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- 🧭 Best Spring Break Day Trips for Families and Adults
🧭 Best Spring Break Day Trips for Families and Adults
Plus: Which Local Hot Spot Was Named Top East Bay Sports Bar

Good Morning, Tri-Valley! Here are this week’s Explorations:
Best Spring Break Day Trips and Getaways
Tickets Selling Fast to June’s CabFranc-A-Palooza
The 925 Lowdown - Danville Restaurant Makes EaterSF’s List of Top Sports Bars, and more
Spring Break Camps for Kids!
Dogs vs. Cats - you voted, we have the results!
Read Time: 3.5 minutes

Spring Escapes - Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Worth the Drive!

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Spring Break is almost here, and whether you’ve got kids climbing the walls or just need a midweek adventure, I’ve got you covered. I’ve lived in the Tri-Valley for years (and survived plenty of school breaks), so I’ve done my research and have checked out most of these places myself—fun for families, perfect for adults, and guaranteed to get you out of town without too much effort.
So, pack some snacks, gas up the car, and let’s hit the road!
Top 10 Spring Break Day Trips
Muir Woods & Sausalito – Stroll among towering redwoods, then grab a waterfront lunch in Sausalito. (Tip: Fish & Chips at Fish. are a must!)
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk & Capitola – Ride the Giant Dipper, grab a fried Twinkie, then unwind in colorful Capitola.
Alcatraz Island – Take a ferry to SF’s most infamous prison, explore the eerie cellblocks, and soak in the stunning Bay views. (Tip: Book tickets in advance!)
Point Reyes & Cowgirl Creamery – Cheese, coastal views, and elephant seals—what’s not to love?
Filoli Gardens in Bloom – This historic estate is pure spring magic. Wander the gardens and pretend you’re in a Jane Austen novel.
Monterey Bay Aquarium & Cannery Row – Sea otters, jellyfish, and ocean views. Plus, sourdough clam chowder—because you have to.
Half Moon Bay & Mavericks Beach – Stroll Main Street, pop into bakeries, then soak up the ocean views at Mavericks Beach.
Old Sacramento & Delta King – Gold Rush history and riverfront dining on a historic riverboat? Yes, please.
Apple Hill (Even in Spring!) – Spring blooms, fresh cider, and apple donuts. Enough said.
Top 5 Weekend Getaways
Carmel-by-the-Sea – Storybook streets, boutique shopping, and wine tastings by the beach. Perfect for romance or a girls' getaway.
Lake Tahoe (Spring Skiing & Lake Views) – Ski in the morning, sip a lakeside cocktail in the afternoon. Spring is the best-kept secret here!
Paso Robles Wine Country – Love Livermore wine? You’ll love Paso. Rolling hills, fantastic wineries, and downtown is a culinary destination.
Yosemite National Park – Spring means epic waterfalls without the summer crowds. If you haven’t been, this is the time!
Big Sur Road Trip – Drive the coast, stop at Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls, then grab lunch at Nepenthe with a view.
Spring Break isn’t just for the kids—so take a day (or a weekend) and make some memories!

Presented by CabFranc-A-Palooza
Tickets Selling Fast to the 3rd Annual CabFranc-A-Palooza!
If you know me, you know I love a good wine festival, and Livermore is throwing an absolute must-attend event on June 8th! Picture this: 80+ incredible wines, live music, food trucks, and the stunning backdrop of the Purple Orchid Wine Country Resort & Spa.
But here’s the twist—every single wine is Cabernet Franc! If you think that means only reds, think again. You’ll get to sip Cab Franc Rosé, White Cab Franc, and even Sparkling Cab Franc from top producers near and far.
Enjoy wines from Livermore, Napa, Paso Robles, Sonoma, Oregon, Washington, Sierra Foothills, and more!
VIP tickets? Gone. But don’t worry—Early Bird General Admission is still up for grabs at just $79 (before prices jump to $99 soon)!
Trust me, this is one wine festival you do not want to miss. Grab your tickets now and I’ll see you there!

The 925 Lowdown - Your Weekly Pulse on News Around Town!
Saddle up, Livermore! 🐂 Stampede, a country-themed restaurant and entertainment spot, just got unanimous approval from the Planning Commission! Expect line dancing, live music, a mechanical bull, and more when it opens downtown—just in time for the Livermore Rodeo! 🤠🎶
What is going on, Pleasanton?! 😳 For the second time in weeks, a driver crashed straight through the front of a home. Thankfully, no one was hurt. The driver? Arrested and taken to Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of DUI. 🚔
K-9 hero Drake saves the day! During a Livermore traffic stop, Drake sniffed out narcotics, leading officers to cocaine, fentanyl, and a loaded gun. The Oakland driver was arrested on multiple charges. Check out the photo below from our Instagram! 🐶🚔
Ballistic United is bringing a Field of Dreams-style futsal facility to Pleasanton this July at the Alameda County Fairgrounds! Futsal is a fast-paced, 5v5 version of soccer played on a hard court with a smaller ball. This 61,000-square-foot space means more year-round play and a huge win for local soccer lovers! Not in to Futsal? There will also be Pickleball courts too!
Primo’s Pizzeria & Pub just scored a spot on EaterSF’s best East Bay sports bars list! With 39 TVs, killer pizzas, 35 beers on tap, and a daily happy hour, it’s the ultimate spot to catch the game—kids and all! 🍕🍻
San Ramon’s Yookta Pandit, an 8th grader at Quarry Lane, crushed it at the Alameda County Science Fair! Her AI-powered dyslexia detection project won multiple awards and is headed to the California Science Fair. Smart, innovative, and making a difference—you go, girl! 🎉
Tell your teens - it’s time to land that perfect high school job! Danville’s spring job fairs connect local employers with job-seekers 15+. Check them out at Monte Vista High on April 15 (11:15 a.m.–12:16 p.m.) or SRVHS on April 16 (11:46 a.m.–12:56 p.m.) to explore opportunities!
Did I miss any breaking news? Send me an email! [email protected]

Presented by KidStrong Livermore
Spring Break Solved! The Ultimate Kids Camp for Spring Break!
As a mom of teens, I can’t help but wish I’d had KidStrong Camp for my kids when they were younger! It’s the perfect spring break getaway for kids ages 4-9, offering a fun mix of learning, fitness, and confidence-building activities. From superhero games to ninja courses, this camp combines play with development in a way that’s sure to leave your little one feeling stronger and more independent. Plus, the world-class coaches make each session a blast! Camp runs Monday through Friday, 9am-2:30pm and with only 20 spots available, be sure to grab one before they’re gone. I’m genuinely bummed my kids are too old for this—don’t miss out! CLICK HERE to sign up!

Last Week’s Poll Results and a New Poll!
Last week’s question was all about pets! Looks like Dog Lovers rule the Tri-Valley! The results are:
Team Dog: 40%
Cats Rule: 25%
Cats and Dogs: 22%
Other Kinds of Pets: 2%
No Pets 11%”
THIS Week’s Poll!
By now you know I have 3 teens at home, how many are in the crew that you run with? |
Instagram Post of the Week!
Folllow @trivalleyexplorer for Breaking news, community updates, restaurant reviews, giveaways, and more! Click here or the image below to go to our Instagram page!