Why you should visit San Francisco Bay Area in California.
Who wants to go to San Francisco? Be sure to plan a getaway into the whole Bay Area – see the mesmeric city sights, cross the Golden Gate, and then explore beyond. You should visit the Californian vineyards, trail the nature parks, drive out to traditional villages, discover the coast and big wave spots, enjoy San Francisco Bay Area as the locals do.
California is a huge state (almost as large as Spain can you imagine) that sweeps down the American Pacific Coast from Oregon to Mexico, too much to take in unless you’re on a serious road trip with a few months to spare! So hop over to San Francisco and the Bay first, for a taste of cultural adventure in true Californian style.
Why You Should Visit San Francisco Bay Area
Photos and text by Dan and Julia of San Francisco Bay Area.
The nine-county that comprises the SF Bay Area proper is bigger than some European countries (Slovenia for example) and about four times more populated, it’s home to 8 million people! Whether you are traveling solo, as a couple or as a family, you’ll find fabulous adventures during your trip here. Who should visit the San Francisco Bay Area and why?
Outdoor Adventurers
If you are an outdoorsy person, you’ll fall in love with the San Francisco Bay Area. We boast 25 state parks, three national wildlife refuges, three state reserves, a state forest, Point Reyes National Seashore, and Golden Gate National Recreational Area, also known as Golden Gate Park.
And that’s not counting numerous regional, county and city parks, like one of our favorites Alum Rock Park in San Jose, where you’ll find the ruins of the past splendor, animal ambassadors, and the vista points overlooking the entire Bay Area.
Needless to say, there is an abundance of camping, hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife watching, sailing, and the world-class surfing. Mavericks, one of the world’s most famous big wave surf spots is right here in Half Moon Bay, one of the best beaches near San Francisco!
Looking for beautiful destinations to visit in the United States, which combine nature and beach activities? You might like to read these related posts about:
* St. Mary’s County
* Orange Beach & Gulf Shores (Alabama)
* New Jersey
* North Carolina
Culture Travelers and Art Lovers
Love movies and TV shows? Our home has been on your screens since the invention of the cinema! How many times can the Golden Gate Bridge be destroyed in movies? From San Andreas to Pacific Rim to Godzilla, and then some. Book a movies or books tour, or do a self-guided street art tour of the Bay Area!
Representing almost every nation of the world, the San Francisco Bay Area offers a variety of seasonal festivities and cultural events unlike anywhere you’ll ever see. We also host some of the largest music venues and sports arenas in the country. So, our strong recommendation is to check what artist or team is playing in the Bay Area before your visit. You might catch a great concert or game!
If music or sports isn’t your thing, there might be some fascinating exhibits on display at any of the area’s many galleries and museums. San Francisco alone is home to 44 museums.
Perhaps you’d like to attend other festivities like a street fair, an antique car roadshow, a steampunk, or a comic-con event? We got it all! From exciting nightlife to casual exploring, you are sure to find something for every taste and interest.
History Buffs
SF Bay Area is a time capsule, preserving the history of past generations from the California Gold Rush to World War II, and, at the same time, showcasing the splendor of the modern world and nature.
Some of our favorite museums are outside of San Francisco. Like the USS Hornet Aircraft Museum and Blackhawk Museum in the East Bay, Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and The Winchester Mystery House in the South Bay, to name a few. All of them are within a short drive from San Francisco.
Wine Enthusiasts in SF Bay
Some of the best wines in the world are made in California. Right here, in San Francisco Bay Area! Napa and Sonoma Counties in particular. The variety of California grape produces a mind-boggling variety of wines. What you’ll find unique about California-grown wines – they are fruit-forward.
So, climb aboard the Napa Wine Train, or tour the wineries on your own, but do not miss other opportunities. Watch the rupture of Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga, hike in the Petrified Forest, and soak in one of the mineral mud baths in the area.
Afterwards, enjoy a mouthwatering farm-to-table dinner in some of the most upscale restaurants in the whole state of California.
Foodies in San Francisco Bay
As we mentioned, the SF Bay Area is a melting pot of cultures. One of the benefits of it is access to the best of the world cuisines. You’ll find almost every nation on Earth represented right here in the Bay Area.
You’ll also discover that we are excellent at fusion. With so many influences around the globe, the umami flavors of AsiaPac, the boldness of Mexico, and California’s abundance of fresh produce and seafood, without a doubt, we have the best regional food in the entire United States.
For purists – San Francisco Bay Area must-tries are cioppino soup with slices of sourdough bread for the first course, California sushi rolls for the second, and Rocky Road ice cream for dessert, followed by a fortune cookie. Yes, your favorite fortune cookies were invented in San Francisco’s Chinatown! Enjoy a glass of a Mai Tai cocktail with your meal, also created here.
