cute area to walk around and grab a bite. You can veg out on the beach afterward. There are adorable colorful houses right next to the water, creating an awesome aesthetic.
Capitola Beach
Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is a very fun area. It is most known for the amusement park on the boardwalk. There is also a great beach to chill on. If you are more into extreme sports, they have great mountain biking and hiking trails!
Santa Cruz Beach
Palo Alto Mountains
I spent a lot of time in Palo Alto my first year in California. Our favorite weekend activity was driving through the mountains in the area! There is not one particular address to type in, but endless views. I recommend driving around Skyline Blvd and Portola Valley.
Stanford’s campus is also beautiful to walk around.
Restaurants:
The Creamery - This is our favorite go-to spot! Super casual and delicious Diner.
The Rosewood - If you are looking for a more up-scale place to grab dinner and drinks, The Rosewood Room is the spot. Great wine selection and craft cocktails! If you are looking for a formal sit-down spot, there is a Michelin rated restaurant inside too, called Madera.
Halfmoon Bay
This is a super easy day trip from San Francisco and one of my top recs! Had to save the best for last. I have been here over a dozen times. There are SO many beautiful beaches in the area to hop around. All you need is a car, beach blanket, good music, and snacks!
Our favorite beach is Martin’s Beach!
Other beaches: Pelican Point Beach, Poplar Beach, Tunitas Creek Beach, Elmar Beach, Cowell Ranch Beach, etc.
The Ritz-Carlton here is a must see! The grounds are beautiful to walk around. Between the coastal views, beach, and golf course, you will not be disappointed. We love to watch the sunset here and grab a drink before heading back to the city.
St. Martin’s Beach
Pacifica
Pacifica is filled with beaches and surfing spots. It is >30 min south of San Francisco. You will pass this area to and from Halfmoon Bay if you drive the 1.
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To reiterate- this post covers everything South of San Francisco that I have done! I am creating another post for everything North of the city and the city itself. Make sure to keep an eye out for it!
Feel free to message me with any questions! I am always happy to elaborate further.
Thank you for reading, and more importantly, HAVE FUN EXPLORING!
Xx,
Nat
