If tents make you tense and glamping makes you glum, you can still enjoy a pleasant overnight getaway in a surprising number of California State Parks — including Marconi Conference Center and State Historical Park in West Marin, although its 45 hotel rooms will be closed through August for major renovations. Here are nine of our other favorites, from north to south. Mendocino Point Cabrillo Light Station Historic Park Enjoy the views of a lighthouse keeper without all the work in the restored former residences of the principal and assistant lighthouse keepers. The four- and three-b ..read more

No city in the world is quite like San Francisco. The home of Ohlone/Costanoan settlements long before its namesake Spanish mission, the city began to create its modern identity during the Gold Rush era, when the population boomed from 1,000 to 25,000 between 1848 and 1849. After the 1906 earthquake and fire, which left 200,000 homeless, San Francisco rose from the ashes to host the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exhibition with the gorgeous Palace of Fine Arts as a symbol of its rebirth. It then grew over the decades into a center for shipping, finance, fashion, bohemian culture, artisan food and high t ..read more

Berkeley has always been many things – spirited, historic, intellectual, epicurean and eclectic, but the best thing? It’s a little bit of everything. All in one place. From the arts to the outdoors to delectable food and drink, to live music and enriching museums, Berkeley is a true Bay Area jewel. See how it sparkles. Rooted in History You can’t talk about Berkeley without noting its counterculture roots. The city is home to the University of California, Berkeley (the first and founding campus in the University of California system) which, in the 1960s, drew national attention for its politic ..read more

Imagine yourself 3,000 feet in the air, gliding steadily over snow-capped pine trees and swaths of white tundra as far as the eye can see. In the distance, you spot a glistening, pristine lake surrounded by mountains. You take a deep breath and wrap your mind around the exquisite scenery, giving yourself a mental and physical break to regroup and relax before once again tackling your next run.   That’s the feeling of riding the new base-to-base gondola that connects two expansive valleys within the 6,000 acre Palisades Tahoe — the shining jewel of Lake Tahoe and now, the largest ski ..read more

‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright, and no place does it better than the Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland Resort kicked off the 2022 holiday season Nov. 11. Coinciding with both the launch of the holiday season across the resort and the premiere of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest film, Disneyland also kicked off a celebration of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” From the limited-time Black Panther-themed food, merchandise and entertainment offerings to the seasonal return of beloved holiday parades, fireworks and Disney Festival of the Holidays, here’s what’s happen ..read more

A good swimming hole can make you feel like Mother Nature’s favorite child. Framed by boulders or sometimes a sandy beach, otherwise raging rivers slow down, take a breather, and invite you to do the same. Splash off a hot rock and feel icy water buzz your skin like electricity, the current massaging your muscles like a whirlpool. Here are some of our favorite cool pools, all driving distance from the Bay Area, with parking and facilities nearby, too. Jump in! Rainbow Pool  Tuolumne River, Tuolumne County Once a stagecoach toll stop, then a popular resort, this site near Yosemite Nationa ..read more

After heeding all the travel advisories for two summers, deciding where to go first this season can present a fun quandary: Return to a much-missed destination, or explore a new one? Either way, the gorgeous coastline south of San Francisco to Carmel provides an irresistible lure for a weekend getaway and confirms that composer Peter Allen was right: Everything old is new again. Pacifica Pacifica State Beach. Photo by Jeanne Cooper Only an hour south of central Marin, Pacifica provides a convenient, scenic and affordable choice to overnight, especially if you can’t get on the road till after w ..read more

We don’t know about you, but our idea of a perfect spa day involves relaxation, delicious food, good wine and gorgeous scenery, all of which can be found right in our own backyard, so to speak — wine country. Head north to unwind at these bespoke spas where you can enjoy all of the above, and more. Wellness Barn, Farmhouse Inn Forestville Farmhouse Inn. Photo by Paula FerradasSpa There have been a lot of changes at Russian River Valley’s luxurious Farmhouse Inn in the past year, and a spa treatment at the new Wellness Barn is not to be missed. Opened in summer 2021 and helmed by spa director a ..read more

“Yosemite puts on a new dress every season,” tour guide Amanda Von Raeder observes. But this summer has also meant plenty of alterations to visitors’ plans, thanks to a reservation system affecting most day visitors during peak hours through Sept. 30; the closure of the road to Glacier Point until at least 2023; and, at press time, construction blocking the Bridalveil Fall viewing area. Upper and lower Yosemite falls. Photo by NPS/Damon Joyce. Thankfully, Tenaya Lodge’s small-group, all-day Yosemite360 tours ($185 for adults, $95 for kids 12 and under) make it easy to explore the park no matte ..read more