What’s around the SF Bay Area?
Bay Area is the best spot for your home base to explore neighboring counties and see what Northern and Central California can offer. Why? Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay are under an hour away to the southwest.
A visit to Monterey’s famous Aquarium is a must-do for families in California. And farther south are more Coastal villages like Big Sur and Santa Maria wine valley, and the hot springs town of Paso Robles or Solvang (the traditional houses designed by Danish settlers and the Franciscan Spanish Mission are the historical attractions).
Sacramento and Gold County is an easy drive to the north. Try your luck at gold-panning, see historic ghost towns, learn the story of the Pioneers of the West, and enjoy spelunking. Just a bit farther North lies the gorgeous Lake Tahoe, popular year-round, especially in winter for fantastic skiing.
By the way, California has nine national parks, more than any state in the US: Pinnacles (just 123 miles/198 km south of SF), Joshua Tree, Yosemite (195 miles/314km east of SF), Sequoia and Kings Canyon (260 miles/418km southeast of SF), Lassen Volcanic Park (247 miles/398km northeast of SF), Channel Islands, Death Valley, and Redwood National Parks.
Usful info for visiting San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area is six hours drive from Los Angeles, and under 8 hours to Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks.
* A Tip From The locals!
What is the best time to visit the San Francisco Bay Area, California? Truly – any time of the year. Whenever you go, ALWAYS bring layers of clothes. Our region is infamous for the microclimates. And you are almost guaranteed to have windy weather and/or fog on the coast, the bay, and San Francisco.
Flying to San Francisco
Be sure to check the neighboring airports for flight deals. Besides SFO (San Francisco International), we have two more international airports in the area, all close by. Depending on where you are staying, SJC (San Jose International) or OAK (Oakland International) might provide a better price deal and a shorter drive to your lodging accommodations.
How to get around San Francisco Bay Area
Yes, you’ll need to rent a car. And yes, most likely, you’ll be stuck in traffic anywhere you go and might find San Francisco a challenge to drive in. Actually, you might be much better off without a car when visiting San Francisco by itself. In that case, Uber, taxis, or public transportation (bus, street trolleys, cablecar, BART trains) may be a better option for getting around the city.
About the Authors
We are Dan and Julia, owners and writers of www.monkeysventures.com, in the social media world known as “Monkeys”. Truth to be told, the only Monkey in our household is our beloved four-legged muse, who loves going on road trips with us.
Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we love sharing our adventures throughout California and beyond. Being driven by curiosity since childhood, we explore, learn, and spread the word about this amazing world we live in.
Don’t be shy, ask any questions you might have about traveling to the SF Bay Area in the comments below.
My favourite California Flower Power song says it all –
“If you’re going to San Fransciso, you’re gonna meet some lovely people there”!
Related Posts: Beautiful Places to Visit in USA
Imagine a road trip that takes in the Great Smoky Mountains, the Piedmont hills, Blue Ridge Mountains, Outer Banks and the Crystal Coast. These are just some of the beautiful places to visit on a North Carolina itinerary.
The ultimate Utah road trip itinerary to visit the best sites in Southern Utah.
An adventure through National Parks, exploring canyons and rock formations, natural landmarks which create one of the most unique settings in the world.
Riverside walks, nature trails and kayaking are some of the rural attractions that St. Mary’s County is known for.
Continue along the white sand beaches and islands off the Eastern Shore, and nearby Assateague where wild ponies run free.
Orange Beach & Gulf Shores (Alabama)
The top things to do in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores – discover the white beaches, nature trails and fresh seafoods of Alabama Gulf Coast.
It’s a beautiful destination in America’s deep south.
Top Reasons to Visit New Jersey
The Garden State is home to the world’s longest boardwalk, the first seaside resort, museums and historical sites, parks and casinos. Visit New Jersey (USA) to see these beautiful places!
A nature lover’s 7 day itinerary for Alaska.
Discover why you should visit Alaska once in a lifetime, where to see nature and wildlife, how to get around, where to stay and best times of year to go.
Discover the World with 
the blog with a focus on independent budget travel.
This is why San Francisco is on our bucketlist! We would love to visit ALL of the 44 museums, see all the TV places and taste the wine!
Great post, Dan and Julia. “How many times can the Golden Gate Bridge be destroyed in movies” indeed haha…
I absolutely love SF and the Bay Area. Only spent a weekend there, but tried to pack as much in as possible. Think I missed out on the Seven Sisters, strangely, but did most other big ones. :-)
I greatly miss San Francisco! Before moving to Europe we visited family in New York and in Arizona, but had to spend a week to ourselves in SF and Napa first! Great article and you make me miss the great city!