If you are looking for the perfect day trip from Seattle that still feels like a real escape, a Whidbey Island day trip with Deception Pass combine a ferry ride, beach time, a cute waterfront town, dramatic bridge scenery, and a forest hike. It is also dog-friendly and you can do it all without an…
Day Trips
The Most Charming Towns in the West for Design and Art Lovers
As an architect, I’m always drawn to small towns where design feels integrated into a place. Not just one landmark building, but in storefronts, sidewalks, gardens, galleries, hotels, public art, and the way the town meets its natural landscape. The towns below stand out to me because each one has a strong sense of place,…
Angel Island Day Trip from San Francisco: Hike Mount Livermore Without a Car
After 18 years in SF, spending the day on Angel Island is one of my favorite day trips from San Francisco, and one you can do without a car! Somehow it still flies under the radar for many visitors, despite offering one of the best combinations of ferry rides, hiking, and panoramic views of the…
Why You Need to Visit Orvieto: The Most Beautiful Stop Between Rome and Florence
Orvieto is the perfect hilltop town to visit on a trip between Rome and Florence. Perched dramatically above the Umbrian countryside, the city rises from sheer volcanic cliffs, with vineyards stretching out below. Its Gothic cathedral glows in the afternoon light, the streets wind through a dense medieval core with Etruscan roots, and local tables…
Best Day Trips from San Francisco: Coastal Drives, Wine Country & Easy Escapes
San Francisco is an incredible destination on its own, but one of the things that makes living in—or visiting—the Bay Area so special is how quickly you can escape the City. Within just a couple of hours, you can trade foggy summer mornings for sunny wine country, coastal cliffs, redwood forests, or charming small towns…