San Francisco can get a bad rap for its lack of seasons, but we have winter too – some of it snowy, some of it not, but all within quick driving distance. From dogsledding on Mt. Shasta to Nordic skiing in Tahoe, here are some of the best winter weekend getaways in Northern California.
Ice-Skate in Yosemite National Park
Turns out that Half Dome isn’t the only reason crowds flock to Yosemite – people have been coming here to ice-skate since the 1930s. From mid-November until early March, head to the Curry Village Ice Rink in Yosemite Valley for ice-skating with some pretty epic views of Half Dome and Glacier Point. Between skating sessions (rent a pair of skates on-site or bring your own), warm up around the outdoor fire pit – and don’t forget to bring s’mores supplies.
It’s almost a four-hour drive from San Francisco, so you’ll definitely want to make this one a weekend trip. Stay a few nights at the Evergreen Lodge, another old-school Yosemite favorite since 1921.
See the Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo
Head 60 miles down the coast and you’ll hit Año Nuevo State Park, where a huge colony of elephant seals swim ashore each year. From early December through the beginning of March, you can see these massive, two-ton pinnipeds give birth to their pups, take care of them for a few months, mate again, and swim back out to sea. Take a guided walking tour of the park to get the skinny on the blubber.
Make a weekend of it and stay the night at the Costanoa Lodge in nearby Pescadero, where you can stay in anything from the lodge to tent bungalows to cabins.
Take a Dogsledding Tour near Mt. Shasta
You don’t have to be training for the Iditarod to experience what it’s like to be pulled across the snow by a team of huskies. Drive four hours north to go for a run yourself with Dogsled Express. The hour-long rides aren’t cheap and you’ll need to reserve in advance, but the views through the snowy countryside of Mt. Shasta, Mt. Lassen, and Castle Crags – not to mention spending time with the excited pups – will make it worth your while.
Making it a weekend journey? Book a night or two in the classic Gilden Lodge or try staying in a creekside yurt.
Cross-Country Ski in Tahoe City
Tahoe is probably the number one weekend getaway spot for many San Franciscans going skiing and snowboarding, but one snow sport often goes overlooked: cross-country skiing. At Tahoe XC, rent skis for a day and explore the 24 different trails just north of Tahoe City. Extra perk? Several of the trails are dog friendly, so you can ski with your canine pal.
If you want to spend the weekend in Tahoe, check Airbnb and choose from dozens of cozy cabins.
Whale Watch in Half Moon Bay
Each winter, about 15,000 gray whales make their annual migration from their Arctic feeding grounds to breeding waters around Baja, California. Luckily for us, much of their path follows along the California coastline, and a simple drive south to Half Moon Bay means you can even see the whales swimming by when you’re on the shore. Get an up-close look when you take a cruise with the Oceanic Society, which offers tours every Saturday and Sunday from December through May.
Visit Mendocino’s Orr Hot Springs
What could be better than dipping into a natural hot spring on a cold day? Head north to Orr Hot Springs Resort in Mendocino and you’ll find yourself doing just that. Choose from communal springs, private tubs under the stars, or steam rooms (to name a few) and don’t be surprised if many of your fellow visitors are in the buff – Orr Hot Springs is clothing optional.
Stay the night in one of the resort’s rooms, rent a yurt or a cabin, or camp on the 27 acres of property to wake up and do it all over again in the morning.
Snowshoe in the Sequoias
Beginners and advanced snowshoers alike will find something to love at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. On snowy weekends, you can take a two-hour long, ranger-guided walk through the giant sequoias on snowshoes. If you’re looking for something more challenging, you can head six miles up to the Pear Lake Ski Hut, stay the night, and come back down again in the morning.
Stay the night close by in one of the 36 rooms in the classic John Muir Lodge in Grant Grove Village.
[Photo of snowshoeing in Sequoia NP by Petor Smit via Flickr]