San Francisco's Exploratorium offers free admission to the public on the first Wednesday of every month.

Housed within the walls of the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, the Exploratorium boasts more than 400 interactive science, art, and human perception exhibits for kids of all ages.

Also offering public presentations such as hands-on workshops, lectures, performances, films, and other special events, the museum aims to create a culture of learning through innovative environments, programs, and tools that help people nurture their curiosity about the world around them.

San Francisco's most visited museums offer FREE admission on the first Tuesday of every month. Take advantage of Free Museum Tuesdays at:

Cartoon Art Museum
The Cartoon Art Museum is the only museum in the western United States dedicated to preserving and exhibiting cartoon art in all its forms. In addition to housing approximately 6,000 pieces of original art, the museum also has an extensive research library and a classroom for cartoon art classes and workshops. As a bonus, the museum has one of the best bookstores in the city with a vast collection of interesting and eclectic coffee table books.

Conservatory of Flowers
Located in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers boasts almost 2,000 plant species in five immersive galleries. From tropical flowers to giant water lilies, the conservatory is a lush and diverse living museum for all ages.

de Young Museum
Founded in 1895 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the de Young boasts a state-of-the-art new facility that integrates art, architecture, and the natural landscape in one multi-faceted destination. The museum showcases collections of American art from the 17th through the 20th centuries, and art of the native Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art
As the only folk art museum in Northern California, the museum is known for a rich offering of focused and unique exhibitions of traditional and contemporary folk art and craft from around the world, demonstrating how folk art, contemporary craft, and fine art are all part of the same continuum.

Palace of the Legion of Honor
Built to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I, the Legion of Honor is a beautiful Beaux-arts building located in San Francisco's Lincoln Park. Displaying an impressive collection of 4,000 years worth of ancient and European art in an unforgettable setting overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge, the Legion is also home to an early cast of Rodin's famous "Thinker" sculpture. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Located in downtown San Francisco, SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art. Opened in 1935 to "explore compelling expressions of visual culture," the permanent collection comprises more than 25,000 works of modern and contemporary art, including photography, painting, sculpture, media arts, architecture, and design. Admission fees to special exhibits still apply.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
YBCA presents contemporary art from the Bay Area and around the world that reflects the profound issues and ideas of our time, expands the boundaries of artistic practice, and celebrates the diversity of human experience and expression.

Dare to tread the San Andreas Fault where the earth's crust shifted and moved 5 meters (16 feet) in 1906!

Meet a Point Reyes National Seashore ranger at the start of the Earthquake Trail for this easy one-kilometer (0.6 miles) walk.

Join a Park Ranger for a leisurely 1.3-kilometer (0.8-mile) tour and introduction to the history and culture of the Coast Miwok people.

The walk ends at Kule Loklo (meaning "Bear Valley"), a replica Miwok village.

A secret jewel of the Bay Area, Point Bonita is still an active lighthouse maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. Discover Point Bonita's wild landscape, geology, and fascinating history.

The lighthouse is reached by a half-mile trail, with a tunnel that is open only on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, from 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Point Bonita docents are on hand along the trail, and the setting offers breathtaking views.

Set in the tiny town of San Gregorio near Pescadero, the San Gregorio General Store is more than an old-time shop selling both practical and whimsical goods in an historic building. It's also a saloon serving 18 kinds of tequila, and a popular gathering place for both locals and those just passing through.

On weekends, the General Store hosts free, live music performances. See their website for a schedule of upcoming shows.

California State Parks docents offer free, half-hour guided history walks around the grounds of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (except on rainy days).

No reservations necessary. 

Midtown Stomp offers swing dancing every Friday and Wednesday night at Sacramento's Eastern Star Ballroom, a historic landmark built in 1928. Join the beginning swing dancing lesson from 8-9 p.m., and then keep dancing until midnight!

Lessons are social with rotating partners -- you don't need a partner to join. Dance the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, Charleston, Balboa, and many other fun, vintage dances.

Blue Blanket Improv presents a laugh-out-loud, high-energy, fun-for-the-whole-family comedy theater experience unparalleled on the coast! Bring a friend or several and enjoy a night of laughs.

Performing in outdoor venues around the Bay Area -- from beaches to parks to anywhere they can hang their eponymous blanket -- Blue Blanket Improv is committed to inspiring laughter in others, bringing theater to those who might not attend otherwise, and giving back to the community.

For more than 20 years sea music enthusiasts have gathered at San Francisco's Hyde Street Pier on the historic tall ships C. A. Thayer and Balclutha to sing chanteys and other sea songs.

This free event, which takes place the first Saturday of every month, has garnered a loyal following, drawing 80 to 200 people monthly.

Hear California history come alive with chanteys that describe the perils of San Francisco's Barbary Coast, the dangers of rounding Cape Horn, cruel ship officers, the joys and curse of drink, and hopes for riches during the Gold Rush.

Be sure to bring a mug for complimentary apple cider!

Reservations required; call (415) 561-7171.

Held every second Sunday of the month, the Sacramento Antique Faire is a meeting place for hundreds of antique dealers from throughout Northern California.

Come paw through furniture, textiles, architectural pieces, jewelry, cultural pieces, china, glassware, garden accessories, rugs, art, collectibles, and more.

While you're hunting for your one-of-a-kind treasure, fortify yourself with the variety of offerings from the numerous food vendors at the Faire.

The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco offers free admission to all visitors on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the largest museums in the Western world devoted exclusively to Asian art, the Asian Art Museum collection spans 6,000 years of history and includes 17,000 objects, from tiny jades to monumental sculptures, paintings, porcelains and ceramics, lacquers, textiles, furniture, arms and armor, puppets, and basketry.

Vipassana, or mindfulness meditation, was first taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago. In this style of meditation, widespread today in Southeast Asia and increasingly popular in the West, one learns to watch what arises without judgment or reaction.

In so doing, the mind can become clear and steady, and we begin to see things as they really are, without the distortion of our hopes, fears and confusion. Some apply mindfulness to reduce stress and control pain, and many find the practice a help with daily life, but the Buddha's purpose was clear: this way of seeing leads to freedom from suffering.

Coastside Vipassana meets at the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel on Wednesday evenings, for meditation and a dhamma talk from a visiting teacher. Everyone is welcome -- the merely curious, the earnest beginner, or the dedicated practitioner.

During the tense years from 1953 to 1979, the United States Army built and operated a total of 280 Nike missile firing batteries in the United States, emplaced as the last line of defense against Soviet bombers. Today, site SF-88 in the Marin Headlands has been turned into a museum, and is the only restored Nike missile site in the country.

Visit SF-88 and see the tools of the Cold War up close. The site is open Wednesday through Friday, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with guided walks beginning every hour. There is also an "open house" on the first Saturday of every month, 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., with volunteer docents and Nike veterans on hand.

Cetrella Bistro and Cafe offers seasonal Mediterranean cuisine and an award-winning wine collection, and routinely garners some of the best restaurant reviews on the Coastside.

If the Bistro menu is beyond your budget, try dropping into the bar for a drink and live jazz music, presented every Friday and Saturday night. As the San Francisco Chronicle notes, "Cetrella is celebrated for its well-crafted dishes and extensive wine list. But it offers just as delectable and intoxicating fare when it comes to music. Cetrella has become an invaluable venue for Northern California jazz and blues singers." The restaurant closes occasionally for private events; please check their music schedule for details.  

A bar menu featuring small plates, wood oven pizzas, and a few entrees is also available.

Join your guide Henry for an extensive walk through the streets (and over the hills) of San Francisco.

