Erika Mailman

All across San Francisco, amazing restaurants beckon. In every neighborhood, small eateries abound, while larger places dotted over the city expertly handle crowds. Because of California’s orchards, farms and seacoast, a variety of ultrafresh ingredients find their way to menus and to your plate. Besides the 28 restaurants that have earned Michelin stars, a larger number do their magic of making diners appreciate the three times a day that we pause to fuel our bodies and delight our senses. Dishes can be plated so beautifully that “the camera eats first,” or they can be served no-nonsense–style to diners who ply their forks immediately. This list includes restaurants we’ve tried all across the city and of varied cuisines: American, Mediterranean, vegetarian, Italian, Indian, seafood, French, Argentinian and Chinese, among others. As for your culinary journey across San Francisco: Try new places, continue to patronize your favorites and incorporate restaurant visits into your weekly routine, if you can. By supporting our hardworking chefs and servers, we’ll ensure that they continue to thrive and keep making San Francisco a foodie’s paradise. April 2025: Time Out has reformatted its food and beverage features, so we’re starting our once-lengthy San Francisco list over afresh with 11 spots. We’re now also assigning star ratings to every venue: three stars corresponds to “good,” four to “great” and five to “amazing.” For more on our new policies, feel free to check out How we re

San Francisco’s museums reward people who like to spend time looking at art or historical objects. We have several world-class art museums and some fun collections that show how life used to be in the area before the Gold Rush brought the population up explosively. But if you’re willing to do a deep dive, you’ll find even more museums that pinpoint fascinating and specific topics. For instance, we have one of only two museums devoted to Walt Disney the man (the other is in his hometown of Marceline, Missouri). Our Cable Car Museum lets you actually see the huge circulating mechanisms that drive the cable cars. Right by the waterfront, the Musée Mécanique has a warehouse full of turn of the century dioramas, which you can animate by feeding them a quarter, while the Cartoon Art Museum, the Beat Museum and the Wells Fargo Museum each provide an insider’s look at a microtopic. Want to get hands-on and feel your way through some science? There are several places to do that, including the Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park and the Exploratorium along the Embarcadero. Here’s our list of the very best museums in San Francisco. Prices given below are for general admission; special exhibitions usually involve a separate upcharge. Many are free or discounted for San Francisco residents, and many have monthly free days or pay-what-you-can days. We totally recommend looking into NARM membership; some of these sites belong. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🍽️ The

San Francisco’s a city other cities wish they could be more like. With a small footprint and a profusion of different neighborhoods with their own identities—if you mention Chinatown, the Mission or Nob Hill, people instantly understand the vibe you’re referencing—San Francisco makes it all work with an overall identity of being free spirited, fun and curious. Our mostly sunny and cool weather—plus some very atomspheric summer fog—lets us be outside throughout much of the year, enjoying urban rambles over those steep hills and hiking trails by the seaside. (Hot tip: San Francisco’s winter weather can sometimes be warmer than its notoriously cool summers.) The dining scene ensures you’ll be constantly surprised by the goodness on your plate, with food trucks, mom-and-pop restaurants and neighborhood favorites and a surprising 28 Michelin starred restaurants across our 47 square miles. Have a fondness for architecture? You’ll love the iconic Victorians throughout the city (and the famous Painted Ladies at Alamo Square) plus some more modern buildings with instant recognizability in the city skyline, like the Transamerica Pyramid and Coit Tower. Admire the Golden Gate Bridge—and then walk or ride your bike across it. Visit the famous prison island Alcatraz or neighboring Angel Island; the ferry ride provides a beautiful chance to see the bay waters close up. Linger in one of our world-class museums then ride the cable car—and make it all mellow with a special glass of something

Often, a train takes you where the freeway doesn’t, giving you spectacular views you can’t see otherwise. You roll through the countryside where herds of elk graze or go through back regions of national parks with a vantage point all your own. While the train lets you doze off, read a book or scroll your phone (so long as Wi-Fi works) because someone else is at the wheel, odds are you’ll instead be glued to the window, unwilling to miss a single picturesque thing that floats by. But not all trains are created equal. While some traverse uninteresting corridors, others earn the title of a “scenic” railway. We’re most interested in those, and the chance to make the journey just as enjoyable as the destination...or maybe the train ride really is the destination. That’s especially the case with trains that focus on luxury. Here’s our list of the most scenic train rides across the United States. (Unless otherwise stated, prices below are for one-way travel).

