Oxbow Public Market in Napa
Discovering Oxbow Public Market in Napa: A Food Lover’s Haven in Napa Located in Downtown Napa at the southern end of Napa Valley, Oxbow…
California Travel Tips
California has been my home state for half of my life. Its vibrant cities and nonstop natural beauty keep me in awe. But the diversity of its people, as seen in the fun food, drinks, art, and innovations are what I especially love. If you're looking for California travel tips, you've come to the right place!
10 Days Camping in the Eastern Sierra, Beautiful Highway 395
10 day Highway 395 RV camping trip Eastern Sierra Every summer I take a camping road trip in our Geo Pro trailer with my…
20 California Campgrounds in Amazing Locations
California Campgrounds for Great Family Camping There is an astounding variety of places to camp in California, from oceanfront sites with a view, to…
Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: Stunning Wildflower Hike!
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve If you’re in Northern California, you need to add this hike to your spring to-do list! Wildflowers and unusual…
What to Do in Northern California in June 2026
(Updated for what to do in Northern California in June 2026) Summer in Northern California means that the heat has arrived, but only…
Amazing Lassen National Park Hike in a Volcano
Have you been to Lassen National Park? It’s surprisingly unknown even here in California! But with jaw-dropping views, volcanoes and painted hills, and…
Family Camping Sonoma County in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Family Camping in Sonoma County: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Review After we got our GeoPro trailer in late 2018, our favorite way to…
What to Do in Northern California in March: 12 Fun Ideas
Updated for 2026! March is a beautiful time of year in Northern California — right now look for spring blooms on the trees,…
What to Do in Northern California in February: 14 Fun Ideas
Updated for 2026! The weather is (often) beautiful, the mustard is blooming, and the high season in travel is still months away. February is…
What to Do in Northern California in December
(Updated for 2025!) Northern California may not be the first place that pops into your head for winter travel, but winter is actually a…
What to Do in Northern California This November
Fall is such a beautiful time in Northern California. The temperatures are starting to drop but the rain usually hasn’t arrived yet, and in…
What to Do in Northern California This October
October is perhaps my favorite month in Northern California. The weather tends to be perfect: no rain yet, cool mornings and evenings but warm,…
What to Do in Northern California in September
Anytime is a good time to travel in Northern California, but September is definitely one of the best months. It’s still warm in much…
A Guide to Visiting Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is one of the nation’s newest national parks, having been changed from a national monument under Obama in 2013. Compared…
What to Do in Northern California in August
August in Northern California is hit and miss. It’s still hot as Hades here, and most people have had enough of the hot summer…
Presidio: Best Place for Family Vacation in San Francisco
Best Place Family Vacation San Francisco Usually when planning a visit to San Francisco, we imagine a weekend of big city pleasures: views,…
30 Best Wineries in Napa Valley
I’ve been visiting Napa Valley for about 15 years, and it’s become one of my favorite places in California. But I remember feeling…
What to Do in Northern California in July
Traveling in Northern California in July is tricky. At the height of summer, the weather is often cold and foggy on the coast but…
The Palace Hotel, San Francisco
The Palace Hotel San Francisco: What is it like to stay in this beautiful, historic property in the heart of San Francisco? San Francisco’s…
What to Do in Northern California in May
(Updated for 2024) Spring is a glorious time to be here in Northern California. Just being outdoors is one of the best things…
What to Do in Northern California in April
Spring is in full swing here in Northern California in April! This is such a wonderful time to be in Northern California — the…
Favorite Hotels & Inns in Northern California
When we plan a trip, there’s almost nothing I think about more than where I’m going to rest my head. Because the right…
30 Things to Do in Lodi
For a wine geek like me, Lodi is so much fun. Not only is it affordable and small enough to make visiting easy, Lodi…
Lake Tahoe RV Parks: Our Favorite Northern California Campground
We have a tradition of taking a camping trip with my mom and stepdad every summer — they have an Airstream, so we book…
How to Spend a Weekend in Half Moon Bay
For years I’ve been looking for the perfect Northern California coastal getaway. Some places are too far away, others are too remote or…
Things to Do Sonoma County: 30 Amazing Ideas!
