Show-Stopping Theaters in the Bay Area 9 Apr 1:54 PM (yesterday, 1:54 pm)
Looking for a dose of culture in the city by the bay? There are a host of classic and cutting-edge theaters in San Francisco and beyond. Whether you’re planning to stay in downtown SF or Sonoma Wine Country, you have plenty of options for a bit of drama. Here are our picks for Bay Area theaters that are worth the trip.
Feature photo courtesy of the Orpheum Theatre.
San Francisco
Strand Theater: 1127 Market St, San Francisco
Toni Rembe Theater: 415 Geary St, San Francisco
San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theater (ACT) is a renowned venue. This Tony award-winning nonprofit theater promotes a diversity of voices and points of view through thought-provoking performances, preserving cultural heritage in a city known for its progressive arts scene.
Orpheum Theatre: 1192 Market St, San Francisco
Golden Gate Theatre: 1 Taylor St, San Francisco
Broadway SF theaters are a dynamic hub for world-class musicals and plays. Hosting Broadway touring productions, they bring the magic of the Great White Way to the West Coast, providing diverse, unforgettable and star-studded performances for local and visiting audiences.
445 Geary St, San Francisco
An iconic venue since 1922, the Curran Theater showcases cutting-edge productions and Broadway hits. With its rich history and intimate setting, it offers audiences a unique, immersive theatrical experience, making it a cherished cultural gem in the heart of the city.
450 Post St, San Francisco
Founded in 2003 by Bill English and Susi Damilano, San Francisco Playhouse has been home to several world premieres and stages nine plays annually, including musicals and Broadway productions.
East Bay
2640 College Ave, Berkeley
Founded in 2007, the Berkeley Playhouse is a vibrant theater nestled in the heart of Berkeley. Renowned for its diverse and innovative productions, the Playhouse captivates audiences with a wide range of performances, from classic musicals to cutting-edge contemporary plays.
2025 Addison St, Berkeley
Founded in 1968, Berkeley Repertory Theatre stands as a cultural cornerstone, enriching the Bay Area’s performing arts scene. Renowned for its innovative productions, the Rep has garnered numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.
North Bay
52 W 6 St, Berkeley
The 6th Street Playhouse, founded in 2005, is a cultural gem nestled in Santa Rosa. This esteemed playhouse has garnered numerous awards for its outstanding contributions to regional theater and showcases a diverse range of plays and musicals.
397 Miller Ave, Mill Valley
With roots dating back to 1966, Marin Theatre Company boasts an impressive array of recognitions, including the American Theatre Wing’s National Theatre Company Award and multiple San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Production.
Ross Valley Players, the oldest continually operating community theater west of the Mississippi, was founded in 1930. Since then, the theater has received various awards and nominations, including the Marin Arts Council Award for Innovation.
South Bay
350 Twin Dolphin Dr, Redwood City
Founded in 1970, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley has become synonymous with theatrical distinction. Honored with the Regional Theatre Tony Award and other notable accolades, the company’s productions range from classics to cutting-edge pieces.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in Northern California, the best things to do in Northern California and the best places to stay in Northern California, click here.
The post Show-Stopping Theaters in the Bay Area appeared first on Local Getaways.
Where to Eat Now in Hawaii 8 Apr 9:45 AM (2 days ago)
Oahu | Maui | Kauai | Hawaii Island
Oahu
Don’t let the skyscrapers of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki mislead you. Local farms and fishing boats provide fresh produce and seafood to a wide array of restaurants that take their cues from wide-ranging international cuisines as well as the edible heritage of Native Hawaiians and plantation-era immigrants.
The latest incarnation of fine dining in the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, boasts the same stunning ocean and Fort DeRussy park views the space in the eighth-floor lobby has always had, but the Hawaii Regional Cuisine is newly elevated (with prices to match.) Caviar options, seafood platters and steaks are fairly straightforward; other mains offer intriguing touches of local flavors, such as the ulu (breadfruit) puree with the fresh catch and island-sourced koji marinated vegetables with beluga lentils, while breakfast is a lower-key but still locally sourced treat.
Don’t miss:
Save room for one of the elegant desserts from G. Lion Bakeshop, which will also provide whole cakes for celebrations when reserved in advance.
Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach, 383 Kalaimoku St, Honolulu, 808.729.9729
The casual-chic beachfront dining room of Kaimana Beach Hotel is a deservedly popular brunch spot, offering multiple takes on eggs benedict and a decadent “bougie blini” with lemon crème, as well as a go-to spot for craft cocktails and bar bites before dinner. Pastas shine with proteins such as Kauai prawns, free-range chicken and fennel sausage.
Don’t miss:
The hotel’s newly renovated, second-floor Kapua Lounge is also becoming an intimate oasis for artisan drinks, including a pop-up collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Bar Leather Apron. Reservations for the April 24-26, 2025, event are officially sold out, but walk-ins may be accommodated and the hotel promises more pop-ups in the future.
Kaimana Beach Hotel, 2863 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, 808.923.1555
Now open for lunch as well as dinner, this lively watering hole in Ko Olina Center & Station makes a great alternative to Ko Olina resort fare. On the drinks side, it offers Waikiki Brewing Company draft beers, rotating guest taps and another 20 brews in cans, many locally sourced, including hard cider and three non-alcoholic beers. On the food side, you can’t go wrong with a burger like the Founders Smash, which piles pineapple, avocado and cheddar atop a Wagyu patty on a house-made brioche bun.
Don’t miss:
Start with the smoked ahi dip with veggie crudities, focaccia and Maui onion potato chips, and on Wednesdays and weekends, don’t forget to wave when the Hawaiian Railway Society open-air train passes by.
Ko Olina Center & Station, 92-1047 Olani St, Unit 1112, Kapolei, 808.888.2802
James Beard Award-winning chef Robynne Maii and her restaurateur husband Chuck Bussler first found fame in Honolulu’s Chinatown with their bistro Fete before forming a culinary throuple (so to speak) with pastry chef Catherine Yang of New York’s Gigi Blue. The result is this bakery-by-day, wine-bar-by-night concept, also in Chinatown, serving crusty breads, sweet and savory pastries, ice creams and sorbets, cookies, and gourmandise (indulgent snacks for any time of day.) Locally sourced proteins include house-made corned brisket, kalua pig and ahi confit.
Don’t miss:
Lilikoi (passionfruit) pulp adds an island twist to New York black and white cookies, while the calamansi coffee cake also packs a citrus punch.
1113 Smith St, Honolulu, 808.888.0608
Dine in style and sustainably at this city-chic cafe at the base of one of Ward Village’s many luxury condo towers. Hawaiian Regional Cuisine co-founder Peter Merriman’s locally sourced dishes such as tableside poke, kalua pig quesadilla and macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi pair nicely with notable California wine that were shipped in boxes to reduce carbon emissions. The creamy goat cheese in the roasted beet and local fennel salad comes from a Hawaii Island herd who are fed an emission-lowering seaweed.
Don’t miss:
The lilikoi-foam-topped mai tai is legendary for going down easy at lunch or dinner; evening patrons will also find the perfect starter in octopus presented “a l’escargot” in a snail-shell platter with crusty bread and cognac garlic butter.
1108 Auahi St. #170, Honolulu, 808.215.0022
The only luau right on Waikiki Beach is both a must-dine and a must-see, providing a circle tour of Oahu cuisine and a thoughtful yet entertaining overview of Hawaiian history in song and dance. Sitting at private tables, guests start by nibbling on South Shore smoked fish dip and end with North Shore delicacies such as garlic shrimp, chocolate haupia pie and kaffir-scented mango roll.
Don’t miss:
The reinvented potato-macaroni salad features local breadfuit, taro, Okinawan sweet potatoes and pipikaula (dried beef) as well as Yukon gold potatoes, while pineapple upside-down cake gets a glowup from Manoa honey, Laie vanilla and a Luxardo cherry.
The Royal Hawaiian, 2259 Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki Beach, 808.921.2600
Maui
Chefs have easy pickings here: Farms on the slopes of Haleakala produce beautiful strawberries, onions, persimmons and other produce benefiting from cooler weather; pineapple, mangoes and other tropical fruits thrive elsewhere on the Valley Isle; and local ranches and fishing boats supply excellent proteins. Maui’s golden beaches with luxury resorts may have lured a number of celebrity chefs across the Pacific, but the homegrown culinary talent — often with Filipino, Hawaiian and/or Chinese influences — is worth seeking out, too.
If the surrounding oversized nude sculptures of Colombian artist Fernando Botero aren’t to your taste, the wide-ranging, island-sourced menu in this central and buzzy lounge at the recently renovated Grand Wailea resort will surely have something that is. Executive chef Ryan Urig’s new menu has a good variety of handheld options, including the Maui hot chicken sandwich with pickled starfruit and grilled pineapple slaw and a smash burger with a Surfing Goat Dairy animal-style sauce on a potato bun.
Don’t miss:
Carnivore couples should spring for the Grand Wailea honey marinated tomahawk ribeye, accompanied by housemade pickles, bao buns and dragonfruit hoisin sauce.