Zoos provide an amazing chance to connect with wildlife and develop empathy. Who can’t be moved to protect wildlife after watching newborn lemurs energetically play with each other? Or after seeing the placid stare of a tiger or pop-up nature of the prairie dogs? Zoos let us see animals that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to see without traveling across the world, and most zoos do their best to provide habitats that give animals humane treatment and a safe place to roam with as much space as possible. Often, the funds raised by zoos can pay for captive breeding programs that protect endangered species. There are even some species that are extinct in the wild but still living within zoos, such as the Przewalski's horse (can be found in the San Francisco Zoo, among others), Père David's deer (can be found in the Bronx Zoo and others) and the Guam kingfisher (can be found in the St. Louis Zoo and others). Here are the best zoos in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: ⛰️ The best outdoor adventures in the U.S.🌍 The best camping in the U.S.

San Francisco’s got a lot to offer families. Besides the usual fun things you’d expect in a city of a certain size (a wonderful municipal zoo, great science museums), San Francisco has some things you can only do here: ride the bright red cable cars, visit a pirate supply store, walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge and watch 1800s animated dioramas spring to life. There are plenty of vantage points to show your kids the incredible beauty of the bay, including the Presidio Tunnel Tops with 14 acres of playspace with the backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge for every cartwheel and Frisbee toss. And while at the end of the day mom or dad might want to slide into a chair for a Michelin-starred restaurant experience, here is our list of best cheap eats to make this family vacation more affordable. RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco  

There’s a reason people travel here from all over the world. We have incredible views, world-class dining, diverse neighborhoods, a park in walking distance from every home, hiking trails overlooking bay and ocean waters, spectacular museums and stunning architecture. A bridge or underground BART train leads you to the fabulous towns of Oakland and Berkeley, or you can take a ferry or the Golden Gate Bridge north to beautiful Sausalito and the wine country cities of Napa and Sonoma. Heading south, you’ll find San Jose and other tech cities. The entire Bay Area welcomes you with memorable experiences like kayaking, visiting brewpubs, tasting your way through Michelin-starred restaurants and perching on a rooftop bar to fondly regard the picture postcard vista below you. Here are a few of our don’t-miss activities to make sure you really get the best of the Bay Area. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in San Francisco

Here in the City by the Bay, there’s always something cooking, whether it’s a jaunt across the elevated playspace of the 14-acre Presidio Tunnel Tops, taking an urban hike across the Golden Gate Bridge, celebrating gay culture in the Castro neighborhood, dancing yourself into a frenzy or chilling to incredible music. There’s always a festival of some sort unfolding, and one of the best things is that many of these events are free. We’ve put together our picks for the best things to do in San Francisco this weekend (you can check the website for each event for further details). Now: Grab that weekend by the horns! RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best things to do in San Francisco

A train is already a luxurious thing as we sit back and let someone else whisk us past beautiful landscapes and drift into a lulled sleep. But some trains make the experience even more extraordinary by offering little touches to upscale the ride. That may be special food delivered to your seat, a glass of champagne to sip, velvet upholstery, huge windows that open up the view or service that adds that extra level of indulgence. Here is our list of the best luxury train rides in the U.S., plus some extra information about what to expect for travel time and pricing. RECOMMENDED: 13 weird and funky train rides to experience across America

A romantic restaurant isn’t a tall order. We just need some flattering lighting, a space quiet enough to hear each other and food that feels special in some way, either because it’s beautifully plated or because it tastes so good it’s a great precursor. A restaurant doesn’t have to be expensive to be romantic—it just has to have a certain warm, intimate vibe that mirror how the diners are feeling. Here are our 16 picks for the most romantic restaurants in San Francisco. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in San Francisco🏛️ The best museums in San Francisco🍽️ The best restaurants in San Francisco🏨 The best hotels in San Francisco  

Breakfast: It all starts with coffee, but after that it can go a number of different directions, all of them delicious if it’s San Francisco. You might be after a tower of pancakes or a full plate of shakshuka, dashing in for a bagel or luxuriating over some perfectly plated French confection. Whatever it takes to get us going in the morning—eggs, bacon, mimomas—we’re grateful for the chance to sit down with family and friends with a bite to sustain us. RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in San Francisco

Time spent in nature is always healing, but you can also find equal pleasure in traversing city streets. Whatever your favorite type of hike—on a sinuous path above oceanside cliffs, through a historic part of town, over the span of a very particular bridge or in rustic meadows where you can almost forget you’re in a city—you’ll find it here. And while San Francisco is famous for being steep in certain parts, you’ll always be able to find a relatively flat hike if that’s more your style. RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in San Francisco

