Hi there! After taking a week off to celebrate my 27th birthday (read my birthday post here: 27 Things You Might Not Know About Me!), then a second week off to throw a surprise party for my husband’s 30th birthday, I’m so ready to be back in the saddle! Ready to see more of Northern California with me–including some day trips near San Francisco?

So let’s review. So far, we’ve been exploring San Francisco, neighborhood by neighborhood:

• Week 1: Exploring San Francisco: Haight-Ashbury & Mission District
• Week 2: Exploring San Francisco: The Presidio, Sunset District & Sea Cliff
• Week 3: Exploring San Francisco: Russian Hill, North Beach, Chinatown & Fisherman’s Wharf

Next, we’re going to start traveling outside of the city limits to take some day trips near San Francisco. Today, we’ll be just north of the city: catching gorgeous views from Vista Point, then wandering through breathtaking Muir Woods. Let’s go!

Day Trips Near San Francisco:

Vista Point

If you have a car and are looking to take day trips near San Francisco, it’s a good start to venture across the Golden Gate Bridge–both for the views you’ll get as you cross, and for the views of the city and the bridge from the other side. Vista Point is the first exit after the bridge, and it’s the perfect place to stop and take a few photos.

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Day Trips Near San Francisco

Muir Woods

Next, of course, we had to spend a few hours wandering through Muir Woods. This is one of the most beloved day trips near San Francisco. There are countless natural wonders to be seen in California; but my lovely travel companion, who’s lived in San Francisco for a few years now, knew that Muir Woods was a place that I’d deeply appreciate. (She was right!)

Muir Woods is a short 17-mile drive away, making it one of the most convenient day trips from San Francisco, too. I hope that San Francisco residents realize just how lucky they are to have a redwood forest waiting to be explored, right on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge! There are flat, paved trails that anyone can enjoy; and then there are narrow, elevated trails winding through the trees that more adventurous hikers can explore.

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What I loved about Muir Woods was the feeling of being dwarfed by nature–both physically and spiritually. Being surrounded by giant, ancient trees induces a hushed reverence over everyone that I’ve never before encountered. Even though you’re surrounded by people, you can hear the sound of birds calling to one another and a stream gradually making its way through the forest. It’s a profound experience that leaves you feeling fortunate to live in a world where such wonders exist.

Millions of years ago, redwoods and sequoias may have grown all across the United States. Today, however, they’re only found on the coasts of Northern California and Oregon. The logging industry had already torn through millions of acres of old growth forests when Theodore Roosevelt declared Muir Woods a national monument. It was named after John Muir, who spent his life fighting for the preservation of America’s most beautiful places and the establishment of the National Park System–a cause that’s as important in 2017 as it was in 1890.

Because it’s one of the most famous and easy-to-reach day trips near San Francisco, Muir Woods is visited by up to 6000 visitors each day when the weather’s nice. This means that you might have to wait a little bit for a parking spot. You can try visiting during off-peak hours, or you can just find your zen and be patient–it’s worth the wait!

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Guess what’s coming next? We’re going to wine country, y’all! Be sure to check back over the next few weeks to explore Napa Valley with me–the best is yet to come, in my opinion!

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