Local Getaways

08/06/2026

The ultimate West Marin day trip: oysters, cheese and mead, all within a few miles of each other 🦪🧀 No service, no notifications — just good food and a reason to unplug for the day. Save this for your next day trip out of the city.

07/22/2026

New stars just dropped 🌟 Our 2026 guide to Michelin dining in the Greater Bay Area is officially here!

We're breaking down every star, every new addition and every Bib Gourmand across the Bay Area and beyond. Whether you're planning a special occasion or just love to eat well, this is your go-to list for the region's best tables.

Read it here: https://localgetaways.com/where-to-find-michelin-rated-dining-in-the-greater-bay-area/

Where are you dining first? Comment below!

Looking for the best dining? A Michelin-star is a sure bet that you're in the right place, and the Bay Area has plenty of those to offer.

07/08/2026

Escape to wine country this weekend and taste the outdoors 🍇

Elevate your tasting game with these unforgettable outdoor wine experiences ⬇️

🍷 J Vineyards & Winery
Flight options include the Sparkling Flight and the Varietal Flight with optional artisan cheese pairings

🍷 Sterling Vineyards
Highlights include a signature gondola ride, self-guided strolls and a seated tasting of two wines paired with a cheese board

🍷 Anaba Wines
Enjoy pickleball with an Elements Wine tasting flight, or bocce ball with Pinot Noirs and seasonal dining

🍷 Louis M. Martini Winery
The Taste of Martini Flight takes you on a deep dive and includes tasty bites featuring fresh ingredients

🍷 Cline Family Cellars
Outdoor Seated Reserve Tasting provides an hour-long experience for up to eight people with five wines plus a flight of your choice

07/07/2026

Mark your calendars! These are the best events in the Bay Area this month ⬇️

Jazz on the Plazz, by Los Gatos Music & Arts
🗓️ July 8, 15, 22 & 29
📍 Los Gatos

San Rafael Summer Market
🗓️ July 10
📍 San Rafael

Alameda County Fair
🗓️ Thru July 12
📍 Pleasanton

Petaluma Art & Garden Festival
🗓️ July 12
📍 Petaluma

Festival Napa Valley
🗓️ Thru July 16
📍 Napa Valley

Songwriters In Paradise Healdsburg
🗓️ July 16-18
📍 Healdsburg

Pleasant Hill Blues and Brews Festival
🗓️ July 17–18
📍 Pleasant Hill

Mosswood Meltdown
🗓️ July 17–19
📍 Oakland

Circus Bella in the Parks
🗓️ July 17–19 and 26
📍 San Francisco

Bastille Day Festival
🗓️ July 18
📍 San Francisco

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic
🗓️ July 18-19
📍 Santa Rosa

Petaluma Music Festival
🗓️ July 25
📍 Petaluma

Art Walk at Filoli
🗓️ July 25-26
📍 Woodside

The San Francisco Marathon
🗓️ July 25–26
📍 San Francisco

Orchids in the Park
🗓️ July 25–26
📍 San Francisco

Get all the details here: https://localgetaways.com/california/best-things-to-do-in-the-bay-area-this-july/

Missing an event? Add it below!

Looking to fill a couple hours of your day while in the San Francisco Bay Area? Here are some of the best things to do this July.

07/02/2026

Your 4th of July starts here 🇺🇸

The Best Events in Marin County⬇️🎡

🇺🇸 Marin County Fair
Enjoy activities like pig races or the rides, grab a bite at one of the food booths and end the day with the not-to-miss nightly fireworks

🇺🇸 Novato 4th of July Parade
Watch the classic cars and military vehicles roll by while waving to dressed-up dogs, cowgirls on horses and many a festive float

🇺🇸 Corte Madera / Larkspur Parade & Festival
The parade is followed by music, entertainment and children’s activities

🇺🇸 Sausalito Fireworks & Independence Day Parade
Spend the day in Sausalito with a morning parade, an afternoon picnic at Dunphy Park, and fireworks

🇺🇸 Fourth of July BBQ at Cavallo Point: The Lodge at the Golden Gate
Get a front row seat to the fireworks that will be launched right off of the Golden Gate Bridge

