The Holiday Spirit of San Ramon

San Ramon Holiday Getaway Guide

12.14.2022

One way to keep your spirits bright this season is an easy getaway! San Ramon has all the fixings for a festive, convenient, and outdoorsy vacation. From a holiday ice rink and mistletoe hikes to outdoor fire pits for cozy winter nights, here’s your San Ramon holiday getaway guide.

Good Glidings

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink

Lace up and glide into the holiday magic. The Kristi Yamaguchi Holiday Ice Rink—located in the heart of San Ramon at bustling City Center Bishop Ranch—is open through early January. Go at night and enjoy the colorful lights.

Get your tickets soon to book your skate time, and make a day of it beyond the ice rink. Bishop Ranch is filled with artisan holiday shopping and plenty of places to grab a casual bite to eat or go for a dining date—from The LOT Restaurant and Bar (with a modern wall screen for sports and entertainment), to LB Steak, Social Affair wine bar, and C Casa creative Mexican cuisine.

Happy Hiking Holidays

San Ramon hiking

Keeping everyone merry on a hike or bike ride is easy in San Ramon. Its vast open space includes over 40 miles of trails. Gather your friends and family for a fun getaway, connecting in nature and creating new memories.

For something easygoing and excellent for both hikers and bikers, combine the Rolling Hills, Sycamore Grove, and Windermere Ridge Trails for views of the valley and hills. You won’t see any reindeer on this trail, but you’ll likely see grazing cattle along Windermere’s pastoral open space.

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness has a 5-mile (round-trip) hike combining the Rocky Ridge View Trail and Elderberry Trail for huge views of this wild and mountainous landscape.

San Ramon hiking and biking trails

Experience San Ramon

Experiences make great gifts. And San Ramon is a hassle-free experience: close enough to travel to without major issues, yet with a great outdoors that can make you feel far away. It’s got the ease of nearby dining and lodging, making for a convenient getaway.

Right now there’s plenty of holiday flair in the air, from festive décor at the City Center Bishop Ranch Holiday Ice Rink to seasonal brews and craft cocktails at food and drink locales.

Hike, bike, get a massage, enjoy a drink around a fire pit, repeat!

Find lodging, discover the best pet-friendly options, and get some great packages for overnight stays. Check out this excellent guide for San Ramon and start planning your vacation.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View

  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View

  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View

  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View

  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View