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Marin Farmers' Market
Marin Farmers' Market
Sample local bounty in pretty Marin County
For a less urban setting, venture north across the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Farmers Market in San Rafael, where farmers, ranchers, cheese makers, bakers, beekeepers, and shellfish harvesters from Marin and Sonoma counties present their goods next to the Marin Civic Center building, a striking pink and blue building (it looks better than it sounds) designed by master architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Markets run Thursdays and Sundays year-round. On Thursdays, join the street-fair scene of Downtown San Rafael Farmers’ Market, Thursdays April through September, with live music and pop-up food booths.
Harriot Manley/ Sunset Publishing
Northern California
Northern California
Discover the San Francisco Bay Area
A crimson bridge, cable cars, a sparkling bay, and streets lined with elegant Victorian homes—San Francisco is undeniably one of the world’s great cities. Located along the Northern California at the state’s distinctive bend in the coast, the region has an alluring magic that stretches beyond the bay to diverse cities with nightlife and trend-setting cuisine.
"I left my heart in San Francisco, High on a hill, it calls to me." –singer Tony Bennett
The Bay Area is also home to some of the world’s finest wine country, including Napa Valley and Sonoma, plus waterfront towns, dramatic beaches, and the tech-savvy southern end of the bay known as the Silicon Valley, where lunchtime ideas at Google, Facebook, and Apple, turn into the next brilliant innovation.
Plan your California getaway via San Francisco with these great deals!
Courtesy of Fairmont Sonoma
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Two liquids share the spotlight at this famed resort: local wine and thermal waters
Stately and historic, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa brings a European...
Kodiak Greenwood/Cavallo Point
Cavallo Point
This resort on the Sausalito waterfront beautifully transcends its Army barracks past
Take an interesting back story and then add spectacular scenery and fabulous perks. Cavallo...
Schofield Images/Getty Images
Benicia
Immerse yourself in the Golden State lifestyle by seeking out fashion-forward independent retailers and local brands
Amid the hustle and bustle of San Francisco’s North Bay, the quiet waterside burg of Benicia...
Courtesy of NPS Photo
Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial
Tour this military memorial that honors soldiers killed on the World War II home front and pays tribute to Concord’s role in civil rights history
California’s smallest national park service outlet covers a mere 2000 sqm in Concord on San Francisco Bay’s east shore—but it tells a very big...
Erica Davis/Getty Images
Half Moon Bay
This delightful little beach town possesses serious surf DNA and is just a short drive from San Francisco
Half Moon Bay is situated 45 minutes south of San Francisco on Highway 1, but it might as well be half a world away. Home to the world-famous...
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front
This National Historical Park near San Francisco preserves the legacy of the “We Can Do It” era
With her rolled-up sleeves, clenched fist, and polka-dotted kerchief, Rosie the Riveter rose to stardom as a 1940s graphic-art icon who symbolised...
Vacationland
4 Awesome Wine Country Resorts
Luxurious spas, farm-to-table dining, and easy access to dozens of wineries—these Napa and Sonoma resorts offer the indulgent getaway you need
Ready for some “me time” in Wine Country? Reserve your spot at one of these spectacular Napa and Sonoma resorts.
Farmhouse Inn,...
Getty Images
Spotlight: Alcatraz
Everything you need to know before visiting the San Francisco island, home of the country’s most notorious prison
In 1854, the West Coast’s first lighthouse was built on San Francisco Bay’s Alcatraz...
San Francisco's cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
Ryan Killackey
Spotlight: San Francisco
Sparkling bay, magic city
It may measure less than 130 square kilometres and have a population that doesn’t even surpass a million, but...
San Francisco itself is art, above all literary art. Every block is a short story, every hill a novel. Every home a poem, every dweller within immortal. That is the whole truth.
Thomas H. Story/ Sunset Publishing
Golden Gate Bridge
See one of the world’s most famous landmarks, spanning an elegant bay
With towers soaring 746 feet/227 metres into the sky, its span arcing across the mouth of San Francisco Bay, and all of it painted bright red-...
