BEST WEEKEND ROAD TRIPS NEAR ELK GROVE

We love living in Elk Grove and being within a short drive to Sacramento. However, we are getting the itch to travel again now that COVID restrictions are easing.

We know others in the Elk Grove region are longing to travel as well, for we see more cars, trucks, and SUVs prepare for fun adventures on the road. Some of these cars will be packed full of camping gear. Some of these trucks and SUVs will be hauling campers and trailers. Whatever you drive, the team of auto mechanics at Elk Grove Transmission & Auto Repair encourages you to make sure your vehicle is ready and able to serve you well throughout your adventures.

So for fun, we thought it would be great to put together a list of our favorite weekend road trip getaways within 6 hours of Elk Grove. This is a shortlist that includes some of our favorite weekend travel destinations:

Wine Country (Amador, Napa, and Sonoma Counties) -- If you love wine and enjoying a fine time, why not enjoy the weekend in Wine Country? Amador County is nearby if you don’t want to drive far. Napa and Sonoma Counties are not too much further away. Many wineries are reopening to the public, but if you have specific wineries you want to explore, it would be wise to call them first and confirm their status. In Wine Country, you can sip and taste your way through the weekend. You can stay at a variety of lodging locations and even hit up a spa or two. There is so much to love about wine tasting and the natural beauty of California’s vineyards. If you are towing your trailer, there might even be opportunities to camp at some wineries for a low fee, but double-check availability when confirming your overnight plans.

Truckee -- Want to head into the mountains and breathe in some alpine air? Truckee is an adorable town, and the outdoors will be calling you to get out and play. You have many accommodations to choose from, and the restaurants are outstanding. Be sure to visit the Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum to get a clear understanding of what the Donner Party endured during that extremely harsh winter in 1846. Afterward, you can go hiking, fishing, or boating in the summer sunshine. Then, if you like craft beer and grilled cheese paninis, be sure to check out Donner Creek Brewing right by Donner Lake.

Virginia City, Nevada -- Just on the other side of Lake Tahoe is the storied silver-mining town of Virginia City. If you love history and walking back through time to 1876, this town is filled with Victorian architecture, monuments, museums, silver ore artifacts, and more. If you don’t wish to stay overnight at the historic Virginia City Inn, you can always head a little further to Reno and enjoy modern-day accommodations, restaurants, and nightlife.

San Francisco -- During COVID, many people left The City for the suburbs. Still, San Francisco is one of the best places to take in California’s history, great food, unique architecture, and outdoor events. Whether you make it a day trip or a weekend getaway, there is so much to see and do in San Francisco now that everything is reopening. The Embarcadero’s Piers are always a fun place to visit, and we used to love visiting the Musée Mécanique at Pier 45 by Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s an arcade game museum, and kids of all ages get a kick out of these vintage arcade games that are still playable. Be sure to visit Chinatown and North Beach to get some delicious meals. Not only will you feel good about supporting local businesses, but your belly will be very happy too.

Monterey & Big Sur -- It’s about a five-hour drive, but heading to the Central Coast is worth the trip. Monterey Bay is beautiful, and so is the Pacific Coast Highway running through Monterey County. The Monterey Bay Aquarium just reopened in May, but you’ll need to make reservations to get in. If you can’t purchase tickets to the aquarium, you can always rent a bike or go kayaking with rentals from Adventures-By-The-Sea. After spending the day in Monterey, continue your trip south to Big Sur, now that Highway 1 has reopened after the winter rain-induced landslide. The beauty of Big Sur’s 80 miles of coastline is jaw-dropping, but you’ll need to be extra cautious in your driving since you can expect to see tons of tourists joining you on your journey.

Before you head out for the weekend, we strongly encourage you to make sure your vehicle has a complete safety inspection so you reduce the risk of breakdowns -- especially if you will be hauling a trailer on this trip. If your car has not been driven a lot during COVID, it may have fluids that need replacement. We invite you to schedule an appointment with the Elk Grove Transmission & Auto Repair team. Our shop is located at 9797 Dino Drive Elk Grove, CA 95624, and our business hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM. We look forward to seeing you soon!