Get Outta Town

Marin County

Marin County beckons from the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge—the ultimate playground for anyone who likes being outdoors. Hordes of visitors crane their necks at the huge redwoods in Muir Woods National Monument; mountain bikers zoom down Mt. Tamalpais; and scenery buffs head to the Marin Headlands, Stinson Beach, and the Point Reyes National Seashore to gaze at the vast Pacific. Over 40% of Marin County is parkland, so there are plenty of places to hike and reconnect with nature.

The towns in Marin are small and low-key, with varying degrees of chic. There's Sausalito with its yachts and boutiques; Tiburon with its gallery-lined Main Street; and Mill Valley with its redwood groves and reclusive rock stars. Places like Stinson Beach and Bolinas, meanwhile, are for those who truly want to get away from anything urban. Lots of bed-and-breakfasts and hotels in Marin are geared for weekend retreats—it's the perfect place to drop out of sight for a few days. Taking a ferry here from San Francisco will make your getaway all the more romantic.

East Bay (Berkeley and Oakland)

To San Franciscans, the East Bay is shorthand for Berkeley and Oakland, both across the Bay Bridge from the city. Berkeley is defined by its University of California campus and its liberal-to-radical politics. Ever since the Free Speech Movement ignited at the Cal campus in the 1960s, Berkeley has been the place for renegade spirits, bursting bookstores, and caffeine-fueled debates. It's not all intellectual-politico jargon, though; there are plenty of creature comforts, too. Most famously, there's Chez Panisse, the restaurant that embodies seasonal, simple, local cooking—but there are countless tasty treasures to be sampled in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. Or you could shop for indie tracks at Amoeba Music, academic tomes at Moe's Books, and the perfect bottle of Sancerre at Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant.

Oakland is grittier and even more diverse, with a buzzing arts scene. Small pockets of the city are pretty dodgy, so it's important to know where you're going. Old Oakland has a concentration of evocative Victorian buildings, now full of cafés and shops; the Rockridge neighborhood is home to lovely Market Hall, a European-style market. Jack London Square may be the best place to get a sense of Oakland's role as a major port, but it feels pretty sterile. Head to a jazz joint like Yoshi's or a gallery-bar like Café van Kleef, though, and you'll feel the city's indomitable energy.

Wine Country

With rolling, vine-covered hills, warm weather, and incredibly good restaurants, hotels, and spas, the Sonoma and Napa valleys are the places to indulge yourself. Whether you're passionate about wine or a curious newcomer, you'll find dozens upon dozens of tasting rooms and wineries that are right for you. Some of the world's most high-profile vintners work here, but there are also plenty of under-the-radar local stars to discover. Don't overlook the towns in your rush to the vineyards, though. Places like Napa, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Glen Ellen, and Calistoga have lovely, historic centers, farmers' markets, and tempting shops. You can get to the Wine Country in less than two hours by car—but the experience does not come cheap.