There’s a reason Santa Barbara is dubbed the American Riviera – I mean, have you seen it?! The whole area is downright gorgeous – you’ll find long sandy beaches, Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs, rugged cliffs above sparkling blue waters, and a truly relaxed atmosphere. 

A weekend in Santa Barbara really is the epitome of the laid-back California lifestyle, and I’m all for it! Who can say no to sipping cocktails in year-round sunshine and palm-lined beaches with the Santa Ynez Mountains as a dramatic backdrop?! Definitely not me!

After moving to San Francisco almost a decade ago (whoa, where does the time go?!), we’ve spent countless weekends in Santa Barbara. It’s honestly one of our favorite places on the entire California coast, and if we’re being truthful, the place we’d choose to move next (if only it had a major international airport – the one thing it’s lacking!). This sun-kissed California beach town is pretty much paradise, and you’ll never wanna leave. Just you wait, haha.

At first glance, Santa Barbara reminds us of San Clemente down the coast in Orange County. And surprise, surprise, we absolutely LOVE San Clemente and its chic Mediterranean feel! So it’s no coincidence that we absolutely adore Santa Barbara as well. Plus, Santa Barbara kinda reminds me of cities we love in the French Riviera (like Nice, Cannes, and Menton – with their sophisticated lifestyle, Mediterranean climate, and beautiful beaches). All so swoonworthy!

Santa Barbara is no hidden gem by any means, but since it’s further from a large airport, I’d say most people visiting are either local Californians, or those coming from out of state on a much-longer Pacific Coast Highway road trip.

I’m sharing an extensive guide to help you plan out your best Santa Barbara weekend trip possible. And since we have some local friends in the area, we always get the best recommendations — which I’m sharing with all of you of course! Let’s go!

Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway Logistics

Where is Santa Barbara and How to Get There

Santa Barbara is located on the central coast of California, about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It’s situated along the Pacific Ocean, between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the coastline (meaning great views all around!). 

It sits almost directly between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo (about an hour or so from each, although with traffic, definitely longer, haha.) Because of its location, it’s a great place to stop if you’re visiting both cities on a larger California trip, such as when you’re driving down the Pacific Coast Highway!

East of Santa Barbara you’ll find the Los Padres National Forest, with Santa Ynez River Recreation Area, Figueroa Mountain, and the Ojai Valley being popular spots in the forest (perfect for hiking and camping). And to the west you’ll find the wild Channel Islands National Park (high on my California bucket list).

How to Get to Santa Barbara

Because of Santa Barbara’s awesome location pretty much equidistant between Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo, it’s pretty easy to get to Santa Barbara. A few options below: 

Driving to Santa Barbara: If you’re coming from elsewhere in California (like us!), you can totally drive! Santa Barbara is right off Highway 101 (which runs north-south along the CA coast), so super accessible and not terribly, terribly far from most popular places in California.

Here’s some driving distances from popular spots in California (and nearby) to give you a sense of the time required (just make sure to account for some inevitable traffic of course, especially around LA):

• From Los Angeles: 1 ½ hours, 95 miles
• From San Luis Opisbo: 1 ½ hours, 95 miles
• From Orange County: 2 hours, 130 miles
• From Palm Springs: 3 hours, 200 miles
• From San Diego: 3 ½ hours, 230 miles
• From Big Sur: 4 ½ hours, 270 miles
• From San Francisco: 5 hours, 325 miles
• From Yosemite National Park: 5 ½ hours, 300 miles
• From Las Vegas (Nevada): 5 ½ hours, 345 miles
• From Lake Tahoe: 8 hours, 480 miles

→ Visiting Santa Barbara on a much longer Pacific Coast Highway road trip?! Check out all my favorite PCH stops right here!

Flying to Santa Barbara: Yes, there’s an airport right here in Santa Barbara (well, 15 minutes west in Goleta but close enough)! The aptly named Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), haha. 

It’s not the hugest airport by any means (it’s actually quite small with only 1 terminal), but does have flights from major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, and Seattle. And it’s super close to downtown Santa Barbara (only 7 miles away), so you really can’t beat that! 

The airport serves as a gateway to the Central Coast of California, so perfect if you’re planning to visit Santa Barbara (obviously), but also Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, and Paso Robles.

Public Transit to Santa Barbara

Already in SoCal/Central Coast and looking for public transit to Santa Barbara? There’s the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train! I highly recommend taking the train (instead of driving) especially if you need to drive through LA/OC (as there’ll probably be lots of traffic).

The train is super easy to use, not crazy expensive (around $30 from LA), and I have friends that swear by it! I’d probably use it myself if I lived along the train route. Plus, the Santa Barbara train station is located right downright, so super convenient.

It actually runs from San Luis Obispo all the way down to San Diego, so if you’re coming from further afield and don’t feel like driving, that’s a great option for ya! It’d be super fun to plan out a week-long train trip or something like that.

If you’re coming from up north (Northern California, Oregon, and even Washington), consider taking Amtrak’s Coast Starlight Train. It passes right through Santa Barbara on its daily route between Los Angeles and Seattle (yes, the full journey takes 35 hours!).

There’s also the Santa Barbara MTD (with plenty of bus routes from neighboring communities) and Greyhound (for those coming from further afield), as well as the Santa Barbara Airbus directly from LAX! The Santa Barbara Transit Center is the central hub for local and regional bus services, so if you’re planning to take the bus, expect to get off there.

How to Get Around Santa Barbara

On Foot: Due to Santa Barbara’s compact downtown area,  it’s thankfully very walkable! State Street serves as the main street lined with shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, although its way longer than most people realize so I wouldn’t attempt to walk the entire length in one go unless you have a while. And the beaches and harbor are only steps away from downtown!

Driving in Santa Barbara: You can totally get by on foot if you just stay downtown, but if you wanna explore further afield (other beaches, gardens, foodie spots), it’s best to have a car. 

Since we live in the SF Bay Area and typically drive down to Santa Barbara, we always have our car. And we seem to use it way more than we always think we will, haha. Some of our fave spots are a little distance away from State Street, like Butterfly Beach (come for sunset!), Old Mission Santa Barbara, Bettina (drool worthy pizza), and Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. You can of course always Uber to those though (no need to rent a car).

Parking: Of course, if you’re planning on driving around during your weekend in Santa Barbara, you’ll need to worry about parking. And it can definitely be challenging in some areas, especially downtown. 

There’s plenty of parking lots both downtown and along the waterfront (that don’t break the bank), as well as street parking, but they do fill up. We’ve thankfully never had too much trouble finding parking, but always check the street signs carefully!

Biking: Santa Barbara is a super bike-friendly city, and you’ll see plenty of bike lanes and paths no problem. There’s a fair amount of bike rental shops as well as the city’s bike-share program (if your hotel doesn’t offer complimentary bikes). And there’s even two fully enclosed bicycle parking facilities – so you know this town is legit about its biking, haha.

We love strolling down the Cabrillo Bike Path right on the waterfront, but most people bike, haha. 

Public Transit: Within Santa Barbara, you’ll find the SB Metropolitan Transit District (MTD) that operates a network of bus routes throughout the city. The Downtown Transit Center serves as the central hub for MTD buses, making it easy to transfer between routes. The buses are super affordable and convenient, and make stops at all of the popular touristy areas.

Rideshares: When all else fails, there’s always Uber and Lyft!

When to Plan your Weekend Trip to Santa Barbara 

Santa Barbara enjoys a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, (sometimes wet) winters and warm, dry summers. Is there really a bad time for a Santa Barbara weekend getaway? I think not, haha! With ~300 days of sun (rivaling that of San Diego and Albuquerque, NM), it’s almost perfect weather year round. 

But the absolute best time to visit? During the shoulder season – early fall – since the weather’s practically perfect, but there’s fewer crowds and accommodations cost less. Plus, winter is cooler and can be a bit rainy unfortunately, and you probably won’t be able to go swimming without a wetsuit. 

This coincides with our favorite time to visit SB – during the spring (late March to May) and the fall (September to late October). 

BUT (of course there’s a but, haha), like other parts of the California coast (San Diego, Half Moon Bay, Big Sur, etc), Santa Barbara experiences what us Californians refer to as “May Gray, June Gloom”. And it’s exactly as it sounds – gray and gloomy with mostly overcast skies. The marine layer usually burns off by afternoon, but know you may have cloudy mornings May through June.

However, if you’re looking for that classic California beach vacation, you’ll wanna visit in the warm summer months of July and August (when days are long and the water is at its warmest). Do note that this is considered high season, and hotel prices and crowds will be higher than usual. Plus, the occasional heatwave, but there’s the ocean to cool off in!

Where to Stay in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara really has it all. From luxurious beachfront resorts with private bungalows and breakfast in bed, to charming boutique hotels and “budget-friendly” trendy motels. 

In all honesty, we typically choose to stay in Lompoc (an hour north) or Galeta (15 minutes west) when we spend a weekend in Santa Barbara. I find the hotels in SB to be kinda crazy expensive (even more so on holiday weekends), especially since we don’t usually spend much time in the hotel itself. However, on our last few visits, we stayed in downtown Santa Barbara, and really enjoyed it… 

With that being said, there’s some REALLY nice hotels in Santa Barbara, so if you’re celebrating something special, I say splurge a bit! And if it’s your first visit to the area but don’t wanna break the bank, there’s thankfully quite a few budget-ish options.

“Budget”/Value Hotels in SB:

• Motel 6: We stayed here last summer and ended up LOVING it! It’s not your typical Motel 6 and felt more like a trendy boutique. It’s just steps from the beach and kinda retro in the best way possible.
• The Franciscan Hotel: A few blocks from the beach and State Street, with complimentary cookies everyday and a super dog friendly property. Kona especially loved all the treats of course!
• Castillo Inn: Simple place to stay just steps from the harbor, with large Italian-style rooms in a great location
• Inn by the Harbor: Very manicured with lots of colorful plants and flowers, plus a pool and spacious rooms
• Hotel Milo: Right off the beach with stylish rooms, a heated outdoor pool, and complimentary bike rentals
• The Wayfarer: Located in the Funk Zone, this hostel-style hotel has both dorm-style beds and private rooms, along with communal spaces and bike rentals.

A few hotels on my wish list:

• El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel: After brunching at the Belmond one morning, we were able to quickly check out the property (including the lux infinity pool), and OMG it’s absolutely gorgeous. I’ve heard the rooms, suites, and boutique spa are all kinds of luxury.
• Palihouse Santa Barbara: An upscale Mediterranean-style boutique hotel that’s super stylish and fun; with a complimentary cocktail hour and diptyque toiletries (a brand I love)
• Rosewood Miramar Beach: A 5* hotel over in nearby Montecito with panoramic Pacific Ocean views and lots of sophisticated luxury! Expect airy rooms on the beach and elegant dining, plus a spa and 2 outdoor pools! 
• Kimpton Canary Hotel: A super-stylish boutique hotel located right in downtown Santa Barbara with a rooftop pool, cool bar, and vibrant atmosphere. We even saw Andy Buckley (from The Office!) here last year!
• Hotel Californian: A super chic hotel right in the heart of Santa Barbara’s waterfront district, with luxurious rooms, a rooftop pool, and Spanish-inspired architecture. 
• San Ysidro Ranch: The definition of luxury – luxe suites and private cottages on a chic ranch with flawlessly beautiful grounds complete with multiple restaurants and a spa. The ultimate dream. I’d love to go for their signature afternoon tea!

Hotels in Nearby Neighborhoods

If you’re trying to save on accommodation (hey, I get it, SB can be expensive!), consider finding a hotel in a nearby neighborhood instead. You have to really think if this is practical or not, as driving back and forth kinda cuts into the whole easy-breezy carefree-beach scene, haha.

Goleta: This little city is where you’ll find the Santa Barbara Airport and UC Santa Barbara, and only 15 minutes west of downtown SB or so. The Ritz Carlton Bacara is over here, a GORGEOUS oceanfront property with multiple pools, a luxury spa, and even access to a private beach. If you’re looking for something a bit more standard, check out the Hilton Garden Inn Goleta, Hampton Inn Goleta, and The Steward, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

Lompoc: Located an hour or so north, so I wouldn’t stay here if you’re spending a true weekend in Santa Barbara. It’s fine for a night if you’re driving down the California coast and planning to drive to SB the next morning for a day of exploring before getting on the road again. But it’s too far to be going back and forth to each and every day. The Embassy Suites Lompoc, Holiday Inn Express Lompoc, and Lompoc Valley Inn & Suites are all decent options.

Other Important FAQs for your Santa Barbara Itinerary

• Why is Santa Barbara known as the American Riviera? I mean, have you seen the photos?! SB’s got a Mediterranean climate, beautiful coastline, and upscale lifestyle, which are reminiscent of the French and Italian Riviera regions (think Nice, Antibes, and Cinque Terre!). Plus, there’s also a wine country, particularly the Santa Ynez Valley, similar to the vineyards found in the Riviera regions of France and Italy! 

• Is a weekend in Santa Barbara really enough?! To be quite honest, every time we visit Santa Barbara we never wanna leave (kinda like when we visit Maui). There’s just something about the palm-lined beaches and laid-back California lifestyle that we could totally get used to. BUT you can really see the main highlights of the city with just 2 or 3 days in Santa Barbara. Including a wander down State Street, sunset at Butterfly Beach, wine tasting in the Funk Zone, sunbathing at the beach, and of course indulging in a cone at McConnells!

• Is Santa Barbara considered Southern California? It really depends who you ask, haha! Everyone associates it with SoCal because of its near-perfect climate and coastal lifestyle. But other people consider it to be located on the Central Coast. So either it’s the northernmost point of Southern California, or the last city on the Central Coast – honestly, it’s hard to say!

• Is Santa Barbara dog friendly? Yes – for the most part (besides the popular beaches). We’ve brought Kona on plenty of Santa Barbara weekend getaways and never felt limited as to what we could do. Sure, of course there’s some spots where dogs are not allowed, but for the most part we’re able to bring him almost everywhere (including plenty of restaurants).

• Are dogs allowed on the beach in Santa Barbara? With that being said, unfortunately most beaches don’t allow dogs on the beaches, no matter the time of year. But head to Arroyo Burro Beach/Hendry’s Beach (one of the only dog-friendly beaches in the area) and you’ll see tons of furry friends running around.

• Is Santa Barbara expensive? Yup, for visitors and locals alike. There’s no denying that Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive towns on the California coast. Hotels are expensive, food can be expensive (there’s lots of upscale spots here), and boutique shops are spendy. Bring your wallet, haha. But don’t worry, there’s loads of free activities (hello beach!) and even strolling down State Street is fun!

• Architecture in Santa Barbara: I don’t usually touch upon architecture in my weekend itineraries, but so much of SB’s appeal lies in its Spanish colonial heritage. You’ll find whitewashed adobe walls, red tiled roofs, gorgeous wrought-iron details, painted tiles, and arched doorways. I could spend all day just photographing the area. Even the street names have history in Spain! 

• Where should I go after Santa Barbara? Ohh – good question! There’s SO much around this area, so you’ve got tons of options before/after your weekend in Santa Barbara. Not far is Solvang, the cutest little Danish town (with the best apple donuts), and a bit further is Pismo Beach, Paso Robles, Morro Bay, and San Luis Obispo (some of our faves on the Central Coast). Cambria is about 2 hours north, while you’ll find Ojai, Malibu, and eventually Santa Monica and Los Angeles (plus Universal Studios!) 1 ½ hours south.

• Can I take a day trip to Santa Barbara from LA or OC? Totally! Since Santa Barbara’s less than 2 hours from LA, you can really do so much with just a day if you leave early enough. If you’re driving, be sure to factor in traffic (as there’s typically lots up the 101), and know that the train takes about 2 ½ – 3 hours. I truly think if you’re not local, you’ll love a weekend in Santa Barbara way more than a day trip from another area, just FYI.

• WEAR SUNSCREEN! I repeat, slather on that sunscreen until you feel you’ve overdone it and then some. And yes, even when it’s cloudy. The sun here is strong – you’ll want to protect yourself better than I did (whoops). The lobster look doesn’t look good on anybody, I promise.

Santa Barbara Weekend Itinerary

Let’s get to it – the ultimate weekend in Santa Barbara itinerary coming right up! 

Weekend in Santa Barbara Day 1

Day 1 of this Santa Barbara itinerary is fully walkable (unless you venture over to Hendry’s Beach with your dog)! That being said, definitely wear comfy shoes – we always get tons and tons of steps in SB!

Stop 1: Breakfast  

Let’s start off this Santa Barbara itinerary at one of the best breakfast spots in town! There’s quite a lot to choose from (too many), but here’s my favorites:

• Scarlett Begonia: Cal-American breakfast with fantastic cinnamon rolls and blueberry pancakes. Lots of comfort food with a creative twist – eat on the outdoor patio!
• Alessia Patisserie: A French-style bakery with delicious croissants (the raspberry chocolate is my fave), plus a delicious banana french toast I could eat every damn day.
• Oakberry: I first had these acai bowls in Sydney, Australia, and once I realized there’s a location in SB, you know I added this to my Santa Barbara itinerary straight away.

• Belmond El Encanto: Looking for a bougie breakfast overlooking the beach? Make a reservation at the Belmond, a stunning property with a GORGEOUS infinity pool! You’ll need to drive over here, but promise it’s worth it!
• Helena Avenue Bakery: House-baked breads and pastries plus breakfast sandwiches, salads, and soups. Don’t miss the avocado toast with cucumbers! Expect a long line but it moves fast!
• Jeannine’s: A few locations in downtown SB (one on State Street and one near Stearns Wharf) with excellent pastries, scones, and french toast. Plus a great eggs benedict.

Stop 2: Hang at the Beach 

You’re spending the weekend in Santa Barbara – of course you need to soak up some Vitamin D and hang at the beach! I mean, it’s really hard to ignore the sun-drenched sandy coastline. There’s swimming, sunbathing (my favorite, haha), volleyball, and other beach activities. You can even take a surfing lesson, rent a kayak, or go stand up paddling!

East Beach

East Beach is by far Santa Barbara’s most popular beach, and for a reason. It’s spacious, bordered by a grassy park lined with palm trees, and has gorgeous views of the Santa Ynez Mountains. I love sunbathing over here and going for long walks in Chase Palm Park, although you can totally go swimming and play some volleyball too. 

Over by East Beach you’ll find two of my favorite spots: 

• Chromatic Gate in Cabrillo Park: By far the best IG spot in all of SB, and built in 1991 by Herbert Bayer, an Austrian-born artist who lived in the area for 10 years! It’s located on the other side of Cabrillo Blvd so keep an eye out for it, but trust me, that super fun rainbow structure is hard to miss. I’ve taken pics here half a dozen times, haha.

• Chase Palm Park: A park located right on the waterfront bordering the beach, with SO many palm trees on the promenade! You’ve got to put this on your Santa Barbara itinerary. A great spot for a walk or bike ride!

West Beach

On the other side of the wharf, you’ll find West Beach, another one of the most popular beaches in Santa Barbara. It’s not too far from the Santa Barbara Harbor, with gentle waves and soft sand. There’s also volleyball nets if that’s your thing. 

Pop into Brophy Bros overlooking the beach for some oysters or clam chowder if you’re getting hungry! Always a super popular place.

Leadbetter Beach

Walk past the harbor and you’ll see Leadbetter Beach, a great spot if you wanna learn how to surf (SB surf camp is held over here!). It’s a wide beach with some grills nearby – perfect for that beach bbq! Or you can always head over to Shoreline Cafe for a snack which is right over here.

Before or after getting all sandy, head up to Shoreline Park (dogs allowed on-leash!) for great views of the beach and plenty of walking paths. I saw an outdoor beachfront yoga class here on my last visit!

Hendry’s Beach (Arroyo Burro Beach)

If you brought your pup with you, you’ll 100% wanna come here (it’s the only beach where dogs are technically allowed off leash). We’ve come here plenty of times with Kona, and we all have tons of fun!

Note that Hendry’s Beach is about a 10 minute drive from downtown SB, so factor this into your Santa Barbara itinerary. The Boathouse Restaurant is right here, so… may as well head there for lunch!

Stop 3: Shopping and Lunch on State Street 

Do any research on a weekend in Santa Barbara and you’ll definitely come across State Street – it’s SB’s most famous avenue afterall.

State Street is synonymous with Santa Barbara – it’s where you’ll find shops, restaurants, and of course the famous McConnell’s ice cream! It’s a consumer paradise that runs from Sola Street (northern end of State Street) down to Cabrillo Boulevard (southern end of State Street) and eventually to Stearns Wharf.

A few spots not to miss on State Street:

• Paseo Nuevo Shopping Center: An open-air shopping center with a mix of national retailers, local boutiques, and specialty stores. Plus, I love taking pictures on the tiled steps, haha. The whole area is super stylish.
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art: Worth a stop to see the diverse collection of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from various periods and cultures.
• Santa Barbara Public Market: Here you’ll find a curated selection of artisanal food and drink vendors – think gourmet eateries, wine bars, and specialty food shops. Perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat if you’re getting hangry before lunch.

• The Granada Theatre: Take a quick look from the street – I love the elegant architecture of this historic performing arts venue! It’s got such a rich history and is really a landmark in downtown Santa Barbara. 
• LOKUM: Some of the best baklava I’ve ever had! Plus Turkish delights, herbal teas, and Turkish coffee. I love the space – it’s so beautifully decorated with tons of lanterns!
• McConnell’s Ice Cream: This wouldn’t be a complete Santa Barbara itinerary if I didn’t include McConnells! It’s only the most popular ice cream shop in the entire city. And yes, it’s delish and worth the wait (the line moves fast).

Travel Tip: State Street is really long – it’s over 1 ½ miles. With that being said, make sure you’re planning out your Santa Barbara itinerary carefully so you’re not running back and forth. That’d be super brutal in the heat!

Also, note that State Street isn’t the only street where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and tourist activities downtown. Anacapa Street, State Street, and Chapala Street all run parallel to each other, so veer off State Street a bit!

Stop 4: DIY Walking Tour of Jeff Shelton Architecture

Visiting Jeff Shelton houses aren’t something I typically see on a Santa Barbara itinerary. But if you’re even the least bit interested in architecture, do not miss visiting at least one or two. I repeat, DO NOT MISS THE JEFF SHELTON HOUSES! 

So, so unique, and I love all his whimsical and colorful designs. I mean, just look at those tiles – can you blame me?! And that use of bougainvillea!

But wait – who’s Jeff Shelton anyways? He’s a well-known architect in Santa Barbara with buildings famous for their bold colors, intricate details, and unique style. Here’s a few of my favorite ones within walking distance from State Street:

• The Chapel (1330 State Street)
• El Andaluz (325 West Haley Street)
• Villa Sueno Azul (118 Chapala Street)
• The Cota Street Studios (812 East Cota Street)
• El Zapato (819 Bath Street)

Stop 5: Drinks in the Funk Zone 

Walk west towards the water under the underpass and you’ll happen upon the Funk Zone, a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood in downtown Santa Barbara. It’s known for its artsy vibe, colorful murals and boutiques, trendy eateries, and plenty of wine tasting rooms and craft breweries (like Validation Ale and Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co). 

I refer to it as SB’s arts district, and we always find ourselves over here (a few times!) on every visit to Santa Barbara.

Don’t feel like trekking all the way to Santa Ynez for some wine? Okay fine, it’s not that far (about 45 minutes or so), BUT you could totally stay in Santa Barbara and not have to worry about (drinking and) driving. 

Check out the Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail – a whole slew of tasting rooms (over 20!) right in downtown SB and all totally walkable from each other. Don’t miss Pali Wine Co. Wine Garden, Santa Barbara Winery, and Margerum (with quite possibly the best charcuterie board in all of SB) – all from local Santa Barbara county wineries on the other side of the hill.

Wine not your thing? Don’t fret – we love Test Pilot for handcrafted tiki-inspired cocktails, and I heard Pearl Social is perfect for cozy vibes and live music.

Pop into The Blue Door (an eclectic vintage shop with tons of interesting pieces) and SB mid mod (all highly curated and super unique) while you’re over here!

Stop 6: Dinner in Downtown Santa Barbara

There’s SO many restaurants to choose from (I swear, SB really has the best food), so you can’t go wrong. Here’s a few of our favorites:

• The Lucky Penny: Wood-oven artisan pizza and frozen rose! The perfect combo in a shaded outdoor space.
• Brophy Bros: Seafood dinner right on the water with lots to choose from – clam chowder, fish n chips, calamari, oysters rockefeller, seafood linguine, and more
• Sama Sama: a cool farm-to-fork spot with Southeast Asian plates with unique drinks, the best vibe, and a courtyard with string lights
• Secret Bao: Don’t even look at the menu – get the KFC bao, sweet potato dumplings, and kalbi. Plus the mango sticky rice bingsu is all kinds of heavenly.

• Santa Barbara FisHouse: A great seafood spot with a sunny patio and palm tree views – the coconut shrimp is our absolute fave
• Zaytoon: Lebanese and Middle Eastern food with romantic fairy garden vibes. Plus an outdoor fire pit, string lights, and tons of greenery.
• Flor de Maiz: Classic Mexican dishes with Oaxacan flavors – my mole enchiladas were *chefs kiss*. 

Stop 7: Sunset from Stearns Wharf

After dinner (or before, depending on what time of year you visit!), head over to Stearns Wharf for sunset. It’s a historic pier, which, fun fact, is actually the oldest operating pier on the West Coast of the US, dating back to 1872!

We LOVE the views from the wharf – there’s not only the stunning Santa Barbara coastline, but also the Channel Islands and the Santa Ynez Mountains. 

I love coming here for sunset – the way the light hits the water is really something else! California wins in my book (there’s a reason we moved here after all… wink wink).

Santa Barbara Itinerary Day 2

Today will be easiest with a car, but you can totally use Uber to get around.

Stop 1: Crazy Coffees at Caje 

Start off your day (like any other day!) with some much-needed caffeine! Sure, there’s tons of coffee in Santa Barbara (think Handlebar, Dart Coffee, Dune Coffee, etc), but I’ve never seen anything like the crazy coffee concoctions at CAJE!

They’re crazy expensive, at over $10 a pop, but easily the most delicious coffee drinks I’ve ever had. Note that there’s a few locations in the city, but they don’t all serve the same drinks. We love the options at Caje Coffee over on Haley Street, although it’s a tad outta the way.

Stop 2: Santa Barbara County Courthouse

Once you’re all coffee-d up, make your way over to the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It’s an iconic Santa Barbara historical landmark (and architectural gem!), with impressive greenery and even more impressive views. 

Santa Barbara is known for its Spanish-Colonial architecture, and the SB County Courthouse is a great example of it. Think red-tiled roofs, white stucco walls, decorative tilework, wrought iron details, and so many colorful murals! There’s a grand central tower, elegant arched passageways, a tiled dome, grand open hallways, and a bunch of gorgeous courtyards and sunken gardens.

Imagine getting married here – wow (those pictures must be stunning).

And if the building isn’t spectacular enough, the incredible 360 degree views of Santa Barbara and beyond certainly are! We love climbing to the top of the 85-foot-tall clock tower (for free!) for panoramic views of downtown Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Mountains, and the Pacific Ocean. I love a good view – just ask my husband, haha. If there’s one thing you take away from this Santa Barbara itinerary – make it this. 

Just note you’re visiting when the courthouse is actually open – you can’t climb up when it’s closed! Entrance is through the arched passageway – it’s impossible to miss. There’s a parking lot across the street on Anacapa – and the first 75 minutes are free.

Stop 3: Old Mission Santa Barbara

Up next on your Santa Barbara itinerary — the “Queen of the Missions”! A worthy nickname given its exceptional beauty!

The Old Mission Santa Barbara is an iconic Spanish mission that needs to be included on any weekend in Santa Barbara. The grounds are huge (15 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean!), with the beautiful Mission Church, historic cemetery and mausoleum, a museum filled with historical artwork and artifacts, plus a few lush gardens. 

You can either do a self-guided audio tour of the grounds, a one-hour guided tour on select weekends, or simply wander for a bit yourself (what we typically do).

If you’re not feeling tacos (our next stop), bring a picnic lunch to the mission and lay out on the grass near the rose garden!

Stop 4: Lunch at La Super-Rica Taqueria

Before leaving downtown for the day, make a pit stop for lunch at La Super-Rica Taqueria, a super casual authentic Mexican joint on Milpas Street. 

And get this – it’s Julia Child’s favorite restaurant (oh, the irony!), and where she would eat in Santa Barbara when she lived here! The taqueria’s known for its long and slow lines (yes, the same line Julia Child stood in!), but the handmade corn tortillas are legit and all kinds of amazing (and worth the wait).

Our faves are the spicy bean gordita, sandia agua fresca, and al pastor taco. But I promise you’ll love anything in their fresh tortillas – they’re far superior than others I’ve had in the states, and even on par with those in Mexico.

Bring enough cash to try a few things – this old-school spot still doesn’t take credit cards, haha.

Stop 5: Outdoor Activities

Once you’re nice and full from fresh tortillas and agua frescas, it’s time for some adventuring! With only a weekend in Santa Barbara you unfortunately can’t do it all, so pick and choose your favorite activity.

Hiking: There’s plenty of trails in Santa Barbara County, and really something for everyone (from easy, flat paths through manicured gardens to difficult climbs high above the Pacific). Here’s a few popular hikes:

• Inspiration Point: A moderate 3.75-mile round trip trail to reach stunning panoramic views about 1,800 feet above Santa Barbara. That quintessential Santa Barbara hike with the best vistas!
• Seven Falls: A dog friendly hike (3.2 miles out and back) with some rock scrambling and a little climbing (so wear sturdy shoes). Bring a bathing suit to take a dip in the falls!
• La Cumbre Vista Point: Expect beautiful views of the Santa Barbara coastline, and even the Channel Islands on a clear day. Sunrise is especially epic at this super short hike (only .3 miles out and back) and it’s even dog friendly!

Gardens: Strolling around lush greenery more your thing? Thankfully there’s a few good spots for that:

• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden: A gorgeous space filled with native California plants (including a small redwood forest, a Japanese tea garden, and cactus garden) and seasonal exhibits and other creative spaces. And plus, dogs are welcomed, so we’re able to bring little Kona with us!
• Lotusland: Here you’ll find multiple gardens within a gorgeous estate – we’ve never been, but it’s high on my list for next time (although a little pricey in my opinion at $60/person). Make sure to reserve your spot well in advance; this place gets booked up fast!

On the water: Prefer to head out on the water? Thankfully SB’s got tons of that being right on the coast and all:

• Sailing: SB Sailing Center has catamaran coastal cruises as well as catalina yachts, sailing lessons, and even whale watching at certain times of year!
• Kayaking: Interested in seeing some marine wildlife (dolphins anyone?!)? Sign up for a guided kayaking tour of the coast, with spectacular views of the city and sandy beaches.
• Stand-up paddling: Want a relaxing paddle on the water? Rent a stand up paddleboard and look out for sea lions, seals, and dolphins!

Day trip to Solvang

Solvang has got to be one of the cutest little areas in all of California, and it’s only 45 minutes away from SB, so definitely possible as a day trip! Spend the afternoon wandering traditional Danish streets, popping into authentic Danish bakeries, and admiring the windmills and gabled roofs. It’s tiny and only a few streets, so not a huge time commitment if you wanna do other things as well.

Don’t leave without snacking on some mouth-watering aebleskiver (danish fried donut balls with raspberry jam – yum).

Stop 6: Dinner at Bettina 

You’re probably hungry and ready for some dinner at this point, so while you can totally choose another of my favorite restaurants from the list above on Day 1, I highly recommend Bettina. It’s a SB staple, so you’ll definitely wanna make a reservation.

Bettina’s the perfect spot if you’re craving some pizza (our pepperoni pie with honey was divine). Something about that sourdough crust just really hits the spot. The table next to us ordered meatballs and arancini and boy did those look and smell amazing, haha. Don’t miss the caesar salad if you want some greens – so, so fresh and the little breadcrumbs really made the dish!

Yes, it’s a 10-minute drive from downtown SB in nearby Montecito, but it’s super close to our sunset spot (up next).

Stop by Rori’s Artisanal Creamery for some ice cream afterwards (we LOVE the peanut butter candy flavor) – it’s right next door! 

Stop 7: Sunset from Butterfly Beach

The last stop on our weekend in Santa Barbara itinerary is a good one – sunset at Butterfly Beach, arguably the best beach in all of SB. It’s only a few minutes from Bettina, located in the upscale neighborhood of Montecito, just south of SB. 

Quintessential California, and it’s hardly ever crowded (guess the masses don’t know about this spot just yet!).

