If the time of day is right, the skies are clear, the wind picks up just enough to clear away the thick fog, and the temperature isn't too bitter cold, take the hour long drive from San Francisco north up Highway 1 to Point Reyes National Seashore.
You do not need to spend an eternity at Point Reyes National Seashore in order to find wildlife. Around every corner, you can find bobcats, coyotes, elk, owls, badgers, elephant seals, whales, and much more!