Sonoma County is quintessential Northern California. The charming small towns, beautiful wine country, rugged coast and rolling, farm-studded hills make it one of my…
30 Places: Where to Eat in Sacramento in 2026
Sacramento hasn’t always been known as a food destination, but with renewed interest in local ingredients and many new restaurants opening over the past…
8 Hikes at Lake Tahoe with Kids
One of the reasons that my family and I love Lake Tahoe so much is that it’s the perfect place to go hiking. The…
Where to See Elephant Seals: Año Nuevo State Park
If you want to know where to see elephant seals, Año Nuevo State Park just south of San Francisco is the answer. I loved…
30+ Free Things to Do in Northern California
California is not only my home state but also my favorite state to travel in. It truly has a bit of everything — mountains,…
The Perfect Day Trip to Truckee & Donner Lake
Those of us who live in Northern California already know that Lake Tahoe is one of the most popular destinations, which of course means…
30 Amazing Things to Do Mendocino Coast, California
Time and again, I’d heard that the Mendocino Coast was not only some of California’s most beautiful landscape, but also its most authentic…
8 Affordable Family Vacations in Northern California
Frustrated over the lack of travel options that are actually affordable? Traveling even close to home can really add up! However, traveling as a…
Family-Friendly Tips for a Visit to Pier 39
San Francisco has always been one of my family’s favorite places to visit. After 15 years of visiting San Francisco, we decided to try…
My Favorite Coastal Hike in Northern California
If you’re planning a visit to Mendocino County or a stay at the Sea Ranch, a peaceful community of minimalist-designed homes and countless deer…
What to Do at the Sea Ranch
The Sea Ranch is a rugged, sparsely-populated area just south of the Mendocino County line on one of the most beautiful stretches of…
30 Fun Things to Do in Sacramento
In this post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite things to do in Sacramento. I’ve lived in Sacramento for 24 years and…
A Day Trip to the California Gold Country
The Gold Country east of Sacramento is a historic stretch of almost 150 miles with preserved Gold Rush-era towns. This area also offers plenty…
A Day Trip to Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is a convenient day trip from San Francisco or Sonoma County. This small town may not have a lot of attractions, but…
A Fall Day Trip to Apple Hill
A day trip to Apple Hill is a traditional fall activity for many people who live in this area. After all, Sacramento is flat…
The Perfect Day Trip to Napa Valley
How to Plan a Day Trip to Napa Valley I love going to Napa Valley. It’s not just the wine. It’s also the mountains,…
The Perfect Day Trip to Sacramento
One of my goals for this summer was to spend more time exploring my own backyard. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by all that Downtown…
30 Fun Things to Do in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is part of the culture here in Northern California. It’s the place where people escape the summer heat, ski on the weekends, and…
A Perfect Day Trip to San Francisco
What do you do when family come to visit? When my in-laws come to visit from Brazil, we always take a day trip to…
5 Amazing Yosemite Hikes with Kids
Talk to any parent of a young child, and they’ll tell you that “hiking” with a 4-year-old is just about impossible. This means that…
2 Very Different Museums in San Francisco: de Young Museum & Legion of Honor
The de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor: these two institutions are sister museums yet almost complete opposites, and I love them both….
30 Things to Do in the Monterey Bay Area
The Monterey Bay area is one of my favorite parts of California. It’s a powerful combination of stunning natural beauty, wildlife, a charming small-town atmosphere,…
All Aboard the Napa Wine Train: What Is It Like?
Looking for fun things to do in Napa Valley, California? The Napa Valley Wine Train is a great way to spend half a day…
7 Lesser-Known Northern California Museums
7 Lesser-Known Northern California Museums With all the things to see and experience in California — amazing nature, trends in food, and local craft…
Tips for Visiting Columbia State Historic Park
These tips for visiting Columbia State Historic Park in California’s Gold Country will help you make the most of one of the best places…
30 Things to Do in San Francisco with or without Kids
If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, this list of things to do in San Francisco with kids (or without them) is…
30 Things to Do in Northern California
A lot of people visit this blog look for what to do in Northern California because I write so much about my home region…
Tips for Visiting Point Lobos
When I read that Point Lobos has been called “the greatest meeting of land and water in the world,” I knew I had to…
30 Things to Do in Napa Valley Wine Country
There are so many things to do in Napa Valley that I could have easily thought of more than 30. Besides beautiful scenery, this…