North Bay Day Trip from San Francisco
February 2, 2024 3:09 PM Subscribe
It's my friend's birthday tomorrow, and we're driving north from San Francisco for a full-day trip. What recommendations do you have for fun stops or destinations on our meandering drive?
Guidance on our interests and parameters:
-We both live in the greater Bay Area, so we've probably done most of the tourist-level 'walk across Golden Gate Bridge' type highlights, but we are not opposed to repeating stuff that feels extra epic or perhaps special-for-birthday-related-life-reflections.
-We'd potentially drive roughly as far north as Jenner / Salt Point State Park, but that's flexible. We like driving around talking and listening to tunes. No route planned in particular - probably some coast, but definitely shaped by the stops to be chosen.
-No overnights, please - need to get back to SF that evening sometime.
-Food things: birthday friend loves Indian food and interesting fruit. I am vegetarian, so probably no stopping for oysters. We like new/interesting food experiences, but probably not $$$$ fancy for this. We love cheese. Specific cheese recommendations now that Cowgirl is closed?
-Neither of us will be drinking during the day, but bringing home beer etc is OK.
-Birthday friend loves vintage video games and generally nerdy stuff.
-Birthday friend also veers hippie/free spirit, and is interested in music/culture in that vein.
-Birthday friend is interested/very knowledgable in gold mining/history around it.
-Nature things like scenic stops or easy hikes are good. Not too hard or full-day-consuming, though.
My overall goals while we drive around: make my friend feel special/loved on his birthday, and help him feel joy and gratitude about another trip around the sun.
Guidance on our interests and parameters:
-We both live in the greater Bay Area, so we've probably done most of the tourist-level 'walk across Golden Gate Bridge' type highlights, but we are not opposed to repeating stuff that feels extra epic or perhaps special-for-birthday-related-life-reflections.
-We'd potentially drive roughly as far north as Jenner / Salt Point State Park, but that's flexible. We like driving around talking and listening to tunes. No route planned in particular - probably some coast, but definitely shaped by the stops to be chosen.
-No overnights, please - need to get back to SF that evening sometime.
-Food things: birthday friend loves Indian food and interesting fruit. I am vegetarian, so probably no stopping for oysters. We like new/interesting food experiences, but probably not $$$$ fancy for this. We love cheese. Specific cheese recommendations now that Cowgirl is closed?
-Neither of us will be drinking during the day, but bringing home beer etc is OK.
-Birthday friend loves vintage video games and generally nerdy stuff.
-Birthday friend also veers hippie/free spirit, and is interested in music/culture in that vein.
-Birthday friend is interested/very knowledgable in gold mining/history around it.
-Nature things like scenic stops or easy hikes are good. Not too hard or full-day-consuming, though.
My overall goals while we drive around: make my friend feel special/loved on his birthday, and help him feel joy and gratitude about another trip around the sun.
Food:
For Indian food, Lotus in San Rafael is very tasty. However, if you're going to stop in San Rafael, I recommend Sol Food. It's Puerto Rican cuisine, and so good.
Farther north, Wild Flour Bread in Freestone CA is really great. It's a bakery. Sebastopol is nearby, and that's a cool town to explore.
Just over the bridge is the Marine Mammal center. I didn't know it was there for years. It was great!
The Schultz Museum in Petaluma, mentioned above, is excellent. And the skating rink, Snoopy's Home Ice, is GREAT.
posted by cleverevans at 7:16 PM on February 2
For Indian food, Lotus in San Rafael is very tasty. However, if you're going to stop in San Rafael, I recommend Sol Food. It's Puerto Rican cuisine, and so good.
Farther north, Wild Flour Bread in Freestone CA is really great. It's a bakery. Sebastopol is nearby, and that's a cool town to explore.
Just over the bridge is the Marine Mammal center. I didn't know it was there for years. It was great!
The Schultz Museum in Petaluma, mentioned above, is excellent. And the skating rink, Snoopy's Home Ice, is GREAT.
posted by cleverevans at 7:16 PM on February 2
If you wanted to veer more inland, Harbin Hot Springs (clothing optional) has day passes and surprisingly amazing food. And it's about as free spirit as you can get.
Marine Mammal Center is cool (I used to volunteer there) but there's probably not many animals there this time of year– plus it's good to remember that it is a working hospital/rehabilitation center, so sometimes you might see some sad things happen.
