Find the famous, unique and special beach getaways considered the favorite
getaways by San Francisco locals who know the best beaches & lodging!
South of San Francisco
Big Sur ... Capitola ... Carmel ... Santa Cruz
North of San Francisco
Elk ... Mendocino
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Capitola Village by the Sea
3 mi South of the town of Santa Cruz, 70 mi So of San Francisco. It is
one of California's most famous surfing area and one of the most
charming beach communities in California. It is also the
warmest beach in the region, a soft sandy beach.
A quaint beach village with outdoor cafes'
boutique shops, markets, and live
entertainment and clubs.
We highly recommend
Capitola Suites.
for lodging.
Carmel
A small town with a beautiful beach, many fine shops, restaurants, art galleries
considered one of the most upscale shopping Mecca anywhere in the world.
It is a bustling community that is made for walking with charming
gardens and flowers everywhere. Parking is at a premium.
The famous Pebble Beach Golf Resort is near town.
For a quiet and most delightful lodging
experience we highly recommend
The Highlands Inn.
For a complete list of hotels in Carmel.
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Big Sur
A region so dramatic and beautiful that poets, writers and artists
have attempted to capture it's magnificence but somehow always
fall short. It is rather a long drive from San Francisco
but worth it. Make sure you have reservations since
lodging is in short supply here. It is a remote
region in the Santa Lucia Mountains where
the mountains meet the great Pacific
Ocean. We personally recommend
lodging in Ventana Inn
and Spa.
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Santa Cruz
One of the most interesting towns in California. Known for it's liberal politics,
as a haven for artists, poets and bohemian lifestyles. Beautiful sandy
beaches, redwood forests, hiking trails and yacht harbor.
The downtown scene is a great place to people watch
and experience live street entertainers
and artists. Great restaurants,
coffeehouses and cafes'.
We recommend lodging
at West Cliff Inn.
See Santa Cruz Guide
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Elk
A very tiny hamlet known to many San Francisco locals as the jewel of North Coast.
A place to while away the hours walking along the cliffs above the great
Pacific Ocean with it's crashing surf pounding the rocky coast.
This is a place to come to experience natural beauty.
It feels very remote since there are only
a few houses, shops and fewer
places to stay. We do
highly recommend
Elk Cove Inn
and Spa.
Note: Mendocino is only a few miles down the road for shopping & fine restaurants!
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Mendocino
A quaint coastal village overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the Northern California Coast.
So many great restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and festivals! It is also
one of the most picturesque villages anywhere! The drive here is
also quite spectacular. A three hour drive from the
city that locals enjoy as part of a great
getaway. So many lodging options
to choose from. Here is a
list of hotels & Inns.
See our Mendocino Guide
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