Blog > Spring Break 2019 Guide
You don’t need to spend a ton of money on a huge spring break trip to have a good time! Keep reading for some great local activities all over and around the Bay Area for all ages!
Day Trips
- San Jose – Spring is upon us and so is baseball season! Not wanting to make the trek all the way to San Francisco? Enjoy a San Jose Giants baseball game just outside downtown San Jose. Before, after, or any time in general, San Pedro Square Market is a great place to enjoy the weather, especially when there’s live music. If you have younger children they’ll definitely enjoy a day at the 16 acre amusement park and zoo (including petting zoo) that Happy Hollow has to offer! Looking for something just a little older – California’s Great America has some of the best family oriented fun in the South Bay. And for the adults, don’t miss out on Willow Glen’s wine walk that they host once a year in the Spring (this year on Saturday April 13th from 2-5pm). Take a stroll down the quant Lincoln Ave. and check out the shops while sipping on wine – get tickets here. If you’re looking to stay cool take a day trip to Raging Waters and enjoy 23 acres of wild slides and water adventure. More day activities in San Jose include Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, Tech Museum of Innovation, SAP Center for a San Jose Sharks game, and the Winchester Mystery House.
- Santa Cruz – Spend your day at a variety of places in Santa Cruz area including rides at The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, ice cream in Capitola, hanging at Natural Bridges State Beach or Pleasure Point, or hiking Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park! Another to do in Santa Cruz that is often over looked because of it’s proximity to wine country is wine tasting in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Wineries include MJA Vineyards, Loma Prieta Winery, Wrights Station Vineyard & Winery, or Birichino.
- Monterey – It’s always great to start central at Cannery Row and work your way around. Walking Cannery Row is a nice day in itself but there are many things to do if you want to get more active. Rent an electric bike (or regular), Segway, or even the 4-6 seat cruisers and be your own tour guide on the beautiful water trail that leads to Lover’s Point and beyond. Want to challenge yourself even more? Take it to the sea and rent paddle boards or kayaks and get a chance to take a closer look at the otters! Have young kids and want to run out their energy before the drive home? Take them to Dennis the Menace Playground and let them go crazy! Just you and you boyfriend or husband looking for a day away? Check out the food and wine walking tours – you’ll be pleasantly surprised with not only what your eating and drinking but also the history of the area that is in your backyard!
- San Francisco – Head the opposite direction up North to the city and play tourist for a day. We know that you could easily spend a week touring around San Francisco but here are some of our favorites! Known as POPOS, Privately Owned Public Open Spaces are scattered around the city on rooftops and in atriums and are great places to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city while still enjoying the beautiful views it has to offer. Check out this website for the location of these private getaways. Then head to Market & Powell and start shopping or take the trolley through the rolling hills and to Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. Stop at Boudin’s and watch them make their world famous bread in fun shapes or take a ferry and check out Alcatraz while also getting a beautiful view of the city. If you’re tired of being on your feet hop in a GoCar the world’s first GPS-guided tour car taking you through the streets and around iconic landmarks in the city (or choose your own adventure). Want to view the city without going in it? Take a cruise around the bar and maybe sip some champagne while taking in the breathtaking skyline view from a distance.
- Sonoma/Napa – Continue North up to wine country and take a load off at your choice of some of the world’s best wineries. Looking for something organized so the day’s really pain free – check out the winery tours so you don’t have to worry about Uber or having service. If you want to head a little more North you will reach Calistoga where they are known for their mud baths and it is quite an experience. Also in Sonoma is one of the few casinos in California, Graton, where you can gamble, eat, drink, go to the spa or relax at the pool (weather permitting). Also in Sonoma is the cute little town of Sonoma where you can shop around in the boutiques and buy delicious chocolates.