Grand Wailea, 3850 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea, 808.875.1234
Lots of living greenery softens the ambiance of the signature ocean-view restaurant of the Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, where a special charcoal oven from Spain memorably smokes and grills seafood and other dishes at the same time. Book a seat at the communal chef’s table on Fridays for a five-course, “coastal cuisine” tasting menu that allows chef Ignacio Carballo to share stories of the island as well as its abundant produce and proteins.
Don’t miss:
The grilled tako (octopus) in herb citrus marinade on a brightly flavored tomato-bean tabbouleh gets an extra kick from an aioli incorporating nduja, made from spicy spreadable salami.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, 1 Ritz-Carlton Dr, Lahaina, 808.665.7089
Nicknamed the Kitchen Assassin, chef-owner Alvin Savella has created a killer menu of local, American and Mexican cuisine, with an emphasis on seafood, at this casual restaurant on the untouched northern end of Lahaina’s Front Street. You can add spicy queso sauce to just about anything, while beef birria and cilantro broth transform ramen into a hearty new fusion dish.
Don’t miss:
Funky fries — a blend classic, sweet potato, waffle and curly fries — come with the hefty smash burger and also on their own, with or without that yummy queso.
1312 Front St, Lahaina, 808.451.2778
Striking sunset views overlooking Molokini Crater may be the only thing drawing your attention from your food at this upscale collaboration by Top Chef Masters winner Chris Cosentino and spouses David and Alicia Soboda, who helped him open San Francisco’s Cockscomb. Local ingredients and bold flavors shine in dishes like the grilled hanger steak, seared over kiawe wood charcoal and served with charred Maui onions, wilted greens and a lilikoi au poivre sauce, and the Caesar salad, which features heart of palm and celery in lieu of romaine, plus an anchovy-studded creamy lemon vinaigrette.
Don’t miss:
The Lopes Farm Pork dish is a weekly showcase featuring a different cut of pork butchered in-house and prepared with local, seasonal vegetables.
116 Wailea Ike Dr, Unit 2204, Wailea, 808.214.5545
The lobby fountain at the Four Seasons Maui Resort at Wailea marks this intimate spot for sophisticated sushi and other Japanese delicacies prepared by Tokyo-born Chef Kiyo Takeda, whose resume includes working for Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Takeda imports exquisite seafood for nigiri and other preparations, served with custom soy sauce and wasabi hand-grated at your table, and accompanied (if you desire) with exclusive sakes too. For a closer look at his artistry, belly up to the 14-seat sushi bar.
Don’t miss:
Save room for Executive Pastry Chef Ashish Thalakkat’s dessert “jewel box” with gems such as a yuzu cremeux tart, strawberry sake cheesecake, matcha raspberry roulade and Hibiki chocolate torte.
Hawaii Regional Cuisine co-founder Bev Gannon kept the name of the former plantation store in which she opened this upcountry restaurant in 1988, as Maui’s once-massive pineapple industry was fading fast. Her hearty, farm-to-table menu still continues to draw steady stream while a new partnership with Maui Gold allows diners to tour its nearby pineapple farm, sample fresh fruit and then have lunch at the restaurant, with a choice of entrees such as mojo roasted chicken, coconut curry, mauka Korean barbecue braised short ribs or macadamia nut crusted mahi mahi.
Don’t miss:
The popular Haliimaile pineapple upside-down cake tastes even sweeter when you’ve spent time in the fields where its star ingredient was grown.
900 Haliimaile Rd, Haliimaile, 808.572.2666
Kauai
The Garden Isle’s nickname is one clue how abundant fresh produce is here, showcased in local juice bars and gelato shops as well as in luxurious resort restaurants. There’s also a wealth of humbler poke stands, burger joints, food trucks and local-style diners that draw on the island’s Hawaiian roots and multiethnic heritage of Kauai’s modern population.
Off the highway in the cooler uplands near Poipu, this busy restaurant has been packing ’em in since 1994 for fresh, filling and not-too-fancy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Dinner brings some pricier chef’s specials, a la strip steak or ribeye, but you can still opt for a gourmet hot sandwich like the Miami-style cubano roasted pork or housemade turkey burger.
Don’t miss:
Substantial breakfast entrees like the house-baked cinnamon bread French toast or roasted veggie can help fuel your Waimea Canyon hikes.
2-2560 Kaumualii Hwy, Kalaheo, 808.332.5858
Italian and Japanese dishes vie for supremacy at this upscale Coconut Coast dining room, but luckily you really can’t go wrong, especially if you enjoy one of the craft cocktails to start. The braised short ribs in a ginger soy reduction fuse the two cuisines nicely with both a creamy risotto and edamame on the plate.
Don’t miss:
The king salmon crispy rice with a Calabrian chili aioli and the miso carbonara linguine are also artful renditions of East meets West.
4–369 Kuhio Hwy, Kapaa, 808.855.0294
The menu may be smaller since its debut in 2023, yet there’s still plenty of sumptuous sushi and small plates to enjoy in this sleek lounge in Princeville’s luxurious, eco-friendly 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. Be sure to book in advance for sunset seating, when guests gather to ogle the gorgeous view overlooking Mount Makana and the bay.
Don’t miss:
Start with the local ahi crudo, enlivened by pineapple, pickled chilies and lemon oil, then add crispy rice with spicy ahi or seared wagyu and veggie roll with shiso before finishing with the black sesame mochi cake with burnt cream gelato.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, 5520 Ka Haku Rd, Hanalei, 808.977.1156
Executive chef Noelani Planas grew up on Kauai before training with iconic chefs Jean-Marie Josselin, Wolfgang Puck and Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas. Since 2016, her exceptional skills in flavors and presentation have been on display in the somewhat austere dining room of Poipu’s luxury boutique hotel, Koa Kea . The chef’s tasting menu assembles top hits that you can also order a la carte: housemade ricotta with local honeycomb, vanilla bean seared mahi mahi on coconut-infused black rice, seared Hokkaido scallops with sweet local corn, and flourless chocolate cake with Tahitian vanilla ice cream.
Don’t miss:
Start your dinner with one of the inventive specialty rolls in the adjacent sushi bar, and return for breakfast to order the lemon pineapple souffle pancakes, well worth the half-hour wait.
Blake and Kati Conant’s 10-barrel brewery in Wailua includes an attractively airy dining room with communal tables and a menu bridging local tastes and traditional brewpub fare, from kalua pig sliders and huli huli chicken to buffalo wings and pretzel bread. Seafood lovers will appreciate options for several kinds of poke, plus crab cakes, ceviche, smoked salmon and more. The considerate keiki menu includes chicken skewers, housemade mac and cheese, beef sliders and kalua pork with rice.
Don’t miss:
“Smoke meat” — locally smoked pork butt — comes as an appetizer or as a plate, sauteed with onions in an oyster sauce and served with white rice and bok choy; both pair well with one of the seasonal German brews on tap.
4-361 Kuhio Hwy, Ste 100, Kapaa, 808.431.4170
Hidden from public view amid the ultra-luxury Timbers Kauai vacation residences on the Hokuala resort, this upscale, relaxed open-air restaurant overlooks Nawiliwili Bay, Ninini Point Lighthouse and a shimmering pool to dreamy effect. Hualani’s claim of “farm to table” is real, though, since the Farm at Hokuala is just a golf cart ride away. The Hokuala Farm Thai curry with coconut milk is a piquant way to taste its harvest, as is honey roasted chicken with farm honey and a locally sourced mango chutney.
Don’t miss:
Seafood and spicy dishes are among the standouts, especially the chili crunch poke, dynamite Kona kampachi and the signature whole fried Hawaiian fish.
Hawaii Island
Known for its excellent Kona coffee and sprawling cattle ranches, this largest of the islands also provides fertile soil for growing vanilla, cacao, tea and numerous tropical fruits. Abalone, shrimp, oysters and other nonnative seafood is also home-grown, thanks to a stream of glacial cold water pumped up from the ocean depths into an aquaculture compound near the Kona airport. Access to fresh seafood and a large population with Japanese heritage and discriminating palates mean it’s easy to find top-quality sushi. Romantic sunset dinner options are also many, if somewhat expensive, on the Kohala Coast.
Don’t let the semi-industrial, shopping-strip setting dissuade you from checking out this family-run operation with counter service for its bountiful breakfast and lunch menu. The interior is welcoming and airy, with an adults-only loft and a few neon scriptural passages, while the pastry counter brims with decadent temptations to offset the more sensible salads, smoothies and sandwiches.
Don’t miss:
Sweet tooths should go for the bubble waffle with apple bananas, whipped cream and either strawberries or Nutella, while savory seekers should chow down on the smoked salmon or loaded avocado toast.
74-5555 Kaiwi St, Kailua-Kona, 808.731.7388
The historic Main Street of Honokaa town is worth perusing all on its own, but this compact restaurant makes the perfect start or end to your stroll. Its specialties of gyoza dumplings chicken karaage and ramen with locally sourced noodles and bone broths (and a veggie version with red miso) have branched out to include similarly tasty rice and cold noodle bowls and steamed Hirata buns with a variety of fillings.
Don’t miss:
Fridays feature a special of oxtail soup with local beef, bok choy, macadamia nuts and cilantro, plus optional noodles (recommended).