What is it? A Chinese dim sum house in Ghirardelli Square, halfway between Fisherman’s Wharf and Fort Mason. Why we love it: Aesthetics rule the day here. The “palette” of the name refers to the plate you receive, shaped like an artist’s palette with five wells to hold differently colored sauces. One of the standout dishes, a xiaolongbao sampler, also evokes admiration with five soup dumplings arranged beautifully with their dough colored red (beets), green (spinach), yellow (turmeric), black (squid ink) and white, with various fillings. The taro puff black swan with a delicate cracker neck “floats” on an edible flower strewn plate, while the hot and sour soup is classically delicious. I indulged in an espresso martini and the Portuguese egg tart, while also stealing bites of my daughter’s mango pudding supreme with popping boba, coconut and fresh mango. Above you, large red lanterns glow with Chinese characters for the names of the food, including BBQ pork bao and pork soup dumpling. General manager and part owner Dennis Leung has created a beautiful space, where large red lanterns above you glow with Chinese characters that correspond to the names of the dishes. Make sure to make a pit stop at the bathroom, too, so you don’t miss the beautiful mosaic tiles in the hallway. Time Out tip: It’s housed in the same square as the iconic Gold Rush chocolatier Ghirardelli, and we’d also recommend a pre- or post-meal walk down the hill to the free, ship-shaped Maritime National Histo

What is it? A contemporary American restaurant carrying one Michelin star in the Fillmore. Why we love it: On a quiet street near the edge of Japantown, 7 Adams bustles with attentive waitstaff, crazy-skilled chefs and blissed out diners. Behind the chef’s counter, there’s gorgeous backlit mod-shaped embedded wall compartments holding plants, stemware, candles and a miniature statue of the Michelin man petting a dog. Chef owners Serena Chow Fisher and David Fisher have created a space where the vibe is relaxed and down to earth, even though the exquisite food could easily deserve a snooty air. We especially loved the starter of hokkaido scallop crudo with koji kosho, pepita and pixie mandarin and all the mains, and lost our minds over the winter citrus dessert (pistachio cake, lemon curd and blood orange ice cream—intensely succulent and vibrant) and the salted malted s’more with chicory pastry cream. Time Out tip: A 20 percent service charge is automatically added to the bill, so you can relax about tipping. Address: 1963 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115 Opening hours: Mon–Thur 5:30–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm Expect to pay: The five-course tasting menu is $87 per person, while the chef’s counter (six people only) is 8 to 10 courses for $157 per person.

What is it? A French bistro with bright vibes at the Embarcadero. Why we love it: Everything’s at bar level here, so you feel elevated and light while you indulge in French favorites “from Paris with love,” as the menu says—a nod to charming owner Kais Bouzidi’s Parisian roots. Plants are embedded in the mesh liquor cabinet that hovers above the bar, which itself is a beautiful wooden statement piece with carved out embeds for your knees. The croque monsieur was a fantastic confection of layers of thin ham, pickle and béchamel sauce: It was a “fondue with bread” in one gooey unit. We also loved the madeleines plate with anglaise and chocolate sauce. For a refreshing drink that’s adorably photogenic, try the citron pressé: fresh lemon juice and a separate cute vessel of housemade lemon cordial. Time Out tip: Absolutely make reservations in advance; the walk-in party ahead of us was turned away. Address: Pier 3, the Embarcadero, San Francisco, 94105 Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 3–10pm; Sat 11:30am–3:30pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11:30am–3pm Expect to pay: If your brunch includes an hors d’oeuvre, a main, a beverage and dessert, it will run about $60.

What is it? An Italian eatery in the Russian Hill neighborhood with a parklet out front Why we love it: The menu is so full of great options I had pasta twice (and I’m glad I did, because the agnolotti was a true standout, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss the fettuccine blackened by squid ink and accompanied by generous lumps of Dungeness crab). Even though we were stuffed, the delightful server—chef Anthony Florian has assembled an amazing team with great wine guidance—wouldn’t let us go without trying the chocolate budino served in a mason jar: We’re glad we relented to the peer pressure. Time Out tip: Request a seat in the back dining area if you would like a quieter space for conversation. Address: 1896 Hyde St, San Francisco, 94109 Opening hours: Sun–Thu 5–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $140 per person if you indulge in antipasti, salad, pasta and secondi with a few glasses of wine.