Enjoy the sights of the city as you wander through neighborhoods such as Russian Hill, Nob Hill, Chinatown, North Beach, and Telegraph Hill. See Lombard Street, Coit Tower, and some of the oldest homes and hidden gardens in the city.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels. Please sign up in advance.

Most Thursday nights, the California Academy of Sciences opens its doors after hours for NightLife.

Adults have a chance to explore the museum at night in a whole new light, as they dance to some of San Francisco's most popular DJs, enjoy food and cocktails, and mingle while perusing the Academy's world-class exhibits and getting up close and personal with aquarium critters.

Take in some knowledge with your libations -- each week features provocative science programming and a few surprises.

Guests at our three San Francisco hostels even get a 15 percent discount on admission to NightLife (as well as general admission) if you order tickets in advance. More info on how to get that discount is found here.

The Station House Cafe in Point Reyes Station has been serving the West Marin community since 1974. Offering American cuisine, the cafe uses fresh organic and sustainable ingredients, supporting local farmers and harvesting from their own gardens.

Many a Sunday evening, the cafe hosts live music, including blues and bluegrass acts such as Paul Knight and Friends, Doug Adamz and the Trio Bravo, and the New Copasetics.

Check the cafe's schedule to see who's playing this week.

The only children's museum in the U.S. to be located in a national park, the Bay Area Discovery Museum is a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor children's museum nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The first Wednesday of the month, admission is free to the museum. Bring the family down to explore the 7.5-acre, indoor-outdoor environment that harmonizes nature and nurture.

Check out permanent exhibits such as Lookout Cove, which includes a shipwreck with clues to dig up and discover, and the San Francisco Bay Hall, a playful simulation of the Bay Area with an "underwater" tunnel, 300-gallon sea star tank, a fishing boat, a model of Fisherman's Wharf, and a play shipping port.

San Francisco City Guides offer free historical and architectural walking tours of San Francisco's most famous (or, in some cases, infamous) districts, as well as some of its more hidden neighborhoods.

Approximately 30 different walks are offered each month, year-round, rain or shine. Walkers meet at the place and time designated in the current tour schedule. No reservations are required.

Come see and select from a wide variety of flowers and greenery, all grown on the San Mateo County coast.

Motorheads far and wide rev up to come to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay for Harbor Nights, a coastal car and motorcycle show held on the first Thursday of the month at Princeton Seafood Company.

Owners of classic cars, trucks, tricked-out motorcycles, and hot rods show off their pride and joy while providing a glimpse of early automotive and motorcycle technology. Chat with the owners to learn about the process that went into each machine, as many of them have taken years to create or restore. Just be careful not to drool -- it's bad for the paint.

The James Johnston House, a.k.a. The White House of Half Moon Bay, sits overlooking the Pacific Ocean, its silhouette a striking sight against the surrounding hillsides.

This classic New England salt-box (two stories in front, one in back) was built by 49er pioneer James Johnston between 1853 and 1855, for his Californian bride, Petra Maria de Jara. In 1971, the Johnston House Foundation was established to protect, preserve, restore, and refurbish the house, and to promote the history of the Coastside and California.

The Johnston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is open to visitors on the third Saturday of the month, January - September, with docent-led tours available. A special "Holiday House" event is held the first two weekends in November.

Join State Parks docents for a guided nature walk through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve. Part of Pescadero State Beach, the marsh is the only extensive wetland along the coast of the San Francisco peninsula, and includes a complex of several habitats.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the marsh, including more than 60 that nest there, among them the Great Blue Heron. Species in the marsh listed under the Endangered Species Act include the San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, tidewater goby, steelhead trout, and Coho salmon.

Pie Ranch is a complex place with a simple mission: to teach people where their food comes from.

A hands-on farm and food system education center, Pie Ranch is located on a 14-acre plot of land above the historic Steele Ranch. Using the ever-popular dessert pie as a model, the ranch teaches visitors -- many of them urban youth -- about the full cycle of food production. The farm grows or raises almost every element needed for the pie, including wheat for pie crusts, berries for filling, bees for honey, goats for milk, and chickens for eggs.

With a place like this, the best way to experience it is to get your hands dirty, which visitors can do every third Saturday of the month when Pie Ranch hosts a community work day, guided ranch tour, potluck dinner, and barn dance.

Join in the celebration as farmers, volunteers, and "food system change makers" gather to work throughout the afternoon, then let their hair down once the evening comes around.

Bring something to share at the potluck, then swing to the sounds of the County Line Pickers, accompanied by a live dance caller. You don't need to volunteer during the day in order to join the party at night, but volunteers do get a discount on dance admission!

The ranch's Roadside Barn Farm Stand is also open seasonally on weekends, for folks who just want a peek at the farm and to purchase its goods, which include handmade pies, fresh local produce, and eggs from the ranch's free-range hens

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership offers a variety of walking tours designed to introduce visitors to the people, places, and events that shaped California history. At least one walk is offered daily (except most Saturdays), and topics range from art and architecture to cultural, religious, and urban history.

Current scheduled walks include:

• Old Sacramento Speakeasy Tour, special 2-hour tour runs only the third Saturday of the month
• Rock and Roll History and Pub Crawl, special summer tour runs every Friday, May - August
• Kids Meet the City, a tour of California history especially for kids
• Tales of the Central City, an overview of early Sacramento history
• Structural Stories, local examples of historical architecture styles
• Art Is All Around Us, a tour of Sacramento's collection of art in public places
• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, about K Street commerce, growth, and redevelopment
• The Art of Terra Cotta, an architecture tour featuring local clay artisan Gladding McBean

Tours are $10 and leave from within a short walk of the Sacramento Hostel.

Reservations are required; call (916) 442-8575 or email dsp@downtownsac.org.

Long closed to public access, Battery Townsley in the Marin Headlands has been refurbished and is now open to visitors the first Sunday of the month.

Come explore this labyrinthine fortification, and learn about San Francisco's most extensive -- and most secret -- World War II military fortification.

From 1940 to 1948, it mounted two massive battleship guns and housed more than 100 soldiers in an extensive network of underground tunnels; during the Cold War, it was used as an underground research facility.

Battery Townsley is reached via a moderately strenuous hike up the Coastal Trail, approximately one half-mile north of the Rodeo Beach parking lot.

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company is a casual oceanfront restaurant and brewpub in Half Moon Bay, located on Pillar Point Harbor (just half a mile from the world-famous Maverick's surf break).

Friday - Sunday each week, local bands perform live at the Brewing Company, bringing sounds to the shore from jazz and blues to world beat and reggae. Bands perform Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m., and Sundays from 5-9 p.m.

So, relax like the locals do, with a pint of locally brewed beer, some live music, and a seat near one of the pub's patio firepits, beside the Pacific.

Housed in a restored barn in Point Reyes Station, the Cowgirl Creamery has been making handcrafted, farmstead cheese in small batches since 1997. Nationally recognized for its artisan quality, the Creamery offers cheese-making demonstration and tasting at its ecologically conscious facilities on Fridays at 11:30 a.m.

Foodies and dairy junkies won't want to miss the chance to go behind the scenes, where the Creamery makes about 3,000 pounds of cheese per week. Peek through a viewing window and watch how they make the goods, and learn about the cheese-making process in a 60-minute presentation. The class ends with a tasting of Cowgirl Creamery cheeses.

Afterwards, peruse the cheese counter to which features more than 200 of America's and Europe's most prized producers, or check out the selection of local produce and other goodies.

Reservations for the class are strongly recommended; call (415) 663-9335 or book your tour online.

Built in 1870, the Point Reyes Lighthouse guided mariners for 105 years before it was replaced by an automatic beacon in 1975.

