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,…
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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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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.…
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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 😊), 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…
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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…
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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…
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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 “What’s 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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USS Hornet Museum Ship: “The Grey Ghost” of the Pacific
How many people can boast that they have a historic WWII-built aircraft carrier in their backyard? That is also responsible for the successful recovery of Apollo astronauts’ on their return to Earth, AND known as the most haunted ship in the United States? Guess what? We can! 😊 We were granted permission to board the famous USS Hornet, and have awesome stories to share! The USS Hornet is anchored at the pier in Alameda, just a short drive across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. This is your chance to explore this US Navy’s lovingly restored ship, take a peek into the life of the sailors who lived within her…
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San Juan Bautista – 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…