What is it? An American restaurant inside the Beacon Grand hotel in Union Square Why we love it: Want bountiful proof of why the food scene in San Francisco is so great? Look no further than the California market salad, with mixed greens in a citrus vinaigrette we adored, along with Point Reyes blue cheese, candied pecans and tender slivers of tangerine. Other dishes we loved were the wild king salmon with thinly shaved fennel, radish and cucumber in a dill vinaigrette, as well as the hand-rolled spinach and mushroom canelloni dotted with morels. Make your lunch truly inspiring by pairing it with the Spring Sour mocktail—bright and fresh enough to power through the day. Here for business? The prix-fixe “executive lunch” is only $28 Monday through Friday. Time Out tip: Venture into the side chamber and look up: The painted ceiling and ornate grillwork on either side of the pedimented door are impressive. Want to fully appreciate the opulent architecture and décor of this 1928 beauty? Elect to spend the night (you should). Address: 450 Powell St, San Francisco, 94102 Opening hours: Daily breakfast 7–11am, lunch 11:30am–1:30pm, dinner 4–10pm Expect to pay: For brunch with a salad, salmon and mocktail, close to $70.

What is it? A contemporary Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in the SoMa neighborhood, housed in the Intercontinental Hotel. Why we love it: Everything on chef Dennis Efthymiou’s spring tasting menu was geared to surprise visually and tastewise. Each course arrives in a unique vessel: a duck foot stand for the quail Scotch egg amuse bouche, or a “meteorite” (as the server termed it) that held beautifully plated dessert components. Our favorite dish was startlingly realistic-looking strawberry sculpted out of white chocolate and stuffed with truffle mousse, served with elderflower and basil ice cream and a Kalamata olive shortcake. I started with a passionfruit margarita and switched to a suggested Riesling to pair with the Spring Awakening course, which was a literal miniature garden with tiny spears of white and green asparagus “planted” alongside tendrils of pea appearing like plants meeting the sun. Time Out tip: The tasting menu consists of 11 courses, many of which have multiple components. Come with an appetite—like “I haven’t eaten in months” levels of hunger. If you book a room at the Intercontinental, you’ll have an easy elevator ride up to a spectacular panoramic city view as your digestive system works on the issue at hand. Address: 888 Howard St, San Francisco, 94103 Opening hours: Thu–Sat 5:30–9pm Expect to pay: The spring tasting menu is $175 per person with a $115 wine pairing.

What is it? A vegan eatery in Cow Hollow with a parklet on Union Street. Why we love it: In a world trying to adopt more sustainable practices, a vegan restaurant so great that omnivores won’t miss meat deserves notice. The interior at Wildseed has bright white walls adorned with modern art. When you open the completely plant-based menu, the first thing you’ll see is a list of what fruits and vegetables are in season that month. That’s not just something worth appreciating on paper: The chilaquiles with vegan “just egg” and coconut queso were gobble-quality, and the Wildseed burger made with a mushroom and spinach patty, vegan chipotle aioli and tomato chutney (and added-on tempeh bacon) was a fortifying delight. Time Out tip: The grapefruit mimosa comes in a pretty vessel and makes brunch happier. Address: 2000 Union St, San Francisco, 94123 Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11:30am–9:30pm, Fri 11:30am–10:30pm, Sat 11am–10:30pm, Sun 11am–9:30pm Expect to pay: About $70 per person if you have a small salad, brunch item, dessert and a few mimosas.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? A Mediterranean restaurant housed in a former army barracks in the Presidio. Why we love it: Billed as “modern Eastern” rather than “Middle Eastern,” Dalida comes from husband-and-wife chef team Laura and Sayat Ozyilmaz. The flavors here stretched our palates and made our eyebrows rise—even the hummus had some extra zing sitting under the Cypriot lamb chops wrapped in ground lamb and caul fat. Our family’s favorite was the Breaking Bread dish with round tins of spreads accompanied by chubby pita (baked in-house every five minutes). The cocktails were a highlight, served in fun vessels like a miniature silver tankard or with tall, glass-height ice cubes ordered by mail. Stay for dessert and you may catch some Top Chef magic with pistachio three-ways baklava and the sour cherry Maraş ice cream that chef Laura made for one of the show’s challenges. The interior’s muted lighting comes from rice paper chandeliers, and there’s a beautiful mural of trees in bloom. The historic building’s high ceilings really open up the interior, but that does mean the acoustics are rough for conversation.  Time Out tip: If you want to make a night of it, book a room at the Lodge at the Presidio, just a four-minute walk away. Address: 101 Montgomery St, San Francisco, 94129 Opening hours: Tue–Fri 11:30am–2pm, 5–9pm; Sat, Sun 11am–2:30pm, 5–9pm Expect to pay: The chef’s menu is $85. Otherwise, you can expect to pay about $100 per person for appetizers, entrée, a vegetable dish and a few c