This is always our favorite thing we do during long weekends in Santa Barbara, and it’s easy to see why. Look how gorgeous the views are! We love walking on the paved trail/bike bath above the beach, and I of course love taking photos of the flowers. Plus, street parking isn’t too difficult, which is much appreciated, haha.

Hope this helps you plan the ultimate Santa Barbara weekend itinerary! Are you headed to the American Riviera soon?!

The post The Best Santa Barbara Weekend Getaway: My 2-Day Santa Barbara Itinerary appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Welcome to the magical world of Universal Studios Hollywood, where blockbuster movies come to life and adventures await around every corner! 

I just returned home from a super fun two days in the park, and of course now have all the Universal Studios tips to share! To be honest, I kinda forgot how much fun theme parks are (yes, even as an adult), and wanna start incorporating them more into my California adventures. I mean, SoCal is only a drive away from us anyways… 

We totally felt like kids again – wandering Hogsmeade while sipping on frozen butterbeers (my new favorite), screaming on thrill rides in the Lower Lot (don’t miss The Mummy ride!), seeing the backlot of The Good Place on the iconic Studio Tour, and of course taking photos with all our favorite characters (hi Shrek!). Oh – and collecting coins, eating themed foods at Toadstool Cafe, and riding Mario Kart at Super Mario World! Such a fun weekend down in Hollywood!

Here’s everything you need to know to have the best possible weekend at Universal Studios Hollywood!

Important Info and Universal Studio Tips

Where is Universal Studios Hollywood and How to Get There 

Hollywood, baby! Yes, for real! Universal Studios Hollywood is located in Universal City in Southern California. It’s situated in the San Fernando Valley, just north of the city of Los Angeles (so thankfully you’ll miss most of that horrid LA traffic if you’re coming from up north, haha). 

The park is nestled in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, meaning tons of scenic views! You’ll see the surrounding mountains from plenty of places within the park, but we loved the views on the escalators between the Upper and Lower Lots the most (and of course took some cute pics). 

Flying: Since the park is oh so close to downtown Los Angeles, there’s plenty of nearby airports (LA is one of the most populous cities in the US after all!).

• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): Since LAX is a major international airport, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding non-stop flights from other large airports. It’s about 25 miles southeast of the park, so not terribly far (although LAX is definitely not my preferred airport of choice in SoCal – it’s HUGE and the traffic nearby is just awful!). But it has the most nonstop flights by far… so sometimes the most convenient depending where you’re coming from. 
• Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): The closest airport to the park, at only 6 miles away! BUR is a smaller airport primarily only serving domestic flights, so if you’re coming from further away, you’ll most likely need to connect.

• Long Beach Airport (LGB): Another of the smaller airports in SoCal, and about 35 miles south of Universal Studios Hollywood. 

• John Wayne Airport (SNA): Yes, another option, although a bit further south around 45 miles away (but perfect if you wanna visit Disneyland and Orange County as well).

Driving to Universal: If you’re coming from elsewhere in California (like us!), you can totally drive! 

Coming from the San Francisco Bay Area, we tend to prefer driving to SoCal instead of flying. Although flights are relatively cheap (usually under $200 roundtrip), we find total travel time is roughly the same driving vs. flying (considering the time getting to the airport, waiting at the gate, actual flying time, getting out of LAX, etc).

• Local Tip: If you’re driving from Northern California and aren’t planning on making any stops, take the I-5; it’s way faster than the 101! Unless you’re doing a PCH road trip – that’s a different story!

Here’s some example driving distances from the other popular spots in California (and nearby) to give you a sense of the time required:

• From Los Angeles: 20 minutes, 10 miles
• From Orange County: 1 hour, 50 miles
• From Santa Barbara: 1 ½ hours, 90 miles
• From Palm Springs: 2 hours, 120 miles
• From San Diego: 2 hours, 130 miles
• From Las Vegas (Nevada): 4 ½ hours, 275 miles
• From Yosemite National Park: 4 ½ hours, 270 miles
• From Big Sur: 5 ½ hours, 340 miles
• From San Francisco: 6 hours, 375 miles
• From Sacramento: 6 hours, 375 miles
• From Phoenix (Arizona): 6 hours, 385 miles
• From Lake Tahoe: 7 ½ hours, 435 miles

If you’re not from around here, I HIGHLY recommend combining a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood with other spots in SoCal. My favorites are Palm Springs (perfect for a winter visit), San Clemente, and Santa Barbara – plus a weekend in San Diego never hurt anyone, haha. 

→ Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood on a much longer Pacific Coast Highway road trip?! Check out all my favorite PCH stops right here!

Parking at Universal Studios Hollywood: Just remember if you’re driving you’ll need to deal with (and pay for overpriced) parking. General parking is over $30 per day, and front gate parking is upwards of $70 – kinda wild (and that’s on top of ticket prices). Because of that, we left the car at our hotel (The Garland), and took the free hotel shuttle to the park. 

BUT there’s lots of parking at Universal if that works out better for you (maybe you’ve got lots of stuff and some wiggly kids). Note that there’s no free parking at Universal Studios Hollywood with a standard ticket. Only annual Gold pass ticket holders get free parking. 

If you wanna park for $3 (yes, THREE DOLLARS for all day parking), you can park at Universal City’s Park and Ride Lot and simply take the shuttle over.

Public Transportation to Universal

• Metro: The Metro Red Line has a stop right at Universal City Station, which is within walking distance to Universal Studios Hollywood. You’ll find the Red Line from a bunch of spots throughout LA, including downtown LA and Hollywood. An easy and cost effective option if you’re staying near a metro stop!

• Bus: There’s also a few bus routes operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) that service Universal City. 

Shuttle Services: Before booking any transportation, always check to see if your hotel offers shuttle services to Universal Studios (one of the best Universal Studios tips). Sometimes they’re even free… yes, all the way from downtown LA. 

And if not, if you aren’t interested in relying on public transit (I get it, especially after a long, tiring day in the park), there’s plenty of tourist shuttles (i.e. tour companies) that offer shuttle transportation to Universal Studios Hollywood. Some of these are part of package tours, but there’s also standalone transport services. We saw tons of these huge coach buses in the lot!

Rideshares: Of course there’s always Uber/Lyft to get you to/from the park! Universal has a dedicated rideshare pick up/drop off, inside the Frankenstein parking area, just FYI, which is a 2 minute walk to the park, so super, super easy and convenient! Don’t Uber from downtown LA though – it’s gonna be hella expensive! Our hotel was less than a 10 minute drive and only an $8 Uber in the early AM.

And if you’re staying at the Sheraton Universal or Hilton Universal City, you can easily walk to the park in less than 10 minutes!

When to Visit Universal Studios Hollywood 

In terms of weather, there isn’t a horrible time to visit Universal. Winters are mild (and sometimes a bit wet), while summers are typically hot and dry. It’s the crowds you gotta worry about. 

For the least crowds, you’ll wanna avoid the weeks around Spring Break (typically mid-April), all of summer vacation, and Christmas holiday season at all costs. Of course the park will be way busier on weekends vs. weekdays, but I get weekends work best for most people (including us). 

For reference, we visited the first weekend of May and didn’t find the crowds to be horrible, although we don’t have much to compare it to, haha. I will say we had Early Access one morning and were able to ride every single ride in the park with wait times less than 30 minutes. We did spend 2 days at Universal Studios Hollywood so that definitely made a difference as well (since we didn’t feel stressed to pack everything in and could wait out long lines by getting a snack or taking pics with characters).

Where to Stay Near Universal Studios Hollywood 

There’s TONS of hotels in Los Angeles – honestly so, so, so many. If you wanna get to the park for rope drop or have Early Access to Super Nintendo World, I recommend staying nearby in Universal City. 

My top pick? The Garland: Only an 8-minute drive to Universal, you really can’t beat the location. This is where we stayed and I cannot say enough good things about it! From the quirky retro touches, poolside sunset movies, a street taco cart (which I can totally vouch for), and delicious brunch at The Front Yard, we absolutely loved it. 

Plus, there’s a FREE shuttle to Universal (and back) every single day on the hour starting at 8am (we did have to Uber one morning to get to the park earlier for Early Access, just FYI).

El Royale Hotel and The Tangerine are great options as well (and less than 10 minutes away), and there’s always the Sheraton Universal and Hilton Universal City which are both located within walking distance to the park.

Universal Studios Hollywood Tips and Tricks

Even after only a few days in the park, I came away with tons of Universal Studios tips and tricks. And sometimes just a few tweaks to your Universal itinerary can really make the trip just that much better. 

My biggest piece of advice – if you wanna see and do and eat everything, DON’T WING IT. Have a plan and *follow that plan*! 

Other (just as important) Universal tips here:

Download the app: The Universal Studios Hollywood App is honestly a HUGE help. There’s an interactive map right in the app that shows your exact location in the park, estimated wait times for all rides, park hours (they change all the time), restaurant menus, and even virtual line ques. 

I was super overwhelmed at first (the park seems huge if you’ve never been), but the app was invaluable. And it’s free, so there’s no reason not to download it! 

Get early access to Super Mario World: On that note, if Super Nintendo World is super important to you (and you don’t wanna wait on crazy long lines for Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge), early access is more than worth it. Early access gives you entry to Super Nintendo World a whole hour before the park even opens, meaning way fewer crowds and way less wait time. 

Do note that once they allow early access guests in, park staff walk all visitors straight to Super Nintendo World. You’re not allowed in other areas of the park (understandably so, and plus everything else is still closed). 

Also – don’t bother taking the stairs thinking you’ll bypass all the escalator people (you’ll see what I mean…) — park staff lead everyone and stay in front. Meaning you may as well take the escalators… it’s gonna be a long day — don’t wanna tire yourself out straight from the get go!

Arrive at the park for rope drop: If you’re not planning on getting early access, I highly recommend getting to the park early and even before actual opening hours. They’ll scan your ticket before park hours, then put everyone in a waiting hold, and then drop the rope and you’re free to go as you please! 

Make sure you prioritize heading to the popular rides first so you can get on before the huge lines start to form.

Make reservations for Toadstool Cafe: If you wanna eat at Toadstool Cafe (the themed restaurant inside Super Nintendo World), you’ll need to make a reservation. These often sell out early in the day (and can only be made the day of), so in order to get your desired time, make your reservation as soon as you visit Super Nintendo World in the AM upon park opening. 

The only way is to scan the QR code outside the restaurant – not even in the app. If you miss reservations, they sometimes do walk-ups, and make sure to check the QR code link throughout the day – sometimes reservations become available later on.

Don’t miss the studio tour: This is the bread and butter of Universal Studios Hollywood, and what really sets it apart from Universal Orlando! I mean, Universal Studios Hollywood remains a working studio (!!!) where movies, television shows, commercials, and music videos are still filmed. 

You can even catch glimpses of active production sets if you’re lucky. Plus, there’s some really cool “rides” on it too – like the King Kong 360 3-D, Fast & Furious – Supercharged, and of course you’ll get to see the Jaws replica!

Figure out your breakfast situation ahead of time: If you’re planning to rush to the rides (which you should if you don’t wanna wait on horrendous lines), you either need to eat breakfast before entering the park (or a quick one while waiting for rope drop), or wait it out until you’re satisfied with your morning. Looking back I’d bring some snacks for the AM since we didn’t end up eating until almost 1pm on our first day, whoops (not the smartest idea).

Take advantage of mobile food ordering: Perfect if the food lines are long and you’re getting hangry, haha. If you know what you want you can simply order on the app and essentially skip the line! 

Some rides offer free lockers for two hours: While most rides allow you to carry on backpacks and such, two rides (Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Revenge of the Mummy) provide free lockers to keep your stuff in. 

These lockers are good for up to two hours, so if the line’s short and you don’t feel like carrying around your stuff for a bit, well, you’ve got up to two hours for free (take advantage – nothing’s free at theme parks… ever)! One of my best Universal Studios tips by far.

Buy your tickets in advance: Not only will you save time (who wants to wait on yet another unnecessary line when you’ll be on lines all day, haha), but you actually save a few bucks buying on the website.

Stay hydrated: You’re in SoCal – it’ll probably be hot and sunny. There’s plenty of bathrooms located around the park, so no excuse not to drink lots of water and stay hydrated (and no, a Duff’s Beer doesn’t count, haha). 

While we’re on that note, don’t forget about the sunscreen!

Check showtimes: Since shows are only scheduled a few times each day, if you really wanna see a show (I highly recommend WaterWorld), plan it into your day. Rides run continuously during park opening hours, so you can hop on those anytime.

Take pics with characters when you see them: I was surprised that lines close to take pictures with the characters, but it makes sense since they need breaks from the costumes! Get on line early so you don’t miss out on the popular characters (namely Mario and Luigi and Shrek and Fiona). You’ll see some characters roaming around (we loved seeing Frankenstein out and about), but most are there to pose for photos. 

My favorites were the minions, Bart and Lisa, the train conductor in Hogsmeade Village (such a character), and the Jurassic Park dinosaurs – so, so epic! And OMG, you need to see Donkey – so interactive and fun! 

Other FAQs about Universal Studios Hollywood 

What is the closest airport to Universal Studios? Nope, it’s not LAX! The closest airport to Universal Studios Hollywood is actually Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), also known as Bob Hope Airport. Being only ~6 miles northeast of the park, it’s easily the most convenient airport for visitors in terms of proximity to Universal.

Are Universal Studios Hollywood and Hollywood Studios the same thing? I was super confused about this at first too, and I’m here to report they are very much NOT the same thing! 

Universal Studios is a film studio and theme park located in Universal City, California (what this entire blog post is about!), while Hollywood Studios (officially known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios) is a theme park located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hollywood Studios is operated by The Walt Disney Company and is inspired by Disney films and the entertainment industry.

Universal Studios Hollywood vs Universal Studios Orlando: Which one should you visit?! It’s hard to say – although they’re on opposite sides of the country so that may very well be the deciding factor, haha. 

Here’s a few key differences about them –

• Universal Studios Hollywood
  • Located in Universal City, California
  • Features Super Nintendo World, the Studio Tour, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and plenty of movie-themed attractions
  • Divided into two main areas: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot
  • The park is smaller in size compared to Universal Studios Orlando but offers unique experiences such as the Studio Tour and is very much doable in only one day

• Universal Studios Orlando
  • Located in Orlando, Florida
  • Comprises two theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (with way more action and thrill rides)
  • Offers a wider range of attractions, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in both parks, The Simpsons Ride, and more.
  • Universal Studios Orlando is larger and is hard to see in only one day 

So basically, if you’re in California, visit Universal Studios Hollywood, and if you’re on the East Coast, visit Universal Studios Orlando, haha. BUT remember, Super Nintendo World is ONLY at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Should I get the Universal Express Pass? That depends on a few different factors. It’s more expensive (obviously), but you get to skip the regular lines at most attractions within the park. Perfect if you’re visiting on a very crowded day and really wanna maximize your time. 

You definitely don’t need the Express Pass if you’re spending two days at Universal Studios as long as you have a well-planned out few days of course (my suggested Universal Studios itinerary below!). We got Early Access to Super Nintendo World and skipped on the Express Pass.

What’s the VIP Experience? An even more exclusive and personalized visit to Universal Studios Hollywood! It’s essentially a VIP guided tour of the park that provides behind-the-scenes access, priority access to attractions, and special perks like gourmet dining. 

Not necessary for the regular visitor, but perfect if you’re a huge movie buff and really wanna learn about and gain insider info about the studio’s history, famous productions, and the movie-making process.

Can I bring food and water into the park? Yes, you’re allowed snacks, sandwiches, fruits/veggies, and other non-perishable items (no glass containers understandably). Even small coolers and picnic baskets are allowed, although they must fit within the park’s size restrictions. 

Bring a reusable water bottle to fill up at water fountains throughout the park (although it seems kinda annoying to hold all day if I’m being honest if you’re just carrying a belt bag like I did…). Note that outside alcohol (including drinks purchased in CityWalk) is not allowed in the park. 

What else to do near Universal Studios Hollywood? There’s TONS of things to do near the park – I mean LA is right there! Some popular spots are Hollywood Boulevard, the Griffith Observatory, Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood, the Santa Monica Pier, CityWalk (literally a walk away), and so much more. 

Most visitors combine their one or two days in Universal with other things in SoCal! Might as well hang around SoCal for a bit if you’re not from around there!

Should I spend 1 or 2 days in Universal Studios?

That’s entirely up to you of course! I will say that most people only spend one day at Universal, but we really enjoyed having two days at the park! 

We had tons of time to explore the park at a leisurely pace, got to ride popular rides multiple times (often with very little wait time – I see you Mario Kart, The Mummy, and Transformers), and were able to take lots of snack breaks without fear of missing attractions/shows/characters.

If you buy early access to Super Nintendo World, you can most likely see and do everything in one day. Just make sure to prioritize your must-do activities and plan your day strategically. The park isn’t huge by any means – it’s way smaller than Disneyland/California Adventure nearby and Universal Studios Florida/Islands of Adventure in Orlando. So very doable with just one day.

It really depends on how long you’ve got, and if you’re trying to hit up other Southern California hotspots on your trip. Coming from the SF Bay Area, we’ve been to SoCal dozens of times, so this trip was primarily about visiting Universal Studios Hollywood since we’d never been. 

Rides at Universal Studios Hollywood 

And now onto the good part – all the rides at Universal! I was kinda surprised that there weren’t more rides at the park (there’s only about a dozen or so), but that just meant we re-rode our favorites a bunch!

Universal Studios Hollywood is divided into two main areas: the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot. There’s a series of escalators between the two, although they take quite a while to get between (there’s four long escalators!), so I’d recommend checking off everything in one before heading to the other so you’re not bouncing between the two all day.

I’ll go over the rides in more detail, but here’s a general overview of the lots.

• The Upper Lot is where you’ll find the main entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood and where many of the family-friendly attractions are located (think Kung Fu Panda, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, The Simpsons Ride, and Secret Life of Pets). There’s also The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (my favorite!), the Studio Tour, and The Simpsons Springfield (don’t miss the giant pink donut) over here.

• The Lower Lot is where the more adventurous and thrilling rides are, including Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic World, and Transformers. Plus Super Nintendo World (!!!) with the crazy-popular Mario Kart ride, themed dining at Toadstool Cafe, and shopping at 1-UP Factory.

Upper Lot 

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter 

Welcome to the magical Wizarding World of Harry Potter, full of frozen butterbeers, wand and owl shops in Hogsmeade Village, cobblestoned streets leading to Hogwarts Castle, and Chocolate Frogs and Bertie Bott’s Every-Flavor Beans. 

I think we wandered through half a dozen times, and I never got over just how detailed and authentic everything was! A must visit for witches, wizards, and Muggles alike. There’s two rides here, and a third attraction which is more like a mini-show:

• Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey: We LOVED this ride and went on it 5 times during our 2 days at Universal Studios, haha. Get ready to soar through iconic Harry Potter scenes, including the Forbidden Forest, the Quidditch pitch, and the Chamber of Secrets. Definitely one of the most popular rides in the park.

• Flight of the Hippogryph: This is the park’s only outdoor rollercoaster, and you fly around Hagrid’s hut and past Hagrid’s magical creatures. Honestly, it’s not worth waiting if the lines over 20 minutes long – the ride is literally a 20 second mini roller coaster and is over in a flash (womp, womp). It definitely has great potential but was very (very) meh to us and kinda a dud.

• Ollivanders Wand Shop: A magical experience where guests can watch a wand-choosing ceremony conducted by a wandkeeper. It’s more of a mini show than an actual ride, and was cute but not a must-do in my opinion unless you’re a huge fan of HP. The lines are never very long for this, so may as well check it out. Then you can purchase your very own wand afterwards to cast spells and make magical things happen in the park (yes, really!).

Springfield

So, so colorful, and so, so fun! Especially with a giant pink donut in hand! I was floored by how meticulously themed Springfield was. The whole area really recreates the look and feel of the fictional town from The Simpsons. From the colorful buildings to the humorous signage and themed props, it really captures the charm and humor from the long-lasting TV show (with over 30 seasons, wow!).

Don’t miss classic American burgers, fries, and milkshakes at Krusty Burger, a Flaming Moe from Moe’s Tavern, oversized, pink-frosted donuts from Lard Lad Donuts (just like Homer!), and some Duff Beer from the brewery!

• The Simpsons Ride: Get read for a hilarious adventure through Krustyland, an amusement park created by Krusty the Clown. Riders board a simulator vehicle shaped like a roller coaster car and experience 3D animation, motion simulation, and special effects along the way. We thought it was super fun!

Studio Tour

One of the main attractions of Universal Studios Hollywood is the Studio Tour! So, naturally, one of my biggest tips for Universal Studios is to not miss it (especially since it’s not offered at the location in Orlando).

What is it exactly? A tram ride that takes guests behind the scenes of real working movie studios and offers a glimpse into the magic of filmmaking. One of the defining features of the park, actually!  

There’s movie sets, soundstages, and other things in the working backlot to see, where famous blockbuster movies and TV shows have been filmed over the years. Think Desperate Housewives, Jaws, Back to the Future, The Good Place (with the exact yogurt spot), Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho”, and so many more.

Besides all the filmmaking fun, there’s also two main “rides”/special effect demonstrations on the Studio Tour – Fast & Furious – Supercharged and King Kong 360 3-D, both of which were utterly fascinating and really cool. The Studio Tour does get busy at times (staff told us wait times can be two hours!), so if you see a short wait time, go for it!

Other rides and attractions in the Upper Lot

• The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!: Pretend you’re a pet navigating the wild streets of NYC – the ride was cute and all but once was enough, haha.

• Despicable Me Minion Mayhem: We loved this 3D motion-simulator ride featuring Gru, his daughters, and the Minions. Real talk – I almost teared up at the end! Don’t miss the minion dance party afterwards. Safe to say we went on this multiple times.

• Kung Fu Panda: The Emperor’s Quest: A 4D theater experience with 3D glasses and special effects! Clearly it wasn’t too memorable for me because I don’t remember riding it, although I know for a fact we did!

• Super Silly Fun Land: A cute play area for kids inspired by the Despicable Me movies. There’s the Silly Swirly Fun Ride (a spinning ride), Super Silly Space Killer (a water play area), and more. 

• WaterWorld: Also in the Upper Lot you’ll find the park’s only live-action stunt show. It’s based on the 1995 film “Waterworld”, and we loved the thrilling stunts, pyrotechnics (so much fire!), and even a seaplane crash. Crazy what special effects can be performed on the water – kinda wind! 

Lower Lot 

Super Nintendo World

Walk through the life-sized green pipe (with rainbow sparkly lights of course) and you’ll find Bowser’s Castle, Princess Peach’s Castle, angry thwomps, and Mt. Beanpole. Even biting Piranha Plants, rotating coins, and ? blocks to punch. A truly immersive world and complete deja vu (that is, if you played the video games as a kid like I did!).

I could not believe just how much thought went into designing the space – we really felt like we were in Super Nintendo World! It was designed to resemble the vibrant and colorful world of Nintendo games after all – particularly the Mushroom Kingdom from the Super Mario series!

Besides the ridiculously popular ride (which sees wait times of an hour+ after 9:30am), there’s the themed Toadstool Cafe with fun desserts and lunch items, shopping at the 1 Up Shop, and of course the Power Up Band Key Challenges to collect virtual coins (you’ll wanna buy a Power-Up Band to compete in these). 

• Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge: This ride was SO fun – and even better that we had early access and didn’t have to wait on a two hour line, haha (it was more like 5 minutes for us). As soon as we got off we quickly got back on line to ride again (definitely only possible with early access!). I won’t spoil it for ya, but just know you’ll be putting on a Mario visor and special VR goggles and will be steering through different levels and versions of the Mario Kart game! Technology is wild y’all! 

Other rides and attractions in the Lower Lot

• Jurassic World: Ohhh another one we loved! It kinda felt like going on a river adventure through prehistoric landscapes complete with MASSIVE state-of-the-art animatronic dinosaurs (and super realistic). It’s the only water ride in Universal… so you may very well get a bit wet! Some people wore ponchos, but that seemed like overkill to me, haha (especially on a hot day).

• The Mummy: Easily our favorite ride in the entire park – and probably the most thrilling (which is definitely why we loved it oh so much). At first it’s very deceiving, but then BAM – you’re off! It’s actually an indoor roller coaster totally inspired by The Mummy film franchise – expect mummies, scarab beetles, and other dangers.

• Transformers: The Ride 3D: Get ready to battle between the Autobots and Decepticons (think Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, and more)! This was another of our favorite rides in the park, and we went on multiple times during our two days at Universal! 

Food/snacks at Universal Studios Hollywood 

We were more-than pleasantly surprised with the snack situation at Universal Studios. After visiting Disneyland last year, I didn’t think Universal would be on par, but boy was I wrong. We ate SO good and there were SO many fun themed foods and drinks. That was another benefit of spending two days at Universal – we got to try almost everything we wanted (hence this very long list of foods, haha)!

• Frozen butterbeer: 10/10 (super iconic, super refreshing, and super delicious – and no, it’s not beer and is actually nonalcoholic)
• Minion cookie: 7/10 (not terrible, but not the best cookie I’ve had either)
• Minion Nutella banana pudding: 8/10 (that nutella at the bottom really kicks it up a notch)
• Classic salted pretzel: 8/10 (perfectly fluffy and salted and always theme park favorite of mine)
• ? Up box tiramisu: 7/10 (super cute decorations and tasted pretty good)
• Flaming Moe: 5/10 (get solely for the presentation – it’s just orange soda with dry ice)
• Giant pink donut: 10/10 (I’d go back to Universal just for this – thought it’d be just for show and a fun pic, but wow oh wow was that donut orgasmic)

• Cheesy mushroom garlic knots: 9/10 (SO CHEESY and yummy and great dipped in the marinara sauce, don’t miss these at Toadstool Cafe)
• Butterbeer soft ice cream: 5/10 (didn’t taste the butterbeer flavor too much, but the vanilla was yummy and the texture was perfect, haha)
• Mushroom calzone: 4/10 (photo op in my opinion)
• Krusty burger: 6/10 (fun and nostalgic space, but regular American food)
• Toadstool cafe: 6/10 – The food was more like a 8/10, but the entire place kinda lacks organization and we didn’t start eating until after 1:15pm when our reservation was at noon. Definitely dedicate at least an hour and a half for this regardless if you have a reservation.

Suggested 1 and 2 Day Universal Studios Hollywood Itinerary 

1 Day Universal Studios Hollywood Itinerary

You can totally do Universal Studios Hollywood in just one day – the park isn’t all that big honestly! BUT it will be a very rushed and hectic day if you wanna go on all the rides, and definitely expect to wait in a few lines!

• 8-9am: Early access to Mario world 
  • Ride Mario Kart
  • Make reservation for Toadstool Cafe for early lunch
  • Games and challenges
  • Character photos
• 9am-11am(ish): Other rides in Lower lot 
  • Mummy
  • Transformers 
  • Jurassic World 
• 11:15-12:45ish: Toadstool Cafe 
• 1-2:30pm: Studio Tour 
• 3pm onwards: Upper Lot rides (including Wizarding World of Harry Potter) and WaterWorld show

2 Days in Universal Studios Hollywood 

As noted earlier, we spent 2 days in Universal Studios. And because of that, we didn’t wait longer than 25 minutes for any ride since we had two mornings and were able to knock out all the busy rides in the AM. We had a super relaxing two days in the park, and loved being able to stop for photos with characters and indulge in all the themed snacks without feeling like we’d be missing out on rides.

AND were able to go on the super popular rides multiple times (including twice on Mario Kart, 5x on Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – no, it didn’t get old, a whole bunch of times on both The Mummy and Transformers, and whatever other rides we wanted to do again).

Day 1 in Universal

Morning

• Early access to Mario World
• Other rides in Lower lot 
• Lunch at Toadstool Cafe

Afternoon 

• Spend the afternoon enjoying more attractions and shows, including The Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash!, Kung Fu Panda Adventure, and hanging out in Springfield with a few Duff beers!

Night

• CityWalk

Day 2 Universal Itinerary

Morning

• Arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood for park opening.
• Start your day with popular attractions in The Upper Lot with typically long wait times, such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (we went twice back to back on Day 2), Flight of the Hippograph, and The Simpsons Ride.

Afternoon and Night

• Studio Tour
• WaterWorld
• Wander around the park, taking pics with characters, going on your favorite rides AGAIN, sipping more frozen butterbeers, eating that gigantic pink donut, etc!

Hope all these Universal Studios tips and tricks help you plan the most perfect trip! Have a butterbeer (or two!) for me!

The post Universal Studios Hollywood Tips and Suggested 1 and 2 Day Itinerary appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Wow, another year flew by – I say this every year (look at my past Year in Review posts if you don’t believe me, haha), but damn did 2023 go fast. I feel like I was just reflecting back on 2022 last month!

2023 was another year of living on my own terms, going against societal expectations, and truly enjoying my life. It was a year I heavily leaned into truly living in the present, indulging in extravagant trips and meals without regret, and working damn hard for it all. As I get older, I’m understanding there’s no time like the present, so I make it my mission to fill my year with fun experiences and try not to take life too seriously.

Overall, 2023 was pretty excellent. 

I listened to a shit ton of audiobooks (over 50!), finally made it to Disneyland, and crossed a huge bucket list trip off my never ending list of adventures. I traveled with friends, with my sister, with my husband, found my way back to solo travel, got to see my parents twice (!), and had a whole slew of visitors as well! 

Wild to think this is actually my 11th year writing detailed year in reviews on my blog. Sure, those 10-second overdone reels on IG are fun for a few minutes, but I honestly don’t even know how to make them, haha. Plus, I like being able to write 8k words and include over 100 photos (which is probably more like 200 knowing me).

It was the year of the Eras Tour (although I didn’t have any interest in participating, I opted for Beyonce instead), the horrific war in Israel, and deciding I want to visit all 50 states in the next few years (before I turn 40!).

So proud of this life I created for myself. 

Interested in seeing what I got up to in years past? Here’s all my year in review posts: 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016 / 2017 / 2018 / 2019 / 2020 / 2021 / 2022

2023 by the Numbers

• Countries Traveled To: 8 (USA, Guatemala x2, Belize, Tanzania + Zanzibar, Mexico, England, Austria, Czech Republic)
• States Visited: 8 (California, Hawaii, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina)
• Days On The Road: ~105
• Days Traveling Solo: 8 (Caye Caulker, Belize and Flores, Guatemala!)
• Flights Taken: 34 (60,500 miles flown!)
• Books Read: 56 (favorites: Molokai, Pachinko, Into Thin Air, Remarkably Bright Creatures, The Day the World Came to Town, Fly Girl, The House in the Cerulean Sea, Nowhere for Very Long)
• Duolingo Streak: 576 days (primarily Spanish and math!)
• Candy Crush level: 3195

January 

The year started off a bit crazy, getting home from Mexico a week later than expected after the airline canceled my flight. I made it home at 9:30pm on New Year’s Eve, just in time to celebrate my late arrival with my husband by indulging in a slice of our favorite cheesecake and some cuddles with Kona. 

MAUI

Just a week later we were off to Maui for Noah to run the Maui Oceanfront Marathon! He has a goal to run a full marathon on each Hawaiian island it’s offered, and although he already crossed Maui off his running list, he decided he wanted to run again! Fine by me; I’ll never say no to a trip to Hawaii (obviously). 

He PRed AGAIN and subbed 4, finishing the full marathon in 3 hours, 59 minutes, and 34 seconds! Absolutely WILD — my husband is a beast! So, so proud of him and his dedication.

Besides his running escapades, we spent most of the long weekend in Kihei, kinda sorta feeling like a local, walking to the beach for sunset every night and eating/drinking nearby. I sometimes love revisiting places we’ve been to a bunch of times, so I can focus on simply enjoying our time together instead of feeling like I need to see and do everything. Something I’m clearly working on, haha.

The main focus of this Maui trip (besides Noah running the marathon of course) was WHALES! Since we were visiting during prime whale season, we saw SO many humpbacks. So, so magical. And besides taking an official whale watching tour, we saw so many whales right off the coast — all those breaches and whale tails never get old!

We left Maui with holes in our hearts, aching for permanent island life. The heartache was so bad we started semi-seriously talking about moving to Hawaii (complete with a pros/cons list and mile-long to-do list). We ultimately decided this isn’t the best time for our dream, but I think we’ll be back sooner than later. 

February 

I kicked off the month by taking myself out on a solo birthday date to see Mean Girls on Broadway! Scored myself a $40 rush ticket, which turned out to be an amazing seat all the way down in the orchestra! Such a fun show, and proud of myself for making the effort despite going solo. 

Also — I celebrated TEN official years of A Passion and A Passport on February 9th — cannot believe I’ve stuck with my passion project turned side hustle for oh so long!