Join a park ranger for a guided tour of the lighthouse's lantern room, and learn about the history and function of this Bay Area landmark. Tours are available from 2:30 - 4 p.m., Thursday - Monday, mid-April - December.

The Lighthouse Visitor Center is also open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday - Monday, year-round, where you can see historic photographs of shipwrecks and lighthouse keepers, and handle artifacts -- such as real whale baleen -- on a hands-on "touch table."

The Torch Club is known as one of the best blues clubs in Sacramento, and features bands from all over the Bay Area as well as some national acts. They've recently been called "the center of the blues in Sacramento" by the Sacramento Bee.

Every Sunday during happy hour they have a blues jam with no cover charge.

Open every day, San Francisco's Ferry Building Marketplace is a foodie mecca, offering fresh organic produce, gourmet treats, and fine dining. With a focus on small, regional food producers -- and many eateries and small businesses owned by well-known top chefs -- you can sample local artisan cheeses, chocolates, breads, and more.

Most Saturday mornings, celebrated Bay Area chefs stop in to demonstrate ways to prepare the sustainable, seasonable goods found in the Farmers' Market. Visitors can watch these experts in action, taste their creations, and leave with recipes to try themselves at home. Programs sometimes include interviews with farmers, food artisans, or other Farmers' Market vendors.

See the CUESA's website for a full event schedule.

The Coastside Farmers Market offers an abundance of locally grown and/or produced vegetables, fruits, organic products, gourmet cheese, herbs, seafood, organic coffee, desserts, and wines, available right from the people who produce them.

This is the perfect spot to sample the coastside's agricultural bounty, grab fixings for a picnic, or stock up on groceries for your hostel stay.

The Farmers Market is held on Wednesdays in Pacifica from 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. and on Saturdays in Half Moon Bay from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., May through December.

On Wednesdays and Sundays, the Heart of the City Farmers Market sets up shop in United Nations Plaza near City Hall, bringing locally grown produce, fresh flowers, and artisan goods to the city's Civic Center.

Stock up on goodies to cook up back at the hostel, or snacks to bring along on your travels.

The Westminster Presbyterian Church on Capitol Park hosts free noontime concerts every Wednesday. Musicians include pianists, cellists, violinists, guitarists, and more.

For a full schedule of concerts, visit the series website.

Join us on Friday evenings to sample California wine and cheeses at the San Francisco Downtown Hostel.

Meet and mingle with fellow travelers, whet your appetite for San Francisco’s nightlife, then hit the town together, or settle in to plan your next day's adventure.

This event is open to all guests (ages 21 and older) at our three San Francisco hostels.

The Fort Mason Center Farmers Market is one of many year-round farmers markets around the city -- but it's the closest to the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel, just a short walk away through Fort Mason.

The market features 50 local farm and prepared food stalls, including vendors selling fresh and/or organic produce, farmstead cheese, fish, meat, eggs, and fresh baked goods.

Join a Park Ranger to learn more about Point Reyes National Seashore's natural and cultural history during their Daily Ranger Program, offered weekdays, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Topics covered may include earthquakes and plate tectonics, the Coast Miwok, the U.S. Lifesaving Service, or area flora and fauna. Some programs may require a walk of up to 1 mile on easy to moderate trails.

There are two programs each day, one at 10:30 a.m. and one at 2 p.m.

Stop by or call the Bear Valley Visitor Center at (415) 464-5100 for information about today's program.

No trip to San Francisco would be complete without tacos! 

Anthony will be dishing up this California Mexican classic in the hostel lobby. They're just $3 while they last!

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco City Center Hostel. Please sign up in advance.

Join us -- and your fellow hostellers -- for a pasta dinner at the San Francisco Downtown hostel. It's $5 but the first two volunteer cooks eat free (so get there early!)

Meet your dorm neighbors and plan your weekend in San Francisco over some tasty pasta. Then head out for our weekly pub crawl! 

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco Downtown Hostel. No signup is required.

Put on your drinking shoes, grab your ID (gotta be 21!), and join Jesse and Erinne for our weekly pub crawl.

Sip some brew (or a cosmo? tequila?) at five of the best bars along Polk Street, near our City Center and Downtown hostels. Meet a bunch of other travelers and enjoy a night out in SF!

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

Off the Grid is a regular gathering of San Francisco street food vendors -- or, as they describe it, "a roaming mobile food extravaganza!"

This is a great chance to sample unusual and gourmet foods at cheap prices, and enjoy a little al fresco dining. Korean tacos, jambalaya, empanadas, onigiri, BBQ ribs, dim sum -- you'll be amazed at the tasty treats that can be made and sold from the back of a truck.

Regularly participating vendors include local favorites like Chairman Bao Bun Truck, Creme Brulee Cart, Curry Up Now, Gobba Gobba Hey, Hapa SF, and Kung Fu Tacos.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Off the Grid sets up shop in Civic Center's UN Plaza (next to the Asian Art Museum), just four blocks from the San Francisco City Center Hostel.

Wednesdays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., the trucks visit the intersection of 5th and Minna streets, just south of Market Street and five blocks from the San Francisco Downtown Hostel.

Fridays, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., you'll find them in Civic Center Plaza (directly in front of City Hall), also just four blocks from the San Francisco City Center Hostel.

Fridays, 5 - 10 p.m., check out the original Off the Grid event, which happens in Fort Mason near the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel. The largest of the Off the Grid events, this night features more than 30 street food trucks and tents each week!

Join docent Warren Riley for an illustrated talk about the history of the lighthouses of San Francisco Bay and their critical role in the growth of California.

Reservations can be made by calling (415) 331-1540.

Take advantage of "Pay What You Wish Day" every third Sunday of the month at the Crocker Art Museum. 

Established in 1885 and expanded in 2010, the Crocker Art Museum is one of Northern California's largest and best museums of regional artists. The collection spans from the 10th century to contemporary periods and includes a stunning collection of European master drawings and a notable selection of contemporary California art. Museum programs include touring exhibitions, educational programs, public tours, and concerts.

Located in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood, the Haas-Lilienthal House is a beautifully restored Queen Anne-style Victorian built in 1886.

It's the only intact private home of the period that's open regularly as a museum in San Francisco, complete with authentic furniture and artifacts, elaborate wooden gables, a circular corner tower, and detailed ornamentation.

Tours of this house museum are offered year-round on Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon - 3 p.m. Tours leave every 20 to 30 minutes and last about one hour. All visits to the house must be guided. Reservations are not required.

Engaging in the longest migration of any mammal, the California gray whale swims 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) each year, spending about one-third of its life migrating from the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Alaska, to the warm, shallow lagoons of Baja California. Along the way, these incredible animals can often be seen from the shores of Point Reyes.

On weekends and holidays from late December through April, you can watch the whales through binoculars and scopes from the Point Reyes Lighthouse observation deck. Volunteer docents will be on hand to answer questions about these majestic mammals.

In addition, you can learn about the gray whales' habits and adaptations during the ranger-led "Journey of the Whales" program, held on weekends and holidays from 1:30 - 2 p.m.

Hunted to the brink of extinction at the turn of the 20th century, the northern elephant seal has made a strong comeback in the past 100 years, thanks in part to both government restrictions on hunting and their own secluded, deep-sea lifestyle.

For just a few months each year, these unique creatures come ashore, returning to various spots along the California coast to compete, mate, and give birth. It’s a powerful ecological pageant that only plays out from mid-December through March/April.

The Point Reyes National Seashore offers a specific overlook near Chimney Rock, above Drakes Bay, where visitors can observe a colony of elephant seals through scopes and binoculars. On weekends from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., docents are on hand at the overlook to answer questions.

