Half-Tank Getaways

You’ve heard of one-tank wonders? We’re upping the ante with overnight excursions that are less than 130 miles round-trip from San Francisco. These three escapes were made for relaxing winter weekends. So pick a trip, set a date, and hit the road.

Panoramic views with layers of mountains unfolding all the way to the ocean can be seen from deck of the Sierra Club Hiker’s Hut. Photo by Brad Day/WeekendSherpa.com

By weekendsherpa.com
Published: January, 2008 

Hut, Hut, Hike!

You don’t have to rough it when you spend the night in the woods. One of the Santa Cruz Mountains’ most comfy overnight escapes isn’t accessed by road, but rather by a moderate 1.5-mile hike through towering redwoods and shaded fern canyons. The Hiker’s Hut is an A-frame inspiration built by the Sierra Club in 1977 and remains a hidden Bay Area treasure. To reach it, you walk the Towne Trail from Sam McDonald Park parking lot, admiring the loping green hills and counting banana slugs along the way. Before you know it, you’re enjoying panoramic views from the top of Towne Ridge, with layers of mountains unfolding all the way to the ocean. The rustic yet comfortable cabin has a kitchen with a stove and microwave, and enough bed platforms to sleep 14—though you may prefer an intimate party of two. And yes, there are flush toilets. There’s also a fireplace with plenty of wood to keep the place toasty on cooler evenings. And what hut would be complete without the obligatory guitar? The large wooden deck makes a great hangout for strummin’ while the sun sets.

Distance: 46 miles from San Francisco.

For reservations, call 650-390-8411 ext. 393. Voicemails are answered by volunteers on Mondays and Thursdays. The hut is $25 per person, per night.

When you need a weekend on the beach, far from city chaos, you should head north of Point Reyes to well-off-the-beaten-path Dillon Beach. With one café, a surf shop, and—well, that’s about it—you’re left with little to do but relax. Cell phones don’t work, wireless is nonexistent, and many of the houses don’t get TV reception. The mile-long stretch of beach is made for long walks, beautiful views, and play time for dogs—Dillon is a very pet-friendly place. Where to stay? Caroline Moore is the person to call for beach-house rentals. She has about 40 options, with everything from the ocean-view, tiny two-bedroom known as God’s Pocket to the spacious three-bedroom Beauty on the Beach. (The houses all are named because the town historically didn’t use addresses.) There’s also the curiously named Dillon Beach Resort; it’s not a resort, but it does have three brightly painted cottages to rent. While these cozy cabins could use a little sprucing up, the panoramic ocean views can’t be beat. During the winter, when storms roll in and the sky is dark gray, Dillon Beach is the place to sit back and…watch the weather. That’s coasting.
Distance: 55 miles from San Francisco.

Moore Vacation Rentals of Dillon Beach, 707-878-2557. Two-bedroom houses start at $137 a night (two-night minimum). Dillon Beach Resort, 707-878-2094. Winter rates: the cottages start at $200 a night (two-night minimum).

Winter just might be the best time to visit our Tuscany of the West; everything scales down, including the prices. Smack in the center of Napa Valley sits the tiny town of Rutherford, where a hideaway haven awaits: the 26-room, Mission-style inn called Rancho Caymus. During the quieter winter months, the inn drops its rates by more than $100, making it the one of the nicest values in Napa. Snag a comfy Caymus Suite with oak hardwood floors, redwood beam ceilings, and Southwestern décor in shades of brown, orange, and red. For an extra $20, upgrade to a Rancho Suite (pictured) with an adobe beehive fireplace. To add tranquility, there’s a beautiful courtyard with a fountain. Rancho Caymus’s central location makes it an ideal launching pad for enjoying your favorite wineries, almost all of which remain open in the winter, and a few are within walking distance. During your visit, be sure to swing by Dutch Henry Winery, off the northern end of the Silverado Trail; this no-frills setup is a throwback to the Napa of 20 or 30 years ago. Sweet Valley dreams.

BURRITO BONUS: Across the street from Rancho Caymus is La Luna Market and Taqueria. For tasty Mexican take-out, this place can’t be beat—but beware, their homemade sauce is hot).
Distance: 61 miles from San Francisco.

Rancho Caymus, 1140 Rutherford Rd., Rutherford; 707-963-1777. Winter rates: rooms start at $155 a night.

The “Rancho Suite” at Rancho Caymus in Napa Valley come complete with an adobe beehive fireplace. Photo Courtesy of Rancho Caymus