22 . BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO | Never the same. Always San Francisco. BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO CONTINUED Stand-up Paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe Pigeon Point Lighthouse Yosemite EAST EAST BAY Just east of San Francisco is a region full of booming culture and trendsetting restaurants. Notable locales in the East Bay include Oakland, with its thriving creative community and flourishing dining scene; Berkeley, the destination that invented farm-to-table cuisine and home to one of the world’s leading educational centers; and the Tri-Valley which features a small-but-thriving wine region and popular Tri-Valley Beer Trail. SOUTH BEACH COMMUNITIES Visitors can xperience a stunning scenic drive down Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) to the string of beach communities south of the city. Here they can watch surfers conquer the legendary swells at Half Moon Bay or ride the wooden rollercoaster on the historic Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Each beach town offers unique attractions as well as a charming mix of surf shops, fishing stands and restaurants-with-a-view. LAKE TAHOE The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is famous for its crystal clear waters and snowcapped mountains. Sitting on the border of California and Nevada, the area offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for every season. Lake Tahoe is also home to a number of top casinos on its Nevada side. MONTEREY COUNTY © Louis Raphael (2); iStock One of California’s most beautiful areas, Monterey County offers a variety of activities: the famed, scenic 17-Mile Drive, rounds of golf at internationally renowned courses like Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, world-class dining and wine country. YOSEMITE The iconic natural landmarks of Yosemite are astonishingly accessible from San Francisco. In just a three-hour drive, visitors can enter the year-round park via Hwy. 120 and enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities including hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing and rafting — as well as famous sights like Yosemite Falls and the granite cliffs known as El Capitan. SILICON VALLEY One of the world’s most famous areas for high-tech entrepreneurship is a short trip south from San Francisco. In San Jose travelers will find fun museums, unique dining, historic sites and natural beauty. Nearby are charming destinations like Gilroy, which is known for its famous garlic crop, amusement park and outlet shopping. sftravel.com
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 2017: Page 22