In addition, a special 30-minute slide program about elephant seals may be offered at the Historic Lifeboat Station, depending on staffing availability. Ask at a visitor center for more information.

Artists, art patrons, art lovers, and everyone else is welcome on 4th Street in San Rafael every second Friday of the month for the city’s art walk.

Browse open studios and art galleries, and enjoy the latest and greatest work by some of the Bay Area’s most talented artists -- along with a glass of wine or two. Galleries and retailers will have special extended hours so that art walkers can experience the full variety of downtown commerce, from art and artisan gifts to clothing and accessories.

Open 365 days a year, The Old Princeton Landing is Princeton-by-the-Sea's nightspot for live music, dancing, and pool. Artists of all stripes -- from rock-a-billy bands to hip-hop artists -- take to the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, often with a minimal cover change. 

Local Acoustic Night features talent from the coastside and beyond on the first Wednesday of every month. Check out 30-minute sets ranging from acoustic blues to funk, rock, and live poetry.

There's no cover charge, but it's open only to people ages 21 and up.

Experience the Point Reyes Lighthouse as many keepers have over the years, watching as the lighthouse's beacon shines over the sea.

This popular ranger-led tour is available on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from mid-April through December. Start times vary depending on sunset. The Lighthouse Visitor Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday - Monday, year-round.

Space is limited. Call (415) 669-1534 after 10 a.m. on the day of the tour for schedule and reservations.The program is cancelled if winds exceed 40 mph. Call back between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to confirm status of program.

See how families lived during early ranching and Mexican Rancho days at Wilder Ranch State Park's Living History Demonstration and Ranch Tour!

Hands-on activities and demonstrations include draft horse wagon rides, hand-made tortillas and salsa, branding and horseshoe demonstrations, chuck wagon-style cooking, roping skills, and lawn games.

Picnic on the lawn while taking a break from the day's events, then check out the rest of the State Park and cultural preserve, including a heritage garden and farm animal area, historic ranch buildings, Ben Lomond Mountain, and Wilder Ranch State Beach. Call (831) 426-0505 for weekend scheduled activities.

Once a stop on the First Transcontinental Railroad, Sacramento’s history with locomotives, train tracks, and engineers dates back nearly 150 years.

The California State Railroad Museum — one of Sacramento’s most popular tourist attractions — showcases that history, displaying 21 restored cars as well as various exhibits on all things rail-related.
And, since trains are much more fun to ride than look at, they offer seasonal steam train rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad line on weekends, April through September.

The six-mile, 40-minute trip runs along the levees of the Sacramento River while you take in the sights, sounds, and smells of old-fashioned train travel. Take a seat in either a vintage closed coach, an open-air gondola car, or a restored 1920s first-class observation car.

Trains depart hourly from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Depot is seven blocks from the museum itself, and train tickets are separate from the museum admission price ($9 admission for adults / $4 for kids ages 6-17). You don't need to visit the museum to ride the trains!

Coach and gondola seats on the train are $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-17 (kids under 5 are free). First-class seats on the El Dorado car cost $15 per person. Train tickets are sold at the Depot, or online.

Point Reyes Seashore is one of the most biologically diverse places on earth -- nearly 20 percent of the state's flowering plant species are represented on the peninsula and over 45 percent of the bird species in North America have been sighted here.

While you're visiting, help preserve our beautiful park!

The bi-monthly restoration team of volunteers meets in front of the Bear Valley Visitor Center at 9 a.m. on the second and last Sunday of each month. Drop-ins are welcome.

The crew will visit some of the most beautiful areas in the park and help eradicate invasive plant species encroaching upon rare, native habitat. You'll learn about invasive plant ecology and the flora and fauna of Point Reyes National Seashore -- and work up a sweat removing the nonnative European beachgrass, iceplant, and other invasive species.

Bring lunch, water, and sturdy shoes. Gloves and tools are provided. Contact Ellen Hamingson at 415-464-5196 or by email for more information, and call in advance to confirm the workday (occasionally the team travels to another park).

Every second Wednesday of the month, from May through October, the Caledonia Street neighborhood in beautiful Sausalito welcomes residents and visitors to the Sausalito Art Walk.

Businesses, galleries, and restaurants on and around Caledonia Street host Bay Area artists and are open to the public for viewing.

Each week you might see oil painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, pottery, or watercolors, all crafted by local artists.

In addition, you'll find many musicians and entertainers performing on the street, as well as a children's stage to keep the little ones engaged.

Check out the bounty of produce grown in Northern California at one of the state's largest farmers markets, held each Sunday, all year round, in the Marin Civic Center parking lot. There's no better way to shop local!

During peak summer season, you'll find more than 200 local farmers, artisans, and food vendors selling everything from oranges to tamales, fresh cheese to creative jams to locally made pottery.

Come for lunch, shop for dinner, or for graze the booths for a mid-morning snack of free samples!

Head down to Pillar Point Harbor on the first Thursday of every month to discuss fresh views on American politics over a cold beer at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. Each night offers a different topic of discussion as well as interesting guest speakers.

Not only is this a great place to learn different perspectives about politics in the U.S., it's also a way to give back! Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales for the evening are donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

CuriOdyssey, formerly the Coyote Point Museum, houses a collection of hands-on exhibits for kids and adults alike to "experience the wonder of science and nature."

Their collections include more than 100 live animals -- mostly California natives, and many which unfortunately can't be re-introduced into the wild after treatment in rehabilitation facilites.

Most of these animals live in 25 wildlife habitats that visitors can explore -- including a 4,000-square-foot walk-through aviary.

Don't miss one of their several daily animal shows (including otter and bobcat feedings).

Every month, they have a different "community day" were admission is free, although a donation is suggested.

Every Thursday, the Crocker Art Museum hosts "Thursdays 'til 9," when they're open after hours to feature film, music, conversation, cocktails, and more.

First Thursdays: Film Frame
Presented in collaboration with local film organizations and festivals, screenings include commentary by film makers, enthusiasts, scholars, and artists.

Second Thursdays: Art Mix
For those who like to mix culture with cocktails. Hear a local band or DJ, sip a specialty cocktail from the Crocker Cafe, and dive into live art demonstrations, short films, interactive installations, special in-gallery tours and more.

Third Thursdays: Playlist
Blues, reggae, indie, folk, country, bluegrass, rock, hip hop, world music and everything in between!

Fourth Thursdays: Open Art
The Crocker’s many arts and community partners are co-creators of these exchanges, programs, and happenings.

Movies on a Big Screen, an ongoing film festival/micro-cinema, is "your alternative to the multiplex."

Held Sundays at the Guild Theater, it features independent films that may not be able to secure week-long runs in commercial theaters, but are worth seeing nonetheless.

Some are old, some are new, most cost just $5 to see! Check out the website for a schedule of upcoming shows, a different film screens every Sunday.

The Guild Theater is 6 miles from the hostel -- if you don't have a car, it's very easily accessed by taking the Sacramento Regional Transit #51 bus. A bus stop is 3 blocks from the hostel on 7th Street -- get off at Broadway and 35th streets, less than 1 block from the theater.

The Sacramento Hostel shows free movies every Wednesday night in the TV lounge, located in the basement of this historic Gold Rush-era mansion. The TV room is complete with several comfy couches and a 52-inch flat-screen TV.

We'll cook up some free popcorn and start playing the week's film at 7:30 p.m. All our guests are invited to come down and hang out!

If you're not visiting on a Wednesday, you can still get your film fix at the hostel -- guests can borrow DVDs from our free film library to use in the TV room or on their laptops.

