Hike in the park where we spend many a Sunday morning with Rosie! The Stream Trail is a particularly lovey way to see the redwood grove where we got engaged.
Of course, we could fill this website with recommendations in San Francisco. Our favorite way to experience the city is one little piece at a time. Take the scenic ferry from Oakland and hike up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower. Wander through Golden Gate Park and the Outer Sunset. Eat a burrito and admire murals in the Mission. Peruse through City Lights Books after a cocktail at a North Beach classic, like Spec's or Tony Nik's. If your kids are tagging along (or if you are a kid at heart) go to Ms. Taylor's favorite field trip at the California Academy of Sciences. (Yes, there is an albino alligator there.)
As a guest at our wedding, you get a free ticket into the gardens! Simply tell the person at the entrance kiosk you are attending the Harvey Savidge wedding. If exploring the grounds just before the ceremony, please arrive by 3:30 to make sure you have enough time to soak it all in.
Join the Friday night dancing and food truck fiesta. The museum is great too!
The jewel of Oakland (and our former neighborhood)! Hit up the Grand Lake farmer's market on Saturday morning for pastries at Starter Bakery and excellent Ethiopian coffee and tea. Then you can take the 3-mile stroll around the lake, enjoying the Oakland skyline and some top-notch birdwatching. Make a stop to grab a brew at Lake Chalet, Portal or Room 389. You’ll find a great movie theater and many shops along Grand & Lakeshore avenues, too.
The beautiful town we call home boasts one of the most diverse and exciting food scenes you'll find anywhere. There are lots of local guides online, but here are a few of our absolute favorites: al pastor tacos from Rico Rico by the lake, dry braised green beans at Shandong in Chinatown, burgers at Lovely's in uptown and Thai-style fried chicken at Farmhouse. For drinks, try a greyhound with fresh-squeezed grapefruit at Cafe Van Kleef, a colorful cocktail from Friends and Family, a tasting flight from Temescal Brewing and Original Pattern Brewing, or anything cold and cheap at venerable dives like the Avenue, the Kingfish and Eli's Mile High Club.
If you are staying in Berkeley, the north end of Shattuck Avenue is one of the Bay Area’s most famous food destinations. The Cheeseboard is great for pizza, pastries and, of course, cheese; Poulet makes a delicious chicken lunch; and Epicurious food hall has anything from burritos to sushi to gelato. Alice Waters' Chez Panisse is also on this block -- you can splurge on the tasting menu for the full experience, but if you’re like us you can get a more affordable taste of this legendary restaurant at the café upstairs.
If you have a car, cross the bridge and head to Marin County for a hike in the Headlands, Muir Woods or Mount Tamalpais.
If you have time for a day trip, it's hard to beat Point Reyes Station for hiking, food and shopping in a classic Northern California landscape. In town, you can assemble a picnic at Cowgirl Creamery and browse the aisles Point Reyes Books. Then you can hit the trails and the beach at the gorgeous Point Reyes National Seashore. Cap it off by heading up Highway 1 for unbeatable seafood at Hog Island Oyster Company (bring your own shucker), the Marshall Store or Route One Bakery and Kitchen.
Looking to take a longer trip that lets you really explore Northern California? We are big fans of our state's plethora of parks. Head north to see the majestic old-growth redwood forests in Humboldt Redwoods and Prairie Creek Redwoods state parks, or Redwood National Park (pro tip: the state parks are best). Or visit the village of Mendocino on the northern coast, where you can soak up the endlessly charming town where we tied the knot and go on some great coastal hikes. In the Sierra Nevada, there's Yosemite National Park of course (just make your reservations well in advance) or Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. We're less familiar with Lake Tahoe, but Emerald Bay State Park is on our list to visit.