22 . BEYONd SAN FrANCISCO | Never the same. Always San Francisco. BEYOND SAN FRANCISCO CONTINUED Santa Cruz Beach Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park Pebble Beach Golf Links 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 experience 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. GOLD COUNTRY Historic and inviting, California’s Gold Country which includes Tuolumne County is one of the most direct routes to Yosemite National Park and the spectacular High Sierra. Jamestown, Sonora, Columbia and other historic towns are the perfect complement to days of hiking, biking, water sports and much more. MONTEREY COUNTY 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, a renowned aquarium and wine country. 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. It’s also home to a number of top casinos on its Nevada side. SILICON VALLEY 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, Santa Clara features Levi’s ® Stadium (home of the San Francisco 49ers) and thrilling rollercoasters at California’s Great America amusement park. YOSEMITE Outdoor lovers around the world know Yosemite and its iconic natural landmarks are astonishingly accessible from San Francisco. In just a three-hour drive, visitors can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, skiing and rafting — as well as famous sights like Yosemite Falls and the granite cliffs known as El Capitan. They’ll also discover a variety of accommodations, ranging from campsites to a historic AAA four-diamond hotel. sftravel.com FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Getty Images; © Flickr/ThomasHawk; © Bart Keagy
San Francisco Travel Planner's Guide 2018: Page 22
