San Francisco Day Trips: Half Moon Bay Fall Festival

What's fall without a pumpkin contest? In California's Half Moon Bay, dubbed the "World Pumpkin Capital," growers from all over the west present their super-sized (some over 1,200 pounds!) contenders in the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-off. In mid-Coctober every year, taste scrumptious pumpkin pies, shop for harvest-inspired crafts, and witness seriously skilled pumpkin carving.

Photo Credit: Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival (Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival)

Top 4 Cheap West Coast Escapes

Take a trip to the sunset coast on a shoestring budget with these ideas:

San Francisco
The City by the Bay isn’t exactly known for its wallet-friendliness, but a trip here doesn’t have to break the bank. Take plenty of free walking tours, gaze at the Golden Gate Bridge (or walk across it!), enjoy free admission to Alcatraz (though you’ll have to pay for the ferry ride there), try the area’s abundant—and excellent—ethnic food, and ride a cable car for just $3.

San Diego
San Diego’s best asset is its scenery, and it’s free—so take advantage of it! Visit one of the city’s many beaches or parks, and buy discounted admission tickets to attractions like the San Diego Zoo at the San Diego Visitor Information Center.

Seattle
Visit the famous Pike Place Market—you can stay all afternoon without spending a cent, except perhaps on some tantalizingly fresh food. Score a CityPass for discounted entry into the Space Needle, boat tours on the Puget Sound, and other attractions.

Portland
Try a hostel or boutique hotel for cheaper digs, rent a bike (the area is very cyclist-friendly), check out Mount Hood and Mount St. Helens from a bird’s-eye vantage point on a $4 aerial tram ride, and check out the famous Powell’s Books flagship store.

-- Text by Meagan Francis

Photo credit: Alcatraz, San Francisco (John A. Martini/Alcatraz Cruises)

California for Less: Trip Ideas for Under Ten Bucks

Name of activity: Redwood National Park visit
Location: Orick, California
Price: Free
Description: Unlike other premier national parks, which can cost $50 a carload, there is no admission fee for Redwood National Park. The park is home to the world's tallest trees, 50 miles of some of the most pristine coastline in the park system, and impressive herds of the largest American elk species, the Roosevelt elk. The park's coastal Orick gateway is approximately 300 miles north of San Francisco.
Dates open/available: Year-round
Website: www.nps.gov/redw

Name of activity: Bay Area Discovery Museum
Location: Sausalito, California
Price: $10 adults, $8 children (1-17), infants free
Description: The Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor children's museum at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. With an emphasis on creativity through play, the museum encourages children ages six months to eight years to develop into curious lifelong learners and explorers. The museum's unique programs feature hands-on art, science and environmental exhibitions, performances, special events, and cultural festivals.
Dates open/available: Tuesdays - Fridays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed most Mondays and holidays.
Website: www.BayKidsMuseum.org

Travel Icons: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

At the Golden Gate Bridge's completion, Joseph Strauss penned the poem "The Mighty Task Is Done." Rising 746 feet, the bridge's two towers, which stand 191 feet taller than the Washington Monument, were clearly a mighty task. So proud were San Franciscans of this achievement, they hosted a world fair in order to show their masterpiece to the world.

Photo credit: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Corbis)

California Summer Trip Ideas: Santa Cruz Beach Scene

It's summer. You should be at the beach, munching on a hotdog, sea salt in your hair, strolling the wooden slats of that cherished American beach institution: the boardwalk. Head to Santa Cruz, California, where the 93-year-old boardwalk was named the best in the U.S. by the Travel Channel. The boardwalk's classic amusement park still maintains a carousel from 1911 and a roller coaster built in 1924. Santa Cruz, situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, is the epithet of the free-spirited, eclectic California lifestyle. Towering redwoods, countless nude and family beaches, and aging hippies are just the highlights of this colorful surf town. Home to O'Neill Surfboards, this original "Surf City" is also becoming a top destination for the next generation of thrill-seeking kiteboarders.

Photo credit: Santa Cruz, California (Photodisc/Getty)

California Classics: Napa Valley Vineyards

Travel the backroads of Napa Valley through a mix of small, family-run wineries and not-so-small wineries such as Beringer or Robert Mondavi. One of the most popular spots to anchor down for a night or two is Calistoga, a quaint town with an array of indulgences including hot springs, fine dining, and plenty of local vineyards to visit.

Photo credit: Napa Valley, California (Robert Holmes/CalTour)

San Francisco Weekender: Sip and Chill in Calistoga, Napa Valley

A weekend of sipping wine, gazing at stunning landscapes, floating in heated mineral pools, and bathing in mud should rank highly on anyone's list of relaxing vacation ideas. Spend a fall weekend in Calistoga, in the northern section of Napa Valley. The road to Calistoga winds through mountains and farmland, past country stores and veggie stands, and ends in a small town where the good life is everywhere.

Photo credit: State-by-State Fall Foliage Guide Calistoga vineyards, California (Calistoga Chamber of Commerce)

The Best of San Francisco

Among America's big cities, San Francisco is one of the best, offering warm California weather, a laid-back West Coast vibe, and a metropolitan, bayside setting. Enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisine—when it comes to sushi and Mexican eats, East Coasters don't know what they're missing. Explore the quirky neighborhoods, head to wine country for scenic driving, and check out the view from the Golden Gate Bridge.

Photo credit: Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco (Corbis)

California Spotlight: E.J. Gallo Winery

The E.J. Gallo Winery in Sonoma, California, was established in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo. With grapes produced in California's four main wine regions—the north, including Sonoma and Napa, the central region, the Sierras, and the south—Gallo wines are quaffed from London to Rome to Tokyo in over 90 countries around the world.

Photo credit: California Vineyard (Photodisc/Getty)

Celebrating Chinese New Year in San Francisco

Celebrating Chinese New Year has been a San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush. Many Chinese settlers moved west to better their lives, but found they needed a way to help others understand their culture. They created the parade, now the largest of its kind outside of Asia, to showcase Chinese life. It is considered one of the world's best parades.

Photo credit: Chinatown, San Francisco (Photodisc/Getty)