Welcome to Summer 2023!

GROUP PUBLISHER Welcome to the summer issue of Local Getaways ! As the temperature rises and the days get longer, it’s time to start planning your summer escape. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing staycation, an adventurous road trip or a bit of both, we have you covered.

In this issue, we’re excited to bring you the Ultimate Guide to Sacramento. I took my own road trip there recently for work and couldn’t believe how beautiful the city is (it’s been a while since I was downtown). Conor Villines shares some of the city’s hidden gems, from historic landmarks to trendy eateries — sadly, he didn’t include my brother’s restaurant outside of Sac in Roseville called Range Kitchen + Tap (shameless plug, but so good). Kasia Pawlowska gives you some handy travel hacks in Field Notes, and one of my favorite features (I’m not sure I should pick favorites, but…) by Patsee Ober is a beautiful and important piece on the Laguna tidepools. The images are spectacular and the story behind them is amazing — particularly the one that Patsee can tell for years to come, about the octopus who literally stole her camera from her hands.

We also present our Getties (best of’s) for the Monterey Peninsula and share our editors’ favorite places to stay, places to eat and things to do along with our readers’ choice for their favorites.

Whether you’re planning a quick weekend getaway or a longer road trip, we hope this issue inspires you to explore the beauty and diversity of California. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for on these pages, visit us at localgetaways.com/california for so much more.

Let us know if you have ideas, comments or just want to say hi — we love hearing from you!

Nikki C. Nikki@localgetaways.com

If you are old enough to remember Shirley Temple’s world wide quest for happiness, in the movie Blue Bird, you’ll remember the ending, where she found the chirping azul toned avian right in her own backyard. For some reason, I think of this movie often, especially in my role as editorial director for Local Getaways, because time and time again my mind is blown by discoveries, right here in California. This issue is no exception. I hope you enjoy Patsee Ober’s underwater tour of the tidepools in Laguna Beach’s Marine Protected Area, a thriving undersea universe of dancing rose nudibranchs and cheeky octopi. I had the fortune of stand up paddling there with friends who convinced me to head out to a distant buoy. Once we got there we noticed a few common dolphins approaching us, leaping into the air, then suddenly the few became hundreds. They were passing right by us in a behavior known as “porpoising,” which allows these graceful creatures to travel at their fastest speed — I was terrified. Could they see us standing on our boards? They were coming at us so quickly, there was no wiggle room. I couldn’t jump off my board, that would have been worse. And more importantly, what were they running away from? Luckily, my friends had experienced this dolphin stampede (official name) before, and so I tried to just relax and soak in the amazing moment. California is not only famous for its natural beauty, flora and fauna, but as a top world wide destination there is much to explore, we hope you find some inspiration in this issue to get out and find your own blue bird, and here in California, it’s likely to be a male blue grosbeak, or Steller’s Jay.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Mimi

What do you enjoy most about the summer season?

The awakening of our vibrant artistic community, early morning ocean swims before the Sawdust Festival opens, picnics in the evening with music and friends. Join me at the Sawdust Festival June 30-Sept 3, Studio 521.