Any Tuesday night, gather up a few hostel friends, pick out an awesome quiz team name, and head down to the Fox and Goose Pub to test your brain power!

The trivia quiz includes four rounds of eight questions -- with plenty of time in between to order a round or two.

Know every European capitol city? Lyrics to a few obscure Paula Abdul hits? You'll be a quiz all-star.

Tuesdays, head to MiX Downtown for their weekly jazz night! At 6 p.m., the music kicks off in the rooftop lounge with the club's own "Singing Saxtress," Ava Lamert, followed by a different jazz musican each week.

Happy hour specials run til 7 p.m., and the week's featured band plays until 9 p.m. It's also Taco Tuesday, so help yourself to $2 chicken tacos from 4-10 p.m.!

Who doesn't love making ice cream sundaes!?

Come hang out with other travelers on our back patio, and get to know each other over some sweet treats. It's just $1 for ice cream.

Because really -- summer on the patio with ice cream? Yes, please.

Join Erinne and your fellow hostellers for a crawl from Fort Mason through North Beach.

We'll head to the "Off the Grid" street food extravaganza in Fort Mason to pre-game with some food and beer, then head to North Beach (Little Italy) to check out some of San Francisco's best bars and one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

Monday afternoons, join Erinne and your fellow hostellers for a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, and a ferry ride back to the city.

The first stop is one of our bike rental partners, where we'll pick up bikes and helmets. Then we'll hit the road for a relaxing ride over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge -- an incredible experience for anyone!

From the bayside town of Sausalito, we'll take the ferry back to the city -- it's a mini bay-cruise past Alcatraz with great views of San Francisco the whole way.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

Join us Tuesdays - Saturdays for a free movie screening in our awesome new theater-style TV lounge!

Grab a snack at Cafe Franco upstairs, and come hang with us for the film.

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel.

Hiding beneath Sacramento’s sidewalks is a network of underground walkways and spaces created when the city raised its streets to prevent flooding in the 1860s.

This hour-long seasonal tour, offered by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation, takes you into the underground, revealing the once-first-floor doorways and windows that now lead into basements, brick retaining walls protecting buildings from the elevated roadways, and secret spaces once used for tiny underground shops.

Tours are offered Saturdays and Sundays, every half hour from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., and on Thursdays and Fridays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m

Tickets can be purchased online, in person at the Sacramento History Museum, or over the phone by calling (916) 808-7059.

Several other tours also depart from the history museum, including an architecture tour and one focused on the Gold Rush. These tours cost $7.

The Sausalito Farmers Market offers an abundance of locally grown and/or produced vegetables, fruits, organic products, gourmet cheese, herbs, seafood, meats, organic coffee, desserts, and wines, available right from the people who produce them.

This is the perfect spot to sample Marin County's agricultural bounty, grab fixings for a picnic, or stock up on groceries for your hostel stay.

The Farmers Market is held year-round at Dunphy Park. 

Neighboring the Pillar Point Harbor, Sam's Chowder House is one of Half Moon Bay's most picturesque bars and seafood restaurants. This beachside spot boasts beautiful ocean views, from both the dining room and spacious outdoor patios.

Aside from serving food, Sam's presents live local music on Fridays from 5-9 p.m. (inside in the bar area), Saturdays from 4-8 p.m. (outside), and Sundays from 1-5 p.m. (outside). For a list of scheduled performers, visit samschowderhouse.com/news/music.html.

The regular menu prices will considerably lighten your wallet, but for the cost of a beer or cocktail you can stop in to hear the sounds and soak up the surroundings. Grab some fresh shellfish appetizers to share at the seafood bar on the patio, and lounge in Adirondack chairs while admiring the seaside sunset.

Open 365 days a year, The Old Princeton Landing is Princeton-by-the-Sea's nightspot for live music, dancing, and pool. Artists of all stripes -- from rock-a-billy bands to hip-hop artists -- take to the stage on Friday and Saturday nights, often with a minimal cover change.

On Tuesday nights, head down to the Landing, pony up $5, and battle the locals for cash and bragging rights in the weekly pool tournament. Sign-up is at 7 p.m., the tournament starts at 7:30.

Offering seaside dining since 1927, Nick's Restaurant at Rockaway Beach is a local institution with sweeping views of the Pacific. Stop in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the dining room, or head to the horseshoe bar in the cocktail lounge for drinks and appetizers.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Nick's features live music and dancing from 8 p.m. - midnight; check their website for upcoming performers.

Many San Francisco visitors have a trip to Napa somewhere on their itinerary. Wine Country, after all, is one highlight of the California experience.

But vino isn’t the only beverage to sample around here -- we'd hate to see you leave this fine city without tasting some of the locally brewed beer!

So head to the Downtown Hostel's second-floor lounge on Tuesday evenings, for light snacks and a rotating sampling of beer from local breweries like Lagunitas, Anchor Steam, Trumer Pils, and Speakeasy.

This event is open to all guests (ages 21 and over) at our three San Francisco hostels.

Wednesday afternoons, join Erinne and your fellow hostellers for a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, and a ferry ride back to the city.

The first stop is one of our bike rental partners, where we'll pick up bikes and helmets. Then we'll hit the road for a relaxing ride over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge -- an incredible experience for anyone!

From the bayside town of Sausalito, we'll take the ferry back to the city -- it's a mini bay-cruise past Alcatraz with great views of San Francisco the whole way.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

Join State Parks docents for a guided nature walk through Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve. Part of Pescadero State Beach, the marsh is the only extensive wetland along the coast of the San Francisco peninsula, and includes a complex of several habitats.

More than 200 species of birds have been recorded in the marsh, including more than 60 that nest there, among them the Great Blue Heron. Species in the marsh listed under the Endangered Species Act include the San Francisco garter snake, California red-legged frog, tidewater goby, steelhead trout, and Coho salmon.

Experience the Point Reyes Lighthouse as many keepers have over the years, watching as the lighthouse's beacon shines over the sea.

This popular ranger-led tour is available on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from mid-April through December. Start times vary depending on sunset. The Lighthouse Visitor Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday - Monday, year-round.

Space is limited. Call (415) 669-1534 after 10 a.m. on the day of the tour, for tour schedule and reservations.

Jesse takes you on a bike ride from Downtown San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and back.

Stops include the Ferry Building, Fisherman's Wharf, Aquatic Park, Fort Mason, Crissy Field, The Palace of Fine Arts and the Golden Gate Bridge.

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco Downtown Hostel .

Join Anthony, our resident "tea master," as he shares various Chinese teas, explains their health benefits, some fun historical facts, and reveals some of the mysticism in San Francisco tea culture.

This is a great opportunity to meet fellow hostellers, relax, and enjoy the warmth of amazing teas!

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco City Center Hostel .

It's Mardi Gras all year long at the City Center Hostel!

Enjoy a warm and delicious New Orleans-style meal, while listening to jazz and folk tunes from The South! San Francisco has a great history and connection to New Orleans and Her food.

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco City Center Hostel .

Join your fellow hostellers for a trip to one of San Francisco's oldest and most captivating neighborhoods: Chinatown.

Though it's only a few blocks away from our Downtown Hostel, Chinatown is another world unto itself, bustling with shops and buzzing with people. Explore hidden alleyways, sip various Chinese teas, see mysterious historic temples, and visit the famous San Francisco Fortune Cookie Factory.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels. Please sign up in advance.

Our lobby at the City Center Hostel transforms into an old fashioned movie house every week! On Friday nights, zombie-walk down to the hostel cafe for our Midnight Movie Macabre!

