Whether it’s for a school friend trip, family reunion, or group outing for your sports team or church group, the San Francisco Bay Area offers many great weekend retreat destinations that are a short drive away from the city. Since the task of choosing from the many options near San Francisco can get too daunting, we have compiled a list of the top 5 group retreat destinations in the SF Bay area. Moreover, your group can also book a private charter bus rental out of San Francisco to ensure that everyone arrives safely, no one gets lost, and everyone can enjoy the sites along the way.
1. Yountville
If you are looking for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city, head to Yountville which is a quiet country spot where one can rest their mind, body and soul amidst the landscapes and sounds made by geese, pheasants and coyotes in the hills. With wineries surrounding you on all sides, you must go on a wine tasting tour in one of them! A great accommodation option is the Bardessono which is an eco-friendly romantic getaway with organic everything and massage tables!
2. Nick’s Cove
If you are seeking for some coastal solace, head to Nick’s Cove which is located in Tomales Bay on the Pacific Coast. There are many options to choose from when it comes to accommodations with each offering warm hospitality,stunning rooms and breathtaking views. Head to Nick’s Cove Restaurant and Oyster Bar for a hearty meal of seafood and cocktails! There are many exciting things to be done at Tomales bay ranging from kayaking and fishing to hiking and biking!
3. Costanoa
Only a 90 minute ride from the main city, Costanoa is essentially an eco-adventure resort with a focus on healing, wellness, and rest. It is located in proximity to pretty beaches, trekking trails and Coast Highway 1. You can choose from a wide range of accommodations starting from comfortable canvas tents to fancy cabins. What is guaranteed is excellent hospitality and stunning views irrespective of where you crash. Make sure you get a deep tissue massage during your time in Costanoa from The Spa at Costanoa a delicious breakfast of pancakes and a unique seafood omelette from Cascade Bar & Grill.
4. Camp Navarro
Think of corporate retreats in Northern California and Navarro’s image will stir up in your head. It is one of the most popular corporate retreat venues where many offices from Silicon Valley such as Google and Microsoft have visited before. Apart from the aesthetics, the experience here is equally impactful which makes it highly recommended. Whether you are seeking a fun time or an official meeting setup, you can find it all here! Accommodations here are varied, ranging from teepees and tents to deluxe cabins and more. The food here is excellent and there is no reason why you shouldn’t visit Navarro on your next retreat!
5. The New Children’s Museum
It is located in the heart of downtown San Diego and this 50,000 square foot modern structure is an ideal location for anything that you are planning. Whether it is a corporate event, a college reunion or children’s birthday party; this venue is a one-size-fit-all and we can assure you of how beautifully it fits! You have the option to book the entire museum for your event or choose from either of their 3 venue spaces and 4 meeting rooms. Accommodation is also offered here making it one of the most wanted retreat destinations in the Bay Area.
These 5 destinations that have been mentioned above are a miniscule percentage of the many spectacular retreat locations that one can find in the San Francisco Bay Area! Plan a trip to either of these and embark on a memorable journey with your loved ones!
Just about every adventure enthusiast is well versed with the common and popular adventure sports like rock climbing, surfing, bungee jumping etc. Not many would have heard about the unusual and extreme adventure sports like sea stack climbing, volcano boarding etc. There are so many interesting adventurous activities around the world which offer numerous opportunities to enjoy the unique experiences offered by them. These activities aren’t as popular as the regular ones, but anybody who tries them out is surely going to enjoy it more than the other usual adventure sports.
Several such activities are waiting to get explored by every adventure enthusiast. Out of all, here’s a list of some unique adventure sports which are sure to get your adrenaline pumping.
Volcano Boarding
Leon city in Nicaragua offers the best volcanic boarding experience. For this, first the participants have to hike up the volcano, which takes about 45-50 minutes. The activity is carried out with the help of wooden boards. After reaching the top, you can either sit on the wooden board and slide down, similar to sledding, or you can stand on it and slide down, which is like surfing. It sure does sound exciting and fun, but it is equally dangerous as well. The wooden sled which the participants use has a rope in the front for support while sliding down and also to control the direction in which the sled is going. You can easily control the speed of the sled by putting your foot down. Protective gear is a must as the volcanic rocks are very sharp and can easily wound anybody.
