When the dog and I need a good hike that isn't too far from home and we can do in a reasonable…read moreamount of time, we come to Mt. Wanda. My man and I are hiking here every other weekend at least. The dog loves it. We recently did the Full Moon Hike that is put on by the Rangers. The kids tagged along. Its free and one of the few times you're allowed on the Mt. during the night. The kids had a wonderful time meandering around in the dark. It was fun to be out of our element with flashlights. The moon was beautiful. The only negative is ticks. We went hiking on Thanksgiving morning with our dog and proceeded to pull seven ticks off our dog. The most yet. Wear bug spray and make sure that your dog is properly protected. Morning, noon or night this is a great hike to take.

John Muir used to walk this with his daughters and it is named for his eldest. It is across the…read moreroad from his house. It isn't all that long but it is UP! From the beginning it is Up! Just when you need it there is a picnic table and a choice- keep climbing the hot wide road or take the nature trail through the blue oaks. Obviously the nature trail was our choice and it was the right one!!! Narrow trail and part shady;) Get to the top. Take in the views of this place we call home and then.... It's all down! 13% grade! Not my favorite walk but it is close to home and will certainly get your heart pumping! Dog friendly.

Very efficient tolled bridge. Goes up in elevation quickly to let the big boats through. Wonderful…read morepanoramic views when the weather cooperates. Weeeeee!

In case any of you wanted to know... "In 1972, Nejedly…read moreauthored Senate Bill 25, to authorize the design and construction of the new Antioch Bridge in Antioch, CA, which replaced a vertical lift bridge that was constructed in 1926. After its completion, the new bridge was named the "Senator John A. Nejedly Bridge" in his honor. In 1979, nearby land was acquired for the Antioch/Oakley Regional Shoreline with the support of Nejedly, and it was Nejedly's suggestion that some of the old bridge's pillars be used for what is now a fishing pier." I remember this bridge being wooden and very rickety. I also remember my parents letting me pay the toll person handing them 50cents through the car window! Then $1...then $2 and so on. Now the toll is a crazy $5 dollars. I'd think the bridge was paid for by now. On the Sherman Island side there is no toll. And that's where you used to be able to park your car then walk along the path under the bridge and up to the water at Mayberry Slough and put your poles in the water and fish. Not anymore.

Having been born and raised in the Bay Area, I come to appreciate the vast amount of unique cities…read morethat are offered. In this case, we take a look at the "City of Pleasant Hill". Nestled in Contra Costa County and located south of Martinez, west of Concord, and north of Walnut Creek, this city has been incorporated dating back to 1961. Here you will find the open space City Hall where there is a walkway arch and natural shrub surrounding it (which is where I captured a couple of pictures on a beautiful, warm spring afternoon). There is also Downtown Pleasant Hill (on Crescent Dr) which offers lots of great shopping, dining, and a nearby movie theater. And finally, there is the Pleasant Hill Park (off of Gregory Ln) which has a big play area for the kids, a bocce ball court, and lots of shaded areas on those warm summer days. What I particularly like about this area is that it has always felt "safe" to me yet it is not quite as diverse as other cities such as Berkeley, Oakland, and Richmond. They have a great school system, decent roads, and an overall above average community. Finally, many of the exits are right off the 680 freeway. With that said and done, I am giving the "City of Pleasant Hill" an above average four-star rating.

I love this area other than the fact that it's not always too clean in some areas…read more There's quite a bit of traffic overall but not as bad as over the bridge. There's so many stores and things to visit including hiking areas. Many trails , I love trails! It's not too cold so that's a bonus! Definitely check this town out!

Fellow Yelper Terry T. very thoughtfully picked up on my fondness for mosaic tiled stairs and…read morerecommended I take a look at this particular flight. Vallejo?? Well, I immediately filed it into the cobwebs of what's left of my brain thinking it would be hidden in my subconscious. Sure enough I was recently driving on Route 37 and decided to stop in Vallejo. I'm not sure why, but I suddenly remembered those stairs were somewhere in town. Found 'em. They're in a relatively inconspicuous spot off the main thoroughfare, Sonoma Blvd. it took local neighborhood activists to get them renovated after they fell into a state of disrepair since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Inspired by the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in San Francisco's Inner Sunset (review: https://bit.ly/3rRhxgn), they were able to recruit Aileen Barr and Colette Crutcher, the artists behind that masterwork as well as others in the city. Now I know nothing about Vallejo's history, so I couldn't appreciate a lot of the details of the imagery. Starting with the giant compass on top, it's pretty clear there was a lot of shipbuilding and other maritime activities like the ferry service to and from San Francisco. Obviously it's best to appreciate the two flights of stairs up close for all the trivia, but the best vantage point is actually across the street where the stairs look like a cascading waterfall. So if you're ever in Vallejo... RELATED - Exploring north of San Francisco? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2tIHlkV