Check out this week's campy '70s-'90s horror flick, projected onto a 6-foot-wide screen in Ivy's Place, and pretend to shield your eyes from the cheesy gore of The Lost Boys, Scream, or Tales From the Crypt, to name a few possibilities. Even better, we'll have popcorn, cookies and soda -- all for free!

This event is open only to guests of the San Francisco City Center Hostel.

This fantastic walking tour with our wounder volunteer, Dave, is pretty fast paced so get those walking shoes ready for a historic stroll (or power walk) through San Francisco. Explore the city's most interesting hoods like downtown, nob hill and the financial district at a swift and spritely pace. 

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

Experience the Mission district like a true San Francisca local.  Stop at Zeitgeist for a beer, hit up a thrift store where close are sold by the pound, check out the murals, eat at a taqueria, see the oldest building in San Francisco (hint, it's the mission) and end up in the best local park in the city, Dolores Park.

This event is open to all guests at our three San Francisco hostels.

The Pescadero Opera Society presents its eight season of opera, food, friends, and community.  The Pescadero Opera Society brings films of professional operas to opera lovers in Pescadero. This festive event combines potluck meals and kindred spirits. The film screenings begin with a potluck and socializing from noon to 2 p.m., when the opera begins. There is typically explication, commentary, and ample opportunity for visitors to learn about each opera.

The current season, which began with "Carmen" and featured "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in January will continue with "Salome" by Strauss on Feb. 15, "La Traviata" by Verdi on March 10, "Lohengrin" by Wagner on April 9, and "Il Trittico" by Puccini on May 14.

The northern migration of the California gray whale is in effect, and one of the best places to watch is from the boardwalk behind the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Weekends March through May, California State Park volunteers set up interpretive tables at the point observation deck to help educate the public about these majestic animals.

The 2012 Point Reyes Birding and Nature Festival features four days of birding and nature related trips, talks, film screenings, kids events, and more in Point Reyes Station and the surrounding wilderness.

Most events are pretty pricey -- with birding trips and classes running $30 - $70.

But there are a handful of free and affordable ($15 and under) events on most days of the festival.

Some examples of free and affordable events throughout the festival are:

Friday: $10 talk entitled "Above and Below the Surface" about birds and marine life of the California coast. 

Saturday: Free birding pannel discussion sponsored by Citizen Science. Panelists from Audubon, Christmas Bird Count and eBird will discuss the importance of conservation science.  

Sunday: Free "Kids Birdathon" hike to identify local species and a $10 presentation on "How Birds Got Their Human Names."

If you've got a little more cash to spend, head out one of several hikes/classes: $35 for a "Butterflies at Muddy Hollow" hike, or a "Birding by the Ear" hike where you walk through various local habitats and learn to identify birds by their songs, offered throughout the festival, or a $30-$40 bird sketching or field scketching workshop held on Friday, the $70 "Wildlife Nature Photography" all-day class on Saturday, or a $60 "Birding by Kayak" adventure on Sunday.

Many events allow only a limited number of participants, so check out their schedule of events to see what's still available.

Now in its 13th year, the How Weird Street Faire, held in the heart of San Francisco's SOMA district, is ten blocks of art and celebration seeking to rewire our way of thinking towards peace by showing that it can be fun.

There will be 13 music and stage performances set through 13 city blocks! With world-class electronic music, street art, live performances, a selection of food and drinks, non-profit organizations to educate and inspire, and all the weirdness that San Francisco is famous for, this event is not to be missed. All of it is produced by local collectives and organizations working together for peace.

The fair runs from noon to 8 p.m., and after hours the party moves to several area nightclubs. Costumes are encouraged!

There is a requested donation of $10 for the How Weird Street Faire. The full donation buys a Magic Sticker that is potentially worth many times that amount, with discounts at the faire bars and after parties, as well as specials at many of the vendors.

The Golden Gate Park Band has been playing free Sunday concerts in Golden Gate Park since 1882.

Their 2012 concert season (April 22 - October 7) runs the gamut from classical to circus music, opera to Americana, plus a wide range of ethnic music. The band collaborates regularly with various San Francisco ethnic and arts groups, who bring to the park their colorful costumes, dance groups, singers, and musicians.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and enjoy one of America's oldest professional concert bands in the magnificent surroundings of Golden Gate Park.

The longest-running film festival in the Americas, the San Francisco International Film Festival has built an international reputation for bringing the world's finest films and filmmakers together with passionate and enthusiastic Bay Area audiences.

With over 200 films and live events and more than 100 filmmakers in attendance each year, it's no wonder that the festival draws a crowd of more than 80,000 viewers annually.

For a full festival line-up, check the website. The festival promises more than two weeks of exciting films, live performances, parties, and special guests.

Celebrating its 20th season, Norway Day is held in San Francisco's Fort Mason. The Norway Day Festival showcases the best of Norwegian culture, food, and music.

This two-day event offers a family-friendly atmosphere with ice skating, cooking demonstrations, local vendors selling Norwegian crafts, clothing, food, art, and much more. Try your luck in the raffle drawing, or check out the art exhibition featuring work from three Norwegian-born Bay Area artists.

Sample traditional fare such as kringle (pastry), krumkake (waffle cookies), rommegrot (sour cream porridge), while you enjoy the sounds of folk bands and choir singers, or take in a traditional Norwegian wedding!

Children will find their own brand of fun at the festival with sing-alongs, dancing, storytelling, theater performances, and games.

Grab your picnic basket and your family and come celebrate the Bay Area Latino community at San Francisco's annual Cinco de Mayo Festiva! 

Now in its 8th season, this beloved festival is held in the heart of the Mission District is Dolores Park; it brings family-friendly, alcohol-free fun through music, dance, and delicious food. The festival features nonprofit and retail booths alongside cultural arts, craft, music, dance, and food vendors.

Come celebrate Japan's national holiday honoring children in San Francisco's Japantown!

Free and open to the public, the Children's Day Festival gives kids the opportunity to learn about Children's Day traditions and Japanese culture through fun games and activities. There will be plenty of entertainment, food, and hands-on crafts.

Check out anime characters, and performances featuring Japanese classical dance, Taiko drumming, and hula dancing.

The annual Bay to Breakers 12K road race is one of many occasions San Franciscans use as an excuse to wear a costume.

Some groups run as a "centipede" — an officially registered team of 13 runners decked out with feelers and a tail in addition to whatever else they choose to wear. Tommy the pink gorilla made his debut appearance last year, joining the annual hordes of Star Wars storm troopers, all kinds of faux-furred creatures, people in every color of Afro, and plenty of others (including elite runners from around the world) competing for prize money.

Parade-style floats join runners for a section of the course, ending near the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

Naked runners used to be commonplace but the practice was banned last year (alcohol on the course was also banned). Nevertheless, there's still a group encouraging runners to "bare it" as a practice of free speech. Though clothed (mostly) and sober, we still expect it to be a wild and raucous seven-mile affair, whether you're running, walking, or watching.

The course starts near the Embarcadero, and continues up Market Street before cutting up 9th Street to Hayes, then Fell, and continuing all the way to the western edge of Golden Gate Park. Spectators line the entire course, but race organizers suggest the best places to see the runners are Alamo Square at the top of Hayes Street Hill, in front of the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park, and at the ING Cheer Zone at the Finish Line.

Once the runners have crossed the finish line, head on over to the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Golden Gate Park for Footstock (9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.), which is open to the public. Rain or shine, Footstock is your chance to enjoy live music and various costume and float contests. There will also be food and drink booths, a beer and wine garden, as well as other fun and games for your enjoyment.

San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square presents its sixth annual Uncorked! Wine Festival, a celebration of libations and gourmet food.

