The Bay Area

Pros: A spectacular wilderness experience nearly in our backyards.
Cons: It's another attraction that draws more and more to the Silicon Valley.

Among the treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area is its amazing diversity – culturally, demographically, geographically, biologically, and meteorologically. Even after living in the area for years, most folks never stop being amazed at the many...

Pros: no cost other than geting there, scenic backdrops, concentration of avian life
Cons: none for joggers or birdwatchers (or Wright pilgrims)

Since I couldn’t find any epinions about San Rafael, I am going to survey its highlights below, as well as writing about the best place in the San Francisco Bay Area to see hawks and other raptors: Las Gallinas Ponds.

Las Gallinas is the spot...

Pros: Affordable, excellent food and service and light crowds.
Cons: Bad for you - tucked away in the 'burbs is good for me, light crowds!

You may be wondering, "where on earth is Sunnyvale?" Well, it's an hour south of San Francisco and minutes north of San Jose.

If you ever find yourself out here for business or just driving down HWY101, I recommend you stop and...

Pros: delicious Indian cuisine; pleasant atmosphere; all-you-can-eat lunch a bargain
Cons: none

To many of the "snobs" from San Francisco, Berkeley and Marin, Contra Costa County (that part of the East Bay that is mostly East of the Oakland-Berkeley Hills) is seen as something of a cultural wasteland, with new-money suburbs like Walnut...

Pros: Something for everyone.
Cons: Rush Hour Traffic.

I have lived near the bay area my entire life and now I have lived on the Peninsula for the last 2 years. TRAFFIC First everyone complains about the traffic. Well I have been traveling back and forth a lot in the last three years. I can tell ...

Pros: Discount Book outlets, kitchenware outlets
Cons: Small selection, lower quality stores, poorly maintained facilities

Named after Manuel Vaca (the original title holder of land granted by the Mexican government in 1841) and NOT directly derived from the Spanish word for cow (my boyfriend, brace33, came up with the title), the city of Vacaville is not particularly...

Pros: A fine dining establishment in a bedroom community
Cons: A bit pricey but not out of line for this quality level

Patrick David has been in operation for about 10 years in Danville and has built a fine reputation for fine dining. Danville is an upscale bedroom community in the East Bay along the 680 freeway corridor between Pleasanton/Dublin and Walnut Creek. This...

Pros: Intimate environment, flavorful interpretations of "old standbys"
Cons: Slightly inconvenient parking, can be claustrophobic

Tucked among the quaint boutiques on Big Basin Way in the heart of Saratoga, a Victorian stands proudly at attention, a remnant of the past that has been revitalized and re-born in the form of an Italian restaurant.

Bella Saratoga is an old...

Pros: Beautiful small city, lots of outdoor activities, fine dining
Cons: No nightlife, limited activities for teens

The hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley has left a void in the lives and hearts of those who long for more peaceful locales, yet are tied to the area because of one reason or another. New subdivisions are sprouting up everywhere, traffic has increased...

Pros: Wonderful preparation, presentation and service with a varied menu
Cons: Too far away from home

Review Topic:  Restaurants

Review Topic:  RestaurantsThis is the not the best place to put this review but there is no section devoted to the Mendocino Coast.

Mendocino is about 3 - 4 hour drive North of San...

Pros: Mission Peak, Ardenwood Farm, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Shirley Sisk Grove, the salt flats, the Carriage House, Niles Canyon, Niles District
Cons: More fast food outlets per-capita than anywhere but Anaheim

No, not Tribeca, Tri-City, located 35 miles south-east of San Francisco. The three cities that make up this suburban zone are Newark (where I grew up), Fremont and Union City. All three of these cities are low to the ground, with only a few...

Pros: Creative, full-flavored dishes, good value, nice ambience, large menu selection
Cons: a little hard to find

Pleasanton is located just South of Frwys 580/680 intersection in the East Bay across from San Francisco. It's a bedroom community loaded with a major shopping center (Stoneridge Mall) and numerous shops, restaurants, financial services offices and is a...

Pros: Very Inexpensive for regular menu items and special banquets
Cons: NONE

11/30/07 UPDATE: I AN PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THEY HAVE, AGAIN, RETURNED TO THEIR FORMER GOOD QUALITY SIMILAR TO WHEN THEY FIRST OPENED. THE DISHES ARE NOW MADE WITH CARE AND THERE ARE MORE EXOTIC ITEMS THAN BEFORE. BUT BEST OF ALL, THE QUALITY OF ...

Pros: Drive In, cheap, fun, different
Cons: may not be around much longer

When I was about 6 or 7, my parents wanted to take my sister, her friends, and me to the drive in to see "Grease". I was really excited to go, but then I came down with a very bad cold, and I had to stay home. I have never been to a drive in...

Pros: Style, Service, Swedish!
Cons: Crowds, Cars, Catalog shortage

IKEA finally opens its doors in Northern California couple of weeks ago. If you've been to one, however, you've seen them all. I realize IKEA does not fit neatly into the Epinion Travel section. But judging by the amount of people and traffic IKEA...