45-3625 Mamane St, Honokaa, 808.657.4044
Executive chef Junior Ulep, formerly of Meridia, has now brought his deft touch with Mediterranean and Asian stylings of local ingredients to the oceanfront, open-air fine-dining restaurant of the Fairmont Orchid. Be sure to save room for inventive desserts such as honey pandan panna cotta with lemon ginger foam.
Don’t miss:
The three-course prix fixe dinner, with main options such as Kona kanpachi with coconut rice porridge or filet mignon with cheddar ulu (breadfruit) mash, is a steal by Kohala resort standards at $110.
Fairmont Orchid, 1 N. Kaniku Dr, Kohala Coast, 808.887.7320
Other than breakfast, not much has changed over the years at this unpretentious Honokohau Harbor hangout, a convenient stop between the airport and the town of Kailua-Kona. A variety of fried seafood and cold beer, served in frosty mugs, dominate the lunch and dinner menu, while the new morning menu shows more local flair: meat-heavy loco moco, eggs and Spam, pancakes with a rotation of tropical toppings and grilled fish.
Don’t miss:
The poke doesn’t get much fresher than what’s served here, with bobbing fishing boats and the occasional Hawaiian monk seal in view. For breakfast, the velvety-rich ube scone with coconut stands on its own or as a starter for a well-prepared egg dish.
Honokohau Harbor, 74-425 Kealakehe Pkwy #4, Kailua-Kona, 808.326.4166
The most innovative restaurant in Kailua-Kona may be this collaboration between Kona Village Executive Chef Chad Yamamato and Sardinian chef Alessandro Tarras, which often combines Hawaiian ingredients and Italian dishes in unexpected ways. Spaghetti comes with ahi belly and sea asparagus, Kona kanpachi with green garlic and charred tomatoes, and rich parmigiano reggiano and smoky cheeses adorn most of the salad and pasta lineup. Couples can request one of the upstairs tables for two with an ocean view.
Don’t miss:
The Kona kanpachi also shines in a crudo with lilikoi and jalapeno, while tiramisu provides a satisfying and slightly boozy end to dinner.
75-5864 Walua Rd, Kailua-Kona, 808.498.0777
Let’s face it: When there’s an eruption in Halemaumau Crater, most people are dining here for the volcanic show, not the steak or sashimi. But given its remote location in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, this restaurant does an admirable job of highlighting island ingredients and satisfying hearty appetites of hikers and road trippers, with live music at dinner. Local ribeye and strip steaks come with filling portions of local spinach and mushrooms or Okinanawan sweet potatoes, while the seared blackened ahi sashimi gets an extra kick from pineapple salsa and a wasabi ginger aioli. The ample breakfast buffet has something for everybody, including eggs prepared to order and Hilo Coffee Mill brews.
Don’t miss:
Warm up on a cool evening with a bowl of tomato bisque with cheese toast points, or make a light meal of it by pairing it with the delectable lobster crab cake with citrus aioli and a charred macadamia nut romesco.
1 Crater Rim Dr, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 808.756.9625
Japanese
Sushi has always been elevated at ‘Ulu at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Kona Coast. Now it has a literally elevated restaurant of its own: Noio, a clubby, ocean-view lounge on the second floor above ‘Ulu, serving artisan cocktails, a rotating menu of nigiri and sashimi sushi, fresh seafood and other locally sourced entrees, and date-night-worthy omakase dinners.
Don’t miss:
The kanpachi bozushi, a hearty cylinder of kampachi piled high with caviar, and the refreshing shore salad with sea grapes and ogo, limu and nori — three types of edible seaweed.
American, Hawaiian
On the ocean-view lanai of Thai Rin restaurant, this morning popup known as The Spot fuels surfers and other early risers with hearty fare such as crispy spam fries with rice, breakfast burritos and bacon and egg croissants. There are a few lighter options, too, like the half papaya with yogurt and granola.
Don’t miss:
The doughnut-like malasadas are “da bomb” and make a great to-go treat as well.
Alii Sunset Plaza, 75-5799 Alii Dr, Kailua-Kona, 626.277.7338
Seafood, Hawaiian, Fusion
The former ‘Ulu Ocean Grill at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has a shorter name, but has lost none of its deft touch with fresh seafood nor its dedication to sourcing 75 percent of its ingredients locally. The sleek but low-key new decor keeps eyes on the dazzling ocean and sunset views when they’re not ogling showstoppers like tableside poke and ahi Wellington for two.
Don’t miss:
The light yuzu butter-based sauces of misoyaki kanpachi, half Kona lobster and fresh catch enhance the flavor of the seafood without overwhelming it, and give you a plausible excuse to indulge in a decadent dessert like the smoked lilikoi chocolate fondant or caramel macnut bar.
Deli
A short detour off the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway (Hwy. 19), this friendly deli in a small shopping strip provides popcorn to snack on while you wait for its large, luscious hot and cold sandwiches. There’s a dizzying bevy of beverages, including locally made kombucha and craft beer, to choose from too; 12-ounce beers, hard ciders and seltzers are $3 during happy hour 3–5 p.m.
Don’t miss:
The chunky tomato soup with a lemony tuna melt sandwich on grilled sourdough is a divine combination, while the Farmer Tag’s veggie sandwich is a cornucopia of thinly sliced beets, carrots, avocado and other fresh produce, complemented by sharp cheese on 12-grain bread.
75-1022 Henry St, Ste. 3, Kailua-Kona, 808.329.2917
Japanese
Islander Sake Brewery’s sake master Chiaki Takahashi is also a virtuoso chef, creating monthly prix fixe menus at the brewery’s intimate restaurant showcasing local produce and fresh seafood in seven beautifully plated courses. The $95 tab for dinner at Engawa, inside the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort’s golf clubhouse, includes a glass of Islander Sake Daiginjo, with Takahashi’s partner and maitre d’ Tani Hirose ready to recommend additional pairings.
Don’t miss:
Although the menu is seasonal, it typically includes a silky chawanmushi (savory egg custard) and sake lees ice cream, a delicately perfumed treat made with the slightly grainy byproducts of sake making.
Fushion, Mediterranean, Seafood
The latest version of HāLani at Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort, returns to its inaugural island-sourced Mediterranean theme with new flair. Dinner includes tasty mezze like seared halloumi cheese and wood-fired balloon bread with a trio of dipping sauces, plus kebabs, pasta, pizza and fresh fish, while breakfast impresses with housemade pastries and entrees like shakshuka and loco moco.
Don’t miss:
For a fusion of island flavors with a Mediterranean twist, try the ahi steak, which comes with peloponnesian orzo, tomato and kalamata.
68-1400 Mauna Lani Dr, Waimea, 808.855.6622
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants on Hawaii, the best things to do on Hawaii and the best places to stay on Hawaii, click here.
The post Where to Eat Now in Hawaii appeared first on Local Getaways.
6 of Marin’s Best Beaches 7 Apr 10:48 AM (3 days ago)
This article originally appeared on marinmagazine.com.
Part of Marin’s appeal is its proximity to the ocean, but knowing where to actually go makes all the difference. There are beaches along the bay and beaches along the ocean itself, and each type comes with its own set of perks.
While this list doesn’t capture every option that Marin has to offer, these six beaches are a few local favorites that are worth the visit.
Feature photo by Tim Porter.
This gem of a beach is popular for its light, rolling waves, ideal for all levels of surfing or paddleboarding, and its low-key and dog-friendly vibe. But because it’s not very big, especially during high tide when half the beach disappears, it can be crowded. Additionally, locals have (notoriously) been inclined to remove the town identification signs, and it’s easy to understand why. Besides being the go-to surf spot in the county, Bolinas is a perfect spot for swimming, boogie-boarding and rock collecting at the southern edge along the entrance to the lagoon. SUP and surfboard rentals are at 2 Mile Surf Shop on the road to the beach.
Amenities: Restrooms, tennis court
Known For: Great surfing beach, especially for beginners
Activities: Surfing, bodyboarding, bird-watching, kayaking, SUP, tennis
Restaurants: Coast Cafe, Smiley’s Schooner Saloon and Hotel
Parking: Free street parking
Dogs: Yes
Located about three miles west of Tomales, this beach was named after Dillon Beach village founder George Dillon, who settled there in 1858. A wide and lengthy white-sand expanse is great for long walks, and it’s a dog-friendly place where pooches can be off leash and run loose. When the tide is low and the surf is too, there’s lots to explore in the tide pools. The resort has a cafe, a general store, a surf shop and cabins to rent if you’d like to make a weekend of it.
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, barbecue grills, fire pits
Known For: Tide pool exploring when the tide is low
Activities: Surfing, bodyboarding, tide pooling, bonfires
Restaurants: Dillon Beach Cafe, Dillon Beach Resort Store
Parking: $8
Dogs: Yes
Between Drakes Bay and an estuary sits this soft and sandy beach, more than two miles long, with rolling sand dunes. It is popular with hikers and bird-watchers for its bountiful wildlife, including seals and whales in late spring, shorebirds in fall and ducks in winter. Waves are calmer here, but remember to pack and dress appropriately for the cool, damp weather out in this more rugged part of the county.
