California Official Visitor's Guide 2025 - 93

THE SAN FRANCISCO PENINSULA
The San Francisco Peninsula. South of San Francisco,
north of expectations. Parks, hiking trails, bay and
Pacifi c coast beaches, farm-to-table cuisine, easy
access to San Francisco, dog-friendly. Explore The
Peninsula. thesanfranciscopeninsula.com See ad, p. 88
SAN GREGORIO
Pomponio State Beach. Wide, sweeping sand
stretches and roaring surf make this beach a popular
destination. Picnic tables, barbecues, and plentiful
parking for day-use; open 8 a.m. to sunset. parks.ca.gov
SAN JOSE
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose. Kids learn
about science-from fossil-digging to bubble-blowing
and gardening-at this hands-on museum with more
than 150 exhibits. cdm.org
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium.
The most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian
artifacts west of the Mississippi. Galleries display
mummies, burial tombs, children's toys, and a replica of
the Rosetta Stone. egyptianmuseum.org
The Tech Interactive. Experience hands-on exhibits,
creative activities, and inspiring displays designed to
engage visitors in the wonders of technology, robotics,
and engineering. thetech.org
Visit San Jose-San Jose Convention and Visitors
Bureau. 408 Almaden Boulevard. In the heart of
Silicon Valley. You know San Jose for innovation. What
may surprise you are the diverse neighborhoods and
natural beauty. Three hundred days of sunshine make
dining alfresco a year-round event. 800/SAN-JOSE;
sanjose.org See ad, pgs. 32-33
Winchester Mystery House. Tour the historic mansion
to discover a labyrinth of eccentric architecture, with
winding hallways, secret doors, and staircases that lead
to nowhere. winchestermysteryhouse.com
SAN RAFAEL
Downtown San Rafael Arts District. Enjoy galleries,
open studios, art exhibits, and more within this district,
founded with the goal of promoting socioeconomic
and ethnic diversity through local arts and culture.
caculturaldistricts.org/san-rafael
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Home to
pelicans, diving ducks, grebes, and terns, this 339-acre
refuge is also the largest heron and egret rookery of the
San Francisco Bay Area. fws.gov
SANTA CLARA
Mission Santa Clara de Asís. Dating back to 1777, this
mission remains an active church today. In addition to
regular services, the mission hosts choral, orchestra,
and other Santa Clara University musical events.
scu.edu/missionchurch
SANTA CRUZ
Lighthouse Field State Beach. Surfers, beach lovers,
birds, and monarch butterfl ies (during winter months)
are all drawn to this sandy stretch. After a day in the
sun, take a tour of the Santa Cruz Surfi ng Museum.
parks.ca.gov
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. Learn about
the legacy of the Spanish mission system from the
Native American perspective at this historical site; the
remaining early 1800s adobe structure used to house
Indian residents. parks.ca.gov
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden. This
115-acre arboretum is home to more than 300 rare
plant species, including California natives, King Proteas,
and the largest collection of Erica fl owers outside
of Africa, all thriving in diverse microclimates and
landscapes. arboretum.ucsc.edu
Wilder Ranch State Park. Explore an 1897 Victorian
home, 1859 Gothic Revival farmhouse, 1896 waterpowered
machine shop, rodeo arena, barns, and other
historic buildings at this historic park set on the Santa
Cruz coast. parks.ca.gov
SANTA ROSA
Charles M. Schulz Museum. Step into the world of
Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. Explore engaging exhibitions,
enjoy photo ops and hands-on fun, and create
lasting memories. 2301 Hardies Lane, 707/579-4452;
schulzmuseum.org See ad, p. 89
Trione-Annadel State Park. Located in the Valley of the
Moon, Trione-Annadel off ers miles of trails for hiking,
mountain biking, and trail riding. parks.ca.gov
SARATOGA
Hakone Gardens. Enjoy the serenity and beauty of a
historic (built in 1917) Japanese garden estate as you
stroll through the authentic hill-and-pond style strolling
garden featuring a waterfall, colorful koi, and beautiful
colors. hakone.com
SAUSALITO
Bay Area Discovery Museum. At the foot of the Golden
Gate Bridge, this museum encourages kids to awaken
curiosity at every turn. bayareadiscoverymuseum.org
Marine Mammal Center. In the Marin Headlands,
learn about Pacifi c harbor seals and enjoy educational
programs and tours or explore exhibits on your own.
marinemammalcenter.org
SEBASTOPOL
The Barlow. This 12-acre outdoor mercantile center
showcases off erings from Sonoma County makers,
including brewers, distillers, vintners, chefs, designers,
and artists. Dog-friendly. thebarlow.net
SONOMA
Mission San Francisco de Solano. This mission was the
