Do You Go to Festivals?
There are all sorts of festivals ranging from Squid Fest to Garlic Fest and Fog Fest to Pumpkin fest that are all considered just a day trip (all of these happen to be in the bay area). I have found these to be fun in the past but obviously usually crowded.
I am not one to go to a three day music festival and sleep on the ground (even though my folks were apparently at Woodstock!)