oh2doula

My son is graduating June 10 in Weaverville. We had thought it would be nice to fly into SFO rather than Sacramento because we wanted to see the ocean/beach = we have been told driving from sacramento is a dull drive = just trying to get some vacation out of the trip - Golden Gate Bridge and beach are the only MUST - though we would like to visit Marshall - BUT other than flight in and GRAD - NOTHING is set in stone....


NEW IDEA - SF - stinson beach - Marshall Hwy 1 - THEN Santa Rosa (spend night) and then hwy 5 to Weaverville??????

StuDudley

There are some very nice beaches IN San Francisco, and also just across the Golden Gate Bridge in the Marin Headlands next to the Marine Mammal Center. No need to drive to Stinson.

It is dinnertime now. Tomorrow I'll describe a beautiful drive from SFO, through the city, stop at 2 nice beaches and an old pre-civil war army fort, cross the GG Bridge, up into the Golden Gate National Recreation where the 8YO can romp around through WWII batterys and old gun turrets - and you'll be rewarded with the best views in the Bay Area, IMO. Then down into the Marin Headlands, more batterys, lighthouse, another beautiful beach, then back on 101 and on your way north. I would do this and then stop in Healdsburg for the night - my favorite city in the wine country. Just off 101.

Stu Dudley

razzledazzle

Do you still want to see a lighthouse ?
Did you say vacation ?
I mean you might as well stay the night in the Pt.Reyes
area, go out to the lighthouse in the AM and then take
various back roads which I will describe over to Hwy 101/
then on to Hwys. 37/80/505/5.

Ought to take you 5-6 hours from Pt. Reyes to Weaverville.

There's really no need to go up to Santa Rosa
UNLESS
you are going to take HWY 101 to Eureka and then 299
over to Weaverville

That route will take you 6-7 hours.
Confer with your maps...

What say you, oh2doula ?

R5

oh2doula

I say THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I honestly appreciate it!!

razzledazzle

You are quite WELCOME WELCOME !!
What have you decided to do ?

R5

elnap29

Thought of you today, oh2doula, as my husband and I spent the day in the Marin Headlands. So, I was going to give you the outline of that nice drive in the Golden Gate Recreation Area, the old Forts, the bunkers, and the beach, but I see StuDudley will be giving you details. I wouldn't go to Santa Rosa or Healdsburg, though, unless you decide to take the long route to Weaverville (101 through the Redwoods to 299 to Weaverville). By the way, the 101 to 299 route is the most scenic.

When you begin your coastal drive into the Marin Headlands, you will have some amazing photo ops with the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Skyline, SF Bay and the ocean.

If you decide to go to Point Reyes (great lighthouse, by the way) it will add quite a bit more time (still doable, though) and I think the drive to Weaverville from Pt Reyes will be closer to 7 hours, more with stops of course.

Now that I've added my four cents, I think you'll be in good hands with stu and razzledazzle.

StuDudley

I was starting to work on a driving itinerary for oh2doula, who is arriving into SFO at 10:20 on June 8. I was going to suggest taking 101 to 280 to King past ATT&T park to the Embarcadero. However, the Giants have a home day game on June 8 starting at 12:45 - and the OP will probably pass through that area around noon.

Obviously, the traffic will be slow - maybe even backing up on 101. Does anyone know HOW slow it will be??? How long might it take (70% of the time on day games)? Should I add 15 mins to the "normal" time, or 30, or 45??? From everything I've read and what also seems obvious to me (as a BIG Giants fan) is that the crowds at games are expected to be larger this year than last year.

SF7307 and other Giants fans - what do you think? I always take the train to Giants day games - and have no "car" experience. Will 80 to 4th st exit, to Bryant to Embarcadero be significantly better??