MADONNA INN

I always plan a birthday trip for myself (past years including Mexico City, Hawaii, and Todos Santos), and decided to do something low-key this year. We celebrated my belated bday with a weekend in SLO at the Madonna Inn, complete with pink champagne cake, a glitzy pink bathroom in our all pink room, and pink boozy drinks. 

It was truly an instagrammers paradise, perfect for a quick birthday trip! Think whimsy gingerbread trim, bubblegum pink and fuschia accents, and eccentric and unconventional hotel rooms. The whole space is quirky, bizarre, and downright wacky — in the best kinda way! To say I loved it was a downright understatement, haha. 

We saw some friends for lunch, took way too many photos, and checked out all the tacky decor at the hotel. 

GUATEMALA 

A few weeks later I was off to Guatemala, a country I hadn’t been to for over 5 years and one I was super thrilled to be heading back to! The country is so misunderstood (and wildly underrated), but I’m glad it’s becoming a place travelers don’t overlook anymore. It’s actually getting pretty popular!

After scoring cheap $350 round trip tickets (and desperately missing all the color and culture), I couldn’t not go! Plus, I went with a friend I hadn’t seen in years (hey, Kris!). We ended up going with a bunch of really cool people, and met even more in Guatemala once there!

It really was the best travel crew and I loved and appreciated all our deep non-judgemental convos! Travel people really are the best kinds of people.

Lake Atitlan 

Our first stop in Guatemala was the famous Lake Atitlan. And despite the loooong 5 hour ride there (TONS and tons of traffic), we absolutely loved the lake and I’m aching to go back sooner than later.

We primarily spent our time at the lake zipping around on lanchas and visiting a whole bunch of different towns (which were all so, so different) — the colorful town of San Pedro (where we saw a chocolate demonstration, weaving demonstration, and learned about Mayan bees), super hippy San Marcos, the market street in Panajachel, traditional Santiago Atitlan, and the colorful blue village of Santa Catarina Palopo. 

Volcano views EVERYWHERE! 

We stayed at La Fortuna at Atitlan, an eco-hotel with a completely outdoor bathroom (toilet included). Lemme just say — such a unique experience showering outside completely naked. It was also crazy windy at some points; our entire shack would shake; but thankfully we saw no bugs or scorpions — something we were super worried about (we even shook out our entire bedding each and every night)

That pool with a perfect view of the volcano was something else, as was the old-school bus turned sauna. 

Antigua 

In Antigua, we spent a glorious few days wandering the colonial town, admiring the volcano views, checking out all the cute cafes, and shopping at all the markets and boutiques (we wanted to buy so much). 

I hopped on a photo shoot at the famous yellow arch, took a chocolate making class, relaxed on nets overlooking the highlands and volcanos (absolutely epic), and spent a morning at Hobbitenango walking on the trolls hand and hanging out in the hobbit houses. 

Nights in town were absolutely epic — we could see the orangey glow of the erupting volcano from our hotel. Super wild and surreal! Definitely not something we see here in California. 

We ended our whirlwind of a trip with the most impressive tasting menu at Sublime in Guatemala City — it even rivaled fine-dining meals I’ve had in Mexico City. There’s a reason why it’s on the list of the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America! So unique and creative, and way cheaper at that, haha. 

March 

Strawberry, California

We had been aching for a winter trip, so were thrilled when our friends invited us to their new cozy cabin in the snowy mountains. And I swear, it legit felt like a boutique hotel – they did an amazing job with it, but no surprise there (Kris is kinda a master at home design and interiors). 

It was a weekend full of homemade eats (thanks Taka!), puzzle competitions, bourbon hot chocolates (loaded with mini marshmallows), marmalade making, comedy specials, bubble-filled board games, and snowy winter walks. 

We couldn’t even get in through the front door — completely covered in snow!

It was a weekend being fully present with fun people and hardly any phone time! Need more days like this!

BELIZE & GUATEMALA 

Caye Caulker, Belize

Time for my first (and actually *only*) solo trip of the year! I spent a glorious few day taking it slow on Caye Caulker, and luckily met a great group of people my first morning and spent a decent chunk of my time on the island with them. 

I’ve actually been to Belize before (over a decade ago), but primarily stayed in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. After my new friend I met in Mexico started sending me photos from her trip to Caye Caulker, I instantly knew I needed to head back to Belize.

Two of the main reasons I came? The Blue Hole and snorkeling in the Hol Chan barrier reef! 

Gazing out the window of a tiny 12-seater propeller plane flying over the Blue Hole was a major highlight and wildly impressive and the reef, wow, just wow! — crazy how many blues there are!

I spent a full day out on the water snorkeling in the Hol Chan Barrier Reef, and saw so much wildlife it was incredible! Manatees, spotted eagle rays, nurse sharks, sea turtles, sting rays, lots of coral, and tons of colorful tropical fish. Such a perfect day out on the dazzling water, besides getting the worst sunburn of my life!

Other highlights on Caye Caulker included watching sunset every single night at the beach (most likely with a mango juice in hand), spending a lazy day relaxing at a beach club on the north side, and eating and drinking my weight in fresh coconuts, iced cacao tea, bbq chicken and shrimp, and the creamiest key lime pie. 

It’s impressive how many locals I had long conversations with. There’s such an amazing, positive energy here — hard to describe but Belizeans are just so helpful and actually care about their visitors. By far some of the friendliest people I’ve ever met. 

April

Flores, Guatemala 

I crossed the border and continued my solo spring break trip with a few days in Flores, Guatemala (loved the country so much I just couldn’t stay away!). 

And what a moving few days it was. Swinging in a hammock at sunrise over the lake with sounds of hundreds of birds in the jungle, and then once the day was over, watching sunset over the lake every single night with watermelon juice in hand. Super idyllic; I just loved those slow nights/mornings. 

My major adventure here?! Waking up at 2:30am for a sunrise mission to Tikal! While there wasn’t exactly a sunrise, walking through the jungle in the pitch black listening to howler monkeys is something I’ll never forget. I got a full tour of the park afterwards and loved all the temples — so impressive and hardly crowded. Also saw a bunch of animals in the jungle too — toucans, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and cute coati! One of those pinch-me moments in life I’ll never forget. 

I wandered around the colorful island town taking tons of pictures of all the decorative doors and buildings (which totally reminded me of Guatape in Colombia a bit)!

Strolling the malecon for the best lake views was my favorite, as was taking a lancha to a scenic mirador, hanging out at a locals beach, and watching my new friends jump off rope swings into the lake (I was too chicken for that of course). 

Before the trip was over, I spent a full day swimming in the bluest, crystal clear waters I’ve ever seen at Crater Azul. Kinda crazy how this place is wildly unknown (and I kinda wanna keep it that way).

ANDREA VISITS SF

You read that right! My cousin came to visit — it was so fun having her in SF for a whole week (!!!) and showing her around our area. 

And we really took advantage of our time together – I don’t think we had this much uninterrupted quality time in years. So, so special and I can’t wait for her to come visit again soon Plus, Kona was obsessed with Ann from the first moment she got here at 2 in the morning, haha. 

We did *all* the things — we took plenty of silly selfies at Battery Spencer, had dangerously delicious pizza in North Beach, wandered around Chinatown, drove down Lombard Street, played tourist at the Painted Ladies, had a picnic at the Aquatic Park, rode on a cable car (my very first time!), took the ferry and explored Alcatraz, had huge scoops of cookies n cream at Ghirardelli, gawked at all the cute sourdough shapes at Boudin, and spent a night cheering on the Giants at the game (although we never actually made it to our seats, haha). 

There were also day trips to be had — a morning in Sausalito, dining al fresco in the sunshine and walking alongside the water, down to Monterey and Carmel for a day, wandering the cute storybook town, exploring the coastline on the 17 Mile Drive (my favorite), and just overall enjoying the sun!

We spent our last night together celebrating Ann’s early 40th birthday indulging in the most delicious over-stuffed lobster rolls while watching a gorgeous sunset over Half Moon Bay. Such a great visit and so thrilled she came to California!

Home in the Bay

After getting home from Central America, I spent most of the month at home here in the Bay Area; I really tried to take advantage of the wonderful weather we’d been having. 

And after all this rain, I swear EVERYTHING looked SO incredibly green with tons and tons of WILDFLOWERS!

I tried doing all the spring things – searched for wildflowers in a nearby park (found lots!), finally visited the famous wisteria fence in SF, checked out the floral exhibit at the Westin St. Francis, took so many photos of the cherry blossoms on our block, had flowery beach walks in Half Moon Bay, and found tons of poppies on a verrry long walk/hike in the East Bay. 

I also saw Come from Away on Broadway — what a heartfelt show and even based on a true story! We spent a few days in the city, trying a new bakery, walking by the bridge, and just enjoying SF. 

May

May was the first month in forever that was super, super low key — I hardly left the Bay Area! We took a few day trips, but honestly just hung out and relaxed SO much. I tend to overdo it with trips (although always very much worth it), so I’m starting to appreciate the downtime I do have. 

At home I checked out the mini yellow super bloom at Mori Point (with a sea of yellow flowers overlooking the beach), saw yet another musical (1776), and did some more city exploring: Coit tower, Mamas for brunch, and Japantown. 

Pacific Grove

We took a spontaneous Sunday drive down to Monterey, and finally got down to see the pink magic carpet in Pacific Grove. It was just as stunning as I imagined! Always forget just how much we love it down here, and crazy that it’s less than 2 hours from us. 

Tiburon

A quick day trip up north to Tiburon was another highlight of the month; I can’t believe after living in the Bay for almost 10 years we had never gone! We feasted on an amazing lunch right by the water at Sam’s, took long walks with the prettiest seaside views, and saw a colorful art installation. 

Orange County 

The minute school was out (remember, I’m a SLP at a high school), we drove down to SoCal for the week, doing some research for a potential upcoming move, and seeing a bunch of good friends/hanging with their cute kiddos.

Besides bringing the gray SF weather down to OC (the sun only came out ONCE our entire week there), it was great to explore different areas and get a feel for what we’re looking for (decided close to the beach it is!)

We checked out Dana Point, San Clemente (which we already knew we loved), a whole bunch of towns a bit further inland (not our style), Laguna Beach, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and Newport (LOVED!), and even a few towns in San Diego and in southern LA county. We even met with a realtor – yes, kinda prematurely, but wanted to see what’s out there!

June

June started a few months of basically nonstop travel, but first we celebrated a friend’s beautiful wedding up in Sonoma (Taylor you looked smashing as usual)!

Disneyland!

After living in California for over 9 years, I *finally* made it to Disneyland to celebrate a friend’s birthday with some favorite friends. 

And omg what a blast it was — we spent over 15 hours in the park, from 9am to almost 1 in the morning (and I was still ready to go!), haha. Of course there were lots of lines during peak hours (to be expected), but filled the time with lots of singing, dancing, stretching, mustache-making, etc. 

The morning/early afternoon was spent at Disneyland, then headed to DCA until they closed — then back to Disney for more rides until they closed! A super long and tiring day, but I already can’t wait to go back!

Some Disney stats:

• Rides rode: Big Thunder Railroad (twice!), Pirate of the Caribbean, Star Tours RITR, Hyperspace Mountain, the tea cups, Runaway Railway, the Incredicoaster, Buzz’s Astro Blasters, and Millennium Falcon 
• Ate: giant Mickey macaron, Mickey pretzel, popcorn crack, Mickey ice cream sandwich, lobster nachos, churro 
• Saw: World of Color Show 

Would I go again? 1000% – I can confirm Disney truly is the happiest place on Earth. Yes, despite the high price tag. I kinda wanna see it all decorated for Halloween or Christmas next time!

Newport, Rhode Island

A few days later I flew to NY bound for Rhode Island for a sister trip to Newport! Such a great start to summer, and love that we were able to have a few bonding days just for us! Think I wanna make this a tradition.

Ali’s been to Newport a bunch of times prior, so I was lucky she took me around to her favorite spots! We took a trolley tour learning about the history of Newport, went on an afternoon sail on an old lobster boat admiring all the fancy yachts, sipped Del’s frozen lemonade, and toured the ornate and opulent Breakers Mansion — so much gold everywhere!

I’ll never forget our last dinner overlooking the water with seafood pasta and the most amazing mashed potatoes, all the trips to Bowen’s and Bannister’s wharf, shopping on Thames street, and fresh lobster rolls!

We also spent a morning walking along the stunning cliff walk, cruising on Ocean Drive, and admiring the stunning Castle Hill Inn. Such an underrated state — if you have the opportunity to visit RI, go! 

All in all it was a fantastic few days — even the long drive home was so fun (tons of singing and dancing, haha). 

New York

Trips to NY are primarily about seeing those I love, and that’s exactly what I did, with some NYC exploring thrown in. Plus, I got to hug my 99 year old grandma, which, I didn’t know at the time, would be our very last one.

Once we were back in NY, I spent an afternoon in Astoria with my cousin, indulging in overpriced ice cream, thrift store shopping, and wandering around downtown. 

I always love exploring spots I haven’t been to in a while, so I ferried it over to Brooklyn for a few hours, spent the morning wandering around DUMBO, and watched the sunset on the ferry with some old friends for some stunning skyline views. 

My sister and I took a day trip to Greenport, strawberry picking and pizza winery included! Sunset overlooking the water with boozy lemonades in hand was the perfect way to end the night.

And I *finally* crossed the TWA Hotel off my bucket list! Highly recommended if you’ve got a few spare hours between flights or get to the airport extra early — so fun and nostalgic with tons of photo ops, a bar IN an old airplane, and a rooftop pool where you can watch planes take off. 

Tanzania: African Safari

After 3 long years (getting a puppy and of course international travel stopping due to we-all-know-what), we FINALLY made it on our long-awaited safari in Tanzania!

Was it everything we dreamed of and more? Yup, 1000%.

We spent a week doing game drives in several parks in Tanzania, including Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and of course Serengeti National Park! What an absolute dream come true. 

Just 30 seconds into Day 1 we saw a huge herd of zebras, and throughout the week saw tons of giraffe (so stately and majestic), more elephants than we could ever imagine (with some walking right in front of our jeep – so special each and every time), and *so many cats* (over a dozen lions). Such a surreal experience and honestly hard to put into words. 

We also saw tons of warthogs (pumbas are such funny little creatures), hyenas (we even heard them laugh!), cheetahs, wildebeest and buffalo and gazelles (oh my!), tiny little dik diks, kori bastards, baboons and black-faced monkeys, flamingos, ostrich, and so many hippos! Plus an endangered black rhino on our last day in the crater, and a huge pride of lions on our night drive. 

Unfortunately we only saw 4/5 of the Big 5 – the leopards were definitely hiding from us despite our patient guide looking for them for over 3 hours!

We woke up bright and early one morning for an unforgettable hot air balloon safari in the Serengeti – such an amazing experience and champagne-toasting in the bush afterwards was so epic (along with the loo with a view – I literally watched zebras grazing along as I used the bathroom, haha). 

Another main highlight was spending two nights at Lemala Nmpingo Ridge in Tarangire – such a splurge but oh so worth it for the sundowners each night, immaculate tent with outdoor tub overlooking the park, and the safari chic atmosphere. We were obsessed; I could easily live there, haha. 

July

Zanzibar

Once we begrudgingly said goodbye to all the animals on our Tanzania safari, we spent the next week relaxing by the beach in Zanzibar. Such a wildly different culture and feel than mainland Tanzania, and I’m glad we got to experience both. 

We explored the historic Stone Town (felt so much like a medina in Morocco), fed the tortoise on Prison Island, and learned all about the exotic fruits and spices on a spice tour. We had a delicious meal at Emerson with cocktails at sunset, with one of the comfiest atmospheres around – pillows upon pillows barefoot!

A main highlight in Zanzibar was spending the day on Nakupenda Bis – a blip of a sandbar in the Indian Ocean a few miles away from land. Hardly anyone was there, and we played in the sparkling shallow waters, I found tons of beautiful, untouched shells, and indulged in a seafood feast cooked by our guide right on the sand (complete with lobster, tuna, octopus, calamari, and homemade fries!)

Our day at Mnemba Island was my favorite day – the sun finally came out and we spent loads of time wading through the waters of yet another sandbar, ate so much passion fruit and avocado, and snorkeled in some of the healthiest reef I ever swam in — and I was the only one in the water (even more impressive than snorkeling in Maui and Belize, surprisingly!). Who knew?!

Our other days on Zanzibar were spent watching sunsets from our fave rooftop bar, taking long walks on the beach, witnessing the crazy tides, relaxing poolside, dodging the rain (yup, ugh!), and drinking tons of passion fruit mojitos. 

Such an impressive country and makes me eager to explore more of Africa! Although the flight was just shy of about 25 hours…

Central Mexico

After a week at home, I was off again – this time to Mexico with some friends! I can’t seem to stay away from this colorful country, haha. At least the flight is way shorter than heading to Africa. 

Guanajuato

I spent a fun few days exploring the city semi-solo (before my other friends arrived), staying with a friend I met in Bacalar last year (hey hey Dani!). I loved getting a more locals’ perspective (bars! friends! People to help me translate/understand the nitty gritty. The best rooftop in the city.), and of course the cutest dog in the whole city, Iggy.

During my almost-week in Guanajuato, I took the funicular up and admired the iconic views from the Pipila viewpoint (twice!), wandered around the plazas and squares with elote and churros in hand, drank so many lemonadas and passionfruit concoctions, loved the colorful buildings and Callejon del Beso, explored the outdoor and indoor markets (mmm fresh jugo de fresa y sandia), watched sunset every night (rooftop bars, university steps, swinging in Dani’s hammock, etc), drank way too many chocolate frios from popular cafes, and loved practicing mi espanol.

I also went on a sticky hot day trip to Dolores Hidalgo to see the famous rainbow tomb, try allll the weird and wacky ice cream flavors, and check out the iconic pottery. 

After five full days in the small city, I kinda started to feel like a local! Such a fun feeling!

San Miguel de Allende

Next up — SMA! I *loved* revisiting this colorful little city — we spent lots of time admiring the most beautiful library, took tons of photos along the colorful streets, wandered the Fabrica la Aurora art center, listened to mariachi music and people watched at Jardin Allende every night, ventured into way too many colorful shops, and checked out the views from the mirador. 

But our favorite? Just wandering the town; I swear every street is a postcard and more beautiful than the last. 

Plus all the eating! We had more amazing meals in SMA than I thought possible, complete with rooftop views of the iconic Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel (including late-night taco carts, breakfast chilaquiles, famous chocolate churros, enmoladas, and our favorite meals at Toastevere and Garambullo). 

Mexico City

I always love heading back to CDMX (it’s such an eclectic and vibrant city with tons of colorful culture). Even with just two full days, we squeezed in oh so much!

We wandered around the gorgeous leafy green Parque Mexico, drank at some fun bars and speakeasies (like GinGin and Handshake), checked out the views from Chapultepec Castle, learned all about Luis Barragan at Casa Gilardi (my second time visiting!), and spent some time in ritzy Polanco.

We also spent a hectic morning downtown, heading to Biblioteca Vasconcelos (my first time!), the House of Tiles (always a must), Palacio Postal, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and the iconic CDMX sign in the Zocalo. Plus the ceiling at Gran Hotel, a wild time grabbing pastries at Pasteleria Ideal, and finishing at the indoor artisan market.

Of course the food was a major highlight – and we ate way too much (featuring ricotta stuffed squash blossoms at Lardo, al pastor tacos at Orinoco, ricotta cacao rolls and guava rolls at Rosetta, churro ice cream sandwiches at El Moro, and everything delicioso at Expendio de Maiz).  

Getting stuck in crazy thunderstorms a few too many times (including that night we camped out in an ATM for far too long and hid under umbrellas at Frida Khalo’s house) will forever be a core memory of the trip. 

August 

Once August rolled around, I said my sad goodbyes to summer as work started up again (and I took Kona on a field trip to school and everyone loved him).

I saw some Broadway shows and went to a few concerts (Aladdin!, Cirque du Soleil!, SAM HUNT, BEYONCÉ!) and decided I wanna accomplish a new travel goal — visiting all 50 states by age 40!

Ali and Kevin come visit!

As soon as I got home from Mexico (less than 12 hours later!), my sister and her husband Kevin flew in! I had just spent a week with her in NY/Newport earlier this summer, but won’t say no to more sister time!

I was SO thrilled for their visit – and I loved showing them where we’ve been living the past 9 years!

We had the most amazing meal at House of Prime Rib, complete with late-night donuts from Bob’s afterwards (drool). And after they got back from Napa, we spent the next few days driving down the coast, laughing non stop on rides in Santa Cruz, indulging in delicious fish tacos, somehow making it down to the beach at Shark Fin Cove (practically hanging onto Kevin), and taking foggy walks in Pacifica and Half Moon Bay.

We also spent an afternoon wandering Sausalito, checked out a few downtown areas on the Peninsula, admired the bridge views at Battery Spencer, did some San Francisco city exploring (Ghirardelli! Fisherman’s Wharf! Calacademy! The most amazing North Beach food tour! Dancing on the streets in Chinatown and getting yelled at for asking for a lime wedge, haha – inside joke I don’t wanna forget lol!). 

Lots of fun family time and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Beyoncé 

Because she totally deserves her own section, haha. I super spontaneously bought tickets to see Beyonce… less than 48 hours before the show. It was easily the most expensive concert ticket I’ve ever bought, but the experience of seeing her live was so worth it!

Was a scramble for sure figuring out a sparkly silver outfit (crazy last minute) and transportation, but we did it!

And what a Queen she was!!! Even from up high in the nose bleeds! We LOVED seeing everyone’s over the top outfits, and her daughter even came out for a few songs!!!

I didn’t make it home until after 2am… and went to work the next day… but I managed to power through, somehow!

September

The fall season started off with lots of busy weekends, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. We also saw New Found Glory and All American Rejects in concert, and got a surprise upgrade to box seats!

Labor Day trip to Napa 

We hadn’t been to Napa Valley in forever (we typically head to Sonoma instead) so we decided to go for a night over the long weekend. Most of our time was spent in Calistoga, and we loved the chill vibes (felt way more laid-back than the typically pretentious towns of Napa Valley).

We went wine tasting at Tank (so cool!), checked out a few vineyards, spent too much time at Dr. Wilkinsons (with total Palm Springs vibes), had s’mores by the fire, and just overall relaxed. Kona loved the hula hoop in our hotel room and playing corn hole, haha. Next time we’re really hoping to get a mud bath!

Other highlights included wandering around downtown Napa for a morning, perusing Oxbow Market, walking by the river, and having a delicious meal of fresh pasta for lunch. It’s always a good time in wine country!

Laguna Seca in Monterey

Another weekend in September was spent down in Monterey with friends, celebrating Noah’s (very) belated bday! We walked around the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, had some delicious pizzas at La Bicyclette, took a short hike at Point Lobos, and had cocktails while playing some golf (so incredibly fun!).

But the real reason we were down there?! To see the last Indycar race of the season!

After following Formula 1 for so long, it was about time we saw a race in action! Felt like we were in a real-life video game! So crazy and insane! Such a fun weekend with some of our favorite people!

Weekend Trip to Seattle

We ended out the month with a long weekend trip to Seattle to visit some good friends of ours that recently moved there. 

Our friends showed us around and we all played tourist — went to the top of the Space Needle, sipped cocktails at so many fun bars (plus pie at Pie Bar!), watched a perfectly pastel sunset at Kerry Park, spent lots of time on their rooftop admiring the views, took a long walk at Discovery Park, checked out the vendors at the Ballard Farmers Market, stuffed our faces with tons of good food (pizza! Malaysian!, brunch!), and wandered inside the Amazon Spheres. 

My #1 highlight?! Taking the ferry over to Bainbridge Island – probably my favorite thing we did during our 3 days in Seattle! Had some delicious fish n chips, ice cream, walked around the local shops, and meandered by the waterfront. Seattle truly shines in the sun!

I also spent some time solo, eating as much as I could at Pike Place Market, exploring Pioneer Square and taking the popular Underground Tour, and loving the striking architecture at Seattle Central Library.

So grateful to have such great friends who opened their home to us and shared their new life in Seattle with us! We even contemplated a potential move afterwards… (sense a theme for 2023?)  

October

October was another busy month at home, with my parents visiting towards the end of the month and some concerts sprinkled in. We saw Neyo (he wore that famous red suit we loved at the Lovers and Friends festival in Vegas last year), and I reached a 500 day streak learning Spanish on Duolingo! 

We had some fall fun in SF — had a sticky picnic to watch the airshow with friends, admired the fall decorations at The Westin (always amazing), and got Halloween themed cocktails at The Summer Place! I even made an apple pie, almost from scratch!

I sadly canceled a dream New England fall foliage road trip, but hey, maybe I’ll go next year instead! Apparently the colors weren’t as bright and bold as normal, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

Glamping in Russian River

We started off the busy month with a night glamping at AutoCamp. I’ve been wanting to go glamping in the redwoods for oh so long – it feels like such a Northern California experience right?! So I’m thrilled we finally made it happen!

We are *so* not camping people, and couldn’t even get our fire to start (true story), but we managed!

It ended up being so fun (despite the rainy weather) – we took a long walk amongst the towering redwoods in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve, had ice cream and a chocolate biscuit for lunch (whoops – that pistachio baklava flavor was LIFE), and a delicious dinner in downtown Guerneville.

We ended the night hanging by the fire (making s’mores) in the lodge and enjoying our tent! It was a pretty low key weekend but loved being able to relax a bit and of course that we could take Kona along with us! 

Boise, Idaho

After my canceled New England trip, I decided to visit a new state — Idaho it was for state #30!

We spent the weekend in Boise wandering around town, hitting up all the hip coffee shops, checking out some fun speakeasies (yes, they have those in Boise, I was surprised!), taking photos at the murals downtown, doing a sunset hike above the fall foliage, and walking down the Boise River Greenbelt. 

And oh so much food — finger steaks with fry sauce, an ice cream potato (probably the highlight of the trip for me, lol), DIY fries (I mean, we were in Idaho!), potato pizza, and the most creative, memorable meal at KIN (I’d go back to Boise just for that, haha).

It was such a relaxing weekend together, and I cannot believe we’ve never been to Idaho before despite being less than a 2 hour flight from us! Boise kinda felt like an outdoorsy Denver/Portland hybrid, and I can see why people love it so much (heck, tons of Californians are moving there). 

Mom and Dad visit!!

We closed out October with a visit from my parents. We spent so much quality time together – I forgot how much I love hanging out with them!

Our days were spent exploring the Bay Area and beyond. We went to Santa Cruz for a day, riding the steam train along the redwoods (such a cool experience), finding new species at the UCSC Arboretum (my moms favorite!), and walking along the water watching the surfers. 

Another day was spent in the city exploring Golden Gate Park, including a visit to the Japanese Tea Gardens (such great mochi!), the observatory at the de Young Museum, and taking a walk around the lake.

We also spent some time local as well, wandering some downtown areas on the Peninsula, getting a great brunch, going to a street fair, checking out the insanely decorated Halloween houses, and lots of yummy take out! Love visits from family. <3 

November

Apple Hill

It *finally* started feeling like fall in San Francisco, and after I unfortunately had to cancel my epic New England fall foliage road trip, we booked a weekend in Apple Hill as my consolation prize, haha. Not exactly the same, but still super fun!

We bounced around from farm to farm and orchard to orchard, sipping apple cider shakes and hard apple ciders, indulging in alllll the things (apple crisp a la mode, HUGE apple fritters, smooth pear cider, a super cute hot chocolate flight, apple dumplings, and more), and admiring all the fall colors.

And of course the most orgasmic apple cider donuts that ever existed – oh so fluffy and soft, and perfectly covered in tons of sugar – a donut I’ll remember for the rest of my life, haha.

We got so lucky and visited during peak foliage – I couldn’t believe the colors of the leaves (including that perfectly peak red tree I found).

Sometimes it’s the small moments I love the most, like having a super low key night eating cheeseburgers in bed and watching Elf together with Kona – which is exactly what we did that night, haha. 

New Mexico Road Trip for Thanksgiving! 

New Mexico was my 31st state of my 50 states challenge! We road tripped almost the entire length of the state, starting in Albuquerque and heading to Santa Fe, Truth or Consequences (what a fun name!), Las Cruces, Bandelier National Monument, and White Sands National Park.

And New Mexico was exactly what I thought it’d be — lots of Pueblo-style architecture, green chile cheeseburgers, and stunning natural landscapes. It was such a fun and varied road trip, and it makes me excited to explore other new-to-me states!

In Santa Fe we went shopping at the Plaza, ate our weight in blue corn pancakes, donuts, and enchiladas, sipped margaritas on the margarita trail, climbed up ladders and saw petroglyphs at Bandelier National Monument, and I learned about and admired Georgia O’Keeffe and all her artwork. 

Our short time in Albuquerque was spent wandering around Old Town (loved it!) and heading up 10,300 feet on the tram for sunset (absolutely spectacular despite the freezing temps).

We soaked in hot springs along the Rio Grande River in Truth or Consequences (what a colorful tiny town) and ran around like little kids on the white gypsum sand at White Sands National Park outside of Las Cruces.

The trip was super bittersweet because my sweet, sweet 99.5 year old grandma passed away just as we were getting on the plane, and I spent the next 48 hours in a frenzy trying to figure out if we could get to New York. 

Logistics got the better of me so we decided to celebrate her life down in North Carolina with my parents later in the month. Lots of tears were shed, but I found peace knowing my grandma wouldn’t want me in a state of intense stress.

Plus, Noah’s parents visited for a few days, so we got to spend some time with them before and after our trip to New Mexico.

December

North Carolina 

After a few weeks at home, we were off again, this time to North Carolina to see my parents! It was a low-key few days, spending lots of quality time with them, and reminiscing tons about my grandparents – we even found my grandpa’s GED and lots of old photos! Some of my favorites!

Besides the trip down memory lane, we did lots of puzzling (worked on a 2000 piece puzzle!), explored the Battleship North Carolina (so interesting!), saw dozens of decorated Christmas trees at the Fort Fisher Aquarium Festival of Trees, wandered along Wrightsville beach in the winter sun looking for seashells, and walked on the Wilmington Riverwalk and caught a gorgeous sunset. 

My dad also gave us a golf cart ride around their new development which was definitely a fun highlight as well!

Christmas in Europe!

London, England 

After planning (and re-planning) this trip for months, it was finally here! Our first time to Europe in the winter, and we chose to start our 2-week Christmas Market trip in London. I could not believe just how festive the city gets for the holidays (after finally getting there – our flight was canceled and we spent an unexpected night/day in Salt Lake City).

We primarily explored the SoHo/Mayfair and Covent Garden areas, and wow, just wow! London really goes all out! 

Of course we saw all the over-the-top decorations in the city — including all the windows at the big name brands on Bond Street (loved Cartier the most), a festive high tea, lunch at Sketch (oh those bathrooms!), the Regent Street angels, wandered Harrods (don’t miss the fish n chips) and Fortnum and Mason, devoured festive cupcakes at Peggy Porschein, and more. Basically all the festive things in London. I was obsessed with it all to say the least. 

In all honesty, the Christmas markets were nothing special, but we kinda expected that (and ohhh that cheese wheel pasta, drool).

I kinda forgot how much I love London (it’s such an eclectic city with so much personality and fun), and now I’m scheming how we can maybeee live there someday, at least for a little while

We also got in a few of our favorites toward the end of our trip, like Indian at Dishoom, salt beef bagels at Beigel Bake, wandering the markets in Shoreditch, and a new favorite — the famous chocolate strawberries at Borough Market (which I’ll gladly pay £8.5 for over and over).

Prague, Czechia 

After our few days in London, we flew over to Prague, and what an unexpected good time it was (and great to revisit after almost 8 years). 

The Christmas Markets in Prague were by far the best ones on our trip, despite the insane crowds on our first night (it was Christmas Day and all…). We stuffed our faces with so much market food, like paprika sausages, savarak wine (admittedly not our favorite), so many trdelniks with Nutella, fried cheese, old Prague ham, mini potato dumplings, and more. Honestly, it was hard to keep track!

Besides all the market gorging, we crossed the Charles Bridge at sunrise, explored the Prague Castle (before all the crowds came), sipped savarak on a river cruise, gawked at some great views from a few medieval towers, saw the wild architecture of the famous Dancing House, took pics at the Lennon Wall, saw the crazy old astronomical clock, watched some insane performances and ate massive pork knees at a medieval dinner, and tried (and loved) kolaches, a traditional Czech dessert.

Cesky Krumlov, Czechia

Next up – Cesky Krumlov, a small South Bohemian town that’s known for its super cute storybook little village! And little it was, haha. We quite literally walked every block a few times.

