10 Weekend Getaways from San Francisco for Busy Professionals
This blog is for busy professionals in San Francisco looking for a break, a reset, or even to escape– all through weekend getaways.
To all the San Franciscans buried in your jobs… it’s time to escape. The best thing you can do for yourself is to plan some weekend getaways to get away from the daily grind.
Travel helps me stay sane in my job and in life. By going out to experience new adventures, I get the opportunity to learn and expand my perspective– allowing me to hit the reset button when I get home.
It’s hard to plan in with limited PTO and huge time constraints, so I thought I could list out 10 weekend getaways for all of the busy professionals in San Francisco. My hope is that it’ll let you escape from your full time job to recharge.
It’s the first of the “weekend getaways” series, so I wanted to start with my own city to escape from. Here are my favorite weekend getaways from San Francisco, great for busy professionals.
10 Best Weekend Getaways from San Francisco
Mexico City, Mexico
Another great weekend getaway from San Francisco is Mexico City. It’s another bang for your buck in terms of time since it’s also a short flight but incredibly rich experience.
Mexico City is one of my favorite cities in the entire world. It has some of the most delicious food, unique cultural experiences, and I’ve made memories there to last a lifetime. When I came here, I was able to knock a few things off of my bucket list while enjoying the food and culture. Honestly, in my trips here, I was able to pack so much into my trip, including: going on a hot air balloon tour, doing a food tour, going out to Lucha Libre, exploring Xochimilco, and more!
Overall, it’s a HUGE city so there’s a ton to do. If you go, definitely do your research beforehand and do a walking tour when you get there to get to know the area!
Pro Tip: I like to stay in Roma Norte and check out the cool bars near there to hang.
Lake Tahoe, California
Tahoe is great because it’s versatile. Imagine either a snowy cabin weekend getaway, or a summer day by the lake. It’s my favorite getaway to play in the snow in the winter, plus, most of my friends and family love it as a skiing escape. I also love to go during the summer to jump in the lake or rent a boat. Depending on when you can get time off to go, anytime is really great here! I go at least once a year to get the best of both worlds and enjoy the nature and beauty of the place.
Pro Tip: I would just be weary of the long weekends that are super popular and always check weather before you go. Sometimes the snow is so high you might get stuck there, so be sure to look ahead of time.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Puerto Vallarta is the perfect weekend getaway from San Francisco to make the most out of your time. It’s a short flight that’s also international! It also has a wide variety of things to do– you can stay in the city for the downtown vibes or go to a resort to enjoy the beach and water.
I tend to go for more relaxing trips to the beach in Puerto Vallarta to rejuvenate after a long stretch at work. I usually stay at a resort, but walk over to downtown for tequila tastings, unique food, and more. Since it’s only a 4 hour flight, you can get the most relaxation time in for a short amount of travel time… perfect for busy professionals!
Pro Tip: When you’re here, I highly recommend visiting the La Cruz Del Cerro Lookout right near downtown. It has crazy views of the entire area and makes you feel like you are on top of the world!
Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is also a short flight to be able to get out of the country! Canada is pretty underrated by Americans for vacation (except for Banff) overall, particularly Vancouver.
I went here in recent years and actually had a really interesting spread of experiences. My friends and I were able to spend time exploring Granville island, taking a cute aquabus around, try rainbow Bao, and enjoying a really unique dining in the dark experience.
And that was only in 3 days! Vancouver has a ton to offer, and what I did doesn’t even include the deeper nature aspects that most people come for. It’s a great way to have a ton of new experiences and create new memories in a different country that’s just a few short hours away.
Pro Tip: We stayed between Downtown and Yaletown and honestly it was the move. We could walk pretty much anywhere and there were so many food options around us!
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
If you’re looking to blow off steam, Cabo San Lucas is the perfect weekend getaway for you! It has beautiful beaches, and it’s known for its nightlife. There are awesome parties across the resorts and in the bars around the area. There are even party boats that range from more expensive to pretty affordable!
In case you want to skip the party for an adventure, there are fun experiences like whale watching and ATVing.