Amenities: Restrooms, hostel, wetlands, trails
Known For: Prime beach for beach-combing and looking for birds and other animals
Activities: Hiking, bird-watching, wildlife watching, swimming
Restaurants: Picnic tables, fire pits, restrooms
Parking: Free lot
Dogs: Yes, on leash
This crescent-shaped cove tucked into the coast three miles west of Muir Woods has a lagoon and sandy beach with lots of privacy. Monarch butterflies, salmon and frogs can be seen in the marsh; other wildlife includes fox, birds, deer and coyotes. Hiking trails branch out from Muir Beach in many directions, inviting exploration of the headlands, and the waves are good for boogie boarders and kayakers. The northernmost end is a clothing-optional area.
Amenities: Restrooms, picnic tables, trails, fire pits
Known For: Plenty of hiking trails and the north part of the beach called Little Beach that’s clothing optional
Activities: Hiking, bird-watching, bonfires, picnicking
Restaurants: Pelican Inn
Parking: Free
Dogs: Yes, if under voice control
On the southernmost beach in the county, the sand is reddish brown mixed with pea-size multicolored pebbles. Situated in the Marin Headlands, Rodeo has western exposure, so it’s experts-only for swimming and surfing, but ideal for all levels of strolling and picnicking.
Amenities: Restrooms, trails, picnic tables, lagoon
Known For: Being dog friendly and a desirable picnic spot
Activities: Hiking, bird-watching, surfing
Parking: Free
Dogs: Yes, if under voice control
For most, going to the beach in Marin means heading over the hill to Stinson. A large crescent swath of white sand and steady break make this spot popular with surfers and tourists year-round. An adjacent small beach town and picnic area attracts large groups looking to spend a day at the shore. On warm days, get there early — traffic builds up thick and quick. Whale watching is popular here January through March, and lifeguards are on duty May through October.
Amenities: Restrooms, showers, picnic areas, barbecue grills
Known For: Being one of the cleanest beaches in the state, and for being sandy; alcohol is permitted
Activities: Picnicking, surfing, kayaking, swimming, SUP, volleyball
Restaurants: The Siren Canteen, Sand Dollar Restaurant, Parkside Cafe, Parkside Snack Bar, Breakers Cafe
Parking: Free lot
Dogs: Yes, on leash
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in the North Bay, the best things to do in the North Bay and the best places to stay in the North Bay, click here.
The post 6 of Marin’s Best Beaches appeared first on Local Getaways.
Wildlife Hikes in Marin: Top Trails to Take and Animals to Spot 3 Apr 10:07 AM (7 days ago)
Today, Marin County’s rolling hills, forests, wetlands and oceans are known both for their scenic beauty and the countless species of birds, mammals, fish and reptiles that are its inhabitants. But in the 1960s, our county’s open spaces were under threat, and its wildlife was disappearing. Elephant seals, tule elk and river otters were all on the brink of extinction, threatened by ambitious development projects. It’s thanks to that era’s passionate environmental movements that we get to enjoy the expansive vistas, thriving woodlands and rocky beaches of our county today, which now has 85% of its land protected from development, a fact that makes Marin an incredible destination for two things: hiking and wildlife viewing.
Photo courtesy of Marin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
These natural spaces continue to thrive, thanks to the county’s devoted environmental organizations, many of which have been fighting to protect our natural wonders since the ’60s and ’70s. One of those organizations is the Marine Mammal Center (MMC), an education, research and conservation center for marine mammals working since 1975 to protect marine mammals including elephant and harbor seals, sea lions, otters, whales and others. “Over many decades, we’ve taken action to protect and preserve important habitats for marine life, and it’s resulted in not only growing populations of marine mammals, but also in providing fantastic spots for us to view marine mammals responsibly,” says Adam Ratner, associate director of conservation education at the center. “Regardless of the time of year, there are always marine mammals to see in Marin. The Marin coast provides them with plentiful food and safe haul-out areas.”
One of the reasons for this is due to our unique ecosystem, Ratner explains. “All along California, we are treated to an amazing array of marine life due to the nutrient rich current that flows along our coast. Coupling our natural resources with strong, evidence-based protections for marine mammals, such as marine protected areas, sustainable fishing, and state parks, have resulted in an ecosystem that is a win-win for marine life and people alike.”
Another one of Marin’s biggest natural draws is its more than 500 species of birds, including a number of rare species such as the northern spotted owl. “Marin’s varied habitats, from the ocean to the top of Mt. Tam and through the forests to the bay, are probably what makes Marin such a great place to watch birds,” explains Robert Hinz of the Marin Audubon Society (MAS). The organization has been working to ensure it stays that way, with projects including restoring the Corte Madera Ecological Reserve and multiple marsh restoration programs that help save birds such as the endangered Ridgway’s Rail.
Ready to get out there and spot some of Marin’s wild wonders? Here’s our guide to the best places to hike and view the county’s diverse wildlife. Anywhere you venture, you’re likely to see animals — just be sure to keep a safe and respectful distance.
Coastal
Tomales Point Trail
This is the best place to view Marin’s majestic tule elk population, which can be seen ambling through the rolling grasslands. Along this open and fairly flat trail, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of Bodega Bay, Tomales Bay and the Pacific as you make your way to the tip of Tomales Bluff.
Animals to See: Tule elk, pelicans, cormorants, quails, coyotes
Hiking Level: Easy to moderate
Length: 9.5-mile loop
Amenities: Restrooms at McClures Beach
Parking: Free lot
Dogs: No
Point Reyes Lighthouse Visitor Center Trail
While this is a heavily trafficked trail, it’s one of the best places to spot whales from the shore, plus you’ll pass a seal viewing beach from the dramatic cliffs. At the end of the trail, you’ll reach the lighthouse, which was built in 1870. Venture down the 308 steps to have a look, or spend some time at the whale viewing platform looking for gray whales.
Animals to See: Sea lions, whales
Hiking Level: Easy
Length: 1.2 miles
Amenities: Restroom, gift shop, visitor center
Parking: Free lot
Dogs: No
Abbotts Lagoon Trail
This is a lovely hike if you want to get up close to Point Reyes’ scenic lagoons and the multitude of birds that are attracted to its shores. Spot ducks, raptors, black-shouldered kites, and if you’re lucky, the threatened western snowy plover. Just make sure to tread carefully when you reach the beach, as this is their nesting area.
Animals to See: Shorebirds, waterfowl, sparrows, hawks, osprey, blackshouldered hawks, snowy plover, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, river otters, tule elk
Hiking Level: Easy
Length: 3.3 miles
Amenities: Vault toilet, trash and recycling cans
Parking: Park off of Pierce Point Road
Dogs: No
Elephant Seal Overlook and Chimney Rock Trail
This is the ultimate trail for seal lovers. Spot northern elephant seals, harbor seals and sea lions from the Chimney Rock trailhead. This breeding colony is most visible from the months of December to March during the breeding season; if you’re lucky you might even see seals giving birth, or at least spot the giant but weirdly cute elephant seal pups rolling around on the beach.
Animals to See: Elephant seals, birds
Hiking Level: Easy to moderate
Length: 0.5 miles to the overlook, 2.4 miles to Chimney Rock
Amenities: Restrooms
Parking: Free lot
Dogs: No
Griffin Loop Trail, Bolinas Lagoon
Anyone who has driven to Point Reyes has seen the lagoon winding alongside Highway 1, but probably didn’t realize how significant it is. An Audubon Important Bird Area and one of only seven Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance in the western United States, it serves as a stopover for tens of thousands of birds migrating on the Pacific Flyway. It’s also a great place to spot the adorably round harbor seals that often rest along the shore. The Bob Stewart Trail on the lagoon’s north end is a good place to start, but the Audubon Canyon Ranch’s Griffin Loop trail offers an incredible 8 miles of hiking when it’s open — check ahead of time.
Animals to See: Herons, egrets, harbor seals, coho salmon
Hiking Level: Moderate
Length: 2.5 miles
Amenities: Education center
Parking: On highway 1
Dogs: No
Dipsea Steep Ravine Trail, Mount Tamalpais
Looping into part of the Dipsea trail, this four-hour plus hike offers an opportunity to see both sea and mountainous terrain. There are some difficult points — you’ll have to traverse Steep Ravine — but it’s a rewarding journey for both scenery and wildlife viewing.
Animals to See: Raccoons, gray foxes, squirrels, bobcats, coyotes, black-tailed deer, mountain lions and many birds
Hiking Level: Moderate
Length: 7.5 miles
Amenities: Restrooms, water
Parking: At Stinson Beach
Dogs: No
Muir Beach to Point Bonita Trail
While you could drive to the Point Bonita parking lot and walk the half mile to the lighthouse to spot seals and whales, this incredible hike offers a great way to take in some of the Marin Headlands stunning scenery. Leaving from Muir beach and heading south to Rodeo Beach and beyond, you’ll get ample time to scan the waves for whales.
Animals to See: Whales, seals
Hiking Level: Difficult
Length: 14.3 miles
Amenities: Restrooms at Muir Beach, facilities at Rodeo Beach
Parking: Yes
Dogs: No
Woodlands
Roy's Redwoods Loop Trail
While you could drive to the Point Bonita parking lot and walk the half mile to the lighthouse to spot seals and whales, this incredible hike offers a great way to take in some of the Marin Headlands stunning scenery. Leaving from Muir beach and heading south to Rodeo Beach and beyond, you’ll get ample time to scan the waves for whales.
