San Francisco, CA

The Best Weekend Escapes from San Francisco

Published

2 years ago

April 10, 2024

The Best Weekend Escapes from San Francisco

Between the Michelin-starred restaurants, iconic architecture and historic sites such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, there is no shortage of things to do in San Francisco. This city is a hub for innovation and diversity, and its unique location right on the bay makes it just as beautiful as it is busy. However, getting out of the city for a weekend allows you to take a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Luckily, San Francisco is surrounded by a plethora of getaway-worthy escapes.

From wine tasting in rolling vineyards to indulging in creamy clam chowder on Tomales Bay, some of California’s most amazing small towns and cities are a mere two hours away from San Francisco. In addition to diverse landscapes, several destinations also boast acclaimed eateries, unique shopping scenes and luxury hotels that you can call home during your trip. Whether you’re seeking a coastal retreat in Big Sur, an adventurous stay in Lake Tahoe or a wine-filled weekend in Healdsburg, the possibilities are endless. Get ready to plan your next road trip with our guide to the best weekend escapes from San Francisco.

Brian Ferry West Marin.

1.5-hour drive

Enjoy Tomales Bay views, small-town charm and the freshest seafood when visiting West Marin. Places like Point Reyes and Marshall make West Marin a go-to spot for city locals who need a breath of fresh air, and it is without a doubt one of the most picturesque parts of NorCal. Start your day with a cheese tasting at Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. before heading over to Heidrun Meadery to sip Champagne-style mead. Tony’s Seafood Restaurant is the ultimate place for clam chowder and BBQ’d oysters, but nothing beats a sunset dinner with fresh oysters and cod dip at Nick’s Cove. You’ll also want to check out the legendary Hog Island Oyster Co. while in town.

Where to Stay:

Accommodations are extremely limited in West Marin, but the Lodge at Marconi has completely changed the game by providing 45 retro, cabin-like guest rooms for visitors. The hotel sits in the heart of Marconi State Historic Park, giving guests premium access to hiking trails and picnic areas where you can admire Tomales Bay from up high. Though there is an adorable market in the lobby where you can purchase high-end snacks and bottles of wine, the Lodge at Marconi is set to open an on-site restaurant in June 2024.

Edgewood Lake Tahoe’s Edgewood Tahoe resort.

3.5-hour drive

Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination that is home to some of California’s most pristine scenery. The crystal-clear lake is surrounded by enchanting pines, which get dusted with a white blanket of snow during the winter. Whether you’re into skiing and snowboarding or hiking and paddle boarding, Lake Tahoe caters to a variety of outdoorsy adventures. There are also several breweries and lake-front restaurants where you can quench your thirst, including South Lake Brewing Company and Jimmy’s at The Landing Resort and Spa.

Where to Stay:

Located in Truckee, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is one of the nicest accommodations in the California side of Lake Tahoe. Open year-round, this sprawling resort is surrounded by picturesque pine trees on the side of a mountain. Edgewood Tahoe Resort is another high-end property, but just across the border near South Lake Tahoe, and the waterfront views are magical.

1.5-hour drive

Healdsburg is the ultimate destination for weekend wine tasting near San Francisco. Despite its small-town charm and low-key vibe, Healdsburg is crawling with Michelin-recognized restaurants. From three-star SingleThread to one-star Barndiva, eating well is easy in this charming slice of wine country. If you’re exploring the main town square, you can also walk from tasting room to tasting room; highlights include The Society: Healdsburg, Siduri Wine Bar and Tasting Lounge and Selby Winery.

Where to Stay:

Those hoping to stay in the heart of downtown Healdsburg should consider booking one of the 16 intimate guest rooms at Hotel Les Mars. The French-inspired property is reminiscent of an Old World chateau, and the convenient location makes walking to each tasting room and restaurant a breeze. For a more traditional luxury resort experience, nothing beats the rolling vineyards and bungalow-style accommodations at Montage Healdsburg.

La Playa Hotel Carmel by the Sea’s La Playa Hotel.

2-hour drive

Carmel-by-the-Sea offers a European-esque escape that is a mere two hours from San Francisco. This unique beach town is home to cozy cottage-like buildings and storybook streets that make you feel as though you’re strolling around a real-life fairytale. Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting before sitting down for dinner at one of the 60-plus restaurants. French food definitely reigns supreme in Carmel-by-the-Sea, with standouts such as La Bicyclette Restaurant, L’Escargot and Pâtisserie Boissiere.

Where to Stay:

Also known as the “Pearl of Carmel,” La Playa Hotel has been a luxe staple of the area since 1905. The former private mansion boasts 75 recently renovated rooms, with lush gardens surrounding the grandiose building. With the beach only steps away, this is the perfect hotel for travelers seeking bespoke luxury across the board. For a more intimate and boutique experience, book a room at the new Villa Mara Carmel, which features 16 residential-style, adult-only rooms.