Stu Dudley

floydvic

I am late to this party also but wanted to chime in to suggest you might consider using a taxi in San Francisco if faced with long waits. The distances will be short which keep the cost down. The cable cars are fun to ride but not worth an hour wait in a line.

sf7307

Stu, we also don't drive to games -- if we're in the city, we leave our car parked at the Embarcadero and walk, and if we're home, we too take Cal-Train. However, I have been to day games so have eyeballed the traffic, and I think an extra 15 minutes is ample "extra" time. The traffic getting out of the city after a day game is worse, but that won't affect the OP.

easytraveler

We usually drive up to the Giants' ballgames, but we get off at Mariposa to get to the parking. Definitely avoid getting off the 4th Street ramp on a game day!

I'd suggest avoiding the downtown altogether and take Interstate 380 to Interstate 280 and go up 19th Avenue to Fisherman's Wharf and do that first.

oh2doula: you're in good hands with this group, Stu is our resident guru on San Francisco. janisj can handle anything in the Sacramento area for you. elnap, sf7307 and the others aren't too far behind in their expertise. I'm sure they'll be able to work out a great itinerary for you!

elnap29

oh2doula, what day and time do you want to arrive in Weaverville?

StuDudley

SFO to Stinson Beach

Here is the “situation” as I understand it:
- You will arrive at SFO on Wed June 8 at 10:20, and will rent a car
- There are three of you – including a 9 year old
- You need to be in Weaverville sometime on June 9
- You do not want to spend a whole lot of time in San Francisco
- Your main interests are the Golden Gate Bridge and a beach
- You would like to see a lighthouse, if time permits
- You prefer quick stops for pictures and are willing to drive late into the day
- After time in Weaverville, you will return home via the Sacramento airport.

Here is what I would recommend:

- Get an AAA map for San Francisco, another for Sausalito-Mill Valley, and also San Francisco Bay Region (3 maps)

- Arrive at SFO at 10:20. You indicated that you wanted to buy some souvenir T-Shirts at Fisherman’s Wharf. I’ve expressed my opinion of the Wharf many times on Fodors, and also on one of your threads. I suggest that instead of getting your T-Shirts at the Wharf, that you pick them up at one of the many shops you’ll pass at SFO just after you de-plane.

- Pick up a car, and head north towards SF on 101. You should get on 101 around 11:30

- There will be exceptionally heavy traffic for the 12:45 Giants game at AT&T Park. So instead of the “usual” route of 101 to 280 to King St, to the Embarcadero, instead take 101 to the 4th St exit (last SF exit before you get on the Bay Bridge – so watch for it). Once off 101, there will be a stop light, and you should “angle” slightly left and proceed east on Bryant and stay in the right lanes and continue on until Bryant ends and intersects with the Embarcadero. You should get to the Bryant/Embarcadero intersection around 11:45 if there is minimal traffic, but with workday traffic and a Giants game – expect to get there around12:15.

- Now the drive gets extremely scenic. The person in the back seat of your car should sit on the right side for the best views. Proceed along the lovely Embarcadero with beautiful Canary Palm trees in the center divider. You will get a great view of the Bay Bridge, the Bay, across the bay to Oakland & Berkeley, the downtown Financial District, the Ferry Building, and Coit Tower.

- About 3 blocks after you drive under the Bay Bridge, start looking for the Ferry Building on your right. You won’t miss it. Before you get to the Ferry Building, also start looking for a place to park your car. There are several metered parking spots that are used for VERY short term parking. It will be about 12:30 by now (2:30 Missouri time), and perhaps you need something to eat. Walk to the far/northern most section of the Ferry Building and get in line at Gott’s Roadside Tray Gourmet for burgers & fries (plus other stuff). Pick up a menu near the doorway, and while standing in line choose what you want. One of you should order the food, wait for your order to be “buzzed”, and then go outside to eat if it is a nice day, or inside if not. The other two can explore the Ferry Building while the “food getter” gets the food. After lunch, spend a few minutes wandering around the Ferry Building, walking around on the docks, and enjoying the views.

