San Francisco Bike Guide

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

Big Sur is not something a lot of people do car-free. It takes an adventurer to respond to the challenge of taking a carless trip down the infamously winding two-lane road called the Pacific Coast Highway. But, if you do have that wild free spirit in you, it’s much more doable than you might ever expect. Our two favorite options are by bike or bus. Biking is a spectacular choice

Napa, Santa Ynez, Paso Robles… wine towns abound in California. But factoring in travel, expensive accommodations, and various other factors, a simple “wine weekend” can translate to a hefty price tag. Fortunately, wine country is closer than you think—just a short BART ride away, in fact. Next time you feel the call of the vino, take a day trip to the East Bay wineries. More than 40 boutique urban wineries, housed

It’s only 80-some miles from Los Angeles, but it may as well be 8,000. Ojai, or “the Shangri-La” as natives like to call it, certainly is the mystical and harmonious valley depicted in the movie Lost Horizons (filmed in Ojai in 1937). The small-town charm is lost on no one, and oftentimes strangers will wave to you as they drive down the street (they must, after all, know you from somewhere).

Maximize your day in Monterey with these adventurous and educational activities, from kayaking with sea otters to biking 17 miles along the rugged coast to free jazz parties at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Here are a few of our favorite ways to spend a quick getaway in Monterey.   1. Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational Trail The Monterey Bay Coastal Recreational trail is an easygoing path that extends from Castroville through Pacific Grove, allowing

Guest Post by Alt. ride. Alt. is an initiative of the Bay Area Open Space Council and Transit and Trails. Sponsors include CLIF Bar, Coastal Conservancy, and Peninsula Open Space Trust, with media sponsorship from offMetro SF and others. Transit and Trails helps you find, plan and share your outdoor adventures and loves the idea of going outside without a car. The Bay Area is home to many peaks. There are, of course, San Francisco’s Twin Peaks, which rise to

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

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:

If your idea of a fun bike ride doesn’t involve full-body spandex and an all-day trek up an insurmountable hill, then look no further than the 10-mile ride. Although the nine-mile loop in our own beloved Golden Gate Park may seem hard to beat with its scenic gardens, historic windmills, and grazing bison, we discovered there are plenty of short-but-sweet trails near SF worth exploring. From training-wheel-friendly family jaunts to rides