Things to do
Do you have some extra time after the wedding and want to figure out what to do? Here’s some places we love!
Cool Stuff Close
Great for if you want to stay in the Bay Area, some of our favorite spots in Oakland, San Francisco, and beyond (but not too far beyond).
Lil’ Adventures
Interested in leaving the area for a day or two? These options are great for you!
Go on a Journey
Want to go on a journey and visit some of our favorite places that are further afoot? These options will be sure to impress.
Cool Stuff Close
Covering some of our favorite things close to home, these are our favorite ways to spend a day
Oakland
Outdoors
Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, our local slice of Redwood paradise. This is our go to place for afterwork or short weekend hikes.
Sibley Volcanic Regional Park, a neat geologic area, home to ancient volcanos that make the majority of the Oakland hills. A perfect spot to watch the sunset.
Food
Sfizio, if you’re looking for a simple menu of handmade pasta dishes, this is the place to eat.
The Wolf , an upscale restaurant in our neighborhood, great spot for Californian cuisine.
Cafe Romanat, a great Ethiopian restaurant in the Grand Lake neighborhood, come here hungry and with a group.
Drinks
Cleo’s, if you’ve ever dreamed of having a place where you can enjoy a cocktail and a book at the same time, this is the place for you.
Tallboy, a “martini dive bar”, they serve vegan hot dogs and have a great selection of martinis. Great place to begin or end a night out.
The Alley, an ooooold piano bar with the vibe to match. Get the steak!
San Francisco
Outdoors
Golden Gate Park, an giant park on the west side of the city. Great for picnics, bike rides, and buffalo watching.
Dolores Park, a wonderful place to relax and people watch in San Francisco. Bring lunch, a blanket, and enjoy the sun in the Mission.
Food
Foreign Cinema, featuring a movie in their wonderful outdoor dining space, this is a great place to enjoy a nice meal with friends.
Papalote or El Farolito, are both great Mexican spots located in the Mission. Head to either for a great burrito or quesadilla.
54 Mint, located next to the SF Mint, this is a great spot for an upscale dinner in SOMA.
Drinks
Toronado, a San Francisco classic. All cash, great beer selection.
Mother, a recommendation from Lex, one of the few lesbian bars in the US. Great place to spend time with your queer friends.
The Royal Cuckoo, a cash bar in the Mission with music, a lovely back patio, and great cocktails.
San Francisco from Jack London Square
Relax in Mission Dolores Park
Watch the sunset in Sibley
Walk among the Redwoods
Lil’ Adventures
Have some extra time in California but don’t want to drive too far? These are some of our favorite places to go for a day trip
Northward
Point Reyes National Seashore, from waterfalls to wildflowers, this park is our favorite day trip. Our favorite sights here are the Tomales Point hike where you can waltz though the wildflowers, Alamere Falls (it’s a 14 mile hike to get there, you’ve been warned), and the San Andreas fault at the Earthquake Trail.
Armstrong Redwood State Natural Reserve, located in the Russian River Valley, this state park features the 310 foot tall Parson Jones Tree, as well as the 1400 year old Colonel Armstrong Tree. This is a very accessible park where you can see some amazing trees in just a short walk.
Wine Tasting in Sonoma & Napa, not just the valleys, but the counties as well. Our favorites include Gundlach Bundschu, MacRostie, and Stag's Leap.
Mt. Tam and the Marin Headlands, close enough that Andrew can go here after work! Enjoy the morning in Muir Woods, the afternoon hiking in the Tennessee Valley, and enjoy the sunset from Trojan Point.
South-ish
Pacifica, technically, it’s north of the wedding venue, but south for us. Go for a hike around Grey Whale Cove then enjoy a Doritos Locos Taco at Taco Bell Beach a.k.a. Pacifica State Beach
Henry Cowell State Park, your opportunity to see the Redwoods if you decide to go south. Take a mile walk and be surrounded by forest full of 1800 year old, 300 foot tall, 16 foot diameter Coast Redwoods. A great spot to spot banana slugs as well. Walk the boardwalk in Santa Cruz and have dinner there if you have extra time. hidden text
Sea Harvest at Moss Landing, a lovely seafood spot nestled between San Francisco and Monterey. You can enjoy fried oysters, clam chowder, fish tacos, or fish and chips while watching Otters and Harbor Seals play in the slough.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, this aquarium has wildlife from the California coast so you can get a wonderful look into what’s hiding in the water right in front of you.
Alamere Falls in Point Reyes
Sunset at Trojan Point
Otter watching at Sea Harvest
Sardines at Monterey Bay Aquarium
Go on a Journey
Want to see the best of the best? These options are a bit more of a drive, but 110% worth the time. Importantly, a weather warning for June. This can be considered early season for the mountains and there will be snow at higher elevations, so make sure you do your research (or ask us) before you venture into the wilderness.
The National Parks
Redwood State and National Park, is not only housing the tallest tree on Earth, but it’s also an amazing place to take things slow and relax. From massive Redwoods, beautiful coastal vistas, and canyons covered in ferns, this places is perfect Northern California.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, is the core of the Southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Home to peaks over 14,000 feet and monstrous Sequoias, this is a place to go if you want to go deep into nature and explore.
Yosemite National Park, is the Classic California National Park. Spend a day in Yosemite Valley, but be sure to drive through the Tioga Pass to see Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Tuolumne Meadows.
Pinnacles National Park, is found just over 2 hour south of the wedding venue. A less known National Park, you can see the famous California Condor, a bird with a 10 foot wingspan that live to 60 years old. You can also hike though caves and stress your cardiovascular system by climbing 1000 foot rock towers.
Other (very) Pretty Places
Big Sur, a wonderful place for a romantic nature filled getaway. This section of Coastal California has the famous Pacific Coast Highway, offering sweeping views of dramatic cliffs that tumble into the ocean. It also has waterfalls, Redwoods, hot springs, and beautiful beaches.
Eastern Sierra and Owens Valley, is one of Lex’s and Andrew’s favorite areas of California. The Owens Valley is hosts the town of Bishop in the center, the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west edge, and the White Mountains to the east. If you visit here, take time to drive up to Whitney Portal at 10,000 feet or visit the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, home to the oldest (non-clonal) living organism. This is the perfect place to go when your travel is about the journey as opposed to a specific destination.
Mendocino, is a great place to spend a weekend at if you’re interested in sipping on a cup of tea and eating a scone while sitting on the front porch of a bed and breakfast. This quaint town is perched on the Mendocino Headlands, a peninsula that juts out 1 mile into the Pacific Ocean. This town offers cute shops, amazing scenery, many spas, and a great bar to entertain.
Ediza Lake in the Eastern Sierra Nevada
Yosemite's famous Half Dome
Deep in Redwood National Park