Animals to See: Pileated woodpeckers and back-throated gray warblers, barn owls and great–horned owls, kingsnakes, racers, ring-necked snakes, rattlesnakes
Hiking Level: Easy
Length: 2.3-mile loop
Amenities: Horse trough, portable toilets
Parking: Roadside
Dogs: Yes
Cross Marin Trail to Barnabe Peak Loop
To view spawning coho salmon you only need to drive to the Leo T Cronin Fish Viewing Area at Lagunitas Creek between November and February, but if you’re looking for a more challenging hike, take this trail. Start at the Devil’s Gulch camping area and then follow the creek at the Marin-Cross trail, offering opportunities to spot fish along the way. Then continue onward to the Barnabe Peak Loop, which is challenging, but offers stunning views.
Animals to See: Coho salmon
Hiking Level: Difficult
Length: 6.6 miles
Amenities: Picnic areas
Parking: Park at the staging area off of Sir Francis Drake Blvd
Dogs: No
Redwood Creek Trail
This hike has it all, starting at Muir Beach and ending in Muir Woods. Spotting animals amongst the majestic redwoods is hard to do, but spotted owls, common ravens, pileated woodpeckers, foxes, bobcats and raccoons all call the habitats encountered along this trail home.
Animals to See: Coho salmon, steelhead trout, owls, ravens
Hiking Level: Moderate
Length: 10.5 miles
Amenities: Picnic areas
Parking: Roadside
Dogs: Yes
Volunteer: How to Help Wildlife
Support the valuable conservation work being undertaken by local organizations to keep Marin pristine for its animal residents.
The Marine Mammal Center’s world-class volunteer program provides hands-on learning opportunities for community members to take the next step as environmental stewards and caregivers for marine mammals in need — volunteer at the animal hospital, participate in releases and more alongside the center’s more than 1,300 volunteers.
The Marin Audubon Society offers many opportunities to support their environmental protection and conservation efforts, from restoration projects to participating in the Christmas bird count. Currently, the organization has three active restoration sites where volunteers help restore fragile habitats.
Wildcare is the animal hospital for Marin’s wildlife, caring for everything from owls to bobcats, as well as education and environmental advocacy. Volunteers can work at the animal hospital, help educate the public and more.
The Salmon Protection and Watershed Network (SPAWN) is a program of the The Turtle Island Restoration Network working to preserve coho salmon. They have multiple opportunities available for volunteering, mostly involving habitat restoration.
Working in the Bolinas area, this climate conservation group offers opportunities to help restore habitats for seabirds.
Take a Tour
If you don’t feel like searching out wildlife yourself, these local outfits are happy to take you on a Marin-style safari.
Daniel Dietritch is a wildlife photographer and naturalist with an intimate understanding of the park. His safaris can be tailored to photographers, include binoculars and lunch, and are available through Olema House or directly.
Run by environmental educator Sharon Barnett, a former director of the Marin Audubon Society and cofounder of the River Otter ecology project, and Kevin Stockman, a Marin County naturalist who works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the company offers tours of Mt. Tam, tidepools and many hiking trails.
Tips for Safe Marine Wildlife Viewing
It’s seal pupping season along the California coast. Young seal pups, especially newborn harbor seal and elephant seal pups, are incredibly photogenic and draw attention with their innate charm. But both mom and pup aren’t keen on up-close selfies and don’t make good playmates with your dog or kids! These young pups are at the most vulnerable stage of their life and can be easily become stressed, separated and/or abandoned by their mothers if humans or dogs get too close.
The public plays an important role in the conservation of marine mammals. You can do your bit by keeping these marine wildlife viewing tips in mind:
- Keep a Safe Distance. Whether on the water viewing marine life or walking with your pet on one of Marin County’s beautiful local beaches, a great wildlife viewing experience starts with keeping your distance and keeping pets on leash.
- Use Your Zoom. It’s ok to take photos and admire the animals, but if you’re so close that you’re not using your zoom or they’re reacting to you, then you’re too close. No SEAL-FIES please!
- Call. If you see a seal or sea lion in distress, call The Marine Mammal Center’s rescue hotline at 415-289-SEAL (7325). The center will monitor the animal and, if necessary, send a trained responder to rescue it safely.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in the North Bay, the best things to do in the North Bay and the best places to stay in the North Bay, click here.
The post Wildlife Hikes in Marin: Top Trails to Take and Animals to Spot appeared first on Local Getaways.
Sonoma County Beaches: The Best Spots for Sun, Surf and Stunning Views 3 Apr 8:11 AM (7 days ago)
There’s just something about the Sonoma Coast—it’s wild, rugged, and totally mesmerizing. Whether you’re watching waves crash against towering cliffs, spotting harbor seals lounging in the sand, or just breathing in that fresh ocean air, it’s the kind of place that sticks with you.
From long, sandy stretches perfect for picnicking to hidden coves teeming with tide pools, there’s a beach for every kind of adventure. Want to find your perfect spot? Here’s the ultimate guide to the best beaches along the Sonoma Coast.
Feature Image: Bodega Bay by Jaskirat Billing via Unsplash
Goat Rock Beach
Goat Rock Beach is one of the most recognizable spots along the Sonoma Coast, famous for its massive sea stack (Goat Rock) and dramatic ocean waves. The Russian River flows into the ocean nearby, attracting an abundance of wildlife. This beach is one of the best places in Sonoma County to see harbor seals—there’s even a designated area where they gather to rest. Keep a respectful distance, as disturbing the seals (especially pups) can be harmful to them.
The wide, sandy beach is perfect for long walks and photography, especially at sunset when the cliffs glow in golden hues. While the ocean here looks inviting, rip currents and sneaker waves make it too dangerous for swimming.
From long, sandy stretches perfect for picnicking to hidden coves teeming with tide pools, there’s a beach for every kind of adventure. Want to find your perfect spot? Here’s the ultimate guide to the best beaches along the Sonoma Coast
Jenner Beach
Perched at the mouth of the Russian River, Jenner Beach offers some of the most striking coastal scenery in Sonoma County. The dramatic cliffs, misty mornings, and powerful waves make this beach a photographer’s dream. Unlike some of the more easily accessible beaches, Jenner Beach requires a bit of a hike down from Highway 1, which keeps the crowds to a minimum. This is a fantastic place to watch for osprey, pelicans, and harbor seals, especially where the river meets the ocean.
Doran Beach
Doran Beach is a rare find along the Sonoma Coast—it’s one of the few spots where the waves are gentle enough for wading and beginner surfers. This long, crescent-shaped beach stretches for about two miles, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll or a picnic with an ocean view. Thanks to its relatively protected waters, it’s a favorite for families, kayakers, and even stand-up paddleboarders.
On breezy days, you’ll see kiteboarders skimming across the waves, adding to the lively atmosphere. The beach is part of Doran Regional Park, which offers picnic tables, BBQ pits, and even campgrounds for an overnight stay.
Shell Beach
Shell Beach may be small, but it’s packed with natural beauty. At low tide, the rocky shoreline reveals incredible tide pools teeming with sea anemones, crabs, and small fish. This is one of the best places in Sonoma County to explore marine life up close.
If you’re up for a short hike, the Pomo Canyon Trail starts near Shell Beach and winds through coastal bluffs, redwood forests, and grassy meadows. The Kortum Trail also passes through here, offering a relatively easy hike with stunning ocean views.
Portugese Beach
For those looking for a peaceful, less crowded beach, Portuguese Beach is a hidden gem. The wide, sandy expanse is perfect for sunbathing, picnicking, or simply taking in the sound of crashing waves. The cliffs surrounding the beach add to its secluded feel, making it a great spot for a quiet afternoon.
Because the waves here can be quite strong, it’s not ideal for swimming, but it’s a fantastic place to relax and escape the more popular tourist spots.
Bodega Dunes Campground
If you love falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves and waking up to fresh ocean air, Bodega Dunes Campground is the perfect place to set up camp. Nestled among rolling sand dunes just a short walk from the beach, this campground offers 99 campsites, including spots for tents, trailers, and RVs (though hookups aren’t available).
The dunes themselves are a big attraction—hike up and over them for sweeping ocean views, or follow the Bodega Dunes Trail, which connects to the stunning Salmon Creek Beach. Early risers might catch deer grazing in the meadows, while birdwatchers can spot herons, egrets, and other coastal birds in the nearby wetlands.
From windswept cliffs and crashing waves to hidden tide pools and peaceful sandy shores, the beaches of Sonoma County offer a little bit of everything. Whether you’re camping under the stars at Bodega Dunes, strolling the scenic shoreline at Goat Rock, or watching seals play at Jenner Beach, there’s no shortage of breathtaking spots to explore.
Just remember—this coastline is as wild as it is beautiful. The water is cold year-round, rip currents are no joke, and the weather can shift fast. But with a little preparation (and maybe a thermos of hot cocoa), you’re in for an unforgettable day by the ocean.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in the North Bay, the best things to do in the North Bay and the best places to stay in the North Bay, click here.
