Northern California Bucket List

I’ve taken 2 travel nurse contracts in the northern California/ Bay Area. The first was in Sonoma county/wine country which lasted for 6 months. The second was in Oakland, California which lasted 3 months. This bucket list has all of the activities that I have found to be the most fun, most memorable, and most worthwhile here in Northern California. 

1. Bike Across the Golden Gate Bridge

This one is a little touristy, but it is worth it. The Golden Gate Bridge (which is red by the way) is so iconic, and, in my opinion, biking is the best way to truly explore it. 

I planned a trip with a group of other travel nurses on MedVenture (If you’re looking for a place to find fellow travel healthcare professionals to do things with, check out MedVenture). There are several bike rental agencies in San Francisco to choose from, but we used Blazing Saddles. Blazing saddles not only provided the bikes, they also provided a map with how to get from the store, across the bridge, and to Sausalito. 

There are a couple of bonus items that come with your Golden Gate bike ride. The first is Sausalito. It’s a really cute area with views, shops and restaurants. I suggest planning your bike ride in the morning, then get to Sausalito for lunch. The second is the ferry. The ferry took us back from Sausalito to San Francisco which put us in close range to the bike shop so we could return our bikes. This gives you the opportunity to see the city from the bay. You’ll also pass by Alcatraz island. 

2. Wine Tasting

When I took my first contract in wine country, my goal was to learn about wine. The best way to do this is to go tasting! There are so many options north of the bay area from castle-like wineries to cute downtowns with many wine bars. If you are wanting to learn how to distinguish different aspects of wine, I have 2 recommendations:

1- Take a class. This is the pricier option, but you’re sure to get lots of useful information and the chance to ask questions. My husband and I took a “Wine 101” class with sommelier Nilu. This was a great jumpstart into our wine tasting journey.

2- Go to a wine bar on a slow day. This is hit or miss depending on your wine bartender, but you might get lucky and find someone really knowledgable. I went with a friend (also from MedVenture) on a weekday to downtown Napa. We popped into a wine bar when no one else was there except us and the bartender. I started asking some friendly questions about the wine and I ended up learning so much! 

One more thing I recommend for your wine tasting adventures- do a wine and food pairing! My husband and I went to Williamson Wines in Healdsburg. This tasting experience far exceeded my expectations!

3. Take the Ski Bus to Tahoe

The ski bus is such an amazing (and surprisingly not very well known) benefit of living in the bay area. Operated by Sports Basement, the ski bus picks up early in the morning from many locations around the bay area. It drops you off at a ski resort in Tahoe (there are several to choose from). At the end of the day, it brings you back to the Bay Area. You can also rent all of your equipment from sports basement and get discounted lift tickets. My favorite part of the ski bus is being able to experience snow sports in Tahoe without having to pay for an expensive stay in Tahoe or worry about tire chains for the drive. 

4. Hiking (Muir Woods and More)

There are so many amazing hiking options around the Bay Area! I don’t want to only pick one, but if I had to, I would say Muir Woods. If you do plan to go to Muir Woods, buy your parking pass in advance. There is no cell reception around the park, and parking passes have to be purchased online. In Muir Woods, you will not only see the renowned redwood trees, but there are also some awesome views once you get to elevation on the trails. 

If you want a free hiking option, Mount Tamalpais is in the same area and has several free trails. Cataract Falls is a great option (go in the springs when there is usually more water for the falls)!

If you are looking for a weekend hiking trip, you can’t miss Yosemite National Park (check out this article with hikes and other helpful tips for a trip to Yosemite with the hyperlink above).

5. Explore Northern California’s Coastline

Quite different from the coast in Southern California or the coastline on the east coast, northern California’s coastline is a must-see. From Big Sur up to Canada, the coastline is rugged, rocky and absolutely stunning! There are several hiking options, some surfing options (you’ll definitely need your wetsuit), and a lot of really cute seaside communities to check out. The photo below is one I took at Bodega Bay. There are so many breathtaking views here!

There are so many more fun things to do in and around the Bay Area, but these 5 have been the most memorable for me. 

By the way, if you are looking for ways to get around the cities of the Bay Area, check out this article on how to use the BART system.