During our few days, we got great views of the tiny town from the Cloak Bridge and other viewpoints, stepped into the St. Vitus Church, got lost in the UNESCO Heritage Historic Town Center, and strolled along the peaceful riverbank.

We got so lucky with food, considering we made zero reservations – lucking out with a table at Krčma Šatlava (where we had dinner in a cave with candlelight), and having a classic Czech meal at Svejk (where I ate the most delicious vareniki of my life).

The Christmas markets right in Svornosti Square were small, but of course we managed to eat even more trdelniks, sausages, fresh potato chips, crepes, spiced nuts, and a delicious apple rum drink we were both obsessed with.

We admittedly devoted too much time in Cesky, but it was nice to relax for a bit in the middle of our very-busy trip.

Hallstatt, Austria for New Years!

Our last stop of 2023 – Hallstatt, Austria; a place that’s been on my Pinterest board for oh so many years. It wasn’t the snowy winter wonderland we had hoped for, but still so idyllic with its dramatic landscapes and frozen fairytale village.

In town, we wandered around finding all the best viewpoints, eating so many Austrian pastries and more schnitzel and potato salad than imaginable (so much potato salad, haha). We stayed at the most beautiful hotel of our trip, super modern with unobstructed views of the lake and even heated floors! It was marvelous!

A huge highlight of our entire Euro winter trip was taking the gondola up to Dachstein Krippenstein and doing the short snowy hike to 5 Fingers. To say I was enamored by the views is a massive understatement – I legit almost cried it was so beautiful. 

We watched the sunset from the top of the mountain and breathed in that crisp mountain air; definitely one of those moments you can’t believe life is real. Those snowy peaks were something else – Austria you officially have my heart.

We rang in the New Year eating soft pretzels in bed and watching loads of fireworks over the lake – exactly how we wanted it. Calm and cozy with full bellies stuffed with schnitzel and apple strudel.

We also went to Bruges, Belgium for a few days and had another wintery day in London – but that’ll have to wait for next year’s Year in Review since it was technically already 2024! 

Thanks 2023 for a beautiful year, filled with tons of family time, puppy cuddles, good food, and of course lots of travels and adventures. I’ve got a few things in the works for 2024, but it’s always so exciting to see how the next year pans out! Happy New Year, friends!

The post 2023 Year in Review: The Year of Adventures, Near and Far appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Imagine indulging in delicious baked goodies like apple dumplings, warm apple crisps, and hot chocolate flights. Sipping hard apple ciders and high-quality wines. Apple picking in that crisp mountain air. Stomping on crunchy leaves and admiring the brightly colored foliage. Sampling fresh farm fruits and veggies. Oh, and you can’t forget about those piping hot apple cider donuts and apple cider slushies! 

That my friends, is Apple Hill. This picturesque mountain town is easily one of the best fall destinations in all of California! And I’m here for it. 

Growing up on the East Coast just outside NYC, I had my fair share of beautiful falls full of pumpkin houses, charming small towns, and apple cider donuts. Plus plenty of opportunities for apple picking, incredible harvest festivals, getting lost in corn mazes, and pumpkin patches. 

Unfortunately, we’re not as lucky here in California – but that’s where Apple Hill comes in. Finally some real autumn vibes in California! Phew! All is well in the world when I can get my little hands on a caramel apple and a slice of dutch apple pie.

We first stopped at Apple Hill a few years back en route to Lake Tahoe, since it’s practically on the way. And after unfortunately canceling a bucket-list trip to see the fall foliage in New England (yes, I’m still bitter about it, haha), we decided to spend a weekend in Apple Hill instead. Sure, it’s not exactly the same (hardly compares…), but at that point I’d do almost anything for a hot apple cider donut and some fall colors.

Apple Hill, California Info

What is Apple Hill?

Only the best place to go for fall fun in California! 

For real though, Apple Hill is an area close(ish) to Sacramento that totally goes all out come September. It’s famous for all its apple orchards, pumpkin patches, wineries, and scenic beauty. And of course all those gluttonous apple baked goods that I’m always ravenous to get my hands on. It’s super family-friendly, and you’ll see plenty of groups flocking to the region to get their fall on!

There’s over 50 Apple Hill farms, orchards, and wineries (many family-owned!), completely dotting the landscape of the area. So, lots to choose from! Thankfully I’m sharing all my favorite things to do in Apple Hill, including exactly which farms and orchards I recommend.

Where is Apple Hill?

Apple Hill is located in El Dorado County in California. It’s not a specific town per say, but rather a region in the Sierra Nevada foothills. You’ll find most of the Apple Hill farms and wineries in the small town of Camino off Highway 50, with some stretching to the outskirts of Placerville.

If you’re not familiar with the Sierra Nevada foothills, you probably don’t know where Camino or Placerville are – don’t fret! I had no clue until I visited either, haha. If it makes it any easier, just know Apple Hill is between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe (about an hour from either)! So yes, making it a wonderful fall day trip (or weekend getaway) from both of those popular spots.

The climate in this region of California is just perfect for all those orchards and vineyards to flourish, which is why you see so many of them in Apple Hill! Think apples, pears, cherries, and grapes (for wine)!

Approximate driving distances from nearby spots in Northern California:

• From Auburn: 35 miles, 1 hour drive
• From Sacramento: 50 miles, 1 hour drive
• From Nevada City: 60 miles, 1 ½ hour drive
• From South Lake Tahoe: 60 miles, 1 ½ hour drive
• From North Lake Tahoe: 85 miles, 2 hour drive
• From San Francisco: 140 miles, 2 – 2 ½ hour drive
• From Palo Alto: 165 miles, 2 ½ hour drive

Psst – if you put “Apple Hill” into Google Maps, it’ll take you straight to the Apple Hill visitor center right at Boa Vista Orchards, which is kinda in the middle of everything! A perfect starting point!

When to Visit Apple Hill

Everyone heads to the Apple Hill farms for all the fall fun (September through November), and this is when I suggest visiting as well! 

Technically, Apple Hill is open year round, but most farms don’t open until September. The area doesn’t really come to life until around this time, when apple harvest season occurs, starting around Labor Day weekend. This is when it’s the busiest, and rightfully so!

Exactly when to go highly depends on the activities you wanna do – each month has slightly different things to do in Apple Hill, as well as different crowd levels. Although you can get your hands on all the baked goods anytime from September to late-November.

When you visit Apple Hill makes all the difference. In terms of temperature, crowd levels, and fall foliage! You wanna time it right!

Psst – summer time brings berries and there’s tons of beautiful blossoms in spring! It’s never a horrible time to visit this agricultural region. Just know that this guide showcases all the best things to do in Apple Hill in autumn!

A few notes before I get into the specifics of each month: 

• Weekdays are obviously less crowded, but some farms are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays (double check individual opening hours/days before venturing over). Fridays are always a better pick than Saturdays and Sundays, and almost everything is open. 

• Most Apple Hill farms and orchards close around 5pm, so don’t plan on staying out late. 
• Some Apple Hill farms are open year-round (namely Boa Vista Orchards, Hidden Star Camino, and Pine-O-Mine Ranch), but they won’t have any apples until the fall. More info below, but if you’re visiting Apple Hill mainly to go apple picking, you’ll wanna visit in September to early October.

• Aim to arrive no later than 10am if you’re visiting on a weekend in September, October, or early November. 
• If you can, avoid holiday weekends at ALL costs – Labor Day weekend and the week around Halloween is extremely, extremely crowded. Prepare for traffic and long lines at popular spots, or plan to visit less well-known orchards and wineries.
• The orchards and farms have all their baked goods throughout fall – think fresh apple cider, apple pies, apple donuts, and other apple-based treats. If that’s all you’re going for, go later in the season to skip the intense crowds of September and October.

September (Apple Harvest Season)

Come visit all the Apple Hill orchards now if you’re aching to go apple picking – easily one of the best things to do in Apple Hill in September! I mean, there’s a reason Apple Hill is called Apple Hill afterall! It’s the ultimate quintessential activity in Apple Hill, and September is when the apple orchards are at their absolute peak (plus there’s loads of apple varieties). 

Apple picking season really depends on the year (can’t entirely predict Mother Nature), but you’ll have the best chance in September and early October. Come too late in the season and most of the apples will have already been picked or going rotten on the ground.

There are a few negatives to visiting Apple Hill, California in September though – namely the heat (it’s still quite oppressive), and the insane amount of crowds. Be prepared for hot weather if you come in September; it’s almost unbearable – keep the cute flannels and boots at home (you’ll unfortunately get too sweaty).

Also, don’t expect many of the trees to be changing color just yet – it’s still way too hot! You may get a few yellows and oranges here and there, but don’t anticipate anything extraordinary in terms of fall foliage. 

October (Pumpkin Season)

October is pumpkin season here in Apple Hill, California! Many farms and pumpkin patches offer pumpkin picking (some U-pick!) with tons of fall-themed activities, so it’s the perfect time to go if you’re interested in pumpkins and Halloween fun. 

Unfortunately, we visited too late in the season and all the pumpkins were already gone, except for a handful of sad looking ones at a few farms. While I’m a tad sad we missed out, we typically go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay every year, so get my fix of gourds and pumpkin ciders there.

In terms of weather, it’s a bit more mild than in September, yet still pretty warm at the beginning of the month. The end of October typically sees a bit cooler temps, although there’s always the hot day thrown in (mountain towns are always so unpredictable when it comes to weather).

And this cooler weather brings fall colors!!!! The perfect time for scenic drives, outdoor walks, and of course some leaf peeping!

November (Less crowds and cooler weather)

November is kinda Apple Hill’s best kept secret, and the best time to visit if you’re not planning to go apple or pumpkin picking. There’s way less crowds, amazing fall colors (especially the first two weeks of November), and cooler weather. I mean, crisp days just call for hot apple cider donuts, right?!

Plus, it’s the perfect time to stock up on pies for Thanksgiving!

For reference, we visited the first weekend of November (partially because we were pretty busy in both September and October). We got super lucky and ended up visiting during peak fall foliage — completely unplanned! The colors were unreal (so many reds, oranges, and golds on the hillsides) and I felt so thankful to see many trees at their absolute peak.

December (Holiday Season)

December is holiday season in Apple Hill! And that means Christmas tree farms! Plus holiday decorations and other festive events. Having visited the beginning of November, we saw the baby Christmas trees growing in the farms, and they were oh so cute!

This region of California experiences all four seasons, including some snow in winter. Imagine how festive that’d be (although don’t count on it until later in the season). Snow only falls once or twice a season, but if you’re lucky enough to catch it, you’re in for a real treat! Is it just me or does snow make everything look oh so magical?!

Note that many Apple Hill farms and orchards close by December, so if you’re craving a specific item from a particular farm, double check it’s open! 

As noted before, there’s specific opening and closing dates for the different orchards, farms, and wineries in Apple Hill – always check their individual schedules and hours of operation. You don’t wanna drive 2 hours to find (almost) everything closed!

Where to Stay Near Apple Hill 

Since we were coming from the San Francisco Bay Area, we chose to spend the night near Apple Hill. Sure, you can definitely do Apple Hill as a day trip from SF (and definitely Sacramento), but it depends how much driving you wanna do in a day, how rushed you wanna feel, and how many spots you wanna visit. 

Most of the hotels in the area are quite simple:

• Placerville: Historic Cary House Hotel, Best Western Plus Placerville Inn
• Camino: North Canyon Inn Bed & Breakfast
• Pollock Pines: Best Western Stagecoach Inn (where we stayed)

Placerville and Pollock Pines are less than a 10 minute drive to most of the Apple Hill farms and orchards, while staying in Camino will get you in the middle of all the action (and traffic, haha). Placerville is a charming California Gold Rush Town (kinda like Nevada City!), and it’s the largest of the three. Pollock Pines and Camino are tiny!

We spent a leisurely two days in the region, and were able to visit about a dozen of these Apple Hill orchards without feeling rushed at all. Stay the night if you can – it beats driving back drunk on apple cider and donuts! Psst – looking for dinner in Pollock Pines? Check out Burger Barn; the western cheeseburger was all kinds of divine.

If you’re looking to stay in a larger city with more restaurants and activities, you’ll have more luck in nearby Sacramento. Although kinda silly in my book if you’re planning to visit Apple Hill over two days.

FAQs about Apple Hill

• Can Apple Hill be done as a day trip? 100%, but it obviously depends where you’re coming from! Apple Hill is only about an hour from Sacramento, but further at about 2 ½ hours from San Francisco. And remember — there’ll undoubtedly be some traffic. Leave early.

• What’s the traffic like in Apple Hill? Since most of the farms are situated along one main road (Carson Road), Highway 50 gets backed up and quite congested. If that happens, drive past all the cars on the highway, make the next u-turn, and start visiting the Apple Hill farms from the opposite direction. The best Apple Hill hack.

• Are dogs allowed at Apple Hill? Yes! We brought Kona with us and found Apple Hill to be extremely dog friendly. There were a few inside spots he wasn’t allowed in (understandably so), which wasn’t a big deal as one of us just waited outside with him. You’ll see SO many dogs in the area – we just loved it! Note that each location in Apple Hill is privately owned with their own pet policies.

• How to get around Apple Hill: You’ll undoubtedly need to drive between the farms and orchards in Apple Hill (there’s no public transportation here). I wouldn’t rely too much on Uber as there aren’t many in the area, and cell service is pretty spotty.

• Where to park: All of the farms we visited had large parking lots – we didn’t have any particular difficulties with parking. You may need to circle around a few times (especially if you’re visiting on a weekend), but be patient and you’ll get something!

• What’s the bathroom situation? Most farms and ranches have porta potties (they were relatively clean with handwashing stations nearby). If that’s not your thing (I get it), a few thankfully have real bathrooms, like Abel’s!

• How’s the cell service? Honestly, not great. Our phones dropped service so much throughout the weekend. I’d definitely recommend planning out your day ahead of time in case your service is spotty (and downloading Google Maps offline). 

• What to bring to Apple Hill? Wear layers (no matter the season) and comfy closed-toed shoes, bring a cooler for produce and ciders, and come on an empty stomach!

• How much does it cost to visit Apple Hill? There’s no parking or entrance fees for any Apple Hill farms, orchards, or wineries. You just pay for what you order! Everything is a tad overpriced, but what do you expect? It’s super touristy and most farms are only open/busy 3 months or so.

Throw on that flannel and lace up those boots – we’re off to Apple Hill, California!

Best Things to Do at Apple Hill (Farms, Orchards, and Wineries)

Boa Vista Orchards 

Boa Vista is one of the more popular Apple Hill orchards in the area (read: crowded). There’s cider and apple samples, plus pickles, jams, veggies, and chestnuts, plus a huge open-air food market (one of the largest in town!).

We had our first apple cider donut here (their bakery is fully stocked with all the fall foods). In my opinion, the apple cider donuts are good, but arguably not the best in the area.

Don’t miss pumpkin picking here in October – there’s a fairly large patch with tons of scenic views and cute photo ops. 

It’s one of the only Apple Hill farms open year round (363 days a year!), so if you’re in the area outside of the fall season you can easily pop in and grab some sweets and veggies. 

Grandpa’s Cellar

A slice of warm apple pie with a side of specialty cold brew?! Sign me up!

Grandpa’s Cellar is famous for their hot chocolate and cold brew flights – super instagram worthy and they tasted just as good. We went with a hot cocoa flight – the s’more and caramel flavors were my faves. 

We also got an apple dumpling with cider sauce (delicious!) and apple crisp a la mode. I really wish we also got a churro with apple dipping sauce, but that may have been apple overkill, haha. 

The space is so welcoming too – with 100-year-old apple trees you can eat under at the picnic tables. And yes, those apple trees are used for the farm’s pies, jams, apple butters, and apple sauces.

This seasonal Apple Hill bakery boasts a HUGE festive fall drink menu (larger than any other spot we visited), with apple cider slushies, pumpkin chai, and apple lemonades. Grandpa’s Cellar is also one of the only bakeries in Apple Hill that offers Gluten-Free baked treats, just FYI.

There was a crazy long line the weekend we visited (and then another 20 minute wait for our food after ordering), but it was so worth it! Get there early or you’ll wait! Check out the gift shop while you’re waiting for your food – they’ve got all the goodies, like jams, butters, sauces, and syrups, plus tons of holiday gifts (the Christmas dog toys were adorable)!

Drew Bean Farms

Hungry?! Head on over to Drew Bean Farms – it’s one of the only spots (I know of!) that has actual REAL food in the area (besides all the baked goods). So if you’re itching for a hot pastrami sandwich or some pulled pork sliders (ya know, actual food…), this is your spot. There’s also beer, wine, and hard ciders for the adults.

We ran over real fast to check it out (but were way too stuffed from Grandpa’s to order anything), and loved seeing everyone enjoying the outdoor fire pits and open grounds! Plus, their pies are kinda famous (using the original recipe from the Bodhaine’s in 1980).

Basically a one stop shop to get a meal in Apple Hill, grab a drink, and get your pies for the holidays!

Hidden Star Camino 

A quaint barn and taproom with 24 different craft hard apple ciders on tap! I just loved all the charming farmhouse character – oh so quaint and rural. The atmosphere is so fun, with a separate play area for kids next door.

Come for the hard apple cider flights. And stay for some of the best French fries you’ll ever have (yes, even better than in Boise, Idaho the potato capital of the world). Or maybe we were just hungry, haha.

We loved the ciders we picked – blueberry/lemon, pineapple/lychee, blood orange, and semi-sweet peach. All so different yet refreshing. The Thunder & Lightning with bourbon whisky, ancho chili, and jalapeño pepper sounded super intriguing as well. 

They also pour two nonalcoholic flavors for the kids or those not drinking. Perfect when you’re kinda thirsty and have had enough of all the apple baked goods for a bit.

Rainbow Orchards 

If there’s one Apple Hill farm you need to visit, it’s this one. Yes, you can go apple picking (they’re an orchard afterall), but you come for one thing and one thing only. The WORLD FAMOUS HOT APPLE CIDER DONUTS.

There’s a reason I’m screaming in all caps – these little babies are absolutely legendary, and by far the most famous desert in all of Apple Hill. Easily the best donut I’ve ever had (and that says a lot because I’ve eaten my fair share of donuts, haha).

We sat under the apple trees and admired the fall foliage – the perfect ending to a perfect day. My favorite fall treat I got in all of Apple Hill — I would’ve brought a dozen home but that would’ve been super dangerous, haha (plus, they’re way better eaten fresh).

Rainbow Orchards is easily my favorite of all the Apple Hill orchards – I mean, I couldn’t stop talking about the donuts all weekend. They’re made fresh to order and are pure magic — sugary, soft, and delicious. 

Besides the donuts, there’s a whole barn full of treats, including pies, cobblers, crisps, tarts, caramel apples, and apple butters. Plus homemade corn dogs and Tri Tip BBQ on the weekends. But really though, everyone comes for the donuts.

Larsen Apple Barn & Bakeshop

Oh, how I loved this quaint little stop! The longest family owned Apple Hill Growers farm!

What to get? The pear cider! I’m sure you’ve had apple cider before, but pear cider? That’s not as common at all! It’s way less acidic than apple cider, and a bit sweeter – I just loved it. I swear it tastes exactly like biting into a super juicy Bartlett pear (makes sense because that’s what it is essentially). Wish we could have brought a few pints home! 

We also tried plenty of varieties of apples and pears (including a shinko Asian pear). They’ve got over 20 varieties of apples (think red delicious, pink lady, fuji, and rome beauty), plus grapes, dried fruits, and juices 

There’s also a cute little bakery across from the apple barn where you’ll find apple dumplings, turnovers, and specialty pies (plus their “original apple turnover on the hill”).

Note that Larsen Apple Barn is closed Saturdays – we visited first thing Sunday morning and were their first customers!

High Hill Ranch

High Hill Ranch is the largest and most popular spot in all of Apple Hill – and it’s kinda a mob scene.

We got there about 30 minutes after opening, and it was insanely crowded with kids running everywhere (in November no less!). It was kinda overwhelming and the most crowded of all the farms in Apple Hill. If that doesn’t scare you, I’d pop in either at opening or later in the day — avoid midday at all costs.

The reason it’s so busy? There’s so much here and it’s super family friendly. There’s tons of activities (you could easily stay for hours with the kiddos) – think hay rides, face painting, pony rides, a large craft market, pumpkin patch, wine tasting (for the adults of course), and you can even fish for rainbow trout at the fishing hole.

We skipped the activities and went straight for the food, haha. High Hill Ranch is known for their wide variety of homemade apple pies, freshly baked apple donuts, and savory apple fritters. We finally decided on a massive apple fritter covered in walnuts — almost the size of our heads.

Parking fills up fast on weekends, so aim to get here close to opening if you can. Thankfully there’s staff directing cars, so it’s all pretty organized. And just FYI, you park right in the apple orchards here, so be careful where you step (there may be some squishy apples on the ground!).

If you’re looking for a more peaceful experience, I’d honestly go elsewhere. 

Fudge Factory Farms 

This candy store is right at High Hill Ranch, so I quickly popped in! Don’t miss the free fudge samples, wink wink.

While they’ve also got your typical apple pies and homemade jams (plus 27+ types of candy apples), you come here for the candy!

We tried a dark chocolate peanut butter cup and it was beyond delicious (and a nice change from all the apple stuff we’d been eating).

Apple Ridge Farms  

Apple Ridge Farms is kinda like a mini High Hill Ranch in a sense, with a bunch of food stalls for BBQ (that ribeye steak sandwich looked delicious), bakery items (like strudels and caramel apples), and snacks like kettle corn and corn dogs. 

There’s plenty of craft vendors (typically every Friday through Sunday), and tons of fun activities for kids, like gem mining and a maze.

But what really sets this Apple Hill farm apart from the others is the flower walk! Every September, thousands (and thousands!) of zinnia flowers bloom, and there’s a walking path right next to them. Depending on the weather, the flowers usually last until the beginning of November (they were still gorgeous the first weekend of November when we went).

There’s also a Country Store and separate Apple Barn with frozen pies (bring them home for later or freeze them for the holidays!), fudge, jams/jellies, and Christmas gifts.

Joan’s Apple Bakery at Delfino Farms

Delfino Farms is kinda 3 spots in one – Joan’s Apple Bakery, Edio Vineyard (for wine tasting), and Henrietta Stich (serving hard cider). We loved the outdoor patio overlooking the vineyards; such a beautiful setting

I had heard so much about Joan’s Famous Walkin’ Pie – a personal sized apple pie for on-the-go (but in reality, it’s pretty massive and more than enough for 2 people). 

Honestly, we were slightly underwhelmed by the pie; yes, the flavors were on point (especially that flaky crust), but we really wished it was served hot instead of super lukewarm/room temperature. That cinnamon sauce on top was the chef’s kiss though – I kinda want the recipe!

Should you get it? I still think so, but ask bakery staff to heat it up and add a scoop of ice cream.

Edio Vineyards is located on the same property (but with a different parking lot). It’s open year round for wine tastings – you can sip your fruit forward wines on the gorgeous verandah overlooking the vineyard. We sadly missed this but it’s high on my list for next year (because you know I’m going back asap).

Pine-O-Mine Ranch

Oh, Pine-O-Mine! This has got to be one of the cutest stops in Apple Hill! Imagine a super cute barn with string lights, food trucks, and sometimes even live music. There’s a reason they do weddings here! It’s not as popular as some other orchards in Apple Hill, so typically won’t be as crowded.

Come here for apple picking and pumpkin picking, stay for the apple cider milkshakes! Yes, it’s as good as it sounds – a unique combo of the crisp sweetness of the apples with the creamy richness of milkshakes.

There’s also a great selection of local beers and ciders, with plenty of outdoor seating on the property. Such a great patriotic vibe and super dog friendly! We loved it!

Abel’s Apple Acres

Abel’s is such a classic Apple Hill stop! AND they have real bathrooms, haha (most Apple Hill farms only have porta potties)! Definitely one of the more popular orchards and bakeries in Apple Hill. This fourth generation family ranch has it all – butterbeer candied apples (YUM), creamy fudge, apple butter, apple cherry pie, apple fritters, and more.

If you’re hungry for some loaded fries, don’t miss the little restaurant out back (with views of the horses!).

My husband’s favorite pie is here – the caramel pecan apple crisp (we were way too full but he insisted on bringing some home, haha). And yes, it was still good 3 hours later!

24 Carrot Farm

One of our last stops in Apple Hill, California was at 24Carrot Farm – a super cute little farm stand with flowers, organic fruits and veggies (those blackberries and strawberries looked divine), and pumpkins. Plus the most delicious-looking heirloom tomatoes I’ve ever seen.

I have to admit I didn’t purchase anything, but if I hadn’t just stocked my fridge with veggies from the grocery store, I probably would have. All the produce looked super fresh and ready to eat.

There’s a tiny parking lot right in front (with enough space for half a dozen cars at most), but most people only stay for a few minutes so be patient and you’ll easily snag a spot.

Boeger Winery 

We ended our weekend in Apple Hill at Boeger Winery to relax for a bit under all the fall colors. It was relatively quiet when we visited early afternoon on a Sunday; a nice change from all the busy crowds.

And while we didn’t make it into the tasting room itself, the grounds were gorgeous and I couldn’t contain my excitement with all the fall foliage! Highly recommend this historic and enchanting winery right in the Sierra foothills.

Hope this helps you plan the ultimate weekend in Apple Hill, California! Which of these Apple Hill farms, orchards, and wineries are you adding to your fall bucket list?!

The post Best Things to do in Apple Hill, California: Orchards, Wineries, and Apple Hill Farms appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Imagine sipping on glasses of pinot, rose, merlot, and cabernet. Admiring rolling hills covered with vineyards. Strolling through charming towns with tasting rooms on every corner. Indulging in some of the region’s best farm-to-table restaurants. Relaxing in mineral pools and soaking in mud baths. 

If that sounds like your cup of tea (or wine, haha), you’ll love this world-famous wine region. Time to start planning your Napa Valley itinerary right away!

After living in the San Francisco Bay Area for almost 10 years now (!!!), we’ve been to Napa Valley more times than I can count. It’s only about an hour and a half north of us, so we find ourselves there pretty often! And despite visiting a dozen times, we’re still finding new things to do! 

We love driving up for long weekends, taking day trips to Downtown Napa, and meeting up with out-of-town friends for wine tasting fun. I’ve even helped my sister plan a night there with her husband recently (and they had the best time).

So it’s kinda crazy that it took me this long to finally write this weekend in Napa itinerary for you all (facepalm)! Whoops! Better late than never! I guess after so many visits (and wine tastings, haha – all in the name of research, wink, wink), I feel super qualified to write this Napa Valley itinerary!

Weekend in Napa Valley Itinerary Logistics 

Where is Napa Valley and How to Get There 

First of all, where exactly is Napa Valley anyways?! The region is located in Northern California, only 50 miles or so north of San Francisco. It’s part of Napa County, bordering the popular Sonoma County (highly recommended for another weekend of wine!), and the relatively unknown counties of Solano, Lake, and Yolo. 

It’s a narrow valley, nestled between two mountain ranges (the Mayacamas Mountains to the west and the Vaca Mountains to the east) – meaning so many great mountain views! I always forget about this, and am blown away each and every time I visit.

When you think of Napa, you’re probably thinking of Napa Valley. It’s kinda confusing – the name “Napa” is the name of the county, valley, and one of the towns. Super tricky!!! 

Within Napa Valley you’ll find a few towns; the main ones being Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, and Calistoga. There’s other smaller ones mixed in (Oakville, Rutherford, etc), but those four are the largest. And if you follow my Napa Valley itinerary, you’ll be visiting most if not all!

Driving to Napa Valley

Coming from the Bay Area or nearby county? Getting to Napa Valley is super easy! 

From San Francisco: Many people visit Napa Valley from SF, and it makes sense. It’s only about an hour away! Napa is north of San Francisco, so take this opportunity to cross off another of my favorite activities – Battery Spencer (by far my favorite view of the Golden Gate Bridge)!

There’s 3 different routes with 3 different bridges, so choose whatever’s got the least traffic! We typically just follow Google Maps. 

You’ll either be crossing the Golden Gate Bridge (via Highway 101) or the Bay Bridge (via Highway 80), and then possibly another to get into Vallejo (on the way to Napa). Regardless of which option you pick, it shouldn’t take longer than an hour and a half without traffic. But remember – this is the Bay Area we’re talking about… there’ll undoubtedly be some traffic. Leave early to avoid this!

Here’s some other popular spots in California to give you an idea of how far away they are from Napa Valley:

• From Santa Rosa: 45 miles (~1 hour)
• From Oakland: 50 miles (~45 minutes to an hour)
• From Sacramento: 60 miles (~1 to 1 ½ hours)
• From Half Moon Bay: 75 miles (1 ½ to 2 hours)
• From Santa Cruz: 115 miles (~2 to 2 ½ hours)
• From Monterey: 155 miles (~2 ½ to 3 hours)
• From Los Angeles: 400 miles (~6 hours, but expect tons of traffic getting out)
• From San Diego: 550 miles (~8 ½ hours)

Flying to Napa Valley

While there’s no commercial airport in Napa Valley itself, you’ve got your fair share of choices pretty close by! The Bay is super connected to tons of other major US cities, meaning you’ll likely be able to find nonstop flights no matter where you’re coming from. 

Here are the airports closest to Napa Valley:

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): SFO is the closest major international airport to Napa Valley – it’s only about 50 miles south. Expect the drive to take about 1 to 1 ½ hours depending on traffic and where in Napa Valley you’re staying. Make a quick pit stop at Battery Spencer for my favorite view of the Golden Gate Bridge on the way!

• Oakland International Airport (OAK): Oakland Airport is another option, about 55 miles from Napa Valley.

• Sacramento International Airport (SMF): Another great option, and only about 60 miles or so from Napa Valley! 

• San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC): The furthest from Napa Valley, but not terrible at about 85 miles. SJC is usually much quieter than busy SFO. Avoid rush hour or you’ll get stuck in tons of Bay Area traffic on the peninsula and in SF.

If you’re not planning to visit any of these spots and are solely flying in to see Napa, just choose whichever is cheapest! Regardless of which airport you fly into, you’ll wanna rent a car and drive the rest of the way.

Psst – you can also fly into Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS), but it’ll be wildly more expensive than those listed above. The only commercial airline flying into STS is Alaska Airlines, so the majority of runways will be occupied by private planes and charters.

Public Transport to Napa Valley

There aren’t TONS of public transport options to Napa Valley, but there’s a slim few! I’d only really recommend taking public transport if you’ve got a private driver waiting for you in Napa since it’ll be difficult to get around to the wineries and different towns without one. 

Here’s two great options for public transport:

• San Francisco Bay Ferry: From the San Francisco Ferry Building (accessible via BART – Bay Area Rapid Transit – from SFO), take the San Francisco/Vallejo Bay Ferry to Vallejo. Walk the block to the Vallejo Transit Center, then use the VINE Transit bus into Napa Valley.

• Amtrak San Joaquins: From the Bay Area or Central Valley, take the Amtrak San Joaquins train to the Martinez station and transfer onto Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 7. Get off just 3 stops later at the Soscol Gateway Transit Center in Napa, right near Oxbow Public Market and the Napa Valley Wine Train.

Can I see Napa as a day trip from San Francisco?

Certainly! Visiting San Francisco (and don’t have much extra time) or live in the Bay Area? You can totally take a day trip to Napa Valley! Luckily Napa is so easily accessible from the rest of the bay, and you can really do so much in a day if you leave early enough. 

Have just a day? Stroll Downtown Napa and choose 2 nearby wineries or so. Leave the ones further north for when you’ve got more time. Or book yourself on a guided day trip to Napa from San Francisco – zero stress and you can drink all the wine you want without worrying about a driver!

A few great day trip options:

• Full-Day Napa and Sonoma Valley Wine Tour from San Francisco: Fine wines and the beautiful scenery of both Napa and Sonoma, plus an extra stop for views of the Golden Gate Bridge! Tastings at 3 boutique wineries are included with time to wander through the beautiful vineyards!

• Redwoods of Muir Woods and Napa Valley Combo Day Trip: Short on time? See the stunning tall trees of Muir Woods and go wine tasting in Napa all in the same day! Two of my favorites in Northern California!

• Half Day Wine Country Excursion with Tastings: Perfect if you’ve only got 2 or 3 days in San Francisco and don’t want to dedicate a full day to Napa. You’ll visit two wineries and still have the full morning free to explore the city.

How to Get Around Napa Valley

Yay, you’re spending the weekend in Napa! As mentioned before, Napa Valley isn’t just one main area – there’s lots of towns to visit with plenty of vineyards and wineries in between. 

Napa Valley stretches for about 30 miles (from north to south), so you need a reliable way to get from place to place. A lot of people don’t realize this and miss out on oh so much because they don’t venture north of Downtown Napa.

