Beach Getaways Near San Francisco

Whether you are looking for a weekend escape from San Francisco, or want to add a few days to your trip to the city by the bay, there are plenty of unique beach destinations to choose from. The water may not be warm enough to swim in, and you may need to bundle up before heading to the beach, but the spectacular and rugged coastline, interesting beach towns, and possible whale or sea lion sightings will give you a vacation to remember!

After a 20 mile dizzying drive on route 1, north of the Golden Gate bridge, you’ll arrive in Stinson Beach. This seaside town offers over three miles of beaches, quaint restaurants and a range of small hotels. If you are planning a family reunion or a vacation with friends, rent a house in Seadrift, a private community surrounding a lagoon - many rental properties have kayaks, hot tubs and more.

There are plenty of other activities besides lounging in the beach - hikers and bikers will enjoy Mt. Tamalpais State Park with it’s array of challenging trails and steep roads.

Further along route 1 is the small, historic town of Olema, once considered to be the epicenter of the 1906 earthquake. Walk along the earthquake trail for some earthshaking history, or check out the Bear Valley Visitors Center for more to do in the area.

Point Reyes Station, the next destination along the way is a great place to spend the night, grab coffee or stop in a shop or two before heading to Point Reyes National Seashore, a favorite with photographers, hikers and nature lovers. The park has seemingly endless trails where you can expect to see Tulle Elk, and many stunning vistas of cliff, ocean and rolling landscape. On clear days, be sure to check out the Point Reyes Lighthouse, build to help guide mariners around a treacherous area that is prone to heavy fog and wind.

Useful Links
Point Reyes Station Hotels

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