Summer travel has wound down, but fall provides opportunities for some great staycations. If you live in Northern California there are tons of options for day trips or weekend excursions when the weather is a bit cooler and the tourist crowds have lessened. Even a day away from home exploring a new place, whether that be a hike or a city visit, can make you feel refreshed and energized. So much is at our doorstep but it’s easy to forget, or to make the time, to take advantage of it.
A couple of suggested local itineraries that can be done in 1-2 days:
Often Auburn is just a pass-by place on highway 80 for those headed from the Bay Area up to Tahoe, but this old gold mining town is worth a stop. Auburn has lots to offer outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a good meal and some shopping/wandering. I know the Auburn area, having spent a lot of there the past 11 years, and here are my suggestions for how to spend a quick getaway in the area.
Pacific Coast from Half Moon Bay to Watsonville:
A drive down the coast is a great day trip or weekend excursion. It has everything from dramatic scenery and incredible hiking/mountain biking to restaurants/coffee shops and unique shopping. I’ve recently updated this itinerary to include a couple of new favorite spots.
Santa Cruz is beaches, biking, shopping, eating, surfing and more. Whether you want to bike/hike/surf, or just want to have a great meal, head on over for a wonderful day or weekend.
Further down the coast, but still doable for a day trip, Big Sur never disappoints.
Hard, but not impossible, to do in a day trip (but it has been done!), but a great fall getaway weekend or long weekend.