Flyboarding
Goa is the most exotic place with numerous options for experiencing the best water sports. Flyboarding is one such sport which is sure to get your heartbeat racing and your adrenaline pumping. This sport was recently introduced in Baina Beach in Goa and since the time it has opened, it has become quite a rage with the tourists. As part of this activity, you will be sent up to 15 metres up in the air. It basically works as a combination of a jetpack and jet ski where the jetpack sends a jet ski attached to it flying up. It makes for a thrilling and a very unique sport.
Sea Stack Climbing
Balls Pyramid is the highest volcanic sea stack in Australia and the climb here is extremely hard and not for the faint-hearted. It was actually formed from the remains of a shield volcano. It is located near Lord Howe Island and starts tall with razor-sharp ridges. When you start sea stacking and begin your climb, you can find many beautiful seabirds flying and circling around you. The first team to climb this magnificent sea stack was lead by Bryden Allen. Sadly, seastacking here has been restricted now, but if you can get access to the permit, sea stack climbing here makes for one of the most glorious adventures.
Wing Walking
Wing Walking was first introduced by wartime pilots who wanted to find a way to satisfy their adventure seeking heart. Once introduced, it started becoming popular among all pilots who would perform this stunt to impress the onlookers. Soon, this concept was adopted by many private agencies who started providing this experience to everyone, and now it has become available in almost every part of the world. Anybody who enjoys the thrill of being at a height can have an amazing experience but for those who have a phobia of heights, it’s best left unattempted!
Downhill Mountain Biking
This sport is carried out with the help of full suspension bikes which are designed in such a way that they can float easily over rocks and the many tree roots which come on the way. Downhill mountain biking involves the bikers racing downhill in extreme speeds, overcoming every obstacle which crosses their path. Death Road is the most popular and adventurous spot for downhill mountain biking. It is located in Bolivia. As the name suggests this is a very dangerous track and it is advisable that only the highly experienced downhill mountain bikers try this out. For beginners, Whistler Bike Park in Canada is a safer option.
Freshwater Cave Diving
Almost everyone must have heard and even tried scuba diving. Many feel that scuba diving is itself an extreme sport, so imagine going into the deep sea and exploring a cave system which is completely submerged under the sea. This next-level experience is sure to get your pulse racing as it holds many unexplored experiences. The area with the world’s largest number of sinkholes is the Yucatan Peninsula, which is located in Mexico, is the best for trying freshwater cave diving.
So, take a break from the usual adventure sports and add the aforesaid adventure sports to your bucket list for that extra thrill next time!
People are visiting Germany in record numbers, and this beautiful country remains one of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations for nearly a decade now, according to one 2018 report. The atmosphere, culture, and historical sites all draw visitors, but one attraction that likely makes Germany so popular with tourists is the food. If you plan to visit Germany in the near future, there are few unique dishes to experience that can take your palate far beyond the ordinary.
1. Frittatensuppe
This is a meal that originated in Austria but is popular throughout the country. It is not a complicated dish yet it is quite hardy and filling. Frittatensuppe consists of a beef stock base, which is then topped with strips of pancake. This is usually a starter dish that you can find at many restaurants. Some chefs may add in other ingredients, such as chives.
2. Kalbsgulasch
Germans love their meat, so this Hungarian recipe is a favorite with locals and tourists alike. Veal, or “calf meat,” is combined with a meat-based gravy-and-mushroom mixture. It is almost always served with some type of wide savory pasta as well. This is an entrée that is likely to fill you up and is a good choice as long as you do not have plans to do any major walking tours directly after.
3. Döner
If you are looking for a bite to eat on the go, then head to your nearest döner stand. These can be found all over Berlin and are almost as common as burrito stands are in Mexico. The meat, which is prepared kebab style, is served on panini or crusty bread along with tomatoes, lettuce, and a dill-like sauce. These delicious portable sandwiches are also usually quite inexpensive, costing around $5.00 USD.
