All Stories from North Bay
Drive-In Whale Watching
Just north of Point Reyes, Bodega Head sits high on the tip of a curving, thumb-like peninsula and offers excellent whale watching in winter.
ViewWelcome Back Bartholomew
A few miles east of Sonoma’s historic plaza, Bartholomew Park has a winery and hiking trails with fabulous views.
ViewSunsational Mount Tam
The East Peak of Mount Tam is easily reached via a short hike, and gives visitors one of the best views in the Bay Area, and sensational sunsets.
ViewBright Point of View
Head to Point Reyes’s historic lighthouse. Originally constructed in 1870 to help warn mariners of the navigational hazard that we now call Point Reyes, the lighthouse was handed over to the National Park Service.
ViewWine O'Clock
Wine may be Napa’s most famous liquid, but there’s a way you can just stick with water and still enjoy yourself (really!). Do a 3-mile out-and-back hike at Rector Reservoir Wildlife Area northeast of Yountville.
ViewLove You Some Limantour
A lot of places in Point Reyes National Seashore don’t allow dogs, but Limantour Beach has split the difference, offering ample dog-friendly space that’s bluffing beautiful.
ViewDillon Darling
Often overlooked, Dillon Beach in Marin can be magical in fall when the mist lifts to reveal a 1-mile swath of wide and sandy terrain backed by dunes and dotted with picnic tables.
ViewNot Your First Rodeo
Marin’s Rodeo Beach has a lot going on. It’s the starting point for sweeping headland hikes, and it’s home to the world-renowned Marine Mammal Center. Head south for more seclusion!
ViewMake Time for Tolay
Hidden in the hills south of Petaluma, Tolay Lake Regional Park is 3,400 acres of wide-open space, with a fantastic network of hiking and biking trails, wildflower walks in spring, grazing cattle, and sweet farm animals.
ViewStranger Things, Sonoma
Explore the historic plaza of Sonoma on a Haunted Walking Tour and hear stories of those who ghost there!
View- Sponsored
Sonomas 5 Fall Wonders
Fall in Sonoma Valley brings a bounty of beauty, including leaf peeping and harvest festivities. Here are some top ideas for spending a few days and nights here.
View Tiny Hike, Mighty View
Nestled in Napa's beautiful Browns Valley neighborhood, Timberhill Park is a hidden gem with a fantastic hike and equally fantastic views.
ViewNapa's Liquid Assets
Looking for more ways than wine to have a good time in Napa? Just add water. Head to Lake Hennessey in Saint Helena for a moderate 5.5-mile loop hike with a bounty of scenery. From
ViewBackyard Sierra
With bright blue water, ospreys soaring overhead and evergreens towering all around, Bon Tempe feels like a secluded lake in the Sierra Nevada. Surprise! It's one of the five pocket lakes on Mt. Tam's northern flank, and the water supply for many Marin homes. You'll never lose sight of this blue beauty as you hike the flat 3.8-mile trail that circles its shore.
ViewJenner's New Views
The beautifully developed trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County offer access to quiet stretches of coastal redwood forest and huge views of the Pacific. It’s also a refreshing escape on hot days.
ViewBroadway Under the Stars
Media consistently names it among the best outdoor concert venues in the country. Well, we’re going to go ahead and call it #1. Transcendence Theatre Company’s “Broadway Under the
ViewBattery Recharger
Get swept up in iconic coastal scenery on this classic 5-mile loop hike in the Marin Headlands that passes a secret World War II military fortification, home to a vast network of underground tunnels.
ViewPomo Pitch
Secluded camping under the redwoods and by a creek … now that’s a good pitch! Get to it at Pomo Canyon Environmental Campground, an absolute gem within Sonoma Coast State Park. This walk-in-only campground has hillside options and spots closer to the creek.
ViewBreak Out the China Camp
Close to San Francisco, close to the shores of San Pablo Bay, China Camp State Park is also a beautiful place for a mountain bike, even if you’re a beginner (yes, there’s a trail for you!). In spring, wildflowers bloom along the trailsides.
ViewSanta Maria Is Magical
Ready to find a beach to call your own? Make a visit to Santa Maria Beach in Point Reyes. What makes Santa Maria so quiet and peaceful? The 3-mile bike (or hike) in!
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Sublime San Juan Islands
Well, well, this wellness action plan takes you to the San Juan Islands! Easily reached by ferry yet worlds away in tranquility and unique adventures, this Washington State jewel of the Salish Sea nurtures through nature.
Discover the San Juan IslandsYour Inbox to the Outdoors
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