Angel Island State Park sits in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, enjoying beautiful views of Marin County, the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz, and the surrounding bridges and hills of the Bay Area. Whether you’re interested in hiking, history, or simply a relaxing day trip in the Bay Area, Angel Island offers a ton of unique experiences. Here are all the best things to do in Angel Island State Park on your next visit — plus how to get there from San Francisco and from Tiburon! A Brief History of Angel Island Angel Island has been inhabited for over 3,000 years, when it was an important f ..read more

Looking for a charming oceanside destination on the Northern California coast? Charming Pescadero, California gets its name from the Spanish word for “fishmonger” and it’s quite fitting — this is a tiny farming and ranching community tucked away on the beaches south of the SF Bay Area, perfect for a day trip from San Francisco. With only 219 residents, Pescadero checks the boxes of “quaint”, “coastal”, and “best-kept secret”. If you think a visit to Pescadero needs to be on your weekend itinerary, read on — we’ll let you know all the best things to do in Pescadero on your next trip. An hour so ..read more

The Pacific Coast Highway is up there with the most beautiful drives in the world. Snaking all the way up the U.S.’s west coast, the Pacific Coast Highway stretches 1,675 miles from California to Washington, starting in San Diego, CA and ending in Olympia, WA (or vice versa). The most commonly driven part of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is California Highway 1, which covers just due south of Los Angeles to quite a bit north of San Francisco. Growing up, we made the drive from San Francisco to Santa Barbara several times a year to visit my grandmother who lived in Solvang (which is a fun sid ..read more

Planning the perfect Pacific Coast Highway road trip can be super intimidating. There are so many incredible places to stop along the way that you can almost get paralyzed by choice! I’ve driven stretches of the Pacific Coast Highway more than I can count. At least twice a year, my family drove the PCH from San Francisco to Santa Barbara, experiencing all the wonders of Monterey, Big Sur, and the Central Coast as we made our way down to my dad’s family in Santa Barbara. I’ve grown acquainted with the Northern California part of the PCH, spending time in Jenner, Gualala, Mendocino, and Sea Ranc ..read more

San Francisco has so many great destinations just a short drive from it, and it’s one of the many reasons why I love San Francisco so dearly. Where else can you find towering redwoods, rugged beaches, reaching cityscapes, and peaceful nature escapes all in one city? While you can certainly find all this in San Francisco proper, sometimes you just want to get away. Growing up in the East Bay Area, I know that the city has so many potential weekend trips from San Francisco perfect for any kind of traveler. Whether you’re looking for a nature escape, a beach holiday, a wine-filled weekend, or a c ..read more

If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of LA and want a slower pace with a super scenic landscape, Catalina Island is your answer!  Santa Catalina Island is located about 22 miles off the coast of Southern California and it’s the perfect Los Angeles day trip. Catalina is a stunning historic seaside destination that is an absolute must-see f you are visiting Southern California for its beaches and beauty! How to Get to Catalina Island Many Catalina visitors choose to take a day trip to Catalina, arriving early morning to the island and returning to the mainland early evening vi ..read more

Approximately 3.5 hours from San Francisco, fun awaits in Fort Bragg, a beautiful coastal California town. Whether you are interested in hiking, fishing, eating, or drinking, Fort Bragg offers everything you would want in a weekend getaway from San Francisco. There are so many things to do in Fort Bragg, California that make this unique destination worthy of a weekend visit! From the nearby pygmy forest on the drive up to its beach covered entirely by sea glass or featuring feature repurposed railroad bridges, Fort Bragg is a go-to destination for families, photographers, and adventurers alike ..read more

The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) winds 2650 miles along the mountain ridges of California, Oregon, and Washington. The section through California is the longest, clocking in at 1,691 miles. The sections of the PCT in California are extremely varied, offering miles in the scorching but beautiful Mojave Desert, in the pristine Sierra Nevada mountains, and in the high deserts and forests of Northern California. Many of us don’t have the time (or desire!) to thru-hike the entire Pacific Crest Trail, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy it! This guide presents the best section hikes in Californi ..read more

Each and every one of California’s nine national parks has something (if not a bunch of somethings) to rave home about and Redwood National Park is no exception. Dare I say that Redwood National Park is even one of the best national parks to visit? The National Park is combined in unison with three redwood-filled state parks to create a superfecta of breathtaking overlooks, hikes, and attractions! It might as well be named the enchanted forest for the way the lush greenery, towering trees, and tranquil silence makes every inch of this National Park feel truly magical. Not to mention the herd o ..read more

There is just something about the beach that makes a person want to kick off their shoes and relax. While I am usually all for it, there is just too much of San Diego to explore to rightfully lay out, without wondering what you are missing out on! Now before you beach-lovers chew my head off, I assure you that you will get plenty of time by the water on this San Diego itinerary! Feel free to squeeze in extra beach time whenever you see fit (as there are just so many great beaches in and near San Diego!) But just make sure you save time to explore all of what San Diego has to offer! To be fair ..read more