The post Sonoma County Beaches: The Best Spots for Sun, Surf and Stunning Views appeared first on Local Getaways.
Everything You Need to Know About San Francisco’s Many Parks – Concierge Corner 1 Apr 1:08 PM (9 days ago)
No trip to San Francisco is complete without a stroll through one of its many parks. Despite being the second densest city in the country, San Francisco’s open spaces are abundant, with loads of room to stretch out, hike and explore. So, I asked one of our friends in the hospitality business to be our guide to San Francisco’s parks.
Featured photo: Mission Dolores Park by Francisco Delgado, Golden Gate Park and skateboarder at United Nations Plaza courtesy of San Francisco Recreation and Parks.
Javier Caelles has been a concierge at the Hilton San Francisco since 2006. Born and raised in Barcelona, he moved to SF where he got his master’s degree in information systems. Javier worked as an IT consultant, but after the dot-com crash ventured into the hospitality industry where he found his passion, helping guests discover the best of this incredible city, and loving it.
Here’s what Javier has to say about San Francisco’s parks, voluntourism and the great outdoors.
Golden Gate Park is one of the most famous urban parks in the country, let alone San Francisco, but what are some other parks that stand out in the city?
San Francisco has many amazing parks besides Golden Gate Park. Dolores Park offers fantastic city views and community events, while the Presidio has lovely trails with views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Alamo Square Park features the seven most famous Victorian houses in the city, and Lands End is perfect for rugged coastal trails and stunning ocean vistas. These parks highlight the beauty and history of San Francisco, making them ideal for relaxation and exploration.
Best spots for kids to run around?
There are many great spots where kids can run around and play. Golden Gate Park is a great choice, with its wide meadows, playgrounds, and car-free paths perfect for running. The Presidio’s Tunnel Tops features open green spaces and a nature-inspired play area. Yerba Buena Gardens offers an interactive play area known as the Children’s Garden. Crissy Field has sand and open spaces, while Mission Bay Kids’ Park has a nature exploration zone with willow structures and log sculptures for imaginative play.
What about somewhere for a romantic stroll?
Lovers Lane in the Presidio is a lovely place for a romantic walk. The area offers a nice mix of nature and history. The trail, one of the oldest in the Presidio, is peaceful, short, and easy to walk, with tall eucalyptus trees lining the path. The name dates back to the late 1800s when U.S. soldiers used it to visit their lovers and family. Near Lovers’ Lane, it’s worth checking the Wood Line, an outdoor piece of art by Andy Goldsworthy.
Where to go for hikers/walkers who want to feel the burn or see great views?
San Francisco has great hikes with stunning views. The Lands End Trail, with steep stairs, coastal cliffs and Golden Gate panoramas, is a must. Twin Peaks offers a short but steep climb for a 360-degree city view. Mount Davison provides a good leg workout in a forest setting, as it’s the city’s highest point. And last, the Batteries to Bluffs Trail which takes visitors along historic gun batteries and cliffs bordering the Pacific Ocean.
Does SF have any “voluntourism” opportunities, or ways to get involved or educated about its environment?
San Francisco has many voluntourism opportunities, allowing you to give back while exploring the city. Surfrider Foundation organizes beach cleanups. The San Francisco Baykeeper focuses on protecting local water channels. For those interested in urban farming, Alemany Farm offers hands-on experiences with sustainable practices.
Additionally, the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences provide educational programs on local environmental issues, making them ideal for learning and engagement during your visit. Voluntourism is a unique way to experience San Francisco beyond traditional tourist attractions.
And lastly, what are some “bucket list” sights or activities in Golden Gate Park?
Golden Gate Park is a wonderful urban oasis. Stroll through the Japanese Tea Garden, where you can enjoy a cup of matcha while relaxing by the koi ponds and charming pagodas. The California Academy of Sciences features an indoor rainforest and a famous albino alligator. Don’t miss the Bison Paddock, where you can see real bison. The de Young Museum offers excellent art collections and stunning city views. Nature enthusiasts will love exploring the Conservatory of Flowers and the Botanical Garden.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in San Francisco the best things to do in San Francisco and the best places to stay in San Francisco, click here.
The post Everything You Need to Know About San Francisco’s Many Parks – Concierge Corner appeared first on Local Getaways.
Spring in Marin: Your Guide to a Wildly Wonderful Outdoor Escape 1 Apr 8:00 AM (9 days ago)
Native Content
Spring in Marin County is like nature’s grand opening party — cooler temps, fewer crowds, and wildlife putting on a show. It’s the perfect time to ditch the indoors and dive into Marin’s protected trails, redwood groves, and wetlands. Whether you’re chasing panoramic views, spotting migratory birds, or just craving a breath of fresh air, the county’s parks and preserves are your ticket to a peaceful, nature-filled retreat. Ready to explore? Let’s look at the best spots for a fun-filled spring adventure!
Roy’s Redwoods Preserve: Where Giants Roam
Nestled in the San Geronimo Valley, Roy’s Redwoods Preserve is a 293-acre wonderland of towering redwoods, winding trails, and wildlife galore. Thanks to a recent restoration project, it’s now easier than ever to explore without disturbing the delicate ecosystem.
New Trails, New Vibes
The Loop Trail and Boardwalk Trail guide you through the old-growth forest like a redwood concierge. These paths protect the landscape while giving you a smooth, accessible journey. For the best views, hit the Dickson Ridge Fire Road.
Ring Mountain Preserve: Geology Meets Wildflowers
Ring Mountain Preserve is a 385-acre gem known for its rare geology, vibrant wildflowers, and jaw-dropping Bay Area views. Its serpentine soil ecosystem is home to some of the rarest plants in the region — some found nowhere else on Earth, such as the Tiburon mariposa lily.
Turtle Rock & Hidden History
Don’t miss Turtle Rock, a massive boulder with panoramic views. History buffs, check out the remnants of a Cold War military installation at the end of Taylor Fire Road.
Tomales Bay State Park: Beaches, Birds & Bliss
Tomales Bay State Park is a coastal paradise, preserving everything from Bishop pine forests to tidal marshes. It’s a must-visit for hikers, bird-watchers, and beach lovers.
Jepson Trail & Beaches
The Jepson Trail is an interpretive hike that winds through forests and leads to three stunning beaches:
- Shell Beach: Perfect for picnics and sunbathing.
- Heart’s Desire Beach: A calm, scenic spot to relax by the water.
- Pebble Beach: A secluded cove with rocky outcroppings and crystal-clear water.
Rush Creek Preserve: Birdwatcher’s Paradise
Rush Creek Preserve is a 552-acre haven for migratory birds and diverse wildlife. With tidal marshes and grasslands, it’s a hotspot for biodiversity.
Bird Bonanza
Over 190 bird species have been recorded here, including red-winged blackbirds and sandpipers. Spring and fall migrations bring even more feathered friends.
So, what are you waiting for? Whether you’re hiking among redwoods, spotting rare wildflowers, or lounging on a quiet beach, Marin’s springtime magic is calling. For more info on where to stay and play, check out visitMarin.org.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants in the North Bay, the best things to do in the North Bay and the best places to stay in the North Bay, click here.
The post Spring in Marin: Your Guide to a Wildly Wonderful Outdoor Escape appeared first on Local Getaways.
Six Historic Buildings to Visit Along San Rafael’s Fourth Street 28 Mar 10:48 AM (13 days ago)
This article originally appeared on marinmagazine.com.
Walking along San Rafael’s Fourth Street, visitors often remark that the city looks like a classic “old California” town from a 1940s-era movie. That’s not a coincidence. Unlike so many other cities in California, San Rafael has retained much of the charm of a pre-World War II town, with hundreds of Victorian-era and early 20th-century commercial buildings lining Fourth Street in its historic business district. Dozens of these older buildings have retained their original facades, and many still have some of their original interior features as well.
Next time you’re in downtown San Rafael, take a few moments for a short stroll along Fourth Street and marvel at the architecture. Here, we reveal the origins of six of San Rafael’s historic commercial buildings.
All illustrations by Anna Ivanir.
Start your tour at the most recognizable landmark in downtown San Rafael, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center, located at 1118 Fourth Street. The building began life as the Orpheus Theater, where silent films were shown. Construction began in 1919 at a cost of $125,000, and it was designed by prolific Bay Area architects the Reid Brothers. The Orpheus had its grand opening on January 20, 1920. In 1937, a fire gutted the building. A year later, the building reopened as the Rafael Theater, designed in the Art Deco style by architect S. Charles Lee, with a grand staircase graced with frescoes by Henry Martins. At that time, tickets cost just 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
The Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989 damaged the theater, forcing it to close for 10 years. Thankfully, a fundraising campaign in the early 1990s — a joint effort between the San Rafael Redevelopment Agency and Film Institute of Northern California (now the California Film Institute) — raised enough money to restore the theater, and it reopened in 1999 with a new name, the Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center. The theater now shows screenings from leading filmmakers and holds live film lectures, as well as hosting annual events like the Mill Valley Film Festival and DocLands.
