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Northern California
Northern California
Discover the San Francisco Bay Area
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A crimson bridge, cable cars, a sparkling bay, and streets lined with elegant Victorian homes—San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. Located along the Northern California at the state’s distinctive bend in the coast, the region has an alluring magic that stretches beyond the bay to diverse cities with nightlife and trend-setting cuisine.
"I left my heart in San Francisco, High on a hill, it calls to me." —singer Tony Bennett
The Bay Area is also home to some of the world’s finest wine country, including Napa Valley and Sonoma, plus waterfront towns, dramatic beaches, and the tech-savvy southern end of the bay known as the Silicon Valley, where lunchtime ideas at Google, Facebook, and Apple, turn into the next brilliant innovation.
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Courtesy of Oakland Museum of California/Photo by Matthew Millman
5 Amazing Things to do in Berkeley and Oakland
The East Bay’s vibrant cities attract a young, free-spirited crowd with avant-garde art and culture, a ridgeline graced by tree-lined parks, and a revolutionary food and cocktail scene
San Francisco’s other bridge—the Bay Bridge, not the Golden Gate...
Courtesy of Visit Concord
Concord
This East Bay town mixes global dining with craft beer and cool green spaces
An hour’s drive from San Francisco and the...
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Spotlight: Point Reyes National Seashore
Explore a brackish wonderland just north of San Francisco teeming with wildlife, filled with flowering plants, and dotted with hidden beaches.
Jutting dramatically out into the Pacific, the West Coast’s only national seashore extends across 70,000 acres of a large triangular peninsula...
Courtesy of Visit California
6 Wonderful Hotels in the Bay Area
Here are a half-dozen high-end options worth considering for your next trip to San Francisco
Looking to mingle with...
Kodiak Greenwood/Cavallo Point
Cavallo Point
This resort on the Sausalito waterfront beautifully transcends its Army barracks past
Take an interesting backstory, then add spectacular scenery and fabulous perks. Cavallo...
Courtesy of Visit California
9 Wonderful Wine Country Restaurants
The dining options in Napa Valley and Sonoma County offer something for every palate, and every budget
When Japanese video game magnate Kenzo Tsujimoto founded...
Erica Davis/Getty Images
Half Moon Bay
This delightful little beach town possesses serious surf DNA and is just a short drive from San Francisco
Half Moon Bay is situated 45 minutes south of San Francisco on Highway 1, but it might as well be half a world away. Home to the world-famous...
Courtesy of Visit California
Amazing Luxury Hotels in Wine Country
Immerse yourself in decadent surroundings, whether in a plush resort or while glamping
Sustainability is the name of the game at h2hotel in downtown...
Ryan Killackey
Spotlight: San Francisco
Unforgettable adventures and world-class culture await in the hilly, chilly City by the Bay
It may measure less than 50 square miles and have a population that doesn’t even crack a million, but...
Courtesy of Visit California
Experience Northern California Wine Country in Style
Sit back, relax, and let an in-the-know tour operator whisk you from vineyard to vineyard
For visitors to Napa, ...
October
Get into the spirit of the season in Half Moon Bay, the self-proclaimed “World Pumpkin Capital.” The expansive pumpkin patches you’...
Chris Andre
Eiojo Torpe/Getty Images
Sausalito
Explore this quaint town that’s just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco
Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, a steep hillside covered in chaparral and eucalyptus drops from Highway 101 to a flat, sunny shoreline, two...
Mathew Spolin/Getty Images
Spotlight: Napa Valley
Explore ultimate wine country luxury in the land where Cabernet is king
Napa Valley reigns as the land of grand estates, expansive tasting rooms, quaint towns, and elegant...
5 Amazing Things to Do at the Golden Gate Bridge
See San Francisco's most iconic structure from every angle—by foot, bicycle, boat, and more
With its gently curved cables and deep orange hue, the Golden Gate Bridge is a...
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Spotlight: Sonoma County
Escape to wine country with secret vineyards, cozy inns, and rich history
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Benicia
Discover this Bay Area seaside village sparkling with surprises
Amid the hustle and bustle of San Francisco’s North Bay, the quiet waterside burg of Benicia...
