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Head to Santa Cruz to feel rejuvenated by hiking and exploring the Lands of Medicine Buddha and then refuel with lunch and wine. 

Here's your plan for a rejuvenating Santa Cruz day trip: hike, lunch, and wine tasting

Santa Cruz Day Trip 🥾🍷

Explore the peaceful Lands of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center by hiking a 6-mile loop through redwoods, spotting local fauna, and taking a meditative break.

Hiking and Meditation

✅ Before you go
• Bring layers- the trail is mostly shaded. 
• Don’t forget your snacks and water! 
• Pup friendly- your four legged friends can come too! 

💪 Pro tips
• Day visitors may have to park outside as parking priority is reserved for those participating in retreats at the center. 
• 6 Mile Loop- The Medicine Buddha Loop Trail on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-buddha-loop-trail?sh=5t0u2g
• For more information about Lands of Medicine Buddha: https://landofmedicinebuddha.org/

Lands of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center and Hike 

At VinoCruz Wine Bar + Kitchen, savor local wine and beers, plus French baked goods like pesto pepperoni pizza in a casual bistro atmosphere.

French Bakery Dining



💪 Pro tips
• Indoor and outdoor seating available. 
• Make sure to grab some pastries to go! 

Adorable French Bakery - Bistro at VinoCruz

Visit Wargin Wines for a delightful wine tasting experience, and meet the winemaker. Don't leave without trying the Syrah! 

Wine Tasting



💪 Pro tips
• Definitely recommend doing the tasting!  

Wargin Wines

Here's your plan for a day trip to Santa Cruz,

You'll make your way to Lands of Medicine Buddha,

which is a yoga and meditation retreat center that is nestled in a redwood forest.

We headed to the trailhead and enjoyed a 6 mile moderate loop.

we spotted some cool mushrooms and lots of banana slugs.

there are multiple beautiful spots to meditate or just take a break.

The hike concludes at the retreat center,

where we took some time to explore the grounds.

We admired a beautiful temple and several prayer wheels.

leaving us feeling completely rejuvenated.

we stopped at VinoCruz for lunch and drinks.

This wine bar and kitchen has a great variety of local wine and beers,

We enjoyed the pesto pepperoni pizza and brussel sprouts.

Now all you have to do is send this plan to a friend.

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.

The Radical Reading Room is a free coworking space and event host, open to everybody. Visit for a welcoming place to connect with the community.

Here's your plan for relaxing, coworking, playing games, enjoying music, and connecting in a cozy community space

Radical Reading Room

Unwind at San Francisco's Radical Reading Room—free coworking, cozy reading nooks, creative events, and a welcoming community space with coffee and curated books.

Cozy Reading & Community

• Calendar here: https://theradicalreadingroom.org/openhours
• Almost everything is free! They run entirely on volunteers and donations, so they encourage active stewardship and financial patronage.
• If you forget your own book, you are welcome to read from their curated selection.
• This was the performer; the vibes were incredible live: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6AHoGnrfu11KqAXhw0upKA?si=3N-vJkAkS02XslXsobchHg

Relax at the Radical Reading Room

I found a tiny gem on Haight that's a co-working space,

a community run freespace for the common good.

they were holding a board/card game day where I met friendly people.

I experienced live ambient music in complete darkness.

Take a look at their calendar to see when they're open.

including jam sessions for the musically inclined

visit just for a cozy place to get some work or reading done.

Visit Jagalchi in Daly City! It’s a giant shopping complexes with authentic Korean food and flavors. Pogu, their full service restaurant, is inside. 

Here's your plan for exploring Korean flavors, shopping authentic ingredients, and dining at Pogu's full menu

New Korean Hypermarket 🇰🇷

Shop at Jagalchi in Daly City for premium Korean groceries, fresh meat and seafood, unique snacks, and specialty products—perfect for KBBQ at home or stocking up on rare finds.

Korean grocery shopping

•Now that the chaotic opening craze has died down, it’s a good time to visit.
• Their selection for meat, seafood, and banchan is among the best in the Bay. You can get everything you need for an at-home KBBQ experience!
• It's named after the largest seafood market in Korea, and took over the vacant space inside JCPenney! Same owners as MegaMart.

Shop at Jagalchi

Dine at Pogu in Serramonte for modern Korean cuisine, including abalone jangbap and rice bread, in an elegant setting inside Jagalchi’s shopping complex.

Korean Fine Dining

• Pogu has a prix-fixe menu for $95/pp, but I personally recommend ordering individual dishes.
• The complimentary rice bread appetizer was my favorite dish. If you haven’t had it before it has a similar texture and profile as cornbread. 

Dine at Pogu

Check out Jagalchi in Daly City opened just this spring.

This all in one Korean shopping center is huge.

From Korean cuisine at the full menu restaurant run by a Michelin starred chef

to fresh raw ingredients to treats and snacks for quick bites

imported goods you can't find anywhere else in the area.

I was impressed with the stylish atmosphere.

though eventually you'll stumble across the obligatory wall of Ramyun

and the stacks on stacks of premade kimchi.

The smaller grab and go stands on the edges resemble an Asian

street market while their main restaurant Pogu is square in the middle.

Here we enjoyed rice bread with matcha butter,

Next time I want to experience what's new outside

the staple Asian grocery stores where I usually shop,