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Olivia Harden

Travel Reporter at SFGATE -- based in California. Writing about social justice and mental health everywhere else. Passionate about food, exploring the world, and uplifting the voices of those who often go unheard.

SFGATE •

Oldest wooden hotel on the West Coast finally finishes $550M renovation

The Del, considered the oldest wooden hotel on the West Coast, began what would ultimately amount to a $550 million restoration in 2018, according to local San Diego news station KGTV. Among the major projects was renovating the 137-year-old Victorian building, the hotel’s centerpiece with its red roof shaped like a witch’s hat. Hotel owner Blackstone Real Estate reportedly spent $160 million to renovate the Victorian building alone, boosting the number of rooms from 367 to 404.

The Del, consid...
SFGATE •

UCSF researchers suggest this 4-minute Yosemite video boosts happiness

A group of researchers at UC San Francisco conducted a study to prove that small acts of joy can add up. One of their methods was showing a 4-minute video to immerse participants in the most popular national parks in California.

A group of researchers at UC San Francisco conducted a study to prove that small acts of joy can add up. One of their methods was showing a 4-minute video to immerse participants in the most popular national parks in California.

Darwin Guevarra, Yoobin Park, Jin Liou a...
SFGATE •

Historic hotel on Central Coast reopening with rooms for $500 a night

A hotel in the heart of Ojai, California, is returning to its roots after a storied history for the last half century. Hotel El Roblar originally opened in 1919 but fell into disarray. It was converted into a spa in the 1970s but closed due to the Thomas Fire in 2017. Now Ojai’s longest-standing hotel is reopening on June 19, according to the Ojai Valley News.

A hotel in the heart of Ojai, California, is returning to its roots after a storied history for the last half century. Hotel El Roblar o...
SFGATE •

It's gone viral, but resellers are struggling to sell this Disneyland souvenir

Parkgoers were off to the races to pick up Disney’s Key to Disneyland at various stores around the park. For $60, the giant key is an interactive blind box that allows guests to visit all nine lands in Disneyland and insert their key into a giant themed lock. After unlocking the key in all lands, they’ll be able to unlock the key itself, which has a surprise pin inside.

Parkgoers were off to the races to pick up Disney’s Key to Disneyland at various stores around the park. For $60, the giant ke...
SFGATE •

TSA approves mobile passport on iPhone for SFO flights

It’s been a little more than a month since the Transportation Security Administration started enforcing Real ID requirements for domestic travelers at airports across the country. But travelers whose state IDs aren’t Real ID compliant could soon have another option that may already be in their pocket.

It’s been a little more than a month since the Transportation Security Administration started enforcing Real ID requirements for domestic travelers at airports across the country. But travelers wh...
SFGATE •

Caltrans shares route for Bay Area drivers to skirt Sacramento traffic

A trio of highway construction projects in the California capital is shaping up to be the migraine of the summer for motorists. As Caltrans prepares to fully close one direction of a key highway in the heart of Sacramento for an entire weekend next week, adding even more congestion to the roads, a spokesperson for the agency shared a tip for how Bay Area drivers might bypass the bottleneck.

A trio of highway construction projects in the California capital is shaping up to be the migraine of the...
SFGATE •

First SFO fee hits before even arriving at the airport

A viral post on X trumpeting public transportation from California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter sparked confusion over the price of a single ride on BART. But a fee that’s unique to only two cities in California inflated the cost of the former congresswoman’s ride.

A viral post on X trumpeting public transportation from California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter sparked confusion over the price of a single ride on BART. But a fee that’s unique to only two cities in California infla...
SFGATE •

'Out of necessity': Why the drive to Tahoe takes twice as long right now

Drivers are experiencing significant construction delays on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 because of three simultaneous capital projects: the I-80 Pavement Rehabilitation project, the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements project and the Fix50 project.

Drivers are experiencing significant construction delays on Highway 50 and Interstate 80 because of three simultaneous capital projects: the I-80 Pavement Rehabilitation project, the Yolo 80 Corridor Improvements project and the Fix50 project.

The collec...
SFGATE •

Flight attendant reportedly found naked during flight from SFO

A flight attendant for British Airways on an outbound flight from San Francisco International Airport was arrested after he was found naked in the business-class bathroom, the Sun first reported.

A flight attendant for British Airways on an outbound flight from San Francisco International Airport was arrested after he was found naked in the business-class bathroom, the Sun first reported.

