Located in California's wine country, the Sonoma Raceway hosts a series of nationally televised events such as the NASCAR Nextel Cup and the American Motorcycle Association's Super-bike tour. Featuring a number of motor-sport events throughout year, this 1600-acre (647-hectare) raceway is where pro-racers from around the world, assemble to compete in some of the most popular races. Head down to this track to catch some of your favorite racers and teams in action, or enroll yourself in one of the local events and test your nerves on the racetrack.
College Avenue stretches from deep within Berkeley to Oakland, and along this bustling boulevard numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and much more are waiting for your enjoyment. Near the Rockridge end of the street you will find many eclectic restaurants serving an enormous variety of cuisines, as well as other small boutique shops selling anything from yoga mats to antique brass bedposts. Near the University, College Avenue takes on a funkier spirit, and incense shops allure you with their intriguing scents. Shopping is a major attraction of this East Bay hot spot, yet there are not many chain stores. Rather, locals prefer to support local businesses instead of national chains. However certain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Hot Topic, can still be found conveniently nearby. Great for a Sunday walk where you can leisurely stroll down this beautiful avenue - stop and have a coffee at one of many cafes, or buy a unique present for a special someone!
The Petaluma Wildlife & Natural Science Museum has a huge collection of taxidermied animals as well as live animals, and is open to the public every Saturday. The property also includes an aviary, dioramas, and a fossil and mineral collection.
A mere 1.25 miles (2.01 km) off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz Island boasts a fascinating history that extends far beyond its stint as a federal penitentiary from 1934 to 1963; it is also the site of the West Coast's oldest operating lighthouse, the remains of a historic military fortress, and a bird sanctuary. Although within sight of the city, Alcatraz is isolated from the outside world, surrounded by the frigid waters of the bay, the perilous currents making escape virtually impossible. This very fact made Alcatraz an apt choice for a prison meant to house some of the country's most notorious criminals, including the likes of Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud and Alvin Karpis. The year 1969 marked the beginning of another intriguing chapter in the history of Alcatraz when a group of Native American activists occupied the island for 19 months, signs of which are still visible to this day. Amid this turbulent narrative thrives a vibrant habitat for native flora and fauna, creating a miniature world of startling contrasts where the haunting remains of the prison stand amid a striking landscape of rock pools, rugged coasts and lush flora. The isle is now a tourist attraction, one of San Francisco's most popular, with self-guided and guided tours that delve into the past of the island as a whole and the prison in particular.
In the late 1800s, California's first state engineer, William Hammond Hall, and his assistant, a Scotsman named John McLaren, transformed more than 1000 acres (405 hectares) of sand dunes into a wondrous haven in the midst of the city, christened Golden Gate Park after the eponymous strait nearby. Stretching over 50 blocks from Stanyan Street to the Pacific Ocean, the lush landscape is etched with numerous trails for walking, jogging, biking and horseback riding, alongside a golf course, bowling greens, a lake with paddle boats, soccer fields and a baseball diamond. From the Japanese Tea Garden and the Conservatory of Flowers to the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park encompasses a wealth of scenic beauty and cultural intrigue within is expansive embrace. There are also several playgrounds, a quaint carousel, an aquarium, a buffalo reserve and an outdoor bandshell where open-air concerts are hosted each summer.
University of California Botanical Garden is located within the campus of University of California Berkeley. Open to the public since 1890, this is no less than an outdoor living museum that boasts over 12,000 species of flora and fauna. The garden can be rented for private events, wedding receptions, twilight tours, summer walks and concerts.
Gain a deeper insight into San Francisco and its heritage and discover all that the city has to offer by embarking on tours offered by San Francisco City Guides. Sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library, the organization conducts several diverse tours which focus on different aspects of the city's culture, including its history and architecture. Tours include a walking tour of the Mission District, where you can admire striking murals, and an Art Deco tour of the Marina. All tours are free, though donations to benefit the library are requested. Departure locations and times vary.
College Avenue stretches from deep within Berkeley to Oakland, and along this bustling boulevard numerous restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and much more are waiting for your enjoyment. Near the Rockridge end of the street you will find many eclectic restaurants serving an enormous variety of cuisines, as well as other small boutique shops selling anything from yoga mats to antique brass bedposts. Near the University, College Avenue takes on a funkier spirit, and incense shops allure you with their intriguing scents. Shopping is a major attraction of this East Bay hot spot, yet there are not many chain stores. Rather, locals prefer to support local businesses instead of national chains. However certain stores, such as Urban Outfitters, American Apparel, and Hot Topic, can still be found conveniently nearby. Great for a Sunday walk where you can leisurely stroll down this beautiful avenue - stop and have a coffee at one of many cafes, or buy a unique present for a special someone!
A small winery located in the Bennett Valley, Sable Ridge introduces a minimum of four new wines in the market every year, and has been the proud recipient of several awards since 1998. Grapes grown in Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma Valley are bottled to produce a number of varietals, including "rich and balanced Zinfandels" that top the list of Sable Ridge's hand-crafted wines. You can buy their wines both online and from various restaurants and retail shops in California.
This winery, situated in the rolling hills of Napa Valley, believes in environmentally-friendly farming habits. The wine estates are on Big Ranch Road in Oak Knoll and Los Carneros. This 50-acre (20-hectare) estate is famous for producing classy wines of the finest qualities like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This winery won the 'Estate Winery of the Year' award in 2000 by the Wine and Spirits magazine. One can take a tour of the estate and sample the wines by booking an appointment.
Montgomery Gallery is an international art gallery that deals with 19th and 20th century European and American art works. Special attention is paid to the art of California and other unique master pieces. The entire collection available here spans Impressionist, Modernist and Contemporary works. Montgomery Gallery brings buyers and sellers together at different levels. You can have a private showing of their collected works on the web in the comfort of your home.
Michael Leu Fine Arts Gallery is owned and operated by artist Michael Leu. Michael won accolades at an early age and tends to paint on any subject including cats, woman, street scenes, etc. The gallery showcases different types of art styles and is also the venue for art festivals. The collection here includes paintings, serigraphs and prints.