10 shortlists · curated by Astrid

The best of the region, ranked.

Handpicked routes through the places worth going, one shortlist at a time.

Above the Fog: 7 Overlooks for the Marine Layer

Climb until the summer fog is beneath you

The Bay in Its Best Hour: 6 Spots for Golden Light

Where the last warm light lands longest

The Coast at Low Tide: 6 Tide Pool and Shoreline Walks

Time it with the tide chart and the coast opens up

A Wine Country Day, Framed for the Camera: 7 Stops

Napa and Sonoma when the light matters more than the tasting

Where the Bay Blooms First: 6 Gardens and Hillsides

Roses, wisteria, and the hills going green then gold

The Edge of Point Reyes: 6 Stops at Land's End

Lighthouse, elk, and the wind off the open Pacific

The Quiet Corners: 7 Bay Area Spots Without the Crowds

Room to breathe in a region full of people

Worth the Alarm: 6 Bay Area Sunrises

First light over the water and the hills

Hosting for the Holidays: 7 Places That Never Miss

Where to point the out-of-town crowd

When the Swell Arrives: Big Water on the Winter Coast

Storm surf, full waterfalls, and a wild coastline