What is it? A two Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in the Fillmore, helmed by chef Srijith Gopinathan. Why we love it: The food here is exquisite with many moments that’ll leave you closing your eyes to exult. Among every beautiful thing we ate, our favorite was the rasam poori with passionfruit, mint, sprouted chickpea and radish: It’s a delicate fried puri sphere into which you spoon a bit of soup and eat in one frisson-filled mouthful. For cocktails, the winner was the turmeric spritz with marigold amaro that was so light and fruity it provided perfect accompaniment. As far as a bit of refreshment, don’t fear that the dishes will be too spicy; everything was perfectly spiced to make lips tingle but not overwhelm the tongue. Plus, the interior is insanely pretty with macrame lighting features, two rooms delineated by changes in flooring (blonde wood to button tile) and an indoor gazebo marked by twining ivy. Muted brick, a two-story wall of cubbies holding amphoras and wicker furnishings lend an air of museum-like elegance. Time Out tip: Ask your server to identify which menu items are unique to Copra (or at least the most innovative) and order those. Address: 1700 Fillmore St, San Francisco, 94115 Opening hours: Mon–Sun 5–10pm; brunch Sat, Sun 11:30am–2pm Expect to pay: Brunch is surprisingly affordable for a spot carrying two Michelin stars. If you order several “littles” and a main with a few cocktails, you’ll walk out paying around $90.

What is it? A seafood restaurant on the second story of Pier 39. Why we love it: You can count on 100 percent sustainable seafood at this busy waterfront spot with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bay. The clam chowder literally has “award-winning” in its name, and you can order it (as one does here) in a fresh house-baked sourdough bowl. We tried the dual lobster tails (oven roasted with seasonal vegetables), the Petrale sole (pan seared with a pesto cream sauce) and fried scallops, served with roasted jalapeno aioli. The cocktail game is wonderful here with drinks named for local landmarks, like the Alcatraz Escape and the Spicy Mission Margarita. For land-favoring folks just “along for the ride,” there are also sandwiches, steaks and pasta. Time Out tip: Try to sit at the farthest end of the restaurant, where you’ll be able to catch the best view of the sea lions pushing each other off the docks. And if you love flowers, TulipMania is at Pier 39 throughout April with 20,000 tulips in bloom. Address: Pier 39, San Francisco, 94133 Opening hours: Daily 11am–9pm Expect to pay: Seafood mains run $29 to $56, while the clam chowder in sourdough is $16. House specialties include cioppino at $42 and a whole Dungeness crab for $64. Cocktails are $14 to $17.

What is it? An Argentinian steakhouse in the heart of the Mission. Why we love it: The ojo de bife Argentino rib eye (100 percent grass-fed) was supremely buttery in texture, and the wild mushroom sherry sauce had us trying to soak up more with each forkful like a sponge. The pollo skewer with perfectly blackened corn and aji amarillo almost surpassed the steak for me, but we also loved the yuca fries with rocoto aioli—and we had fun moderating our evening with the “sin licor” mocktails, an agridulce citrus beverage and a tutti frutti sweet one. Though I didn’t have room for the empanada options, I’d certainly try them next time. The décor is atmospherically dim and dominated by some fearsome underlit bull head statues, while beautiful chandeliers and metal fixtures that mimic wagon wheels adorn the ceilings. Time Out tip: Arrive before your reservation and head to El Techo, the bar perched on Lolinda’s rooftop, for excellent city views. Also, as much as we love the colorful vibe of the Mission, the homelessness crisis may make visitors feel uncomfortable after dark, so consider that when planning your reservation and parking or transit plans. Address: 2518 Mission St, San Francisco, 94110 Opening hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–10pm; Fri, Sat 5:30–11pm; Sun 5:30–10pm Expect to pay: For a few pequeños (littles), a 12oz rib eye, a beverage and a dessert, you’ll pay around $85.

In love with the tropical settings of your favorite shows? Are you glued to the screen and wistfully thinking it’d be great to vacation there yourself? According to a trends report from Vrbo and Hotels.com, you’re not the only one who wants to set down the remote and book a flight. In fact, last year two-thirds of travelers said that their travel plans were inspired by movies, streaming services and TV shows, according to Expedia Group. Let’s look at a few examples. If you have been watching The White Lotus and wanting to stay at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, Thailand, join the luxurious club. Ever since the Season 3 premiere on February 16, the hotel has seen a 65 percent surge in searches through Hotels.com. You’re too young to be this old, so enjoy the fabulousness! Similarly, Netflix’s Temptation Island has viewers trying to cheers their TV screens with a mai tai. The Puako, Hawai’i beachfront home where it’s set can be rented for an easy $5,640 per night on Vrbo. You won’t have to swap your significant other, either! Now, if you want to stay stateside and have fond memories of the vintage movie Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, visit Mackinac Island. The car-free island’s fantastical Grand Hotel may also let you time-slip to spend time with your soulmate.

