Things to do in California
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FEATURED
Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip
14 hours (Departs San Francisco, California)
by Viator
Take time out for a day trip into the wild beauty of Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. Enjoy the beautiful countryside and discover the raw beauty of…Not LP reviewed
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Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
Bold, organic brews west of downtown off Mission St, squeezed between local winery tasting rooms.
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Santa Barbara Historical Museum
By a romantic cloistered adobe courtyard, peruse a fascinating mishmash of local memorabilia, including Chumash woven baskets, and learn about odd historical footnotes like the city's involvement in toppling the last Chinese monarchy.
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Santa Barbara Adventure Co
Guided kayaking tours and traditional board-surfing and SUP lessons.
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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
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San Diego Zoo
If it slithers, crawls, stomps, swims, leaps or flies, chances are you'll find it in this world-famous zoo in northern Balboa Park. It's home to 3000-plus animals representing 800-plus species in a beautifully landscaped setting, including the giant Panda Canyon and the 7.5-acre Elephant Odyssey. Arrive early, when the animals are most active. For a wildlife viewing experience that's closer to the real thing, get a combination ticket to the affiliated San Diego Safari Park.
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San Diego Safari Park
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San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park
Snorkeling and scuba diving here, you'll encounter glowing orange garibaldi flitting around giant kelp forests.
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Rose Garden
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Ricochet Gourmet
At this much adored cafe-cum-deli, the menu bounces from break-fast frittatas to curry chicken salad and fragrant soups, all of them homemade using organic and seasonal ingredients.
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Restaurant at 29 Palms Inn
The well-respected restaurant has its own organic garden and does burgers and salads at lunchtime and grilled meats and yummy pastas for dinner.
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Raymond's Deli
A sassy den of kitsch, pinball and Pac-Man, it serves heaping sandwiches with names like 'When Pigs Fly,' 'Flaming Farm' and 'Soy U Like Tofu.' Kick back with a Lobotomy Bock.
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Public Library City Guides
Volunteer local historians lead tours by neighborhood and theme: Art Deco Marina, Gold Rush Downtown, Pacific Heights Victorians, North Beach by Night and more. See website for upcoming tours.
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Prohibition
This sophisticated 1930's-style jazz bar takes music and cocktails (made with gin or rye whiskey) seriously. The house rules aren't a joke either; you have to reserve online, no cell phones are allowed at the bar, and a dress code is enforced.
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Pride Mountain
Cult-favorite Pride straddles the Sonoma–Napa border and makes stellar Cabernet, Merlot and Viognier at an unfussy hilltop estate with spectacular picnicking. Reservations required.
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Prado
This classic lunch spot in the museum district of Balboa Park serves up fresh Mediterranean cuisine like steamed mussels, shrimp paella and grilled portobello sandwiches. Breezy outdoor seating and the Mexican-tiled interior are equally inviting; happy hour food and drink specials (4pm to 6pm Tuesday to Friday) are a steal.
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Pizzeria Delfina
One bite explains why SF is so obsessed with pizza lately: Delfina's thin crust supports the weight of fennel sausage and fresh mozzarella without drooping or cracking, while white pizzas let chefs freestyle with Cali-foodie ingredients like maitake mushrooms, broccoli rabe and artisan cheese. No reservations; sign up on the chalkboard and wait with wine at Delfina bar next door.
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Pizzeria
‘At the table, one never gets old,’ is the motto on the menu here. How true. But old age comes when you’re trying to score a reservation at this booked-for-weeks posh pizzeria from Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali. The fennel sausage, prosciutto and salami are indicative of the high-fat, high-taste toppings that gourmands and groupies demand. No reservation? Come in early for a seat at the bar. Equally packed is Osteria Mozza, the pizzeria’s adjacent sister venture.
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Penny Ice Creamery
With a cult following, this artisan ice-cream shop makes zany flavors from scratch using wild local ingredients like avocado, roasted barley or cherry balsamic.
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Oxbow Public Market
Oxbow showcases sustainably produced artisanal foods by multiple vendors. Feast on Hog Island oysters (six for $15), Pica Pica's Venezuelan cornbread sandwiches ($8) and Three Twins certified organic ice-cream ($4 cones).
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Out & About
Enthusiastic guides show landmarks of LA's gay and lesbian history; there's a lot more than you think!
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Olio Pizzeria
Cozy, high-ceilinged pizzeria and enoteca with a happening wine bar proffers a tempting selection of crispy pizzas, imported cheeses and meats, traditional antipasti and dolci (desserts).
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Old Town Sacramento
It's more than a little stagey, where candy-scented streets rumble with baby boomers on Harleys, but this walkable district holds California's largest concentration of historic buildings and a few fine museums.
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OEX Dive & Kayak
For gear or instruction, including spearfishing seminars and stand-up paddleboard lessons, head to this one-stop resource in La Jolla.
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Ocean Terrace
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Museum of Contemporary Art
Sister venue of the downtown branch (same ticket for both locations).
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