May
Rock rolls into the wine country with this three-day event in Napa that features 2019 headliners Imagine Dragons, Neil Young, and Mumford & Sons. With more than 80 performers in the May 24–26...
Jessica S./Flickr
San Francisco has only one drawback - 'tis hard to leave.
Mathew Spolin/Getty Images
Spotlight: Napa Valley
Explore ultimate wine country luxury in the land where Cabernet is king
Napa Valley reigns as the land of grand estates, luxurious tasting rooms, quaint towns and elegant...
Vicki Jauron/Getty Images
Spotlight: Sonoma County
Escape to wine country with its secret vineyards, cosy inns and rich history
SPECIAL FEATURE
Kid-friendly fun zones, special kids' menus & amazing wine for the grownups
Sure wine country is romantic, but now it’s a surprisingly great destination for families too, with a growing number of vineyards trading in elegant tasting rooms for kid-friendly fun zones that...
John/ Flickr
July
Get the Spanish spirit at this colourful event. Stroll the grounds of Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards with a glass of bubbly, and take in a whirl of passionate music, flamenco dancing, and food...
Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards
SPECIAL FEATURE
Taste the delicious dishes from these amazing California chefs
From a candy-coloured pastry shop to Michelin-starred dining rooms, top restaurants run by celebrity chefs dot the Golden State. And even if you don’t know these chefs from the TV...
SPECIAL FEATURE
World-class accommodations in world-class locations
Head to the heart of California’s cities for luxurious stays at world-class accommodations. From San Francisco’s historic hotels to celebrity hot spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, California’s...
Lynn Gately/Flickr
Diane Bentley Raymond/Getty Images
Spotlight: Oakland
Edgy, artsy, diverse
It’s been called “San Francisco’s Brooklyn,” and San Francisco’s sister city, just across the water in the East Bay region, has the same kind of...
California Academy of Sciences
Top Bay Area Museums
Explore the cultural fabric of the Bay Area
Arts abound in this culturally diverse region, with different experiences and styles all over the Bay Area. Start in...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Farm-fresh produce, culinary adventures
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini UFOs. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
Laura Flippen
Thomas Hawk/ Flickr
Spotlight: Santa Cruz
Surf's up at NorCal's friendly beach getaway
This ultra-mellow beach town has a decided split personality—and both sides are cool. First, there’s the woo-hoo family fun of the Santa Cruz...
SPECIAL FEATURE
From Gold Rush history to 8th wonders of the world, visit these favorites
Amy Meredith/Flickr
SPECIAL FEATURE
Make memories at some of California's family-favorite beaches
Sand, water, and kids—it’s a natural combination for easy family fun. This sandy dozen offers appealing, family-friendly features, such as calm water for new swimmers, tide pools for intrepid...
Alex Farnum
RJ Muna
Performing Arts
Museums, music, and a hint of bohemia
Nested near the city’s cupola-topped City Hall, impressive performance spaces in San Francisco present some of California’s—and the world’s—...
October
A celebration of the best in independent and world cinema, this high-powered but low-key event always attracts major filmmakers and stars, as well as some of the hottest independent talents in the...
Jonathan Scott Shensa
October
Get into the spirit of the season at the self-proclaimed “World Pumpkin Capital” (expansive pumpkin patches surrounding this Central Coast town give the name some weight). Highlight of the weekend...
Chris Andre
Sara Remington
World-Class Dining
Dig into a foodie heaven
Chef Alice Waters and her group of idealistic friends didn’t intend to spark a movement when they opened Chez Panisse in Berkeley in 1971; they...
Courtesy of San Jose International Airport
Spotlight: San Jose
Tech savvy, international flair
The first hit of this city’s unmistakable techy-ness starts right off the bat—if you get here by plane. Meet Space Observer, a 26-foot/7.9-metre-...
May 11 - May 20
May
America's largest and most prestigious cycling event brings many of the world’s top riders to the Golden State. The 8-stage race changes it up every year, with new courses connecting cities and...