4. Apfelkuchen
Some of the best places to eat in Germany have this dessert available on their menus, and the description alone will probably be enough to make your mouth water. German bakers soak apples in a mixture of cinnamon, brown sugar, and lemon juice, then prepare a buttery crust. Once the crust is complete, raisins are added to the apples, then the entire pastry is baked. While Germany is well-known for its amazing chocolate, this dessert will not leave you disappointed.
5. Beers
When you think of Germany, you might think of beer. After all, there are dozens of different brews that originated there, and planning a beer tour can add even more adventure to your gastro-tour of this wonderful country. Rent an affordable vehicle from CarRentals.com, choose a designated driver, and you are on your way.
If you favor beer over wine, there are several different brews to sample. In Berlin, you can try the trademark Berliner Pilsner, which is a light, easy-drinking beer. If you want something with lots of flavor, try Radler, which is beer combined with carbonated lemonade. Berliner Kindl Weisse, which is beer combined with raspberry syrup, can help satisfy your sweet tooth and your craving for alcohol.
Germany is a cavalcade of tastes that can suit almost every palate. Do not be afraid to try new foods during your visit, as the experiencing the unknown can make memories that will last a lifetime.
Having an internet connection seems like less and less an option and more and more a necessity for many people. Some require it for work, some for entertainment, movies, music, or games, others for connecting to banks, or paying bills, or sending emails. Having internet available all the time is pretty simple for most people. If you have service connected to your house or apartment, you are set.
Out of the house? Your workplace has a network with internet connectivity, and maybe a WiFi system. Your cell phone likely can reach the internet, and many businesses offer free WiFi. But not everyone wants to stay at home, or even in their own town. They want to travel. For those who travel in RVs, it feels a lot like home and they’d like the same conveniences, including the internet. So what are their options?
Park/Campground WiFi
The most obvious is to park your RV at a campground or an RV park that offers WiFi, either free or for an additional fee. For casual users this can work out quite well. Just need to check your email or your bank balance? Connect and your set. But your space might not be close enough to the access point, or there might be something blocking it. Still, you carry your device to a point where you can connect, do your business, and head back. If you want more convenience, purchase a WiFi booster to get better signal. It won’t help in every situation, but it will give you better signal than you would get without it.
For users with higher requirements this might not be enough. If you use your internet connection for work you might need enough throughput to do video conferencing or large data transfers to support your website. The park WiFi is shared between all the users and that can limit the bandwidth available. Worse yet, the owners may decide to throttle or otherwise limit users so everyone has some bandwidth and no one can use too much. This can make it unusable for your work. If you have high data consumption and rely on access to work you should not rely solely on this.
Public Access WiFi
Instead of using the park provided WiFi you could use another company’s access. Some fast food restaurants offer free WiFi, as do many coffee shops, bars, and libraries. These can provide more service than a park as there are typically less users on them at once. But many businesses expect this access to be used by customers, so it is wise to make purchases while using it, making you a customer.
A rule of thumb for coffee shops is to make one purchase an hour, and some even offer discounts on refills. Still, this can become a bit expensive. Libraries are usually free, although they may require a library card which might have a fee for a non-resident. Libraries can have more users so they may have limits on access. Of course, a basic limitation on all of these is business hours. Once the business closes you won’t be able to stay.
These are great options if you are working while traveling. This is also a good time to turn your travels into money. You can take pictures to sell to other travel sites or artist. You could start a blog and build an audience so that you can make money.
Satellite
For access that you never have to leave your RV to use you can connect directly to a satellite. While this option has some drawbacks, it has one major advantage. All other access depends on someone else providing an access point close enough to where you are at for you to connect. Satellite internet can be accessed in practically any location with a view to the southern sky (in the northern hemisphere). Point your dish at the correct part of the sky and you should be able to connect to the internet through the orbiting satellite.
One drawback to this is the sheer distance to reach that geosynchronous orbit. This creates latency (or lag) in your connection. Gamers recognize this is a severe problem with their programs, as will anyone using video conferencing, but many users will never notice it. Another problem is expense. The dish can be expensive, and the service itself costs more than most other paid alternatives, with somewhat slower speeds and lower data caps.
