What exactly do you do?
I’m a longtime journalist and author, Bay Area native and 30-year resident of San Francisco. My book, Great Escapes: Northern California (Countryman Press 2008), covers 30 weekend getaways and day trips in northern California. I have a blog on northern California and recently wrote and photographed two travel apps that can be downloaded on iPhones and Ipod Touches — one on San Francisco’s Chinatown and the other on San Francisco’s North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf. They are guides that include interactive maps, website links and suggestions for restaurants, bars, attractions and historic sites to visit.

What do you love most about the Bay Area?
I love the great diversity of everything: the natural landscape, the people, the cultural activities. We’ve got such a wide range of choices for things to do, from hiking along the coast or in forests, to eating in some of the best restaurants in the world and visiting museums, shopping or exploring a small town like Pescadero or an urban neighborhood like the Mission. Even the weather is diverse. In the summer, you can go from cool fog on the coast to blistering hot in less than an hour’s drive.

Where is your favorite place to hike/bike in the Bay Area?
I love to hike on Mt. Tam and Point Reyes, but I live in San Francisco and, almost on a daily basis, I find myself taking long walks on Crissy Field, in the Presidio (on some of the wonderful new hiking paths that have been added there), or on the Land’s End trail, which, on a clear day, has got to be one of the most amazing walks on the planet. They’ve really done a great job sprucing up that trail lately.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?
I love so many, but I’m partial to Delfina in the Mission because the ingredients are so simply prepared and high quality. I also love inexpensive little neighborhood places. La Taqueria in the Mission is my favorite for tacos and Shanghai Dumpling King in the outer Richmond is my top Chinese spot.

What is your favorite place to get coffee or tea?
I normally don’t recommend chains but it’s a local chain so I don’t mind as much: the La Boulanges around San Francisco. I love their almond croissants with a latte. When I’m in North Beach, I head to Cafe Puccini or Cafe Greco for good espresso.

What is your favorite place to shop for clothing?
There’s a little place called Alaya in the inner Sunset that I like. If I’m downtown, I’ll go to Zara and Loehmann’s.

If you had an out of town guest coming to visit that had never been to the Bay Area where would you take them?
I’d show them around San Francisco, starting with the top of Twin Peaks if it’s a clear day. People love that and it gives them the lay of the land. I’d make sure to show them the Victorians on Liberty Street in the Castro, take them through Golden Gate Park (people always love seeing the buffalo and the Conservatory of Flowers), the Ferry Building and walk around downtown a bit — Union Square, Chinatown and Yerba Buena Gardens. Then I’d cross the Golden Gate Bridge and go up to the headlands for a view of the city and the bridge from there. If there were time, we’d go to Sausalito, Muir Woods and drive to Point Reyes to see west Marin.

Favorite winery?
Bartholomew Park Winery in the eastern hills of Sonoma, which has beautiful gardens for a picnic and a very interesting, small museum of the area.

Favorite bar?
Tosca in North Beach. You can’t beat the atmosphere. I love sitting in one of the red booths along the back wall, talking with friends and watching people. On a chilly night, have one of those house specialties with steamed milk, hot chocolate and brandy.

Thank you!

Visit www.greatescapesnorcal.com to learn more.

Crab Stands at the Wharf - by Laura Del Rosso

More sunny-foggy Marin days.

I think Mill Valley should officially change its name to Fog Valley.

This is what happens in Marin when you put a McDonald’s next to a trail.

Thanks Wordless Wednesday!

More info about hiking in Marin.

PS. Please become a fan of Sally Around The Bay on Facebook.
Thank you!

They moved to the Bay Area!

After drinking our very large glasses of lemonade we headed back to the train and made our way to Tempe.  Yvonne was on a mission to see a desert and a cactus. I was going with the flow. When we arrived in Tempe there just happened to be a little mountain or desert hill in the middle of the town and it had cactus on it! It was called the Hayden Butte Preserve. Yvonne and I asked Jan and Mike if they were up for a hike. Being the easy going fun people they are they said sure! Off we went, me in my flip flops, Yvonne in her semi-high heeled flip flops and up the trail we went.  I’m so glad we were the adventurers that we were! The view from the top of that desert mountain hill was beautiful! (Please note I am the short one in this picture for some reason ALL of my virtual friends have the idea I am tall. I’m not.)

