San Francisco Off the Beaten Path Tips by emilienoelle

Located within Golden Gate Park, the Japanese Tea Garden is a serene sanctuary of falling water, beautiful foliage, and Japanese art. After you wander through admiring the many exotic Asian plants, koi ponds, zen sculpture, and traditional Japanese architecture you can relax in the tea house sipping your own cup of freshly brewed Japanese tea. They have several varieties to choose from, but I recommend the oolong. There is a small entrace fee.

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If you go to San Francisco and you have an extra day I highly recommend a visit to the wine country. Both Sonoma and Napa Valleys are within about an hour's drive of the city. Many vineyards offer free tours as well as free tastings. In addition to what you will learn about winemaking and wine itself, you will be treated to views of one of the most beautiful landscapes in America. Maps of the area are available at most hotels, though you could also do what we did: just get in the car and drive. We ran into some great out-of-the-way, family-owned vineyards this way.

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The city of Santa Cruz is located about 2 hours north of San Francisco. It is a picturesque, sleepy little place in the summer when most of the students from UC Santa Cruz are not in residence. This city's incredible beaches are very popular with windsurfers, but I was awestruck by their beauty. The water actually looks silver in the light of mid-afternoon.

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As its name suggests, the Pacific Coast Highway runs along the Pacific Coast of the United States. It is one of those places where car commercials are filmed, its winding roads meandering along dramatic cliffs leading directly into the sea. US 101 is also one of the most gorgeous stretches of road on earth, so much so that photographs can not do it justice. Take the time for a short ride (or a long one) along this stunning stretch of highway. You'll be glad you did.

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In addition to vineyards, the rural area surrounding San Francisco is also peppered with small farms and roadside produce stands. There are a variety of crops grown here ranging from strawberries and artichokes to olives and garlic. The farmstands are fun to visit if you're driving around on a day trip. It's just a shame that the produce probably wouldn't make it home!

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