Several years ago, our family stood at the rim of Crater Lake, amazed at the astonishing blue body of water, beautifully ringed by steep pitched mountains. Along with the larger Wizard Island formation in the center, I particularly liked the Phantom Ship, which really resembles a ghost ship if you squint. We did a typical touristy drive around and pop out at lookouts thing—which you can still do, although today’s news is that Crater Lake will soon be closed for boating and swimming. But if you’re bent on getting into the water, here are some other national parks that are just as good. Why and when is Crater Lake National Park closing? At the end of the 2025 summer season, the National Park Service will cut off access to the Cleetwood Cove Trail, according to ABC News. That is the only trail that provides access to the lake—the country’s deepest at 1,949 feet deep, formed within a volcanic caldera. Access will be closed for around four years as the park service rehabs the trail from rockfall hazards and performs construction. Boat tours will also pause for the four-year period. The trail is scheduled to reopen in the summer of 2029. Note: you will still be able to drive the rim trail to get views of the lake, but that is a drive that is very seasonal, and in fact winter storms have currently closed the entrance road and the east and west rim drives, which means no lake view can be obtained from your car. Still, several areas of the national park are open year-round; check here

Is someone at Popeyes pregnant? The whole “craving a pickle” thing is in full swing at the restaurant chain known for its Louisiana-style fried chicken. Yesterday, the brand launched a Popeyes Pickle Menu to bring that crunchy, vinegared cucumber to your tray in many different ways. And in a beautifully all-in commitment gesture, the flagship restaurant in Times Square was pickled, with everything turned bright green inside and out—and even an ASMR booth for getting intimate with that crunch. What new pickle-themed items are on Popeyes' menu? There are four new items to satisfy every pickle desire you may have. They include: The pickle glaze sandwich: Take the regular crispy chicken sandwich and coat the chicken in a zesty pickle-flavored glaze, then toss some thick-cut pickles on top. Yup. I'm definitely trying that. The pickle glaze bone-in or boneless wings: The same treatment with the pickle-flavored glaze is delivered to the wings. Fried pickles: Yes, thank you. Pickle chips are battered in Popeyes seasoning and then deep fried and served with a side of ranch. Pickle lemonade: Innovation in a cup. It makes sense: the acrid citrus of lemonade meets the vinegar of pickles along with enough sugar to make this refreshing. Question: will it be pink, yellow or green? You’ll have to order it to find out. Where can you get these pickle items? At participating restaurants nationwide and on the Popeyes website and app. How long will Popeyes' pickle menu be available?  The company’

Anytime we leave home, we expose ourselves to a bit of vulnerability, not knowing the places where we’ll rest our heads and the kitchens that will make our meals. And LGBTQ+ people may have to ask questions like, is it safe to be openly gay in this city? Is there a way to know exactly where I’ll be welcomed, at restaurants, hotels, and other places? One helpful source is misterb&b, a website that lists queer-friendly lodgings (whether that’s a hotel, an apartment rental or a private room in a home), trips and restaurant recommendations—and its annual Queer Safety Index lists the safest U.S. cities for LGBTQ travelers. This year’s #1 city is Chicago, the third largest in the U.S. and with plenty of “gayborhoods” and an active LGTBQ+ presence. In particular, Boystown (also called Northalsted)—the oldest officially recognized gay neighborhood in the U.S.—and Andersonville are known as celebratory and safe neighborhoods. Check out Legacy Walk, an outdoor LGTBQ history museum. Chicago’s first pride parade was in 1970 in honor of the Stonewall riots. Second is Seattle, historically a place of activism for LGTBQ+ issues. The Capitol Hill neighborhood boasts a number of gay-friendly or gay-owned businesses, and each year, there’s a major Pride celebration, which takes place June 27-29. Third on the list is a city that will surprise no one, San Francisco, long considered a celebratory harbor for gays, lesbians and transgender folks (and everyone in between). Its Castro District is the