3-hour drive

Big Sur is one of the best road trip destinations in the world, let alone Northern California. The dramatic and windy cliffside roads make for some of the most jaw-dropping photo opportunities all along the coast, but some can’t-miss sights include Bixby Creek Bridge and McWay Falls. Since Big Sur looks like an actual screen saver, you’ll want to spend most of your time outdoors exploring, but once you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy sweeping Pacific views at Coast Big Sur or river-side dining at the Restaurant at Big Sur River Inn.

Where to Stay:

Situated on 160 acres of awe-inspiring land, Alila Ventana Big Sur offers guests the best of both worlds with ocean and forest views. The all-inclusive experience allows you to make the most of your weekend escape with nourishing meals and a plethora of wellness activities like meditation, foraging and bike tours. Post Ranch Inn is another luxury property that sits atop a striking hill in Big Sur. With only 40 rooms, visitors are treated to exclusive accommodations along with complimentary breakfast and activities such as yoga and guided nature walks.

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San Francisco, CA

This Week: E-Bikes, Happy Hour, Holiday Lights – Streetsblog San Francisco

Published

8 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

This Week: E-Bikes, Happy Hour, Holiday Lights – Streetsblog San Francisco

Here is a list of events this week.

Monday/tonight! Introduction to E-Bikes. This is a San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, SFMTA/SFCTA-sponsored virtual class. Monday/tonight, December 15, 6-7 p.m. Register for Zoom link.
Tuesday Bike It Forward Community Repair Night. Join the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition as they rehabilitate donated and abandoned bicycles and get them to folks who need them. Tuesday, December 16, 5-7 p.m. San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, 1720 Market Street, S.F.
Wednesday Car-Free Happy Hour. This event is open to everyone, whether they’re car free, car light, car-free curious, or they just want to hang out with fellow urbanists. Wednesday, December 17, 5:30-7 p.m. Cornerstone Berkeley, 2367 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley.
Thursday Vision Zero Committee Meeting. This committee supports the work of improving street safety in San Francisco. Thursday, December 18, 1 p.m. Union Square Conference Room, Floor 7, SFMTA Headquarters, 1 South Van Ness Avenue, S.F.
Thursday Transform Happy Hour with the New Executive Director. Come meet Transform’s new leadership, mingle with like-minded folks, and give your input for Transform’s next chapter. Thursday, December 18, 5:30-8 p.m. Line 51 Brewing Company, 303 Castro Street, Oakland.
Friday Alameda Holiday Lights Ride and Christmas Caroling. Ride to see the holiday lights in Alameda. Friday, December 19, 6:30 p.m. meet, 7 p.m. roll out. Finishes at 10 p.m. MacArthur BART, 555 40th Street, Oakland.

Got an event we should know about? Drop us a line.

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San Francisco, CA

San Francisco honors legendary photographer Jim Marshall with street named in his memory

Published

21 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

San Francisco honors legendary photographer Jim Marshall with street named in his memory

This week, San Francisco is set to honor a legendary photographer, the late Jim Marshall, by officially commemorating a street in his honor.

On Friday, officials, including San Francisco Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, will be on hand to reveal a new street sign for the 3600 block of 16th Avenue.

The tiny stretch becomes a big landmark for music lovers, historians, and photography buffs. This stretch of 16th will also be known as Jim Marshall Way.

“Finally, Jim Marshall gets his name in San Francisco history, ” proclaimed photographer Amelia Davis.

For years, Davis was the assistant and editor for Marshall.

Marshall documented and photographed San Francisco history – the music scene, social unrest and protests

Included in his portfolio is a rare photograph of Janis Joplin on top of her psychedelic Porsche, a famous portrait of John Coltrane, discussing an imminent change in his music, at the Berkeley home of jazz critic Ralph Gleason; a very intimate photo of Johnny Cash and June Carter, at their home in Tennessee; Miles Davis in the boxing ring; Bob Dylan kicking a tire down a New York City street; and the final public concert played by the Beatles at Candlestick Park.

Fifteen years ago, when he died, the San Franciscan left his entire portfolio to Davis. She explained how Marshall, who was childless, called his photographs his children.

“That’s what he loved and protected his whole life,” noted Davis.

Marshall was on hand to capture the Grateful Dead’s last free show on a flatbed truck in the Haight.

He was also on hand in Times Square in Manhattan to capture the grief following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

His photographs of poverty in Appalachia are part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian.

“Jim Marshall always called himself a reporter with a camera and Jim’s work did document pieces of history, whether it was music, civil rights, or protests,” said Davis.

Marshal had a tumultuous personality and struggled with addiction.

After his death, he was the subject of an award-winning documentary called “Show Me The Picture.”

He was the first photographer to receive a Grammy.

Now, a street where the photographer lived for 28 years will be named in honor

“Little did they know you have this legend living right in the middle of the street here,” exclaimed Justin Fichelson.

