California is where we call home. Its diversity isn't just cultural; it's geographical, from the magical redwood forests of the north to the sunny beaches of the south. Its cities are melting pots, vibrant with culture, cuisine, and chill. Natural beauty abounds from Yosemite to Big Sur, Lake Tahoe to Santa Barbara. You can ski and surf in the same day and have 4 seasons in a week. The heart of creativity and innovation; a kaleidoscope of art, music, and tech. Have an idea or a dream? Come to California, people are nice & the sun always shines.
Joshua Tree National Park
Calistoga
Santa Barbara
Venice Beach
Pismo Beach
Los Angeles
Disney Land - the happiest place on earth
Santa Monica Pier
Carlsbad Beach
Hollywood Sign hike via Griffith Observatory
Tide pooling at Moss Beach
Stinson Beach
Bolinas
Bolinas Beach
Beach access for all @ Sea Ranch; selfies for days.
Driftwood at Bolinas Beach
Moss Landing Tide Pooling
The Sea Ranch Lodge - recently renovated by the team at NICOLEHOLLIS
Sausalito - kayaking with Sea Trek
Bon Tempe Lake
Bay Club Ross Valley Swim & Tennis Club
Sunset love, northern Sonoma Coast
Outward Bound Adventure, Yosemite
Sea Stacks near Gualala, CA
Material Girl, Chase Center SF
Be yourself.
Billie Eilish, Chase Center
Los Angeles
Success in the SF Bay
Santa Cruz Beach
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Capitola Beach
Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Surf School
Monterey
Our friends at Phil's
Mission District, San Francisco
The Golden Gate Bridge
Presidio Tunnel Tops, San Francisco
Angel Island Ferry, Tiburon
Main Parade Lawn, Presidio SF
L-O-V-E always wins San Francisco
Angel Island
Dr Wilkinson's, Calistoga
Route 29, Napa
Dr Wilkinson's Hotel & Spa
St. Helena, CA
China Town, SF
Lake Sonoma during drought
Pontoon Boats on Lake Sonoma
Fort Mason, SF
Angel Island
Bluff walks for 10 miles in Sea Ranch, CA
Monterey
Pacific Grove, CA
Carlsbad Beach Surf Lessons
Pacific Grove
Lover's Point Pacific Grove
The Gosby House Inn, Pacific Grove. A gem.
Ostrich Farm in Santa Ynez Valley
Apple picking in Sebastopol
Hales Apple Farm, Sebastopol
Palisades, Tahoe
Lake Tahoe at its best
Inter-mountain Gondola Palisades --> Alpine
Favorite tree, Mt Tam
TreeTops, Kings Beach Lake Tahoe
Lake Davis, Tahoe Region - Shaffer's High Sierra Summer Camp
North Lake Tahoe / Tahoe City
Sequoia madness
Giant Sequoias, near Eureka!
Sequoias in Humbolt
Twomey Winery, Calistoga
Indian Springs, Calistoga
Napa Valley Vintage Home - best at the holidays!
Napa Valley beauty
Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa
xoxo
Wine tasting by bike, Calistoga
Amen
SOMA West Skate park under the freeway
We ❤️ you, California
Northern California Favorites - Our Recommendations To Eat
China Live
Best elevated but casual Chinese food - dim sum, green beans & pork buns.
— Chinatown, San Francisco
Pineapple King
Pork buns, pineapple buns, coconut cream buns to die for.
— Sunset District, San Francisco
Phil’s Fish Market
Cioppino, bloody mary’s with shrimp, fish n chips. Long lines, worth the wait.
— Castroville / Monterey
Poggio Trattoria
Great Italian, cozy booths. Nice wine & cocktails. Eloise’s favorite pasta & parm.
— Casa Madrona, Sausalito
Mister Jiu’s
Best innovative Chinese food and great bar. All the awards, Michelin *.
— Chinatown, San Francisco
House of Nanking
Best food, authentic dive atmosphere. Green beans and mongolian beef.
— China Town, San Francisco
Dalida
Modern Mediterranean, great cocktails.
— The Presidio, SF
Hays Place
Fancy Cali-Mexican. Nachos, tortilla soup & strong drinks with the best view in town.
— Pebble Beach
Stokes Adobe
All you need is a cocktail & the roasted potatoes. Tucked in a charming little adobe house.
— Pacific Grove
California Favorites - Recommendations To Drink & Stay
Wineries:
Scribe, Sonoma - Tastings & special events. Reservations recommended. Rosé, chardonnay, pinot.
Ridge, Healdsburg - Best zins, big cabs, smooth pinots. Sustainably made.
Bella, Dry Creek - Great tours. Known for their zins.
Lynmar, Russian River - Outdoor tasting, gardens, truffle popcorn. Nice chardonnays & pinots.
A few favorite outings (Nor Cal)
Great redwood hike: Baltimore Canyon (Barbara Springs to Dawns Falls loop). Under 2 hours, moderate. Muir Woods is also great but requires a shuttle and reservations everyday.
Amazing views hike: Matt Davis to Steep Ravine (top of Mt Tam to Stinson Beach and back). Lunch at Parkside. 4 hours, moderate+.
Favorite bike loop: Kentfield to Bolinas via Sir Francis Drake, home via Bolinas Ridge.
A nice day out: rent bikes at Demo Sport and take the Tiburon Ferry to Angel Island. Pack a picnic & a beach bag - or camping gear.
Kayak or SUP in Sausalito: SeaTrek - see the seals, birds, houseboats, fancy boats. Eat at Fish.
To stay (off the beaten path):
Carmel Mission Inn, Carmel-By-the-Sea. Outside the tourist area, nice food and nice little pool.
Carmel Valley Ranch & Spa, Carmel Valley. 11/10.
Gosby House, Pacific Grove. Quaint little hidden gem.
The Madonna Inn, San Louis Obispo. Not quaint, no gem. All the fun you need; 24 hours max.
The Steward, Santa Barbara. Close to UCSB. Good for families.
The Sea Ranch Lodge, Sea Ranch CA. Recently renovated by the team at NICOLEHOLLIS. Absolute magic. Air Bnbs are also stunning and often good value. One of our faves HERE.
Surrey Glamping Resort, Guerneville. Casual, family spot near town.
Harmon Guest House, Healdsburg. Terrific service and location. Nice bikes & food.
Cavallo Point, Sausalito. Great hikes, spa, rooms, food. Our favorite staycation.
Marriott @ The Marin Country Mart. For location only. Convenient to SF Ferry, excellent food, great shops, and us.
