Let There Be Light(houses)

As summer simmers down and days darken faster, we’ve got a few ways to keep the light going.  Just add. lighthouses!  From overnight stays, to guided tours, here are three unique lighthouse adventures. 

Week: 09.13.2023
Regions: Northern CA

Oh, Brother!

Spend the Night at East Brother Light Station on the Bay

Photo of the East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
Close up photo of East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
Young woman on the light deck looking out at the sea from East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay Area
East Brother Light Station in the San Francisco Bay
Spending the night on a tiny island in the Bay? Intriguing. Spending the night in a lighthouse perched on that island? Sound the foghorn! East Brother Light Station Bed & Breakfast sits on a small patch of land in the strait that separates San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.
Read the full story

Peace-fall in North Lake Tahoe

Fall's Secret Season in North Lake Tahoe

biking by Truckee River north Lake Tahoe
hiker in north tahoe
high camp tahoe
If you’re going to North Lake Tahoe during its secret season, you’re going to want to stay awhile. Fall in North Lake Tahoe equals quieter days, turning leaves, and more open space for you to relax, recharge, and reconnect.
Best of Fall in North Lake Tahoe

Night Light

Catch Sunset at Point Cabrillo Light Station on the Mendocino Coast

hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino coast
hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino Coast
hikers at Point Cabrillo Light Station Mendocino Coast
For over a century Mendocino’s Point Cabrillo Light Station has signaled coast-side danger to passing ships. Time your visit for a spectacular “lightshow” twofer—sunset and the lighthouse’s crowning glory: a 6,800-pound original Chance Brothers classic Fresnel lens producing a flash every 10 seconds.
Read the full story

Light the Way 2024

Guided Sunset Hikes to Point Bonita Lighthouse in Marin

Point Bonita Lighthouse Marin
view of Golden Gate Bridge from Point Bonita Lighthouse
view of Point Bonita Lighthouse
Point Bonita Lighthouse is remotely perched on the western tip of the Marin Headlands and the entrance to the Golden Gate, 124 feet above the ocean. And lucky for all of us, the National Park Service hosts seasonal sunset tours of the lighthouse.
Read the full story

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Camp and Kayak at Utica Reservoir in Stanislaus National Forest

    Sleeper Hit

    It's all about the water, and the camping, at Utica Reservoir in Stanislaus National Forest, a High Sierra reservoir perfect for kayak explorations and pitching your tent with the lake in the background.

    View
  2. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  3. Woman taking a photo on a bike path

    Bike, Beers, Shore Thing!

    The coastal community of Redwood Shores may be known for its tech campuses, but this 8.5-mile bike loop explores the natural side of this beautiful peninsula. With a brew pub bonus!

    View
  4. Sheep Tight!

    You’re not going to have to count sheep to get a good night’s sleep at Sheep Dung’s beautiful property in Anderson Valley near Boonville. Four modern cottages—tucked far apart from each other among 500 acres of rolling hills—are designed for blissful solitude. And it’s dog-friendly!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. All the Wright Stuff

    Avoiding drama? That’s a good thing. Unless you’re talking about campsites. In that case, the more dramatic the better! And Wright’s Beach on the Sonoma Coast is quite the drama queen—27 campsites sitting smack dab in the middle of the wild and raging Sonoma Coast State Beach.

    View
  2. kirk creek campground big sur

    Sur Bet!

    You can spend $1,000 a night for an ocean-view room in Big Sur. Or you can spend $45 and wake up to the sound of crashing waves and incredible views of Big Sur’s coastline when staying at Kirk Creek Campground.

    View
  3. Secret Redwoods + Camping by the River

    Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park is a little-known gem where skyscraping reds (the tallest living trees in the world!) fly under the radar. Grizzly’s ironically small size and location off the beaten path provide near total seclusion, not to mention relaxing camping!

    View
  4. Three Falling

    Three waterfalls, and fewer people. McCloud Falls might be the best waterfall hike in Northern California. There are bigger waterfalls in the state, but it’s the whole package that makes this 4-mile (round-trip) hike truly memorable.

    View