One of the great pleasures of living in Northern California is watching seasons change multiple times as they move between the higher and lower elevations.

Treasure Island is in the middle of a massive housing and retail redevelopment boom that has already seen over 1,200 waterfront residential high-rises and townhomes built in the past decade.

On the Tomales Point Trail, you can see tule elk on a peninsula with views of the Pacific Ocean, Tomales Bay and Bodega Bay.

There are some large, beautiful redwoods at parks closer to Sacramento, including Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, near Santa Cruz, and Armstrong Redwoods.

Most visitors come for the wildflowers and mountain views. Few know the story of the lost Marines, the famous photographer and the chance encounter that changed history.

Something about the sleepy town of Stinson Beach still feels undiscovered.

I have seen Phantom Falls about a dozen times, and they never fail to inspire.

From charter boats to cliffside trails, there are still ways to catch Mavericks before the swells fade off Half Moon Bay.

There’s nothing better than the stillness of a pastoral view as you sink into your chair and breathe the fresh Sierra Nevada foothills air, a glass of wine in one hand and the other interlaced with your Valentine’s.

Compared to the Bay Area, Sacramento is pretty close to Tahoe’s ski slopes, but even a short drive requires a proper breakfast.