Ah, whales: these majestic, enormous marine mammals have been immortalized in our culture in everything to Moby Dick to Finding Nemo. There was once a whole industry devoted to murdering them; now there's a movement devoted to saving them. Any way … [Read more...] about 42 Places to Go Whale Watching in California: The Ultimate Guide
Northern California
The Ultimate Fall in California Guide: 21 Places to Go for Fall Foliage, Pumpkins, Apples, & More
Crisp autumn air. Crunchy leaves. Brightly colored foliage. Pumpkins and apples and spooky season - I love EVERYTHING about fall! Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year - I was born in Boston and grew up in a Halloween-obsessed city - … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Fall in California Guide: 21 Places to Go for Fall Foliage, Pumpkins, Apples, & More
The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants
Sunny beaches. Foggy coastline. Swaying palm trees. Towering redwoods. Playful otters. Flomping elephant seals. Fresh oysters. Vintage wines. Driving the Pacific Coast Highway is not only one of the best California road trips: it’s one of the best … [Read more...] about The 32 Best Pacific Coast Highway Stops: California Towns, Landmarks, & Restaurants
The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
Barking sea lions. Salty air. Waves crashing on critter-filled tidepools. Rolling hills dusted with bright orange poppies and intersected with redwood-filled valleys. Driving Pacific Coast Highway is the most beautiful road trip in the entire world. … [Read more...] about The Ultimate 10-Day California Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Itinerary
How to Plan an Amazing Lake Tahoe Winter Trip (on a Budget)
Living in the California Bay Area means taking Lake Tahoe winter trips is somewhat of a regular requirement. Every year for the past 7 years, we've rounded up a group of our friends, piled them into 2 cars, and headed into the Sierra Nevadas for a … [Read more...] about How to Plan an Amazing Lake Tahoe Winter Trip (on a Budget)
12 Things to do in the Charming Mountain Town of June Lake, California
Crisp mountain air. Shimmering lakes. Scenic drives. Colorful fall foliage. Welcome to June Lake, California: a rustic little mountain town in the high Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains packed with scenic trails to explore, breathtaking mountain views … [Read more...] about 12 Things to do in the Charming Mountain Town of June Lake, California
Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to)
I (Jeremy) first moved to San Francisco in 2009 for college, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and right in the middle of that perfect time period between Tech Boom 1.0 and Tech Boom 2.0. The city I moved to was quirky and affordable: I was able to work … [Read more...] about Where to Stay in San Francisco (& Where NOT to)
29 Things Nobody Tells You About Oakland, California
Oakland is a giant city, an urban cultural mecca that stretches from the coast to redwood-covered rolling hills. It has a deep, complicated history and culture, its own local slang, absolutely incredible food, and plenty to see and do - which we've … [Read more...] about 29 Things Nobody Tells You About Oakland, California
8 Scenic Day Hikes in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, California
The Sierra Nevadas are a rugged mountain range in eastern California containing several absolutely stunning and world-famous outdoor destinations, including Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, the Ansel Adams Wilderness, the John Muir … [Read more...] about 8 Scenic Day Hikes in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas, California
8 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway
Mendocino, California is located just a few hours north of San Francisco on California's stunning Pacific Coast Highway. It's one of the best weekend trips from San Francisco, and we've been up to visit multiple times. Mendocino is known … [Read more...] about 8 Marvelous Things to Do in Mendocino, California on a Weekend Getaway
26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California
Although Oakland and San Francisco are neighbors, located just minutes apart across the Bay, the two cities could not be more different. Oakland has its own distinct history, sounds, tastes, its own social movements. While San Francisco's … [Read more...] about 26 Awesome Things to Do in Oakland, California
Where to Stay Near Yosemite National Park
We live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which is just 4 hours away from one of the most stunning, jaw-dropping, and downright awe-inspiring natural wonders of the world: Yosemite National Park. And yet, despite living so close, we rarely visit. Why?? … [Read more...] about Where to Stay Near Yosemite National Park
Glamping Near San Francisco: A Romantic Weekend Getaway Itinerary
Redwoods. Vineyards. Mountain towns nestled in pine trees. Scenic coastal views. Otters. Sea lions. Ponies, for some reason? Fresh oysters. It kinda sounds like I’m describing a bunch of different locations, doesn’t it? Nope: I’m describing one small … [Read more...] about Glamping Near San Francisco: A Romantic Weekend Getaway Itinerary
The Cataract Falls Hike Disaster: Hiking in the Bay Area, California
For Lia and I, "hiking" and "absolute disaster" go hand in hand. It's an unfortunate pattern that popped up over and over again during our year-long honeymoon. There was the injured wrist on the Valle de Cocora hike in Colombia. There was the … [Read more...] about The Cataract Falls Hike Disaster: Hiking in the Bay Area, California
30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
The Gold Rush. The Summer of Love. Silicon Valley. San Francisco is a like a chameleon: every few decades, it changes. This city means something different to everyone, it seems. It's a city of promise, of hope. It's also a city of WTF. There … [Read more...] about 30 Things Nobody Tells You About San Francisco
The 10 Best Coffee Shops in San Francisco: A Local Barista’s Guide
Full disclosure: we're San Francisco coffee snobs. Like, if it isn't single-origin specialty coffee roasted to absolute perfection and brewed to order using a system of convoluted scientific-looking objects made out of glass and wood that takes … [Read more...] about The 10 Best Coffee Shops in San Francisco: A Local Barista’s Guide
12 Off-Beat Places to Stay Near San Francisco (on a budget)
Weekend trips are like the travel fairy godmother’s answer to living in the San Francisco Bay Area. From anywhere near San Francisco, you can hop in a car on Friday night and drive for a few hours to absolutely anything you could possibly want: beach … [Read more...] about 12 Off-Beat Places to Stay Near San Francisco (on a budget)
Where to Eat in Oakland, California
Chicken & waffles. Steamed dumplings. Spongy injera bread. Sizzling Korean bulgogi. The tastes of Oakland represent its culture and history. -and, like Oakland itself, are totally different from its neighbor across the Bay. Oakland has its own … [Read more...] about Where to Eat in Oakland, California