Todd Gilens

Celebrate the sound of music at the Art and Soul Festival. Put your dancing shoes on for two days of the best jazz, rock, gospel, Latin, R&B, acoustic and blues performed by national artists and local superstars. Sample exotic foods, view great art and be sure to bring the kids to enjoy carnival rides, face painting, hands-on art projects and more!

Tree huggers love spending time outdoors at Redwood Regional Park. Oakland's hidden redwood forest is the perfect 1,829-acre park to hug a really big tree. The park scurries with deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels sharing their home with joggers, hikers, bikers, and mild-mannered walkers. Overnight reservations welcome, so campers pack your gear!

Ain't life Grand! Discover the coal baron Dunsmuir family, their gracious home and elegant lifestyle at Dunsmuir-Hellman Historic Estate. This attraction allows you to step inside a Neoclassical Revival mansion with 37 rooms standing on a 55-acre estate. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride across lush gardens, around a scenic pond and stop at the Carriage House Crafters for some tea and the Dunsmuir Gift Shop for unique mementos.

Late night beer connoisseurs know The Trappist is the place to pour into. The 1870s Victorian-style indie bar and nightlife oasis keeps a rotating stock of approximately 100 Belgian, Dutch, Scandinavian and American craft brews on tap. The beers are served up properly at the right temperature and in the right glass by knowledgeable and friendly bartenders.