North Bay

You don’t have to shell out hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars for a flashy bike worthy of the Tour de France in order to enjoy all of the beautiful trails that the Bay Area has to offer. Choose to be eco-friendly and paycheck-friendly by checking out one of our top 10 bike rental shops in the Bay Area. 1. Blazing Saddles | 2715 Hyde Street | San Francisco Boasting

We recently wrote about our favorite 10-mile bike rides in the Bay Area. While we’re fond of fun quick spins around San Francisco now and then, there’s something so rewarding about a long scenic ride, especially one that leads to an exciting overnight destination instead of your front door. Here are our picks for the five best bike vacations near San Francisco. Ride: Avenue of the Giants | Humboldt Redwoods State Park Road:

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

Yes, San Francisco is famed for its music scene, but there are many great spots—from intimate jazz joints to massive amphitheaters—beyond the city’s hipster hangouts, underground dives, and famed concert halls. From Berkeley to Oakland to Napa and beyond, here are our top 10 picks for the best places to see a concert in the Bay Area. 1. Music with a View: The Greek | 1815 4th Street | Berkeley Don’t let the fact that

The word “Napa” conjures images of delicate grapevines in neat little rows, whiffs of “cherry layered with tobacco and a spicy accent,” the magical sensation that overcomes the whole body when a crisp, fruit-forward white is paired with a friendly sun and just a hint of a breeze… Yes, the valley’s famed wines are worth experiencing many times over. But they aren’t all of Napa. Not even close. It’s true

Yes, Santa Rosa is in “wine country.” And while this lovely town has its share of notable wineries, it’s also got a whole menu of only-in-Santa-Rosa attractions, from micro-breweries to museums and gardens. Case in point: This is a city so grand it’s turned a born-and-raised East Bay boy into a proud Santa Rosan. Here, a few of my favorite things to do in Santa Rosa, from local watering holes

REAL or FAKE? We’ve been embroiled in this debate for years now. We’re talking Christmas trees, of course, and which is better for the environment. Is it better to cut down more of our already disappearing forests or to set up ticking time bombs of chemicals in our living rooms? With passionate arguments on both sides, it looks like the jury is still out on this problem. So what’s a treehugger to do when