Cheers! The New Year is upon us. Time for setting goals, chasing aspirations and maybe putting together your 2016 bucket list. We’re not talking about those overly serious grownup ones either. We mean the fun and fabulous “I’m absolutely going to do that this year” variety. The ones you’ll actually do because they make life so much more enjoyable. That’s where we come in. Following is our must-do shortlist of the California kind, perfect for whether you’re a local or a visitor. Because in 2016, there’s so many new ways for you to shine in the Golden State.
Runyon Canyon Hike in L.A.
Say “Hi” to a Celebrity on Runyon Canyon Hike (LA)
The celebrity sighting: one of LA’s truly guilty pleasures. But rather than sidling up next to that heart-throb at the over-priced bar for a sneaky TMZ-style shot, wouldn’t it be nice to have a completely natural encounter in the great outdoors? Runyon Canyon, the hiking hang-out of the stars, is your answer. It’s where to go for that “I just happened to be jogging next to (fill-in A-lister name here)” moment. And if you happen to make a perfectly timed stop to tie your shoes and whip out the smartphone … just saying.
Where to stay: Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills
Do That SUP Yoga Class (Mother’s Beach/Marina del Rey)
You’ve seen SUP yoga in the magazines and while surfing the channels and you’ve thought to yourself “I bet I can do that.” We’re betting on you too. That’s why the next time you’re in LA, connect with your inner mermaid (or mer-man) and perfect those yoga poses on the calm waters of Marina del Rey with an assist from the experts at YOGAqua. They supply your board and paddle, you just breathe and balance.
Where to stay: Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills
Try Your Hand at Mixology (San Francisco)
Hawaii has surfers. Kenya has runners. San Francisco? Some of the most talented barmen and women in the world. So what better place to learn garden-to-glass mixology than in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’ve been wanting to wow friends at the next cocktail party by whipping up a Sazerac or the latest mezcal tipple, get thee to one of the regularly scheduled classes at the city’s Boothby Center, appropriately named after a pioneering cocktail legend. Cheers!
Where to stay: Sir Francis Drake in Union Square or The Buchanan in Japantown
The Real Deal: Guilt-free Shopping Spree (Valencia Street/San Francisco)
When is shopping guilt-free? When the deals and one-of-a-kind finds make it literally impossible to say no. Our advice the next time you’re in San Francisco – block out a retail therapy day on the calendar and head to the city’s Mission District and Valencia Street where the fresh, funky galleries, boutiques, cafes and restaurants beckon with discoveries you won’t find anywhere else. To wit, estate sale fixtures, furniture and other finds at Harrington Galleries, hip home décor and natural beauty products at Aldea Home and vintage and consignment fashion treasures at the Painted Bird.
Where to stay: Sir Francis Drake in Union Square or The Buchanan in Japantown
Hot Ticket: Take theTrain for a Weekend Escape (Southern/Central California)
Trains. So retro-sexy. And tres convenient. Imagine, you get to enjoy the scenery as you wave bye-bye to the bumper-to-bumper congestion on the interstate all while updating your social channels via wifi. And when that scenery happens to be golden stretches of sand and some of Central and Southern California’s best-loved coastal towns, it makes it all a pretty sweet adventure. So this year, vow to make an escape on Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner, which rides the rails between San Luis Obispo and San Diego. From Disneyland to downtown LA to surfy cities like San Clemente and Santa Barbara, the Surfliner is your hot ticket for a classic California weekender.
Where to stay: Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara
California Uncorked: Picnic In A Vineyard (Sonoma)
Hopeless romantics: let’s raise a toast to vineyard picnics. World-class vino, a sylvan setting and you and your S.O. lolling on a checkered blankie… Sounds like magic in the making to us and worthy goal for 2016. One of the best places to experience this al fresco indulgence is postcard-perfect Sonoma County, an easy day-trip from the Bay Area. Multiple wineries here permit you to picnic on their grounds and enjoy some stellar settings – just don’t bring wine from another vintner, that’s a no-no. Otherwise, the sky is the limit.
Where to stay: Sir Francis Drake in Union Square or The Buchanan in Japantown
Wherever your travels take you this year – especially any of our California wish-list destinations, remember there is a Kimpton hotel nearby ready to host you during your adventure. Happy New Year and bon voyage!
){kind=link}