Month: September 2019

Summer might seem like everyone’s favorite season, but fall in the Bay Area really hits that sweet spot in our lives. It’s our “perfect weather” season and the time to embrace some of our favorite things. Whether the season means pumpkin spice lattes or horror film marathons, there will be plenty of things to interest you in the Bay Area over the next few months.

1. Go on a late-night tour of the Winchester Mystery House

For fans of Halloween and/or scary movies, it’s worth the drive to San Jose to take a tour of this historic haunted attraction. Unlike most haunted houses, it’s actually open year-round and has a pretty bizarre backstory. During September and October this year, you can experience a brand new, late-night tour called “Unhinged.” Whether you’ve been to the Winchester Mystery House before or not, it’ll definitely be a unique activity.

2. Attend a football game

This will be the last year that Bay Area residents are blessed with two NFL home teams. Raiders fans just have to cross the bay to watch their team play their last season at RingCentral Coliseum before they relocate to Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the 49ers aren’t playing in San Francisco anymore, but the still-fairly-new Levi’s stadium in Santa Clara is easily accessible via car or by way of Caltrain/VTA.

3. Escape the city on a weekend camping trip

Embrace the outdoors while the days are still warm by taking your friends, family or partner on a weekend adventure. Look into nearby spots like Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Point Reyes or Big Sur. And, if glamping is more your style, here are some of our favorite getaways within a short drive of San Francisco.

4. Celebrate Oktoberfest with beer and brats

This fall activity doesn’t require leaving the city, as the longstanding Schroeder’s restaurant/bar is the place to be if you want to take part in this German celebration. While Schroeder’s serves beer and brats every day, they’re adding in live music and an annual block party to the fun this season.

5. Spend a day on the water looking for whales

This might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fall, but hear us out. Fall is the best time to spot blue whales and humpback whales in the Bay Area. The Oceanic Society hosts whale-watching trips from San Francisco to the Farallon Islands, where you can spot whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and plenty more marine life.

Wabi-sabi is the Japanese term for being perfectly imperfect, or finding beauty in the impermanent or incomplete. While the concept can be applied to many aspects of life, it’s often used in relation to interior design and home decor. Here are some easy ways to incorporate a bit of intentional imperfection into your home.

1. Stick with a neutral, natural color palette.

Wabi-sabi comes from appreciating the imperfections found in nature, so it should come as no surprise that it draws color inspiration from nature as well. Even though nature is filled with all kinds of colors, think earthy: browns, creams, grays, greens.

2. Experiment with mismatched furniture.

This one can be a little tricky to pull off, but the key is to create a cohesive yet bohemian feel. Stick with solid colors (neutral tones, ideally), and use patterns sparingly. Try framing your kitchen table with chairs made from various materials, featuring different finishes or upholstered with varying fabrics. Or, try this in the living room with a mid-century modern sofa paired with a wicker loveseat.

3. Pick up some handmade kitchenware.

Instead of perfectly rounded edges, smooth surfaces and uniformity, opt for one-of-a-kind pieces instead. You could think small-scale and drink your coffee out of an unglazed clay mug or replace your entire dining set with pieces slightly less uniform.

4. Incorporate nature in unique ways.

Instead of the typical potted plant or vase of flowers, consider opting for something a little less traditionally pretty. Look for beauty in the parts of nature that are often overlooked for the more colorful or lively. A light fixture made from a tree branch or a bowl filled with unpolished stones as a centerpiece would accomplish this technique well.

Since the water in Northern California tends to be pretty cold the rest of the year, we highly recommend taking advantage of the slightly warmer aquatic temperatures during the summer and fall months. And, if the water is still too cold for your liking, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the water without actually getting wet. Here are five water sports/activities you can try in San Francisco this summer.

1. Kayaking

Living at The Harrison puts you in a prime location to try out this water sport. Right next to SoMa in South Beach, you can rent a kayak from City Kayak Friday through Monday. Paddle out behind Oracle Park, underneath the Bay Bridge, and experience downtown San Francisco from an entirely new point of view. City Kayak offers lessons for beginners and guided tours if you’d rather paddle with a group.

2. Sailing

Choose your own sailing adventure—from an adventurous 18-footer boat to a more cruiselike vessel—and enjoy being out on the open water in the bay. You can learn how to sail through a local instructor like OCSC Sailing School or opt for dinner and drinks on a less bumpy, more relaxed ride.

3. Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)

A photo-worthy activity (as long as you have a waterproof camera attached to your body) that also gives you a full-body workout and simultaneously lets you enjoy the fresh air and salty sea. SUP is a challenging, yet fun, way to get your body moving and explore the Bay Area. How much time you spend in the water instead of on top of it is up to you (and how calm the water is). Plenty of places—including the aforementioned City Kayak—rent paddleboards and offer lessons for beginners.

4. Windsurfing

Just across the bay in Alameda, you can rent a windsurfing board and gear and take lessons if you’ve never tried the sport before. Windsurfing combines surfing with sailing and is a relatively easy sport to pick up. As long as you’re able to swim and have decent balance, you should have no problem giving windsurfing a try.

5. Kiteboarding

Glide along the Bay Area’s sparkling waters while learning the art of kiteboarding. A popular water sport in San Francisco, kiteboarding involves being harnessed to a large hand-controlled kite, combining elements of wakeboarding, surfing, snowboarding, sailing and paragliding. And, whether venturing to Crissy Field or Ocean Beach, you’re sure to find plenty of nearby spots to learn the ropes.