Cellular Tether/Hotspot
As many people know, their cell phones can connect to the internet both through WiFi and by using their cellular data plan. While WiFi usually isn’t regulated on the phone, the data plan is. Even unlimited plans have caps where new rules apply, such as throttling or data management. But, using a cell phone to access the internet from an RV can not only give you internet on the phone, but also share that access through USB tethering, connecting to another device using a USB cable, or by creating a mobile hotspot, a WiFi access point based out of your phone. Some providers or plans charge extra for these services, or have a separate cap on their data usage, so check to see what your limits are.
To make it even more useful, consider investing in a booster that will let you connect to a cell tower at a greater distance and increase your data speed at whatever distance you connect. Another upgrade is a means of sharing that connection with multiple devices by plugging the phone into a router or laptop.
Dedicated Hotspot
To free up your cell phone from the duty of providing access you can get a hotspot device that only connects to your cell service and provides a mobile WiFi hotspot. You can still benefit from cell boosters to get better signal or a router to handle more devices, so consider what your needs are before settling on a single device.
You may have noticed that these different options can be combined to provide alternatives if one doesn’t work out in a particular location or situation. Your best option will always be enough different choices to be sure you have the access you require. If your needs are modest, two inexpensive options can fulfill them. If you rely on the internet for your livelihood and need guaranteed access at all hours having many options with enhancements for each will give you the greatest peace of mind. Balance your needs and your budget and choose what is best for you.
If you’re a wildlife lover, it makes sense to want to travel somewhere full of opportunity to spot some of the biggest, most majestic and exciting animals out there. With that being said, here are five destinations all wildlife lovers should visit.
South Africa
A safari is indisputably one of the best travel experiences to see an abundance of animals in their natural habitats, and South Africa is one of the best places for it.
Kruger National Park has an abundance of opportunities to spot beautiful animals in the wild – perfect for first timers, as well as those travelling on a budget, it’s here that you’ll get to see the Big Five for yourself. Lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalo can all be found in Kruger’s five million acres.
Whether you want to live in luxury during your stay or instead try something more exhilarating, gorgeous lodges and camping safaris are both available in South Africa alongside many more options.
Borneo
Although it’s under constant threat of deforestation, effectively putting the lives of hundreds of species at risk, Borneo’s rainforest is a luscious, thriving wonderland full of thousands of beautiful animals from the Bornean orangutan all the way through to the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros.
Visiting this severely underrated and highly threatened part of the world will certainly allow you to tick an abundance of animals off your bucket list. There’s some lodges and other accommodation choices here to allow you to be in the heart of it all – come quick before the effects of nearby plantations and farming devastate the rainforest further.
Galapagos Islands
People who visit the Galapagos Islands often say it’s the experience of a lifetime. One of the most famous destinations in the world for wildlife, this archipelago boasts over ten islands, all of which offering very unique natural features as well as an incredible amount of beautiful, curious, intriguing animals.
From the iconic Galapagos tortoises to flocking penguins, from soaring albatross to majestic sea lions basking on one of the islands’ shores, the Galapagos are a fulfilling and almost overwhelmingly exciting destination for any animal lover. Add to that some of the most gorgeous natural scenery in the world, and it’s a true place of wonder.
Mauritius
Want to try a spot of diving? Head to Mauritius – not only is this island known for its paradisiacal beaches, crystal clear waters and luxurious accommodation, but there’s a thriving world beneath the surface that deserves your attention.
Winning the World Travel Awards’ best Indian Ocean diving destination a record five times, Mauritius certainly has a reputation to live up to. Visit for yourself and it’ll do just that.
Not only are there nearly 500 marine species and 200 coral species underneath the surface to discover, but the volcanic activity upon the island has led to a number of incredible natural underwater features such as caves, tunnels and even a “cathedral” – a majestic cavernous section on the western side of Mauritius.
Sri Lanka
Many people flock to Thailand in pursuit of up-close experiences with elephants, but Sri Lanka is arguably actually the best place to see the beautiful creatures. With thousands of them thriving in the wild, opportunities to see elephants in Sri Lanka aren’t exactly scarce – visit some of the country’s sprawling national parks to see them roaming the plains.
It’s an alternative to an African safari, and Sri Lanka is a great choice if you’re looking for something a bit more lowkey from your wildlife getaway.