I’m writing this from the plane – we’re currently en route to San Francisco for a long weekend in California, and I’m so excited! We’ve been planning this trip for ages, and there’s so much to see and do.

Once upon a time, back when I still lived in the UK, I used to dream about visiting California. I’d seen so many stunning photos in travel brochures and magazines, but it always felt too far away and too expensive to be realistic. When I first moved to the U.S., San Francisco was at the top of my bucket list. I finally made it there during my first spring in the States, tagging along with a friend, and we loved it. We tried In-N-Out Burger, hung off the back of a cable car, took a boat out to Alcatraz and walked up and down all the steep and winding streets.

A couple of years later, I was lucky enough to be offered a job that brought me to San Francisco for a few days each month. I got to know the city and surrounding bay area really well. But I haven’t been back to California since 2019 – well before the pandemic – and my husband and I have never been there together as a couple. So this trip feels like the perfect blend of nostalgia and new adventures.

This is also a bit of a “racecation” for us. While we’ll have a few days to explore, the Big Sur Marathon falls right in the middle of our trip. To keep things low-key and avoid tiring ourselves out before the race, we’ve left our schedule pretty flexible, with just a few key plans I’m really looking forward to:

First, I’m excited to spend a day or two in San Francisco. We’re planning a short run past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, like the Ferry Building, Lombard Street, and the Marina, followed by a leisurely breakfast. I love running along the water in San Francisco, taking in views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, and stopping by Crissy Field to watch the dogs play. It’s such a vibrant, outdoorsy spot.

We’ve rented a car for the weekend, so after a night in the city, we’ll head down the coast to Monterey, where we’re staying for the Big Sur Marathon. Once there, we plan to check out the race expo, catch up with some friends in town for dinner, and explore Monterey and Carmel. I’ve never been to either town or driven that stretch of Route 1, so I’m expecting plenty of scenic stops along the way – we’ll probably pull over constantly just to soak in the views.

We’re aiming to hit the Big Sur Marathon expo on Friday afternoon to get it done early. I love a good expo, especially when I’ve heard there’s great swag, but I also like getting it out of the way so I can relax. I’ve spotted a hoodie online that I really like so I’m crossing my fingers that they still have a few left late Friday. Saturday will be a mix of light exploring and rest before the race. We’ve booked the official pasta dinner at the Marriott to keep things simple. I did the Boston pasta dinner once and had a great time, so I’m curious to see how this one compares. Hopefully we’ll meet some fellow runners and trade stories and plans.

Of everything on our itinerary, I’m most excited about the marathon on Sunday. It’s an early start – 3:30 a.m. to catch the bus to the start line – but I think the views, the community, and the experience will make it all worth it. I’m not racing this one as it’s too hilly and too beautiful to worry about pace, so my plan is to take it all in and snap lots of photos along the way.  Big Sur is a lottery to get a spot, so I’m feeling really fortunate to have the opportunity to run it. 

I’m not sure what our post-race plans will look like yet, but if history is any indicator, we’ll likely grab an early dinner with our friends and head to bed. We’ve decided to stay on East Coast time to make those early mornings more manageable, so I’ll probably be fast asleep by 6 p.m. on Sunday!

Monday is our travel day back to San Francisco. We’re in no rush, so I’m hoping we can take our time on the drive and really soak up the coastal views one last time. My husband and I have booked an Italian for dinner and plan to go to a bar we visited together, before we were dating, so I’m looking forward to the little celebration and trip down memory lane on Monday night, before flying home.

If you’ve been to San Francisco recently or driven down Route 1 to Monterey, I’d love to hear your last minute tips which we could add in to our itinerary.