San Francisco/West Coast USA - unusual or interesting places to go

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DH & I are planning a trip to SFO in November for a family event.

We have both been before, so know the city well and have done most of the obvious things, including travelling all down the West Coast.

I would like to spend a few days away staying somewhere different, but in easy reach - say a 200-mile drive maximum, or 1 hour flight.

Can anyone recommend any fabulous, quirky or interesting places that fit the bill. Not keen on camping, and hotel budget would be about £150 a night. Thanks!

Anyone?

Any ideas here?

Have you been to Vegas? From there you can go out to Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley

Or what about Salt Lake City?

Was thinking of Vegas but thought maybe it's too far.

What's good in Salt Lake City?

The jelly Belly factory is outside of San Francisco

Opps - you meant a few days away. How about Yosemite or Tahoe?

Yosemite. I'd visit there again.

Winchester House.
Candlestick park.
Go to a Raiders or 49ers game.
Sea otter or whale watching off of Santa Cruz.
Carmel is just about 2 hrs drive from SFO.
Stanford Uni is very pretty to walk around
I think it's possible to tour Lawrence Livermore Labs

Vegas is an hour flight, so not far at all

Salt Lake City - the salt lakes, Zion National Park

You could drive to Old Sacremento from SFO and see an old gold rush town

I have been to the Jelly Belly factory and it is OK, but nothing special - but I don't have children

The Town Hall in Santa Barbara

The Disney Museum in San Francisco , not a theme park but a proper museum about Walt Disney.
Rhyolite in Death Valley, a little ghost town

Railway museum in Bishop, a charming little recreated town museum

Yosemite
Lake Tahoe
Carmel/Monterey and then spend a day doing some of PCH.
Seven Mile Drive
Santa Cruz and boardwalks
Catch a concert at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga.

Salt Lake City and Zion are both over 700 milesfrom San Fran. 200 miles in the US is not along way.

Have you been to Hearst Castle? Amazing place and a brilliant place to see sea lions is on the nearest beach.

Not sure how things are given the recent tragic fires, but i would always choose Napa/ Calistoga. I am sure they need tourists atm too.The wineries are fab and some are in town so you don't need to drive to them. You could also do tours i am sute so you can sample. Calistoga is a spa town and i highly recommend the couples double mud bath- amazing!

Getting a bit of sun is tempting too - vegas is a 1 hr flight - last time we went LAS - SFO for £30 on United. The flight is good - you go over the Seirras and Death Valley.

Big benefit is the the airport in Las Vegas is practically on the strip fo minimal travel to your hotel.

I think Yosemite could be quite lot of driving for a couple of days. Would their be snow in November?

If you do go to Vegas, the Hoover Dam is just a short distance away and definitely worth seeing.

What have you done in California so far?

Thanks for the various suggestions everyone.

Spent 3 weeks in SFO a couple of years ago, and have also done the whole West Coast Road Trip as far as LA - including Monterey, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz etc.

Have also done some of the wine areas, including Calistoga.

I think Yosemite may be too cold/snowy in February. Haven't been to Vegas or the Grand Canyon, so thinking about that.

If you’re up for a bit of a road trip you could do a Zion canyon, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon if you hire an RV (it will be cold in Feb though), or if you are really pushed for time you can do a mini helicopter tour of Grand Canyon Tour which leaves from Vegas (you can plan a sunset or sunrise visit) although I’d check what they offer in Feb. We didn’t get to do fire valley which you can also do as a tour from Vegas if you wanted a hotel base.

Have you been to San Diego? We didn’t get here either but it’s meant to be a fabulous city.