Northern California is blessed with a collection of charming coastal and bay-side towns that feel worlds away from Silicon Valley and the urban energy of San Francisco — yet are all within a two-hour drive. Carmel-by-the-Sea, Sausalito, Half Moon Bay, Pacific Grove, and Santa Cruz each offer a unique character, and a VIP chauffeured town tour from San Francisco is the most luxurious way to experience them all.
Carmel-by-the-Sea: The Fairy-Tale Village
Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of California’s most romantic and architecturally whimsical towns. The village has no street addresses (mail is collected from the post office), no parking meters, no Starbucks (by local ordinance), and no McDonald’s. What it does have is extraordinary: a white-sand beach backed by Monterey cypress, galleries rivaling the best in San Francisco, and a restaurant scene that routinely produces James Beard Award nominees.
What to Do in Carmel
- Walk Ocean Avenue from the village down to Carmel Beach
- Visit the Carmel Mission Basilica, founded by Junípero Serra in 1770
- Explore the galleries along Dolores and Lincoln Streets
- Dine at Aubergine (Michelin one-star), Il Tegamino, or The Pocket restaurant
- Day-trip to Point Lobos State Reserve — the ‘Crown Jewel of the State Park System’
The Drive: San Francisco to Carmel via Highway 1
Our most popular scenic route follows Highway 1 south from San Francisco, passing through Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, and Monterey before arriving in Carmel. The luxury car service from SF to Carmel-by-the-Sea takes approximately 2 hours on the coastal highway. Many clients make this a full-day trip combining Carmel with Monterey’s Cannery Row and the Aquarium.
Sausalito: San Francisco’s Hidden Gem Across the Bay
Just 15 minutes from San Francisco by ferry — or 20 minutes by car over the Golden Gate Bridge — Sausalito is one of the Bay Area’s most beloved day-trip destinations. This hillside village of galleries, restaurants, and colorful houseboats on Richardson Bay has a distinctly Mediterranean character that surprises first-time visitors.
What to Do in Sausalito
- Walk the waterfront promenade with views of SF skyline and Angel Island
- Visit the Bay Model Visitor Center — a massive hydraulic scale model of San Francisco Bay
- Browse the independent galleries and boutiques along Bridgeway
- Dine at Sushi Ran (a Bay Area legend), Bar Bocce, or Fish. for the best fish and chips
- Rent a kayak from Sea Trek for a paddle on Richardson Bay
Combining Sausalito with Muir Woods & Mount Tamalpais
The perfect Northern California day trip combines Muir Woods’ ancient redwood cathedral in the morning with lunch in Sausalito. Our chauffeurs know exactly how to time this to avoid the Muir Woods timed-entry bottlenecks and the Sausalito lunch rush. Muir Woods entry reservations are required year-round.
Other Northern California Towns Worth a Day Trip
Half Moon Bay
The rugged coast south of San Francisco, Half Moon Bay is famous for the Mavericks big-wave surfing contest, excellent pumpkin farms in October, and the spectacular Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay golf resort.
Santa Cruz
Home to a beautiful boardwalk amusement park, world-class surfing at Steamer Lane, and UC Santa Cruz, this relaxed college town is beloved by Bay Area residents for weekend escapes.
Pacific Grove & Monterey
Pacific Grove is the quiet, Victorian-cottage-filled neighbor of Monterey, famous for monarch butterfly migration (October–February) and the spectacular 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach.
Booking Your Northern California Town Tour
Pacific Town Car offers customized day tours from San Francisco to any combination of these destinations. Our chauffeured tours of Northern California start at 4 hours and can be customized to include as many stops as your day allows. View Northern California tour pricing or book online. We’re available 24/7 at (415) 378-4244.