You’ll wanna think about the geographical location of the wineries you’re picking to ensure you’re not zigzagging around (and wasting precious time tasting!).

Driving around Napa

Driving is the most popular way to get around Napa Valley. We love the flexibility having our own car gives us, and we can easily zip from winery to winery and town to town. 

It’s important to note that there’s one main road that takes you through the valley – California State Route 29. It runs from the town of Napa (the southern end) to Calistoga (the northern end). This means there’ll undoubtedly be some traffic – plan for extra time in your Napa itinerary and you’ll be fine!

Okay, I guess there’s kinda two if you count the Silverado Trail, another major road that runs parallel to Route 29 with tons more wineries and vineyards. 

Safety: This is one of the world’s best wine regions – you’re here to go wine tasting and have a good time! With that being said, always, always, always plan a designated driver for your group. If you’re visiting a few wineries a day and are visiting Napa Valley with a few friends, you can switch DD’s from day to day. Or there’s always a private driver (more info below).

Hire a Private Driver

Sounds super luxurious right?! Having a driver take you around to different vineyards and wineries?! How fun!!!

Definitely the way to go if everyone in your party plans to drink and you don’t want to have to worry about transportation. Most private drivers let you choose up to 3 or 4 wineries (or they can give you recs depending on your preferences), and include pick-up/drop-off services. Really, it makes the day super easy and stress-free. 

And honestly, it’s not even that expensive! This private tour (with private driver) of Napa Valley is ~$400, but that includes transport for 5 hours and up to 8 people – really not that pricey when you think about it. Great for a group of friends and/or a few couples!

Ride Shares 

Honestly, I wouldn’t rely on ride shares to get you around Napa Valley. There’s not tons of cars in the valley, and you may be waiting quite a bit to get from winery to winery. Don’t waste precious time during your weekend in Napa. 

But remember – if you don’t have a DD or private driver, Uber/Lyft may be the way to go. Safety first, ALWAYS. Even if you have to wait longer than expected.

Walking around Napa

Once you’re in town (remember — there’s quite a few), you can walk around the main streets and head to tasting rooms, restaurants, and cafes. 

Note you cannot walk to vineyards from town; you’ll need a car or private driver for that. But you can totally spend a whole day exploring a town or two by walking!

Public Transportation in Napa

I was pleasantly surprised to learn just how much public transit Napa has! And some are completely free!

VINE Transit: This is a bus system in the County of Napa, with routes that run the entire length of the valley (from Napa all the way up to Calistoga) plus down to the Vallejo Ferry terminal. Check out bus routes here.

Shuttles: There’s a few shuttles in the valley that provide on-demand service within their respective city limits. I’ve honestly never heard of anything else like this, and think it’s so cool! Extra important when you were planning to drive… but can’t anymore.

No shame – this is Napa!!! Enjoy the wine! Remember, safety first! Don’t be shy – this is why the shuttles are here! Different towns have different shuttles; make sure you call the right one! Most arrive within 15-30 minutes and are super low-cost.

• Calistoga Shuttle: Call (707) 963-4229 to schedule a pick-up. Cost: Free for lodging guests.
• St. Helena Shuttle: Call (707) 963-3007 to schedule a pick-up. Cost: $1
• The Yountville Trolley: Call (707) 944-1234 or (707) 312-1509 after 7:00 p.m. This trolley is completely free thanks to the generous support from the Town of Yountville.

When to Plan your Napa Valley Itinerary 

In all honesty, there’s never a horrible time to visit Napa Valley. Each season has its pros and cons, and after visiting multiple times of year, there’s probably not a time I’d say no to visiting. I do however favor fall a bit – seeing those leaves change color is absolutely spectacular! Especially since we don’t get much fall color in the Bay Area (okay fine, a little).

Spring (March to May) – Growing Season

This is an absolutely gorgeous time to plan your Napa Valley itinerary. The weather is mild (warm, sunny days and cool nights), there’s wildflowers on the hillsides, and the landscape is vibrant and green. So picturesque and beautiful, especially with the blossoming trees!

In terms of grapes and leaves, this is when the buds start to bloom and grapevines begin to produce new shoots and leaves. 

Summer (June to August) – Peak Tourist Season

Summer in Napa Valley gets HOT, with temps peaking in the high 80s/low 90s. Always make sure to stay hydrated and drink lots of water – especially when wine’s involved! Expect much larger crowds this time of year, especially on the weekends, and definitely make your winery reservations at least a few weeks in advance.

Pro Tip: Late summer is when the grapes are at their peak ripeness so you’ll get to see them in all their glory. This is the very start of the harvest season!

Fall (September to November) – Harvest Season

Autumn is a special time in Napa Valley – as it’s when the grapes are harvested! This is known as “crush”, typically occurring in September and October. Some vineyards even allow visitors to stomp on grapes – I crushed some grapes (with my feet!) at Sterling Vineyards a few years ago and it was such silly, yet messy fun.

There’s also a decent amount of fall foliage here, with the vineyards turning brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow (my favorite!!!!). The weather is still very pleasant, with warm days and cooler nights. We sat by the fire at our hotel in Calistoga one night and roasted marshmallows – what could be better than that?! The best time to plan your Napa Valley itinerary in my opinion.

However, there’s a major caveat to that statement. WILDFIRES. And unfortunately, wildfire season is very real around here. The entire region and its vegetation gets extremely dry – a combination of intense winds, high temps, and reduced rainfall calls for disaster.

The last major fire (in Fall 2020) caused extensive damage that took years and millions of dollars to rebuild. Some hotels were burned to a crisp, and acres and acres of vineyards were destroyed (thankfully no injuries or deaths were reported). I had never heard of “fire season” until moving to California, and it unfortunately seems to be getting worse every year. 

Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning your weekend in Napa during September or October.

Winter (December to February) – Off Season

Looking for way less crowds and cheaper prices? Welcome to winter in Napa Valley! Yes, the weather is cooler and it can be rainy, but the valley is much quieter and there’s no traffic. Plus, it’s the perfect time for wine tastings by the fire and relaxing spa getaways (there’s plenty of those here!).

Note that some wineries may have reduced hours or even be closed for renovations – always check in advance before visiting.

Where to Stay in Napa Valley 

Deciding where to stay in Napa Valley is actually pretty tricky. First of all, there’s multiple towns to choose from, and secondly, there’s a huge range of accommodation options, from luxury resorts and boutique hotels to charming bed and breakfasts. 

The area is way more spread out than most visitors realize — plan in advance (you don’t wanna be zipping around back and forth). They’re all slightly different with different vibes, so I highly encourage you to visit a few! 

Here are the main towns in Napa Valley, plus recommended hotels! 

Downtown Napa, or “Napa” (or the Town of Napa), which most locals use, is the closest to San Francisco out of all the towns and the largest. It’s known for its late 1800s and early 1900s architecture, a cute riverfront promenade (with shops and restaurants), and boasts the Oxbow Public Market (a farmers market and cheese shop) and the Napa Valley Wine Train. 

It’s a bit more touristy than the other towns in the region, and further from wineries and vineyards deeper into the valley. But it’s a great introduction to the area, with so much going on.

• Andaz Napa: Super modern and chic, and super true to the brand. Especially the soaking tub in the room.

• R Inn Napa: My sister stayed here when she visited Napa, and it’s got such a cozy, homey feel with some modern eclectic touches.

• The George Napa: A new-ish 9-room luxury boutique inn a few blocks from downtown. An elegant home away from home – complete with homemade breakfast and historical charm.

Yountville is small and picturesque, with tons of gourmet dining and world-renowned restaurants, some even with Michelin stars! It’s ain’t called the culinary capital of Napa Valley for no reason (there’s Ad Hoc, Bouchon Bistro and Bakery, and French Laundry here). There’s art galleries, boutique shops, and tons of charming streets to wander. 

St. Helena feels more boutiquey and upscale, and it’s home to many high-end wineries, boutique shops, and art galleries. Both are great options for your Napa Valley itinerary, especially because they’re located in the middle of the valley, making it easy to get everywhere!

Check out Lavender (A Four Sisters Inn), Napa Valley Lodge, North Block Hotel, and The Estate Yountville.

Calistoga: Ohhh… I love the vibes here in Calistoga. It’s kinda a mix of Napa and Sonoma; much more laid back and less pretentious (aka less stuffy) than other towns in the valley. It’s famous for its hot springs and mud baths, and the Old Faithful Geyser and Petrified Forest. Stay here if you want a small-town atmosphere with tons of wellness (read: SPA!) opportunities. 

Note that it’s the furthest from San Francisco and deeper into the valley, so you’ll be driving a bit more if you decide to stay here.

• Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs: Oh so trendy and so fun, with a unique retro vibe. The pool area is so hip and happening, and we loved hanging out on the grass eating our meal from House of Better (their on-site restaurant) and playing lawn games while watching the sunset (open to everyone!). Don’t miss a rejuvenating massage, mud bath, and/or the mineral springs! On my list to stay next time!

• Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa: Recently renovated with lots of pops of color and a great spa and mineral pool area! Reminded me a bit of Palm Springs. We loved roasting marshmallows by the fire at night! It’s usually less expensive than other hotels in the area, and they’re super dog friendly – perfect for us since we brought Kona along! Look out for the amusing armadillo art pieces on the hotel walls, haha. Such a quirky design!

Also check out The Bungalows at Calistoga (on my California bucket list!), The Francis House, and Indian Springs Resort and Spa (the restaurant looks amazing!).

Regardless of where you stay, ask if your hotel has any partnerships with any nearby wineries. Free or reduced tastings, anyone?! Our hotel on our last visit (Calistoga Motor Lodge) was affiliated with 3 wineries, meaning we got some free tastings and saved over $75!

Other Important FAQs about Visiting Napa Valley 

How many wineries should I visit in a day? I say max 3. Two if you wanna spend more time in town and have a more relaxed day. Each tasting takes a minimum of 1 to 1 ½ hours or so, and always give yourself extra time to wander the winery grounds and explore. 

Up for more wine? You can always go to a tasting room in town later on.

Do I need reservations for tasting at the vineyards? Yup, you certainly do! Ever since the pandemic, most wineries and vineyards are reservation-only. Meaning you can’t just stroll up and expect a tasting. 

Plan in advance the tours and tastings you wanna do – it’ll make your entire weekend in Napa way less stressful, and you’ll be able to make sure you choose a variety of smaller, family run vineyards and those larger, more popular hotspots!

Can I wander wineries/vineyards without a reservation? Really depends on the vineyard – you used to be able to stroll up to most and walk around sans-reservations. Nowadays, some won’t even let you onto the property without a reservation. 

Always call in advance before heading over so you don’t waste any time on your Napa Valley itinerary. I know for a fact Chateau Montelena lets visitors walk around, while Castello di Amorosa most definitely does not (although they used to).

How to decide which wineries/vineyards to visit? With over 400 wineries, it’s always SUCH a hard decision! There’s small boutique spots, to large, well-known sprawling estates. Pick a mix of well-known wineries and a few smaller, family-run ones (where you typically get more personalized service).

How much do wine tastings cost? Napa ain’t cheap, y’all! Most tastings run about $30-$75, with some upwards of $100+. This is why I strongly urge you to do your research and pick vineyards that have your preferred type of wine – all those tastings really add up! 

Looking for cheaper wine tastings? Consider going to nearby Sonoma instead (it’s much more chill over there), or a few hours south to Paso Robles near the Central Coast.

Is Napa worth a visit if I don’t drink? That’s totally up to you of course! While the area is renowned for its picturesque vineyards, wineries, and wine production, there’s really so much to do in Napa besides drink! I’m honestly not the biggest wine fan (don’t @ me!), and I still enjoy coming up to Napa every year or so. 

There’s a huge culinary scene (with several Michelin-starred restaurants), beautiful wineries to check out, mud baths and mineral waters to soak in (true story!), and you can even float above the vineyards in a hot air balloon in Napa!

What makes Napa Valley so great for wine?! It’s climate and geography!!! Napa Valley’s got a Mediterranean climate (warm, dry summers and mild winters), which is absolutely perfect for grape growing! 

The mountains provide protection and shield the valley from excessive rainfall – while maintaining the dry, sunny conditions that grapes thrive in.

How long to stay in Napa? I personally think 3 days in Napa is perfect if it’s your first time to the region. There’s enough to keep you busy for over a week, but our bodies can only handle so much wine! Since we live so close we typically go for a day or two.

Can I bring my dog to wineries/tasting rooms? Unfortunately, most wineries do not allow pets. We found this out the old-fashioned way – by trying to take Kona wine tasting with us, haha. Didn’t pan out too well, but we clearly didn’t do our research in advance. 

Thankfully, there’s a few wineries that do allow dogs! We find the wineries in Sonoma to be much more dog friendly.

Napa vs Sonoma: While Napa is more glam-worthy, Sonoma is more spread out and expansive (at almost double the size of Napa!), with a much more chill vibe. Sonoma’s kinda like the gloriously laid-back sister of nearby Napa Valley, and we love it! If you’ve got the time, I highly encourage you to visit both – even if you pop by Sonoma for the day from Napa!

Long Weekend in Napa Valley Itinerary 

I’m calling this a weekend itinerary to Napa Valley, since most people nearby visit on Saturday and Sunday (we typically do!). 

BUT — if you’re coming from further away (and planning to combine San Francisco and/or a longer California road trip with Napa), I’d aim to visit Napa Valley during the week. It’ll be far less crowded and the traffic won’t be as horrendous. Plus, you’ll get way more personalized service at the wineries and definitely some hotel discounts. 

Notes about this weekend in Napa itinerary:

This Napa Valley itinerary plans for 3 full days in the region, and starts on the morning of Day 1. If you’re planning to arrive the afternoon of Day 1 (maybe your drive is a bit further?), no worries! 

You can easily adjust the itinerary by taking out a winery (or two, if you don’t have tons of time). Or, you can simply swap out the wineries/vineyards on Day 1 for tasting rooms in town instead.

The wineries I recommend are solely that – recommendations. Considering there’s over 400 wineries, tasting rooms, and vineyards, there’s way too many for me to list and know about! Feel free to do some research! 

Especially if you have a preference for certain types of wines and/or are looking for a specific experience (food/wine pairings, cave tours, grape stomping, etc). There’s tons of resources out there with tons of information – I’m not gonna pretend to know every single winery.

Make restaurant recommendations in advance. If you know there’s a particular restaurant you wanna try, I’m begging you to make reservations, at least a few weeks in advance. Some of the more popular spots get booked up weeks if not months ahead of time. Do your homework; Napa really is a culinary gem, perfect for all you foodies out there.

Okay, phew! Enough with all the chatter – let’s get this Napa itinerary started!

Napa Valley Itinerary Day 1: Downtown Napa

We’re starting this Napa Valley itinerary in Downtown Napa since you’re probably coming from the San Francisco Bay Area. Downtown Napa is technically on the way to the other towns in Napa Valley, so it just makes sense to stop here first before heading to your hotel for the night elsewhere.

Morning: Arrive, Breakfast, and Napa Riverfront

Welcome to the world-famous wine region of Napa Valley! I’d aim to arrive in Downtown Napa around 9 or 10am or so – that gives you a whole day to enjoy the town and even check out a winery/tasting room or two.

Breakfast at Winston’s Cafe and Bakery: First up, breakfast! If you’re planning to check out some wineries today, make sure you fuel up! Don’t go wine tasting on an empty stomach! Locals and visitors love Winston’s, with its blend of Filipino & East coast influences. Not only is the food delicious, but the presentation is beautiful as well (and we know I love pretty plates and airy spaces)!

Walk along the Napa River: Even though Napa isn’t on the California coast, you can still have a relaxing stroll by the water. The Napa River is over 55 miles long, and there’s a really pretty section of it right by Downtown Napa. 

The region spent over 20 years revitalizing and updating it’s Riverfront Promenade area, and there’s now lots of trendy shops, restaurants, and cafes. Grab a coffee/iced tea from Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Company and get in your steps before all the wine!

Early Afternoon: Options!

Option #1: Wineries/Tasting Rooms and Lunch

Wineries: Time for the main event of the day – wine tasting! I mean, this is a Napa Valley itinerary, isn’t it?! Makes sense to start your weekend in Napa off on the right start. 

Depending on how much time you have and what your preference is, you can either visit a few tasting rooms in town, or head over to 1-2 nearby wineries. Or, do both! 

Here’s a few favorite wineries near Downtown Napa:

• Domaine Carneros: If you love champagne, you need to add this spot to your Napa itinerary. They specialize in both still and sparkling wines, and the entire estate and formal gardens are absolutely gorgeous – inspired by a chateau in France! Super photogenic with scenic views of the vineyards. Psst – get the charcuterie plate; it’s phenomenal. And book outside seating at the back of the building for the best views! 

• Artesa: Modern architecture lovers, you need to add this winery to your Napa Valley itinerary. There’s fountains, art, and even an infinity pool overlooking the vineyards. Sit outside on the terrace for great vibes and views!

• Black Cat Vineyard: While I haven’t been to this spot myself, I’ve heard such good things! It’s not as well known as the other vineyards, and it’s known for being super personal, private, and interactive. And get this – the founder, Tracey Reichow, was one of the first women to work the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Complete 180, haha!

If you’re looking for tasting rooms in town instead, check out:

• The Studio by Feast it Forward: A multi-winery tasting room for California wineries without their own tasting rooms, meaning the wines change every so often. A great spot to visit if you wanna try a whole bunch!

• Be Bubbly: A new-ish champagne and sparkling wine lounge with high-end small-plates like caviar, foie gras, French country pate, and grilled cheesy toast bites! Plus a delicious prosciutto cheese plate featuring Mt. Tam’s finest – Cowgirl Creamery.

• JaM Cellars: One of the most well-known tasting rooms in Downtown Napa, AND they’ve got weekly JamSessions (Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights). Makes sense since they’re technically a music studio as well! 

• Wine Girl Napa Valley: Super trendy and instagrammable, with chic interiors and plush cushy seating. The perfect spot for bachelorette parties and girls weekends! I’ve been to the location in Scottsdale, Arizona and it was such a fun time!

All of these tasting rooms are within walking distance, so you can hit up a few without worrying about your car! It’s impossible for me to list them all (there’s dozens!), so be sure to peruse this list for more tasting rooms!

Lunch at Oxbow Public Market: This lively marketplace is one of the most popular spots in Downtown Napa, and I can totally see why! It’s full of so much fresh produce, a few farm-to-table restaurants, and a full on cheese shop. Kinda like the Ferry Building in San Francisco!

There’s Ritual Coffee Roasters (always a long line in the AM), Hog Island Oyster (a trendy oyster bar, with its original location in Point Reyes), Kara’s Cupcakes, Loveski Deli, and so much more. We loved snacking on some Italian meats from Fatted Calf (right outside). You can even pick up a few things from different vendors and have a DIY picnic nearby.

Psst – Gott’s Roadside is literally right next door if you’re feeling classic diner vibes with an elevated menu instead. I can never say no to garlic fries and a California burger. It’s popular so expect a wait, but the food comes out surprisingly fast.

Option #2: Napa Valley Wine Train

If you’re planning to hop on the Napa Valley Wine Train, you’ll do so in Downtown Napa! What is it exactly?! A vintage train with gourmet dining experiences that travels through the vineyards of Napa! We haven’t done this ourselves just yet, but friends in the area tell me it’s definitely worth it!

You’ll of course need to drastically alter the first day of your Napa itinerary –  it’s a three-hour, 36-mile round-trip journey from Downtown Napa to St. Helena and back. Quite the commitment and experience! But hey – what’s better than sipping some bubbly while watching the sweeping views of the valley pass by?!

There’s a few different experiences, and I’ve got my eye on both the Afternoon Tea and Vista Dome Lunch.

Late Afternoon/Night: Dinner and Napa Valley Gondola

Greetings from Napa Mural: I love finding these murals wherever I go (San Francisco! San Diego! Austin!), and I was thrilled to find one right outside Downtown Napa. 

You’ll need to drive over since it’s definitely not within walking distance, but it’s only a few minutes from downtown and parking is super easy (the mural is located in a large lot).

Sky and Vine Rooftop Bar: Come here before dinner for some crafty cocktails overlooking the valley! There’s even a few drinks on tap! Located on the roof of the Archer Hotel in Downtown Napa – it gets busy, so make a reservation (especially if you’re visiting on the weekend!). 

There’s also a secret whisky bar with a large whiskey collection that’s reservation-only, so get on it if you wanna sip some of the good stuff by the stone fireplace.

Dinner in Downtown Napa (or closer to your hotel): The culinary scene has gotten way out of hand in the best way possible – there’s everything you could possibly want here! Think fine dining, world-class cuisine from Michelin-starred chefs, and even more casual, flavorful bites. A few DoNapa favorites:

• Oenotri: If you’re craving some fresh pasta and woodfired pizzas, this is your spot. Some of the best southern-Italian cuisine I’ve had in a while outside of Italy. I’m still dreaming about that creamy pesto I had!

• Cole’s Chop House: We walked by Cole’s and were instantly drawn to the menu. It’s primarily a steakhouse, with some other fun additions. Like a lobster and shrimp puff pastry bisque that I really wanna try. It’s also a bourbon bar – something my husband would totally approve of, haha.

Napa Valley Gondola at sunset: This is a new-ish addition to Downtown Napa, and perfect if you’re spending the weekend in Napa with your significant other. 

You’ll ride down the Napa River in an authentic gondola (brought all the way from Italy!), and your gondolier will sing you songs and answer all your questions about Napa Valley. Psst – bring your own wine and cups, it’s BYOW(ine)! 

While I haven’t done this activity myself, my sister and her husband raved about it! Such a romantic hour on the river, learning about the history of Napa while watching the sunset snuggled up in a blanket.

A bit closer than Venice, Italy of course, haha. Although arguably a tad different!

I really only recommend this if you’re staying in Downtown Napa, so you don’t get back too late. Especially if you’re planning to join in on tomorrow’s early morning activity…

Weekend in Napa Day 2: Yountville and Oakville/Rutherford

Today’s Napa Valley itinerary starts off with a bucket list experience (you won’t believe you can do this in Napa), then some more wine tasting of course! Whatever you do, promise me you’ll grab a chocolate almond croissant from Buchon – by far the best bakery in all of Napa!

Morning: Hot Air Balloon Ride (!!!) and Breakfast

Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Valley

Now for one of the most epic experiences on this Napa Valley itinerary – a hot air balloon ride above the Napa Valley vineyards! Just imagine floating above the perfectly aligned rows of grapes and the spectacular landscape – all between 1,000 and 3,000 feet above the valley floor! 

Yes, it’ll undoubtedly be an early-morning wake up call, but well worth it in my opinion! Especially if you’ve never been in a hot air balloon before. 

You can say I have a thing for hot air balloon rides – I’ve ridden them in Mexico City above the pyramids of Teotihuacan, in Tanzania on a balloon safari over hippos (!!!), in Scottsdale, Arizona above a landscape full of cacti, and of course, now in Napa Valley! 

Our experience was nothing short of amazing – the balloon ride was so smooth and I honestly never knew if we were drifting or going up or down. The panoramic views were inspiring; I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the balloons in the distance and the vineyards down below. Plus, we ended with a champagne brunch – what could be better?!

We rode with Napa Valley Aloft, and felt super safe and secure at all times. Sure, it’s probably the most expensive activity on this Napa Valley itinerary, but SUCH a bucket list activity. You’ll launch from the heart of Yountville, and the company even does hotel pick ups from nearby (there’s optional shuttles for everyone else).

Breakfast at Bouchon Bakery or Bistro in Yountville

If a hot air balloon isn’t your idea of fun (hey, a fear of heights is no joke!), then make your way over to Bouchon instead.

There’s both a casual, take-away bakery, or a sit-down bistro to choose from. We typically grab a few pastries from the bakery, and sit outside under the umbrellas sipping our coffees. Try some macarons, a chocolate almond croissant (our favorite), a peanut butter cookie (filled with the most delicious peanut butter filling), a lemon meringue tart, and a salted caramel latte. Actually, everything we’ve ever tried we quickly devoured, haha.

There’ll most definitely be a long line – I think we waited almost a half hour on our last visit. But I promise you it’s ALWAYS worth the wait. I mean, it’s a Michelin-star bakery, what do you expect?!

There’s actually another location in Las Vegas (which we’ve gone to a bunch), but the one here in Yountville is the original.

Afternoon: Wineries/Vineyards and Lunch

Time for more wine tasting! I recommend picking 2-3 wineries/vineyards, and having a relaxing afternoon at those. You don’t wanna cram too many in, and honestly, after a while, you’ll get confused where you went, haha. Especially if you’re drinking at them all! Plus, the tasting fees do add up, with each tasting costing about $45-90, depending on what you choose of course.

If you’re not a wine connoisseur, the tastings will all begin to blend together, especially after your first few flights. I choose my vineyards and wineries not only by wine selection, but by views, experiences, and overall distinctness. 

Here’s a few in the Yountville and Oakville/Rutherford area to choose from:

• CHANDON: Sparkling wine and champagne, anyone?! With beautiful grounds and a light bite menu (with macarons I might add!), it’s a great stop. I especially love how you can just walk in and sip a few glasses – something that’s kinda unheard of now in Napa. (Yountville)

• Silverado Vineyards: This winery specializes in small production, estate-grown wines, and is situated on top of a hill that looks right over the Stags Leap District. Make sure to request a table on the back patio – it’s absolutely stunning! They’re also got some add-ons like a caviar pairing, cheese and charcuterie boards, and my favorite – a chocolate bonbon pairing! (Yountville)

• Quixote Winery: Looking for something a tad different? Head to Quixote – the architecture is super unique and boutique with a stained glass entrance and custom stone steps – kinda reminds me of buildings found in Barcelona! It’s right off the Silverado Trail, and perfect if you like big, bold wines. They even have a s’mores and cabernet tasting; something I’ve never seen before! (Yountville)

• Far Niente Winery: I haven’t been here myself (yet!), but my friends who have tell me it’s such a special place with such a long history. Be sure to book a tour of the property to visit the historic caves (from 1883!) and learn about the estate. Tastings are done in a lovely garden setting, with a pond and lots of flowers nearby. Come if you enjoy rich and full wines! (Oakville)

• Peju: With its pinkish buildings and perfectly polished landscapes, I don’t think Peju could be any more cute and sophisticated all at once.  You’ll want to make a reservation at multiple tasting rooms, which are both unique and gorgeous (some even with stained glass), especially if bigger, bolder reds are your preferred choice of wine (they have excellent ones here).  We just came for the ambiance and scenery (and koi pond!), but I’ve heard fantastic things about their wine selections. (Rutherford)

• Mumm Napa: Life is better with bubbles! Another excellent spot for some sparkling wines and champagne – there’s a wide variety and the outdoor tasting patio overlooks their beautiful grounds. (Rutherford)

Welcome to Napa Valley Sign

While you’re on the main road, stop by the Welcome to Napa Valley sign! It’s a quick stop and a must on any Napa Valley itinerary! There’s sometimes a short line for photos, but everyone’s respectful and it moves pretty fast.

A Few Lunch/Dinner Options

If you’re not having a food and wine pairing at one of the wineries, you’ll 100% need to stop for lunch between wine tastings! You can either do something quick (if you wanna get back to the vineyards ASAP), or book something a bit more special. 

This area’s got a lot of great restaurants (many fine dining!), so I recommend planning in advance and making a reservation if you’ve got your eye (stomach!) on something in particular!

• Ad Hoc/Addendum: Two words. Buttermilk fried chicken. Okay, fine, that’s three, haha. A famous Thomas Keller restaurant, and great if you want Michelin level food without paying the price tag. Note that they’ve got different hours depending on the day of the week. Addendum is behind the restaurant – a great spot for a super casual lunch of chicken and waffles to-go.

• RH Yountville: Go for the glitz and glam, stay for the burrata and truffle fries. Admittedly the menu’s pretty small, but the chic vibe and elegant atmosphere are so fun. So many chandeliers and even a fireplace. Great for a special occasion or chic girls lunch!

• The French Laundry: A true bucket-list experience by world-renowned Chef Thomas Keller. I’d save this one for a super special occasion as dinner here is a major investment (about $500 per person – yes, quite the expensive meal!). Note that this spot is only open for dinner, and you need to make reservations months in advance.

Looking for something a bit more casual? Check out Oakville Grocery for artisanal sandwiches, La Calenda for upscale Mexican flavors, and Mini Model for delicious, baked goods.

Napa Itinerary Day 3: St. Helena and Calistoga 

On your last day of your long weekend in Napa, take things a bit slower. Have a long, leisurely breakfast, hop over to another winery (or two, or three!), and end the day with a mineral-rich mud bath in Calistoga!

Breakfast in Calistoga

• Sam’s Social Club: Hip and trendy in the Indian Springs Hotel, with a full brunch menu of benedicts, avocado toast, and their “egg in the hole” brioche. Psst – no dogs allowed, even on their outdoor patio. We made a reservation and noted we were bringing Kona, and found out when we got there he wasn’t allowed in. I was so bummed – mostly because I wanted an order of their famous churros oh so badly! Next time!

• Café Sarafornia: No frills and super casual, right in downtown Calistoga. They’ve got all your typical breakfast fixins’, and my huevos rancheros were absolutely delicious. 

• Sam’s General Store: This is definitely our favorite spot for a light bite and some coffee in Calistoga. Tons of charm in a historic property – sit outside under an umbrella in the shade with your latte or cold brew and something sweet!

• Fleetwood Restaurant: Located at Calistoga Motor Lodge, this casual spot’s got smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, chilaquiles, eggs your way, and french toast. A little bit of everything! 

More Tastings at Wineries and Vineyards

Again, I’d only choose two for wine tastings, especially if you’re doing a mud bath or mineral springs soak later on this afternoon.

• V. Sattui: This is the place for a picnic lunch when checking out the vineyards! If you’re visiting in the spring, summer, or fall, keep an eye out for their Barbeque, Wood-Fired Pizzas & Mozzarella Bar.  An order of the jalapeños shouldn’t be missed.  If bbq food doesn’t tickle your fancy, head to the Marketplace (on V. Sattui grounds), where you’ll find a large array of meats, cheeses, and other deli items. Bring your bottle of wine to the picnic tables and you’re good to go!

• Sterling: The main draw of Sterling is that you need to take a gondola up the hill to even get there! While it’s only a 5 minute ride, the views are absolutely remarkable, especially in the fall when the colors are changing. You can even stomp grapes in a wine barrel here as well (special activity – book in advance).  A one-of-a-kind experience for sure.  

• Chateau Montelena: I LOVE THIS SPOT. I mean, there’s an ivy-covered stone chateau and lakes and ponds with resident swans. You’re allowed to wander around the (stunning!) property without a reservation AND all the staff are all so kind and helpful. I randomly showed up and they were so accommodating – gave me a map, let me look inside all the rooms (there’s some interesting history there), and made me feel totally welcome even though I wasn’t spending a dime, haha.

• Castello di Amorosa: A winery inspired by a medieval castle in Tuscany?! Sign me up! Sure, it’s pretty touristy and honestly a bit gaudy, but the views are great and they’ve got really good wines – all Italian-inspired. There’s even goats, emus, and peacocks roaming the property! We used to love coming here to wander around the castle, see the animals, and go for a stroll, but that’s not possible anymore unless you’re signed up for a tasting. You’re not even allowed to drive to the property grounds without a reservation.

• Tank Garage Winery: By far one of our best finds in downtown Calistoga! Upon first glance you’ll think the winery is an old vintage gas station, but nope, just a quirky tasting room! The tasting was so chilled out and fun – the wine labels are so unique and we were able to pick whatever types of wine we wanted to taste. Take a peek in the back club room – the Prohibition rebellion feeling and rock n’ roll style decor is so different from any other winery I’ve been to! If you’re staying at the Calistoga Motor Lodge, make sure you tell them – you’ll get the tasting for completely free. They even welcomed our pup with open arms (super refreshing since most won’t allow dogs at all).

• Davis Estates: This sustainable property specializes in culinary offerings, like food and wine pairings (they’ve got an indoor pizza oven!), with gorgeous views out to the valley. Make sure to sit on the outdoor terrace – there’s sweeping panoramic views of the northern Napa Valley, including a 50-foot “new-antique” windmill. The estate is family owned and operated, and it shows! We chatted with the staff for a while and they were so helpful, giving food and winery recommendations for Napa. Highly recommend adding one of their experiences to your Napa Valley itinerary – don’t miss the 11,000 square feet of caves!

I’ve also got Quintessa Winery (ohhh the architecture!), Beringer Vineyards, and Markham Vineyards on my Napa bucket list for next time. 

