What do Alfred Hitchcock, the grim tale of the Donner Party, and a historic Catholic Mission have in common? Visit San Juan Bautista, California, and discover this curious connection! Cruising along Highway 101 in the Greater SF Bay Area, some of you might be familiar with Highway 156 WEST going through Castroville (The Artichoke Capital of the World) and out to the coastal villages of Monterey County. But just 3 miles EAST on Hwy 156 you’ll find San Juan Bautista, a town where 19th century California comes to life! Once upon a time (1850-1880), San Juan Bautista was a bustling town. Home to The Coast Line Stage Company, it was…
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The Blackhawk Museum: Best Eclectic Museum in the SF Bay Area
The Blackhawk Museum is, in our opinion, one of the best museums in the entire San Francisco Bay Area, and you’ve probably never even heard of it! Located in the posh Blackhawk neighborhood tucked away in the town of Danville, California, the museum caught our attention with the public opening of a new “Into China” exhibition. We decided to check it out and fell in love not only with this collection but the entire museum complex! Into China The “Into China” exhibition opened to the public on January 25, 2020, just in time to celebrate the Lunar New Year. We were curious about the exhibit but did not expect such…
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Solvang, CA: Town of Sweet-Tooth Vikings
Did you know that the Danish Capital of America is actually in California? No? Now you do! 😊 Solvang is about 4.5 hours’ drive south from the San Francisco Bay Area, or about an hour drive north of Santa Barbara. And, if you are fulfilling your dream of driving along Pacific Coast Highway, it’s just a 20-minute detour inland to visit this charming Danish town of California. Solvang, meaning “Sunny Field” in Danish, was founded around 1911 by 3 Danish immigrants heading west to California to escape the colder weather back east. Their hope was to create a village for other Danish and European immigrants to settle. The warm sunny…
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San Jose Rose Garden: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, voted “America’s Best Rose Garden”, is one of the most popular urban outdoor places for visitors and residents alike. Nestled on the corner of Naglee and Dana avenues, it’s just a couple of minutes away from the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. There, now you have a whole day planned! 😊 We love visiting the garden, whether it’s for a relaxing stroll along the rows of rose bushes (over 3,500 of them with 189 varieties!), have a picnic or kick off the ol’ shoes and enjoy a book on the lush grass lawns. If you’re lucky, you might even get a chance to observe a wedding by…
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Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum — San Jose, California
Remember when you were young, dreaming of being a great adventurer or archeologist like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft? Has Egypt, with its ancient mysteries and culture, always intrigued you? Well, if you’ve answered “Yes” to the above questions and happen to be in San Jose, California – you must visit the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Park. This magnificent educational complex is located in the beautiful Rose Garden district of San Jose. It is one of our treasured unique landmarks, that is home to the Egyptian Museum, Planetarium, Labyrinth, Library, and soon to be added Alchemy Museum! The Egyptian Museum and Tomb Expedition The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum exhibits over 4,000…
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Ulistac Natural Area: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Ulistac Natural Area is the LAST 40-acres of undeveloped land in the City of Santa Clara. It is a phenomenal environmental walk that lets you experience how the San Francisco Bay Area looked long before the first settlers moved in. We are so fortunate to have an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the seasons bring to the Bay Area, and Ulistac is definitely a place to enjoy all year round. Like many locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Ulistac was inhabited by the Ohlone Tribe, who occupied the Northern California coast. They founded a village in this area, called “Ulistac”. “Ulis” means basket, and “tac” means place –…
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Rancho San Antonio: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
In the heart of the fast-paced Silicon Valley, Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve offers a refreshing escape from the daily grind. With its lush green meadows, scenic rolling hills, and dense wooded forests, Rancho San Antonio is perfect for anyone who enjoys just “getting away” now and then, without having to travel very far. Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountain range, this park is a local favorite destination for hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. Rancho San Antonio is easily accessible from anywhere in the Bay Area, and is quite extensive. The 165-acre Park combined with the 3,988-acre Preserve, has plenty of hiking…
