Romantic Day Trips

The Bay Area has no shortage of beaches, but not all beaches are created equal. For that reason, we’ve scoped out six beaches that are cooler than everyone else’s beach. These are the sandy spots that will have your friends saying, “You went where?” while you grin mysteriously, knowing all the while you were within easy disctance of the city. For each sandy spot, we’ve sussed out the good (“The

Here are the best green Bay Area destinations oM has discovered this year. A Wine Time: East Bay Winery Bike Tours | Oakland California’s newest wine sensation is closer than you think. And you can reach it by BART. And bike. Enjoy a day away exploring the urbanite oenophile’s dream in Oakland and Berkeley. American Pie: Pie Ranch| Pescadero A working farm with a pie-in-the-sky mission of spreading food knowledge to the community,

A new study by the Journal of Psychological Science reports that “the awe” of nature makes you feel like you have more time in your life. So it makes sense that many harried Silicon Valley CEOs choose to live in Saratoga. And those of us who don’t run Fortune 500 companies can still enjoy some of their perks… for free. Anyone can access the incredible number of hiking and biking

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

One of our favorite quick escapes from San Francisco is to the quaint seaside town of Sausalito, with its fountain-filled parks, charming souvenir stores, open cafes and magnificent Bay views. Sausalito is delightfully small and at the same time engaging enough to keep one occupied the whole day. Here, eight tips for things to do in Sausalito. 1. Geek out over the new and used tomes at Habitat Books (803 Bridgeway Boulevard, habitatbooks.com). 2. Grab a

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

When planning your next getaway, consider bringing your bike. These modes of transportation allow bikes on board and generally free of charge. Mode: BART Allow Bikes: Yes Restrictions: Bikes aren’t allowed on BART during peak hours in the Downtown Oakland stations. Regardless of the time of day, bikes aren’t allowed in the first three cars of the train. See website for specific peak hour restrictions. Gas powered bikes are not allowed.