Which of these is a better San Francisco Day Trip?
If you had 1 day in San Francisco with a free rental car and you’ve already been all over San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Palo Alto, and Napa and Sonoma, but nowhere else.
Which of these would you more likely do?
1) Drive North on 101 and hike the Redwood Forests, drive Avenue of the Giants, visit Arcata, possibly make it up to Medford, Oregon.
OR
2) Drive down to Santa Cruz, Cruise Pacific Highway down to Carmel and Monterey and Big Sur?
Which is better?
6 Responses
Kathy H
27 Feb 2011
Randall E
27 Feb 2011
If good weather, 1).
Re: 2) that’s a lot of driving. You need to have a destination and an activity, maybe then drive back up and see the views at sunset?
ugly_zeke
27 Feb 2011
If you haven’t been to Muir Woods, it is well worth the drive, and not that far north of the bridge. I haven’t been further north than that in California.
On the other hand, the Monterey aquarium and the Monterey peninsula/Carmel coast line are also well worth the drive. Big Sur has some great views and lighthouses.
A lot depends upon what interests you most, I suppose.
biscovoltakst
27 Feb 2011
Santa Cruz is well worth a visit! Be sure to check out the Mystery Spot (tourist attraction) – it’s famous! And the Monterey Bay Aquarium is always a great tourist stop as well.
DON T
27 Feb 2011
It doesn’t matter which won the these that you choose. If you’re going this time in the year dense fog will keep you from enjoying anything. 101 is probably the scariest highway to drive in the fog.
william m
27 Feb 2011
For a Day Trip, you cannot really do trip #1. You can go to Muir Woods and Stinson Beach which are much closer and worth a visit.
Trip #2 is good too.
Both are great trips. Pick one and save the other for a later trip.
Pt. Reyes National Seashore north of San Francisco is a beautiful place to explore if you head that way. http://www.california-birding.com/pointreyes.html
If you enjoy wine, you will find some great wineries in Sonoma County to the north or Santa Cruz and Monterey to the south. http://www.cheers2wine.com.
Have a wonderful time!