A convertible weekend · San Francisco · July 3–5, 2026
Pick up the convertible in SF, drop the top, and cross the Golden Gate Bridge. Stay on Hwy 101 North, then exit onto Panoramic Highway toward Mount Tamalpais.
The Drive: Climb the sweeping twisties up Pantoll Road and East Ridgecrest Boulevard.
The Stop: Park at the East Peak lot. Walk the flat 0.7-mile Verna Dunshee Trail around the summit. At 2,572 ft you get an unobstructed view of the whole Bay Area, the skyline, and the Pacific in warm afternoon sun.
The Drive: Down the back of the mountain via Panoramic Hwy, right onto northbound Hwy 1, then right onto Sir Francis Drake Blvd — leaving the exposed ridges for deep forest.
The Stop: Pull into this lush, deep canyon. Pay the $10 day-use fee at the kiosk and head to the Pioneer Tree Trail.
The Trek: A 2.5-mile loop — the perfect Muir Woods alternative. Heavily shaded and cool, full of ferns, winding past ancient old-growth coast redwoods beside a bubbling creek, with a fraction of the crowds.
The Drive: Cruise the final miles of Sir Francis Drake Blvd out to Point Reyes Station. Grab a snack or browse the shops.
The Feast: Head a few miles north on Hwy 1 hugging the water to The Marshall Store or Nick's Cove. Waterfront table, barbecued or raw oysters at the tide's edge as the light turns golden.
The Drive: The loop pays off — instead of the slow twisty coast, head east on Point Reyes–Petaluma Road past Nicasio Reservoir. Wide, smooth, sweeping curves through golden ranch land. Top down, sun low: pure driving bliss.
The Drive: Hop on Hwy 101 South in San Rafael, then east across the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge.
The Climax: I-580 → Hwy 24, up into the Berkeley Hills via Claremont Ave to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Grab a turnout for the 8:35 PM sunset — the sun dips over the exact coastline you just drove.
Descend into Oakland's Rockridge for a late dinner. Wrap up by driving back into SF across the illuminated western span of the Bay Bridge, top down.
Cross back over the Bay Bridge early, heading south to Alameda. Traffic is light this early on the holiday.
Step onto the historic aircraft carrier for their massive Steel Beach Party & BBQ. Live music on the flight deck, aircraft displays, and historic WWII tours.
Leave Alameda and escape into the hills behind Oakland. Drive Redwood Road and Pinehurst Road — a tight, twisty local secret, canyoned by redwoods, that feels deep in the Pacific Northwest wild.
Drive back across the Bay Bridge to your SF Airbnb and park the convertible for the night. Do not drive anywhere near the fireworks. Grab a casual dinner or pack a picnic with warm drinks, a blanket, and heavy jackets.
Walk, rideshare, or take Muni to your viewing location.
Watch the historic Semiquincentennial display launch directly off the bridge towers and surrounding barges.
Drop the top and cross the Bay Bridge one final time, heading southeast into the warm, sun-drenched valley of Danville.
Explore the world-renowned Don Williams Automobile Gallery — rare vintage sports cars, one-of-a-kind Alfas, and multi-million-dollar classics. Lunch just outside in the Blackhawk Plaza courtyard.
The park entrance is practically in the museum's backyard. Drive up South Gate Road through tight switchbacks and sandstone to the 3,849-ft summit — 360° views of the Central Valley — then descend North Gate Road into Walnut Creek.
Head south from Walnut Creek, cut back west over the bay via the San Mateo Bridge, and aim straight for the open ocean. Join Hwy 1 South through Pacifica.
Park at the southern lot of the cliff-hugging Devil's Slide Trail for a walk above the crashing waves. Then one final golden-hour cruise up the Pacific coast before returning to the city.