Next door, the Aroma Café at 1122 Fourth Street is a building with a colorful history that has been a favorite hangout of Marinites and visitors alike for nearly a century, although it didn’t start out as a café. According to Aroma Café co-owner Vincent Latour, the front part of the building was built in 1912, and the brick walls in that section date from that time.
The original structure was built to house the Lyric Theater, which was the first theater to show motion pictures in Marin County. The California Motion Picture Corporation premiered its first film there in 1914, Salomy Jane. After the Lyric closed in 1923, a second story and balcony were added, and the building then reopened as a café called Orpheus Grill. The mayor and city council members often frequented the café to hold informal meetings, or just to socialize — a practice that continues today at Aroma Café, according to Latour.
Step inside Aroma Café to view the interior, which retains several of the building’s original features. Along the back wall of the dining room area, look for two cast iron columns that extend up into the second story. The balcony also has a bas-relief decoration at the south end, with the face of Abraham Lincoln and two other unidentified historic figures. Other than the brick walls, the rest of the interior was updated in 2002, and Embrace Yoga studio now occupies the north end of the second story. Take a Turkish coffee or fruit smoothie to go as you continue your stroll.
Across the street at the southeast corner of Fourth and B streets you’ll find a fine example of a Victorian Italianate commercial building. The McDermott Building was built in 1883 to house a bar, restaurant and boarding house called the Mulberry House. The McDermott family lived on the second floor of the building until 1939.
A fire in 1966 damaged the rear section of the building, causing it to be removed. Phillips Candy Shop occupied part of the ground floor in the 1940s, and in 1951 it was remodeled and opened as Deaver’s Coffee Shop. After 25 years in 1976, the space changed hands to become Le Croissant.
The building was declared a city landmark in 1984, and the second-story exterior retains most of its Italianate architectural features, including round-arched windows and projecting pediments with curved brackets above each window. Metal rings in the sidewalk survive from the time when people hitched their horses in front of the building. Winton’s News and Liquor and Lundy’s Home Cooking Restaurant now occupy the ground floor.
Cross the street again and walk a block to 1244 Fourth Street, where an impressive Queen Anne Victorian building complete with a corner turret topped by a witch’s hat spire and cast-iron finial stands at the northeast corner of C Street. It was built in 1893 by French immigrant Louis Peter to expand his dry goods and tailoring business. He removed an existing building to construct the new one out of fine red brick and wood.
The Peter family lived in a house behind the store until the 1930s, when the business was leased to a new owner, Albert’s Incorporated, and in the 1950s Moore’s Good Candies took over the space. In 1957, the interior of the Peter Building was remodeled to create seven apartments on the second floor, and the house in the back was demolished. The tenants on the ground floor at that time were Poehlman Pharmacy and Corey’s Restaurant. Peter’s granddaughter Marie owned the building during the remodeling.
Today, the ground floor is occupied by Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria and The Shop, a hair salon. The second-floor exterior retains its elegant late-Victorian wooden bay windows with decorative wood trim along the corners.
On the next block, the old Bank of America Building at 1300 Fourth Street stands on the northwest corner of C Street. This site was first occupied by Don Timoteo Murphy’s adobe, the first home in San Rafael, built in 1844.
In 1854, Marin County purchased this property and converted the building into the first county courthouse. The adobe was torn down in 1876, and a three-story structure called the Centennial Building was erected at a cost of $25,000. The first floor housed the Thomson Dry Goods store and a financial institution, and a doctor’s office occupied the second floor. In 1921, the Tamalpais Bank, owned and managed by Henry Foote, opened in the building. That building was torn down in 1928 and the current building was constructed to house the Bank of Italy.
The style of the current building is loosely Italian Renaissance Revival. Bas-relief decorative panels of an American eagle and an old sailing ship adorn the façade. In 1930, Bank of Italy changed its name to Bank of America, which occupied the building until the late 1950s. The structure was remodeled in 1959, and Marin Title Guaranty Company moved in. Later on, the Classic Billiards pool hall was located there, which closed in 2017. Over the years since Bank of America vacated the building, which has been designated a National Historic Landmark, it has also served as an armed forces recruiting center, a phone company and a bomb shelter. These days, the building houses Tam Commons Tap Room & Kitchen, which makes a good place to stop in for a bite (don’t miss the karaage “popcorn” chicken) and a beer from one of 34 taps of rotating beers and ciders.
Finish your walk at the old Mahon House Hotel, located on the same block as the Bank of America Building, at numbers 1330–1336. This three-story building is an elegant example of the French Second Empire Style, with a Mansard roof that slants inward above the cornice line, punctuated by curved-arch dormer windows. This style was popular for multistory buildings along the streets of Paris in the 19th century. The façade has a cast-iron front over brick walls, a Victorian-era feature found in only a few places in California, such as Old Town Sacramento.
The second-floor curved arched windows have bracketed pediments above. The building was constructed by Timothy Mahon in 1875, and was one of the grandest hotels in Marin County at the time. In 1885, Wolfe’s Drugstore opened on the second floor, and later retail outlets included a furniture repair store, a cleaners and alteration shop and a plumbing-supply outlet. The building became the Burchard Hotel Apartments from 1894–1905, and was expanded around 1900 to its current size, which now includes 25 apartments and five retail stores.
The interior of this building, now known as La Casa Grande Apartments, has retained much of its historic character, particularly in the lobby and hallways. A covered corridor joins the original building to the annex in the rear, which contains the original dining room from the 1870s. Damage caused by two fires, in 1965 and 1987, necessitated extensive restorations and renovations of some of the apartments.
Learn More About San Rafael's Architectural History
Want to learn more about San Rafael’s historic buildings? Walk a few blocks to the nearby Marin History Museum, located in the historic Boyd Gate House at 1125 B Street. Founded in 1936, it holds more than 25,000 artifacts and 200,000 archival images of Marin County’s history, as well as extensive files on the history of individual buildings. History Buffs can also read the book San Rafael Through Time, by Michelle Kaufman, a joint project of the Marin History Museum and the Anne T. Kent California Room at the Marin County Free Library.
The post Six Historic Buildings to Visit Along San Rafael’s Fourth Street appeared first on Local Getaways.
Best Annual Events in Hawaii in April 26 Mar 9:25 AM (15 days ago)
It’s April in the islands of aloha — here’s what not to miss!
Every day is Earth Day in Hawaii, as this translated Hawaiian proverb implies: “The land is chief, man is its servant.” Still, this month is the perfect time for activities that can refresh your spirit and renew the environment, too. April is Volunteer Month, when more than 20,000 volunteers, including visitors, participate in some 600 beach cleanups, cultural preservation projects and other forms of community service statewide. Kanu Hawaii offers listings that you can search by island, date and kind of event.
Feature photo courtesy of Genki Ala Wai on Facebook.
Oahu
When your schedule doesn’t permit an organized environmental cleanup, stop by the customer service desk at International Market Place in Waikiki and ask for a Sustainable Coastlines Beach Cleanup Kit for a $10 deposit. Use it to pick up litter when hiking or at the beach. If you post an action shot on social media with the right tag, you’ll receive a $20 gift card as well as your deposit when you return the kit.
Here are highlights of events around Oahu in April:
First Saturday of every month – April 5
The Genki Ala Wai Project hopes to restore the Ala Wai Canal, which borders Waikiki, by making 300,000 algae-eating, clay-based genki balls to toss into the canal’s increasingly less murky waters. Get your hands dirty in a good way by helping create the balls from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month at Kapahulu Library.
April 19
The historic cultural enclave of Waimea Valley, also home to extensive botanical gardens, hosts special Earth Day activities on April 19. Volunteers can sign up in advance to remove invasive plants near a valley stream from 9 to 11:30 a.m., or participate in a special forest restoration project from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., which includes a 45-minute hike up a ridge that is normally inaccessible to visitors. No registration is necessary to visit the Sustainability Village in the valley’s Upper Meadow, featuring hula performances, speeches and vendors from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
April 12 & 13
If you love seeing little cars going at top speeds, you’ll want to race over to Hawaii Remote Control Expo 2025 at Ka Makana Alii shopping center in Kapolei April 12 and 13. The event features more than 250 entries in remote-controlled drag races, on-and-off-road contests, drifting races and other competitions, as well as vendors and kids’ activities, plus a car and bike show on April 13.
Maui
The free East Maui Taro Festival draws thousands to Hana Ballpark for food, arts and crafts, hula, cultural demonstrations and a celebration of all things kalo, the Hawaiian word for taro. This year’s event takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 26, but related festivities continue the next day in Hana with a Kahanu Garden tour and a taro pancake breakfast in Helene Hall, plus a community workday in the taro patches at Kapahu Living Farm in Kipahulu.
Here’s what else to watch or nosh on the Valley Isle this month:
First Saturday of every month – April 5
The first Saturday of each month brings special kids’ crafts and activities to Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge in Kihei, where visitors can view more than 30 kinds of birds from its trails, boardwalk and viewing area. The staff also offer “walk and talk” hikes at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on first Saturdays.
Fourth Sunday of every month – April 27
Remove marine debris and other trash that endangers sharks and other underwater life during the monthly Kaehu Beach cleanups, led by Sharkastics since 2012. Volunteers meet on the fourth Sunday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon at the beach end of Kukona Place in Waiehu, near Kahului, but registration in advance is required.
