As a senior in high school with an abundance of free time, a driver’s license, and the fortune of having my own car, I have traveled all over the Bay Area (and places somewhat nearby)! And so, due to my experiences with lovely days spent at many places—like Santa Cruz, Capitola, Big Sur, Carmel, Monterey, Half-Moon Bay, Berkeley, Davis, San Francisco, and more—I have narrowed down the top three day trip destinations that are worth going to and will list them down below!
3. San Francisco
With beautiful and unique architecture, iconic sites, and lots of interesting activities and views, San Francisco remains one of the best places to visit! As one of the iconic faces of California, San Francisco will definitely stay in my top three day trip destinations!
Pros:
- Huge variety of cultures to explore around the area—like Japan Town, The Castro District (also known as gay-borhood), Chinatown, and more
- Very different experience from San Jose/the suburban area of the Bay because SF is an urban city
- Fairly short drive
- Great view spots nearby, like Mt. Tam (watch the sunset here!)
- Gorgeous and iconic landmarks, most prominently, the Golden Gate Bridge
- Lots of fun activities—like visiting the Piers, the Cal Academy of Science, the Palace of Fine Arts, etc
- Super jolly during winter/Christmas time with stunning decorations
Cons:
- Extremely difficult to find parking (I would recommend taking BART)
- Easy to get into car accidents in SF because of the confusing roads
- It’s very urban, and consequently there are a lot of people, which makes your chances of getting pickpocketed or your car broken into a lot higher
- The weather can be super bipolar, and it’s typically quite a bit chillier than in San Jose
2. Carmel (& Big Sur if you have time)
A charming beach-side town filled with cute shops and aesthetic views, Carmel By the Sea easily takes a spot on my list of best places to visit in CA! Plus, if you have time, it’s definitely worth taking a 30-minute drive from Carmel to Big Sur to visit Point Lobos or go on any of the other superb hikes in that area!
Pros:
- So very aesthetic
- Cute shops/downtown area
- Beautiful beaches with clear water
- Great views (like the tidepools)
- Lots of great thrift shops
- Very calm and peaceful vibe, so it’s great for a relaxing day
- Good food!
- Great weather most of the time (albeit a bit colder than San Jose typically)
- Gorgeous hikes (specifically in Big Sur)
Cons:
- Long drive
- The downtown area is pretty expensive
- It can be hard to find parking sometimes (but much easier than in SF)
- No internet in the majority of Big Sur, so just make sure to warn people ahead of time that you may not be able to contact them
1. Santa Cruz/Capitola
An often underrated laid-back beach-town with great hiking trails and fun activities, Santa Cruz (in combination with Capitola, because they are less than 15 minutes apart) will always claim the number one spot on my list of favorite places to visit! It is so worth it to go to Santa Cruz for its iconic beaches and Boardwalk, as well as Capitola for its adorable downtown area filled with great shops!
Pros:
- Super close by
- Amazing weather most of the time
- Super relaxed vibe
- Easy beach access
- Adorable downtown area (specifically Capitola, but Santa Cruz’s downtown area isn’t bad either)
- Lots of things to do (boardwalk, lighthouse, beach, hikes, downtown, etc)
- Swimmable water (it’s cold, but the waves typically aren’t too big)
Cons:
- Hard to find parking
- Water isn’t the prettiest
- Not the most aesthetic (specifically Santa Cruz, Capitola is beautiful)