If there’s one thing I love more than the city by the bay (and cheesecake), it’s the bay itself. I love having the ability to explore new areas with just a quick walk, bike ride, or ferry trip. Over the weekend, I did exactly that. I rented a bike from the Ferry Building and set off on a day trip to Spirits Alley in Alameda.
Spirits Alley is named such for the unassuming stretch of wineries, breweries, and distilleries situated about a mile from the Alameda ferry stop—which itself is only a 15-minute ride from San Francisco. Everything is walking distance, but having a bicycle makes it much easier to visit each spot without being on a time crunch. Moreover, Alameda used to be a military base, so there is tons of open space to explore via bike and bask in the sun (or in my case, make K take photos of me to validate I know how to ride a bicycle).
One of the coolest things is being able to take a tour of the famous St. George distillery and trying all the interesting spirits they make – vodka, gin, and brandy. I won’t give away the tour, but they take their product seriously and are full of knowledge. The distillery also looks like a shiny Willy Wonka factory, making the tour that much more interesting.
For a fun, active weekend day trip, grab yourself a bike and head over to Spirits Alley Alameda! Here are my tips on what to do and how to get here:
Get a bicycle { I did a day rental from the Ferry Building. Biking around is so much fun, as there is so much space! }
Grab a light snack at the Ferry Building { The weekend farmer’s market is in full swing, so grab some coffee and fruit to snack on before you catch the 11:45am ferry. The ferry has a special area to store your bike }
Rock Wall Winery { Stop here first for a couple glasses of wine and lunch. I loved the octopus merguez salad and the cheese plate. You can see SF looking foggy in the distance when you sit outside }
Building 43 Winery { Everyone here looks like a tamer version of Hell’s Angels and are happy to chat with you about wine. We liked the Syrah and Petit Syrah. It helps that there is a taco truck outside for later }
St. George Spirits { Book a tour here beforehand and get ready to learn all about fermenting and distilling hard alcohol. You’ll try six variations of vodka, gin, or brandy, and if you reserve online, you can take home their signature tasting glasses. My favorites were the green chile vodka and spiced pear brandy. }
Faction Brewing { Kid friendly, dog friendly, views of the city friendly, and grilled cheese at the ready – what else do you need to close out your day? Grab a sando and a beer and watch the sunset before heading back to the city. }
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