- Back in the car around 1:30, and continue along the Embarcadero heading north. More great views. Soon the Embarcadero will change into Jefferson St as you pass the touristy Pier 39 and into Fisherman’s Wharf. Continue to drive west on Jefferson and “check out” Fisherman’s Wharf. Turn left (just before Jefferson dead-ends) on Hyde, pass the Cable Car turn-around, and turn right (west) on the next street – which is Beach. You will pass Ghirardelli Square, and if the Wharf appealed to you, park in the parking lot under Ghirardelli & go back and explore the Wharf. You should get to Ghirardelli by 1:45.

- After passing Ghirardelli on Beach street, turn left on the next street (Polk) then right (west) in 2 blocks ( Bay St). Continue west on Bay.

- Now you will proceed into one of my favorite regions of San Francisco – the Marina Green, Crissy Field, your first “in-city beach”, and Ft Point. Continue west on Bay past Fort Mason and turn right (north) on Laguna on then left (west) on Beach which flows into Marina Blvd. You will be “hugging” the Bay up to here.

- You are now driving along the Marina Green. Soon you will come to a fork in the road. STAY TO YOUR RIGHT when the main road goes left (& over the Golden Gate Bridge) and drive west on Mason and enter the beautiful Crissy Field area of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Thank you – your tax dollars helped pay for this.

- Continue west on Mason and then turn right towards the water, enter a parking lot, and park the car. This is Crissy Field and there is a nice sandy beach there. Walk along the pedestrian only walkway & explore this lovely area with fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Sausalito, Tiberon/Belvedere, and Angel Island. See the AAA map. You should get here by 2:00 if you did not visit Fisherman’s Wharf – perhaps 2:45 if you did visit the Wharf. Spend 30-45 mins wandering around & taking pictures along Crissy Field.
http://www.parksconservancy.org/visi...ssy-field.html

- Get back in the car, and continue west on Mason. More fantastic views along the way as you approach the Golden Gate Bridge. Very soon, you will find yourself in a parking lot where Mason dead-ends. Park the car, and walk west along the walkway towards Ft Point - which is directly under the Golden Gate Bridge. Walk out on Ft Point Wharf (see the AAA map) for one of the best views of the Bay, Bridge, and the skyline of San Francisco. Continue on to Fort Point – a pre-Civil War fort.
http://www.nps.gov/fopo/index.htm
This is one of our favorite places to observe the Bay. We often grab a sandwich at a deli on Union St, drive here, and watch the Bay as we sit in our car & have lunch. If the surf is “up” – there will be surfers here. It is directly below the Golden Gate Bridge. Remember this spot when you later drive up into the GGNRA in Marin County. Unfortunately, the interior of Ft Point is not open today. It is a great place for you & your 9YO to wander through, get cannon loading demonstrations (with help of the young visitors), and there are great views of downtown, the Bay, the Bridge, and the entrance to the Bay from the ramparts on top of the fort. Spend about 30 minutes walking & taking pictures of Ft Point, the GG Bridge, surfers, and Ft Point Wharf. It is now 3:00 to 3:15, and 3:45 to 4:00 if you visited the Wharf (I find this Crissy/Ft Point area much more rewarding than the Wharf).
Note – you can also walk here from the Crissy Field parking lot, and also drive here (see the AAA map.

- Back in the car and head east (only way out of the lot), and once you are out of the lot, turn right, then right again immediately, and proceed uphill and turn right (north) on to Lincoln Blvd. Once on Lincoln, there is an immediate right turn downhill on another road (the road to Ft Point) - but don’t take this right – stay on Lincoln heading north (see the AAA map).

