Hosting for the Holidays? Crowd-Pleasing Places to Take Visitors in the Bay Area

Playing tour guide can be the best — or the worst — part of living in a world-class place like the Bay Area.

Everyone wants to visit, but weekends spent entertaining family and friends can soon tend to rehash the same sightseeing itinerary over and over again. As host, you might even find yourself running out of ideas for where to take your guests.

So with the holidays here, we’ve drawn together Bay Area outdoor ideas from the experts at KQED to inspire you and your visitors — whether it’s their first time here or their fourth. And most importantly, you’ll have fun doing these too (and might even make some new discoveries yourself.)

• Jump straight to: Bay Area spots to impress visitors who have done the basics 

The classics: Where to take first-time visitors to the Bay Area

If you’re hosting someone’s first visit to the Bay Area, scan the recommendations below for one that might suit their interests. (And even your own, given the number of tourist spots that Bay locals never visit themselves.)

Twin Peaks

The view atop San Francisco’s Twin Peaks truly never gets old — and it’s also a great way to orient locals and tourists alike on the layout of the city from above.

Yes, you can always drive up the hill, but for the more adventurous, consider renting an ebike up the section of road that’s closed to cars, to fully take in the views. Even better: for a multi-hour outing, start with a morning coffee in Glen Park, wind your way on foot through Glen Canyon, and continue all the way to the top. Just remember: If you do drive, don’t leave anything valuable in your car — break-ins here, like so many other iconic tourist spots, are sadly common.

Napa and Sonoma

While you can’t go wrong with almost any day out in the world-famous wine country, there are so many options that you might consider planning your visitor’s experience around key aspects you think they’ll appreciate most.

For unbeatable food and endless boutique wineries, try Sonoma County’s Healdsburg. For the cutest downtown wine bars and beautiful plaza for picnicking, the small city of Sonoma itself might be your best bet. Or for a more secluded getaway, head to Napa Valley’s Calistoga, where you can rent bikes for a self-guided wine biking tour). No matter what you choose, use the drive to take in the sights and stop at local farmstands for the freshest California produce.

Berkeley Rose Garden

Classic for a reason, the Berkeley Rose Garden is a scenic — albeit somewhat steep and strenuous — 30-minute stroll from the Downtown Berkeley BART station. First, stop in North Berkeley for a bite to eat, like the slice of the day at the Cheeseboard Pizza Collective, before trekking up to the amphitheater to admire the 1,500 rose bushes that showcase 250 varieties of flowers.

Tucked away in the hills, you can also bring a picnic to Codornices Park next door and let kids loose on the winding concrete slides and wooded trails.

Alcatraz Island

Yes, some might say visiting Alcatraz is basic. But it’s worth braving the crowds and reservation system to make the trip to San Francisco’s famed Alcatraz Island, to discover its historic journey from a fort to a prison, which then became a pivotal site in the fight for Native American civil rights.

The ferry trip will give you a chance to soak in the sights of the Bay, and once you’re there, the self-guided audio tour is included in your boat ticket. While the daytime views of the city from the island are worth it alone, some recommend a night tour for a different perspective. Remember: make a ferry reservation ahead of time as they often sell out.

Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods

Rising above Marin County is Mount Tamalpais State Park, with its endless trails to wander and a peak — Mount Tam itself — that’s easily accessible from roads.

For a hike that gives you the full Marin experience, take on the famed Dipsea Trail, known for a trail race that happens there each year. This route will take you and your visitors from the towering redwoods at Muir Woods National Monument all the way to Stinson Beach, where you can relax, get a bite to eat and rejoice in your accomplishment. It’s a long trail (around 10 miles one way), but you can take Marin Transit bus route 61 back to your car at the Dipsea trailhead.

Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach

You could spend an entire day exploring these two San Francisco parks and still never see every nook and cranny. (Yes, Ocean Beach is actually a national park within the city.)

In Golden Gate Park, take a walk down car-free JFK Promenade and hit any of the city’s three iconic floral destinations — the SF Botanical Gardens, Conservatory of Flowers or the Japanese Tea Garden. Get pleasantly lost strolling Blue Heron Lake and Strawberry Hill, and don’t miss the world-famous bison paddock.

