Spirit Quests

Looking for a different kind of spirit-ual awakening? Here are three new craft distilleries where you can tour, sip, and explore some very cool corners of our metropolis.

Week: 03.08.2018
Regions: Southern CA

The Spirit of DTLA

Sips at Greenbar Distillery and a Walk in Hollenback Park

Dazzling variety defines the beating heart of downtown LA and one of its true treasures: Greenbar Distillery in the Arts District, LA’s first and biggest since Prohibition. In fact, it boasts the most diverse portfolio of organic spirits in the world. Add in a visit to a hidden g
Read the full story

Wildflowers & Wine!

Top 10 Wildflower Hikes in Sonoma County

Wildflowers and wine—now that’s a pairing! Go to the place that’s best in blooms and tasting rooms. Sonoma County’s miles of rolling open space and coastline burst with vibrant wildflowers in spring. We’re talking more colors than a double rainbow: poppies on parade, snowy milkma
Visit our sponsor Sonoma County

Pasadena Distilled

Sips at Stark Spirits and a Walk Around the Rose Bowl

What’s your pleasure? A smoky peated single malt? 151 rum? A workout walk around the stately Rose Bowl? How about all of the above and more, on a visit to Stark Spirits, a distillery discreetly tucked away in the shadow of Pasadena’s most famous landmark. Stark Spirits really put
Read the full story

Owl the Best of Santa Ana

Sips at the Blinking Owl Distillery and a Walk in Old Santa Ana

Old town, new spirit! Historic downtown Santa Ana is home to the first craft distillery in Orange County. Blinking Owl Distillery, named for a once-iconic bar on the corner of Birch and 3rd Streets, has a walk-in tasting room—plus it’s a great launch pad for exploring old Santa A
Read the full story

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

    View

  2. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  3. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  4. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View

  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View