- Continue following Lincoln as it goes under the GG Bridge and then turns south. There is currently (March 2) construction in this area. I don’t know if it will be completed by the time you arrive. Continue following Lincoln until you spot the sign for Baker Beach – the second “in-City” beach. You will get there about 5 mins after leaving Ft Point. Park the car in the lot, and walk along the beach. This beach actually faces the mouth/entrance to the Bay and it’s on the west side of the Golden Gate Bridge so the sun should be shining on this side when you arrive. Great pictures. Spend 15 to 30 mins here.

- Now – let’s head across the Golden Gate Bridge and out of San Francisco. It should be 3:30 to 3:45 by the time you get on the Bridge. 4:15 to 5:00 if you visited the Wharf.

- Retrace your route back (north) on Lincoln Blvd, and once you go directly under the Bridge, make an immediate left, and then another immediate left & you’ll find yourself on the Golden Gate Bridge.

- Head north across the Golden Gate Bridge. Switch to the Sausalito-Mill Valley AAA map. Just past the bridge, take the Alexander Av. exit towards Sausalito. When you get to the stop at the end of the freeway off ramp, turn left & go under Hwy 101. Continue on like you are going back across the bridge to SF, but take the road to the right that goes up-hill, just before actually getting on 101. There will be a sign that says you are entering the Golden Gate National Recreational area. Continue up on this road. Look at your AAA map of Sausalito-Mill Valley and this road is called Conzelman. You will see what is (in my opinion) the best views of San Francisco – The GG Bridge in the foreground & The City behind it. This area was formerly a military area that is still laced with bunkers, gun turrets, underground tunnels etc. It was opened up in the ‘70s. The views of The City, the Bridge, and the Golden Gate are fabulous. You can see all the way down the San Mateo Coast from up here. Your first stop should be at Battery Spencer – you’ll see lots of cars parked there. Take 15 mins to explore this battery – your 9 YO will love it. Breathtaking views. Then continue to drive all the way (bearing left at intersection) to the top and you will hit a much smaller one-way road. There is a parking area before you hit this one-way road – and there should be lots of cars parked there. Park your car. There is the largest gun turret up on the hill behind you (away from the roadside view) where you can climb up to for an almost 360 degree view of the ocean and the entire bay. Look at the San Francisco end of the Golden Gate Bridge. Look for Ft Point directly under it. Remember how large it was when you were standing next to it & how small it is now? By the time you visit the Spencer battery and also this latter area – it should be 4:30 to 5:00 – 45 mins later if you visited the Wharf.

- Let’s visit an area that you won’t believe is this close to a major city like San Francisco – the Marin Headlands. My 90 YO father-in-law who just moved here from Indiana, still can’t believe that this rural setting is so close to San Francisco.

- At the “top” of Conzelman where your car was parked, continue west and “down” the smaller one-way road. The views of the ocean and bay from the Marin Headlands area are beyond description – better than anything you’ll see north of here up to Bodega Bay. Stop at Battery Rathbone for a view. There are very few roads in this region – best thing to do is to follow your nose. I don’t know if the Point Bonita Lighthouse is open – but it looks like you can walk there. Take the very short dead-end road to Battery Mendell for a visit & views and then continue down this road to where it dead-ends for more views. Wind your way around to north of Rodeo Lagoon, and on to Mitchell Rd. There is a very nice beach there. If you are ahead of schedule (or need a potty break) stop at the visitor center (see the map). Continue to drive around in this region, and when you are finished, head out of the region on McCullough Rd . Bunker road goes through a one-way tunnel that sometimes has long waits. Get back on 101 heading north. You should probably spend 45 mins in this Marin Headlands area if you just drive around but don’t spend any time on the beach or visitor center. This puts you on 101 heading north around 5:15 to 5:45 – add 45 mins for Wharf visit.

