By Bridget Veltri
The Bay Area is a pretty great place to live, but it’s also a great place from which to start a vacation. From San Francisco it’s just a quick ride to the wine havens of Sonoma and Napa, the serene redwood forests of Muir Woods or the surf destinations Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. But if you feel the urge to fly, here are some great weekend getaways that are less than an hour-and-a-half flight from the city. On your mark, jet set, go!
Reno, Nevada
Flight Time: 55 minutes
If you immediately think of Reno 911 when the “Biggest Little City in the World” is brought up, please change the channel. Reno has way more to offer than gas on the way to Burning Man. Downtown restaurants like Campo and Beaujolais Bistro, which looks out onto the Truckee River, are sprucing up the downtown area with fine food. And it’s hard to count how many new businesses have popped up in recent years in what is now called the Midtown District.
While the casinos are ready and waiting for you (and your money), the Whitney Peak Hotel is a non-gaming lodging option downtown. The hotel features the tallest outdoor rock-climbing wall in the world, for those who’d rather risk their lives than their wallets.
Yes, that little festival in the nearby Black Rock Desert draws quite a crowd. But Reno itself is home to some pretty cool (and much less dusty) events. Artown is a month-long art festival in July. Hot August Nights is the largest nostalgic car festival in the world. And in September, hundreds of hot-air balloons take to the sky for the Great Reno Balloon Race. For seasonal sun or snow, Lake Tahoe’s sand and slopes are a scenic 45-minute drive away.
Santa Barbara, California
Flight Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
There is a small city with red-tiled roofs nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific that they call the “American Riviera,” and whoever they are, they’re absolutely right.
Santa Barbara is the perfect blend of beach and posh, with its vibrant but quaint downtown scene and palm-lined coastal drive. Shop, stroll and dine on State Street in the heart of the city before heading to the harbor for a seafood dinner at Brophy Bros. Seafood Restaurant & Clam Bar. If Italian food is what you’re after, Ca’ Dario downtown is a local favorite. Make it your mission to visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara — its beautiful grounds and views are almost enough to convert you. Stroll along Sterns Wharf, bike down the Cabrillo Bike Path, or rent a board and wetsuit at Surf ’n’ Wear’s Beach House and paddle out.
Stay across the street from the Pacific at the Fess Parker or at the Coast Village Inn in Montecito, where you can make your way through the mansions to sit in the sand on Butterfly Beach and watch the dolphins cruise by.
From upscale to laid back, Santa Barbara has the best of both worlds.
San Luis Obispo, California
Flight Time: 1 hour 9 minutes
This small town’s claim to fame might be Cal Poly, Bubblegum Alley and the kitschy, can’t-miss Madonna Inn (pink-champagne cake and iced tea — just sayin’). There is much more to San Luis Obispo than college students and a famous hotel.
Use SLO as your home base for experiencing all the Central Coast has to offer. Beach towns like Pismo and Avila, wineries and hiking are all within a short drive. Check out the Thursday evening farmers’ market for food, music and fresh produce.
Just south of town, spend the night and soak up the scenery at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, or take your pick of one of the Madonna Inn’s themed suites.
Taking flight to taste a flight? The Central Coast might just burst your Bay Area wine-tasting bubble. Sip near town in the Edna Valley area for spectacular views and vintages. Or drive 30 minutes north on the 101 toward Paso Robles and sip your way down highway 46 (just be sure to have someone sober behind the wheel). Head west, and you might find yourself face to face with some elephant seals in San Simeon or at Hearst Castle. Cambria and Cayucos are also quaint coastal gems.
Palm Springs, California
Flight Time: 1 hour 26 minutes
This one-time playground of the stars is making a comeback as a year-round destination. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is your transport to fun seasonal activities like hiking or snowshoeing in Mount San Jacinto State Park.
It’s no secret that this delightful desert oasis is the perfect place to slather on the SPF and plant yourself next to a poolside palm tree for hours. Or seek some indoor serenity at one of the many chic resorts and spas, like the Rivera Palm Springs or the Parker.
Palm Springs is a true golfer’s paradise with approximately 130 courses in the region. Pay a visit to popular public courses like the Classic Club, Escena and Indian Canyons, where you can tee off in the shadow of celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason, all of whom used to favor the course.
As you shop and stroll down Palm Canyon Drive, escape the heat and seek refuge and air conditioning in one of the restaurant or boutiques. For a special meal in the mountain foothills, try Spencer’s Restaurant.
Bend/Redmond, Oregon
Flight Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
If you crave a good craft beer but Portland is a little too weird for you, Bend in central Oregon is your kind of town.
If you played Oregon Trail in the ’90s, you might remember losing an ox or dying of cholera in Bend. Drown your elementary-school-computer-lab sorrows in a pint on the Bend Ale Trail, where you can taste your way through some world-class breweries.
For great beer and ambiance, try 10 Barrel Brewing Company, Crux Fermentation Project and the legendary Deschutes Brewery, without which no visit to Bend would be complete.
Bend is also a hub for year-round recreational activities like fly fishing, kayaking, hiking biking and skiing (at nearby Mount Bachelor). Stay at the upscale Sunriver Resort or take a tip from locals and rent a mountain house through Airbnb.
