LAS VEGAS — A place like the Las Vegas Strip has very few secrets. Google “Vegas hidden gems,” and you’ll end up with the same list of 20 or so spots, endlessly rotated and repackaged. And, upon visiting them, you’ll probably discover they aren’t that secret after all. Even if you’ve been to Vegas a dozen … Read more
I felt like I had stumbled into a hidden San Francisco — a magical land with free parking near Fisherman’s Wharf. A pillar of San Francisco travel that locals like myself wouldn’t know, Hostelling International Fisherman’s Wharf Hostel began impressing me in the parking lot. The hostel staff greeted me with chill banter that made … Read more
Fish and chips at Sailing Goat Restaurant in Richmond, Calif., on Mar. 8, 2024. Madeline Wells/SFGATE We really have it all to explore in the Bay Area: beautiful beaches, dense redwood forests, charming small towns. Every year, we send writers throughout the nine counties — and then some — to check out our region’s hidden … Read more
Another popular beach near Santa Barbara is preparing to become a construction zone in 2025. El Capitan State Beach, right off Highway 101 about 20 miles west of downtown Santa Barbara, is set to close to overnight campers in early January for a $5.5 million construction project that will update the camping area facilities, better … Read more
On Dec. 24, Flight 202 from Chicago took off on time from O’Hare International Airport around 9:30 a.m. local time, according to FlightAware. The body was found following the flight’s arrival at Kahului Airport at about 2:15 p.m. local time on Maui. Maui Police Department spokesperson Alana Pico told SFGATE in an email that an … Read more
Airports can be overwhelming places with their barrage of flight departure announcements, the beeps of the metal detector and even the clickety-clack of wheeled suitcases as they’re dragged over a hard floor. The hubbub and crowds rushing to and from their flights can add to the overall stress of travel, even in airports like San Francisco … Read more
A film director hopped into the fray to solve the mystery behind a baffling piece of concept art that a guest discovered on Disney’s newest cruise ship. The curious find was spotted by podcast host Courtney Guth last week when the Disney Treasure first opened to guests. While eating at 1923, one of the main … Read more
Travelers who prefer cruises for their value may soon want to consider skipping itineraries that include Mexico. The Mexican government recently announced plans to charge a $42 immigration fee for cruise passengers who visit the country’s ports. Previously, cruise lines were exempt from such a fee because not all passengers would disembark from the ship. … Read more
When I saw South Lake Tahoe’s Base Camp Pizza Co. on Yelp’s list of the 100 best pizza places in the country, I was surprised — OK, skeptical. Of all the pizza restaurants in the United States — from New York City pizzerias to Chicago’s deep dish joints to the renaissance of pizza places in Los … Read more
Throw a rock — or throw some ice into a rocks glass — in Palm Springs, and you’ll manage to hit something with Rat Pack history. Frank Sinatra and his crew left their swinging footprints all over the valley, from Melvyn’s, which still has the singer’s table in a discreet corner, to Sherman’s, the deli where … Read more
