• A waterfall pool in Uvas Canyon Park, Morgan Hill, CA
    Local Discoveries

    Escape to Uvas Canyon Park: Hiking & Chasing Waterfalls near San Jose

    Tucked within the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Uvas Canyon Park is a serene sanctuary just a stone’s throw away from bustling San Jose. As you embark on this picturesque journey, driving along a charming country road amidst rolling hills and sprawling valleys, you’ll instantly feel miles away from the fast-paced hustle of Silicon Valley. Uvas Canyon Park is one of our favorite destinations in the Bay Area to relax and recharge, especially after a rainstorm when the waterfalls are at their most dramatic. What? Waterfall hiking trails in the Bay Area? Yes! 😊 Join us to discover its natural beauty! Why Uvas Canyon Park is Worth Visiting…

  • Point Reyes and Stinson Beach: Cypress Tree Tunnel, French Toast At Stinson Beach, and Point Reyes Shipwreck
    Local Discoveries

    Coastal California Bliss: A Weekend Getaway to Point Reyes & Stinson Beach

    Point Reyes National Seashore is a perfect hideaway spot that many San Francisco Bay Area locals try to keep to themselves, but not these loose lips! 😊 An easy destination, just a bit over an hour’s car drive north of San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore invites you to unwind, recharge, and explore at leisure. During our first visit, we merely scratched the surface of it and are already planning a return trip over the weekend. And here’s why: Tomales Bay We started to explore Point Reyes National Seashore from Tomales Bay. Tomales Bay is worth spending at least a full day at, especially if you enjoy water activities. Swimming,…

  • Calaveras County: Sequoias in the Big Trees Park, gold, and a trio of appetizers from Alchemy, Murphys, CA
    Local Discoveries

    Gold, Ghosts, Gems, and Giants of Calaveras County, CA (Part 2)

    We love visiting Calaveras County, located in California’s Sierra Nevada region, and want to share our second post highlighting some of the best things to do there! In this follow-up article to Part 1, we’ll walk among the Giants in Calaveras Big Trees State Park, sip local wine, grab the perfect bite to eat, and shop in the picturesque town of Murphys. Plus, we’ll also try our hand at gold-panning on a side trip to the historic town of Columbia! Calaveras Big Trees State Park Driving out of Angels Camp, an easy two-line road takes us to the Land of Giants. Weaving gently through the towering redwoods basking in the…

  • Angels Camp Calaveras County California
    Local Discoveries

    Gold, Ghosts, Gems, and Giants of Calaveras County, CA (Part 1)

    We all have those special getaway spots that we enjoy revisiting every so often. One of ours is Calaveras County — an easy 3-hour road trip from our home in the SF Bay Area, California, to the heart of the Sierra Nevada’s Mother Lode. It has everything — from Giant sequoia forests and underground caverns to fine dining and local wine tasting. And, with its rugged Wild West vibe, you might also catch a small case of gold fever and try your luck at gold panning. Load up the mule, grab yer hat, and join us on this trip back to the mid-1800s! Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County This small town…

  • A wooden sign on the redwood "Land of Medicine Buddha"
    Local Discoveries

    Land of Medicine Buddha: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area

    In the Santa Cruz Mountains, near the town of Soquel, there lies a magical place, Land of Medicine Buddha. Where life simplifies, and everything seems to make more sense. You’ll find yourself whisked away to a place where all is quiet and calm, just under an hour from San Jose. We’ve heard about Land of Medicine Buddha from another SF Bay Area travel blogger, Joyce Zee, who runs the “Around the Bay And Away” blog, and finally got a chance to visit it ourselves. Follow us on this unique hiking escape, and we hope it’ll inspire you to check it out as well. What is Land of Medicine Buddha? Land of Medicine…

  • Images from the collection of Asian Art Museum San Francisco
    Local Discoveries

    Asian Art Museum: Tips for the First-Time Visit

    Located across the lush lawn of the Civic Center, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco is a museum not to be missed! Its thirty galleries display 2,000 objects from the Museum’s permanent art collection of over 18,000 items. Also, the museum hosts a variety of temporary, traveling exhibitions, special events, and classes throughout the year. If you enjoy learning about Asian culture and art — this place is for you! Tag along on our first-time visit to the Asian Art Museum! The First Floor The First floor of the Asian Art Museum is home to special exhibitions, classes, a boutique, and a cafe. We started with the Continuity experience.…

  • Church at Fort Ross, California
    Local Discoveries

    Fort Ross, CA: From Russia With Love

    Surrounded by majestic evergreen forest, Fort Ross, the 19th-century Russian fort, is perched above the Pacific Ocean, a mere hour and a half north of the Golden Gate Bridge. While the San Francisco Bay Area has its fair share of historical sites and unique attractions, Fort Ross in Sonoma County is a destination in itself. Beginning our trip on a Thursday morning, traffic was fairly light and stress-free, versus white-knuckling it most of the way stuck in weekend traffic. And, once out of the City and up the road a ways, we were weaving through the countryside and the farmlands of Petaluma. Hungry and looking for a place to eat,…

  • San Pedro Square Market Lunch
    Local Discoveries

    San Pedro Square Market: Taste World Cuisines in San Jose!

    Among the many things to see and do in San Jose, you most likely need a place to eat as well. San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose is a favorite local hangout with a variety of eateries and watering holes to choose from. So, when you want to eat something and are not sure what exactly it is you want, the Market is a perfect spot. Stir in some cool live entertainment (hello, Vinyl Replay 😊), with a side of California history, and Ta-Da! – you get San Pedro Square Market that will charm the pants off you. Well, at least, make you unbutton them after filling up…

  • View of Boronda Lake at Foothills Park
    Local Discoveries

    Foothills Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area

    Foothills Park has been accessible solely to residents of Palo Alto, a posh town in the San Francisco Bay Area. Actually, you could earn yourself a fine of $1,000 if caught on the property without an accompanying resident of Palo Alto. No kidding! But in December of 2020, after half a century of exclusivity, Foothills Park finally opened its gates to the general public (non-residents of Palo Alto). Recently, our local news has been reporting about the park and its history. Naturally, we had to see what all the hoopla was about. Is Foothills Park worth visiting? And what is so special about this once-private park in the foothills of…

  • Looking upward Redwood Trees in Pogonip Santa Cruz
    Local Discoveries

    Oddball Day Trip in Santa Cruz Mountains

    Santa Cruz Mountains is not the direction most people think of while visiting this eccentric coastal town in California. Visitors flock to its famous Boardwalk to chill on the beach, soaking in the scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes it is forgotten that Santa Cruz also borders Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwood State Parks. Two of the largest in the state! And, of course, the Pogonip Open Space where our Sunday trip started. Pogonip Open Space Our neighbor and former long-time Santa Cruz resident recommended checking out the old lime kilns and the rock garden in Pogonip. Now we understand why.  After chatting with a couple of students…