I came here for my birthday last year and had a variety of experiences from jumping on a party boat to enjoying beautiful walks on the beach with my friends. Regardless of what type of fun you’re looking for, Cabo’s got you covered.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is a great place to get away from San Francisco if you want to blow off some major steam. It doesn’t really need an introduction, but it’s the party and gambling capital of America. There are also great shows to attend from concerts to magicians to random performances you can find. It is a great place to find entertainment, or if you’re needing it, distractions.
I’ve been a few times myself and every time, I find myself going nonstop on each trip. My friends and I would either hop from party to party or gamble in between! They’re always short trips since Vegas is so easy to get to and from, but I always have a blast when I go. Just be sure to pack your party clothes and be ready for anything!
Pro Tip: If you’re going to party, check that your dates are in party season AND make sure you hit promoters up in advance. Girls will always get in for free this way as long as guys aren’t with them. If you have a group of girls and guys, a lot of promoters will let you slide in as long as there are as many or more girls than guys. Best of luck and don’t spend all of your money!
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is a great place for coffee lovers and nature lovers alike. There are awesome coffee shops around every corner– not to mention this is the birthplace of Starbucks. Plus, there are unique exhibits like the Chihuly glass museum where you can see spectacular glass sculptures! It has a great combo of things for a short weekend trip, perfect for any busy professional looking to get away from San Francisco.
I love going to Seattle to have a quick weekend trip for some exploring. Downtown is so cute and it’s just such a beautiful walk. The weather is best in summer so that’s usually when I go… otherwise you’ll probably get stuck in the rain.
Pro Tip: If you have time to spare, Vancouver is just a short train ride away! I went with my family to both Seattle and Vancouver and when we took the train it was a gorgeous ride. I highly recommend.
Denver, Colorado
For those of you that want to get into the beer scene or into skiing, Denver should be your next stop. It’s a fun place both in the summer and winter, so it just depends on when you have the time to go.
If you’re going in the summer, downtown is such a cute place to try new beers. They have tons of local brews, so be sure to brew-hop!
If you’re going in the winter, rent a car to hit the slopes. Aspen and other famous skii towns are super close by for you to explore.
I personally loved going to Beaver Creek Resort. A short drive from Denver airport, it’s a little “mini” town in itself as a resort where one of my family friends got married. We all stayed in the resort and enjoyed our time together from roasting smores to hitting the ceremony in the chapel. It’s absolutely gorgeous and the perfect place in both winter and summer alike.
Pro Tip: Look up what you want to do based on when you’re going. If you’re looking for it, you can even get great beers on the slopes!
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is pretty well known in itself, but I find it to be a great road trip to escape from San Francisco. It’s the perfect weekend getaway for me as a busy professional because it’s all about relaxation.
I love to go and enjoy time on the beach and the pier and live the slow life. There’s not a ton to do there but that’s pretty much the point– to go and enjoy nature and unwind.
When my family and I came here, we stayed on the main strip of town and pretty much spent all of our time around there. We shopped, ate, walked, and sat on the beach. What a perfect way to unwind!
Pro Tip: If you’re going near Christmas time, stop by Solvang– it’s a cute town that mimics a Danish village! They have horse rides, windmills, and more to help you embrace the holiday spirit.
San Diego, California
San Diego is also a town that doesn’t need any introduction. It’s the epitome of relaxation– perfect for any busy professional trying to get away from San Francisco!
It’s also one of those towns that is perfect to visit year round. While it can get cold in the winter, it’s still gorgeous as ever. I recommend hitting the town during summertime to get the warm weather and sun in, but going in the winter for some fun food adventures as well.
I came here in March and it was still warm during the day and sunny. I had great coffee, drinks, and food throughout the whole experience. My friends and I had a blast and loved the whole experience. I stayed in Pacific Beach since it’s super walkable and it had good going out options for the younger folk.
Conclusion
Taking time for yourself is essential, especially when work demands so much of your energy. These weekend getaways from San Francisco offer the perfect opportunities to recharge, find inspiration, and come back to your daily life with a fresh perspective.
If you’re looking for other tips and hacks to make the most out of your time off, check out my travel hacks for busy professionals. It’ll help you make all of the trips above a possibility!
