Jaunted

Where to Stay

The Carneros Inn: For winos, there's no greater U.S. destination than Napa, and if you want the decadent experience in full, The Carneros Inn is our resort of choice. Their guest cottages are ridiculously comfortable and have private outdoor decks, making the accommodations that much more intimate and lavish. Our prediction is that you'll spend most of your time by the pool, which would be far from tragic. (4048 Sonoma Highway, Napa)

Where to Drink

Rye: Rye is a nondescript bar in a semi-questionable neighborhood dubbed the "Tender Nob" (where the Tenderloin meets Nob Hill), but it's not too far from Union Square. It's less tourist-saturated than too-trendy hotel bars, and has one of the best basil gimlets we've ever tasted. The drinks are the stars, and they're why we return time and again. (688 Geary Street, San Francisco)

Where to Shop

Park Life: Park Life is an awesome art gallery and store worth seeking out, especially if you need a breather from the crush and rush of high end designer retail in Union Square. It's one of the best places to go gift shopping in the city, as they sell cool, hard-to-find art DVDs, quirky home decor, and rare design items that you sure as hell won't find at Urban Outfitters. (220 Clement Street, San Francisco)

Where to Eat

Riva Cucina: Sure, Berkeley is Alice Waters' turf, and there's no disputing that Chez Panisse is the Alpha-Omega of Bay Area dining experiences. But there are plenty of other stellar restaurants where reservations come a little easier, and the food is just as impressive. Riva Cucina is one of those places, tucked away in a quiet corner of Berkeley and serving a Tagliolini Al Pesce—squid ink pasta—that we're still salivating over. Sound strange? Don't knock it 'till you try it, and be sure to get the Panna Cotta, too. (800 Heinz Avenue, Berkeley)

What to Do

California Academy of Sciences: Trust us, the Academy of Sciences isn't just a field trip destination for school kids. The newly revamped museum holds an impressive aquarium, planetarium, and four-story rainforest within its walls, and it's just as enjoyable for adults as it is for younger visitors. It's true, Jaunted readers, science can be fun.

Related Stories
· California Academy of Sciences [Official Site]
· San Francisco [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Carneros Inn]