Business Finance Media Technology Policy Wealth Insights Interviews

Art Art Fairs Art Market Art Reviews Auctions Galleries Museums Interviews

Lifestyle Nightlife & Dining Style Travel Interviews

Power Lists Nightlife & Dining Art A.I. PR

About About Observer Advertise With Us Reprints

The Best Seaside Escapes for a Weekend Away From San Francisco

Summer is one of the gloomiest times in the city, but if you’re looking for a quick escape, there are plenty of nearby beach towns and bayside communities to explore within a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

San Francisco might be completely surrounded by open ocean and sweeping inlets, but its perpetually foggy weather and oft-chilly temps cloud its coastal nature. Summer can actually be one of the gloomiest times in the city, but if you’re looking for a quick escape, there are plenty of nearby beach towns and bayside communities to explore within a two-and-a-half-hour drive.

The furthest south you can go within that time frame is Big Sur, one of California’s most sought-after destinations for road trippers. Though you won’t encounter the most swimmable beaches in Big Sur, you will find some of the most jaw-dropping coastline with rugged bluffs and redwood-lined backdrops. Carmel-by-the-Sea is home to turquoise-colored waters and white sandy beaches, and just north of this fairytale-like village is the quirky surf town of Santa Cruz. Prefer more gentle bays where you can kayak and paddleboard? Tomales Bay is a moody inlet known for its thriving seafood scene, while Sausalito offers a convenient getaway just across the Golden Gate Bridge.

Whether you’re drawn to the powerful energy that engulfs Point Reyes National Seashore or prefer the quiet, small-town vibes of Capitola Village, these are the best beach and bayside getaways from San Francisco.

The Best Beach Getaways from San Francisco

Home to California’s most dramatic and recognizable coastline, Big Sur is a bucket list destination characterized by its rugged bluffs and contrasting redwood forests. Cruising along Highway 1 makes for one of the most spectacular drives in the world, and there are plenty of worthwhile pit stops along the way, including McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Bixby Bridge and Point Sur Lighthouse.Though Big Sur beaches aren’t the best for swimming (the waves can be extremely intense and unpredictable—never turn your back on the ocean), Pfeiffer Beach is a delightful spot for watching the sunset. If you time it right, you might even see the sun descend into the center of Keyhole Rock—a highly sought-after photo op. Set above a scenic cliffside overlooking the Pacific and pine tree-lined coast, Nepenthe is one of the town's most scenic restaurants, serving a famous Ambrosiaburger topped with a homemade Thousand Island dressing, but if you want to dine with your toes in the water while........

© Observer