Top 6 Things to do in Martinez

Martinez is one of the oldest Anglo cities in California and still today, the historical overtones of the place are palpable. I was surprised to learn that Martinez was the primary residence of naturalist, John Muir. I guess I had always imagined Muir living in some clapboard shanty in the wilderness. It's definitely worth a visit to Martinez to see the John Muir National Historic Site and the historic home. You'll actually find many other things to do while there, like riding or walking along the Carquinez Straight Ramble or visiting the nearby MacCune Rare Books and Art Museum. For an unforgettable experience--and meal--be sure to take the drive back through time to to the tiny burg of Port Costa to eat at Bull Valley.

This gem of an Inn on Benicia Bay offers everything you could want for in a Bed and Breakfast. The large rooms are an elegant mix of historic ambiance and contemporary comfort. There is a spa right on site for easy access to pampering.
This historic building, set on a 9 acre park was naturalist John Muir's home. The visitor center is undergoing reconstruction and will be opening in its new form with expanded exhibits by mid May. Meantime, this park is still open for business. See artifacts of Muir's personal belongings, photos, and nature specimens he collected. Take... More >
This historic building, set on a 9 acre park was naturalist John Muir's home. The visitor center is undergoing reconstruction and will be opening in its new form with expanded exhibits by mid May. Meantime, this park is still open for business. See artifacts of Muir's personal belongings, photos, and nature specimens he collected. Take docent led tours to see wildflowers and birds of the area.
Once you are out there breathing the fresh air you won't believe how nice it is.
You can spend a whole afternoon at the McCune. See the tour-de-force in publishing by master printer William Morris, a set of fantastic woodcut illustrations (1896) accompanying the works of Geoffry (Kelmscott) Chaucer. Then for something really old, lay your eyes on a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first typeset book in Europe (... More >
You can spend a whole afternoon at the McCune. See the tour-de-force in publishing by master printer William Morris, a set of fantastic woodcut illustrations (1896) accompanying the works of Geoffry (Kelmscott) Chaucer. Then for something really old, lay your eyes on a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first typeset book in Europe (1450-1455).
This old stone restaurant lies off the beaten path in the tiny--almost remote--town of Port Costa. I say "almost remote" because this town is in the heart of the Bay Area; although, if you were blindfolded for the ride over you'd never guess it. It's worth the lovely, longish drive because this is one of the most romantic restaurants ... More >
This old stone restaurant lies off the beaten path in the tiny--almost remote--town of Port Costa. I say "almost remote" because this town is in the heart of the Bay Area; although, if you were blindfolded for the ride over you'd never guess it. It's worth the lovely, longish drive because this is one of the most romantic restaurants you will find. Oh, and the food is excellent too.
Bicycling along the Carquinez Strait Ramble you will be surprised by all the green and rolling hills. Oh, you'll have to do some time passing through mall world, but not too much. Once you are out there breathing the fresh air you won't believe how nice it is. Great for both experienced and new riders.
Then for something really old, lay your eyes on a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, the first typeset book in Europe (1450-1455).
This is reasonably priced Mexican food that also happens to taste great. The carne asada burritos are to die for. The service is really fast and friendly but one of the most important things to me in a Mexican restaurant is having plenty o' salsa--and Los Panchos doesn't skimp. More
This is reasonably priced Mexican food that also happens to taste great. The carne asada burritos are to die for. The service is really fast and friendly but one of the most important things to me in a Mexican restaurant is having plenty o' salsa--and Los Panchos doesn't skimp.
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About the Author

Jana Lane
Jana Lane
I am the Vice President of an international, non-profit conservation organization, Save the Turtles, Inc. My eight years as a hands-on VP has provided me with plenty of experience writing web content, proposals, ad copy, brochures, fliers, promotional material, letters of inquiry (the list could go on and on.) Writing for Save the Turtle's website has provided me with great exposure to the concepts and practices of SEO. It seems that we have done rather well as our Google ranking is most often number one on the page. Although, I am still on the board of Save the Turtles and every bit as passionate about saving endangered species as ever, I am currently also enjoying another incarnation as a freelance writer. I love, love, love writing travel blogs! Lately, I have been writing for Uptake.com. and Mynatour, an eco-travel site based in London. I have also written an number of articles for other sites covering such wide-ranging topics as health, food, real estate, and science. My goal, with each writing assignment, is to match each clients individual needs by writing with an appropriate "voice" and level of readability for each unique, target audience. Please feel free to scroll and read!
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