The SF Suburbs That You Should Actually Visit

Even if it seems like all anyone talks about is San Francisco or Oakland , there ’s a lot more to the Bay Area than our big - name cities . The dozens of township that besiege SF and the major East Bay hubs may technically be suburban area ( or exurbs , or unincorporated town ) , but each has its own singular , only - in - the - Bay qualities that are deserving a misstep out of the urban center .

Mill Valley

Marin CountyHow to get there : While Golden Gate Transit runs heap from San Francisco , the light way to get to Mill Valley from Downtown SF is to motor 20 minute north on Highway 101 , and then head in from the throughway down Miller or Blithedale Avenues . What it ’s got : Mill Valley is where Grateful beat fan went to grow up , buy hillside homes , and retire . On the plus side : all those honest-to-goodness hippies have splendid taste in nutrient and shops . Eat the banh mi atBoo Kooand then get back to your ' 60s musical roots at Bob Weir’sSweetwater Music Hall . Along with the cute Downtown , concentrate around a historicGravity wagon train , Mill Valley is household to the start of the famous Dipsea Trail stairs and countlessMt . Tamtrailheads . Pro tip : On Tuesday Nox , the weekly comedy show atThrockmorton Theatrefeatures local magnanimous injection like Dana Carvey ( Robin Williams used to make surprise appearances ) , as well as hot up - and - comers .

Walnut Creek

Contra Costa CountyHow to get there : Take BART ’s Pittsburg - Bay Point parentage directly to the Downtown Walnut Creek stop , or drive east for 30 moment along scenic Highway 24.What it ’s stimulate : Walnut Creek is central Contra Costa County ’s most thriving city , with a huge business district and access to all the loose quad you could want . From the BART station , point down North Main Street to the shopping district at Broadway Plaza , then take after up a hard day of spending with drink on Locust St. The Lesher Center for the Arts holds musical and theatrical performances throughout the yr , and an outdoor ice skating rink pop up every wintertime . situate in a valley , beautiful hiking , biking , and views are just a car tease away at Mt. Diablo or Briones Regional Park . Pro tip : Mt. Diablo State Park is the giant behemoth loom over the Ithiel Town . The Summit Trail will take you all the way to the top of its 3,848 ft , while the Grand Loop Trail circumnavigate the crown . Then head down the pot to theCalicraft Brewing Companyto rehydrate .

Pleasanton

Alameda CountyHow to get there : This lengthy but easy ride can terminate at one of two BART place along the Dublin - Pleasanton credit line . Plus , at the crossing of Interstates 580 and 680 , it ’s a direct movement from SF and most part of the East Bay . What it ’s got : Rated one of the ripe places to subsist by bothMoneyandUSA Today , Pleasanton is over the hills and into the warm weather of the east East Bay . That means lots of warm nights , keep with a year - round farmers market and a bustling business district . In the summertime , enjoy the First Wednesday events along Main St or concerts out at the popularWente Vineyards(which also has a restaurant ) . Yet , this harbor is still part of the in use Alameda County and hosts the county fair at itsfairgroundsin July as well as fete throughout the year . you may also golf at one of the dozens of courses or hike the massive nearby Del Valle Regional Park . Pro lead : Take a swim at Lake Del Valle , then cruise Tesla Rd in Livermore ’s wine-coloured country for a taste of the deep East Bay .

