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Nestled along the stunning Carmel Bay, the seaside village of Carmel (120 miles south of San Francisco) is one of California's most romantic getaway destinations.
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Both towns boast pristine natural surroundings and alluring old-world ambience. Within easy driving distance from San Francisco, two seaside towns stand out: Carmel and Monterey. Seaside Towns of Carmel and Monterey 17-Mile DriveĬalifornia's Central Coast is known for its beauty.
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One recommended tour is the Yosemite National Park full-day trip that includes transportation to and from San Francisco, as well as a guided tour of Yosemite's top attractions.Ģ. If you only have one day to visit, it's a good idea to take an organized excursion. Many tourists delight in spending a few nights at one of Yosemite's top campgrounds or at cozy rustic-chic accommodations like the Yosemite Valley Lodge and The Ahwahnee hotel. Yosemite is nearly 200 miles from San Francisco, and getting there from the city is a long drive (about four hours each way) for a day trip. If relaxation is more of a priority than adventure, picnicking and photography allow visitors to soak up the scenery at a slower pace. For rock climbers, Yosemite challenges with its epic 3,000- to nearly 5,000-foot ascents on the legendary El Capitan and Half Dome rock faces. Those who want to camp can choose from 15 campgrounds (including two backcountry campgrounds). Other things to do at Yosemite include bird-watching, horseback riding, lake fishing year-round, river fishing from April through November, and skiing in the wintertime. With 750 miles of nature trails in six different areas, the UNESCO-listed, 1,200-square-mile Yosemite National Park abounds with opportunities for outdoor activities, especially hiking the spectacular trails. In the 20th century, the renowned photographer Ansel Adams captured Yosemite in vivid images, and naturalist John Muir described this incredible place "where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike." The majestic beauty of Yosemite was made famous in the 19th century by landscape painters like Albert Bierstadt, who portrayed the valley as the Eden of the American West. It's also home to 250 bird species, black bears, coyotes, chipmunks, and endangered bighorn sheep.
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The awe-inspiring landscape is full of marvelous surprises: 1,000-foot waterfalls, crystalline lakes, flower-blanketed meadows, and old-growth sequoia forests. This magnificent corner of the Sierra Nevada Mountains boasts scenery so sublime that it seems impossible nature created the landscape unintentionally.ĭuring the last Ice Age, retreating glaciers carved out granite monoliths with sheer rock walls that encircle the seven-mile-long Yosemite Valley. Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park Plan your excursions from the city with our list of the top day trips from San Francisco.ġ. The only trouble is deciding where to go when you have limited time. There are so many fabulous places to visit, just a short drive from San Francisco. Among the most unforgettable excursions is the ferry ride from San Francisco to Sausalito, a postcard-perfect waterfront community that resembles a Mediterranean fishing village. In Half Moon Bay and Pescadero, the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean and an idyllic pastoral landscape provide a relaxing escape.įor those seeking culture, the university town of Berkeley offers award-winning theater, gourmet restaurants, and a lively collegiate atmosphere. Outdoor enthusiasts relish Marin County's hiking trails at Muir Woods, Stinson Beach, and Mount Tamalpais. Romantics will love the seaside resort town of Carmel, with its storybook cottages and gorgeous sandy beach. Sun worshippers can head south to the fun-loving town of Santa Cruz for a day at the historic Beach Boardwalk amusement park.
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Outside "The City" (as locals refer to San Francisco) are many fantastic destinations within easy reach, from 30-minute rides north or south along the coast to a four-hour drive to Yosemite that's definitely worth the travel time. In an incomparable setting of rolling hills overlooking a sparkling emerald-green bay, San Francisco is close to some of California's most beautiful seaside towns and nature sites.
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