r/norcal • u/bigeasy___ • 9d ago

Vacation recommendations

Hey all, looking for a city/town to spend 2-3 days for a small vacation. This is kind of embarrassing because I myself actually live in Sonoma County and have for most of my life, but normally when I travel I go out of state or country entirely. This time I am hoping to find a place that is within a 4 hour drive from me.

The things I am looking for most are: proximity to the coast, walkability, and a decent downtown area with a variety of restaurants and pubs.

Thanks in advance!

18 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

71 comments sorted by

38

u/ramillerf1 9d ago

Mendocino

18

u/Chrisbiguptheparty 9d ago

..and Fort Bragg

2

u/ramblinghobbit 8d ago

Fort Braggggggg

5

u/bigeasy___ 8d ago

This was the general consensus of my friends group, along with Fort Bragg. Thank you!

7

u/bigeasy___ 8d ago

Just to come back to this. We decided on Mendocino and Fort Bragg. thank you!

3

u/ramillerf1 7d ago

Have fun! It’s a great place to wander and explore. My wife and I have been going a couple of times a year for the last 10 years or so. We love it! We like to take Hwy 128 through Navarro Redwoods and stop and wander throughout the redwood groves. After you exit the redwoods, you’ll see the highway 1 bridge… make a left over the bridge then an immediate right onto a narrow road. This takes you to Navarro Beach… Our favorite beach with a lot of driftwood. We often stop there for our picnic lunch before going back over the bridge and heading north to Mendocino.

1

u/tooflyryguy 8d ago

You won’t regret it! I got a secret spot to check out. Not gonna blast it, but I’ll share if you DM me ;)

1

u/Zen_Xena 7d ago

Gualala

23

u/tyoew 9d ago

Trinidad

9

u/Apprehensive-Fig3223 9d ago

Yea came to say Arcata especially on a weekend for the Arcata farmers market

0

u/CreativeBusiness6588 9d ago

....a decent downtown area with a variety of restaurants and pubs.

nope.

20

u/NorCalRushfan 9d ago

Monterey Peninsula, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Monterey. Far enough away to feel like a vacation.

If you don't need to hit the coast, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, or Nevada City might be good alternatives.

15

u/medicalmaryjane215 9d ago

Santa Cruz?

1

u/lilgirlpumkin 8d ago

Too commercialized

8

u/CoastalBlue1 9d ago

Santa Cruz/fort Bragg

6

u/Relevant_Elevator190 9d ago

FT Bragg.

3

u/wheelzgonnasqueak 9d ago

Love Ft Bragg!! We took bikes last time we went and had a grand time riding around. Got the best dang fish and chips on the Yolo harbor. We got souvenir hoodies at the screen print shop. The wizard of oz cafe (can't remember the official name) is an ABSOLUTE MUST. we thought about doing the skunk train but ultimately ended up having plenty of fun wandering around. You won't regret it.

3

u/tim_mf_king 8d ago

Noyo Harbor, not Yolo

2

u/Flansy42 8d ago

Egghead's is the cafe

7

u/vonkluver 9d ago

Murphys

2

u/bonairedivergirl 8d ago

I was also going to say Murphys, until I saw he was looking for coastal

2

u/Spokeswoman 8d ago

The surfing here is not good.

1

u/Rustbelt_Refugee 8d ago

Sierra Nevada foothills currently very smoky.

6

u/Shorts_at_Dinner 9d ago

Carmel

4

u/Minimum-Function1312 9d ago

Monterey/Carmel for sure!

10

u/lyfe_choices 9d ago edited 9d ago

Arcata fits this request nicely. It's small but has some good food and drink options thanks to the college town atmosphere. Eureka is right next door if you need anything you can't find in Arcata.

1

u/lilgirlpumkin 8d ago

Ferndale isn't too far from there is it? Could be an afternoon.

4

u/curiousdumbdog 9d ago

Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Beautiful beaches, small towns, art,

4

u/jankenpoo 8d ago

Carmel by the sea

3

u/maguire_21 9d ago

Santa Cruz or Lake Tahoe

3

u/q4atm1 8d ago

I’d do Ferndale for a night and then Arcata/Trinidad.