Downtown San Jose

Santa Clara CountyHow to get there : You have sight of options to get to the center of the South Bay . Take Caltrain to San Jose Diridon Station , hop on BART and then a VTA bus to the heart of Downtown at Santa Clara and First Streets , or drive properly to where Interstates 280 and Route 87 meet . What it ’s got : San Jose is n’t really a suburban area ; it ’s actually the Bay Area ’s biggest metropolis with its own small neighborhoods ( we ’re look at you , Willow Glen and South San Jose ) . Inside that booming metropolis is a business district that ’s becoming sleep together as a heavy position for dinner , drink , and a night out . take the air down First St or Santa Clara Ave to find more eating house and taproom than you could visit . Before you get too full , inflict one of the many museums in Downtown , like the fascinatingTech Museum of Innovation , or get ticket to any of the smattering of theater companies meet up the neighborhood . If that ’s too much polish for you , theSan Jose Sharksplay nearby . Pro baksheesh : Take the wagon train down to catch a show atCity Lights , the historicCalifornia Theatre , or the largeSan Jose Center for the Performing Arts . Grab dinner first atThe Grill on the Alleyand have a post - dinner a crapulence atThe Fountainhead . Unlike other ‘ burbs , you ’ll be capable to take the air everywhere .

Petaluma

Sonoma CountyHow to get there : Golden Gate Transit regularly runs direct bus topology between SF and Petaluma , along Highway 101 . Beginning this fall , the SMART train will also give up in Petaluma . Alternatively , tug northerly for 45 minutes and take in stunning aspect . What it ’s receive : In the last few year , Petaluma made an exploit to develop what it callsthe Theater Districtalong its riverfront , which is now filled with art heading , restaurant , tasting rooms , and , yes , dramatic art . Head to the edge of the district to visit thePetaluma Historical Museum , or go away the metropolis for the farms and winery of Sonoma County . With so many local dairy , winery , and brewery , feeding , and drink is cardinal to any misstep to Petaluma . Pro tip : Check out thePetaluma Creameryfor local cheeses and award - gain ground lavender or Meyer lemon ice pick , then lead to the famed and widely lovedLagunitas Brewing Companyfor a tour and a craft beer .

Redwood City

San Mateo CountyHow to get there : Take Caltrain to the Redwood City Station in Downtown or drive south from San Francisco on Highway 101 to the Peninsula . What it ’s got : Redwood City is lie with as the dwelling house to tech giants like Oracle and as a popular rest home radical for those working in San Francisco . But just to its east is the gravid undeveloped island in the Bay Area : Bair Island . As part of theDon Edwards National Wildlife Refuge , the island has top - notch birdwatching and hiking . you could also charter a kayak or try rowing atthe Bair Island Aquatic Center . West of Downtown , which extend pocket-sized bistros and bars , is an eternal amount of mountains , land parks , and clear space . topical anesthetic hike up at Phleger Estate or go for a weekend jog around Crystal Springs Reservoir . There ’s even the rare Bay Area chicken feed rink , Nazareth Ice Oasis . Pro tip : On Sundays , Canada Rd is close to cars between Edgewood Rd and theFiloli Mansionentrance , make this load a great plaza to be for wheeler , rollerblader , and runners . Take a break to ascertain out the Filioli mansion and gardens .

Half Moon Bay

San Mateo CountyHow to get there : The jitney drive is too long for most , so snag a ride 30 moment to the south down Highway 1 along the coast . What it ’s puzzle : A coastal seaside town in the south of San Francisco ( and named for the bay it surrounds ) , Half Moon Bay is most known for its beach and the famousMavericks breaker competition . The number of body politic commons and protected nautical place nearby seem to go on forever , including theHalf Moon Bay State Beach , Pillar Point , andMontara Marine Reserve . If you wander in off the beach , the actual town of Half Moon Bay is full of historic edifice and , just to the S , the ghost town of Purissima . In the fall , when it gets a little cold for surfing and beach lounging , Half Moon Bay becomes home to one of thebiggest pumpkin festivalsaround and some of the biggest pumpkins anywhere ( last year ’s laboured pumpkin vine weighed in at 1,969lbs).Pro tip : If you ’re looking to fling , there ’s a reasonthe Ritz - Carltonin Half Moon Bay has been used in movies , such asAmerican Wedding . Walk out the back door along the cliffside , then curl up next to the hotel ’s fire pits and look up to the view .

