Make a Reservation

Discover Norcal’s most unique coastal campground, filled with cool wildlife and redwoods like you’ve never seen before.

Here's your plan for beach camping, wine tasting, funky trees, and pastries in Norcal

Beach Camping and Funky Trees

Enjoy a delightful wine and cheese tasting at Pennyroyal Farm in Boonville, where you can also feed goats and tour the farm.

Wine and Cheese Tasting

✅ Before you go
• Make your reservation for the tasting or farm tour here: https://www.exploretock.com/pennyroyalfarm

💪 Pro tip
• Bring quarters to buy food to feed the goats!

Wine and Cheese Tasting at Pennyroyal Farm

Set up camp at Usal Beach Campground, offering a free primitive experience. Perfect for those with 4WD vehicles seeking secluded spots near the beach.

Beach Camping

✅ Before you go
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A 4WD VEHICLE! We got a rental car from Turo and it is much better to pay extra costs than to get stuck. RV’s and trailers are not advised
• This campsite is free and does not require reservations. It is a primitive campsite so bring your own water, toilet paper, and trash bags
• Navigate using Google Maps as Apple Maps gives the wrong directions. We recommend downloading the map because you’ll lose service: https://g.co/kgs/SMbHCM

💪 Pro tip
• Look around at the campsites before choosing! There are more than there first appear to be and you can find some pretty secluded ones if that is what you want. There were also people camping directly on the beach!

Set up camp at Usal Beach Campground

Explore the unique Candelabra Redwoods along the Peter Douglas coastal trail, just steps away from Usal Beach Campground.

Forest Hiking

✅ Before you go
• You’ll see the north and south trailheads for the Peter Douglas coastal trail on the drive down to Usal Beach. The north trailhead is just a few hundred feet away from the campsites and is east access to the redwood grove.
• AllTrails map for your reference: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/peter-douglas-coastal-trail

💪 Pro tip
• All the Candelabra trees are located very close to the trailhead that you will enter at. If you hike further, you’ll see some cool coastal views but no more funky trees

Visit Candelabra Redwoods

Stop for pastries and coffee at The Waiting Room in the quaint beach town of Mendocino during your return trip.

Pastries and Coffee

💪 Pro tip
• The pastries and coffee we got are from The Waiting Room

Stop in Mendocino on the ride back

This rare and wonderfully bizarre type of redwood tree is

conveniently next to the coolest coastal campsite in Northern California,

let's go visit. Driving to the campsite is a 4.5 hour journey.

so of course we had to split up the drive with some wine and cheese tasting.

We stopped at Penny Royal Farm in Boonville which

is both a winery and goat cheese creamery —

the perfect combination — and the pairings were real tasty.

If you plan ahead, you can go on one of their daily farm tours or you can always just say

hi to the goats on the way out next. We drove the rest of the way to Usal

Beware you need a four wheel drive vehicle because you have to drive

about five miles down an unpaved old logging road to get there.

We got to see lots of cool wildlife, including our little seal friend.

The dark sand beach is gorgeous and there are tons of

fantastic spots to camp at when you're done setting up camp,

The Candelabra Redwoods are just a short walk away.

Redwoods are coastal redwoods exposed to salt spray and rough winds

which somehow make the trunks diverge into a bunch of offshoots,

they're really cool looking. The forest is so magical,

we had so much fun discovering all the trees,

this is a must do. When our camping weekend came to an end,

I highly recommend you visit Mendocino on the way back to the

Bay if you haven't been before because it's the cutest beach town.

Send this to a friend and go see some funky trees.

Who said weeknights can’t be fun? Here’s your plan for a night out at the De Young Museum where you’ll stroll through their coolest exhibits and hit up the dance floor as DJs light it up. 

Here's your plan for exploring art exhibits, enjoying drinks, and dancing at De Young Museum's night event

Art, Beats, and a Weeknight Glow-Up 🎨🪩

Score your tickets for the De Young Museum's Late Night Editions and prep for an unforgettable evening of art, dancing, and immersive exhibits.

Ticket Purchase

✅ Before you go
• Late Night Editions at the De Young are offered periodically throughout the year: https://ticketing.famsf.org/events/0191818b-e64c-6b6a-7ab6-00280806cda1

💪 Pro tips
•  Tickets fly fast so make sure you plan ahead don’t miss out!

Purchase Your Tickets

Experience art exhibits, sip drinks from the outdoor bar, enjoy Off the Grid food trucks, and dance as DJs spin at the de Young Museum's Late Night Edition.

