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San Francisco ExcursionsSausalitoJust 5km northeast of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge is the pretty upmarket town of Sausalito. Only 8000 people live in this small bayside settlement, but visitors to the San Francisco area frequent it to enjoy the fine restaurants, boutiques and small art galleries. Bridgeway is the main street that runs through Sausalito and runs parallel to the water, offering fantastic views of San Francisco and the bay area. Head to Caledonia Street, where you will find many quaint cafes, restaurants and shops, before taking a stroll by the water's edge for a relaxing alternative to the hustle and bustle of downtown San Fran.
Angel Island and TiburonAngel Island lies eight miles to the north of San Francisco and is one of California's State Park's and is the largest of San Francisco Bay's three islets (the others being Yerba Buena and Alcatraz). Like Alcatraz, Angel Island was once home to a large prison and also had a quarantine centre for immigrants as well as being the site for a large missile base. These days, people go to Angel Island to relax on the large green lawns by the water, go on a hiking trip or exert themselves with a spot of mountain biking.
Tiburon lies within close proximity of Angel Island on an eponymous peninsula. This small seaside town is awash with beautiful green hills and features a pretty multicoloured pier, characterised by a large number of yachts. The town is full of souvenir shops, boutiques, antique shops and also has a few art galleries. If you drive up the narrow roads up into the hills you will get unrivalled views of San Francisco's incredible skyline and the bay islands.
OaklandEven though Oakland is just 10 miles east of San Francisco, it bears no comparison to its sister city across the bay whatsoever. Oakland boasts one of the busiest ports on the entire west coast of the USA and is punctuated by large railroad tracks and is essentially a very industrial city. Although this outlay may sound at odds with what appeals to tourists, Oakland has much to entertain. Go and rent a boat and sail around the beautiful Lake Merritt for a few hours, or simply take a walk along the bustling waterfront before taking in the Oakland Museum, which outlines the importance of this burgeoning city.
San JoseAlthough it's a 45 mile drive south of San Francisco, San Jose is worth every minute. This once sleepy town - famous for its cattle herding and agriculture - is now Northern California's biggest city. Through the prosperity of Silicon Valley, agriculture has given way to a metropolitan city that enjoys a thriving arts scene, state of the art public transport, countless eateries and a number of excellent shops and shopping centres. San Jose also enjoys a wonderfully sunny climate and statistically is one of America's safest cities.
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