Half Moon Bay, 45 minutes south of San Francisco, is a coastal pumpkin and seafood town, with Barbara's Fish Trap, Sam's Chowder House and the October Pumpkin Festival.
Tip: Hit Barbara's Fish Trap at 12:30 (cash only, no reservations); the line is shortest then.
Petaluma, 50 minutes north of San Francisco, is the Bay Area cheese country, with Cowgirl Creamery's cheesemaking site, Marin French Cheese and a quiet rural drive.
Tip: Reserve the Cowgirl Creamery cheesemaking tour ahead; the Friday morning tour comes with a generous tasting.
Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, 35 minutes east of San Francisco by BART, is Alice Waters's home turf, with Chez Panisse, the Cheese Board Collective and Acme Bread.
Tip: Cheese Board pizza is a one-slice walk-in lunch; Chez Panisse upstairs cafe books two weeks ahead.
Oakland Temescal and Old Oakland, 15 minutes east of San Francisco by BART, are the East Bay's dining anchor with Pizzaiolo, Commis and the Swan's Market food hall.
Tip: Hit Pizzaiolo for lunch (walk-in friendly), Commis for dinner; book Commis 30 days out.
Napa Valley, a 90-minute drive north of San Francisco, is America's cabernet capital, with Thomas Keller's French Laundry in Yountville and the Oxbow Public Market.
Tip: Make French Laundry the centrepiece (reservations open 60 days out at 09:00 Pacific); fill the day with Bouchon Bakery and a Hall Wines tasting.
Sonoma County and Healdsburg, 75 minutes north of San Francisco, are the Pinot and Zinfandel anchor of Northern California, plus the three-star SingleThread.
Tip: Anchor the day at SingleThread (the 11:30 hands-on farm visit is the off-page experience); pair with a Russian River Pinot tasting at Williams Selyem.
Point Reyes, 75 minutes north of San Francisco, is Marin oyster country, with Tomales Bay oyster farms, Cowgirl Creamery's home dairy and the Point Reyes blue.
Tip: Stop at Hog Island Oyster Farm for the shuck-your-own picnic (BYO knife and grill); book the time slot a week ahead.