The Best Things To Do North of San Francisco
San Francisco itself has so many incredible pockets of the city to visit and things to do, but just across Golden Gate bridge are also so many must-see spots. Whether you are living in the city and looking for a day trip or visiting SF for the first time and wanting to explore more of the Bay, this article is for you. These are the best things to do and day trips to take just north of San Francisco.
Wine Tasting in Napa, California
Napa is one of the wine capitals of the world and for great reason. There are actually a few main towns here – St Helena, Zinfandel, Napa, and Yountville. There are over 475 wineries and tasting rooms in Napa which are actually predominantly family-owned. I would recommend booking 1-2 tastings for the day and then planning to get lunch at one of the restaurants or markets which are incredible. My favorite wineries are:
- Domaine Carneros – This place has some of the grandest French mansions, is great for champagne tastings, and is the closest one to San Francisco.
- V. Sattui Winery – This is one of the most visited wineries in Napa, and for great reason with wonderful wine tastings and a beautiful market to grab charcuterie items at beside their garden.
- Darioush Winery – This is the most unique of the wineries in my opinion with true Persian hospitality, incredible red wines, and traditional persian pillars as you enter the property.
- Beringer Vineyards – I find this to be the most bang-for-your-buck winery, with your tasting coming with a full tour of the cellars and underground caves. They also gave complimentary truffle chips and nuts with our tasting which no other winery really does.
My two favorite places to grab a bite to eat are actually a bit more casual – one being the XX market which has fresh sandwiches/pizzas and bottles of wine to purchase, and “NO|MA House Café and Collective” which is a very intermix of a cute boutique interior design store and a lunch/coffee cafe.
Lazy River Day at Russian River
Russian River is a level 0 lazy river meaning it’s extremely safe, shallow, and slow moving making it a perfect relaxing day on the water. You’ll ideally come with 2 cars so that you can park one at the start (Steelhead Beach) and one at the end (Sunset beach) since the float is about 2 miles long. I also recommend getting a river floatie that has cup holders or space to put your belongings so you can be as comfortable as possible! This is a really fun activity on a warm day with a group of friends or family.
Be sure to come as early in the morning as possible to secure parking spots! It can be really tough to get a spot after 10am.
Lunch and Window Shopping in Tiburon
Tiburon is one of the cutest towns across the Golden Gate Bridge with stunning views of San Francisco when by the water. Main Street is truly the highlight of Tiburon if you are looking to get lunch and walk around for window shopping. Some of the best restaurants here are Malibu Farms, The Bungalow, and Luna Blu.
There is also a ferry that leaves from SF’s Ferry Building to Tiburon each day making this really accessible! It’s feels like a full escape from the city within just 20 minutes.
Shopping in Corte Madera
Corte Madera has two great outdoor Shopping Centers – the “Marin Country Mart” and “The Village at Corte Madera”. At the former, you’ll find a very cute white-barn inspired shopping mall with high-end stores and great lunch spots. Some of the stores here are Diptyque, Todd Snyder, The Real Real, and my favorite lunch spot Souvla. At XX, just a 10 minutes drive away, you’ll have your more classic stores like Anthropologie and Nordstroms for more everyday shopping.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Point Reyes is one of the most beautiful spots along the coastline in Northern California. You’ll want to dedicate a whole day here to explore the town of Point Reyes (stop at Bovine Bakery!), visit the Lighthouse, Stop at Drake’s Beach, and getting oysters at Tomales Bay Oyster Company. Note: the hike to the lighthouse is an additional ~350 steps so I would only recommend it if you are in good physical health!
Point Reyes is actually the foggiest (and almost windiest) spot in Northern California so definitely bring layers! Another key thing to note – be on the lookout for wildlife! We saw coyotes crossing the street, numerous California’s native Tule Elk, and gray whales.
Wine Tasting & Shopping in Healdsburg
Healdsburg is similar to Napa, with various wineries, wine tasting rooms, and a cute downtown at the heart of the city. I recommend booking a tasting here and planning to spend some time grabbing lunch and shopping in downtown!
Visit The Barlow in Sebastopol
Sebastopol is a small town in Sonoma County with a population less than 8,000 people. Their downtown is so charming and they actually have the Golden State Cider Taproom here to get ciders on draft and as flights.
The Barlow itself is a 12-acre/4 city block long outdoor community center in the city which has local food, wine, beer, spirits and crafts. There are so many amazing spots here to walk around in or grab a bite/drink, along with beautiful outdoor seating areas. There are also events throughout the year so be sure to check their events calendar.
Explore Mill Valley
Mill Valley is a charming small town with cute bookstores, coffee shops, and local restaurants. It’s only around a 30 minute drive San Francisco, making it an easy but fun day trip. Some key highlights of what to do in Mill Valley:
- Mill Valley Lumber Yard
- Lytton Square
- Muir Beach Overlook
- Muir Woods National Monument
Note that a reservation is required in advance to enter the Muir Woods which costs $15.00 per adult and free for children 15 and under. You can make a reservation on their official website.
Visit Sausalito for the Day
Sausalito is arguably one of the most famous of the town’s right across Golden Gate Bridge with houses perched on hills as they are in the Amalfi Coast and the best unobstructed waterfront views of SF’s skyline from downtown and the restaurants on Bridgeway street.
My absolute favorite restaurant here is Barrel House Tavern, which do an amazing happy hour if you happen to be here during the week and are open to sitting at the bar. For food, I recommend the steak sandwich and to save room for their crème brûlée.
Mendocino (if you can stay for a night)
Mendocino is a very charming coastal town about a 3 hours drive north from San Francisco. This one is a bit further so it’s really only worth it if you can stay a night or two. Outside of taking in the views and town, there are also amazing activities to do here like hiking in Van Damme State Park, kayaking on the Big River, and visiting Glass Beach (colorful sea glass replaces sand here!).
Mendocino is a charming coastal town located about 155 miles north of San Francisco, known for its stunning ocean views, picturesque landscapes, and artistic community. The journey from San Francisco can take around three hours, making it worthwhile to spend a night in Mendocino to fully immerse yourself in its tranquil atmosphere and explore its many attractions. Key highlights include hiking the beautiful trails of Van Damme State Park, kayaking on the serene Big River, and visiting the unique Glass Beach, where colorful sea glass has replaced traditional sand​
Overall, there are so many incredible things to do outside of San Francisco. These are solely focused on things to do North of the city, but there are also beautiful spots in South Bay and a bit further out. Read my article on the best weekend trips to take from San Francisco for more ideas!