April 25–17
Even if you’re not running the 55th annual Maui Marathon on April 27 — or the half-marathon, 10K or 5K races on the same day — you may want to pop into the Maui Marathon Health & Fitness Expo at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa in Kaanapali April 25-26. You can also join in a virtual run elsewhere, and still get a T-shirt and medal.
Hawaii Island
While the Ironman World Championship in October draws international attention, the Lavaman Triathlon seems a lot more fun as well as shorter—just a 1.5K swim in Anaehoomalu Bay, a 40K bike and a 10K run around the Waikoloa Beach Resort, ending at Lava Lava Beach Club with free Lavaman beer from Kona Brewing Hawaii, among other perks. You can also compete in just run-bike or bike-swim events.
Here are more highlights for April on Hawaii Island:
April 19–27
National Park Week begins April 19 with a fee-free admission day. That’s a good time to visit two oceanfront sites near Kailua-Kona. To the north lies Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, home to cultural sites, a large fishpond and a beach with frequently basking turtles. To the south lies Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, also known as Place of Refuge for its role as a spiritual sanctuary, with imposing tiki statues and remains of a royal compound.
April 20–26
Tickets have long been sold out for the three evenings of hula competition during the weeklong Merrie Monarch Festival, April 20-26, but you won’t want to miss the many free daytime performances by musicians and dancers, cultural workshops, popup boutiques and an enormous official craft fair throughout the week. The Royal Parade through downtown Hilo on April 26 concludes the festival and celebrates the newly crowned Miss Aloha Hula, too.
April 10–12
If you’re sweet on chocolate, book your tickets now for the Big Island Chocolate Festival at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott April 10-12. The annual event includes a cacao farm tour in Kona, farm seminars, chef demonstrations and a gala evening with unlimited tastings of sweet and savory chocolate concoctions from 18 of the island’s top chefs, beer and wine, and live music and fire dancers. Wear masks or costumes inspired by the gala’s theme, Cirque de Chocolate, and you may win tickets to next year’s event.
Kauai
Volunteers have helped restore the ahupuaa—Hawaiians’ traditional mountain-to-sea land division—of Waipa on the North Shore since 1982. Today visitors to Waipa can enjoy fascinating farm and food tours three days a week, a Tuesday afternoon farmers market, and the chance to join Waipa Foundation’s restoration efforts on the fourth Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon.
Here are other fun events on Kauai this month:
April 6
Soak in some of Kauai’s most scenic golf holes while supporting youth in the local Boys & Girls clubs. The eighth annual Kauai Classic Golf Tournament benefiting the Kauai branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii takes place April 6 at Princeville Makai Golf Course.
April 12
Established and up-and-coming ukulele artists perform at the free Kauai Ukulele Festival at Kukui Grove Shopping Center on April 12 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Be sure to bring your uke — performing musician Kimo Hussey will also lead a kani kapila (jam) for festival goers.
April 19
Kids can enjoy egg hunts, games, music and meeting farm animals up close during Easter on the Farm, April 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kauai Animal Education Center. Six different age groups for the various egg hunts offered hourly ensure all kids have an even playing field for finding eggs.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants on Hawaii, the best things to do on Hawaii and the best places to stay on Hawaii, click here.
The post Best Annual Events in Hawaii in April appeared first on Local Getaways.
The Best Things To Do in Monterey This April 24 Mar 4:34 PM (17 days ago)
Last year, the relaunch of Pebble Beach Food & Wine went big.
Big as in six football fields worth of Tasting Pavilions, complete with all the top-shelf chefs and boutique wineries of years past, but also new over-the-top experiential installations by upscale tequila, Portugal wine group, whisky and glacial water purveyors, among others. Big like waves of name-check mixologists, scores of events and dozens of world-class coastal venues. Big like a massive James Beard presence, big like 90 nonprofits benefiting by the fact it’s now overseen by Pebble Beach Foundation, and big like 6.3 tons of food donated.
The crazy things about that: 1) Year 2.0 of PBFW 2.0 aims to expand, with a bumper crop of fine-tuned and/or fresh programming; and 2) The April redux might not be the biggest event on the local calendar this month, or even that weekend.
That’s how XXXL the Sea Otter Classic gets at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, with nearly 10,000 athletes and 74,000 fans every year — racing, stunting and slaloming, but also camping, shopping, eating, drinking and listening to live music.
Those two major draws lead the upcoming docket, serving as an unofficial launch to event season around the Monterey Peninsula.
Here appear more on those and Local Getaways’ other favorites, including a whale of a festival at historic Fisherman’s Wharf.
Featured photo from Pebble Beach Food & Wine Facebook.
April 4
The mural-slathered Art Park in Sand City serves as home base — with blocks of muraled buildings surrounding it, begging for a nocturnal walking tour — for a treasure trove of eat, drink, interactive art and live music. Participating presenters run 20+ deep, and range from ice cream pioneers Moonscoops to farmers market pioneers Everyone’s Harvest to craft brew house pioneers Post No Bills to pinball pioneers Lynn’s Arcade. Given all the groundbreakers, it’s safe to anticipate something fresh — and, more likely, several somethings. Songs Hot Box Harry Taught Us leads the performance docket.
April 6
Call this the anti-Pebble Beach Food & Wine, in a good way. While PBFW knocks down ticket rates for locals priced out last year, this very local-centric event has long been the best value for a region loaded with strolling eat-and-drink diversions. The depth and range of quality, family-run, international restaurants and caterers — paired with craft beer, local wine, live music and a legit silent auction — make $50 a dynamic deal.
April 7
Three jazz luminaries unite in a supremely rare and noteworthy collaboration, performing two shows in Santa Cruz in response to demand. (Please check ahead before committing, as they may both sell out.) Mehldau coaxes sublime contemporary jazz from the piano, mixing exploration, classical romanticism and pop. McBride navigates from jazz to R&B to pop to rock to hip-hop along hisnine-time GRAMMY-winning journey. Gilmore thumps away in his unique drummer/composer style, making the finest musicians in the world that much more compelling.
April 10-13
The Woodstock of Bicycles plays the hits (and then some): road races, enduro races, gravel races, “gravity” races, grand prix races, dual slalom races, single speed races and Fuego XL races, plus special bike trick spotlights and the must-see-and-shop expo infield, which stacks demos, gear, tools, tech and merch. Camping, live music and curated food and drink all help contribute to the singular scene around the historic Laguna Seca Race Track area.
April 10-13
The chef talent would be enough — think industry-shaking souls like Alice Waters, Jonathan Waxman, Maneet Chauhan, Vijay Kumar and Kiran Verma and, oh, 125 more where they came from. New inclusive, and immersive, “walk-around” tastings have widened, fitting with an ambitious plan to make sumptuousness even richer. Having last year’s experience, event organizer a21’a first partnering with Pebble Beach, is crucial, according to a21 founder and CEO Brett Friedman. “We’re here to create lasting moments for our audience, to make sure we’re doing something uniquely different, and to have fun,” he says. “It’s a word I harp on. I like the simplicity of it. We’re selling experiences so people have fun, and leave saying, ‘Man, that was awesome.’”
April 12 & 13
This is no fluke. It’s the 15th annual — with dozens of marine-related interactive exhibits, research and rescue boats available for public tours, and the loaded lineup of live entertainment and epicurean options to prove it. A dozen musical acts include Wave Tones, I Cantori di Carmel and Kuumbwa Jazz Honor Band. An annual symposium taps knowledge from world-renowned marine experts. The Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association paint marine landscapes and talk process throughout the sprawling layout. Life-size whales appear in inflatable and skeleton form. And dozens of participating science- and advocacy-centric orgs — Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing Marine Lab and O’Neill Sea Odyssey among them — share knowledge.
April 13
Six and a half decades of songs, sketches and characters — from alumni including Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay and more — leap to life by way of an all-star ensemble at The Sunset Cultural Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
April 26 & 27
Who can teach Mozart anything? Well, Haydn did! Franz Joseph Haydn, Mozart’s instructor, nudged the technical limits of in his time with a relatively new solo instrument in his Cello Concerto in D Major. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s memorable Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (“a little nocturne”), meanwhile, presents a piece of light entertainment by a staggering musical genius. And German composer Franz Schreker’s Chamber Symphony is an emotional kaleidoscope of hyper-Romanticism and Modernist harmonie. That insight comes from Sunset Center’s preview, which adds that the sequence of music “challenges us to hear familiar classical delights with new ears.”
April 27
This marathon is a world-class race set in a world-class place, but there’s really no contest here, at least when it comes to similar 26.2-ers. Sorry, Boston Marathon, Paris Marathon, Honolulu Marathon or even Amsterdam Marathon. The OMG around the nation’s first nationally-designated Scenic Highway (Highway 1, along which the entire epic unfolds), makes this #1 according to runner voting, and that is all buoyed by enthusiastic dancers, musicians and rooting parties along the way, including the pianist at the top of Hurricane Hill.
More Please!
For more suggestions on the best restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula, the best things to do on the Monterey Peninsula and the best places to stay on the Monterey Peninsula, click here.
The post The Best Things To Do in Monterey This April appeared first on Local Getaways.