The Sphere’s got a new trick up its sleeve. It’s rolling out a new, intensely immersive experience called UNITY, and tickets go on sale March 31 for the August performances. UNITY is a live show put together by Tomorrowland (global festival phenom) and Insomniac (music events purveyor, including the Electric Daisy Carnival you may have seen in Las Vegas, Mexico or Thailand, among other places). The best part? Each performance will end with a surprise one-hour set from a world-renowned artist. Let the speculation mills start grinding out their theories on who it’ll be. UNITY will involve cutting-edge technology, lights, lasers, eye-popping spectacles, and a live orchestra to bring forward the message of togetherness through music. The three performances take place over Labor Day weekend: August 29-31. Vibee tickets and accommodation packages go on sale March 27 at 10am at unity.vibee.com. If you’ve been missing Tomorrowland, it’s because it’s been a full decade since its first installment here in the U.S., while it’s been thrilling audiences in Brazil, Spain, and Belgium with festivals and VR experiences. It only took building a gigantic sphere in Las Vegas to bring it back stateside. UNITY will be the first partnership ever between the two biggest festivals out there. If you can score tickets for this limited run at the Sphere, maybe you’ll get to see an incredible performer close the show that you never thought you’d get the chance to see.

You all need to chill out and stop weeping over your burrito: Chipotle isn’t closing. The only thing that closed was Farmesa Fresh Eatery, which USA Today describes as “a restaurant concept tested by Chipotle for a few months in a Santa Monica food hall in 2023.” That is very dramatically different from what the rumors have been saying. And in fact, Chipotle’s opening a bunch of new locations this year, so the rumors need to come to a halt. Why Chipotle is closing restaurants? It’s not. Which Chipotle Farmesa Fresh Eatery locations are affected? None. There was only ever one location in Santa Monica, and that closed in 2023. Where is Chipotle expanding in 2025? Chipotle spokesperson Erin Wolford told USA Today, “We anticipate opening between 315 to 345 new restaurants this year with at least 80 percent including a Chipotlane." The Chipotlane is a cute way of saying digital drive-through. So, just to be sure, Chipotle isn't closing? No.

A few hours ago, Lady Gaga rocked everyone’s world by announcing on Instagram that she would hit the road again with her MAYHEM Ball tour. In a brief but exhilarated post, she explained that she hadn’t planned to tour this year after she completes her upcoming shows in Singapore, but that fan response to her new album proved inspirational.  In her Instagram post, she said, “It came together super quickly thanks to Arthur Fogel and the amazing team at Live Nation, who planned a global tour in just a few weeks.” the MAYHEM Ball tour will go all over the world. In the U.S., you can see her in Las Vegas, Seattle, New York City, Miami and Chicago. Internationally, she’s hitting cities in Canada, England, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.  Lady Gaga explained that this run will only be in indoor arenas so that she can control the details of the show in a way that’s not possible with stadiums. She explains: “This show is designed to be the kind of theatrical and electrifying experience that brings MAYHEM to life exactly how I envision it.”  Can't wait for the tour? Watch her headline Coachella next month and hit her prearranged dates in Mexico City, Brazil, and Singapore. How to get tickets for the Mayhem Ball: Tickets go on sale March 31. There’s an artist pre-sale on April 2 starting at noon wherever you are, but you first must sign up here by 8am on March 30. The general sale starts April 3 at noon. Other vendor-connected pre-sales happen too; c

Each year, the choice of where to travel could be the culmination of months of planning—or the happenstance of seeing an airfare sale or someone mentioning a place to you. Maybe you make a split-second decision based on seeing an inspirational photo and thinking to yourself, “I’ve got to go there.” Whatever the trigger, sometimes other people have the same thought and a destination starts trending. American Express’s annual list of Trending Destinations highlights those places. The list was compiled based on travel bookings by cardmembers as well as consulting with travel consultants. Of the 10 that American Express has designated as the most trending destinations, two are in the U.S. (and not the New York – Los Angeles – Miami that you might expect). No, nestled among locations in Greece, Japan, Brazil and others were two cities you might not think would show up on such an international list: Sun Valley, Idaho and Moab, Utah. Sun Valley is a ski resort town that people find appealing because it isn’t as crowded as some others. Its gorgeous Bald Mountain rises 9,150 feet to give a good ride to skiiers and boarders. It just added new state-of-the-art chair lifts and 91 more acres of glade terrain (and new fire safety measures). Fun fact: The first chairlift was installed at Sun Valley, adapted from the systems used to move banana cargo onto ships in Panama. When you ride one, you are really just a large banana to the mechanism. In summer, Sun Valley turns into a fishing and wh