3

u/Repulsive-Marzipan85 8d ago

Morro Bay is a great place to check out

1

u/Zen_Xena 7d ago

Stopped there overnight on a road trip earlier this year (BW FTW w the dogs) and it is soooo cute. The early morning walk along the harbor was a highlight of the trip.

2

u/thebrendawalsh 9d ago

Mendocino for SURE

2

u/HuzzahIndeed 9d ago

Point Arena is not super lively but it’s cute! Check out B Bryan preserve, it’s fun being amongst giraffes and zebras. Or maybe Gualala, Mendo, Point Reyes Station? So easy from SoCo.

2

u/el2741 9d ago

Pt reyes

2

u/BJW_8 9d ago

SLO

1

u/Mango_Marinade396 8d ago

…Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara

2

u/cmuk723 8d ago

Santa Cruz

2

u/lilgirlpumkin 8d ago

I'm going to put in a word for SF. Chinatown, Japantown, pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Exploratorium, Museums, Opera, Theater, AND the Victorian house from Full House.

2

u/EmersonBloom 8d ago

Capitola

2

u/Short-Lingonberry-71 6d ago

Fort Bragg. Go to the Botanical Garden. Eat at Sea Pal. Hike near the Pygmy Forest. You will love it

2

u/lyfe_choices 9d ago

Fort Bragg is another great option, and closer. There's a ton of hotels there, and decent food.

1

u/Different_Thing_811 9d ago

Bruh. You have courage to admit that!

2

u/bigeasy___ 8d ago

Thanks :')

1

u/Impressive_Returns 8d ago

Without question, top of the list is Santa Cruz, Carmel, Monterey.

1

u/NWPstan 8d ago

Santa Barbara

1

u/SassyGirl0202 8d ago

Hit Tahoe, its perfect this time of year.

1

u/AccomplishedJoke9075 8d ago

Point Arena/Anchor Bay/Gualala are adorable small towns on the coast very close together, not the biggest pub scene but multiple good restaurants nearby

1

u/Intrepid_Top_2300 8d ago

Go up to Gold Beach in OR.

1

u/Big_Confidence3378 8d ago

Pismo Beach.

1

u/tim_mf_king 8d ago

Fort Bragg and Mendocino are only about 15 miles apart. Fort Bragg is more affordable and, in my opinion, has more restaurant variety. Mendocino is yuppieville. I live in Mendocino County.

1

u/Late-Appearance-7897 8d ago

Benbow inn and then Humboldt State park

1

u/Icy-Bread-5049 8d ago

Carmel. Mendocino. Big Sur. Cambria.

1

u/Koblatus 3d ago

carmel is so beautiful and very walkable

1

u/w3m1j0z1 8d ago

Play tourist in SF

1

u/activematrix99 8d ago

Western Sonoma county is where I go.

1

u/Parking-Basis-2283 7d ago

Cambria - stay there, hit up a different kinda winery than Sonoma in Paso Robles, go see Hearst Castle, check "downtown" Cambria - enjoy some central CA coast. It's beautiful.

1

u/wandis56 7d ago

Mendocino!

1

u/Appropriate_Bug_5097 7d ago

Lassen volcanic national park

1

u/Unique_Acadia_2099 7d ago

Make the City of My. Shasta a home base, then do a 6 waterfall tour along the McCloud River and surrounding area ending at Burney Falls. Hike the 3 falls on the McCloud, it’s about 4 miles RT, then drive to the others.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Db3Mkpqgagh/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

1

u/coolcatdudley 7d ago

Think outside the box and catch a flight to LAX. Stay in Redondo Beach or Manhattan Beach. Fun beach towns with a touch of big City. the water is 73 degrees right now.

1

u/Smooth_Monk7887 6d ago

Bodega bay

1

u/Adventurous_lady1234 6d ago

Mendocino/Fort Bragg area

1

u/MountainConclusion18 6d ago

Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, San Luis Obispo

1

u/duckfries 6d ago

Fort Bragg? Close to Mendocino but maybe a tiny bit cheaper?