By Grant Porter for Unsplashed

With summer coming to a close, its the perfect time to get a quick last-minute vacation in. The following list is the best road trip-friendly locations from the Bay Area.

San Juan Bautista

This mission-era town has restaurants, antique shops, and boutiques. Plus, The San Juan Bautista De Anza trail offers a five-mile nature trail less than a mile outside the city center. It’s quiet and relaxing, and the adobe-gone-boom town architecture will take you to another time.

Must do: Visit Mission San Juan Bautista’s garden and buy fruit turnovers at San Juan Bakery and Grocery

Perfect for: Families looking to share local history with kids, antiquers

Mariposa

A gateway town into Yosemite, Mariposa deserves more than just a drive through. The town began as a gold-mining boomtown, and you can learn more at the Mariposa Museum and History Center or at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum. Or take a ride aboard a steam locomotive on the Sugar Pine Railroad, which takes you on the old route to famous panning sites and the Thornberry Museum. And there’s plenty of day hikes at all levels and several wineries to choose from.

Must see: Mariposa County’s Old Stone Jail, Sugar Pine Railroad

Perfect for: Families with children, the hiker, the history buff

Ojai

Just outside LA, close enough to be called home by some celebrities, Ojai has become famous for being one of the only cities in the world to have a ‘pink moment,’ a brief period of time during the sunset that washes the Ventura County mountains in pink hues. The best view is said to be Meditation Mount. Ojai also flaunts a handful of spas and spiritual retreats year-round, and its been dubbed California’s spirituality capital. The Mediterranean climate allows year-round hiking in the Los Padres National Forest. If you’d rather stroll downtown, Ojai Village has plenty of shops and art galleries.

Must see: Bart’s Books, Meditation Mount, Downtown

Perfect for: Deep relaxation

Solvang

Little Denmark, found in Santa Barbara County, was established as a Danish colony and the town continues to prosper as a home to expats and descendents of immigrants. It feels like an authentic ride, with aebleskivers dusted in powdered sugar and other imports. Mission Santa Inés sits near the city center and vineyards surrounding the area. No matter what time of year, Solvang feels like a festival celebrating beautiful Danish culture, architecture, and food.

Must see: Downtown, Old Mission San Inés, Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, Hans Christian Andersen Museum

Perfect for: Kids

Eureka

Famous for its redwood trees, Eureka offers a break from the city. Founded as a stopping place for miners traveling from Sacramento during the Gold Rush, it combines some of the best coastal trails. Arts and landmark homes mark the town. Becuase homes were not renovated in the sprawl of urban renewal after World War II, they remain intact to this day. Go and experience a warmer, prettier fog.

Must See: Headwater Forest Reserve, Humboldt Botanical Garden, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Clarke Historical Museum, The Carson Home

Perfect for: Lowkey vacation