7 Winter Day Trips From the San Francisco Bay Area
Skip the expensive hotel stay with these nearby destinations.
Between the bustle around the holidays and the ever-stronger pull of the couch when cool, rainy weather hits, it can be all too easy to just stay home all winter. But these day trips give you ample reasons to hit the road and explore some of the best pockets around the Bay Area. From peak-season seafood along the coast to a soothing soak in wine country, there’s something here to get you out the door and put a spring back in your step.
Visit a Victorian Christmas in Nevada City.
For more than 45 years, this old mining community has transformed its historic downtown streets lined with old brick buildings and ornate Victorians into a holiday fair. Inspired by the Victorian era, the streets are lit with gas lamps, townspeople don period garb, carolers sing on street corners, and visitors are treated to free roasted chestnuts. Don’t miss the bedazzled 25-foot Christmas tree in the town’s plaza.
This is also a great opportunity to get some holiday shopping done. Downtown Nevada City is home to boutiques like Kitkitdizzi, the toy store Kiya’s Naturals, and jeweler Utopian Stone. Grab dinner at the River Downtown in a beautifully restored historic building, or steak at the Willo, a favorite roadhouse of Nevada City locals.
See all that glitters in Sacramento.
Sacramento is the place to be if you’re looking for dramatic holiday light displays. Each winter, the city lights up the 150-year-old buildings along the Old Sacramento Waterfront, where, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Theatre of Lights puts on a free rooftop retelling of “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Sacramento also hosts the Imaginarium, an enormous, family-friendly lights festival at Cal Expo that’s billed as the largest in the state. More than 15 million lights, dozens of glowing fantastical creatures, and circus performances wow visitors across the sprawling event each night.
If you’re looking for a quieter experience, drive through the beautiful, historic East Sacramento neighborhood to catch the creative displays in front of people’s homes. Pair your holiday lights tour with dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Midtown, such as the French and Italian inspired The Waterboy, which features an evolving seasonal menu. Down the street, Mulvaney’s B&L serves up creative Californian farm-to-table fare.
Warm up in Calistoga.
This cute town nestled in Napa’s wine country is full of hotels and spas that run steaming water straight from the natural hot springs to tranquil soaking tubs and pools. Stop at the Calistoga Motor Lodge’s MoonAcre Spa for a vintage-inspired thermal bathhouse experience, complete with clawfoot tubs. Afterward, walk around the charming downtown that’s lined with shops and restaurants in historic Victorian- and Mission-style buildings. For a relaxed dinner, sit under warm heat lamps on the large, verdant patio overlooking a creek at Calistoga Inn. Down the street, Evangeline serves French food with a Creole flair under the stars.
If you’re staying overnight at one of the town’s many hotels, consider purchasing a winter wine passport, which offers holders free tastings at a number of local wineries and tasting rooms, including some in the heart of downtown.
Stroll under redwoods in Muir Woods.
Redwood forests burst with life during wet winters. At the 550-acre Muir Woods National Monument, wide, flat paths lead visitors past old-growth redwood trees, some of which are 500 to 1,000 years old. As you walk, keep an eye out for bright-green lichen and wild fungi. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sunset every day. Parking reservations, which start at $10 per vehicle, are required in addition to a $15 entrance fee for adults.
After your walk, stop in for a drink and a snack at Mountain Home Inn on Mount Tam. The menu features sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie platters that can be taken on your next adventure or enjoyed in the cozy dining room. If you’re looking for something more robust, visit the Pelican Inn. This English-style country pub is walking distance from Muir Beach, and serves comforting mains like shepherd’s pie and Guinness beef stew.
Eat crab in Half Moon Bay.
Winter is Dungeness crab season in Northern California, and Half Moon Bay is one of the best spots to take advantage of the sea’s bounty. For those interested in catching their own, the pier at picturesque Pillar Point Harbor is a good spot to set up your nets. No luck? Many fishermen at the harbor sell their catch straight off their boats, so you can ensure you’re not going home empty handed. Note: Commercial fishing for Dungeness crab is expected to open in January, which means you won’t be able to buy from boats, markets, or restaurants until it officially begins.
If you’re more interested in eating crab than catching it, grab a table that overlooks the bay at the bustling Sam’s Chowder House. If you get lucky with a warmer day, Barbara’s Fishtrap provides a more casual, dog-friendly dining experience, with crab dishes packaged to go. Grab one of the many picnic tables set up along the water outside for a meal with a view.
Shop and ride in Santa Cruz.
Yes, now is a great time to visit this beach town. Dip into cozy shops; the Sockshop & Shoe Company and Bookshop Santa Cruz have something for everyone. Next door to the bookshop is Chocolat, a can’t-be-missed cafe with hot chocolate and chocolate cake to warm you from the inside out. For an immersive experience, go to Hidden Peak Teahouse to take part in a traditional Gungfu tea service or to sip tea phone-free on their garden patio.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open year-round, but it brings extra whimsy and nostalgia when it’s dressed up for the holidays. While there, climb aboard a train run by Roaring Camp Railroads, which weaves through the town to the redwoods and back again. On select dates in November and December, the trains are covered in thousands of lights and have live music on board.
Watch whales in Monterey Bay.
December to April is the best time to see gray whales in Monterey Bay. For an immersive experience, hop on a half-day boat tour led by marine biologists, which depart from Fisherman’s Wharf. In addition to spotting a whale, you may also catch a glimpse of dolphins, otters, sea birds, and more.
For a self-guided experience, pack your binoculars and choose one of the many trails that follow the coastline. Along Highway 1 toward Big Sur, Andrew Molera State Park offers beautiful hiking trails through meadows and along the bluffs that overlook the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Its rugged, rocky shores and kelp forests provide homes to a large number of marine animals.