By Nikki Ekstein | Bloomberg Last year, when World’s 50 Best issued its first global ranking of hotels, only two properties in the US made the cut: the Equinox and Aman New York hotels, both in Manhattan. Now Michelin has arrived stateside, in its second-ever presentation of “keys”—a new system from the eponymous tiremaker that’s doling out one, two or three key emblems, like its restaurant stars but to the world’s worthiest hotels. Out of more than 1,000 luxury hotels across the country, 11 were awarded three keys. The winners were all in California and New York, from Post Ranch Inn in Big Su ..read more

It’s a blustery spring afternoon in San Francisco, and we are gathered for one of the first-ever behind the scenes tours of that Gothic wonder, Grace Cathedral. Related Articles Things To Do | San Mateo County opposes Oakland airport name change Things To Do | Reminder: Closure of Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County set Saturday for 24 hours Things To Do | ‘No one owns the title to San Francisco Bay’: Airport name battle heats up Things To Do | SFO demands different route for new Oakland International Airport name Things To Do | An enchanting adventure through Marin’s Big Rock The seat of th ..read more

Oakland International Airport wants to add “San Francisco Bay” to its name. But San Mateo County, where San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is located, says not so fast. The five-member San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously this week to oppose a plan by the Port of Oakland to officially change the airport’s name from its current “Oakland Metropolitan International Airport” to “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport.” “The concern is that it would cause confusion where passengers would accidentally book a ticket to Oakland when they meant to book a ticket to SFO ..read more

OAKLAND — A plan to rename Oakland International Airport in a way that includes San Francisco in its name has drawn flack from a bigger Bay Area rival, marking an unusual conflict among the region’s aviation hubs. The proposal being floated by Oakland International Airport has prompted San Francisco International Airport to state that it’s “deeply concerned” about the plan for a new moniker. A jetliner departs San Francisco International Airport, December 2023.  San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport would be the new name for the East Bay travel complex, according to the plan pro ..read more

Climbing the second-highest ridge in Marin after Mount Tamalpais takes you into a different realm. The Big Rock Trail offers an array of wildflowers, hills of intriguing shapes covered with grass and expansive views. It is easy to enjoy the up and down contours of the land and the shifting foliage from forest to chaparral to grasslands. Higher, there are no obstacles to far-reaching views, and on top we look down upon an amazing landscape in 360 degrees. Big Rock is just yards from the divide separating the watershed draining into the San Francisco Bay to the east from the watershed to the wes ..read more

  SANTA CRUZ — The Boardwalk’s historic wooden roller coaster the Giant Dipper will celebrate its 100th year in operation this May and the milestone will be marked with some special events and celebrations that include a fireworks celebration. “The Giant Dipper is one of the most iconic and recognized landmarks in all of Santa Cruz,” said Kris Reyes, Boardwalk spokesperson. “This classic wooden roller coaster has thrilled over 66 million riders during the past 100 years and we are excited to celebrate the Boardwalk’s crown jewel with an amazing fireworks show in May and other fun events t ..read more

Sometimes the itinerary calls for bougee amusements — and we can’t think of a better Napa Valley locale for indulgence than Yountville. A quaint stretch of wine country located mostly along a one-mile roadway, Yountville is home to some of the world’s most recognized restaurants, several of Napa Valley’s most distinguished tasting rooms and a couple of surprises that will quickly elevate your weekend away. Read on for an itinerary ripe with accessible luxury experiences in a town created with ease and comfort for locals and visitors alike. Plastered with large, white block letters that announc ..read more

If you like to hike, chances are good that you know AllTrails. More than 60 million hikers use the San Francisco-based hiking app, which offers 400,000 curated trail guides to locations around the world. With more than a billion miles of trails logged, the platform was named Apple’s iPhone app of the year in 2023. Related Articles Business | Opinion: Tech companies must be held accountable for abuse of kids Business | How cryptocurrency executives helped decide the California Senate primary Business | Searches for VPNs spike in Texas after Pornhub pulls out of the state Business | Magid ..read more

SANJOSE — San Jose has appointed a veteran of the airport business and the airline industry as the city’s new director of aviation at a time when the city’s air travel hub is battling to climb back to its pre-coronavirus altitude. Mukesh “Mookie” Patel, who is a licensed private pilot, has been appointed as San Jose’s director of aviation, city officials announced Tuesday. “I am committed to fostering strong partnerships with airlines and contributing to the sustained success of the Airport for the benefit of the entire community,” Patel said. Patel is slated to take over his new role on March ..read more

By ERIC RISBERG and JANIE HAR | Associated Press NAPA COUNTY — Brilliant yellow and gold mustard is carpeting Northern California’s wine country, signaling the start of spring and the celebration of all flavors sharp and mustardy. Mustard isn’t just pretty to look at. The plants, which bloom through March, are doing hard work to protect world-famous vineyards in Napa and Sonoma counties. RELATED: Napa Valley’s mustard season celebrations include wine forays, restaurants and spa treatments Mustard contains high levels of biofumigants, which suppresses the growth of microscopic worms that can da ..read more