Northern California in Four Days:
A Quick Summer Escape from Boston to Wine Country & Beyond
If you're looking for a quick and memorable summer getaway, this California itinerary packs in just the right balance of city vibes, wine tasting, coastal adventure, and laid-back local charm. With JetBlue now offering seasonal direct flights from Boston to Sacramento, getting to Northern California has never been easier—or faster. Here’s how we made the most of four days on the West Coast, complete with winery visits, scenic hikes, and delicious food.
✈️ Flights
JetBlue has a seasonal direct flight from Boston to Sacramento during the summer months, and it’s a total game changer. It saves hours by avoiding layovers and gets you closer to wine country and the coast.
We flew out of Boston on Wednesday around 5 p.m. and landed in Sacramento around 9 p.m.—a smooth, easy trip.
Day 1: Exploring Sacramento Like a Local
Our first full day in California was dedicated to exploring Sacramento. We started by making breakfast at home & then headed out for coffee.
☕ OffBeat Coffee – A minimalist, artsy coffee shop with a limited but well-executed menu. If you're a fan of vanilla lattes or matcha, this is your spot.
🛍️ Midtown Sacramento – We spent the late morning wandering through shops in Midtown.
🥪 Lunch at Mendocino Farms – Known for their fresh, farm-to-table sandwiches, this place did not disappoint.
☀️ Afternoon poolside & grilling – We soaked up the warm California sun and grilled out for dinner to wrap up a perfect first day.
Here are a few more local gems recommended by my best friend Shelby, who I set out to visit!-
SacYard Community Tap House
Darling Aviary
Milka Coffee Roasters
Midtown Farmers Market
Day 2: Wine Country Day Trip – Domaine Carneros & V. Sattui
On our second day, we took advantage of being so close to Napa Valley and visited two wineries.
🚗 We left Sacramento around 10:30 a.m. and arrived just before our first tasting at noon. Make sure you leave early in case of traffic!
🍾 Domaine Carneros
French château vibes with gorgeous views and an elegant outdoor terrace.
Known for its sparkling wines and Pinot Noir.
I tried the Sparkling Château Tasting ($45) and ordered a cheese & charcuterie board ($45) to share. 10/10!
I brought home a bottle of their 2018 Late Disgorged Brut—it was that good, and a perfect sparkling white wine to have chilled this summer.
🍷 V. Sattui Winery
This estate feels like a slice of Tuscany with its stone buildings, vineyard views, and lush picnic grounds.
Originally founded in 1885 by Italian immigrant Vittorio Sattui, the winery is steeped in history.
We booked the outdoor tasting ($59/person) and selected five wines to sample, moving from white to red.
The setting was relaxed, with umbrella-covered tables overlooking the vineyard.
After wrapping up our tasting at V. Sattui, we were ready for some casual comfort food and Gott's Roadside is just down the road. This iconic Napa Valley spot is known for its elevated drive-in-style eats and local ingredients.
We ordered a mix of burgers, crispy fries, and fish tacos, plus some fresh lemonade that was much needed after an afternoon of wine tasting. To top it off, we shared some of their soft serve, which was the perfect sweet ending before the drive back to Sacramento!
Day 3: Coastal Adventures – Point Reyes & Mt. Tamalpais
We hit the road early for a coastal day trip with many stops. We headed for Point Reyes which is about a 2 hour drive from Sacramento.
Lookout point for the Golden Gate Bridge
🧀 Stop at Marin French Cheese Co. – Our first stop was a charming roadside spot for sandwiches, cheese & crackers, and a peaceful countryside picnic. You cannot beat these countryside views.
🌊 Point Reyes National Seashore – Then we headed back in the car and made it to the seashore. Point Reyes is known for its rugged coastlines, lighthouse, hiking, and whale watching.
Warning: it’s one of the windiest spots on the coast (50+ mph winds the day we visited), so check the weather before you go!
🥾 Mt. Tamalpais State Park – Since Point Reyes was too windy, we headed here and hiked part of the Dipsea Trail (1.5 miles out of 7.5 total).
Stunning ocean views and forested paths made it one of the trip’s highlights. I highly highly recommend this hike!
4. 🌉 The Golden Gate Bridge Viewpoint – We made a quick stop at the Golden Gate Panorama Viewpoint in Sausalito to take some photos and walk around with this insane view!
5. 🐟 Dinner at Fish. in Sausalito – We shared oysters, clam dip, and guac, and I had the salmon sandwich. Incredible food and unbeatable views.
Day 4: Farm Brewery & Farewell
On our final day, we kept things easy and local.
🍻 Ruhstaller Farm Brewery – This laid-back brewery is located on a farm with chickens, food trucks, soft-serve, and beer & wine.
✈️ We took a red-eye flight back to Boston at 9 p.m. JetBlue’s seasonal nonstop route made the trip home just as smooth.
Pro Tip: Take a half day off the morning after a red-eye to sleep in. Thank me later!
XOXO,
Ashley
