Section 11 of 12
Trips and weekends
Camping, national parks, cheap flights home and the best weekend escapes.
One of the best parts of living here is how much is within reach for a weekend: mountains, coast, wine country and some of the finest national parks in the world.
Camping and parks
- Camping here is amazing. If you're into it, order a tent, a mattress and basic gear (chair, headlamp) on Amazon.
- For a full gear list with links, see camping essentials on Amazon.
Weekend escapes
| Destination | Distance from North Beach | Drive time | Trip length | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point Reyes | ~40 mi / 65 km | ~1.5 hr | Day | Windswept coast, oysters |
| Napa & Sonoma | ~50 mi / 80 km | ~1 to 1.5 hr | Day or overnight | Wine country |
| Santa Cruz | ~75 mi / 120 km | ~1.5 hr | Day | Beach town, boardwalk |
| Monterey & Carmel | ~120 mi / 195 km | ~2 hr | Day or overnight | Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive |
| Big Sur | ~150 mi / 240 km | ~3 hr | Day or overnight | Dramatic coastline |
| Mendocino | ~155 mi / 250 km | ~3.5 hr | Day or overnight | Rugged coast, redwoods |
| Lake Tahoe | ~190 mi / 305 km | ~3.5 to 4 hr | Overnight | Skiing, lake |
| Yosemite | ~195 mi / 315 km | ~4 hr | Overnight | Granite cliffs, waterfalls |
| Sequoia National Park | ~270 mi / 435 km | ~5 hr | Overnight | Giant sequoias |
Getting home to Belgium
- Sometimes flights are cheaper if you book through a VPN set to Belgium. You can use my NordVPN referral link for a discount.
- Chase Travel has good deals now and then.
- 3 convenient airports if you live in SF: San Jose, SFO and Oakland.