Many people know Millbrae, California, for only one thing -- it's a major regional transit hub, located near San Francisco International Airport and the site of an important transfer station between Bay Area Rapid Transit and Caltrain. But Millbrae deserves more recognition for its homegrown attractions. Step off the rail lines and discover good food, opportunities to relax both indoors and out and the Bay Area's largest Labor Day festival.
Eat Dim Sum
- Millbrae is the home of one of the best dim sum houses in the South Bay region. Hong Kong Flower Lounge is large enough to handle hundreds of guests, so feel free to bring a large group. There is limited free parking on-site. Once you're seated, expect dozens of different and unusual dishes to pass by on cart and tray -- fried, steamed and stir-fried. Plenty of seafood offerings from clams to squid to Dungeness crab are on offer, as well as noodles, buns, dumplings and other bite-sized morsels to sample alongside a pot of fragrant jasmine tea.
Take a Spa Day
- A Perfect Day Spa is not posh -- it's perhaps best described as clean but spare. What this really means, however, is that you're not paying for candles or other unnecessary touches, which keeps the prices affordably low. Get a foot massage or a full-body massage, with options for hot rocks, aromatherapy treatments and side-by-side sessions for couples. After your massage, relax in the sauna. You can also schedule a facial or a shampoo and scalp massage.
Hike, Bike and Plane-Watch
- Millbrae's Bayfront Park faces San Francisco International Airport, and you can watch departures and arrivals up close and personal from dusk until dawn. As its name implies, Bayfront Park also borders the San Francisco Bay. The waterfront trails form a portion of the 500-mile San Francisco Bay Trail, inviting hikers and bikers to engage in a refreshing workout through the park.
Attend the Art and Wine Festival
- Every year over Labor Day weekend, the town of Millbrae throws a public festival known as the Art and Wine Festival. Located in the heart of downtown, the festival lasts for two days and features live music acts, hundreds of artists and craftspeople displaying their wares, a car show and, of course, gourmet food, wine and beer vendors. You'll also find a children's area complete with mini-rides. The town of Millbrae bills it as "a Mardi Gras-style event" celebrating the end of summer. Admission is free.