Tickets must be purchased in order to take part in the wine tasting -- at a steep $50 -- but you can still enjoy live music, wine seminars, and chef demonstrations at the event itself, which is free.

Carnaval San Francisco is a vibrant multi-cultural festival that combines the best of Latin American and Caribbean cultures with an array of food, music, drumming, dancing, soccer, live music, and artistry from around the world, spanning seven blocks in San Francisco's Mission District.

The Carnaval Grand Parade, held Sunday, May 27, beginning at 9:30 a.m., has in past years included Brazilian-style "escola" samba contingents dancing in fantastic feathered headdresses or sweeping Bahia skirts, Mexican Aztec performers, traditional African dancers and drummers, Polynesian dancers, and other performances from the traditions of many countries and cultures.

The Sacramento International Film Festival (SFF) offers programming and events for "film enthusiasts of all economic, cultural and educational backgrounds."

With the support of a passionate arts community, SFF aims to attract the best filmmakers, industry guests, and thousands of film enthusiasts from around the world.

A festival guide with information on all the films being shown can be found here. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Sample the bounty of California's harvests straight from local farms at the weekly Farmers Markets near the hostel, May - October.

Tuesdays, it's in Roosevelt Park, 8 blocks from the hostel.

Wednesdays, it's at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 1 block from the hostel.

Thursdays, it's on the Capitol Mall at 6th Street, 9 blocks from the hostel.

Saturday, it's on Folsom and Sunrise Blvd. 

Sunday, it's on 8th and W Street (under the freeway).

Certified Farmers Markets are an effort to re-establish the traditional link between farmers and consumers in California, by creating places where genuine farmers sell products they grow themselves directly to the public.

At these markets, farmers can offer field- and tree-ripened fruits and vegetables which are too delicate for the packing and shipping process of traditional food distribution systems. In addition, consumers are assured of obtaining only California-grown fruits and vegetables, fresh and in season, at a good price.

On the second Saturday of each month, galleries in Sacramento stay open for a Sacramento Art Walk late into the evening, allowing people to walk from gallery to gallery, viewing, experiencing, and discovering local art and meeting artists. 

While galleries all over Sacramento participate, most are clustered in two main areas: Midtown Sacramento and along Del Paso Boulevard in the Uptown Art District (the number of Downtown galleries is also growing). These areas support thriving arts communities, and the venues' close proximity, walkable streets, interesting boutiques, and many restaurants make for an enjoyable, leisurely walk.

The 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge will be a public celebration, culminating in a spectacular event on May 27 that will span the San Francisco waterfront from Fort Point to Pier 39. This two-day festival will feature many events and activities, including an amazing display of fireworks on the evening of the 27^th.  

Major program venues include Crissy Field and the Marina Green; additional activities and events will be held at the Presidio, Fort Mason Center, Ghiraradelli Square, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39.

Please Note: At the time of this writing, the hours, performers, transit information and other details surrounding this event are still being developed and will be posted here in the coming weeks.   

The 75th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge will be a public celebration, culminating in a spectacular event on May 27 that will span the San Francisco waterfront from Fort Point to Pier 39. This two-day festival will feature many events and activities, including an amazing display of fireworks on the evening of the 27^th.  

Major program venues include Crissy Field and the Marina Green; additional activities and events will be held at the Presidio, Fort Mason Center, Ghiraradelli Square, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, Fisherman's Wharf, and Pier 39.

Please Note: At the time of this writing, the hours, performers, transit information and other details surrounding this event are still being developed and will be posted here in the coming weeks.   

Head to the Bay Area Discovery Museum for their family Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the culture and folklore of Mexico through music, dance and traditional crafts. Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Carlos Moreno, established in 1967, will perform a free outdoor dance performance at 11 a.m., followed at noon by the music of Mariachi Los Cachorros.

Stop by Studio 10 and make a paper flower or a "tin" ornament as a 'recurerdo' or remembrance of the day.

All festivities are free with paid museum admission.

Once a stop on the First Transcontinental Railroad, Sacramento’s history with locomotives, train tracks, and engineers dates back nearly 150 years.

The California State Railroad Museum — one of Sacramento’s most popular tourist attractions — showcases that history, displaying 21 restored cars as well as various exhibits on all things rail-related.
And, since trains are much more fun to ride than look at, they offer seasonal steam train rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad line on weekends, April through September.

The six-mile, 40-minute trip runs along the levees of the Sacramento River while you take in the sights, sounds, and smells of old-fashioned train travel. Take a seat in either a vintage closed coach, an open-air gondola car, or a restored 1920s first-class observation car.

Trains depart hourly from the Central Pacific Railroad Freight Depot in Old Sacramento from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Depot is seven blocks from the museum itself, and train tickets are separate from the museum admission price ($9 admission for adults / $4 for kids ages 6-17). You don't need to visit the museum to ride the trains!

Coach and gondola seats on the train are $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 6-17 (kids under 5 are free). First-class seats on the El Dorado car cost $15 per person. Train tickets are sold at the Depot, or online.

This summer, Cesar Chavez Plaza becomes the hottest Friday night music venue in Sacramento!

The Friday Night Concerts in the Park series runs from May to July, showcasing local artists in a range of genres including rock, pop, punk, blues, and folk. Acts vary by week -- the concert lineup as well as links to listen to upcoming artists is available online.

Music addicts and happy-hour junkies flock to these all-ages shows to enjoy live music, fresh air, good food, and the famous beer garden.

Families throughout Northern California are invited to experience one of the most festive family cultural events in California. In honor of it's 21st year, this multi-ethnic event will celebrate more than 21 Latino cultures all in one place, at one time, for one fun-filled day.  Featured countries include Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Festival attendees can tempt their taste buds with more than 21 food vendors featuring Latin flavors and savory dishes; enjoy 21 performing arts group; meet 21 artists and artisans and shop more than 21 merchants offering authentic Latin-American merchandise.

In addition, festival-goers can preview gallery style art exhibits, check out colorful crafts or create their own crafts; shop at the open-air Mercado; tap their toes and sway to the beats of genuine Latin music; learn certain types of dance; peruse educational exhibits where they'll learn about Latin heritage; and visit a number of community outreach booths. If it's Latino, it's here.

On April 28, 1992, the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International opened the Hostel at Union Square. With 280 beds and a five-star downtown location, it quickly became the busiest hostel in America.

Twenty years later, more than a million guests have passed through the doors. Now known as the San Francisco Downtown Hostel, it's no longer the nation's biggest hostel, but it's a classic favorite of travelers from around the world.

On Saturday, May 19, we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Downtown Hostel with a free birthday bash! A local DJ will dish up the beats, while guests get their party-pics on in the free photobooth. Showcase rooms for be open for viewing, and a selection of adult and all-ages beverages will be served. Out front, a local food truck will serve up treats, with cafe-style sidewalk seating connecting the indoor hostel space and the surrounding neighborhood.

Members, friends, and guests at all three HI-San Francisco hostels are welcome to join the celebration and raise a glass to another 20 years!

Come show your support for Community Walls this spring and see the wonderful outcome of our partnership with the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club (Excelsior District) and the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. We have two art receptions planned in May to showcase the amazing work of our young artists, and to celebrate the themes they chose to explore. 

As artistic programs become more and more scarce, Community Walls provides an opportunity for youth to expand their knowledge about their communities and gain new artistic skills through specialized projects that culminate with a final mural project.

The 4th and 5th grade students from the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy have gone on a field trip to Corona Heights Park to gather ideas for their painting. Their mural is a large-scale mixed-media collage, and their reception will be held on Wednesday, May 16, at 4:00 p.m. at the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel.