Late Lunch in St. Helena or Calistoga

Just like on Day 2 of this Napa Valley itinerary, you’re gonna need to refuel throughout the day! Especially if you’re visiting a few wineries! 

And luckily, there’s loads of great spots nearby, including the original Gott’s Roadside, House of Better at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort, The Station (we made a quick stop here for some cold drinks), Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery, Lovina, and The Restaurant (Michelin star!).

Old Faithful Geyser of California

Next up on this Napa Valley itinerary – the small, scenic geyser in Calistoga. It’s got mixed reviews, so honestly not an absolute must, but hey, you can decide!

We decided to skip it because I’ve already seen geysers in Iceland and blowholes in Hawaii, but if you’ve never witnessed a geyser before, you’ll probably wanna go! 

I heard it’s kinda expensive for what it is – currently $15 to wait for the geyser that goes off once every 30-40 minutes or so. And there’s not tons else to do on the property besides see some goats. Your choice! I’d personally rather spend that money on an extra tasting.

Mud Bath and/or Mineral Pools in Calistoga

End the last day of your Napa Valley itinerary with a good soak – in either a bath full of mud (yup!), or relaxing in a mineral pool (or two!). Two things that Calistoga is oh so famous for!

Wait – a mud bath?! What in the world?! I know what you’re thinking – what’s a mud bath and why would I even think about sitting in one?! Imagine sitting in a bathtub full of warm squishy mud, with mud between your toes, all over your body and face, and um, quite everywhere you can think of, haha. Just like Louis Litt from Suits did all the time, haha. 

Don’t worry – the mud’s got special properties (the area has tons of geothermal activity after all) and is great for detoxifying, has many anti–inflammatory benefits, and even helps skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. It’s technically a spa treatment, and you’ll find them offered at plenty around town. 

Check out Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort, Spa Talisa at Four Seasons Resort, MoonAcre Spa, Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa, and Spa Solage.

So there ya have it – the perfect weekend in Napa Valley itinerary! Are you headed off to wine country soon?!

The post The Perfect Napa Valley Itinerary: A Long Weekend in Napa appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

You’re driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, and BAM – you see a massive rock shaped just like a shark fin. Actually, that’s not how it goes at all, since Shark Fin Cove is actually hidden from the road, but you get the gist, haha.

This hidden gem along the coast is known for its distinctive rock formation that looks just like a shark fin – don’t you see it?! Kinda hard to miss! And the beach and bluffs at Shark Fin Cove are just gorgeous; easily one of the best beaches in all of California, and the most unique at that!

Although I wouldn’t really consider it “hidden” anymore (it’s got over 1500 reviews on Google Maps), but hey, I have a feeling most people driving the California coast have no idea it’s there! I sure didn’t my first few years living in NorCal!

I’ve visited Shark Fin Cove a bunch (usually on my way to/from Santa Cruz), and am amazed at the views each and every time. I typically admire the iconic shark fin rock from above on the bluffs or at the start of trail (what I consider the “viewpoint”), but on my last visit, I finally made my way down to the beach! Highly recommend you do if you’re able! It’s a steep and slippery climb, but more on that later.

Psst – Shark Fin Cove also goes by “Shark Tooth Beach” and “Davenport Cove”, so if you see those somewhere, just know they’re referring to the same spot (different than Davenport Beach, though).

So if you’re looking for some laid-back California vibes and stunning coastal views, add Shark Fin Cove to your PCH itinerary! Promise you won’t regret it! Also a great stop on any Northern California road trip if you find yourself on the coast.

Shark Fin Cove Logistics

Where is Shark Fin Cove Exactly

Shark Fin Cove is located in the small town of Davenport, California, just north of Santa Cruz along the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1). Its location between Santa Cruz and San Francisco make it a perfect day trip from either one, or as a stop on a much longer PCH road trip.

It’s relatively close to other major spots in Northern California, especially those on the coast. 

Looking at a map you’ll notice it’s really far from Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, so I recommend spending the night in either Santa Cruz or Half Moon Bay if you’re looking to visit Shark Fin Cove. The perfect weekend trip from SoCal – plus, there’s loads more to do in the area to warrant the long(ish) drive!

• From Santa Cruz: 10 miles (15 minutes)
• From Half Moon Bay: 40 miles (45 minutes)
• From San Jose: 45 miles (50 minutes)
• From Monterey/Carmel: 55 miles (1 hour)
• From San Francisco: 65 miles (1 ½ hours)
• From Los Angeles: 350 miles (5 ½ hours)
• From San Diego: 475 miles (7+ hours)

How to Get to Shark Fin Cove

Shark Fin Cove is located on the California coast, right on Highway 1. With your own car it’s super easy to get here – just drive north on Highway 1 to get here from Santa Cruz, or south on Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay/Pescadero. 

The only option to get here is to drive, as there isn’t any public transport that stops over here at the beach.  

I guess you can always call an Uber from Santa Cruz (it’s only 15-20 minutes away or so), but you’ll likely have difficulty getting a ride back once you’re done at the beach. Plan to walk the 15 minutes into the tiny town of Davenport and take the local bus – Santa Cruz Metro (#42) back to downtown Santa Cruz. Find the bus schedule here.

Parking at Shark Fin Cove

Thankfully, there’s a small lot! A dirt pull-out parking lot along the PCH to be exact, but it’s something! And no it’s not paved, but it’s completely free! Input “Shark Fin Cove Parking Lot” into your GPS, and you’ll get right there.

There’s zero signs for Shark Fin Cove, so keep note of your location on Google Maps. You’ll see some cars in a pull out on the side of the road. While there’s plenty of space for cars on the dirt on the side of the road, be extra cautious. When leaving, be careful as the parking is right on the main road (Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway), and cars are literally zooming by.

Walking to the Overlook

You’ll notice when you park, there’s not much to see. That’s because you need to walk a short trail (about 10-15 minutes or so) to the Shark Fin Cove overlook. And it’s pretty cool as you’ll be walking over an old railroad track (don’t worry – it’s not in use anymore).

There’s no signs, but just keep walking a few minutes and you’ll know exactly when you get there, haha. It’s kinda hard to miss the views of the giant shark fin rock down below!

If you don’t wanna walk the trail down to the actual beach (I don’t blame you), you can get some great photos from up here.

The Short Hike Down to the Beach

If you wanna get to the sand at Shark Fin Cove, you’ll need to hike down a short trail. Despite being super short (about .3 miles), it’s rocky and steep (75 feet of elevation change) with lots of loose sand. Meaning, it’s super easy to slip and fall. The trail’s not maintained at all, so there’ll probably be some overgrown greenery and shrubs to walk through as well.

Anyone with any level of physical fitness can hike down, but just know it’s very slippery and steep, and hardly maintained. Take your time – there’s no rush!

My sister and I had such a hard time that we needed to literally hold on to her husband practically the entire walk down. It took us about 15-20 minutes or so, although it felt way longer considering we felt like we were going to fall the entire time!

Other people had an easier time, although mostly everyone agreed that it’s slippery. We’re not very good downhill hikers as you can see, haha. My brother-in-law even had to hold our bags for us so we could do the crab walk a few times! No shame; we made it down safely!

Going back up is much, much easier, and we got to the top in less than 5 minutes or so. We couldn’t believe just how fast we managed to climb up, considering we needed to keep stopping on the way down.

Things to Bring to Shark Fin Cove

Despite having zero facilities, you really don’t need too much at Shark Fin Cove. Yourself, some water, sunscreen, a snack, and maybe a towel will suffice. 

Honestly, only bring what you need – you’ll be kicking yourself if you have to lug beach chairs and sand toys all the way down. Only carry what you can throw in a backpack. Nothing else.

When to Visit Shark Fin Cove

Crowds: I’m not too sure Shark Fin Cove ever gets ridiculously busy (unlike the beaches in Half Moon Bay and Pacifica). Probably because it’s still relatively unknown to visitors, and the fact that you need to hike down a steep trail. 

Regardless of this, you probably won’t be alone – it’s spectacular for a reason! As with most other spots on the California coast, weekdays will be less busy, with weekends bringing locals and those in the know driving the PCH. 

Weather: A clear, sunny day is best for admiring the views from both the bluffs and down below. Sure, Shark Fin Cove is still pretty impressive when it’s foggy, but it’s always a bit too cold for me when the sun isn’t shining.

Psst – low tide is absolutely essential if you wanna check out the sea cave.

Important Info about Shark Fin Cove

• Leave no trace, always! Like everywhere you visit/hike on the coast, do your best to leave no trace. This means packing out what you pack in, keeping music levels to a minimum, not taking fossilized items/artifacts/shells from the beach, and no graffiti. Unfortunately plenty of people have already graffitied the cave, and ugh what a shame! Not cool at all! Do your part and don’t be one of those losers.

• Wear proper footwear: Despite the end of the trail leading to a sandy beach, I highly encourage you to keep the sandals at home. The trail down is short but super steep – you’ll wanna wear shoes with a proper grip (we wore sneakers and were so glad we did).

• Not stroller or wheelchair-friendly: Unfortunately, Shark Fin Cove isn’t very accessible, as the bluffs are very rocky/sandy, and the hike down to the beach is super steep and slippery. You can probably make it to the overlook without too much hassle though!

• Expect zero facilities: This is a secluded beach on the Pacific Coast Highway, with little to no facilities. This means no bathroom, no food/drink, and definitely no beach chairs for rent (hah!). Bring what you need as you won’t be able to get anything here.

• Be aware of the tide: If you wanna explore the cave at all, make sure to visit Shark Fin Cove at low tide. There’ll hardly be any beach left at high tide, and the cave is exceptionally dangerous then. And psst – the water will always be chilly, no matter the time of year. This is Northern California afterall!

• Be extra careful in the water: Like most beaches in Northern California, the water isn’t very calm. Expect lots of waves, and for the water to crash on the shore and rocks pretty forcefully. Shark Fin Cove is definitely not the place for young kids to wander around themselves.

• Watch out for poison oak: There’s sometimes poison oak on the trail leading down to the beach. Learn what it looks like in advance, and if you see any, stay away! Wear long pants to prevent any unwanted rashes.

Things to do At Shark Fin Cove

A visit to Shark Fin Cove can take 15 minutes, or a few hours! Totally up to you. But whatever you do, don’t forget your camera!

Walk on Shark Fin Cove Beach

The beach is pretty tiny and you’ll need to hike down that steep path I was complaining about before, but yup, I highly recommend it! 

The perspective of the rock is so much different from down below, and you’ll get a feeling for just how truly massive it is. 

Once down you can explore the rock, the sea cave, and dip your toes in the water (although I don’t recommend going in any further as the water is cold and the tide is pretty rough).

Hang on the Rock Slab

There’s a large rock slab on the left side of the beach with great views of the shark fin. You can spread your towel here and sunbathe (you might get kinda wet…), but ONLY during extremely low or negative tide. It can be quite dangerous at high tide, with the water crashing along the rock slab. 

Never turn your back towards the ocean, ever. Be careful when walking on the rock slab – it’s pretty slippery but definitely doable if you’re watching your footing.

Explore the Sea Cave

Once you make your way down, veer to the left on the sand and you’ll come across a sea cave! It’s actually an old mining tunnel. You can only walk into the sea cave when it’s low tide – don’t even attempt at high tide. It’s extremely dangerous and you can get swept out to sea. Be safe! 

Admire Shark Fin Cove from Above

Don’t wanna make your way down to the beach? Don’t worry, you can totally see the massive shark fin-shaped rock from the overlook. And it only takes a few minutes to reach. 

Wander along the bluffs (on the right) to capture different views and angles of the iconic shark fin rock. It doesn’t really resemble a shark fin from the side, but still cool to look at. Don’t forget your camera!

Things to Do Before/After Visiting Shark Fin Cove

This is the California coast baby! Of course there’s loads to do here! While you can see tons in Santa Cruz, Pescadero, and Half Moon Bay, these are a few of my favorites:

• Santa Cruz Boardwalk: Have you really been to Santa Cruz if you haven’t ridden the colorful Sky Glider and had a few carnival treats on the boardwalk?! There’s tons of rides (even a few roller coasters), carnival games, and even a spooky underground maze (so fun and unexpected). Kinda expensive but always so fun. Come during the week for less crowds (this place gets busy for a reason).

• Wilder Ranch State Park: Another one of my favorite spots on the California coast! The cliffs honestly look a tad like my favorite coastal hike in The Algarve in southern Portugal! I swear, I was smitten every step on the Old Cove Landing Trail – a must do. Absolutely gorgeous, just note there’s a $10 parking fee and no dogs are allowed. 

• Swanton Berry Farms: Visiting in summer?! Make a stop at Swanton Berry Farms to go strawberry picking! The farm is organic and thankfully no chemicals are sprayed. The strawberries are ohhh so sweet, and there’s also strawberry jam, apple strawberry cider, and strawberry shortcake for sale!

• Pigeon Point Light Station: One of my favorite places on the PCH, and where I always take visitors! So much history here, and the coastal views are spectacular (look out for seals and whales, especially in winter). There’s even a hostel on property if you wanna wake up to ocean views without breaking the bank! While you’re over here in Pescadero, stop by Arcangeli Grocery Co. for some famous artichoke bread!

So there ya have it – everything you need to know about visiting Shark Fin Cove beach in Davenport (Santa Cruz)! Are you stopping here on your next PCH road trip?!

The post Shark Fin Cove in Santa Cruz: A Beautiful Secluded Beach in Northern California appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Imagine a spectacular pop of pink color sprawling alongside the seaside dunes and bluffs. A mile-long coastal trail with benches to stare off at that dreamy Pacific Ocean. Rocks jutting outta the idyllic landscape and birds flying across the sky. I swear, it looks just like a postcard.

And it’s exactly as it sounds – Lovers Point Park in Pacific Grove (where the magical Pacific Grove Magic Carpet is found) is one of our favorite day trips from San Francisco. A place we absolutely love taking visitors to! 

Seeing the Magic Carpet in Pacific Grove has been on my Northern California bucket list for years (ever since moving to San Francisco, actually!), so I was thrilled when we finally made it there! Why’d it take me so long?! The magic carpet only blooms for about a month each year!

Get ready to witness the coast of Pacific Grove undergo a magical transformation every spring. If you’re a fan of the rugged coast and love colorful flowers (hi, that’s me!), you need to add the Pacific Grove magic carpet to your California bucket list ASAP! I kinda wanna go back next weekend even though we just got back last night, haha.

Here’s everything you need to know to plan your own incredible trip to the pink magic carpet in Pacific Grove!

Psst: Interested in checking out other flowers in California? I’ve been enjoying these blooms to the max the last few years; check out these posts:

• Wild Mustard Blooms in Half Moon Bay (February to March)
• Calla Lily Valley in Big Sur (February to March)
• Carlsbad Flower Fields in San Diego (March to May)
• Purple Lavender Fields in Dixon (May to July)
• U-Pick Sunflowers in Half Moon Bay (September)

Important Info about the Monterey Magic Carpet

What is the Pacific Grove Magic Carpet

See all those vibrant pinkish-purple flowers?! That’s the magic carpet, and it’s absolutely stunning! The Pacific Grove magic carpet is basically like a blanket of flowers covering the landscape along the Monterey coastline. A pinkish-purple “carpet” each and every spring if you will!

The plants that make up this famous magic carpet are a non-native succulent, called “drosanthemum floribundum” – try saying that 3x fast!, and are part of the ice plant family. 

Typically, ice plants are threatening to the local ecosystem (as they take over native plants). However, these magic carpet ice plants are considered to be a smaller and less invasive style than what we commonly see throughout much of California (head to Half Moon Bay – you’ll see what I mean).

History and Origins of the Ice Plant in Pacific Grove

The history of the Magic Carpet in Pacific Grove is a fascinating one that began in the early 1900s. Poison oak actually covered the whole area until a local resident named Hayes Perkins settled in Pacific Grove in the late 1930s and changed all that. He decided to get rid of all the poison oak and plant hundreds of fuchsia-colored plants instead that he found in South Africa on one of his voyages. Talk about a garden near the sea! 

(If you’re interested – read up on him; he sounds like such an adventurous guy.) 

It took him a whopping 14 years to plant the mile-long stretch of flowers we see today, which he watered HIMSELF by filling 75 buckets twice a day. Can you imagine that?! Hence why the park, Perkins Park (where most of the pink flowers are seen), is named after him. 

The city of Pacific Grove and its locals are proud of its coastline beauty (as they should be!), and keep them in pristine, tip-top shape – we even saw a random local pulling weeds! 

When to See the Pacific Grove Magic Carpet

The short answer: SPRING time baby!

The longer answer: The magic carpet flowers of Pacific Grove typically start blooming in early-mid April, and last until late-May, sometimes even early June. While the exact blooming dates change every year (this is nature and all!), expect this blanket of flowers to bloom sometime in mid-late spring, and last until very early summer.

For the most up to date info on blooming status, I recommend searching some hashtags on IG, or checking out the @pgchamber IG account.

Try your best to visit on a sunny day – the flowers look the most vibrant in full sun! Also, know that the flowers stay closed when it’s chilly out, so come on a day it’s at least relatively warm! Easier said than done on the coast, I know!

For reference, we visited Pacific Grove to see the magic carpet in early-May, and plenty of flowers weren’t even in bloom yet! While we saw tons of pretty pink-purple flowers on the rocks and bluffs, there were still plenty of green patches on the trails. We probably should have waited a week or two, oh well! Told you it was hard to time!

On the flip side, I’ve seen photos taken in late April and all the ice plants are in full bloom – it really changes every year, and you just gotta get lucky.

Weather conditions: The climate in Pacific Grove is mild and temperate, with cooler temperatures than you probably realize with occasional fog during the spring and summer months. The weather in this area can change pretty fast, so I always recommend wearing layers and keeping a jacket on you just in case you need it. 

I carried a light sweatshirt with me and felt like I put it on every 5 minutes, just to take it off just as fast.

Where to See the Pacific Grove Magic Carpet 

I’m sure you’ve guessed that the Pacific Grove magic carpet is found in Pacific Grove – makes sense after all!  But where’s Pacific Grove anyways?! 

This historic seaside town is located on the Monterey Peninsula in Monterey County, California (yes, near the famous aquarium!). It’s situated on the western edge of the Monterey Bay, about 120 miles south of San Francisco and 70 miles south of San Jose. 

Pacific Grove is known for its historic Victorian homes (some dating back to the 19th century!), rugged coastline and beautiful beaches, and the monarch butterfly sanctuary (winter see’s thousands of these gorgeous butterflies!). And of course the magic carpet of flowers in spring!

More specifically, to see the beauty of the magic carpet, you’ll wanna head to the Pacific Grove coastline – to Lovers Point Park, Perkins Park, and Esplanade Park. These are all part of the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail (don’t worry, you don’t need to walk the whole thing). Here you’ll find the purple ice plants clinging to the rugged coastline and blanketing the trails and lawns nearby.

How to Get There 

Thankfully, the magic carpet of Pacific Grove isn’t terribly far from plenty of places in the Bay Area. And it’s SUPER easy to find (unlike the semi-hidden entrance to Calla Lily Valley nearby in Big Sur).

Here’s how far it is from popular locations in California (in case you wanna add it on to your California coast road trip or trip to CA in general):

• Monterey: 10 minutes (~3 miles)
• Carmel-by-the-Sea: 15 minutes (~7 miles)
• Big Sur: 45 minutes (~30 miles)
• Santa Cruz: 1 hour (~45 miles)
• San Francisco: 2 hours (~120 miles)
• Sacramento: 3 hours (~200 miles)
• Los Angeles: 5 ½ hours (~330 miles)
• Orange County: 6 hours (~350 miles)
• San Diego: 7 ½ hours (~450 miles)

I’d bank on at least a bit of traffic no matter where you’re coming from. This is California afterall, wink wink. It makes the perfect road trip stop when driving along the Pacific Coast Highway in Spring!

Many people visit the Pacific Grove magic carpet when they’re in the Monterey/Big Sur area — that’s what we did! If you’re coming from further afield in California, you’ll probably wanna stay the night. Plus, there’s tons to do in the area you can easily fill up an entire week exploring Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur.

Visiting the Pacific Grove Magic Carpet

How to Plan Your Day

• Start at Lovers Point Park: We typically park in the neighborhood behind Lovers Point Park, and start our coastal walk from here. Although you won’t find many purple ice plants here, the area is just too gorgeous to miss! There’s a sandy beach, large grassy area perfect for picnics, clean public restrooms, and even kayaks and paddleboards for rent!. Oh so picturesque; we love it so much!

• Walk over to Perkins Park: This is the section of shoreline that’s been named after Hayes Perkins, the man who planted the first pink ice plant in Pacific Grove. And it’s exactly where you’ll start seeing the famous Pacific Grove magic carpet ice plants.

• Explore Esplanade Park: Keep on walking along the coast and Perkins Park will turn into Esplanade Park. There’s benches and scenic lookouts all along the trail, so enjoy! No need to rush – take in the views of Monterey Bay, the pink magic carpet, and stay a while! You’ll also see a bunch of Monterey cypress trees, which just add to the overall beauty of the landscape.

The entire coastal walk is super well maintained, so please oh please do your part to keep it this way! Some important things to remember:

• Importance of the area: The residents and visitors cherish this area for its unique charm and natural beauty. Please be extra respectful of the surroundings by staying on the designated paths and being mindful of your footsteps.

• Keep the area clean: LEAVE NO TRACE. Always pick up all of your trash and dispose of it in designated trash bins. Let’s preserve the natural beauty of this area for all to admire!

• Distance: The entire coastal trail is about 18 miles long – you definitely don’t need (or should!) walk the full path. If you’re looking to see the Pacific Grove magic carpet, stick to Lovers Point Park and Perkins Park.

Other important FAQs

• Are these ice plants wildflowers? Technically not since they were originally planted all those decades ago! And plus, they’re not actually native to the area.

• What to bring and wear: Bring a reusable water bottle, camera (100%), and picnic food to enjoy at Lovers Point Park , and wear a light sweater/jacket, sunhat, comfy shoes (we walked over 2 miles round trip), and remember to slather on that sunscreen.

• What’s the cost? Absolutely FREE! 

• Are they invasive? Most ice plants spread like wildfire – taking over the landscape and putting native plants at risk (like those in Half Moon Bay). But the magic carpet flowers are a bit different – they don’t have as much of an impact for some reason.

Other Things to Do in the Area

Explore the surrounding areas while you’re here – the entire coastline is just oh so gorgeous! A few of my favorite things to do in Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur:

• Stop at the viewpoints along the 17 Mile Drive: This has got to be our favorite coastal drive in Northern California! There’s spectacular scenic visitas (that’s obvious!), ancient cypress trees, million dollar mansions, dramatic coastal cliffs, sunbathing seals and sea lions, and of course world-class iconic golf courses. Yup – including the ritzy Pebble Beach Golf Links! 

• Explore Calla Lily Valley in Garrapata State Park: A hidden valley of Calla Lilies deep in the bluffs along the coast from mid-February to mid-March? Don’t mind if I do! Note that you won’t be able to visit the Pacific Grove Magic Carpet and Calla Lily Valley at the same time since they bloom in different months – just means multiple trips are in order. Way more info on the beautiful lilies here!

• Gasp at McWay Falls in Big Sur: Out of all the waterfalls I’ve seen in California (and beyond), this has got to be one of my all-time favorites. Why? It literally falls straight into the Pacific Ocean! And the views, OMG the views!

• Visit the towns of Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel-By-The-Sea: Three of my favorite seaside towns in California, with tons to do in each one! Monterey’s got the aquarium, Cannery Row, and delicious seafood restaurants, Pacific Grove’s got gorgeous Victorian houses and Pavel’s Backerei, while Carmel has the cutest brunch spots (we love La Bicyclette) and charming fairytale cottages. 

Hope this helps you plan a visit to see the stunning Pacific Grove magic carpet superbloom! Are you headed to the Monterey Bay peninsula anytime soon?!

The post The Pacific Grove Magic Carpet: The Prettiest Pink Flowers in Monterey, California appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

The Madonna Inn is an instagrammers paradise. Think whimsy gingerbread trim, bubblegum pink and fuschia accents, and eccentric and unconventional hotel rooms. The whole space is quirky, bizarre, and downright wacky — in the best kinda way!

After visiting SLO a handful of times, we decided it was finally time to spend the night at the famous Madonna Inn! So when we didn’t have any major plans for my birthday, we decided to drive down the coast, visit Hearst Castle, and spend the rest of the weekend at The Madonna Inn. It was definitely a birthday to remember!

We stayed in a super quirky hotel room (complete with glitter wallpaper), indulged in slices of over-the-top completely pink champagne cake, and admired its distinctive and unusual designs. 

It’s a historic hotel located in San Luis Obispo, California, known for its unique and hella quirky architecture and interiors. Think a pink stucco exterior, whimsical towers with intricate heart cutouts, lush gardens with water features, and oh so much more. Perfect for a birthday weekend!

It’s quite the ultimate imaginative escape! An ultra-glam hotel that’s way more than just a hotel stay! The Madonna Inn has everything you need for a chic weekend away, complete with bars and restaurants and even a pool and pink tennis courts. You really don’t need to leave the property if you don’t want to.

The hotel totally gives off Dolly Parton vibes (kinda like the Graduate Hotel where we stayed during our 3 days in Nashville), and it’s become a beloved icon of California’s central coast. An absolute must-do on any weekend trip to San Luis Obispo, even if you’re not spending the night.

So, let’s get to it – my completely honest Madonna Inn review!

Madonna Inn Review Logistics

Why is the Madonna Inn so famous?

It’s over-the-top, playful, and whimsical decor of course! But no really, hang out at the Madonna Inn for even a few minutes and you’ll instantly feel like a kid again – except with some booze in your hand, haha.

The hotel’s got a reputation for being super memorable and one-of-a-kind. I mean, where else would you find pink plush rose-covered carpet and floor-to-ceiling vibrant pink colors?! Kinda wacky, right?! 

It’s even got a cult following! I get it – the hotel is kinda like a destination in its own right. People from around the states (and even the world!) come here to check out the famous rooms and wild, over-the-top decor.

History of the Madonna Inn

This off-beat, eccentric hotel was built by Alex Madonna, a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and his wife Phyllis back in 1958. They wanted to create a one-of-a-kind hotel experience for guests – and that they did! It was originally opened as a simple roadside motel, but it quickly became known for its unique and over-the-top decor.

As the years went by, the Madonna Family continued to add to the inn, building new rooms and facilities, each with their own unique theme and design. He was known for his love of bright colors, bold patterns, and eclectic design elements, and these became hallmarks of the Madonna Inn’s style. 

Imagine staying there in the 1960s and 1970s when it was considered to be one of the most stylish and fashionable hotels on the West Coast! Makes sense that the Madonna Inn has been featured in plenty of magazines and television shows over the years. 

Today, the Madonna Inn continues to operate as a hotel, and it remains one of the most recognizable and memorable landmarks on the Central Coast. 

Where is the Madonna Inn

The Madonna Inn is located in San Luis Obispo, California. It’s not terribly far from other spots on the Central Coast, like San Simeon (where the famous Hearst Castle is), Pismo Beach, Morro Bay (with its adorable sea otters), and the wineries of Paso Robles (a bit inland).

It’s easy to reach from both San Francisco and Los Angeles since it’s located almost halfway between the two (about 3.5 hours from either). So, yes, making it the perfect half way mark on any Pacific Coast Highway roadtrip.

When to Visit SLO and the Madonna Inn

Since San Luis Obispo’s got a mild climate, there’s never a horrible time to visit. If you wanna take complete advantage of all the amenities at the Madonna Inn (pool area, hot tubs, tennis courts, etc), visit in spring, summer, or fall. Whatever rain the area gets typically comes in winter. A bit more info on each:

• Summer (June to August): With mostly warm and sunny weather, summer is the most popular time to visit San Luis Obispo. Expect warm, arid, and clear weather. Perfect if you wanna enjoy all the great outdoor activities SLO’s got to offer, like hiking, swimming, and biking! Plus all the nearby beaches on the coast! If you’re planning to explore further inland (like wine tasting in Paso Robles for example), know it can get pretty steamy – highs in the 100s°F are not super uncommon here.

• Spring (March to May): My favorite time of year to visit SLO! The weather’s super mild (pretty much perfect) with lots of wildflowers on the trails.

• Winter (December to February): We spent a night at the Madonna Inn in early February, and had very mixed weather! That’s what you get for going in the winter! Winters are typically pretty chilly (although it’s never freezing), sometimes wet, and usually partly cloudy. Definitely more gray days this time of year.

• Fall (September to November): Once the summer heat is gone (which sometimes lingers into September), you’ll love visiting SLO in the fall. Slightly cooler temps, clear skies, and hardly any rain!

Regardless of the season, visit during the week from Sunday to Thursday if you want cheaper hotel rates at The Madonna Inn. Prices are understandably higher on the weekend (Friday nights and Saturday nights).

Other FAQS and Info About the Madonna Inn

• Does the Madonna Inn have anything to do with Madonna? Nope, the hotel has nothing to do with Queen of Pop icon Madonna, although I can totally see why some would think there’s a connection!

• How far is the Madonna Inn from the beach? Pismo Beach is only about 10 miles away, so you’re not far from the coastline over here!

• Has the Madonna Inn been featured in any movies/TV shows? Yup, and quite a few! It’s been featured in a few older movies, Stunts (1977) and Aria (1987), as well as a bunch of TV series, including The Bachelor, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and Little People, Big World. Plus a whole slew of music videos (including Lady Antebellum), as well the backdrop for plenty of media photoshoots.

• Have any celebrities stayed here?! Yes, a whole bunch. There’s been comedians, professional athletes, entertainers, reality TV actors, and social media mega-stars here. Macaulay Culkin once stayed in the Old-Fashioned Honeymoon room! Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Dolly Parton, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Dustin Hoffman, Reba McIntyre are among the many who visited! And even LUCILLE BALL! 

Staying at The Madonna Inn

Rooms at The Madonna Inn

Part of the fun of staying at the Madonna Inn is choosing which room to book! All of the 110 rooms are totally different and individually designed – no two rooms are the same! Check them out here. Each with their own unique theme and decor – like the “Caveman Room”, “Safari Room”, and the “Pink Champagne Suite”. 

Think different living spaces, wacky wallpapers, rock walls and waterfall showers, glitzy glittery bathrooms, and all-pink rooms, all evoking different atmospheres and moods.

The rooms at the Madonna Inn are known for their ultra-luxurious amenities, like plush bedding, spa tubs, and even fireplaces!

We stayed in the “Tall and Short Room”, which I thought was absolutely hysterical since my husband’s tall (ok, more like average) and I’m a shortie at only 4 ’10”. While the room wasn’t as “extra” as some of the others found on the property, I loved the antique gold mirrors and all-pink glitzy bathroom.

Since we booked kinda late, the rooms I REALLY wanted to stay in (The Clarin – perfect for lovebirds and girlfriends, Victoria Gardens – super kitsch and girlie, Merry – with sparkling glitter walls, etc) were already sold out. If you have your heart set on a specific room, definitely book early. Those rooms are popular for a reason!

Something I learned while researching is that you can actually stay in different rooms each night! How fun would that be?! Doesn’t sound like rocket science, but I hadn’t even thought of that.

Cost: Room prices vary greatly depending on size and amenities – we stayed a Saturday night and paid about $275 for our King size room.  Popular rooms run upwards of $600 a night.

Restaurants and Bars at The Madonna Inn

Told you leaving the property wasn’t necessary! There’s so much food here!

Gold Rush Steakhouse: The Gold Rush Steakhouse is the iconic restaurant here at Madonna Inn. With a huge wine list, it’s the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or special celebration! 

We had dinner here for my birthday, which was right up my alley with the plush pink loveseats, pink napkins, pink tablecloths, and their famous Madonna Inn water goblets. There was also live music playing which we loved. Such an enchanting and opulent atmosphere! 

Since we visited in February, the whole restaurant was decked out in hearts and decorations for Valentine’s Day. SO. MUCH. FUN, and just added to the overall kitschy-ness, which I absolutely adored.

I had read that the food at Gold Rush Steakhouse was kinda bland and eh, so we weren’t expecting a Michelin Star level meal. They’re famous for their oak-pit barbecued steak, and have a good selection of seafood, chicken, and veggie entrees as well.

My halibut was cooked pretty well, while my husband said his steak was kinda salty. Overall, not a horrible meal, but not a place I’d run back to for the food alone. You go for the overall experience instead. 

Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying a slice of their insta-famous Pink Champagne cake (albeit pricey at $12 a slice)! To be completely honest, we found the cake to be pretty underwhelming — it looked better than it tasted. The flavors weren’t horrible by any means, but I couldn’t even taste any champagne in the recipe!