After our desert hike I was craving a beer. Mike said let’s get one then. (My kinda guy!) We strolled in to town to find a plethora of pubs. We had pub choices! We decided upon the one called The Library (being on a business trip and playing hooky it seemed appropriate). The place was great! The walls were lined with nice old books. It made us feel smart. I got my cold beer and was very pleased. I also had a chicken caeser salad that was huge and quite delicious. I’m thinking this could be my new office.

The waitress uniforms were… well let’s just say I wouldn’t work there. Seriously how do businesses get away with this kind of dress requirement? I guess because the women put up with it… You can take a look for yourself here.

The Library Bar & Grill
www.thelibraryusa.com
501 South Mill Avenue, Suite 101
Tempe, Arizona 85281

Today I went on an adventure on Mt. Tamalpais (known as Mt. Tam to the locals) and hiked up ZigZag trail and down Tenderfoot trail in Mill Valley!

ZigZag is an intense technical uphill trail (all uphill) that starts right off of Cascade Dr. in Mill Valley and ends near the Mountain Home Inn.

When we reached the Mountain Home Inn we headed toward Tenderfoot trail and took that down. At the end of Tenderfoot we spotted this guy.

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Here are some of the places owner and artist Hila buzzes around the bay to when she is not working:

Where is your favorite place to hike or bike in the Bay Area?
Terra Linda/Southern Novato Hills – different trails, mostly the “shortcut” from Terra Linda to Sleepy Hollow (San Anselmo).

What do you love most about the Bay Area?
The weather, the air, the view, the people. I’m coming from a relatively hot and humid climate (Tel Aviv) so the weather here is just perfect. I only wish the beach and the water were warmer. The people here are much more relaxed and patient. Above all we love San Francisco- one of my favorite cities if not “the” favorite. gracious and gorgeous. I love it especially when it’s gray (which is most of the time) it gives it just the perfect bittersweet taste of melancholy.

What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?
The Slanted Door in SF love the the food the scene and view.
(I think Hila and I have similar taste. I love this restaurant!)

Favorite Coffee/Tea shop?
Cafe Gratitude especially the one in Berkeley. I’m grateful for a great food- especially the sweets… and you know you are safe there- it’s all vegan! (Another one of my favorites.)

Favorite park? Bon Tempe Lake (From Fairfax)

Favorite place to shop?
Crossroad Trading. Favorite location is Irving st in SF. I like the idea of recycling and exchanging. AND what  great finds! (I’m telling you, I think Hila is my long lost sister.)

Read more about BZhive in the MarinIJ.

Be sure to follow BZhive on Twitter to keep up with the latest happenings at the hive.

The social interaction and possible collaboration that comes when people get out of the home office can also make people more productive, according to a 2008 study by Stephen Humphrey, formerly a management professor at Florida State University’s business school.

“People who work interdependently with others have better performance ratings, lower stress, lower turnover intentions, and greater work and organizational satisfaction,” the study found. – Jim Welte, MarinIJ 2/7/10

Stay tuned you just might see me working out of BZhive one of these days.

I wanted good quality rain gear but I didn’t want to spend the money I would have to if I went to REI. Instead, I went to the Sports Basement in San Francisco. The Sports Basement is an awesome place for getting great deals on quality brand name athletic clothing. A few years ago I bought a big puffy down Northface jacket from the Sports Basement. I called REI first to compare prices and it was $50 cheaper at the Sports Basement.

The Sports Basement in the Presidio is located in one of the most beautiful spots in San Francisco.  It’s right across the street from the Crissy Field Beach located below the Golden Gate Bridge. The views are breathtaking.  You can see the bridge, Alcatraz and the city skyline. We were lucky because when we got to the store it was not raining so we took a walk on the beach before doing our shopping. The boardwalk was full of happy people walking, jogging, rollerblading, biking and playing with their dogs.

It’s fun to shop at Sports Basement. It has a very casual friendly feel. There are couches throughout the store and they encourage you to hang out and chat. There is even a play area for kids. Lot’s of community stuff going on there. I found a great rain jacket and a pair of convertible pants I love! We’re back to walking or hiking everyday and it feels great!

Beautiful views from our hike today! This is what I woke up to after the big storm last night. Amazing! I love the Bay Area!