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Spotlight: Alcatraz
Visit the prison-turned-national landmark where nefarious history and natural beauty converge
In 1854, the West Coast’s first lighthouse was built on San Francisco Bay’s Alcatraz...
4 Awesome Wine Country Resorts
Luxurious spas, farm-to-table dining, and easy access to dozens of wineries—these Napa and Sonoma resorts offer the indulgent getaway you need
Ready for some “me time” amid decadent surroundings? Reserve your spot at one of these spectacular Wine Country resorts.
Farmhouse...
Adam Hester/Getty Images
Five Brooks Ranch
Ride horses on the pristine beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore
It doesn’t get more idyllic than horseback riding at Five Brooks Ranch at Point Reyes...
Chao Kusollerscharlya/Shutterstock
Spotlight: Berkeley
See a stunning museum, shop, and feast in the Bay Area’s most outspoken city
A haven for backyard artists and coffee-shop philosophers, Berkeley has deep roots in the Flower Power movement of the 1960s and ’70s. But...
Courtesy of NPS Photo
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front
This National Historical Park near San Francisco preserves the legacy of the “We Can Do It” era
With her rolled-up sleeves, clenched fist, and polka-dotted kerchief, Rosie the Riveter rose to stardom as a 1940s graphic-art icon who symbolized...
Halbergman/Getty Images
Tyler Florence’s Favorite Road Trips
Chef Tyler Florence shares his top picks for the best drives and views in California
Chef, winemaker, and television host Tyler Florence fell for California through the...
Courtesy of the Bay Area Discovery Museum
Bay Area Discovery Museum
Let your child (and your own inner child) explore this interactive museum in Sausalito
Located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on the ...
Picmax/Getty Images
5 Best Hikes out of San Francisco
Get a fresh look at the Bay Area on these scenic hikes
Sure, it’s the home of Google, Facebook, and Twitter. But the San Francisco Bay Area is...
Diane Bentley Raymond/Getty Images
Spotlight: Oakland
Follow ace chefs and sip your way along an urban wine trail in the “other” city by the bay
No wonder it’s been called “San Francisco’s Brooklyn.” Located just across San Francisco Bay,...
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Make memories at some of California's family-favorite beaches
Sand, water, and kids—it’s a natural combination for easy family fun. This sandy dozen offers appealing, family-friendly features, such as calm water for new swimmers, tide pools for intrepid...
Alex Farnum
Courtesy of NPS Photo
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Tour this military memorial that honors soldiers and pays tribute to Concord’s role in civil rights history
California’s smallest national park service outlet covers a mere half-acre in Concord on San Francisco Bay’s east shore—but it tells a very big...
Russian River Brewing Company
CALIFORNIA QUESTIONNAIRE: Natalie Cilurzo
The co-owner of the wildly popular Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa shares her story, along with a few Golden State favorites
Natalie Cilurzo will never forget the day everything changed for the Russian River Brewing Company. It was February 5, 2010—the first Friday in...
Chen Robert/Getty Images
Lands End: San Francisco's Oceanfront Gem
Discover a window into the past and amazing views of San Francisco at this oceanfront playground
While most people beeline to the Golden Gate Bridge for their Instagram shots of...
San Francisco's cable cars are the country's only mobile National Historic Landmark.
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Taste the delicious dishes from these amazing California chefs
From a candy-colored pastry shop to Michelin-starred dining rooms, top restaurants run by celebrity chefs dot the Golden State. And even if you don’t know these chefs from the TV...
San Francisco has only one drawback - 'tis hard to leave.
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Kid-friendly fun zones, special kids' menus & amazing wine for the grownups
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
John/Flickr
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World-class accommodations in world-class locations
Head to the heart of California’s cities for luxurious stays at world-class accommodations. From San Francisco’s historic hotels to celebrity hot spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, California’s...
Lynn Gately/Flickr
Top Bay Area Museums
Explore the cultural fabric of the Bay Area
Arts abound in this culturally diverse region, with different experiences and styles all over the Bay Area. Start in...
Thomas Hawk/Flickr
Spotlight: Santa Cruz
Visit this coastal classic for ocean views, legendary surfing, and throwback fun along the waterfront
The ultra-mellow beach town of Santa Cruz along Highway One...
