Top Ten Active Spring Vacations

Alcatraz Island

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Among America's big cities, San Francisco is one of the best, offering warm California weather (albeit erring on the side of foggy and mild), a laid-back West Coast vibe, and a metropolitan, bayside setting. Enjoy a variety of ethnic (and authentic) 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 happy sipping (but not too much of both at once), and check out the view from the Golden Gate Bridge.

And because you are out west, you're just a few minutes away from all things outdoors. Take a cliffside, coastal spin down California's Highway One—via two wheels or four. Hammer down some primo singletrack, choose from a multitude of overnight hikes, or seek after-hours solitude on an island in the middle of the bay. Explore the vast coastal preserve that is Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the world's largest urban park. Surprisingly, San Francisco is one of the few places you can catch salmon year-round—or try your luck with striped bass, sturgeon, and halibut, just to name a few of the deep-sea denizens.