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…
Hike
A Guide to Walking Bend, Oregon: Design, Trails, and Breweries
Bend, Oregon surprised me in the best ways. I expected great hiking and a strong brewery scene. What I didn’t expect was a town that felt well designed and walkable, while still feeling so close to nature. As an architect, I love a town that values art and design. And as an avid walker and…
Best Road Trip Stops Between Phoenix and Flagstaff: Sedona, Jerome, Prescott, Arcosanti & More
The drive between Phoenix and Flagstaff along Interstate 17 can be done in less than two hours. It is a scenic drive on its own, as you can watch the dramatic landscape change from desert to pine trees as you gain in elevation the closer you get to Flagstaff. If you are looking to explore…
Epic Mount Tamalpais Hike: Redwoods, Waterfalls & Stinson Beach Views
I had a friend in town for Thanksgiving. She has been to San Francisco many times before, so we have done all the obvious touristy things in town and even day trips like wine tasting in Napa. When I asked her if she had any requests for this visit, she wanted to see redwood trees near…
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…