10 Places to Travel in California For a Quick Thanksgiving Trip

Written By Jessie Beck

Joshua Tree in November

My and my husband’s family all live on the East Coast, so we usually stick around California for Thanksgiving. For the past 10 years, we’ve opted to avoid airport chaos and instead use the long break to take quick, local trips from our home in San Francisco. Here are some of my favorite trips to take in California during Thanksgiving—including a few not-so-obvious and off-the-beaten path spots.

* Destinations are (roughly) in order from south to north.

San Diego

  • Hotels: Stay in a charming boutique hotel in a 1910 building, Orli, in La Jolla, a popular, beachside neighborhood.

If you’re looking for somewhere warm, San Diego is a great option—especially if you’re traveling with family and want lots of kid-friendly activities, or coming from further north and want one last weekend of sun and sand at the beach before the rains come. The food scene in San Diego is really having a moment right now as well, just in case you still have room after that Thanksgiving meal.

Note: I’d avoid pairing San Diego with a trip to Baja at this time of year. The border crossing can take much longer than usual during Thanksgiving week.

Palm Springs + Joshua Tree

The desert is beautiful this time of year. Plus, if you’re looking for a more warm weather getaway, Palm Springs is one of your best bets without leaving the state. Just note that temperatures swing dramatically between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, so pack accordingly if you plan to spend time in both.

My favorite part about doing this trip over Thanksgiving is that 4-5 days is a good amount of time to leisurely see both Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. Spend a day hiking in Joshua Tree National Park (open on Thanksgiving), swing by the quirky, small shops in Joshua Tree (the town); then enjoy some sunshine by the pool in Palm Springs, with a side of culture at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

We once flew from San Francisco to Palm Springs on Thanksgiving Day and it was super smooth. Could not have been easier to rent a car either.

Paso Robles

  • Hotels: There are lots of cute and often affordable boutique hotels in Paso, like Farmhouse or Stables Inn.

As long as you time the drive right (there’s generally a lot of traffic on I-5 the Wednesday before and Sunday after Thanksgiving), a getaway to Paso Robles is a fun mix of wine, nature, and—for us Bay Area residents, at least—slightly warmer weather. It’s also a nice destination if you want a mix of wine country and nature-focused, coastal getaway, since Morro Bay is just a 45-minute drive west. For a full weekend, go to "Field of Lights" at Sensorio (above), an outdoor art installation of fiber-optic spheres that light up the landscape at night; drive to nearby Morro Bay for a kayaking (go solo or book a half-day wildlife kayak tour); and (ofc) taste wine. I love Tablas Creek for a vineyard experience and Tin City for a variety of tastings in one place (Field Recordings is a fave).

If you’re willing to drive a bit (hey, you’ve got the time), it’s worth winding your way down towards Santa Barbara and stopping by charming small towns like Los Olivos, Los Alamos (get a meal at Bell’s), Sant Ynez, and Buellton. Kitschy Solvang is also in this area and it can be fun in its own way but I prefer these other options.

Pinnacles National Park

  • Hotels: Camp in the park. Enjoy the stars.

This underrated national park is excellent in November. It’s fairly deserty and exposed, so the cooler temps make many of the hikes and rock climbing much more enjoyable. Plus, unlike many restaurants and business, the park doesn’t close on Thanksgiving Day—so it’s a great option if you’re looking for an activity to do on Thanksgiving itself. There’s limited accommodation options near the park, so book a campsite or plan to stay nearby and make it a day trip.

Tomales Bay + Point Reyes

If I’m feeling lazy and don’t want to go too far, but still want to feel like I’m somewhere totally different, Tomales Bay and Point Reyes is another go-to. Some years, I’m caught in torrential downpours over Thanksgiving, others, it’s perfect, sunny weather for kayaking, hiking, or long bike rides. Either way, there will be a warm seafood stew and BBQ oysters somewhere nearby (The Marshall Store is a personal favorite), and lots of beautiful views.

Healdsburg

Wine country escape, anyone? Healdsburg is perhaps my favorite small town in Sonoma wine country to spend a weekend, and it’s especially charming in the fall. For a Thanksgiving trip, arrive the day before and book a dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen, Chef Charlie Palmer’s restaurant in downtown Healdsburg, which is serving a special Thanksgiving dinner. Then, spend the rest of your weekend relaxing and exploring wineries like Marine Layer in downtown Healdsburg, Bricoleur Vineyards, which hosts a few festive events of its own, and Flowers Winery, featuring a cozy indoor tasting room complete with a fireplace.

Sebastopol + Guerneville

  • Hotels: Get cozy at the Stavrand in Guerneville or Farm House Inn in Forestville.

I absolutely love Sebastapol in the fall. It’s a huge apple growing area, and there are few things more festively fall than a apples and cider. Over the past few years, the city has also invested a lot in building a wonderful shopping and restaurant area called the Barlow, which as a great selection of tasting rooms, breweries, shops, and restaurants—Fern Bar is a personal fave. Willow Wood Market Cafe in nearby Graton is one of my all time favorite brunch spots in the North Bay and Horse + Plow is a lovely spot to stop for cider and cider tastings. The only downside is that there aren’t any hotels in Sebastopol (but there are vacation rentals). Your nearest good options are splurge-worthy Farmhouse Inn in Forestville (which has a Thanksgiving feast dinner option) or cozy and welcoming Stavrand in Guerneville.

Sea Ranch

I love Sea Ranch. But this coastal getaway is a bit of a drive from San Francisco (2.5 hours on a good day, but usually 3 hours), which makes it a better destination for long weekends. In November, it can get rainy and moody here, which is kind of fun: bring a book and a board game, invite a couple of friends, and spend a few days simply hanging out. Part of the allure is the architecture of Sea Ranch’s homes and lodge, so getting cozy at your vacation rental is a totally valid way to experience the area. Plus, there are plenty of breaks in the rain for exploring the nature trails nearby and admiring the dramatic coastline.

Elk + Mendocino

Further north but still on the coast, the town of Mendocino offers a similar landscape to Sea Ranch but with a slightly different vibe. While Sea Ranch is more about unwinding and soaking in the architecture and nature, Mendocino has a bit more to explore. Start your day with brunch at Fog Eater Cafe, browse the town’s unique shops and art galleries, and then head out for a hike at nearby Van Damme State Park or the waterfall loop at Russian Gulch Park.. If you can, snag a reservation at Ledford House or settle in at the bar, where you’ll find one of the best seats in the house, especially at sunset with ocean views.

Boonville

Either on its own or paired with a trip to Mendocino, Boonville is one of the most underrated wine country getaways in California. This charming small town in the middle of the Anderson Valley wine growing region is just a tad too far for most people to want to visit for a 2-day weekend getaway, but if you have a long weekend on your hands, it’s totally worth the ~3-ish hour drive. Don’t miss disc golf and beers at Anderson Valley Brewery, cheese and charcuterie at Pennyroyal Farms; stop for bottles of wine at Disco Ranch and Navarro Vineyards, which makes an excellent gewurztraminer.

Jessie Beck

Jessie Beck is a travel industry professional and creator. In addition to blogging about her travels on wheresjessieb.com, she is a video producer and SEO manager for AFAR Media, an independent travel magazine. She’s originally from Washington D.C. but has called San Francisco home for over 10 years.

https://wheresjessieb.com
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