Art exhibits & dancing

✅ Before you go
• The event is from 6pm - 9:30pm with in and out access
• Food trucks from Off the Grid stationed outside so you can grab a bite while you’re there and eat in the museum’s cafeteria

💪 Pro tips
• Aim to get there at 6pm so that you have more time to stroll through 1-2 exhibits before joining the dance party 🕺
• Grab a drink from the outside bar. The line will be shorter than the inside bar.

Enjoy Your Night Out

here's your sign to hit up the De Young Museum's Late

Night Editions for a dash of art and lots of dancing.

we grabbed a drink and wandered into Isaac Julian's, “I Dream a World.”

Then came Paul McCartney's photo exhibit.

This is like a VIP pass to the Beatles' early days,

And as if the music wasn't already vibing,

save this Nudge for your next weeknight out.

Experience a sound bath—a soothing, immersive journey that helps you release, reconnect, and leave feeling deeply relaxed and grounded.

Here's your plan for a calming sound bath with meditation, soothing instruments, and deep relaxation at Bituin Studio

An Immersive Sound Bath Journey 

Experience deep relaxation with a soothing sound bath at Bituin Studio in SoMa. Release stress and reconnect with yourself through immersive vibrations and guided meditation.

Sound Bath Meditation

✅ Before you go
• What to bring: comfortable loose clothes, layers, socks, eye mask/scarf, blanket/shawl, yoga mat 
• Book Class: https://www.soundhealingproject.org

💪 Pro tips
• Arrive with enough time to get comfortable and grounded. 
• Come with an open mind – Let go of expectations and allow the experience to unfold naturally.

Sound Bath Experience 

that'll leave you feeling refreshed and recentered.

and community space with a warm and welcoming energy.

which is a sound bath session that's all about letting go

We arrived 20 minutes early to settle in and

sip on some warm tea before everything began.

offered us sage and invited us to write down our intention for the class.

and Erica led us through a calming guided meditation.

softening tension and creating a space to just be.

If you're looking for a class that will leave you feeling lighter,

more grounded and totally in tune with yourself,

A peaceful 2-night escape at Mar Vista Farm + Cottages means cozying up in a vintage cottage, picking fresh veggies from the garden, feeding chickens, and exploring a private beach just across the road. It’s slow living at its best—complete with farm-fresh eggs, ocean views, and starry night soaks in a redwood tub.

Here's your plan for cozy cottage stays, garden harvesting, feeding chickens, tide pooling, and relaxing in a redwood tub

2 Night Farm + Cottage Stay in Gualala

Enjoy a peaceful farm stay at Mar Vista Farm + Cottages in Gualala—harvest fresh veggies, feed animals, explore a private beach, and relax in a redwood tub.

Farm stay & beach retreat

✅ Before you go
• Reserve your cottage: https://marvistafarmandcottages.com/
• Mar Vista – Farm and Cottages guide to what to bring: https://marvistafarmandcottages.com/what-to-bring/
•Bring Dog food, bowls, and bed (if you are bringing a furry friend)
• Pack a cooler with ice if you plan to bring meats or snacks—each cottage has a full kitchen.
Bring paper towels
• Pack layers: coastal weather can shift quickly—mornings and nights can be chilly.
• Rain boots or sturdy shoes for exploring the farm or garden, especially in damp seasons.
• A good book, flashlight, and any board games or puzzles for cozy nights in.

💪 Pro tips
• Bring a laptop to watch movies at night
• Be ready to join in: egg collection, Goat Gab, and garden harvests are part of the fun.
• Stop at a grocery store in Gualala (surf market is our fav) before arrival for essentials.
• Bring your favorite wine or cocktail ingredients—sunset drinks are a must.
• Don’t overpack food—fresh veggies and herbs from the garden are plentiful.
• Dogs love the beach trail but may need supervision around farm animals.
• Use the communal BBQ for a sunset cookout.
• Cottage 7 is a favorite for couples—great views, close to the garden, and private.
• There’s no TV and limited Wi-Fi—bring a book, download music/podcasts ahead, and unplug.
• The redwood soaking tub is first come, first served—go late at night for a quiet soak under the stars.
• Goat Gab and Chicken Chat happen daily—check the chalkboard near the main house for times.
• Ask about picking eggs—guests can help collect them.

Spend the weekend in Gualala

and explore a stretch of private beach access.

Marvista Farm and Cottages is where you go to slow down and truly unplug.

a cozy yellow one bedroom with a kitchen,

filling the fridge and heading out to pick veggies and

flowers from the garden to make space feel like home.

