Part of the magic of traveling is opening your eyes to another way of living. 的re’s no better way to fully immerse yourself into a new city or space than with recommendations from the people who know it best—the locals. 的 California Locals program features an expert panel, including tour guides, restaurant owners, 和 historians, to weigh in on the best hidden gems 和 must-see spots.
“It’s such a lovely place to live,” says Scott Gatz, Bay Area local 和 CEO of the LGBTQ+ media empire, Q.数字. After living in San Francisco for two-plus decades, he has some well-established favorite spots, such as Anchor Oyster Bar, Che Fico, 和 the whimsical Pirate Supply Store, where Gatz loves to shop for nautical gifts with his 8-year-old son.
For those with mountains on their mind, Douglas Dale has some in-the-know recommendations for Lake Tahoe. 的 chef 和 owner of Wolfdale’s Cuisine says golfers shouldn’t miss a round at Old Brockway, “a historic, 9-hole course where Frank Sinatra 和 the Rat Pack used to play.” 沙士达山 Mountain Guides’ Chris Carr prefers a different sort of alpine adventure. 在 Mt. 沙士达山, he says to trek the 2.两英里长 Castle Lake hike: “I’ve been there hundreds of times 和 it still takes my breath away.”
Head to the foothills to get a taste of the area’s natural abundance. “What sets our region apart is the diversity of agriculture,” says the El Dorado County born-和-bred Paul Bush. When you’re not sipping at one of the two vineyards he 和 his wife Maggie own 和 operate—Madrona 和 Rucksack Cellars—he advises checking out Placerville Hardware, the “oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi,” 和 Dedrick’s Cheese，“宝石”.”
Travel back in time with one of Sacramento’s most prominent historians, Marcia Eymann, who says visitors should explore Sutter’s Fort—“the first settlement within this region”—和一个n Underground Tour where they’ll explore the original streets before the city was raised. In nearby 林地, try one of Juan Barajas’ go-to farm-to-fork restaurants: Savory Café (his own), Main Street Lounge for pizza, 和 tacos from Maria’s Cantina.
In 索诺玛 County, chef-hotelier Crista Luedtke, who owns three critically acclaimed restaurants 和一个 luxury inn in Guerneville, says there’s a lot to love about her little town: “We’re 20 minutes from the coast, we’re on the river, there are world-class wineries—it all just makes sense.” On her days off Luedtke loves browsing the mid-century modern finds at 里约热内卢里约热内卢 和 索诺玛 Nesting Company—or hiking with her wife 和 dogs through the Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve.
的re’s a lot to explore along California’s long 和 wild North Coast, but if you find yourself in Mendocino, Margaret Lindgren of Unbeaten Path Tours & 瑜伽 says to tuck into an 意大利 grinder at Twofish Baking Company 和 to take in an exhibit at Gualala Arts Center. Farther north in 尤里卡, Barbara Groom, founder of Lost Coast Brewery, loves strolling through the treetops on the Redwood Sky Walk or enjoying peaceful solitude along South Spit Beach. “It’s like paradise for me,” she says.
Dive into even more Northern California recommendations—和 learn from resident experts across the state by visiting California Locals.
