• Best Santa Clara Eats
    Local Discoveries

    The Real Guide to Santa Clara Chowdown: Where to Eat before Super Bowl LX

    Super Bowl LX is descending on Levi’s Stadium, and while the rest of the country argues about quarterbacks and commercials, let’s talk about what really matters: where to eat. Santa Clara and the South Bay have a lot more to offer than tech offices and sad hotel breakfasts. Whether you’re a visiting fan or a local dodging crowds, here’s your cheat sheet to flavor. 🍣 Rantei Japanese Cuisine – Franklin Square, Santa Clara Vibe: Cozy, casual, borderline addictiveGo For: Chicken Katsu, sushi rolls, and your new weekly ritual Tucked near the Santa Clara Mission and University, Rantei is one of our all-time favorites. We’ve eaten here more times than we…

  • Best South Bay Area hikes, SF Bay Area
    Local Discoveries

    The Real Guide to South Bay Hikes & Nature Escapes

    When visiting the San Francisco Bay Area for a major event, whether it’s the Super Bowl or the FIFA World Cup, or something else entirely – it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and forget to explore what else the region has to offer. Santa Clara County and the Greater Bay Area are packed with incredible outdoor escapes just a short drive from Levi’s Stadium. If you’d like to take a break from the roaring crowds and traffic, we’ve compiled a helpful guide highlighting some of our favorite local hikes and nature spots to help you make the most of your trip beyond the big game. So if…

  • A cartoony map of the SF Bay Area showing local landmarks & vibes
    Local Discoveries

    The Real Guide to Visiting the SF Bay Area for Super Bowl LX 2026

    If you’re lucky enough to have scored tickets to Super Bowl LX 2026 at Levi’s Stadium, congrats. You’re about to experience one of the most misunderstood corners of California. This isn’t LA. This isn’t “San Francisco, but cheaper.” This is Silicon Valley, aka the South Bay—home of nerds, artists, small businesses, surprise microclimates, & 13 wildly different cities coming together as one metro area for the big game. And this is your insider’s guide, timed for the Super Bowl and possibly helpful for the FIFA World Cup tourists too. Expect real talk, myth-busting, and deeply biased opinions from these two locals who’ve survived rush hour, tech bros, and BART expansions…

  • Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy
    Fun Projects,  Recipes from Monkeys' Kitchen

    Salisbury Steak With Mushroom Gravy: Easy Comfort Food Recipe

    We all have fond memories of our favorite dishes growing up. For us, one recipe that stuck with us throughout the years, and still shows up regularly on our household menu, is Salisbury Steak. Rich, hearty, and smothered in savory mushroom gravy, this nostalgic dish is pure comfy vibes on a plate. Often confused with Swiss Steak, which is usually a tenderized cut of round or chuck simmered in a tomato-based sauce, Salisbury Steak is all about that thick brown gravy magic. We like to take it a step further by serving it over our favorite mashed potatoes, turning it into a dish that’s as warm & cozy as it…

  • Haunted cemeteries and Winchester house in SF Bay Area
    Local Discoveries,  Museums & Cultural Sites

    Haunted Places & Dark Tourism in the San Francisco Bay Area

    It’s that time of year again, when the air turns crisp and shadows stretch more than they should. Cobwebs, fog machines, and ominously positioned skeletons transform neighborhoods into elaborate theatrical sets. That time of year when the candy flows freely, and children, and more than a few adults, roam the streets in delightfully spooky disguises and costumes. Truly, the season for ghoulish parties and haunted hijinks. But here in the San Francisco Bay Area, haunted history stays hidden in the shadows. It whispers through local graveyards, clings to condemned buildings, and echoes off the walls of places where tragedy once made itself at home. These aren’t just mere tourist stops—they’re…

  • The old radar tower on top of Mount Umunhum in San Jose, CA
    Hikes & Outdoor Activities,  Local Discoveries

    Mount Umunhum & The Tower of Doom, San Jose, CA

    What is that ominous-looking cube on the mountain in South San Jose? Perched atop Mount Umunhum (pronounced: oom-un-hum), a mysterious concrete cube stands watch, overlooking Silicon Valley. If you’ve ever wondered about the “Tower of Doom” as we’ve been lovingly calling it, you’re not alone. Locals also refer to it as “the Cube” or “the Box”. But whatever you want to call it, we were determined to see what it was! After a little snooping around, we found the road that leads to the site, so we hopped in the car and ventured to the summit of Mount Umunhum to uncover its mysterious secret. What to see once you’re on…

  • Panoramic View of Mission Santa Clara, SCU, California
    Local Discoveries,  Museums & Cultural Sites

    Exploring Mission Santa Clara & SCU: From Chapel Bells to Robot Librarians

    When a friend mentioned a new exhibit at the De Saisset Museum on the Santa Clara University (SCU) campus, we figured — why not check it out? What started as a casual trip to a local museum, turned into a full-on afternoon adventure: history, innovative technology, fearless squirrels in impeccably kept gardens, and ice cream tacos. YES, ice cream tacos. Living in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, we’re never far from historical sites, landmarks, or hidden wonders waiting to be explored. Whether it’s a centuries-old Spanish mission or a cutting-edge university campus, there’s always something new to discover – sometimes right under our noses, or even better, both in…