Music fans who love to travel often weave cool concert venues into their itineraries. Of course, not everyone has the time (or money) to jet off to a show at, say, Colorado’s Red Rocks or the Hollywood Bowl.

Fortunately for us, there are several awesome venues within a relatively short drive from pretty much anywhere in the Bay Area. Here’s a look at four such music spots, any of which would make a fantastic day trip or weekend jaunt this summer — and all four have some terrific shows on the calendar.

So pick a place — one that you’ve never visited before — and go enjoy some live tunes.

Blue Note Napa Summer Sessions

This popular series, which was previously held at Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena, has moved into the Napa city limits for 2023. This summer’s shows are being held at the Meritage Resort in the Napa Valley Commons area.

It’s a tremendous setting for live music, with a stage erected on the grand lawn  surrounded on three sides by hotel rooms. Yes, that means you can book a room and hang out on your own balcony to watch the likes of Dave Koz, Marcus Miller and Madeleine Peyroux perform onstage.

Others will be perfectly content to groove on the concert lawn, which boasts a capacity of 1,500 for seated shows and up to 2,000 for standing room events. The views are absolutely superb, with the sprawling vineyards of Trinitas Cellars and the iconic “Grape Crusher” statue calling from behind the stage.

Venue: The Meritage, 875 Bordeaux Way, Napa. Find concert info at bluenotenapa.com.

Recommended shows: We love the ‘80s, so it’s no surprise that the Belinda Carlisle gig on Aug. 18 and the Psychedelic Furs/Squeeze doubleheader on Oct. 6 are high on our list. Comedy fans might want to check out Marlon Wayans on July 15.

Eat: The eight dining options at The Meritage include Olive & Hay, a farm-to-table spot with Italian food, and the French-inspired Village Bistro. And the well-stocked Fivetown Grocery (named after the five towns that make up Napa Valley) offers plenty of sandwiches, pastries, drinks and other goodies right inside the venue.

Sleep: You’re already going to be at Meritage, so why go anywhere else? Just park once and enjoy all that the resort has to offer, from its multiple tasting rooms to a bowling alley and two pools. Rooms start at $405. Find more information at http://meritageresort.com.

Summer at the Green

Weill Hall, the centerpiece of the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, boasts some of the most glorious acoustics to be found at any venue in Northern California. Modeled after Massachusetts’ famed Tanglewood, Weill operates as a 1,400-capacity symphony hall for most of the year. During the warm weather months, however, its back wall opens up, and another 4,000-plus patrons can enjoy the music from Weill Lawn.

The venue also screens Hollywood hits (like “Cars” and “Top Gun”) for movie lovers out on the lawn.

Venue: Green Music Center, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park; gmc.sonoma.edu

Recommended shows: We’d like to see Nickel Creek, the platinum-selling acoustic roots act — consisting of mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins — on July 9. Also high on our list is legendary bluesman Buddy Guy, who brings his farewell tour to the venue on Aug. 4. The Global Roots Sonoma festival, featuring Las Cafeteras, Mariachi Herencia de México with La Marisoul, San Salvador, Tia Leah’s Neighborhood, Paula Fuga, Balsa de Fuego, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, is set for Sept. 23-24.

Eat: Weill Lawn is a great spot for picnicking and patrons are encouraged to bring their own food or nosh from a variety of concessions onsite. Those who prefer a sit-down meal should consider ordering up a big dish of yellow curry or pad see ew at the excellent Tiny Thai in nearby Cotati. (Peek at the menu at tinythaicotati.com.)

Sleep: Green Center’s partner hotels include Oxford Suites in Rohnert Park, where rooms start at $165 (oxfordsuitessonoma.com) and the Gables Wine Country Inn, where rooms start at $249 (thegablesinn.com).

HopMonk Novato

If you’ve never been here before, you may think your GPS system is malfunctioning as you approach the venue.

After all, you’ll be parking next to shoppers heading to Target, Costco, Ross Dress for Less and other well-known stores at the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, a nice enough place to load up on Petco kibble for Fido, but hardly a spot where you’d expect to find great live music.

But right across the parking lot from Marshalls, you’ll find a terrific music venue — HopMonk Novato.

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With its intimate open-air amphitheater and beer garden, HopMonk is a casual and comfortable spot with a fun and chill Austin, Texas,-like vibe. It holds 500 fans, who hang out on a nice viewing area that gently slopes from a small hill to the stage.

The venue’s Cookout Concert Series is booked by the ever-chipper KC Turner, a man that David Lowery of the rock band Cracker calls “literally the nicest concert promoter in the United States.”

Venue: 224 Vintage Way, Novato; hopmonk.com

Recommended shows: Acclaimed Santa Barbara pop act Toad the Wet Sprocket brings its All You Want Tour to the venue on July 19, while Saratoga-born vocalist-pianist Vienna Teng visits on July 21.

Eat: HopMonk serves a variety of sandwiches, from the Cubano to the ever-popular Nashville hot chicken number, as well as fish and chips, salads, spaghetti and more.

Sleep: There are a number of reasonably priced chain locations in the area, including Americas Best Value Inn Novato, where rooms start at $109 (redlion.com), and Best Western Plus Novato Oaks Inn, with rooms starting at $163 (bestwestern.com).

Oxbow Riverstage

Music lovers flock to downtown Napa for this summer concert series, which kicked off in 2019. The shows take place in Oxbow Commons park, which nestles up against the Napa River and provides scenic vineyard views.

Over the years, the 5,000-capacity venue has hosted such acclaimed acts as Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, the Roots, Bob Weir and Wolf Bros, a-ha, Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples.

Venue: Oxbow Commons, Napa; oxbowriverstage.com

Recommended shows: The season opens on July 14 with a soulful pairing of Charlie Wilson and Chaka Khan. There are also some boutique festivals — Tycho’s Golden States on July 15 and the Head and the Heart’s Down in the Valley, Sept. 2-3. But the gig we have circled on our calendar is the doubleheader of Modest Mouse and the Pixies on Sept. 15.

Eat: The venue is right next to the Oxbow Public Market, which boasts more than 20 food options, ranging from the famed English muffins, an Oprah Winfrey fave, at the Model Bakery to the juicy cheeseburgers at Gott’s Roadside. One of the most popular options is Hog Island Oyster Co., which sources its fresh shellfish from its nearby farm on Tomales Bay. Find more details at oxbowpublicmarket.com.

Sleep: The Westin Verasa Napa offers a resort-style experience, complete with two fine restaurants — including Michelin-starred La Toque from chef Ken Frank — as well as a fitness center and heated outdoor saltwater pool. Best of all, it’s just steps from the venue. Rooms start at $341; Marriott.com.