Just looking at the official website for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. is a happy experience with its beautiful photos of trees in bloom and pink blossom illustrations (even the bright pink cookies notification banner is nice!)—attending the festival itself must be a joyful, uplifting experience. It’s an intense celebration of Spring and its wonders, and celebrates friendship between our country and Japan. The festival honors the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees by Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo; First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two trees of the 3,000. The U.S. reciprocated in 1915, sending flowering dogwood trees to Japan. The Washington, D.C., orchard was augmented in 1965 by the gift of another 3,800 Yoshino trees from Japan. The festival will be filled with the beautiful vision of pale pink and white blossoms, as well as their light aromatic almond scent. National Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 Dates This year’s peak bloom is predicted to be March 28-31. The festival itself spans from March 20 to April 13. You can peek in via the BloomCam to see how things are progressing. Right now, things are looking pretty wintry and spare. Best places to see the cherry blossoms The hands-down best place is the Tidal Basin, according to the website cherryblossomwatch.com. The Tidal Basin famously provides a glorious view and is free to enter. It’s right next to the National Mall. The stretch along t

You guys, spring is happening tomorrow. I know we are all still reeling about Daylight Savings and now we have another seasonal thing to contend with, but this one is great news. Snow will subside, flowers will arise and the beaches are busy getting the sand ready for you. Here are some FAQs to assist: When is the first day of spring 2025? It’s Thursday, March 20, 2025. What is the vernal equinox? It’s the beginning of spring, but the reason why it’s the beginning is a little more complex. It refers to two moments in the year when the sun is exactly above the equator, and day and night are of equal length (thank you, Britannica, for explaining). The United States fits completely into the northern hemisphere, where the vernal equinox traditionally falls around March 20 or 21. The sun, after creating that perfectly poised moment, then crosses the equator and heads north, which is why our weather then gets warmer. For the southern hemisphere, the March equinox is their autumn equinox. But why did you say two moments in the year? Because there’s another moment when the sun does the same trick, on September 22 or 23. For us in the northern hemisphere, that’s our autumn equinox, and for the southern hemisphere, it’s the spring equinox. When does this end? When we get the summer solstice, which happens June 20 or 21 in our northern hemisphere (and December 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere). Are these dates solid each year? Let’s run that past the Farmer’s Almanac. That handy reso

It seems like the news changes daily. President Trump’s original January 20 executive order asked the State Department to identify countries where passengers to the U.S. may not be stringently examined and checked—to the degree that the U.S. would not admit them. Since then, there has been “credible reporting,” according to the Guardian, citing two Yale law professors’ emails, that nationals from targeted countries may be banned from entering the U.S. The professors Muneer Ahmad and Michael Wishnie urged students studying in those countries to consider returning to the U.S. right away or staying in the U.S. if they are already here. Here's what we know so far: What are President Trump’s new travel bans? These possible travel bans affect people from other countries trying to visit the United States. The Trump administration has initially suggested a sweeping ban against entry for residents of as many as 43 countries, with 11 nations specifically targeted for a complete travel prohibition, as reported by the Guardian. Which countries face U.S. travel restrictions? The 11 "red tier" countries whose residents might face a total ban against coming to the U.S.: Afghanistan Bhutan Cuba Iran Libya North Korea Somalia Sudan Syria Venezuela Yemen There is also a second “orange” tier identifying countries with sharp visa restrictions on entering the U.S.: Belarus Eritrea Haiti Laos Myanmar Pakistan Russia Sierra Leone South Sudan and Turkmenistan In a third “yellow” tier, 21 countri

Bringing back a purse from Ibiza, purchased in the Dalt Vila marketplace? Or carefully packing a hand-painted ceramic mug from the Amalfi Coast? Or maybe it’s that beautiful pair of turquoise earrings made by a Navajo artisan that you purchased at Scottsdale’s Native Art Market (that last example is mine). If you’re someone who buys souvenirs to have a tangible way to remember where you travel, you’re not alone, says Amex.   In 2025, more people will buy bespoke souveniers  According to American Express’s 2025 Global Travel Trends Report, 82 percent of Millennials and Gen Z folks and 68 percent of Gen X and Boomers that participated in the survey look for one-of-a-kind goods to remind them of their trip. While a T-shirt can shrink in the wash and tiny tchotchkes get lost, a more substantial souvenir—especially something bespoke and handcrafted—can bring pleasure each time you look at it. And it’s a great way to support the local businesses where you travel, which 73 percent of respondents said they try to do. The breakdown for purchases was 58 percent purchasing designer goods like handbags, clothing and leather items, 46 percent purchasing beauty products like perfume, makeup and skincare and 43 percent purchasing housewares like rugs, ceramics, art and furniture. Besides travelers redefining their travel mementos, three other themes arose in the Amex report. Family adventures are back in a big way Multi-generational travel is up, as is letting kids have a say in planning. T