last to be established in Alta California and the site of
the Bear Flag Revolt. californiamissionsfoundation.org
Sonoma County Tourism. Life opens up in Sonoma
County. Just 30 miles north of San Francisco, experience
our laid-back sophistication at 425+ wineries,
organic farms, towering redwoods, and miles of Pacifi c
Coast. 800/576-6662; Order a free visitors guide at
sonomacounty.com See ad, p. 89
ST. HELENA
Napa Valley Wine Library Association. Learn about
wine-producing areas from around the world as well
as Napa through images, labels, periodicals, and rare
books. napawinelibrary.com
Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. This museum
showcases the life and works of the famous author,
featuring exhibits on his time in Napa Valley and his
inspirations for novels like Treasure Island and The
Silverado Squatters. stevensonmuseum.org
STANFORD
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University.
Collections in 24 galleries that span continents,
cultures, and 5,000 years of art history, including an
outdoor Rodin Sculpture Garden. Admission is free.
museum.stanford.edu
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Angel Island State Park. Hiking and great views can be
found at the largest natural island in the San Francisco
Bay. Accessible only via private boat or public ferry from
Tiburon or San Francisco. parks.ca.gov
Old St. Hilary's Open Space Preserve. This 122-acre
space off ers panoramic views of the Tiburon peninsula
from its serpentine ridgetop. A historic church graces
the southern slope. parks.marincounty.org
Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary. Picnic
or hike, then learn about water and waterbird conservation
and native plants found at the demonstration
gardens. richardsonbay.audubon.org
VALLEJO
San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This 19,000acre
refuge supports migratory birds, wetland habitats,
and endangered species, and off ers wildlife viewing,
fi shing, and boating. fws.gov
Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum. Walk amongst
this museum's fi ve galleries and explore the rich
history of Vallejo and the U.S. naval base at Mare Island.
vallejomuseum.net
WALNUT CREEK
The Ruth Bancroft Garden. Stroll the meandering
pathways of this stunning 3.5-acre garden, renowned
for its diverse collection of drought-tolerant plants,
including cacti, succulents, agaves, aloes, yuccas, and
more. ruthbancroftgarden.org
WATSONVILLE
Elkhorn Slough. Watch otters and seals play in the
estuary and spot birds traveling the Pacifi c Flyway.
elkhornslough.org
Sunset State Beach. Take in this picturesque stretch of
coastline featuring pine trees, mountainous sand dunes,
and oceanside picnic spots, perfect for beachcombing,
and watching sunsets over the Pacifi c. parks.ca.gov
YOUNTVILLE
Napa River Ecological Reserve. Hike, bird-watch,
swim, and fi sh at this 73-acre reserve. A half-mile trail
winds through oaks and a thriving riparian habitat.
Admission is free. wildlife.ca.gov
Napa Valley Museum Yountville. Explore the connection
between the valley's environment, culture, history,
and creative expression. Check in advance for current
exhibitions. napavalleymuseum.org
stay
HOTELS AND RE S OR T S
PETALUMA
San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA Campground,
Lodging & RV Park. 20 Rainsville Rd. Spacious camping
resort located between Sonoma wine country, San
Francisco, and coastal beaches. Large RV sites, cabins,
and lodging. Come enjoy country camping near the city.
petalumakoa.com $-$$ See ad, p. 88
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VISITCALIFORNIA.COM | 93

http://arboretum.ucsc.edu http://parks.ca.gov http://www.thesanfranciscopeninsula.com http://parks.ca.gov http://parks.marincounty.org http://parks.ca.gov http://www.schulzmuseum.org http://richardsonbay.audubon.org http://parks.ca.gov http://www.cdm.org http://www.fws.gov http://www.egyptianmuseum.org http://www.hakone.com http://www.vallejomuseum.net http://www.thetech.org http://www.bayareadiscoverymuseum.org http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org http://www.marinemammalcenter.org http://www.sanjose.org http://www.elkhornslough.org http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com http://www.thebarlow.net http://parks.ca.gov http://www.californiamissionsfoundation.org http://www.caculturaldistricts.org/san-rafael http://wildlife.ca.gov http://www.fws.gov http://www.sonomacounty.com http://www.napavalleymuseum.org http://www.scu.edu/missionchurch http://www.napawinelibrary.com http://www.stevensonmuseum.org http://parks.ca.gov http://www.petalumakoa.com http://parks.ca.gov http://museum.stanford.edu http://www.VISITCALIFORNIA.COM

California Official Visitor's Guide 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of California Official Visitor's Guide 2025