San Francisco Off the Beaten Path Tips by MyHollyDay

When I do not have time to go too far away, my most favorite way get a mini vacation would be taking a drive on this windy coastal highway. Both south and north bounds are very scenic. It passes through many lay back towns where you can taste home made breads, freshly picked fruits and vegetables, see local artwork, and enjoy a cup coffee in simple comfort. Just rent a car and start from San Francisco.

If you go south on hwy 1 for about 30 minutes there is Half Moon Bay. On the coastal side of hwy 1 is a bustling fishing town where you can get seafood and watch amateur fishers in action. On the inland side of hwy 1, there is a quaint strip of main street full of coffee shops, art and crafts, bakeries, and restaurants, all very characterically northern california small
towns.
***If you continue down on Hwy 1, you will reach Santa Cruz. From this town you can return via the route on my other Day Trip tip "Driving Hwy 35" to make it a loop back to San Francisco.

If you go north on hwy 1 for about 45 minutes, there is Stinson Beach. This town is less busy compared Half Moon Bay, less out of town visitors, having more of a local community feel to it.

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This is another scenic drive, a close second to Hwy 1.
Connecting from Hwy 92, the road passes through several Open Space Reserves sprinkled with residential houses in park like settings. The Open Space Reserves are lined with extensive webs of hiking trails, trailheads right off of the road. After about an hour on this road, you will see junction to Hwy 9 where it takes you to Boulder Creek, a town that has an ancient history of mountain retreat destination for San Franciscans in the past. This town is a good point to grab a bite or coffee before deciding whether to continue down on hwy 35 which ends at Santa Cruz, a college beach town.
***This trip can be done in a loop is you return to San Francisco from Santa Cruz via Hwy 1. See my other Day Trip tip "Scenic Drive Along the Coast - Hwy 1".

Or wonder off from Boulder Creek on Hwy 236 towards Big Basin State Park to see redwoods.

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