Culinary Day Trips

A surfboard hangs outside one of the barns at Pie Ranch, and rightfully so—this 14-acre, pie-slice-shaped farm resides just five minutes from the coast. Whether or not the hardworking farmers and staff here find time (in between farming, youth outreach programs, potlucks, and barn dances) to use said surfboard is another question altogether. Either way, the juxtaposition of rugged California coastline to one side of the Camarillo Highway and verdant ranch

Sometimes the Discovery Channel just isn’t enough. Sometimes you want to get down on the farm. And sometimes you just want to go wild. Whether you’re hankering to hang with massive elephant seals, pet a rhino or ride a horse, you’ll find it all and more in our picks for the best “wild” bay area adventures. 1. Safari West Adventures | 3115 Porter Creek Road | Santa Rosa Here’s a little bit

Here are the best green Bay Area destinations oM has discovered this year. Coolest General Store. Ever: Pop-Up General Store | Oakland It only comes around once in a while, which makes it all the more intriguing. But the best thing about this irregularly regular grocery is the elite fleet of Bay Area chefs it brings together under one roof—and the delectable array of artisanal eats they offer. Best Natural Habitat for

It’s a fact: You simply don’t get much more incredible than this. Keeping watch at the edge of the earth (in Marin County), the rugged, wind-swept Point Reyes National Seashore is a pristine strip of quintessential California Coast—just north of San Francisco and yet worlds away. There are tons of activities available in Point Reyes, so it’s best to check in first at the Bear Valley Visitor Center, where the friendly crew

This Thursday, take shelter from the rain at Belcampo Meat Co.’s latest “Meat-Up,” held at Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland’s Jack London Square. Belcampo’s lunchtime gatherings serve up irresistible fare, incorporating 100% grass-fed and pastured meat from their northern California farm. On the menu this month: beef chile verde with handmade corn tortillas and spicy pickled vegetables (and, of course, a full selection of Blue Bottle Coffee to wash it

Alameda, which lends its name to a large county in the East Bay, is itself an elusive island, to which most non-residents don’t give much thought. But just across the Bay from San Francisco, this small, cozy enclave is a treasure trove of activities, from the cute and quaint to the outdoor adventure to the tad quirky. Here, our five favorite things to do in Alameda. 1. Take a stroll

In this frustrating economic climate, Bay Area locals have at least one reason to be thankful: a burgeoning foodie revolution in the form of underground supperclubs, pop-up restaurants, and an ever-growing gaggle of gourmet food trucks. Regular Joes can now sample prix-fixe five-course meals from internationally recognized chefs, previously available only to an exclusive upper-class clique. On top of that, gourmet meals are no longer reserved for stuffy, ritzy locales;

We live in one of the most photographed cities in the world, but city dwellers have a tendency to forget the unparalleled, natural beauty sitting just outside the man-made structures of San Fran proper. Remind yourself why your East Coast friends are jealous of your Nor Cal life by taking a good, long look at it. Escape the city to visit national parks, restaurants, and vineyards for spectacular views of