5 MUST SEE, DO
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SAN FRANCISCO TOP SIGHTS Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown offer even more reasons to visit. A redo has made part of the wharf more pedestrian-friendly and visitors now can buy fish straight from the boats. The Cartoon Art Museum opened in late 2017 just east of the re-invigorated Ghirardelli Square, home to the San Francisco Brewing Co., which made its debut in 2018. Meanwhile, on the North Beach edge of Chinatown, the new China Live complex offers an amazing variety of Chinese food choices.
› sftravel.com
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EAST BAY EXPLORATION Oakland’s Uptown, Temescal and Piedmont Avenue neighborhoods are newly hip, filled with trendy restaurants, including Commis, which received two Michelin stars in 2017. The neighboring university town of Berkeley also offers much to discover, including the UC Berkeley campus, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive. The outdoors beckons at 2,000acre Tilden Park, which has a lovely botanical garden and steam train that children adore.
› visitberkeley.com
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SONOMA SOJOURN Sonoma County’s vineyard-covered landscape was largely undamaged by the October 2017 wildfires. Dozens of wine-tasting rooms are open, including in the Russian River appellation, where visitors stroll among the shops of Sebastopol, Graton and Forestville and pick up picnic goodies for alfresco dining while sampling the county’s famous Pinot Noirs and other varietals.
› sonomacounty.com
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ICONIC HIGH TECH Silicon Valley giants open parts of their headquarters to visitors. Intel offers a Tech Museum and Apple’s new futuristic campus includes a glass-walled visitor center. Facebook’s Menlo Park campus hosts a Saturday farmers market and features a thumbs-up (“like”) sign at 1 Hacker Way, a popular spot for selfies. Grab a bite along nearby Palo Alto’s University Avenue where Silicon Valley’s elite dine.
› smccvb.com, santaclara.org
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EXPLORE THE OUTDOORS Mount Tamalpais and the coast of Marin County just north of the Golden Gate Bridge are a spectacular playground for hikers, bikers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Mount Tam affords stunning views and Muir Woods National Monument on its western flank wows visitors with its towering redwood grove. Oceanfront towns Stinson Beach and Bolinas have a laid-back vibe that is part of their charm.
› visitmarin.org