Best Weekend Trips
from San Francisco, CA

As a year-round destination, Lake Tahoe's reputation has skyrocketed—thanks to warm-weather sports, superb restaurants, and even wine and food festivals. Popular ski resorts have upped the ante for adventure-centric activities, and hiking and biking trails abound.

With a historic downtown, nightlife driven by gallery openings and performances, and art lovers from all over flocking to enjoy it all, Mendocino is perfect for an art-centric escape. See the spectacular coastal scenery that inspires so many here, with windswept cliffs and waves crashing against the rugged shore.

In a weekend at gorgeous coastal town Monterey, you can explore its quaint downtown, walk or bike along miles of beautiful seaside trails, and dig in at top-notch restaurants. Carmel, just four miles away, is an upscale enclave that beckons with blocks of charming shops and restaurants.

It may not be the first place Californians think of when planning a trip to wine country, but that's what makes Paso Robles such a refreshing surprise. Our weekend plan will lead you between with funky art studios and cowboy bars—plus a bumper crop of top-notch (but totally unstuffy) tasting rooms.

One of California's premier wine regions, Sonoma County is shining brighter than ever these days with a bumper crop of award-winning restaurants and two new wine growing regions in 2012. Each quaint town has its own unique flavor, and for a wine-centric getaway, Healdsburg is perfect as a home base.