The Best Firework Viewing Spots in and Around Marin County 🎆

Sausalito
🇺🇸 Scoma's Sausalito
🇺🇸 Angelino Restaurant
🇺🇸 Barrel House Tavern

Tiburon
🇺🇸 The Caprice
🇺🇸 Luna Blu Restaurant
🇺🇸 Sam's Anchor Cafe

San Rafael
🇺🇸 Marin County Fair

San Francisco
🇺🇸 Fisherman's Wharf
🇺🇸 PIER 39
🇺🇸 Aquatic Park

East Bay
🇺🇸 César E. Chávez Park
🇺🇸 DoubleTree by Hilton Berkeley Marina

Sonoma
🇺🇸 Sonoma Plaza

Get the full details here: https://localgetaways.com/california/best-things-to-do-in-the-north-bay-this-july/

Where are you watching the fireworks this year? Comment below and tag us in your photos!

Looking to fill a couple hours of your day while in the North Bay? Here are some of the best things to do this July.

06/25/2026

Save this for your trip to Lake Tahoe this summer! ☀️

Where to eat 🍔🍸🍳

➡️ Paxton’s Settlement (formerly Austin’s)
Must order ‼️ Cornbread flapjacks with honey butter and the French onion burger with caramelized onions, Gruyére cheese and aioli

➡️ Tessies Cocktails & Chords
Craft cocktail lounge with live music 7 days a week
🗓️ Opening July 2nd

➡️ Mastro's Steakhouse, Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe
Known for live entertainment and signature warm butter cake

➡️ Tahoe House Bakery & Gourmet
A must stop for pastries, fresh bread, deli lunch options or the “best coffee on the lake”

➡️ Squeeze In
Famous for its speciality omelets
Pro tip 💡 Get there early to avoid the wait

What to do 🥾⛵️⛳️

➡️ D.L. Bliss State Park
Officially reopened!
Must hike ⛰️ Rubicon Trail (but don’t sleep on the Balancing Rock Nature Trail)

➡️ Murder Mystery Sunset Cruise with Happylifecruises
Set in 1959, guests follow clues as they cruise to Emerald Bay, Vikingsholm and the Rubicon Cliffs

➡️ South Lake Tahoe Recreation & Aquatics Center
Features a multi-purpose pool, lazy river, cardio and strength training area, indoor track and a multi-court gymnasium with drop-in times for pickleball, basketball and volleyball (only $15 for a day pass!)

➡️ American Century Championship
🗓️ July 8-12 at Edgewood Tahoe
Celebrity golf tournament featuring Steph Curry and Travis and Jason Kelce

➡️ Nate Bargatze Comedy Show
🗓️ July 11 at the Tahoe Blue Event Center

Learn more here: https://localgetaways.com/california/the-2026-tahoe-summer-hit-list

Plan the perfect Tahoe getaway with top restaurants, scenic adventures, outdoor activities and summer events across the lake.

06/24/2026

Get out of the Bay Area and head to Santa Barbara this summer ☀️

Santa Barbara Lavender Festival
🗓️ June 27�
Lavender lemonade, 100+ artisan vendors and tap-dancing performers from the Satin Dollz

Santa Barbara Wine Festival
🗓️ June 27�
Sip local wines on the museum's scenic grounds while supporting a great cause — proceeds benefit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

4th of July at West Beach�
🗓️ July 4�
Live music, food and family fun, capped off with a 20-minute fireworks show synced to patriotic tunes

California Wine Festival
🗓️ July 17-18�
Start with a sunset rare & reserve tasting, then head beachside for wine, craft beer and bites with ocean views

Old Spanish Days Fiesta
🗓️ August 5-9�
SB's biggest tradition since 1924 — equestrian parades, flamenco nights, a Mexican marketplace and free events celebrating the city's Chumash, Spanish and Mexican heritage.

Pacific Pride Festival
🗓️ August 22�
A free, family-friendly day of live entertainment, food, drink and community pride by the sea

Pints for the Park
🗓️ August 29 �
21+ craft beer fest with ocean views, lawn games, live music and local bites — all for a good cause supporting Elings Park.

