Paroma Chakravarty

It is impossible to escape a massive piece of street art in Sacramento, and the fact that the city is huge (compared to my tiny San Francisco) with mammoth empty public walls and spaces, only makes the setting more welcoming for gigantic murals to give the city skyline some joy de’ vivre! As you embark on your frenzied mural tour in Sacramento, it will dawn upon you very soon that the plethora of street art beckoning you from all corners is because of a long drawn, concerted effort to beautify public alleyways and empty spaces in the city. I am talking of Sacramento’s annual mural festival aka Wide Open Walls initiative which celebrates local artists with the firm belief that art should be accessible to all. (artist: Phlegm) and The Falconer by San Francisco’s very own Mel Waters who painted the famous Carlos Santana mural in the Mission district, one of the best photo spots in San Francisco.

Are you looking for romantic getaways in Northern California for some quality time with your partner or simply looking for a couples weekend getaway from San Francisco Bay Area? Mendocino is that magical coastal town in Northern California that is perfect for a romantic couples getaway from San Francisco Bay Area and offers a slice of the good California life. Due West (tavern and market) at Olema house for farm to fork food, Tony’s Seafood restaurant at Marshalls (get their BBQ oysters), Nick’s Cove Restaurant, Cafe Reyes, Station House Cafe and Bovine Bakery (Point Reyes Station), Cowgirl Creamery Cantina (for the best of Point Reyes products). Go wine tasting in San Francisco-yes, we have wine bars and wineries too, serving some of the best wines from the Bay Area and California Wine country!

From half dozen beaches welcoming dogs (on leash) to one of the best dog friendly hiking trails in Northern California and from dog friendly outdoor dining overlooking the Pacific Ocean to a cute downtown with lots of dog friendly businesses, this beach town truly has what it takes for your dog to enjoy the good California life! Half Moon Bay has some of the best dog friendly Beaches in California, a coastal trail with scenic views perfect for walking your dog and a charming downtown with many dog friendly restaurants and stores. Miramar Beach is another dog friendly Half Moon Bay beach and is right next to Miramar beach restaurant which is a very popular seafood restaurant in Half Moon Bay (has a huge outdoor patio to dine at and dogs are welcome). Lying north of Miramar beach, this Surf Beach is below a park known as Mirada Surf West and is best accessed from below the park at Magellan Avenue (the beach is next to the intersection of Magellan Avenue and Mirada Road).

However, dog friendly hotels in Healdsburg are super expensive, so we’ve always stayed in nearby Guerneville in several dog friendly Airbnbs, a charming rustic in Sonoma county where you should make a quick detour if you are driving down Highway 1 from Mendocino to San Francisco (this is one of the best dog friendly road trips in California). >Click here to see all the other pet friendly Airbnb options in Lake Tahoe<< >Click here to see all the other pet friendly Airbnb options in Lodi << From Santa Cruz in the north to Santa Barbara in the south, I am talking about romping on dog friendly beaches in Carmel (a most adorable coastal town with lots of dog friendly hotels) to driving down the coast for some epic dog friendly road trips or wine tasting with dogs in some of the best wineries in Paso Robles.