7 Adventurous Destinations For 2018 [Sponsored]

7 Adventurous Destinations For 2018 [Sponsored]Photo: Canvas
Hoodline
Published on January 10, 2018

San Franciscans have plenty of options when it comes to self-improvement; yoga and fitness studios abound, we have access to some of the healthiest food available, and our cultural scene reflects our diversity.

But what about adventure?

As much as this city has to offer, it's good to look outside our borders for excitement, and a Canvas car subscription makes stepping into the unknown easy and affordable. 

Any car can take you on a life-altering road trip, but a Canvas subscription costs less per mile than a rental and doesn’t require multi-year financing. When it comes to hunting hidden waterfalls or watching a rocket blast off, it's a great option.

Drivers pay a set monthly fee that allows them to drive the car they want, and only as long as they want to keep it. One payment covers insurance, maintenance, use of the car and an adjustable mileage allowance.

With that in mind, here are 7 destinations for San Franciscans who prefer to keep their bucket lists as short as possible.

Cypress trees near the historical KPH radio station at Pt. Reyes. | Photo: Frank Schulenberg/Flickr

Drive to Point Reyes and West Marin

Just an hour's drive from San Francisco, West Marin is a world away. When you've lost your cell phone's signal, you know you're on the right track.

Two-lane roads used to shoot car commercials cut through fields dotted with dairy cows, herds of tule elk gather in the fog on cliffs overlooking the Pacific, and roadside restaurants serve local oysters in almost every way imaginable.

In addition to Point Reyes National Seashore, the nearby towns of Tomales Bay, Inverness and Olema offer plenty to see, comfortable lodging and fine dining.

Photo: The CIA at Copia/Facebook

Take culinary classes at The CIA at Copia

Last year, the Culinary Institute of America opened the CIA at Copia, a cooking school in downtown Napa where aspiring chefs, bakers and sommeliers can hone their skills.

Classes include hands-on sessions, interactive demonstrations, private instruction, and events with noted chefs, winemakers and writers. Before and after your CIA briefings, be sure to explore Napa and Sonoma's wine country.

Get to know Santa Cruz

With waterfalls, secret beaches, redwood trees and trails, Santa Cruz County offers some of the region's best spots for hiking, surfing and mountain biking.

With a Canvas subscription and a trail map, you'll get to know rustic places like Quail Hollow Ranch and Big Basin, California's first state park, where visitors can find the largest continuous stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco.

A Falcon 9 launch at Vandenberg AFB. | Photo: Stuart Rankin/Flickr

Watch rocket launches at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Drive five hours south to see see satellites and spacecraft roar off the launch pad and into the heavens at Vandenberg AFB in Santa Barbara County.

Depending on the rockets used and the time of day, the visuals can be stunning, as with a recent evening launch that had many wondering if UFOs were nearby. On May 5, an Atlas V rocket is scheduled to take off at 4:10am carrying the InSight robotic lander to Mars.

Explore Monterey Bay

Whether you're tandem skydiving thousands of feet above it, scuba diving 20 feet under its surface, or studying the creatures who inhabit it from the safety and comfort of its aquarium, Monterey Bay should be on your to-do list.

Landlubbers may prefer camping at nearby Big Sur State Park and Pinnacle National Park, or visiting the Esalen Institute—a spiritual center with clothing-optional hot tubs where Don Draper found contentment in the final moments of Mad Men.

Photo: Steven Truong/Flickr

Attend outdoor music festivals

California's moderate climate and wide-open spaces guarantee that music fans won't have to wait long for the next outdoor festival.

With a Canvas car subscription, Bottlerock, High Sierra and Dirtybird Campout are completely within reach. The season starts in April with Coachella, which has already announced Beyoncé, Eminem and The Weekend as headliners. Pro tip: bring friends and split the driving duties.

Photo: Safari West/Facebook

Hit some amusement parks

San Francisco's roller coasters and thrill rides were removed in the last century, but there are still places in the Bay Area where grown adults can act like children.

On 400 acres in Sonoma County, Safari West has gathered more than 1,000 animals from 90 species in a peaceful preserve where guests stay in tents and cabins.

Adrenaline fans can get their fix at California's Great America in Santa Clara or Vallejo's Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, but if you need more excitement, Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm will welcome you with open arms.  

This year, explore new places and interests with a Canvas car subscription.