Open Studios Tour by Santa Barbara Studio Artists
🗓️ September 5-7�
A rare peek inside local artists' private studios over Labor Day weekend — grab a map and go gallery-hopping across the city.

Get all the details here: https://localgetaways.com/california/lively-festivals-fireworks-light-up-santa-barbara-summer

Discover Santa Barbara’s top summer festivals, parades, wine events, cultural celebrations and Fourth of July festivities.

06/19/2026

These new Bay Area restaurants are waiting for you...

Casa Sofia
📍San Francisco, SoMa
Don’t miss 👉 The ceviche peruano, which will set the tone for everything else.

Super Mensch,
📍San Francisco, Marina/Cow Hollow
Don’t miss 👉 The full pound pastrami sandwich, not for the fainthearted.

Yoeechee
📍San Francisco, Fillmore
Don’t miss 👉 The seared salmon, which gets a subtle char that elevates it above standard takeout fare.

Causwells Menlo Park
📍Menlo Park
Don’t miss 👉 Whatever cocktail the bar is pouring that night—the program is top-tier.

Asia Live
📍Santa Clara
Don’t miss 👉 There will be live-action exhibition kitchens, where diners can watch chefs. At Asia Live, diners will be able to watch noodles, dumplings, sushi and more take shape.

Cajun Claws Oakland
📍Oakland
Don’t miss 👉 The Seafood Boil: Pick your seafood, choose your sauce, dial in your spice level. It lands on the table in a bag — you crack it open and dig in.

Glom Thai,
📍Berkeley
Don’t miss 👉 The charcoal-grilled offerings, which showcase techniques that most casual Thai spots never attempt.

Gurkha Kitchen Express
📍Berkeley
Don’t miss 👉 The momos—it’s what they’ve built their reputation on.

Eight North
📍Calistoga
Don’t miss 👉 Whatever wine flight pairs with the menu that evening—the whole point is to experience Calistoga.

Get all the details (plus more restaurant recommendations) here: https://localgetaways.com/california/where-to-eat-now-in-the-bay-area/

Searching for the best restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area? We've done the research! Sushi, burgers, pizza, fine dining and more.

06/18/2026

Big soccer energy is in town, lighting up fanzones, parties and more. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11 in Mexico City, with matches unfolding across the United States (June 19, 22 and 25 here in Levi's Stadium), Mexico and Canada throughout the summer.

While Bay Area fans may not all have tickets to the big games, there will be plenty of places to catch the action, from outdoor screenings to lively watch parties around the Bay.

Check them out here: https://localgetaways.com/world-cup-2026

Soccer’s biggest stage arrives in North America, lighting up the Bay with fanzones, parties and more. We've got the essential watch guide.

06/12/2026

Heading to San Francisco? No visit is complete without exploring Chinatown — one of the city's most vibrant neighborhoods, filled with incredible food, rich history and hidden gems around every corner.

Luckily for you, we've mapped out the perfect one-day itinerary👇

1️⃣ Start your day right by arriving via cable car

2️⃣ Shop for unique produce at Stockton St. and score memorable trinkets on Grant Ave

3️⃣ Grab dim sum or egg tarts to-go for an outdoor lunch at the Transamerica Pyramid’s Redwood Grove

4️⃣ Visit the iconic Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory for dessert

5️⃣ Track local history at the San Francisco Cable Car Museum

6️⃣ Saunter down famous Chinatown side alleys like Wavery Place

7️⃣ Pick from a trio of acclaimed options and enjoy a world-class feast

8️⃣ Enjoy live entertainment with a show at the historic Great Star Theater, then finish strong with a nightcap at Li Po Lounge

Read the full itinerary here: https://localgetaways.com/california/how-to-spend-a-perfect-day-in-san-franciscos-chinatown

San Francisco Chinatown

Need a perfect Chinatown day? Check out the guide below and fill your plans with cable cars, top egg tarts, shopping, must-see sights in SF