101 Best Sights in The Bay Area, California

Cafés, bookstores, poster shops, and street vendors line Berkeley's student-oriented thoroughfare, a four-block corridor just south of campus. T-shirt sellers and tarot-card readers come and go, but Rasputin Music (No. 2401), Amoeba Music (No. 2455), and Moe's Books (No. 2476) are neighborhood landmarks worth checking out. College culture and copious caffeine have long been found at Cafe Milano (2522 Bancroft Way); meanwhile, fab food comes quickly from nearby Korean-Japanese fusion hot spot Koja Kitchen (2395) and grilled-cheese grandmasters at The Melt (2400). Polish off a visit with an indulgent cookie ice-cream sandwich from CREAM (2399).

This hospital for distressed, sick, and injured marine animals is a leading center for ocean conservancy in the Bay Area and the largest rehabilitation center of its kind in the world. Dedicated to pioneering education, rehabilitation, and research, the center is free and open daily to the public. Tour the facilities and see how elephant seals, sea lions, and pups are cared for and meet the scientists who care for them. Bonus: you'll catch some of the best views of the Marin Headlands and San Francisco Bay along the way.

The northernmost winery open to the public in the Santa Cruz Mountains is named after its founder, a legendary heart surgeon. Pinot Noir is the specialty here, but tastings often include a few wild cards like Nebbiolo. The tasting room is surrounded by rolling vineyards, yet the real postcard views are in the adjacent area where weddings are held with a panoramic backdrop of what must be close to half of the Bay Area.

Downtown Palo Alto’s main street is a continuation of Stanford’s Palm Drive after the university stretch reaches the Caltrain station. Shops, restaurants, and an always popular Apple Store (it’s no different than other stores but considered special since Steve Jobs lived nearby) line the blocks of the street until it becomes residential.

The crown jewel is the Stanford Theatre ( 221 University Ave.), a magnificent ode to classic Hollywood. Across the street is Lytton Plaza, a spacious, eclectic gathering place where surely somebody will be putting on an impromptu concert or protest. Toward the eastern end of the downtown area is what previously was another Hollywood Golden Age cinema, the Varsity Theatre. Its classic Colonial Spanish and Mission Revival–influenced architecture is still stunning as a tech shared workspace and a Blue Bottle Coffee café ( 456 University Ave.).

There are dining highlights up and down University Avenue, led by contemporary Vietnamese stalwart Tamarine ( 546 University Ave.) and the silky hummus specialty at Oren’s Hummus ( 261 University Ave.). The quieter side streets off University Avenue also feature several standout restaurants including Ramen Nagi ( 541 Bryant St.), the Georgian cooking of Bevri ( 530 Bryant St.), craft cocktails with excellent French bistro fare at Zola and BarZola ( 565 and 585 Bryant St.), contemporary Indian cuisine in lavish surroundings at Ettan ( 518 Bryant St.), Taverna’s ( 800 Emerson St.) excellent modern and rustic Greek dishes, and Bird Dog’s ( 420 Ramona St.) captivating contemporary Californian menu.

Known simply as "Cal," the founding campus of California's university system is one of the leading intellectual centers in the United States and a major site for scientific research. Chartered in 1868, the university sits on 178 oak-covered acres split by Strawberry Creek. Campus highlights include bustling and historic Sproul Plaza ( Bancroft Way and Sather Rd.), the seven floors and 61-bell carillon of Sather Tower ( Campanile Esplanade), hands-on Lawrence Hall of Science ( 1 Centennial Dr.), the vibrant 34-acre Botanical Gardens ( 200 Centennial Dr.), and the historic Hearst Greek Theatre ( 2001 Gayley Rd.), the classic outdoor amphitheater designed by John Galen Howard.

Thanks to Berkeley's temperate climate, more than 10,000 types of plants from all corners of the world flourish in the 34-acre University of California Botanical Garden. Free garden tours are given regularly with paid admission. Benches and shady picnic tables make this a relaxing place for a snack with a breathtaking view.

Thanks to Berkeley's temperate climate, more than 10,000 types of plants from all corners of the world flourish in the 34-acre University of California Botanical Garden. Free garden tours are given regularly with paid admission. Benches and shady picnic tables make this a relaxing place for a snack with a breathtaking view. Call or go online before you travel to reserve your visit.

Uptown and KONO (Koreatown/Northgate) is where nightlife and cutting-edge art merge. Dozens of galleries cluster around Telegraph Avenue and north of Grand Avenue into KONO, exhibiting everything from photography and installations to glasswork and fiber arts. The first Friday of each month, thousands of people descend for Art Murmur ( oaklandartmurmur.org), a late-night gallery event that has expanded into First Fridays ( www.oaklandfirstfridays.org), a festival of food trucks, street vendors, and live music along Telegraph Avenue.

Restaurants with a distinctly urban vibe make Uptown/KONO a dining destination every night of the week. Favorites include eclectic Japanese-inspired fare at Hopscotch ( 1915 San Pablo Ave.), ramen and izakaya offerings at Shinmai ( 1825–3 San Pablo Ave.), the terrific Jamaican cooking of Kingston 11 ( 2270 Telegraph Ave.), fantastic Spanish tapas and paella from celebrated chef Paul Canales at Duende ( 468 19th St.), and sushi hand rolls offered by Yonsei Handrolls ( 1738 Telegraph Ave.).

Toss in the bevy of bars and there's plenty within walking distance to keep you busy all evening, such as Drake's Dealership ( 2325 Broadway), with its spacious, hipster-friendly beer garden; fantastic cocktails paired with eclectic eats and a stunning art-deco atmosphere at Palmetto ( 1900 Telegraph Ave.); and Somar ( 1727 Telegraph Ave.), a bar, music lounge, and art gallery in one.

The landmark Plaza Viña del Mar, named for Sausalito's sister city in Chile, marks the center of town. Adjacent to the parking lot and ferry pier, the plaza is flanked by two 14-foot-tall statues of elephants, which were created for the Panama–Pacific International Exposition World's Fair held in San Francisco in 1915. A picture-perfect fountain here is great for people-watching.

One of the Bay Area’s grandest and strangest attractions is the 24,000-square-foot, 160-room Victorian mansion once owned by Sarah Winchester, the heiress to a firearms manufacturing fortune. Much of its mystique centers around the tragedies that Winchester faced in her life, and the mystery of what drove her to build and live as a recluse in this sprawling mansion after the deaths of her husband and young daughter. The mystery name, though, came after she passed away and the famous magician Harry Houdini visited the home in 1924 to investigate the stories of ghostly visitors. Apparently even Houdini was spooked by the home, and so what was the Llanada Villa became known as the Winchester Mystery House.

Near Loma Prieta, as high as one can go in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this fun winery balances high-quality wines with a more laid-back atmosphere that encourages relaxing all afternoon. There’s a boccie court, splendid vineyard views, and excellent estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Charcuterie boards are sold for hungry tasting groups, and once a month or so there's a food truck on hand. This is one of the few local wineries that welcomes both children and dogs.