I'd also note that with the weather very possibly being blustery/rainy, I'd recommend less time on small highways. I've driven up Hwy 1 many times over the last 25 years, and when it's rainy it can be seriously unpleasant. Not to mention getting stuck behind someone going 15 miles an hour because the rain is freaking them out.
Personally, I could spend most of a day just in Point Reyes Station. Brickmaiden Breads has amaaaazing baked goods, but plan to get there early for the scones and muffins. Go to the Palace Market for soft serve buffalo gelato (made with buffalo milk), served in the back. Meander in the cute little shops. Find one or more of the gorgeous meandering hikes to work off the gelato. On your way back to the city, San Rafael has some good food spots. Or you could press your luck trying to get a table at Greens in Fort Mason!
posted by Molasses808 at 8:44 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
Marine Mammal Center is cool (I used to volunteer there) but there's probably not many animals there this time of year– plus it's good to remember that it is a working hospital/rehabilitation center, so sometimes you might see some sad things happen.
I'd also note that with the weather very possibly being blustery/rainy, I'd recommend less time on small highways. I've driven up Hwy 1 many times over the last 25 years, and when it's rainy it can be seriously unpleasant. Not to mention getting stuck behind someone going 15 miles an hour because the rain is freaking them out.
Personally, I could spend most of a day just in Point Reyes Station. Brickmaiden Breads has amaaaazing baked goods, but plan to get there early for the scones and muffins. Go to the Palace Market for soft serve buffalo gelato (made with buffalo milk), served in the back. Meander in the cute little shops. Find one or more of the gorgeous meandering hikes to work off the gelato. On your way back to the city, San Rafael has some good food spots. Or you could press your luck trying to get a table at Greens in Fort Mason!
posted by Molasses808 at 8:44 PM on February 2 [3 favorites]
The Cypress Tree Tunnel in Inverness is sort of near Point Reyes and completely worth checking out. I found it hauntingly beautiful.
What a thoughtful birthday gift to your friend. 💕
posted by wicked_sassy at 4:17 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
What a thoughtful birthday gift to your friend. 💕
posted by wicked_sassy at 4:17 AM on February 3 [2 favorites]
I should've been clearer: Schulz Museum is up in Santa Rosa.
Petaluma also has a Sol Food, and yeah, tasty, although now that I've found a way to make their pique at home I go there less. (I miss Avatar Punjabi Burrito, but their home base is down in Sausalito...)
But/and: As a North Bay denizen: Tell us what you discovered today! We're obviously all looking for different ways to experience our home. And thank you to the other folks who are piping in here, I'm getting ideas...
posted by straw at 9:31 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
Petaluma also has a Sol Food, and yeah, tasty, although now that I've found a way to make their pique at home I go there less. (I miss Avatar Punjabi Burrito, but their home base is down in Sausalito...)
But/and: As a North Bay denizen: Tell us what you discovered today! We're obviously all looking for different ways to experience our home. And thank you to the other folks who are piping in here, I'm getting ideas...
posted by straw at 9:31 AM on February 3 [1 favorite]
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Looks like the Redwoods part of Roy's Redwoods is closed right now, but even with the forecast rain the loop around there is a nice walk, as is wandering around Samuel P Taylor State Park (see the above Coho...). Both of those areas can be relatively flat and easy.
It's been a long time since I've been out to the Earthquake Trail by the Bear Valley Visitor's Center near Pt Reyes Station, and that's been a low key town to wander through.
I live in Petaluma, so am contractually obligated to suggest a tourist stop here, but rain and winter means I'm just drawing a blank, and while I have no complaints about the food in this town I'm not currently having an "OMG you have to try..." vibe about anything. I don't see a special exhibit right now at the Petaluma Historical Library and Museum, although I generally enjoy a wander through there, and I've enjoyed the similar local museums in Healdsburgh and San Anselmo... Petaluma is most cool when there's an event at a major studio, but I don't see anything going on at Marco Cochrane's digs or the various other big steel studios...
We do have Sonoma Portworks (which, yes, day drinking, but they also have some really nice balsamic-ish vinegars) and the various breweries (Henhouse and, yes, Lagunitas).
I've only been to the Schulz Museum twice, but I think both times they had cool exhibits going on that made me think like what you'd expect a Sonoma County version of the Comic Art Museum might be...
posted by straw at 4:25 PM on February 2