San Francisco Bay Area

‘The Rock’ Alcatraz Island San Francisco, California

An icon of American criminal culture and history, Alcatraz (‘The Rock’) was perhaps America’s best-known prison from 1934 to 1963, when it housed such notorious criminals as Al Capone, Robert ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly and Robert ‘The Birdman’ Stroud (who looked nothing like Burt Lancaster in the 1962 movie, and was not allowed to keep birds there, as he had at Leavenworth, Kansas).

The Stylish Hotel Adagio San Francisco

The Hotel Adagio offers 171 of the largest, most comfortable and stylish guestrooms of all hotels in downtown San Francisco. Beautiful Spanish colonial revival architecture outside mixed with an upscale, contemporary design within, creates a unique arrival experience, accentuated by one of the city’s hottest craft cocktail bars, The Mortimer.

Ten Reasons to Visit San Francisco

San Francisco can prove to be a compelling lure when it comes to attracting visitors from around the world. First-class hotels, a compact and walkable downtown, superb restaurants, famous landmarks, world-class arts and cultural attractions, scenic topography, a mild climate and cosmopolitan flair. But you need to take a closer look to really experience San Francisco. Here’s a few diversions to pursue before or after your meeting in San Francisco:

Pacific Coast Highway road trip tips

Exploring iconic Pacific Coast Highway 1 along California’s coast

There was a time in my early 20s when I’d plan a trip down to the most exact detail. Back then, I was relatively new to traveling—having discovered wanderlust after a stint abroad during college—and planning trip logistics, to me, was as fun as the actual vacation itself. But 16 years ago I married a man who is a bit more laid back about prepping for travel. He prefers serendipity to reading guidebooks. It’s rubbed off.

New in California’s Napa Valley

Catching up with the latest and greatest in California’s Napa Valley. Like a fine wine, the Napa Valley itself gets better with age. I’m lucky enough to call California Wine Country home, and regularly keep tabs on new stuff on both sides of the Mayacamas Mountains. Here’s a rundown on some of the newest places to eat, taste, and relax in the Napa Valley.