Copper Cafe: This space is super busy for breakfast, so you’ll 100% wanna make a reservation here. Expect classic American dishes in a cozy atmosphere, with fresh baked breads, breakfast hash browns, fluffy pancakes, and yummy sandwiches. 

While breakfast is served all day, you can also pop in for a casual lunch or dinner. It’s not decked out like the other spaces, so we decided to skip it despite the raving reviews. 

Bakery: Situated in the Copper Cafe, there’s a whole case of sweet treats to be enjoyed – like freshly-baked cakes, French and Danish pastries, giant cookies, and cream and fruit pies. If you’re a fan of German Chocolate Cake, get it here; I heard it’s legendary. I so wish we had saved some room for it!

Silver Bar Cocktail Lounge: Even if you’re not staying at The Madonna Inn, at least come by for a drink! The cocktail lounge is the perfect place for people-watching, with its funky wild decor, hand-carved wooden details, stained glass windows, and big comfy pink chairs. 

There’s lots of signature cocktails and your regular standard drinks, too. Go all out and try their signature claim-to-fame, the “Pink Cloud”. I felt like a movie star sipping on my blended strawberry vodka and puree, with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Very on-brand for The Madonna Inn.

Although it was a tad too sweet for our tastes, the drink definitely grew on me and I almost finished the whole thing. Whoops!

Activities at The Madonna Inn

Staying at the Madonna Inn is an experience in and of itself! There’s so much to do on the property!

Tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts: Of course the athletic courts at The Madonna Inn would be a decadent hot pink – how could they not?! Wanna play?! There’s equipment at the front desk. 

Since it rained overnight, we didn’t get to use the tennis courts since they were still kinda wet, but I still had fun taking pictures!

Explore the quirky corners of the hotel: I swear, everywhere you look, there’s something new to see here. Even if you’re not a guest of the hotel, you can have a full-on Madonna Inn experience. Just wander around! One of my favorite secret spots is the old-school phone booth hidden in a corner. 

And if any guys are reading this – use the men’s public restroom at the steakhouse. Why?! There’s a rock waterfall urinal! Ladies, don’t worry – our bathroom is decked out too, with red leather stalls, pink marble sinks, and even a chandelier. Even the toilet paper in some of the restrooms are pink!

Pool Area: With a year-round heated pool plus two jetted whirlpools (and gazebo and waterfall), you don’t wanna miss the pool! There’s fabulous views of the Central coast countryside and Madonna Mountain. Thirsty? Grab a cocktail at the Terrace Pool Bar! Pink umbrellas to boot!

Gift Shops: Head upstairs and you’ll find a few gift shops selling the kitchiest and most unique items! Think pink leather jackets with frills, tie dye sweatshirts, and wacky tee shirts. Plus signature Madonna Inn souvenirs – like those iconic goblets, signature printed robes, and glammed out bracelets.

Live Music and Dancing: Whenever you visit, expect nightly music and dancing on the Madonna Inn Dance Floor! From live big band music, to swing, salsa, and piano music, every night of the week features a unique entertainment experience.

Service at The Madonna Inn

We found the service at The Madonna Inn to be pretty standard – everyone was friendly and helpful, but nothing really stood out. Just keeping it real over here!

Things to do near The Madonna Inn

Explore Downtown SLO: We love wandering around Downtown SLO; it’s small and charming and best of all, easily walkable! There’s tons of cute cafes, leafy streets to stroll down, and parks to chill out in. Don’t miss Bubblegum Alley, the historic Spanish Mission, and the farmers market.

Go wine tasting in Paso: Any visit to California needs to include some wine – I mean, there’s vineyards all around the state! Closest to SLO, you’ll find Paso Robles, home to over 200 wineries and vineyards. 

My favorites are DAUO (cheese plates with a view), Sculpterra (super artsy with a great lawn space), Calcareous (sit amongst the lavender in the spring), and Niner Wine Estates (I love their iconic heart).

Tour Hearst Castle: About an hour away from San Luis Obispo in nearby San Simeon you’ll find Hearst Castle, a real-life castle and National Historic Landmark. Sign up for a tour of the grand rooms, and don’t miss checking out the opulent Neptune Pool and then the indoor tiled Roman Pool – my favorite! I’m blown away by it every time!

Drive the Pacific Coast Highway: While you probably won’t drive the entirety of the Pacific Coast Highway during your time in SLO, the stretch between San Simeon and Pismo isn’t far from the Madonna Inn and a great day trip with plenty to do.

Check out Morro Rock at Morro Bay: Endless, crystal waters. Vast stretches of golden sand. Boats bobbing along the horizon. Sea otters holding hands (true story – they actually do!). Morro Bay is one of the most scenic places in California, and is not l to be missed. When it’s not completely covered in a thick marine layer, haha.

Overall Impression

I’m glad we stayed a night at the Madonna Inn, but felt one night was completely enough! This may be because we’d already visited (although never stayed overnight) before though. I could see it being a fun place to spend a weekend with girlfriends, for a special birthday, bachelorette party, or anything else! 

Hope you enjoyed my Madonna Inn review! Are you staying at this iconic San Luis Obispo hotel soon?! Which type of room do you want to stay in?

The post Checking into the Madonna Inn: San Luis Obispo’s Quirkiest and Most Eccentric Hotel appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Hate to be corny, but … Oh my gourd – it’s the first day of fall! Fall breeze and autumn leaves. Stressed, blessed, pumpkin obsessed. Sweater weather is better together. I like you a latte and I’d love to see you s’more. If you don’t like fall, you can leaf me alone. No one said I was actually funny… 

After living in California for almost a decade (WHOA…), I’m finally starting to miss the seasons. Especially fall – I never realized how much the leaves changing, that cool, crisp air, and hot apple cider donuts mean to me! Fine, I won’t say no to a PSL either, but let’s not go overboard, now shall we?

This year, we’ve been feasting on maple streusel bread with pumpkin butter, getting crazy messy carving pumpkins, roasting those delicious pumpkin seeds, watching all our favorite Halloween movies, making semi-homemade apple pie — the works! 

With that being said, I’ve been on a mission to do everything and anything possible to celebrate fall in San Francisco. It’s no New England fall, but with a little digging, I was able to find a whole bunch of fun fall activities in the Bay Area!

I’ve put together the ultimate list of things to do in fall in San Francisco and beyond. Many are favorites from all my years living in the Bay, and others I found while scouring the internet. 

For, ya know, more fall activities to add to my personal San Francisco fall bucket list! Let’s get to it – all the impossible corn mazes, sticky candy apples, and haunted hayrides await!

Where to Find Fall in San Francisco

Haha, or shall I say, the greater Bay Area? Because, let’s face it – there’s not really tons and tons of fall activities in San Francisco itself. 

Many of the activities on this list of things to do in fall in San Francisco are actually surrounding the city, not in SF itself. Think the East Bay, Peninsula/San Jose, and North Bay. The greater Bay Area is full of farmlands and tons of open spaces, perfect for apple picking, pumpkin farms, (some) fall foliage, and autumn wine tasting!

Weather During Fall in San Francisco

• In September, it’s still summer in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Meaning it’ll be hot, especially inland (where you’ll find most of these fall in San Francisco Bay Area activities). Don’t be grabbing your flannels just yet! I typically wear fall dresses through September and into mid-October.
• By mid-October, it finally (kinda) starts cooling off (a bit…). 
• And FINALLY, by November, we’ve got your typical fall weather! Time to bust out the beanies and cute boots!

Most people don’t realize this, but we’ve got Indian summers over here. Meaning our actual summer doesn’t start until the month of September. San Francisco is pretty chilly in the “summer” months of June through August, but come September, the jackets come off and the sandals come on out. We do get a nice breeze being on the coast.

Regardless of the month, just remember, the city’s got microclimates, so it may be hot and sunny in one area, and chilly and gray in another. Always wear layers; you never know when you’ll need to strip one off or add another!

The Best San Francisco Fall Activities (and Beyond)

Fall Foliage in San Francisco/Greater Bay Area 

While San Francisco and the Bay Area in general are definitely not known for fall foliage, there’s a few spots to check out for leaf peeping! Fall colors are pretty unusual for San Francisco’s climate, so you really gotta know where to look. It’s definitely not Vermont or New Hampshire over here, but we take what we can get!

The leaves turn later than usual here, so don’t expect much color until the earliest mid-October.

Fall Foliage at Japanese Tea Garden (San Francisco)

Fall is by far my favorite time to visit the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. You’ll still find lots of evergreens, but those maple leaves really are something once they turn colors.

A stunning red pagoda framed by gorgeous yellow ginkgo trees. A waterfall peeking through the bright red maple leaves. The koi ponds and all the traditional architecture. And like all the other times of year, don’t miss the bronze Buddha statue, stone lanterns, pruned evergreen trees, reflective pond, and of course a walk over the drum bridge (it’s harder than it looks).

Your best bet is to come mid-October to early November, because if you come any later, there might not be many colors left!

SF Botanical Garden (San Francisco)

The SF Botanical Garden is 55-acres – of course there’s gonna be at least a little fall foliage here! The fall foliage peak is pretty short, only lasting about 2 weeks, so be sure to keep an eye out on the garden’s instagram page (usually peaking in November).

Two specific spots in the garden to check out for fall foliage in San Francisco: the Temperate Asia Garden and the Moon Viewing Garden! Expect striking Japanese maple trees, bright golden-fanned ginkgos, Persian ironwood trees, and deep purplish-red Dogwoods.

Hakone Estate and Gardens (Saratoga)

Japanese gardens are carefully designed to showcase all different seasons depending on the time of year. And Hakone Gardens in Saratoga is no different! We love visiting whenever we’re aching for a trip back to Japan (easily one of our favorite countries in the world).

There’s splashes of fall color all around the garden, and the maple leaves turn a bright shade of orangey red. Visit in late October/early November for the best chance of spotting them! 

I took my parents here on their last visit to the Bay Area, and we loved touring the grounds – tons of koi fish in the pond, giant bamboo stalks, and traditional Japanese architecture. Plus multi-tiered waterfalls, strolling gardens, unique lanterns, and even unique Japanese stonework. And a tea house! Don’t miss the bamboo garden – it totally feels like you’re in Kyoto, Japan!

While you’re probably here for the fall foliage (this is a post on my favorite fall activities in San Francisco and beyond), don’t miss the Upper House and Lower House – we loved them! And get this, the The Cultural Exchange Center (another building in Hakone Estate), was actually constructed in Japan, disassembled, shipped to Saratoga (California), and then reassembled right on site. Can’t get more authentic than that!

A few other spots for fall foliage in San Francisco and nearby:

• Filoli Gardens (Peninsula: Woodside)
• Henry W. Coe State Park (South Bay: East of Morgan Hill) 
• Tilden Regional Park (Berkeley)
• Sawyer Camp Trail (Peninsula)
• Sonoma County

Fun Fall Events and Activities 

Nightfall at Filoli (Woodside)

Looking for a spooky, festive night out? You’ve gotta add NightFall at Filoli to your list of magical fall experiences in the Bay Area — I haven’t been to anything like it! The historic estate gets totally transformed into this slightly spooky, super Instagrammable wonderland with glowing pumpkins, neon mushrooms, and massive art installations.

The “Trolls: Save the Humans” exhibit by Thomas Dambo? Already epic in the daytime, but at night it’s next-level — those giant wooden trolls lit up in the trees feel like you just stepped into a fairytale forest (and spoiler alert — you kinda did!).

My friends and I had SO MUCH FUN wandering the redwood paths, admiring all the flickering jack-o’-lanterns, and eventually coming across all the quirky, spooky scarecrows (what a surprise!). There’s even a tiny maze (which we definitely overestimated our sense of direction for) and a whole cluster of banana slugs that had us cracking up. The pumpkin arch was perfect for group pics, and we loved chilling by the fire pits with hot apple ciders and boozy hot chocolates.

There’s a little tarot reading setup right by the fire pits, which was such a fun (included!) surprise and added a little extra magic to the night. Jack’s Bar has snacks and drinks too, plus live music — a super cute spot to pause and soak it all in.

Inside, the historic house is decked out with full-on autumn and Halloween vibes — think flickering candles, pumpkins, and subtle spooky touches that make every room feel cozy yet festive. Like a giant ouija board and the dreamy autumn tablescape (oh what it would’ve been like to host a dinner there back in the day!).

Note that most of the gardens are blocked off for the event, but honestly, there’s so much to see that you’ll want to check the map and plan your route so you don’t miss anything. I don’t wanna spoil all the fun though… you’re just gonna have to go see it for yourself (buy tickets here… and yes, they do sell out, so plan ahead!)!

Psst — plan to spend the entire night here. We met up at 6 and didn’t end up leaving until 9:30pm! Such a fun night out!

Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival (Half Moon Bay)

Every year, Half Moon Bay is transformed into the Pumpkin Capital of the World. And I mean completely transformed. If you haven’t been to the HMB Art and Pumpkin Festival, you haven’t done fall in San Francisco.

Expect to find enormous heavyweight champion pumpkins (last year’s winner was a whopping 2,000 pounds!), tons of entertainment, the Great Pumpkin Parade, a bone-chilling Haunted House, harvest-inspired crafts, home-style foods, expert pumpkin carvers, pie-eating and costume contests, and lots more. 

It’s kinda like fall threw up all over Half Moon Bay — and I’m here for it! There’s also pumpkin beer and pumpkin mac n’ cheese… so yeah, plan to go on an empty stomach (and wear your stretchy pants!).

The Annual Pumpkin Festival takes place in downtown HMB on Historic Main Street, not far from the Half Moon Bay pumpkin farms and stands. It’s crazy popular (and actually one of America’s most iconic festivals), so know there’ll be crowds. Admission is free! Get more info here!

World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off (Half Moon Bay)

Thought you’ve seen a huge pumpkin? Well, my friends, think again… 

Every year, farmers compete for big prize money for having the heaviest giant pumpkin – this year a whopping $30k! These pumpkins have been brewing since spring (April for most growers), so you bet they’re got time to grow. 

I mean, the giant pumpkins need to be transported by forklift to the official scale for weighing! How wild is that?! Makes sense considering some of them get to be over a thousand pounds! Half Moon Bay isn’t known as the World Pumpkin Capital for no reason!  

And just for the record, the current world pumpkin is a whopping 2,703 pounds – held by Stefano Cutrupi of Italy. Try and beat that, gourd growers! Find more info here.

If you aren’t growing your own bodacious behemoths, don’tchu worry – you can still be a spectator at the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in Half Moon Bay. 

Pumpkin Picking and Pumpkin Farms (Half Moon Bay)

Another great fall activity near San Francisco is pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay! Sure, you’ll find some small patches here and there in the city and on the peninsula itself, but no one does pumpkin picking better than Half Moon Bay. Come late September, the coast is filled with thousands and thousands of pumpkins of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. 

So put on your fun fall outfit (flannels are perfect) and grab a wheelbarrow — time to go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay!

There’s plenty of pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay to visit, and don’t feel like you need to visit each and every one. You can also go a bit further south to Pescadero where you’ll find even more pumpkin patches and farms (and that drool worthy artichoke bread)! Here’s the most popular patches:

• Farmer John’s:  The amount of pumpkins at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Farm is crazy — there’s tons and tons of different varieties! There’s those famous Atlantic Giants (sometimes weighing in at 250 pounds to a whopping 1500 lbs!), Cinderella and fairy tale, Jack be little, Lumina (white pumpkins!), speckled gourds, and a ton of others. We found Farmer John’s to have some of the cheapest pumpkin prices in Half Moon Bay, so plan to stock up here.

• Arata’s Pumpkin Farm: This is your one-stop-shop for allll the fall activities – think the famous Minotaur’s Labyrinth Hay Maze (a delightfully complex, 2-acre hay maze), a petting zoo, pony rides, a fun hayride through the corn stalks, as well as a spine-tingling Haunted Barn and the Pumpkin River in the corn field. See, oh so much! Plus a huge variety of pumpkins of course! You could easily spend half a day here, especially if you’ve got little ones with ya!

• Bob’s Vegetable Stand & Pumpkin Farm: So, you come to Bob’s for one thing and one thing only — to go pumpkin picking in Half Moon Bay! Unlike the other farms, it’s pretty basic and this typically translates to less crowds and better pricing!  There was hardly anyone there when we visited in mid-September! 

→ Find all my favorite pumpkin patches and farms here (with of course tons of photos, tips, and other less popular patches/farms in the area!).

U-Pick Sunflower Fields (Half Moon Bay)

Always wanted to run throughout a bright yellow sunflower field? Now’s your chance — at Andreotti Family Farms! This is one of my favorite fall activities in the San Francisco Bay Area, and I can guarantee you’ll have oh so much fun. You can even pick your own sunflowers to take home with you.

All my sunflower field tips here!

Plan to come in September or October before all the sunflowers have been picked through. However, the exact date varies every year depending on the season and the growth of the sunflowers. You’ll wanna follow Andreotti Family Farms on IG to check for sunflower opening updates. Not following them? Go do this, NOW.

A few things to know:

• There will be bees in the field (although they didn’t bother us one bit)
• Cutting down the sunflowers was actually way more labor intensive than I realized – the stalks are way thicker than you think!
• Wear sneakers – you’re essentially walking through a field full of sunflower stumps and there’s no clearly defined paths (you’re free to wander wherever), so you’ll probably get poked and stabbed quite a bit.

Read Next: Strolling through the Sunflowers in Half Moon Bay

Fleet Week (San Francisco)

Watching the Blue Angels soar overhead is easily one of the best things to do in fall in San Francisco. It’s not your typical seasonal activity per say, but it happens in autumn, so we’re adding it to the list!  Go try some caramel apple chocolate squares from Ghirardelli Square afterwards (not far from one of the best spots to see the Angels).

It took us 4 years of living in the Bay Area to finally watch these jaw-droppingly impressive flight demonstrations, but boy oh boy, the show did not disappoint. Fleet Week occurs every October, bringing some of the most elite pilots from the Navy and Marines to town, filling up the bay with military ships and choreographed jets soaring overhead. 

We watched on the lawn near the Aquatic Park area, and despite the intense crowds (over a million people came out to watch), it was tons of fun. Definitely one of the most iconic (and crowded) things to do in San Francisco in the fall, that’s for sure! Let’s just say watching fighter planes zip by the Golden Gate is not something you’ll quickly forget. 

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (San Francisco)

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass welcomes fall in San Francisco. It’s a downright massive 3-day (annual) music festival that literally takes over Golden Gate Park. And get this – it’s completely free, you don’t even need a ticket! Just show up with your friends, picnic blanket, snacks, and wine and beer (in non-glass containers of course).

It’s an incredible 3 days of free music – with 6 stages (playing simultaneously), more than 50 gourmet food and beverage vendors (BYO alcohol), and all the good vibes. 

Even though it’s a free event the festival gets big acts like Mumford and Sons and Elvis Costello. While it all started in 2001 with only bluegrass performers, there’s now a huge variety of types of musicians on stage, including tons of new, up-and-coming bands and performers.

The whole city comes together – it’s like one big (ok, HUGE) party in the park with live music! Over 750k people attended over the course of the three days this year; absolutely wild!

Spooky and Strange Things To Do for Halloween

It’s spooky season, ya’ll! And the Bay Area’s got a few haunted spots to check out. 

Alcatraz Island After Dark (San Francisco Bay)

Being the inspiration behind countless urban legends, television shows, and movies, Alcatraz is most definitely one of the most famous things to do in San Francisco – and fall is the perfect time to visit. I mean, what’s creepier/eerier than visiting an ultimate maximum security prison, one of the most notorious in the world. Al Capone aka Scarface was held here!

Step into the solitary confinement cells. You’ll definitely feel the eerie coldness – it’s kinda like a real-life horror house.

Once home to the state’s most dangerous criminals, Alcatraz is now open to the public for guided tours (book yours here!). Wanna really send a shiver down your spine?! Visit Alcatraz after dark and buy a ticket for the night tour for all the spooky vibes. Eerie atmospheres at this abandoned prison on an island guaranteed. And if it’s raining? It’ll just add to the grim mood! 

Be sure to make a reservation as soon as you can – tours to Alcatraz are hugely popular. We’ve been to Alcatraz quite a few times, and lemme tell ya — the night tour is where it’s at!

Winchester Mystery House (San Jose)

Next up – The Winchester Mystery House! What is this exactly?!  It’s a stately mansion (and architectural wonder and historic landmark) in San Jose, with a strange and sinister history. 

The mansion is said to be haunted by the spirits of people killed by Winchester rifles over the centuries – so yup, expect the possibility of tons of paranormal activity here! So many years of history within these walls.

Like many others big on spiritually, Winchester was superstitious and was utterly obsessed with the number 13. Think 13 hooks in the seance room, 13 overflow drain holes in the sink in the Hall of Fires, and 13 parts to her will (which she actually signed 13 times!), etc. The mansion is bizarre and the grounds are actually quite lovely.

There’s a few different tours you can choose from here:

• Mansion Tour: Learn all about Sarah, the woman behind the house, and see all the bizarre architectural designs and mysterious elements. Plus the 40 bedrooms, 47 fireplaces, 6 kitchens, and just one shower (glad we didn’t live back then)!

• Walk With Spirits Tour: Explore the paranormal and topic of spiritualism – you’ll even attend a wake for a departed soul, experience a Victorian era seance, and end in the dark basement, home to the famous “Wheelbarrow Ghost”. 

If you’re looking for all the spooky vibes and can’t wait to get creeped out/get the chills, I’d choose the Walk with Spirits Tour. Also, the mansion typically has additional tours specifically for Halloween – “Unhinged: Nightshade’s Curse”. Expect malicious spirits and terrifying scenes. Once you’re done, stop by the Spookeasy Bar (21+)!

California Great America’s Tricks and Treats (Santa Clara)

California’s Great America, a theme park we’ve been going to ever since we moved here, literally transforms into a Halloween fantasyland come October. And Tricks and Treats is their new, over-the-top, larger-than-life, gotta-be-there Halloween event packed with fun and family-friendly eeriness. It replaced the haunted Halloween nights which I kinda loved, so of course we had to check out the new event.

Psst — it was fun, but definitely not as well-done as the previous one.

There’s two worlds to explore – the Land of Tricks and the Land of Treats, each with different festivities, shows, and decorations. We had fun taking a few pics, but totally wish it was scarier like Halloween nights was in the past! Lines are long so expect to stay all day if you wanna get on all the rides.

If you’re a rollercoaster fan looking for an all-zombie cover band, The Bride of Frank’s Ice cream, and all things slimy, crawly, goopy and stinky, head over to the Land of Tricks.

And then there’s the other side, the Land of Treats, – with softly glowing candles, pumpkin spice, cozy flannels, campfire stories, and an incredibly sweet Trick or Treat Trail. You’ll totally feel all the nostalgia of a cozy fall festival.

Of course there’s bewitching brews, potions and magical elixirs for all us adults out there. 

Tour the Haunted USS Hornet (Alameda)

Touring the USS Hornet is like taking a trip back in time. The ship’s been through a lot – serving in BOTH World War II and Vietnam, as well famously saving the Apollo 11 astronauts from the Pacific Ocean after the 1969 moon landing. So yeah, it’s pretty important in terms of history. 

Today, the Hornet’s a museum, and it’s HUGE (the length of three football fields).

But what most people don’t realize is that the ship is actually haunted. Veterans who used to work on the ship (who are now docents to the tours) claim there’s tons of paranormal activity. They don’t call this the most haunted ship in history for nothin! 

And you can visit on the museum’s three hour History/Mystery tour. It’s part history lesson, and of course part paranormal investigation. You’ll go below deck, into the dark, hearing ghost stories along the way. Get ready for lots of chilling history, and the K-II meters may even detect the presence of a spirit or two. 

There’s usually only one history mystery tour per month, so definitely snag your ticket way ahead of time.

If you really wanna feel all the mysterious vibes and history, there’s even an overnight version of the History Mystery Tour. You’ll sleep where the crew slept, eat where they ate, and investigate with the crew from 6 PM to 9 AM the next morning. The ultimate paranormal investigation.

Mystery Spot (Santa Cruz)

Take a drive down south to Santa Cruz – The Mystery Spot is one of those quirky roadside attractions you should only attempt with your tongue firmly planted in your cheek. It’s located in the nearby redwood forest and allegedly sits upon a “gravitational anomaly”. The 45 minute tour will show you amazing feats that defy the laws of physics. It’s goofy fun and not to be missed during any weekend in Santa Cruz.

I don’t wanna spoil all the fun, but I’ll say this – you’ll appear to defy gravity! The Mystery Spot is a circular area of effect around 150 feet, and within it, you’ll totally question your perception of the laws of physics and gravity.

Ghost Tours in San Francisco

Looking to learn about the haunted history of San Francisco? Join a walking tour after dark! 

This ghost tour visits the mysterious alleyways of Chinatown and ghostly Jackson Square historic district, while hearing tales of unexplained deaths, scandalous murders, the old red-light district (not only in Amsterdam!), famed spirits, Chinatown assassins, and so much more. 

Plus known ghosts and infamous crimes, and walk down the very streets where these hauntings and crimes took place. You’ll even be able to use your own ghost hunting tools, like an EMF detector – how cool is that?! 

Wanna check out Nob Hill and Union Square instead? This haunted walking tour explores the darkest corners of San Francisco. 

You’ll visit 8-12 sites, walk past haunted hotels, streets, clubs, and office buildings, plus learn about the famous tragedies that haunt The Westin St. Francis! Including some frightening stories about the gold rush and film industry! Definitely not your typical touristy tour!

Psst – you maaaay wanna leave the kids at home. Most ghost tours (including these) are rated PG-13 for some talk of violence and gore, and can be kinda scary (even for adults!).

San Francisco Vampire Tour 

Vampire lore and local history await! This guitchy tour primarily walks through Nob Hill, making stops at Grace Cathedral (where vampires played a role in the history), the Nob Hill Café (lots of wild history over here), the Fairmont Hotel (definitely a haunted hotel), and the InterContinental Mark Hopkins. You’ll learn all the neighborhood’s secrets and some favorite vampire tales as you go

The tour also tells stories about the cemeteries that were removed from San Francisco (whoa, where did they put the bodies?!), plus the darker history of Alcatraz and other areas of the city. It’s also funny and there’s vampire costumes – a great way to learn the history of San Francisco during the 1800s and have a little silly fun while doing so.

Check out the tour here and book your ticket! Guaranteed to sell out for Halloween!

Fear Overload Haunted House (Newark)

Unsavory demons. Horrifying whispers. Flesh-eating abominations. Enter hell through the gaping mouth of a hideous monster and descend to the negative thirteenth floor of the building. This is a breathtaking, haunted experience (only for the bravest souls out there)! And easily the scariest haunted houses in the entire Bay Area.

There’s not just one, but 2 ecstatic, over-the-top haunted houses rich with horrific monsters and humans in agony. 

Get lost in ridiculously detailed mazes (literally, you’ll get lost), get trapped in an Asylum, with horrific scenes all around you, and don’tchu worry, you’ll be hearing voices too. Humans chained by their wrists, sizzling away in barrels of acid. This is an experience you won’t believe – beware of nightmares!

Epic Halloween Decorations

Eucalyptus Street (San Carlos)

Residents on Eucalyptus Street in San Carlos really go all out for Halloween. The vibrant lights and spooky decorations are part of the San Carlos culture afterall! It’s a longstanding tradition over here – buy a house on Eucalyptus Street, and you’re automatically joined into the fun.

We love sipping on festive drinks (did someone say pumpkin spice?!) and wandering down Eucalyptus Street in San Carlos. Doesn’t hurt that it’s less than a 15 min drive from our condo – before buying our new place we could actually walk to Eucalyptus Street from our old apartment. 

And it’s oh so fun and festive – everyone dresses up, there’s tons of candy given out (yes, even to adults sometimes… just ask nicely), and there’s even haunted houses and musical Halloween performances. We once saw a zombie invasion!

What used to be a low-key local event has turned into a spectacle everyone wants to see! And make sure to come back for Christmas – the street goes out even more (if that’s even possible).

Please please please, whatever you do – clean up after yourself and make sure not to litter the streets at all (including candy wrappers). As you can imagine, with all the crowds, residents need to clean the streets afterwards. 

Do your part and don’t add to the madness. And of course be extra respectful to the families living there. The street is normally shut off entirely to traffic, so plan to park nearby (Burton Park is a great spot) and walk to Eucalyptus Street.

Halloween Houses in San Francisco 

The city’s got tons of decorations, and it’s so fun to just wander around looking for them! But there’s a few specific houses that totally go all out — think dozens of pumpkins cascading down steps, spooky 12-foot skeletons, and giant spiders galore.

I’m itching to spend a day photographing them all. Thankfully, my friend Wendan already has! And her photos are just so perfect — I mean, she’s totally giving off Wednesday Addams vibes here!

Here’s some of the most popular houses (closest intersections below):

• Upper Terrace and Masonic (they go all out for Christmas in SF too)
• 6th and Irving 
• Castro and Liberty 
• Divisadero and Washington 
• Page and Divisadero

Foodie Fall Things in San Francisco (and Beyond)

Okay, y’all know I’m all about the food when I travel. And fall food is no exception – I’m here for it all! Gimme the apple cider donuts, bratwurst, pumpkin bread, bartlett pears, persimmons (yes, I love those!), and literally any seasonal treat from Trader Joe’s (IYKYK). I recently had some pumpkin cheesecake and oh boy…

Oktoberfests! 

We can’t all get to Germany for Oktoberfest, but thankfully, there’s a few celebrations right here in the Bay! Put on your lederhosen and drink up – all the Oktoberfest beers and bratwurst await! 

Redwood City Oktoberfest (Redwood City): Bier! Brezeln! Bratwurst! If you’re on the peninsula, don’t miss Redwood City’s Oktoberfest – it ain’t Redwood City’s premier fall event for nothing! 

There’s authentic German food (like pretzels and brats), commemorative steins with delicious brews on tap, Austrian and German music from Tyrol and Bavaria, plus fun contests like stein holding, yodeling, and lots of variations of the “international” chicken dance all in a huge decked-out Oktoberfest tent. I already have it on my San Francisco fall bucket list for next year!

21st Amendment Brewery Oktoberfest (two locations: San Francisco and San Leandro): Another popular spot to celebrate, and 21st Amendment does it better than the rest! Enjoy Polka music, hearty German cuisine, the release of their Oktoberfest Festbier, and so much more. 

Expect a full-on Oktoberfest menu with all the grub – including beer cheese soup, German potato salad, spaetzle, pretzels with beer mustard and obatzda cheese, bratwurst with sauerkraut, and of course, schnitzel! Yum! 

Apple Picking

Growing up in NY, it seemed like there were dozens of apple orchards everywhere you looked. But here in the Bay Area? There’s not that many… and the closest ones are about an hour and 20 minutes from San Francisco (without traffic!). 

BUT, apple picking is one of the best fall activities out there… and you’ve got an excuse to make (and then eat) all the apple pie… so yea, you gotta go!

Depending on the orchard you visit, you’ll find all different types of apples. There’s gravensteins, golden delicious, rome apples, fujis, and other less common varieties like orins, pinovas, candy crisps, and jonagolds. You never know what you’ll find! If you’re looking for a snack, grab a few Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious. Rome, Golden Delicious, and Jonagolds are great for baking. Most apples cost $2-2.50 a pound.

U-Pick apple season typically runs from September through early December, although this always depends on the weather and availability of ripe apples. Always check specific farms/orchards before visiting to make sure there’s still enough apples to pick! As always, exact dates may vary. 

Also, some orchards require an advance reservation/ticket purchase/parking pass, so head to the individual websites below for all the logistics. Things change every year – you don’t wanna show up and then not be allowed entry!

Here’s the most popular apple orchards with U-Pick apples in the SF Bay Area. And honestly the only ones I could find… haha.

Gizdich Ranch (Watsonville): This is where we recently went apple picking, and had the best time! With no reservations needed, it was so easy. You just stroll up and you’re picking apples within minutes. 

Before leaving, don’t miss out on the famous pie and fresh pressed apple juice (we were too full to try the famed apple dumplings and puff pastries). 

The line gets exceptionally busy, so I recommend having some pie for brunch (hey, no judgments!), and then picking apples afterwards. Dogs are not allowed in the apple orchard (understandably), but they’re allowed elsewhere on property (so of course we took little Kona!). There’s a cute antique shop too.  

Clearview Orchards (Watsonville): Besides U-pick apples, Clearview Orchards sells fresh apple juice, delicious apple turnovers, organic squash, pumpkins, dried lavender, honey, and more. Do note a reservation is required for parking and entry (up to 8 people).  

