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 | Highway 1 road fix could save Big Sur summer travel season 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 The ..read more

BIG SUR — Just in time for summer travel, Caltrans will spend nearly $27 million to fix a section of Highway 1 in Big Sur after part of the road crumbled and fell into the ocean last month, agency officials said. Caltrans anticipates completing the initial repair work to stabilize the edge of the scenic and precarious ribbon of highway south of the Rocky Creek Bridge by Memorial Day, May 27. “We know how important Highway 1 is to the regional economy, especially during the summer, so we are working to reopen the roadway as quickly and safely as possible while at the same time making it more re ..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

CAPITOLA — A full, 24-hour closure of Highway 1 in Capitola, previously rescheduled due to stormy weather, is on track to take place this weekend, according to a release from the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission. The closure is slated to happen from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 p.m. Sunday, stretching in both directions from the Bay/Porter exit to Park Avenue with detours available along Soquel Drive. The closure will make way for the demolition of the 76-year-old Capitola Avenue bridge, which will be rebuilt with improved bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of a multiyear pr ..read more

OAKLAND — The warfare over plans by Oakland International Airport to incorporate San Francisco Bay into its name widened on Wednesday after the East Bay aviation hub drafted travel leaders to take up its cause. San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is the proposed new name of the East Bay air travel hub — which, according to a post on the Airport Parking Shop website, would approach the length of the current longest airport name, Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan palace Complex, an airport in Dubai. The new name proposed for Oakland International Airport prompted San Fran ..read more

OAKLAND — A plan to rename Oakland International Airport and include San Francisco in the name has drawn flack from its bigger Bay Area rival, marking an unusual conflict among the region’s aviation hubs. San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport would be the new name for the East Bay travel complex, according to the plan proposed by the Port of Oakland, which operates the airport. The proposal has prompted San Francisco International Airport to say it is worried about the plan for a new moniker. A jetliner departs San Francisco International Airport, December 2023. (Karl Mondon/Bay ..read more

SAN FRANCISCO — Authorities urged motorists to avoid California’s Highway 1 along the central coast after a section of the scenic route collapsed during an Easter weekend storm, forcing closures and stranding motorists near Big Sur, authorities said. The collapse occurred amid heavy rain Saturday afternoon near Rocky Creek Bridge about 17 miles (27 kilometers) south of Monterey, sending chunks of asphalt tumbling into the ocean from the southbound side of the two-lane road. The highway was closed in both directions in the mountainous area of California’s central coast as engineers assessed the ..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