Fichelson grew up a few doors away from the photographer, where his parents still live.

He says the honor of renaming the street is a reminder that the city was iconoclastic way before tech and the AI flood.

“The idea of San Francisco, which is a crazy place where people come from all over the world to reinvent themselves, Jim really captured that in an incredible way,” noted Fichelson.

Marshall grew up in the Western Addition, went to Lowell High School, raced fast cars and loved the city. Now, the city is loving him back.

The ceremony to honor Marshall is on Friday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. at the corners of Noe, Market, and 16th. A commemorative sign will be placed beneath the 16th Street sign. Those who wish to attend are asked to bring any old Leica cameras to honor the late photographer.

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San Francisco, CA

Oakland Airport’s ‘San Francisco’ rebrand has failed to reverse plunging passenger numbers

Published

1 day ago

December 14, 2025

Press Room

Oakland Airport’s ‘San Francisco’ rebrand has failed to reverse plunging passenger numbers

The controversy over the Oakland airport’s addition of San Franisco to its name brought headlines, but not travelers, even during the typically frenzied holiday season.

Passenger traffic at OAK (now officially known as Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport) dropped steeply over the past year, even as air travel nationwide held steady and its rival to the west seeing record numbers.

The naming controversy generated publicity and a tiff with San Francisco International Airport, but not the desired increase in traffic. In the 12 months through September 2025, approximately 8.2 million people passed through OAK for domestic flights — 1.8 million, or 17%, fewer than in the previous year, according to federal data (opens in new tab). Passenger traffic was down 15.5% (opens in new tab) in the first three quarters of 2025.

International travel showed a bump, but with limited routes to only Mexico and El Salvador.

The drop at OAK is happening as domestic travel around the country has remained flat, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (opens in new tab).

In fact, Oakland’s decline in the first half of 2025 was the worst of all 93 major U.S. airports, according to LocalsInsider.com (opens in new tab). The second-sharpest drop was at Chicago’s Midway, which was 12.9% off from the previous year.

The decline in passengers isn’t tied to fewer flights being offered. OAK data shows just 56 fewer so-called “airplane movements” through September compared with last year, a negligible 0.03% decrease out of more than 153,000 flights.

Why the dropoff?

The Port of Oakland, which operates the airport, says people aren’t traveling for work anymore.

“Like all of the industry, the decline at OAK can be attributed to the decline in business travel,” said Kaley Skantz, a port spokesperson.

But Collin Czarnecki, who leads Locals Insider’s research on airlines, ties the troubles to a larger industry trend: the death of the middle-class airport.

“Overall, the ‘why’ is sort of this bigger picture,” he said. “Secondary hubs and midsize airports are seeing a lot of change with low-cost carriers.”

Despite the declines, OAK is moving forward with a major makeover and adding 16 gates because of a previous forecast (opens in new tab) that annual passenger levels would reach 24.7 million in 2038. Current traffic has yet to match 2019 levels.

Meanwhile, for San Francisco’s airport, the outlook is sunny.

With its nonstop flights to the East Coast, Europe, and Asia, SFO is in a different class. The airport showed 5.1% growth in 2025 from 43.5 million to 45.7 million passengers, according to its own data (opens in new tab). SFO also boasted that it had its busiest Thanksgiving travel season on record. OAK officials said they lacked the daily data to analyze Thanksgiving traffic.

SFO representatives attribute the gains to the airport’s mix of domestic and international flights and business and leisure travelers.

“Drilling down further, the diversity of our international service is a real advantage, as our fortunes aren’t tied strictly to the performance of one specific market,” SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel said.

Business owners near OAK say they don’t get much lift from their proximity to the travel hub. Alan Liang, who owns a Mexican restaurant, a burger joint, a towing company, and an auto repair shop in a plaza along Hegenberger Road, said about 95% of his customers are blue-collar workers with jobs nearby.

“I never came across anyone who said, ‘I’m here in town and came to get a bite,’” said Liang. Crime has scared away customers and led to the closure of chain restaurants like In-N-Out Burger, Black Bear Diner, and Denny’s.

“A few decades ago, Hegenberger primarily benefited from the traffic flow from the airport,” he said. “It’s extremely hard for me to believe that today.”

The fortunes of Oakland’s airport are intertwined with the popularity of Southwest Airlines, which accounts for 83.3% of OAK’s passengers, according to federal statistics. Spirit Airlines had been the airport’s second-largest carrier, with nearly 6% of travelers, but the company in October pulled out of Oakland (opens in new tab), as well as San Jose.

To stabilize its position and grow, OAK should strive to become a hub for a major airline like Delta or American, according to Linchi Kwok, a Cal Poly Pomona professor who specializes in travel and tourism.

“It would bring a lot more traffic and draw customers who are loyal to the airline,” said Kwok. “Everyone can benefit from healthy competition.”

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