Jamie Ferrell, Author at Secret San Francisco

Hi there! I grew up in Santa Cruz and graduated from UC Berkeley in 2018 with an English major and Spanish minor. After teaching ESL for a few years, I joined the Secret Media Network as a Staff Writer. I love to write about California history, hidden gems, museum exhibitions, and local wildlife.

National Geographic named this unfinished 400-mile Bay Area trail among its ‘100 hikes of a lifetime’ — here’s the new 5.4-mile section opening in 2026 after a 20-year wait

National Geographic's new book, 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A., by Stephanie Pearson, lists the most scenic bucket-list trails in the United States. Luckily for Bay Area residents, one of them is our...

Escapes Top News

Burney Falls, CA’s ‘eighth wonder of the world,’ launches first-time reservation system for summer 2026

Famous for its beauty and year-round water flow, California's Burney Falls is at the top of countless bucket lists. In fact, President Theadore Roosevelt once reportedly called the 129-foot waterfall the...

Escapes Wellness & Nature

National Geographic named this 25-mile California trail among its ‘100 hikes of a lifetime’ — it follows the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the continental U.S.

This past April, National Geographic's Stephanie Pearson published 100 Hikes of a Lifetime U.S.A., which details the country's best bucket-list hiking trails. From the captivating descriptions to classic N...

Escapes Wellness & Nature

Thousands of people just voted for the best state parks in California — and 7 of the winners are within 2 hours of San Francisco

The California State Parks Foundation just published the results of a 2026 vote across thousands of parkgoers throughout California, creating a final list of 12 winning parks with titles like the "best C...

Things To Do

The Exploratorium is launching a massive space-themed exhibition this summer with over 50 interactive displays

San Francisco's Exploratorium presents a new temporary exhibition titled Life in Space, opening on Thursday, June 11 and welcoming visitors all summer long until September 13, 2026. The installation w...

San Francisco reveals new designs for $40 million Embarcadero Plaza redevelopment project, trading 1970s brutalism for community lawns

San Francisco residents just got a new glimpse of the future Embarcadero Plaza waterfront. At a community meeting on April 28th, city officials and developers unveiled new proposed renderings for the...

Things To Do Wellness & Nature

15 Lovely Ways To Spend A Memorable Mother’s Day In San Francisco

The time has come to celebrate our moms, grandmothers, or other family members we'd like to honor on this special day. Whether you're looking to celebrate Mother's Day in San Francisco on a budget, or yo...

Escapes

National Geographic named this river town 1.5 hours from San Francisco among its ‘100 must-see getaways’ in the country

Healdsburg, California, located just 65 miles north of San Francisco, has long been a favorite Bay Area escape. Once a modest farming community, it's now widely considered a top-tier destination for food,...

Escapes

30 minutes from SF, tucked into a redwood grove, lies a glass-walled public library that feels like a cozy midcentury cabin

As far as Bay Area day trips go, the Mill Valley Public Library is one of the most peaceful and low-maintenance nearby hidden gems. It's a charming building nestled in the redwoods, with massive window...

Food & Drink

San Francisco’s Newest Bayfront Coffee Bar Just Opened At The Exploratorium — And You Don’t Even Need A Museum Ticket To Visit

San Francisco's Exploratorium has officially launched Catalyst Coffee Lab, a public coffee bar, and The Tinkering Table, a family-focused restaurant, at its bayfront location on Pier 15! The new establ...