Amgen Tour of California
It's simply a very romantic place. Just one look at any of those streets, and you couldn't be anywhere else -- it's so beautiful, and there's that location, and the sense of the free spirit. ... Who couldn't become ravenous in such a place?
SPECIAL FEATURE
Sample ultra-fresh, hyper-local, and downright amazing
When you come to California, come hungry. This is a state that seriously knows how to cook. Amazing and innovative chefs sprinkled with Michelin stars work with local farms and artisanal food...
George's at the Cove
Tai Power Seeff
Spotlight: Silicon Valley
If you don't believe us, just Google it
Welcome to California’s tech-centric brain pool. Wrapping around the south end of San Francisco Bay, the communities collectively known as Silicon...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Old-fashioned fun in the Golden State
Historic oceanfront playgrounds, classic city-park charmers, boisterous adventures—smaller theme parks and attractions offer an array of ways to play. These smaller parks offer old-...
Tai Power Seeff
January
Countdowns don’t get any more exciting than this. When conditions are just right, ocean swells pile up against an offshore reef, about three-and-a-half kilometres off the Northern California...
Dennis Yang/ Flickr
According to legend, Winchester Mystery House's maze of passages and building oddities were designed to confuse the ghosts of those killed by Winchester rifles.
SPECIAL FEATURE
Kids get an inside look at wildlife, space, and more
From cool ways for your kids to learn about wildlife, to an insider’s look at a space station, to a chance to walk through a rainforest or learn about the night sky, there’s a bumper...
Peter Alfred Hess/Flickr
SPECIAL FEATURE
Check these amazing experiences off your bucket list
Kiss a beluga, see cool movie props, and learn about Walt’s secret hideaway on exclusive and behind-the-scenes tours at California’s theme parks and attractions. Here’s a roundup of worth-the-...
Photo by Michael Saechang/Flickr
Courtesy of Lenny Rush/ NPS
Muir Woods National Monument
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge to the land of the giants
To experience one of California’s most unforgettable must-sees, visit this remarkable grove, a hop-skip north of San Francisco. Tucked into an...
Squidish/Flickr
Tesla Road - Livermore Wine Country
Unhurried charms east of San Francisco
This often overlooked wine country, a roughly 1-hour drive east of San Francisco, is one of those places that make you feel like you’ve (happily)...
California Welcome Centres in the San Francisco Bay Area
Abundant beauty, family fun, culture
Come visit and explore the Bay Area. San Francisco, the City by the Bay not only offers beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay, but an abundance...
Chen Robert/Getty Images
Lands End: San Francisco's Oceanfront Gem
Discover a window into the past and amazing views of San Francisco at this oceanfront playground
While most people beeline to the Golden Gate Bridge for their Instagram shots of San Francisco, some of the most amazing views of the City by the...
SPECIAL FEATURE
Where to release your inner fashionista
Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Want to sample fresh produce? Try our farmers...
South Coast Plaza
Tai Power Seeff
Livermore
Ranches, vineyards, and relaxed appeal east of San Francisco
With warm sun and wide open spaces cradling vineyards, ranches, and wine country estates, the Livermore Valley makes an appealing destination just...
Picmax/Getty Images
5 Best Walks near San Francisco
Take a fresh look at the Bay Area on these scenic walks
Yes, it’s the home of Google, Facebook and Twitter. But the San Francisco Bay Area is also...
Spotlight: Hollywood
Stretching from the bustle of downtown to glamorous Malibu, Sunset Boulevard stands out as the ultimate road to fame or fortune. Or at least that’s the dream. From scruffy...
Spotlight: Pinnacles National Park
Located on Pinnacles’ east side, the park’s sole campground has 134 sites, a swimming pool, showers and flush toilets, and a surprisingly well-stocked camp store that...
Discover the High Sierra
Between the falling flakes and the après-ski party atmosphere, a holiday in the California snow is festive from the get-go. Around the Golden State ski resorts also throw...