San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal. That is the whole truth.
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Farm-fresh produce, culinary adventures
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, golden-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers markets are...
Laura Flippen
Richard Wong/Alamy
John Muir National Historic Site
Explore the East Bay home of the legendary conservationist
After wandering the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, conservationist and Sierra Club founder...
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From Gold Rush history to the 8th wonder of the world, visit these favorites
Amy Meredith/Flickr
Courtesy of Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Performing Arts
Museums, music, and a hint of bohemia
Nested near the city’s cupola-topped City Hall, impressive performance spaces in San Francisco present some of California’s—and the world’s—...
October
A 10-day October celebration of the best in independent and world cinema, the high-powered but low-key Mill Valley Film Festival always attracts...
Jonathan Scott Shensa
May
Rock rolls into the wine country with BottleRock Napa Valley, a three-day event that features 2019 headliners Imagine Dragons,...
Jessica S./Flickr
Courtesy of San Jose International Airport
Spotlight: San Jose
This high-tech hub delivers surprising diversity with innovative museums, rich history, and a cosmopolitan culinary scene
Arrive by plane and San Jose’s unmistakable techy-ness starts right off the bat. At ultra-...
Tai Power Seeff
Livermore
Ranches, vineyards, and relaxed appeal east of San Francisco
With warm sun and wide-open spaces cradling vineyards, ranches, and wine-country estates, the Livermore Valley makes an appealing destination just...
It's simply a very romantic place. Just one look at any of those streets, and you couldn't be anywhere else -- it's so beautiful, and there's that location, and the sense of the free spirit. ... Who couldn't become ravenous in such a place?
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Old-fashioned fun in the Golden State
Historic oceanfront playgrounds, classic city-park charmers, boisterous adventures—smaller theme parks and attractions offer an array of ways to play. These smaller parks offer old-...
Tai Power Seeff
Tai Power Seeff
Spotlight: Silicon Valley
Explore the area just south of San Francisco where savvy visionaries are changing the world
Welcome to California’s tech-centric brain pool. Stretching roughly from the city of Belmont down to...
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Where to release your inner fashionista
Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Want to sample fresh produce? Try our farmers...
According to legend, Winchester Mystery House's maze of passages and building oddities were designed to confuse the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles.
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Kids get an inside look at wildlife, space, and more
From cool ways for your kids to learn about wildlife, to an insider’s look at a space station, to a chance to walk through a rain forest or learn about the night sky, there’s a bumper...
Peter Alfred Hess/Flickr
With towers soaring 746 feet/227 meters into the sky, its span arcing across the mouth of San Francisco Bay, and all of it painted fire-engine red, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge makes a dramatic destination.
Yes, you can simply...
Famous for grand-dame Victorians, classic cable cars, dynamic diversity, trend-defining, Michelin-starred cuisine, a beautiful waterfront, and a soaring crimson bridge, San Francisco, aka the “City by the Bay”, truly has it all and stands...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Check these amazing experiences off your bucket list
Kiss a beluga, see cool movie props, and learn about Walt’s secret hideaway on exclusive and behind-the-scenes tours at California’s theme parks and attractions. Here’s a roundup of worth-the-...
Michael Saechang/Flickr
Courtesy of Lenny Rush/ NPS
Muir Woods National Monument
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to the land of the giants
To experience one of California’s most unforgettable must-sees, visit this remarkable grove, a hop-skip north of San Francisco. Tucked into an...
Squidish/Flickr
Tesla Road - Livermore Wine Country
Unhurried charms east of San Francisco
This often overlooked wine country, a roughly 1-hour drive east of San Francisco, is one of those places that make you feel like you’ve (happily)...
California
With its inviting destinations and uncrowded wilderness, this region feels like an insider’s secret amid the bustling excitement of Southern California.
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California
Bumping up against the west side of the Sierra Nevada range, the Sierra foothills are where California’s past, present, and future merge into one unforgettable destination...
Discover the San Francisco Bay Area
This often overlooked wine country, a roughly 1-hour drive east of San Francisco, is one of those places that make you feel like you’ve (happily) stumbled upon a secret...