Niles

Alameda CountyHow to get there : About 40 minutes from San Francisco , take south on Interstate 880 , get off at Alvarado - Niles Rd , and head east for about six miles . If you take BART to Union City , then take an AC Transit bus down Alvarado - Niles Rd , which turns into Niles Blvd . What it ’s bring : Within the metropolis limits of Fremont , the neighborhood of Niles is its own minuscule community of interests , complete with a biotic community park , school , railroad line , and fussy Downtown area . Niles Blvd ( also know as Main St ) is home to antique fund and vintage car shows and a circle – we meana pile –of historic silent motion picture memorabilia . TheNiles Canyon Railwayleaves from the Depot decently there in town , which you’re able to watch after visiting local deary likeDevout CoffeeandNiles Ice Cream . Pro tip : Once consideredthe first Hollywoodand the localization of a Charlie Chaplin production party , Niles celebrates his legacy with an yearly festival – and a deal of reverence . Visit theNiles Essanay Silent Film Museumand watch one of his film .

Bolinas

Marin CountyHow to get there : local anaesthetic are known to take down signs pointing the way , so use GPS to get to this unincorporated coastal townspeople . From San Francisco , drive due north on Highway 1 for 45 minutes , then turn left on Olema - Bolinas Rd . The only public transportation system option is a infrequent West Marin Stagecoach . What it ’s got : Bolinas has a reputation for not on the button welcoming outsiders , but once you get through the crusty exterior you ’ll happen a quaint little hippy arty beach town tucked in between Mt. Tamalpais State Park and Pt . Reyes National Seashore . There are just a handful of stores , a public house that claims to be the oldest west of the Mississippi , and a very expensive gas station . The Pacific here is sleep with to be friendly for tyro surfers , while Bolinas Lagoon is a calm and popular speckle for kayaking and seal staining . The town moderate an one-year tug - of - war competition on Fourth of July with neighboring Stinson Beach . Pro tip : Stop at2 Mile Surf Shopfor rentals and get out on the Pacific . Parking can be tough ( and locals are n’t always glad to assist ) , so appear for a spot on Brighton Ave , then walk down to the beach and head left at the sand for more seclusion .

Yountville

Napa CountyHow to get there : project to make a daytime of this trip , which will operate you a minuscule over an hour from SF . Head north on Highway 101 , then take Highway 37 , good turn left at the Sonoma Raceway onto Highway 121 ( which briefly rick into Highway 12 ) . A left on Highway 29 then takes you past the townsfolk of Napa to Yountville . What it ’s develop : This is Napa County after all , so what you ’re really here for is the wine and Yountville delivers . Use it as a home root word for a wine-colored - tasting tour down Silverado Trail and Highway 29 . Napa has also become a culinary destination and Yountville is home to the humans - famous The French Laundry ( and the only slenderly less - well - knownReddandAd Hoc ) . If all those mellow - last spas and hotel get slow , take a hot air travel balloon ride or ride the miles of cycling routes up out of the valley . Pro lead : Yountville can be expensive . confabulate during the off - time of year or on a weekday to get all the sumptuousness without all the price tag end .

Healdsburg

Sonoma CountyHow to get there : Located on the Russian River along Route 101 , downtown Healdsburg is an hour and fifteen minute driving N from San Francisco . Eventually , the SMART train will carry visitant straight to the town . What it ’s got : Healdsburg has won numerous eminence as one of the top diminished towns in the country . Sonoma County might not be as famous a wine goal as Napa , but the wine is just as estimable . to boot , Healdsburg is at the heart of a few unlike wine - produce regions – the Russian River , Dry Creek , and Alexander Valley . Plus , with so much novel green groceries growing on nearby farm , the local restaurants and markets are top - quality . Try local ducky , Scopa , and be sure to visit during the annual harvest , humanistic discipline , and wind festival . Pro pourboire : The Healdsburg farmers marketis weigh one of the upright . hold on Wednesdays and Saturdays , it ’s not about frills , but it is all about local food mostly from farm within 10 miles of townsfolk .

Half Moon Bay