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! đ 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,…
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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…
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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. Youâll find yourself whisked away to a place where all is quiet and calm, just under an hour from San Jose. Weâve 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 itâll inspire you to check it out as well. What is Land of Medicine Buddha? Land of Medicine…
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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,…
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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 đ), with a side of California history, and Ta-Da! â you get San Pedro Square Market that will charm the pants off you. Well, at least, make you unbutton them after filling up…
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Agnews Museum: Memories of Great Asylum for The Insane
We discovered the Agnews Historic Cemetery and Museum, purely by chance! In a quiet residential area of Santa Clara, hidden amongst townhouses and condos, stands an unassuming one-story house with a small grassy field adjacent to it. Blink and you’ll miss it. Driving to lunch one fine Friday afternoon, we happened to catch a glimpse of it, looked at each other, and said “Whatâs that?”. So, we spun the car around, found a spot to park, and got out for a closer look. Agnews Museum To our delight, Agnews Museum was open (every Friday from 10 am to 2 pm, but temporarily closed for Covid-19 reasons right now). The admission…
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San Juan Bautista â The City of History
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 youâve 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 âInto Chinaâ exhibition. We decided to check it out and fell in love not only with this collection but the entire museum complex! Into China The âInto Chinaâ 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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Alum Rock Park: Outdoor Adventures in San Francisco Bay Area
Alum Rock Park in San Jose, California is one of our recent outdoor adventures weâd love to share with you. Canât believe we’ve lived in the SF Bay Area for years, and this was our first visit! Donât make our mistake. If you are near San Jose and looking for a beautiful hike in a historical setting, Alum Rock Park is a great place to start. Alum Rock Park History and Curiosities Founded in 1872, Alum Rock Park is the oldest municipal park in the entire state of California! Modeled after European spa retreats, the park boasted close to 30 mineral hot springs, baths, pavilions, Tea House, and even a…
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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 youâve answered âYesâ to the above questions and happen to be in San Jose, California â 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…
