Treat your mom to a perfect Mother’s Day along the Capitol Corridor this weekend! You can’t go wrong with our list of fun and delicious destinations between Sacramento and San Jose.
Start with Brunch
What better place to enjoy brunch than in Sacramento, America’s “Farm-to-Fork Capital.” The classic Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento is offering a three-course Mother’s Day brunch from 9:30am to 3:30pm. If she prefers the taste of Italian, Lungomare in Oakland’s Jack London Square is offering a special brunch buffet for $55 per person. For more lavish fare, treat mom to a Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea or Brunch Buffet at the Fairmont in San Jose. Mother’s Day is always busy, so you’ll want to book a reservation for all of these dining spots.
How to Get There
- Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento: 0.4 miles from Sacramento Station, 8-minute walk.
- Lungomore in Oakland: 0.4 miles from Oakland Jack London Station, 8-minute walk.
- Fairmont in San Jose: 6-minute VTA ride from San Jose/Diridon Station with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor conductor.
Shop Till You Drop
After brunch, you can take mom on a shopping spree. At Fourth Street in Berkeley, you’ll find plenty of boutique shops with one-of-a-kind merchandise. Feeling hungry? Grab a bite to eat at Café M or slide into a booth at Bette’s Oceanview Diner for a classic diner experience. For more al fresco shopping, head to Bay Street in Emeryville or San Jose’s Santana Row, both of which have an array of brick and mortar favorites.
How to Get There
- Fourth Street in Berkeley: 0.2 miles from Berkeley Station, 3-minute walk.
- Bay Street in Emeryville: 0.6 miles from Emeryville Station, 11-minute walk.
- Santana Row in San Jose: Take the VTA from the Santa Clara University Station with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor conductor.
Be Adventurous
For moms who love cultural experiences and the great outdoors, there’s a lot to see and do along the Capitol Corridor. Head into San Francisco to the Exploratorium, which will have free admission on Mother’s Day, or visit the newly-renovated SFMOMA to experience world-class modern art. For outdoor adventure, go for a hike along the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline in Martinez or bike along part of the 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail. You can enjoy breathtaking views and beautiful scenery at places like the San Francisco Waterfront, Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond, and many more.
How to Get There
- Exploratorium in San Francisco: Take Capitol Corridor to theRichmond Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Powell Street Station in San Francisco. Then take the SF Muni F-Market & Wharfs Car on Market St. heading towards Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 39, and get off on Green St. Muni tickets and discount BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car of Capitol Corridor trains.
- SFMOMA in San Francisco: Take the Capitol Corridor to theRichmond Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Montgomery Street stop, which is just a few blocks away from the museum. Discount BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car of Capitol Corridor trains.
- Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline in Martinez: 1.8 miles from the Martinez Station; 48-minute walk (might be best to take a cab, Lyft, or Uber!)
- Point Isabel Regional Shoreline in Richmond: Take Capitol Corridor to the Richmond Station, connect to BART, and get off at El Cerrito Plaza Station. The shoreline is a 28-minute walk; 1.4 miles from the BART station. Discounted BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car of Capitol Corridor trains.
- San Francisco Waterfront/Embarcadero: Take Capitol Corridor to theRichmond Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Embarcadero Station in San Francisco. Discount BART tickets are available for purchase in the Café Car of Capitol Corridor trains.
Dine and Unwind
After a day of festivities, unwind at Foreign Cinema in San Francisco with outdoor seating and projector-operated foreign films playing while you dine. For authentic Southern cuisine, The Porch Restaurant and Bar in Sacramento features food and cocktails inspired by Southern regional classics. If waterfront views are what you’re after, take mom to Bocanova in Oakland, which has outdoor seating and features Pan-Latin cuisine and delicious cocktails.
How to Get There
- Foreign Cinema in San Francisco: Take Capitol Corridor to the Richmond Station, connect to BART, and get off at the 24th Street Mission Station in San Francisco, which is less than half a mile away.
- The Porch Restaurant and Bar in Sacramento: Take Capitol Corridor to the Sacramento Station, and ride the SacRT with a free Transit Transfer from the Capitol Corridor conductor.
- Bocanova in Oakland: 0.3 miles from Oakland Jack London Station, 6-minute walk.