- Now, let’s head to Stinson Beach. Off of 101, take the Hwy 1 Stinson Beach exit. Keep following the sighs to Hwy 1 & Stinson Beach. Once you get to Muir Beach, there are great ocean views – the best ones you’ll see for the remainder of this itinerary until you get to Pt Reyes. There’s a lookout over Muir Beach. There are roads on my AAA map around the Muir Beach area – but I’ve never driven on them. I have walked down from Hwy 1 to Muir Beach a few times, however – but that was quite a while ago. Switch to the AAA San Francisco Bay Region map. Continue on Shoreline (Hwy #1) past Muir Beach & on to Stinson Beach. If you stop for pictures at Muir Beach, it will be slightly less that 1 hr from Sausalito/101 to Stinson beach – getting you there around 6:15 to 6:45 & 45 mins later if you visited the Wharf. I would stay overnight in Stinson Beach. There are not as many lodging/dining options north of Stinson Beach.

- Now you have some options. You could check into your hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring Stinson Beach, or you could head off to Pt Reyes & explore there, or you could visit Stinson today and Pt Reyes tomorrow. However, Pt Reyes is an area where you should spend most of your time outside the car walking around. Also, if you decide to continue your drive up to Marshall, Hwy 1 is not as scenic as it was around Muir Beach, Marin Headlands, and GGNRA. Past Stinson, there is a lagoon that is only “OK” scenic wise – and the road to Marshall is about 60% non-water views and the water views that exist are narrow-bay views (look at the map). Also, I’ve never considered Marshall to be a “destination” – unless I’m looking for oysters to purchase.

To Weaverville without stops via Hwy 5, it is:
5 hrs from Stinson Beach
4 ½ hrs from Sausalito
5 ½ hrs from the Pt Reyes Lighthouse station

I would not stay in Healdsburg, like I recommended earlier. I looked at a map of California and found out that Weaverville is off of Hwy 5 & not 101. Haven’t been to Weaverville since the mid 60s.

Stu Dudley

elnap29

Having done this drive in August, I think the drive times will be longer than that, no matter what mapquest says. Just sayin'...

razzledazzle

I agree with you elnap-I would easily add
and hour or hour and a half to all of those times.

I also feel that Hwy 1 past Stinson beach is quite
lovely and a very scenic drive. There are water views of Tomales Bay
all the way up to Tomales, where Hwy 1 heads inland.
Marshall is very certainly a destination for those
heading to Nick's Cove, whether for just a meal or
an overnight stay in one of their cottages.

Be assured, oh2doula, that there are many dining
options north of Stinson Beach, at Olema, Pt. Reyes Station,
Inverness, Marshall & Tomales. So if you stay in the Pt.
Reyes area your first night you won't go hungry !
Oh, and Pt. Reyes is only 15 miles up the road from Stinson.

R5

oh2doula

WOW - you all are amazing!! I can not tell you how impressed I am!!

there will be 4 of us - me - hubby - 20 year old daughter and 9 year old son.

we want to be in Weaverville on june 9 - time isnt really an issue but my other son lives there and anxious to see him.

thanks so much!!!!

StuDudley

>>>There are water views of Tomales Bay
all the way up to Tomales

onemoneygirl

If you're going anywhere near Pac Bell Park... might I suugest that you purchase "World Champion San Francisco Giants" tee shirts at the Dugout instead of going to the trouble of going to Fisherman's Wharf and purchsing random shirts?

elnap29

I'm referring to drive times to Weaverville. It took us nearly 5 hrs from Napa, so from the coast it will take longer. Best to be prepared.

razzledazzle

"you could be correct-I used mapquest"
Yup, well then for sure we are correct.
Best to be prepared, as elnap so wisely states.

R5

SOCALOC

While I truly get your enthusiasm to do a mini road trip en route your son's graduation- there is one major minor flaw in your plan. San Francisco/northern coast in June can be one of the worst times to visit. It can be WET, COLD and VERY FOGGY.
So, be prepared that your adventure could turn into a very very long drive without really seeing anything.
I'd rather be with family.
I'm not trying to burst your bubble here- I'm just giving you a dose of reality. As someone else said- it's your trip.
Have fun either way.