30 Epic Northern California Hikes for Your Bucket List

person standing at the base of a redwood tree

If you love hiking, Northern California has just about every kind of hike you can imagine. Redwood forests? Check. Fern-covered canyons? Got it. Rugged coastline and black sand beaches? Yup and yup. There’s an astounding number of incredible hikes in Northern California for just about every difficulty level and location! We’ve grouped this post by … Read more 30 Epic Northern California Hikes for Your Bucket List

13 Things to Do in Point Reyes: Complete Travel Guide + Tips

Just a short day trip away from San Francisco, you can enjoy the beautiful Point Reyes National Seashore.  Drive a leisurely 1 hour north on Highway 101 to Manzanita, then continue north on CA-1 to Olema, where you will find the park entrance. Even though it is just a short drive, you may want to … Read more 13 Things to Do in Point Reyes: Complete Travel Guide + Tips

33 Best Bay Area Day Trips from San Francisco

view of point reyes lighthouse in marin county california

The San Francisco Bay Area is blessed with so many incredible places to visit and see that are within an easy day trip driving distance. No wonder there are so many great day trips from San Francisco to choose from! On a day trip from the Bay Area, you can be strolling along a beautiful boardwalk … Read more 33 Best Bay Area Day Trips from San Francisco

San Francisco to Muir Woods (With or Without Reservations): How to Get There & What to Do!

A path leading through a foggy redwood forest in Muir Woods, surrounded by tall red tree trunks of the redwood tree

Just about an hour north of San Francisco, you’ll find towering old-growth coast redwoods deep in a beautiful national forest, right in the heart of Marin County. Muir Woods, named for the famous conservationist John Muir, is one of the gems of the San Francisco Bay Area, located in Mill Valley, California.  It’s a popular … Read more San Francisco to Muir Woods (With or Without Reservations): How to Get There & What to Do!

The Complete Guide to Walking the Golden Gate Bridge: A Bay Area Local’s Guide

view of the water below the golden gate bridge and the red spans of the suspension bridge and hills behind it

The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge is one of the main highlights of any San Francisco itinerary. It’s a symbol of Northern California and it’s simply spectacular! And while there are myriad beautiful viewpoints of the Golden Gate Bridge scattered throughout the city, I love the changing views you get as you cross the Golden Gate … Read more The Complete Guide to Walking the Golden Gate Bridge: A Bay Area Local’s Guide

17 Incredible California Waterfalls Worth the Hike (+ Trail Info)

The Golden State is famous for many things — its sky-scraping sequoias, its awe-inspiring mountains, its stunning beaches — but for some reason, people forget about all the beautiful waterfalls in California. Sure, McWay Falls in Big Sur may come to mind, but there are several hidden gem waterfalls in California few people know about … Read more 17 Incredible California Waterfalls Worth the Hike (+ Trail Info)

11 Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Weekend Guide

When most people plan a trip to a beach in California, they’re usually looking at a handful of well-known but very crowded beaches like Malibu, Santa Monica, Laguna, or Coronado. While there aren’t any songs about it, I’d argue that Carmel-by-the-Sea, California is the most beautiful by far. Fall is the perfect time to visit … Read more 11 Things to Do in Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Weekend Guide

7 Easy Yosemite Hikes for Beginner Hikers

Out of all the national parks in the United States, Yosemite is one of the most iconic! If you like the peace and quiet of a beautiful national park, this is an ideal stop on your next trip to California. You can breathe easy – (uh, provided you aren’t visiting during wildfire season!) – and … Read more 7 Easy Yosemite Hikes for Beginner Hikers

10 Fabulous Reasons to Visit San Francisco

If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco – you’ve made a phenomenal choice. This famed City by the Bay is an incredible travel destination, full of culture, natural beauty, incredible architecture, and unique places found nowhere else in the States. It’s also primed perfectly for exploring the rest of California. You can be at … Read more 10 Fabulous Reasons to Visit San Francisco

11 Quintessential San Francisco Souvenirs: What to Buy & Where to Find It

If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, you may be wondering what to buy in San Francisco for loved ones back home… or for yourself, to always remind you of those memories you made in the lovely City by the Bay. So I’ve gathered this list of essential San Francisco souvenirs to help you … Read more 11 Quintessential San Francisco Souvenirs: What to Buy & Where to Find It