The Harvest garden is a vibrant organic space

It's a hands-on seasonal experience that makes every meal feel fresh,

The flower garden of Marvista is a dreamy self.

Surf patch bursting with seasonal blooms,

guests are encouraged to pick their own and decorate their cottage,

joyful way to bring color and life indoors.

Their free roaming cats are super social and left new guests.

every morning began with fresh eggs that we picked the day before,

along with Sonoma County bacon and a potato pick from the garden.

then off to see the hens to help gather the eggs and give the chickens a snack.

Deanna was very knowledgeable about the chickens and answered all our questions.

I enjoyed brewing some homemade mint tea steeped from the garden.

Dinner was grilled steaks and just picked salad greens,

a farm to table meal made in our very own cottage.

We happened to stay during the strawberry mood.

starting with grounding time at the Creek trail where we

found banana slugs and breathe in the cool forest air.

Then we wandered down to their private beach,

saw a few seals coasting along and catching.

The waterfall from the creek spilling into the ocean.

Another highlight on the property is the redwood soaking tub.

tucked into our private corner of the property with the salty breeze drifting in.

Plan your visit to Marvista Farming cottages when you're

ready to ground yourself and reconnect with the land.

Haul your friends to the South Bay to game at a huge arcade, fill up with AYCE hotpot, taste delectable walnut pastries, and finish with boba. A true East Asian-American experience.

Here's your plan for gaming at Round1, enjoying all-you-can-eat hot pot, walnut pastries, and floral boba tea

South Bay Squad Hang

Game at Round1 in San Jose: Enjoy a massive arcade with bowling, karaoke, billiards, ping pong, darts, and a snack bar in Eastridge Mall until 2am.

Arcade Gaming

•There are multiple locations in the Bay but this one is by far the best. It advertises Bowling (+ VIP Immersive Lane), Arcade Games, Karaoke, Billiards, Ping Pong, Darts, and a bar with snack foods/beer.
• Open every day of the week, 10am-2am.
• The arcade is joined to a mall in case you need to do some shopping too.

Game at Round1

Enjoy all-you-can-eat hot pot at Revopot in San Jose, with a wide selection of broths, sides, desserts, and even wagyu beef. Perfect for big appetites and groups!

Hot Pot Dining

• Dinner and weekends/holidays are $33/pp, lunch is $26/pp.
• They have wagyu 🤌

Eat at Revopot

Enjoy fresh-baked walnut pastries in flavors like cream cheese, red bean, and Nutella at Cocohodo. Perfect as a sweet treat or charming gift with cozy cafe vibes.

Walnut Pastries & Bingsu

•The walnut pastry flavors are cream cheese, red bean, nutella, and hot dog. Hot dog doesn’t actually contain walnuts but it does come with ketchup if you ask.
• Good for 4+ days at room temperature; can be stored in freezer.
• Their box sets are super charming and make for lovely gifts.
• They also have cafe drinks; waffles; and bingsu, a fluffy Asian shaved ice dessert.

Dessert at Cocohodo

Sip on expertly brewed floral teas—especially jasmine—at Molly Tea, a chic boba shop focused on quality and traditional flavors with a fun collectible chair promotion.

Boba & Floral Tea

• “Molly” is a loose romanization of the Chinese word for jasmine—jasmine milk tea is their #1!
• The menu is relatively small but laser focused on floral teas, so you know they’ve perfected each and every one.
• Sweetness level defaults to 70% which brings out the flavors of the florals. If you’re used to or prefer the sweetness of regular boba, get 100% (no judgement).
• I asked my friend who recommended me this place about the chairs, and he said that if you collect all four tiny chairs, you get an ACTUAL CHAIR (like a stool that folds into a bag).
• They have fancy incense and aroma crystals for sale too.

Boba at Molly Tea

Go to the South Bay with your squad to game at a giant arcade.

Then get all you can eat hot pot and finish with boba and dessert.

My friends are kind of crane fiends though,

We were so excited that we grabbed all these

sides before our broths and meats even came,

top off your second stomach with dessert and boba.

We stopped by Cocohodo in Sunnyvale to grab

some bags of adorable fresh baked walnut pastries.

but my friend is a diehard for the hot dog one,

we went a little farther down the street to Molly Tea,

a classy boba shop that specializes in floral teas.

while the streamlined menu of teas is quality and traditional.

They were giving out tiny chairs for some reason,

Bring your friends to the South Bay soon.