Chileno Valley Ranch (Petaluma): This one you need reservations for, and it seems like there’s super limited availability (definitely check the website in advance for opening hours/days). ​​They also sell other items from their farm or neighbors, like free-range eggs, honey, and baked goods.  

Apple-A-Day at Ratzlaff Ranch (Sebastopol): This is where the award winning Apple-A-Day apple juice is produced! You’ve probably seen them at stores like Whole Foods and Molly Stones – and if not, I’m sure you’d recognize the label.  

The cider is made using 100% pure premium apples, and absolutely nothing is added. No reservations are needed for U-Pick apples! 

EarthSeed Farm (Sebastopol): This is the newest orchard in the Bay Area, and it just opened up in 2021. Do note you need reservations – u-pick is by appointment only and there’s a $25 fee (for up to 6 people). Dogs allowed (on leash!)

Pumpkin Ice Cream

I may be kinda basic, but one of my favorite things about fall in San Francisco is all the fall-flavored ice cream flavors! 

If you don’t know by now, I’m a sucker for sweets and treats (I’ve got an entire list of 50 dessert places in San Francisco right here… which I keep on adding to… whoops). So, suffice to say, this is right up my alley! We love to grab a few scoops and go hunting for Halloween decorations around town!

One of my all-time faves? Salt & Straw – and they ALWAYS deliver on the festive flavors. They typically have autumn favorites incorporating apple pie cinnamon rolls, pumpkin pie cheesecake, and caramel apples in September, and then things get really wacky for Halloween in October (think licorice and bugs and piles of candy), and then a menu of ice cream comfort foods entirely for Thanksgiving in November. Trying all the different flavors is my kinda sport.

Think The Great Candytopia (filled with homemade kit kats, reeses, snickers, heath bars in a salted butterscotch ice cream), Black Cat Licorice and Lavender (silky, dark anise and fennel caramel with a luminous salted lavender ice cream), and Don Bugito’s Creepy Crawly Critters (complete with, you guessed it – actual bugs like toffee-brittle mealworms and chocolate crickets in matcha ice cream). Kinda makes me feel like I’m back in Thailand again (bugs are a delicacy over there).

But my favorite of all?! Jack o’ Lantern Pumpkin Bread – with tender hunks of freshly-baked pumpkin bread and swaths of whipped cream cheese frosting in a pumpkin spiced ice cream. It literally screams Halloween.

If you’re looking for other ice cream spots, Mitchell’s has great Autumn Caramel Apple and Pumpkin Spice flavors, Smitten’s got a droolworthy Pumpkin Pecan Pie and Cinnamon Toast, and you can’t miss the spiced pumpkin sundae at Humphrey Slocombe.

Wine tasting in Sonoma/Napa

Sure, you could visit the vineyards anytime of year (wine country’s just awesome like that). But wine country in the fall is absolutely spectacular – the valley’s grapevines change from the deep greens of summer to beautiful shades of bright yellow, dusty gold, deep burgundy, and rusty red. We just visited last weekend (early October) and I couldn’t get enough! 

There were also still some (leftover, unwanted) grapes on the vines, which was so fun to see!  The rolling hills are turning a soft golden color, and daytime temps have finally cooled off a bit (although it’s still a bit hot at times). 

Some of our favorites in the area: 

• Ledson Winery & Vineyards (I’m all about that castle-style architecture)
• MacRostie Winery Estate House (I swear it’s the prettiest vineyard in all of Sonoma)
• Viansa Winery & Tasting Room (get whisked off to Tuscany for the day!)
• Castello di Amorosa (the famous one in Napa literally in a castle)

You could visit every weekend and never get bored. There’s SO many vineyards to check out (in both Napa and Sonoma). Easily one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco. 

Road trip to Apple Hill

Up for a road trip? When we’re really craving all things apple (ok, fine, when are we not?!), we drive out to Placerville for Apple Hill. And there’s a reason the area’s known as Apple Hill – it’s got California’s largest concentration of apple growers! 

Yes, this means alllll the delicious apple treats, like dutch apple pies, apple wines (yup!), apple cider donuts, fresh pressed cider, caramel apples, and tons more. I don’t wanna spoil all the surprises for you, so you’ll just have to go yourself to see what all the fuss is about!

There’s also apple picking (plus chestnut picking later in the season), several wineries and cideries (which always makes Apple Hill more fun), pumpkin patches come October, and even a brewery. 

A few of my favorites and non-negotiables whenever we go:

• Hot apple cider donuts from Rainbow Orchards (a staple and my all-time favorite)
• Caramel apple pie from Abel’s Apple Acres (just look at that thing – I definitely recommend sharing a slice and always add a scoop of ice cream on top!)
• Apple milkshakes from Apple Hill High Hill Ranch Pie House Restaurant (sounds kinda weird, but they taste exactly like fall)
• Hard cider at Hidden Star Bakery & Taproom (enjoy a flight or purchase a bottle)

The season runs from mid August to late December, so you’ve got plenty of time! But whatever you do, skip Apple Hill on weekends in October if you can – the place is absolute madness (and driving around from farm to farm will be horrible). I recommend visiting in either September or November instead, and on a weekday if your schedule is flexible! 

Autumn produce at the farmers market

Ever since we moved to California, we’ve had a thing for markets. There’s so much variety and you just never know what you’ll find! And it’s all SO fresh, and you get to support your local farmers! Food just tastes better when you know where it comes from.

The produce in the fall months is absolutely unbelievable — look out for Gravenstein and Pink Lady apples, Bartlett pears, persimmons, and pomegranates, plus lots of squash and peppers, all coming to a farmers market or farm stand near you in late September!

Which of these San Francisco fall activities are you putting on your bucket list this season?! I’m off to go pumpkin picking soon… and if you see a girl double fisting apple cider donuts, that’s not me (wink, wink).

The post Fall in San Francisco: 25+ Fall Activities in the SF Bay Area You Can’t Miss appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Whether you’re stopping in Cambria on a much longer Pacific Coast Highway road trip, or are making Cambria your one and only destination, you’ll absolutely love this cute little beach town.

We’ve driven the California coast plenty of times, always stopping on the central coast a bit!. We typically make stops in Santa Cruz (and Capitola!), Monterey Bay (for the 17 Mile Drive), Big Sur (you know you need to go!), Paso Robles (so much wine!), Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. But before this trip on the PCH, we had never ventured over to Cambria, admittedly because we didn’t know too much about it.

Well, after (finally!) visiting for a long weekend, I’m excited to share all the fun things to do in Cambria! Adventure meets relaxation over here, and you can really do both at the same time in this charming seaside village. It kinda feels like a mixture between Morro Bay (a tad south of Cambria) and Mendocino (a few hours north of San Francisco) — untouched yet still fun and happening.

There’s a super slow and relaxing pace here (yes, even slower than nearby SLO – San Luis Obispo), so don’t feel bad if you feel like doing absolutely nothing at all! That’s the beauty of this area – there’s enough things to do in Cambria for a weekend, but not too much that it feels absolutely overwhelming and you’re missing out.

Planning Your Trip to Cambria

Weather and When to Visit Cambria

Like other spots on the coast (Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Big Sur), the weather is pretty fickle in summer. You never really know what you’re gonna get! We woke up to fog/clouds every morning, and while they typically burned off by late afternoon, it was kinda a bummer to have less-than-ideal beach weather for half the day. Especially since the main attraction is well, the beach! We visited in mid-June, FYI.

If you’re looking for the warmest possible weather, head to Cambria from July through September. May and June are still kinda chilly, especially on the coast by the beach. And you’ve got that marine layer that doesn’t always burn off… leaving you with fog and chilly weather.

HOWEVER, yes, of course there’s a however, if you wanna see the baby seals (oh so many of them), they’re born in winter, so late winter is best for the elephant seal rookery (although there’s seals year round – more on that below).

How to Get to Cambria

First of all, where is Cambria exactly? Cambria is a small town located on the Central Coast of California, nestled between the larger spots of San Luis Obispo and San Simeon in SLO county. 

The area is smack dab between San Francisco and Los Angeles, (roughly 4 hours or so from both), making it the perfect weekend getaway for those in the big cities. It’s also a great mid-way point between the two if you’re taking a much longer California coast road trip.

• From Paso Robles: 30 miles (~40 min)
• From San Luis Obispo: 35 miles (~45 min)
• From Big Sur: 75 miles (2 hours)
• From Santa Barbara: 130 miles (2 ½ hours)
• From San Francisco: 230 miles (~3 ½ hours)
• From Los Angeles: 220 miles (4 hours)
• From Napa Valley: 275 miles (4 ½ hours)
• From Lake Tahoe: 380 miles (7 hours)

From nearby San Luis Obispo, there’s AMTRAK and a bus which will take you directly to Cambria. Perfect if you don’t have a car or don’t feel like driving.

If you’re coming from the San Francisco Bay Area (like us!), there’s two popular ways to get to Cambria:

1. driving inland on the 101 and then cutting over to the coast via the 46 (~3.5-4 hours)
2. making your way down the coast via the Pacific Coast Highway (~5 hours)

INLAND ROUTE (U.S. Route 101 and California 46)

By far the fastest way to get to Cambria is directly down the 101, and then heading to the coast via the 46. If you take the inland route via the 101 and 46, it won’t be as scenic, but you’ll make it to Cambria much, much quicker.

While there isn’t a ton to see along the way (the 101 isn’t the most scenic), you’ll pass by orchards and farms,  tiny towns, and ultimately straight in Paso Robles, which is deserving of its own few days, but worth it to make a stop or two.

Add the following to your list of must-stops while heading down for a weekend in Cambria: 

• Garlic World for a taste of chocolate garlic ice cream – it’s actually not too bad once you get used to it! (Gilroy)
• A quick stop at roadside farm stands for some fresh fruit (like cherries and strawberries!) for the drive (Gilroy)
• A winery or two in Paso Robles (my favorites being DAOU, Sculpterra, and Calcareous)
• An early lunch (or breakfast) at Brunch (get the s’mores french toast) and some Spearhead Coffee to-go

COASTAL ROUTE (Highway 1)

We typically take the 101/46 when heading to the Central Coast since it’s shorter, but if you’ve never driven this part of the Pacific Coast Highway, don’t miss it! It is a tad longer (okay, so more than a tad considering all the stops you’ll make), but well-worth it in my opinion.

You’ll pass some of our favorite areas, including Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel, and the stunning Big Sur. However, as much as I love these spots, they all deserve their own long weekend getaway. Therefore, I don’t recommend stopping in them all, especially if you live in San Francisco. 

BUT since you probably don’t make it down here all too often, make a few stops! Especially in the farthest from home, Big Sur!

If you’ve never driven the rugged Central Coast of California, the following stops are highly recommended on your way to Cambria (from SF):

• Garrapata State Park Bluff Trail to stretch your legs and get picture-perfect views of the rocky coastline without much effort
• Take that iconic Big Sur photo at the Bixby Creek Bridge
• Stop along the coast at all the viewpoints you like, my favorites being Hurricane Point and Sea Otter Refuge View Point
• Indulge in flaky almond croissants (the best you’ll ever have) at Big Sur Bakery
• Grab drinks with a view at Nepenthe
• Stop at McWay Falls to see the waterfall flowing directly into the Pacific Ocean (a must!)

→ Read Next: ALL My Favorite Stops in Big Sur

Note that driving down the coast will take the better portion of the day (depending on how many stops you make). You may encounter some traffic in Big Sur, but just take it slow and admire the views. After Big Sur it’s about an hour or so of driving along the windy coastline, which, while absolutely gorgeous, gets a tad monotonous at times. You’ll get there, I promise!

Because of this, don’t make any dinner reservations in Cambria or plan to do anything of significance down there the first night. You’ll likely be tired from all the fun stops!

How Long to Spend in Cambria

A full two days will be sufficient for checking out all these fun things to do in Cambria, but if you wanna explore the areas nearby, add in an extra day or two! 

We drove down from San Francisco on a Friday morning, stopping in Big Sur along the way, making it to Cambria around 6pm or so. 

Here’s my recommendation for your weekend in Cambria if you’ve got a FULL 3 days to explore from the SF Bay Area or nearby:

• Day 1: spend the day driving down the coast via Highway 1, stopping at Monterey, Carmel, and Big Sur
• Day 2: full day in Cambria and nearby
• Day 3: morning in Cambria, drive back to SF via the 46 and 101

How to Get Around Cambria

Well, if you got here via Pacific Coast Highway road trip, or even driving from SF or LA, I’m assuming you’ve got access to a car here in Cambria. With that being said, the tiny town is pretty walkable, but you’ll definitely want a car to get to spots a bit further away (like to see the elephant seals and Hearst Castle).

Don’t feel like doing much driving after getting here? Thankfully, there’s a free trolley from Thursday to Sunday (only runs in summer) to whisk you around.

Where to Stay in Cambria

There’s nothing quite like staying close to the beach when you’re on vacation, and Cambria definitely has no shortage of beachfront properties. My top picks are:

• White Water Hotel: If spectacular uninterrupted sea views, tranquil surroundings and getting a breakfast basket delivered right to your door each morning are your kind of thing (and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t love that?), then a stay at the White Water Hotel on Moonstone Beach is for you. This place is a little piece of perfection, with a Scandinavian-inspired take on the Central Coast’s easygoing lifestyle.

• Fogcatcher Inn: Another oceanfront gem, the Fogcatcher Inn is a country style hotel located just across from the Moonstone Beach boardwalk. It might be the oldest inn in the area, but it’s been renovated to an incredibly high standard. With an outdoor pool and hot tub, a firepit and fireplaces in each room, this is the ideal spot to kick back and relax.

• Sand Pebbles Inn: If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, this small boutique is a great choice. The rooms are tastefully decorated with treasures found on the beach – which is just across from its location – and the staff are renowned for their kindness and helpfulness.

• Little Sur Inn: This small family run inn is pretty intimate, with just 17 rooms, and feels more like staying in a friend’s home than a hotel. The décor is sophisticated and modern and each room comes with its own fireplace for those chilly nights. Sit in the jacuzzi tub that comes with the oceanfront rooms with a glass of wine and watch the sunset – you won’t regret it!

So let’s get to it – all the best things to do in Cambria, California, coming right up!

Best Things to do in Cambria

1. Stroll the Moonstone Beach Boardwalk

One of the best things to do in  Cambria?! To experience the natural beauty of its shoreline of course! And the Moonstone Beach boardwalk is the perfect place to start, with a mile long stretch that takes you from Cambria’s north end all the way down to Leffingwell Landing.

When you’re done with walking but not done with the views (not that you could ever be done with these views), there are some sweet little benches dotted around for you to sit on and take it all in. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and mischievous otters – they are oh so cute, especially when they hold hands!

I highly recommend skipping out on breakfast at your hotel and bringing it down to the boardwalk instead. There’s nothing like a fresh cup of coffee and some pastries from French Corner Bakery with the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Sounds like my kinda morning!

Some of the nearby hotels rent out bikes too so you can hop on and explore the boardwalk on wheels if you prefer. If your hotel doesn’t have any (or you were too late to grab one!), don’t fret – a bunch of companies in town have bikes for rent as well. Check out Cambria Electric Bike Company and VeloCambria.

2. Go Tidepooling at Moonstone Beach

Tidepooling is one of my favorite things to do on the Central Coast, which makes it one of my favorite things to do in Cambria! Luckily, Moonstone Beach is one of the best spots for it. Head to the northern end of the beach for some of the best tidepools on the central coast!

If you’re not familiar with tidepooling, get ready for some fun! It’s basically when you explore the small pools of water that are left behind when the tide goes out – and yes, this means you get up close and personal with some of the amazing marine life that call this stretch of coastline home.

Think crabs and anemones to mussels and periwinkle snails. It’s like a whole other world down there! Make sure to look closely as they’ll probably be hiding under some sea grass and beneath rocks.

Psst — live in the Bay and wanna go tidepooling closer to home? Make sure to check out some of the beaches in Half Moon Bay — there’s loads of sea critters over there!

The best time to go is an hour or two before low tide. Make sure to wear waterproof shoes (you’ll essentially be stepping right in the water for the most part), and clothes you don’t mind getting wet!

Remember – be careful where you step! Tide pools are teeming with wildlife, and you don’t wanna accidentally hurt any of the tiny creatures. Never walk right into a tide pool, and never touch or remove any sea life, shells, or sand.

3. Search for moonstones on Moonstone Beach

Who doesn’t love a treasure hunt! While the moonstones on this beach aren’t necessarily worth much (if anything, actually, haha), they’re still really pretty to look at and fun to search for!

Moonstone Beach is famous for these little gems hiding amongst the sand and rocks, and you’ll most definitely see others at low tide keeping their eyes peeled to the ground in the hopes of finding some too.

They get their name from the moon-like sheen that some of them have, and they range in color from white to gray to a deep blue. They’re actually a type of feldspar, called labradorite, and they have a beautiful iridescent quality to them.

Find a few on the beach and take them home as souvenirs or even get creative and make some jewelry out of them later on!

4. Wander Downtown Cambria

Cambria’s downtown area is small but mighty, with a great selection of shops and restaurants to explore. It’s made up of the East Village and the West Village, but it’s a super walkable town so you can get from one area to the other in no time.

You’ll find a concentration of art galleries, cute little eateries and the sweetest boutique shops – I loved the Cambria Nursery & Florist and the Red Moose Cookie Company!

If you’re interested in finding out more about the rich history of Cambria, head to the Cambria Historical Museum which documents the history of the town and the surrounding area. The architecture around this area is just like you see in old postcards too – it’s super cute and crazy  charming!

There’s also a few tasting rooms downtown if you’re interested in doing some wine tasting (but more on that later!).

5. Walk the Coastal Bluff Trail at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

If you know me at all, you’ll know I love a good hiking trail! So it’s no wonder the Coastal Bluff Trail at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve was one of my favorite things to do in Cambria.

The trail is around a mile long each way and takes you along the coast, with incredible views of the ocean (and if you’re lucky, some wildlife too!). It’s an easy trail that’s good for all skill levels, just some gradual inclines over gravel terrain.

If you visit in the Spring, the whole trail is blanketed with colorful wildflowers. It’s absolutely stunning – a wildflower heaven!

Oh but watch out for poison oak on the trail! Especially if you’ve got your dog with you (yes, they’re allowed!).

There’s some other great trails in the area too if you’re really keen to get out in nature, but the coastal bluff is the most scenic for sure.

6. Piedras Blancas Light Station

Like many other coastal cities in California, Cambria’s got its very own lighthouse! This iconic light station has been standing since 1875 (so yea, it’s been around for a while!) and marks the entrance to San Simeon Bay. 

It reminds me a bit of the lighthouse we love to visit in Pescadero, and also the one on the way to Mendocino. What can I say, I kinda have a thing for lighthouses, haha.

You might be wondering what happened to the upper section of the lighthouse, and why the torch doesn’t shine at night anymore. Well, that’s because back in 1949, there was an earthquake which damaged the building so these had to be removed. It’s still a beauty, although it doesn’t function as well as it used to!

These days, you can only enter the light station on a guided tour which lasts around 2.5-3 hours. Remember to buy your tickets in advance, as you can’t purchase them at the door. You’ll be able to check out the historic Fog Signal Building and the bottom level of the lighthouse.

While the building itself is a wonder to look at, it’s set on a stunning bed of wildflowers and surrounded by grassy areas (it’s a spot for the ‘gram for sure!). 

Further down the path is a great spot for whale watching (especially humpback whales in summer!) and if you’re lucky, you’ll see otters (and elephant seals!) basking in the sun. So cute and oh so weird! Don’t forget to bring your binoculars!

7. Check out the Unique Nitt Witt Ridge

This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Cambria, and possibly all of California!

Nitt Witt Ridge is a man-made sculpture made out of junk, bottle caps, hubcaps, license plates, old stoves – basically anything you can think of! Even abalone shells! How wild! It was created by artist Arthur Harold Beal over the course of 50 years, and is now a registered Historic Landmark.

He used only a pick and a shovel to carve out all the terraces on the building. It really is a work of art! After Arthur died, the O’Malleys bought the property and they now offer tours of the house. You gotta go see it! The house is kinda like the poor man’s Hearst Castle, a must on any trip down Highway 1.

If you’re into weird and wacky creations, be sure to check out Salvation Mountain in Slab City and Bombay Beach at the Salton Sea. While they’re nowhere near these things to do in Cambria, add those two spots for your next Southern California road trip!

8. Indulge in a Slice of Olallieberry Pie at Linn’s Easy as Pie Cafe

Ok, we need to talk about Olallieberry Pie… because it’s just that good!

If you don’t know, an olallieberry is a cross between a loganberry, blackberry and a youngberry. And Linn’s Easy as Pie Café is famous for their Olallieberry pie, so, ya know, you gotta go at least once when you’re in Cambria (or twice, shh!). It’s seriously delicious, and a must-have when visiting Cambria!

Can eating pie be one of my favorite things to do in Cambria? I think yes, haha. This is your PSA to RUN to Linn’s and indulge! Totally fine to wear your stretchy pants here!

The Olallieberry Pie isn’t quite as sweet as a blackberry, but it’s still got a lovely sweetness to it. The pie crust is flaky and the whole thing just melts in your mouth. It’s the kind of pie you talk about for years to come…seriously (we’re still obsessing about it)!

Linn’s Easy as Pie Café gets pretty busy (did I mention how amazing the pie is?), so make sure you get there early if you want to snag a slice – or even better, order a whole pie to take home with you!

9. Relax at Leffingwell Landing Park

If you want to spend some time relaxing by the water, Leffingwell Landing is the place to go. It’s a small beach located at the north end of Moonstone Beach, and is the perfect spot for a picnic lunch or an afternoon reading your book.

The best part about this beach is that it’s usually not too crowded. So if you’re looking for relaxing things to do in Cambria (like a more low-key beach experience), Leffingwell Landing is it!

Plan to get there for sunset and you’ll be treated to some of the most beautiful colors as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s magical!

10. Sip some wine at Stolo Vineyards & Winery

Ah my favorite time of day: wine-o-clock! Cambria is home to some fantastic wineries, and one of the best around is Stolo Vineyards & Winery, nestled in the back hills of the town.

The vineyard is absolutely beautiful, and it’s the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine in hand. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, and they offer a great selection of wines to choose from. My personal favorite is the Chardonnay, but they also make a delicious Syrah!

Feel free to bring your own picnic lunch to have with the wine. And don’t miss the chickens and goats in the gardens! Trust me, you’re going to love it here!

If you’d prefer to stay in downtown Cambria, there’s also Fermentations and Black Hand Cellars on Main Street – again, offering a great selection of wines to try. I still need to try these out next time.

11. Cuddle baby goats (and have some cheese) at Stepladder Ranch & Creamery

Did someone say baby goats?! This was definitely one of my favorite things to do in Cambria! I mean, baby goats!!! Plus cheese. Such a perfect combination, haha. Kinda like the place we love to visit in Pescadero up in Northern California.

Stepladder Ranch & Creamery is a working ranch and creamery, and they offer tours of the property where you can learn all about how they make their small-batch goat and cow’s milk cheeses. The cheese is all artisanal and very homemade, so yup, that means it’s extra delicious.

But the best part is getting to play with the baby goats! They have the cutest little goats that will climb all over you – it’s the best way to de-stress!

And did I mention they give out cheese samples? Heaven! If you’ve never had goat’s cheese, you need to try it. Don’t forget to buy some to take back home.

Where to Eat in Cambria

One of the main events for me when I’m on vacation is the food, so here are some of my top recommendations for where to eat when in Cambria. 

Now, it’s no Japan or Mexico City or even Hawaii (some of my fave foodie destinations), but yes, the California coast has its fair share of deliciousness.

1. Have some oysters at Sea Chest Oyster Bar

If you love oysters, Sea Chest Oyster Bar is the place to go in Cambria. It’s a quirky, nautical themed restaurant with an incredible selection of seafood. The oysters are super fresh and there’s always a ton to choose from.

Even if you’re not a fan of oysters, there’s plenty of other seafood (and non-seafood) dishes to choose from. The fish and chips are delicious – my absolute fave when I’m craving something fried.

Fair warning, they don’t take reservations due to popularity. Expect a long wait, so don’t come absolutely starving. But they have a gorgeous firepit to sit by while you anxiously await for your oysters.

2. Wake up at Cambria Coffee Roasting Company

For that early morning caffeine fix, Cambria Coffee Roasting Company is where you wanna be. Right on main street, this is one of the most popular coffee spots in town. They use locally roasted beans and make a mean cup of joe! 

And they make a lot of it! Some that I had never even heard of before (like Baja Mochas and Au Laits)! And it’s not just coffee either – they also have a huge selection of teas and iced beverages. 

You can customize your perfect drink on their website, and I soooo appreciate the fact that most of their drinks can be made iced! Much needed on a hot day. The perfect spot to start your day in Cambria!

3. Main Street grill for tri tip sandwiches

Any meat lovers in the house? You’ll love Main Street Grill! It’s got that all-American sports bar vibe, and they serve up some of the best tri tip sandwiches in Cambria! Along with burgers and ribs – perfect when you’re craving some meat!

The portions are huge, so be sure to bring your appetite (or just share an order or two)! The sandwiches come with all the fixings, and the BBQ sauce is to die for. I would come every day for it!

I didn’t have any seafood but people rave about their shrimp-n-chips and the calamari sandwich. There’s a reason the restaurant’s been a staple in the Cambria community since 1984!

4. Grab breakfast at French Corner Bakery

Is there anything better than a warm, flakey croissant for breakfast? No, no there is not.

French Corner Bakery is the best place to get your pastry fix in Cambria! They make all of their pastries fresh daily, and there’s so much to choose from. It’s easily the best little bakery on the Central California coast!

I have to recommend the chocolate croissant – it’s seriously the best I’ve ever had (okay, maybe not as good as the one’s I’ve had in Paris, haha)! The perfect mix of flaky and chocolatey goodness. Yum!

They also have other tasty treats like snickerdoodle cookies, key lime tarts, chocolate whipped cream eclairs, blackberry scones, cream cheese danishes, banana nut muffins….I’m drooling all over again reminiscing! Grab a few and bring them to the beach – but don’t wait too long; they’re best fresh!

5. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Red Moose Cookie Company

If you have a sweet tooth like I do, Red Moose Cookie Company is the place for you. It’s an adorable little shop on Main Street, and they make the most delicious cookies!

The highlight for me was Aunt Mona’s Moist Molasses – ok, maybe I just loved the name but it seriously didn’t disappoint. Other favorites are the Peppermint Patty Fudge Brownie, the Pumpkin Moose Pie and the Nutless Wonder.

The Red Moose Cookie Company’s slogan is ‘Baking people happy with love and butter’ – and it’s so true! So, really, don’t miss out on this one when in Cambria.

6. Soto’s True Earth Market for sandwiches

I love a good sandwich, and hidden in the back of the Soto’s True Earth Market is a small deli who make some of the best in Cambria.

The market itself is really cool – it’s all organic and sustainable, with a focus on healthy living and eating. They have a wide selection of groceries, as well as some great health and beauty products.

The deli is in the back, and it’s worth seeking out. The sandwiches are all made to order with fresh ingredients, and they have a good variety to choose from, no matter what your taste.

7. Madeline’s Restaurant & Wine Cellar

A wine tasting bistro by day and a restaurant with an amazing ambiance by night! 

If you’re looking for a nice dinner spot, this is the place to go. It’s a bit more upscale than some of the other restaurants but it’s perfect  for  date night.

They know how to cook a steak perfectly at Madeline’s, and the scallops melt in your mouth. They have an extensive wine list with wines from all over California, and it’s the perfect place to kick back and enjoy a glass (or two, or three!) of wine.

Things to do Near Cambria

Sure, you could probably fill a weekend with only things to do in Cambria specifically, but it’d be a shame to miss out on other nearby spots! If you find yourself with a bit more time on the Central California coast, check out the following:

1. Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery (San Simeon)

If you’re not from California, I almost bet you’ve never seen (or even heard of) an elephant seal! And what wild and wacky creatures they are! Just look at their long noses – oh so weird! Their gigantic size makes them unique as well – the males can be up to 20 feet long (!!!), and weigh almost 9,000 pounds. WHOA.

One of the best places to see these massive elephant seals is just 12 miles north of Cambria in San Simeon. And best of all, it’s absolutely free to visit!

The guides there are super knowledgeable and will answer any questions you have about these magnificent marine animals.

During mating and pupping season (generally December to March), you’ll be able to see hundreds of elephant seals – including mothers with their newborn pups! It’s an incredible sight, and one that you won’t soon forget. 

Bear in mind that this is their territory, so please give them space and do not disturb them in any way! Bring binoculars if you wanna see them even closer, as you’ll need to stand above the sand where they rest on a viewing platform.

2. Hearst Castle (San Simeon)

A castle? In California? Yup! And it’s pretty spectacular… with majestic architecture, intricate tilework, lush landscapes, and crystalline pools!

Hearst Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in California, and it’s just a short 15 minute drive from Cambria, overlooking the town of San Simeon.The massive castle was built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, and it’s now a State Historic Park.

First time visiting the castle? Sign up for the Grand Rooms tour, where you’ll feel like a royal as you’re guided around the extravagant rooms that make up this opulent building. You’ve also got your pick of the Upstairs Suites Tour and The Cottages and Kitchen Tour, among others. There’s also beautiful gardens to explore, and a stunning view of the coastline.

To make this place even more magical than it already is (if that’s even possible), keep an eye out for the zebras that frolic around the local land when you enter/leave! Be sure to reserve a ticket ahead of time, as this beautiful castle gets busy quickly…

3. Harmony Headlands State Park (Harmony)

Just a few miles south of Cambria in the tiny town of Harmony is the Harmony Headlands State Park. And it’s gorgeous – the state park is an undeveloped part of the California Coast that’s just begging to be explored! 

Think coastal prairie grasses, wildflower meadows, steep hills, and picture perfect views of the Pacific Ocean. Plus tons of wildlife (like the silvery blue butterfly, southwestern pond turtle, and even the endangered California red-legged frog). My kinda spot!

You’ll wanna take the Headlands Trail hike to the summit and back, totaling about 4.2 miles. It’s a little steep in places but is a relatively easy hike through the grasslands – once you make it to the coast you’ll be amazed by the views of the dramatic coastline and ocean!

Best to do this trail early in the morning or late in the evening as there’s no shade whatsoever. Sadly, you’ll have to leave the doggos at home as they’re not allowed on the trail. Boo!

Also, come prepared with everything you need (water, sunscreen, a hat, etc) – there’s hardly any cell service!

4. Cayucos Beach and Pier (Cayucos)

If you’re looking for a beach day on the Central Coast, Cayucos is where it’s at. The sand is oh so soft and the water is pretty clear; just watch out for the tiny sand flies. And make sure to seal up your food or the seagulls will come investigating!

Take a stroll, fish (or watch others fish), try a spot of birdwatching, wonder how on earth surfers aren’t freezing out on the water! The pier is the main attraction in Cayucos (always fun to watch the surfers from up here), and make sure to stay around for sunset – always pretty legendary! 

There are some great little beach bars and restaurants around here too, as well as a couple of ice cream parlors (always a bonus!).

5. Brown Butter Cookie Company (Cayucos)

If you’re in Cayucos, don’t miss a quick stop at Brown Butter Cookie Company. It’s the epitome of a humble cookie shop, and you’d be downright silly for skipping it.

As soon as you walk through the door, you’re handed freshly baked cookie samples. I mean, who doesn’t love a good sample?! Especially when they’re cookies – that’s how they get you hooked! The cookies are absolutely scrumptious, and there’s soooo many different flavors to choose from. They even have gluten free options!

Their staple cookie (and the most famous) is the Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookie, so you’ve got to try this. But then again, they also have a range of other flavors like Lemon Sugar, Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter, so save room for loads of cookies! Or just share a few, haha. 

The shop itself is super cute, with a rustic vibe, and the staff are always happy to chat. Psst – they’ve also got locations in downtown San Luis Obispo and in Paso Robles.

6. Take a drive down to Morro Bay

A scenic drive down Highway 1 is a must-do when visiting Cambria, and one of the best stops is Morro Bay, just 21 miles south of Cambria.

As soon as you approach Morro Bay, you’ll quickly notice the 581-foot rock jutting out of the Pacific Ocean. And that, my friends, is Morro Rock (it’s kinda hard to miss as long as the weather’s clear as it dominates the landscape for miles). It’s an iconic landmark of the area so make sure to take some photos!

There are some beautiful beaches to relax on, some delicious seafood restaurants and a couple of cute shops to browse. Oh and the otters! THEY HOLD HANDS and it’s the sweetest sight! Keep your eyes peeled for these adorable little sea creatures that lounge around on the coast in the water!

Hope this helps you plan your trip to this little seaside town! Which of these things to do in Cambria are you most looking forward to?!

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