The children of the Excelsior Boys and Girls Club also went on a field trip to McLaren Park where they did a nature scavenger hunt and collected natural materials (twigs, bark, leaves, etc.) to make collage self-portraits. The themes in these paintings revolve around nature in the urban environment and city parks. Their reception will be held on Thursday, May 17, at 4:00 p.m. at the Fisherman's Wharf Hostel.
 
Snacks will be served at both receptions. Hostellers and members of the community are always invited!

Come learn about volunteer opportunities while traveling, and join us after for a pub crawl!  The City Center Hostel's Ivy's Cafe will host a presentation and discussion led by Roadmonkey founder, Paul von Zielbauer. Paul is an award-winning journalist, social entrepreneur, and pioneer of "adventure philanthropy." (Please Note: RSVP is required for this free event, email Erinne Grant for more information).

Roadmonkey is a travel organization that creates thoughtful, small-group expeditions to Southeast Asia, East Africa, Central and South America, North America and Hawaii. Their trips combine challenging adventures in nature with sustainable short-term volunteer work, produced in cooperation with a non-profit partner, to create sustainable change for communities in need. Roadmonkey is all about inspiring the explorer to make the world a little bit better through "adventure philanthropy" -- which is an meaningful way to see the world, and make a small change while doing it.

After Paul's presentation, join in the discussion and have some fun with locals and travelers on our weekly pub crawl on Polk Street! It's the Thursday crawl that we will be repeating on Friday night, specially for this event. We will tour five of the best bars along Polk Street, all near our City Center and Downtown hostels. It will be a fun night! 

The San Francisco International Arts Festival celebrates the arts through an annual gathering that brings together a global community of artists and audiences. The organization presents and produces innovative projects that are focused on increasing human awareness, understanding and appreciation. They develop long-term relationships with Bay Area artists participating in international collaborative projects and also present ground-breaking artists from around the world, many of whom have rarely or never previously performed in the United States.

This year's festival will include a variety of unique and exciting artistic performances and collaborations, such as San Francisco's own Post Ballet, the stilt-walking Tearto Taller from Colombia, Cuba's AfroCuba dance ensemble, Raices Profundas, Russia's avant-garde theater troupe, Liquid Theater, and more. 

The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style competition, and it is the largest bicycling event in the nation. It includes eight stages and visits 14 California cities from May 13 - 20.

Stage 2 of the 2012 Amgen bike race starts at the Marina Green, just around the corner from the San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel. It will begin at 11:05 am against a backdrop of spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Marin Headlands.

From there, the race continues south along the Highway 1, California's scenic coastal route. The cyclists will pass the Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel before heading inland to Santa Cruz County for the finish line.

For Stage 2 cyclists are expected to arrive in Santa Cruz around 3:55 pm. At the finish line, there will be a free Lifestyle Festival with family-friendly activities, demonstrations, and cycling displays.

Pescadero Grown! is Pescadero's only farmer's market. Running May through November on Thursday evenings, this market brings fresh and local produce to the tiny town of Pescadero. The farms and ranches that provide goods at market are all within striking distance of Pescadero and La Honda -- from Tunitas Creek Road to the San Mateo County line and over to Skyline Drive.

This year's farmers market will feature an abundance of leafy vegetables, beans, meat, chicken, cheese, and fish, as well as cupcakes and fudge. As summer blooms, so too will the seasonal fruit selection! So bring a reusable bag and stock up on the freshest groceries to bring back to the hostel. 

On Memorial Day, Point Reyes National Seashore remembers and honors the surfmen who protected America's coast. Join the Park Service and the United States Coast Guard for services at the historic Lifesaving Cemetery at 2 p.m.

Following the ceremony, there's an open house at the Point Reyes Lifesaving Service Boathouse Station from 4 - 5 p.m.

Enjoy good music, good food, and good friends every Friday night from June 3 through August 26 at Sausalito Jazz and Blues by the Bay.

Breathtaking views of Angel Island and San Francisco are the backdrop to this weekly musical celebration.

Refreshments are available for purchase from local nonprofits, or bring your own picnic and soak up the Bay-side summer delights.

The Angel Island Company in Angel Island State Park has partnered with Lagunitas Brewing Co. and Hog Island Oyster Co. to present this series of summer weekend live music performances on the deck at the Cove Cantina, overlooking Ayala Cove near the island's ferry dock.

Saturdays and Sundays, the music is free, the beer is cold, and the oysters are fresh and delicious!

While you're there, explore the park, the former U.S. Immigration Station, and other historical sites on foot, by bike ($10/hour or $35/day rental), by shuttle ($5) or by tram ($13.50). There's plenty of hiking on the island, in addition to several secluded beaches.

At the Immigration Station, take a self-guided tour (daily) or opt for the guided experience ($7, offered Wednesdays - Sundays), and imagine what it was like for the many immigrants who were once detained here en route to California.

There's no direct ferry service from Sausalito to Angel Island -- drive out to Tiburon and take the Angel Island Tiburon Ferry from there ($13.50 round trip for adults), or get take the ferry (or drive) from Sausalito to San Francisco and catch the Blue and Gold Fleet boat from either Pier 41 or the SF Ferry Building ($16 round trip for adults).

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Point Reyes National Seashore with 150 miles of public trails! The Point Reyes National Seashore Association and the National Park Service invite you to join the inaugural Point Reyes Trails Challenge, a self-paced exploration of our amazing park. The Point Reyes National Seashore Trails Festival will kick off the Point Reyes Trails Challenge, a five-moth long fundraiser for the Point Reyes Trails Tust.

So dust off your hiking boots and get ready to join the Point Reyes National Seashore Association on National Trails Day. The festival will include programs, music and food. Kick off your challenge by hiking, taking part in mini classes, visiting info booths or volunteering on a trail maintenance project in the morning. Or join the 50th anniversary celebration in the afternoon!

Come celebrate with the vibrant West Marin community at the 37th Annual Silent Auction and BBQ for the Dance Palace! The Silent Auction is a major fundraiser for the Dance Palace, a member supported non-profit community center that provides a wide variety of educational, recreational, cultural and community services. 

The silent auction will be followed by a blues and BBQ reception! Danny Click and the Hell Yeahs will play music on the Dance Palace front lawn from noon to 4PM. The BBQ will consist of raw oysters and sausages, with beer, wine, and soft drinks on sale to benefit the Dance Palace!

The National Queer Arts Festival (NQAF) is a month-long festival of music, dance, visual art, spoken word, poetry, comedy, theater, and film celebrating San Francisco's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities.

Now in its 15th year, NQAF features more than 400 artists in 70 events, and over 100 performances in 18 venues throughout the city.

A full schedule of events for the month can be found on the Queer Cultural Center website.

Now in its 35th year, the Union Street Festival is one of San Francisco's largest free art festivals, and is held on fashionable Union Street, where historic Victorians have been transformed into popular boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.

This family-friendly event features 150 artists and craftspeople, 25 gourmet food booths, live entertainment on two stages, and bistro-style cafes. Additionally, the festival has adopted an eco-friendly theme, showcased by exhibits of arts and crafts created with recycled and sustainable materials, and earth-conscious exhibits to help promote the value of "green thinking" in day-to-day life.

The Sacramento River Cats are the minor-league affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They play at Raley Field, just across the Tower Bridge from downtown Sacramento.

Most Fridays throughout the season, team sponsor Toyota presents $1 hotdog and dessert nights -- and since tickets run as low as $7, you really can't go wrong!

Bring a blanket, buy a hot dog, and enjoy a classic American evening.

There are many other great home game promotions on special nights, such as Father's Day and the 4th of July. Check their website for more information.