Continue the adventure by renting a bike and riding all the way to Sunset Dunes park at Ocean Beach to catch the sunset.

For return visitors: More under-the-radar Bay Area days out (to impress even the most jaded guests)

Already checked off all of the classic sightseeing options for visitors? Don’t worry: we have even more recommendations below for the second, third and fourth visits from loved ones — broken down by region, so you can customize your itinerary any way you like.

Next-level sightseeing in San Francisco

Head to Angel Island by boat from the Ferry Building for a tranquil hike, bike ride or history lesson on California immigration. You’ll also give your visitors a very different view of the Bay Area from the water, and even if you don’t plan to hike a great deal, the ferry ride there is worth it alone.

Stroll from the Presidio’s Tunnel Tops to Fort Point on a clear day and get the city at its best — unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and endless people watching.

Starting at Sutro Baths, hike the Lands End Trail, getting lost along the coastline with increasingly great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Pacific Ocean below.

Climb the Filbert Street Steps to Coit Tower and gawk at all the hidden homes and pathways, rich in both foliage and history — while challenging your visitors to spot the infamous wild parrots of Telegraph Hill.

Watch a multitude of hang-gliders float mid-air at San Francisco’s Fort Funston (but be advised: if your guest doesn’t love dogs, they should steer clear of this spot, where seemingly every owner in the city can be found walking their pups.)

Next-level sightseeing in North Bay

For the engineering or geography nerds: Check out Sausalito’s Bay Model (a completely free and fully to-scale functional hydraulic replica of the San Francisco Bay and Delta) and rent kayaks to float through the historic houseboats.

Any trail in the Marin Headlands or Tennessee Valley is worth the trip, but the Fort Baker Trail gets special mention for its tranquil marina, plus spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco.

Cruise up to Point Reyes Station for pastries and cheese before hitting all the National Seashore has to offer…

… or head up the east shore of Tomales Bay and to a spot like The Marshall Store or Tony’s Seafood Restaurant for fresh oysters.

Take a scenic drive further up Hwy 1 to the Sonoma Coast State Park, and discover one of its beautiful trails: the Kortum Trail to Goat Rock is a favorite. Then, stop for food at quaint Guerneville along the way.

Next-level sightseeing in the East Bay

Some of the best views from the East Bay are up Grizzly Peak, even if parking may be scarce.

Take your younger visitors to the decked-out Tilden Steam Train this holiday season.

Take a leisurely stroll around natural saltwater Lake Merritt and don’t miss the its 7-acre gardens with their seasonal decor.

Even for adults, the iconic Oakland Zoo makes a great outing, with more than 850 animals including bears, lions and giraffes (as well as an illuminated lantern festival over the holidays season.)

Get lost looking for Berkeley’s secret stairs….

…. then head to Indian Rock for sunset.

Next-level sightseeing on the Peninsula

Hike toward Mussel Rock in Pacifica for top-tier whale watching, or jump in the water yourself at Pacifica State Beach.

For those guests who want a challenge and a big reward, lead them on a hike up Fremont’s Mission Peak. Just remember to bring a lot of water, and don’t hesitate to turn around whenever you want — there are views on offer the whole way up.)

The entrance fee to Filoli Gardens in Woodside isn’t super-cheap, but it’s more than worth it, with a large historic house and botanic gardens that feel like a fairyland.

Hike Devil’s Slide Trail along the old Pacific Coast Highway route for stunning ocean views — albeit with terrifyingly sheer cliffs.

For visitors who have “done” Muir Woods, take them to Purisima Creek Redwoods to immerse themselves in the forest and spot some banana slugs (then top it off with a sweet slice at nearby Pie Ranch).

Visit the tidepools and catch a glimpse of ocean creatures at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Half Moon Bay.

Famous for more than just its garlic, take visiting kids to Gilroy Gardens, which even has holiday-themed decorations for the season.

KQED’s Alicia Aschauer, Emma Yee, Michael Kadel, Bonnie Zeng Chin, Janelle Kim, Julia Hughes, Lilly Payne, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Mary Poppingo, Almetria Vaba, Becca Bright, Sam Shaw, Katie Reed, Jen Chien, Mark Jones and Michelle Parker all contributed to this report.