Every year, San Francisco transforms into a city of lights, holiday cocktails, and festive displays – and 2025 is shaping up to be no exception. After living here for 18 years, I’ve put together a fresh, updated guide to the best holiday decorations, bars, and seasonal events in San Francisco. Many lists online recycle outdated…
Travel
Home Exchange Review: My First Experience as a Host and Guest
I recently returned from a month-long road trip where I used Home Exchange for the first time – both as a host and a guest. I stayed in homes in Portland and Boise, and while a Spanish traveler stayed in my San Francisco condo. Things didn’t go exactly as planned on either side of the…
The Best Walk to Twin Peaks from Noe Valley: Hidden Stairs and City Views
There’s no better way to understand San Francisco’s layered topography than by walking it. This route begins in Noe Valley, one of the city’s most charming residential neighborhoods, and winds upward through a sequence of hidden stairways and hillside streets to walk to Twin Peaks, one of the best panoramic viewpoints in San Francisco. As…
The Best Travel Memoirs: Books That Inspire Wanderlust and Self-Discovery
Love getting lost in stories about travel and transformation? These are my favorite travel memoirs—honest, funny, and inspiring reads that will spark your wanderlust and remind you why we explore. This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. My…
Places That Changed Me: Destinations That Built My Confidence and Shifted My Perspective
From Orvieto to Thailand and the Norwegian fjords, these are the places that exceeded my expectations, helped me grow, and reminded me why travel can be life-changing. Some travel experiences stay with you long after you return home. They shape how you see the world and yourself. Looking back on my travels, these are the…