Did some sight seeing in the home town today. A project the city had been trying to finish for a…read morewhile now got finished and dedicated at the end of 2021. I've finally made my way down town to see these beautiful steps. These centrally located, yet tucked away treasure can be found of the main road of Sonoma Blvd and Capitol street in downtown Vallejo. Visit for a breathtaking views of the city, walks for pets exercise, or just great photo opps. Whatever may be the case you are sure to enjoy some time enjoying this historical sweet space!

Truly a great setting to honor the US Military going off into the Pacific during World War Two…read more I recommend visiting. The USS San Francisco Memorial at Lands End is great too. My Grandfather served in Europe, but instilled in my a curiosity of that era. SF is chalk full of great history.

When it comes to World War 2 Memorial sites throughout the U.S., the first spot that comes to mind…read morewould be the East Coast-- Washington D.C., with all of their various memorials and monuments. But tucked inside the Presidio of San Francisco, is our own West Coast Memorial of those members of all branches of the military that lost their lives on the Pacific side of WW2. I stumbled upon this spot after looking for a secluded parking area during one of my morning hikes throughout the Presidio, and it was so nice to discover that San Francisco, and the rest of the West Coast had a special monument dedicated to those specifically who fought in the war of the Pacific. The Memorial has a perfect spot high above on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's great that this spot hasn't been over-run by visitors. But at the same time, this spot deserves to be recognized so that all of those who were lost at War can receive the proper honor that they deserve. To get to this Memorial, enter the Presidio from the 25th Ave entrance, which leads onto Lincoln Blvd. Make a right at Kobbe Ave, and there is a great little parking area away from crowds and cars. There are also benches for those who chose to sit and reflect as well. Overall, it's important to remember that the Presidio of San Francisco is first and foremost a military base. Now a days, folks tend to overlook this aspect and see it for more of a recreational spot for biking, hiking, etc. But it's definitely worthwhile to stop by this Memorial and honor those folks who lost their lives in World War II. One of San Francisco's hidden gems.

Powerful and haunting memorial near the Legion of Honor. George Segal's sculpture has 11 white…read morebronze figures, with one survivor standing behind a barbed-wire fence while the others lie on the ground. It's not a large memorial, but the setting and the figures really stay with you. Worth stopping and taking a few quiet minutes to reflect.

October 15, 2025. I visited the Holocaust Memorial and can…read moreonly hope that the those who come here not only reflect on all the persons murdered during WW II, but also the sad moments where we continue to see one group dehumanize another. It's worth taking some time to reflect here.

The Commandant's Residence, built in 1860, used to be the hot spot for fine dining in Benicia in…read morethe 70's and 80's. From 1975 to 1986, the Commandant's Residence served continental cuisine to many patrons in various settings ranging from one of their dining rooms to banquets outside the facility and even to banquets in the Clocktower Fortress across the street. Unfortunately a fire in 1986 brought an end to the restaurant's operations and the building sat empty and rarely used for years. Now, Arts Benicia has adorned the facility with many works of art created by local artists, not solely from Benicia, but mostly from areas nearby. It's a pleasure to see the facility restored and updated in many ways, including new electrical, an elevator, and new ADA compliant restrooms. There's a very small gift shop near the main entrance. Not a huge inventory of merchandise, but what is there is quite unique and artsy. Some items are not priced and the volunteers, (all of whom were very kind and cordial), may have difficulty getting a price if you're interested in purchasing one of those items. Hours are very limited, I believe they're open Thursday-Saturday from 1 pm to 5 pm. For me, it was a stroll down memory lane since I worked in the restaurant in the early 80's; but I believe most art enthusiasts would find a visit quite worthwhile.

003/2026/Jan Passing…read morethrough this Old Navy shipyard which has a brewery , a bay trail, historical bldgs and public art attractions for tourist ! Wish could stay a little longer for a tour! For sure next visit will make time!!

Mare Island has regular scheduled tours which we missed so we decided to do a self guided tour…read more There are only a few buildings you can still go in but still great to walk around. The cementary and museum are closed, the church and admiral home are open with specific times. There are a lot of history on the island!