The Super Bowl is Almost Here: Great Things to See and Do Near San Francisco

America’s biggest annual sporting event takes place less than two weeks from now in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, the World Cup will be there in the summer, but I’m talking about an annual event, the National Football League’s Super Bowl. The big game, Super Bowl LX if you want to be precise about it, or if you just love Roman numerals, will be held at Levi’s Stadium in suburban Santa Clara on Sunday Feb. 8. 

Last week I posted an item about things to do and see and where to stay in the city of San Francisco. Today I’ve got suggestions about places to go and stay within an hour or two of the city or the stadium in Santa Clara. 

GREAT GETAWAYS

Napa Valley

 

This fabled wine area is only an hour or so north of San Francisco. The cooler south end produces great grapes for sparkling wine and chardonnay, while the warmer, north end is best known for amazing, deep reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. Wine tasting can be expensive these days, so check things out before you go. One of my fave wineries is the family-run Leto Cellars. It’s not fancy, but the owners are lovely and helpful and the wine is to die for. Rutherford Hill is a beautiful winery on a hill, with great views and a lovely picnic area under the trees.Downtown Napa is quite walkable and has fine shops and restaurants. Oxbow is a fabulous market in downtown Napa, where you can buy fresh veggies, locally-made bitters for your cocktails and other goods. There’s also a ton of very good, not-too-expensive places for a great meal, including everything from lamb or fish tacos to pizza and sandwiches. At the north end of the valley, Calistoga is a great town to explore for shoppers and wine lovers alike.

Sonoma

 

I find Sonoma a bit more relaxed than Napa, but with wine and food that’s just as good. The town of Sonoma is charming and has a lovely public square or plaza that includes a 19^th century Spanish mission. They can grow almost any kind of wine grape imaginable in Sonoma, including fine Pinot Noir closer to the coast. One advantage Sonoma has over Napa is that it borders the Pacific Ocean, so you can have your wine and enjoy fine ocean views. I quite enjoy the coastal drives around the town of Jenner. Jack London  State Historic Park in Glen Ellen is a great place for literature and nature lovers. Also check out the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa for all things related to Schulz and his greatly loved Peanuts cartoon strip with Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy and company.

Muir Woods National Monument

Less than an hour north of downtown San Francisco in Marin County, this is one of the most popular nature spots in California. The area features incredible redwood trees, some of them 1,000 years old and 250 feet high. Reservations are required to park at the monument and must be made at GoMuirWoods.com ahead of your visit.

Sausalito

This is a delightful waterfront town north of San Francisco, with fun shops and nice restaurants with a view. This is where Otis Redding is said to have written the hit song “Dock of the Bay.” You can drive over from the city via the Golden Gate Bridge, but it’s much more enjoyable to take the ferry from the SF Ferry Building dock.

GREAT BAY AREA SPOTS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT

The Marin Headlands are one of the least used but most easily accessible nature areas in the Bay Area. The park entrance is just two minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge and less than 15 minutes from downtown San Francisco, but you can easily find yourself alone on a high cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Point Bonita Lighthouse offers tremendous views of the Golden Gate, while Tennessee Point, a 15-minute walk up the hill from Rodeo Beach, rewards hikers with a small labyrinth and stunning views of the California coastline.

Located just a short drive north of Sausalito, Tiburon is a small town with a delightful shopping district, a lovely waterfront park and more. Great food options include Sam’s Anchor Café (great bar and a fab patio with San Francisco Bay and city views) and Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina, a superb, fine dining spot. From Tiburon you can catch the short ferry to Angel Island, a beautiful hiking spot that also served as the “Ellis Island of the Pacific” for years.

The Tri-Valley region is a fun, easy to reach wine and foodie destination about 45 minutes east of San Francisco. The small cities/big towns of Pleasanton, Danville and Livermore have walkable, fun downtown areas to explore on foot. The Eugene O’Neill  National Historic Site in Danville is a lovely spot to explore. The site includes the home O’Neill lived in (and wrote in) for seven years, as well as lovely walking trails and great views of Mount Diablo. Dublin has a number of very good, inexpensive Asian dining spots. Livermore is home to the San Francisco Bay Premium Outlets shopping centre, which has a variety of discount shops and food outlets. Two of my fave wineries are Wente Bros. and Wood Family Vineyards in Livermore. I also love the wines at Darcie Kent, which has a nice patio,

The Oakland hills are famous for towering, redwood groves just 10 minutes or so from downtown. Joaquin Miller Regional Park is a personal fave, with truly spectacular groves of ancient trees. No charge for entry or parking!

The Oakland Wine Trail in popular Jack London Square has tasting rooms from a number of California wineries in one easy, walkable district. While you’re in town, check out the fab Peruvian cuisine and vibrant décor at Lucuma Kitchen and Bar in downtown Oakland.

The most famous drive in California is Highway One past Big Sur, south of Carmel. But you can get a taste of that drive by heading south on Highway One just outside San Francisco. The roughly 64-mile (105 km) stretch from Pacifica to Santa Cruz takes you past great towns such as Half Moon Bay (stop at Sam’s Chowder House for clam chowder and ocean views), lonely beaches, towering cliffs and attractive lighthouses. Don’t miss a stop at Pigeon Point Lighthouse for fine walks and beach views.

Santa Cruz is famous for its surfing and laid-back vibe, is less than an hour from Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where the Super Bowl will be played. Check out the new tiki bar at the end of the Santa Cruz Pier, the Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery. Take a ride on the historic roller coaster or merry go round at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and admire the views along West Cliff Drive, including the lovely rock formations at Natural Bridges State Beach. Don’t miss a visit to the nearby village of Capitola, which has lovely shops, a great beach and colorful, beachfront homes you can rent.

HOTEL OPTIONS

 

The Lodge at Tiburon is a short block to the tiny, perfect downtown and has very nice rooms, as well as a swimming pool and a restaurant.

The Waterfront Hotel in Oakland’s Jack London Square is right on the water and has a perfect location for enjoying the Square’s numerous dining and shopping options.

The Westin Verasa Napa in downtown Napa is elegant but not stuffy. They have a variety of rooms, including one-bedroom suites with full kitchens and sofa beds. 

The Best Western Plus Inn at the Vines offers up nice, clean rooms in the south end of the Napa Valley.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a relaxed, country-style classic in the heart of Sonoma.

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is a glorious property that sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. There’s also a world-class golf course.

The AC Hotel by Marriott in Pleasanton offers a perfect Tri-Valley location, close to both Highways 580 and 680 and only a short drive to Danville or Livermore.