On Sunday, Flight BA284 took off from SFO around 5 p.m., according to Flight Aware. According to the Sun,...
SFGATE •

Kendrick Lamar's SF show gives ominous nod to his legal feud with Drake

It’s been more than a year since the dust settled from the rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, yet it seems that Lamar is still riding high. In that time, he’s put on a one-night-only show in Los Angeles for Juneteenth and headlined the Super Bowl Halftime Show. Now Lamar shares the stage with SZA in a coheadlining tour that sustained a buzz throughout San Francisco’s Oracle Park over an almost three-hour set Thursday night.

It’s been more than a year since the dust settled from the rap...
SFGATE •

A cursed Calif. Egyptian-themed waterpark became a rave venue until burning down

Nostalgic ravegoers on Instagram continue to fondly recall events like Garden of Eden, Fuzzy Fest, Pajama Jam and the 420 Fest in 2009, which blasted music past 8 a.m. Colorful lights and “raver’s rain,” sweat from other ravers’ bodies, fell from the balcony onto those below. Before iPhones became commonplace, cellphones, for the most part, stayed in people’s bags and pockets instead of being used for recording sets. Many of the shows in the venue’s history were shows marketed as “all ages,” wit...
SFGATE •

Southwest flyers notice strange change in onboard service

Eli Weiss, a resident of San Francisco and frequent flyer on both Alaska Airlines and Southwest, told SFGATE he noticed he was not served snacks about half the time he flew on Southwest so far this year. Weiss said he usually flies short routes between San Francisco and Burbank or Los Angeles, and from Seattle to Denver.

Eli Weiss, a resident of San Francisco and frequent flyer on both Alaska Airlines and Southwest, told SFGATE he noticed he was not served snacks about half the time he flew on...
SFGATE •

Mexico slashes cruise fee by almost 90%

A fee that could have made Mexico one of the most expensive countries to cruise to has been narrowly avoided.

A fee that could have made Mexico one of the most expensive countries to cruise to has been narrowly avoided.

In winter 2024, the Mexican government planned to start charging cruise passengers a $42 fee to visit the country’s ports in 2025, regardless of whether or not they disembarked. However, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association and its “member cruise lines,” which represent mor...
SFGATE •

California State Parks announces the best beach in the state

A picturesque day at the beach is nearly a guarantee in Orange County, and especially at Crystal Cove, known for its natural seashore, open spaces and great sunsets. After all, it was named in 1927 by a regular visitor named Elizabeth Wood “because the name seemed right for such a beautiful place.” So it should come as no surprise to anyone who’s visited the cove that it’s the best state beach in California, according to the California State Parks Foundation.

A picturesque day at the beach is n...
SFGATE •

Adult entertainer becomes surprising hero for national parks

It all started when a Yellowstone National Park fan account went viral with a series of posts featuring provocative music, funny captions, adult entertainers and even shirtless celebrities, paired with shots of the park’s natural beauty. Soon after, about a dozen other copycat TikTok accounts began posting similar thirst traps, or social media posts aiming to evoke desire in viewers.

It all started when a Yellowstone National Park fan account went viral with a series of posts featuring provocat...
SFGATE •

Real ID is a waste of my time and I don't need one

It’s May 5, 2025, and I’m taking one last trip to San Francisco International Airport without the coveted golden bear on my driver’s license. As I reach the front of the TSA PreCheck line at the San Diego Airport, I hand the Transportation Security Administration agent my driver’s license. He glances it over. “Just make sure you have a Real ID by May 7,” he said. I politely respond, “I have a passport. Thank you.”

It’s May 5, 2025, and I’m taking one last trip to San Francisco International Air...
SFGATE •

Calif. city issues thousands of tickets for a law that SF doesn't enforce

Police in San Diego revealed they have written thousands of tickets in the last two months, fining drivers over $100 for a controversial law that other cities, including San Francisco, have decided is too difficult to enforce.

Police in San Diego revealed they have written thousands of tickets in the last two months, fining drivers over $100 for a controversial law that other cities, including San Francisco, have decided is too difficult to enforce.

The San Diego Police Department's Parking En...
SFGATE •

Hawaii lawmakers pass bill raising state's hotel tax for visitors

A trip to Hawaii is about to get even more expensive for travelers in an attempt to preserve the islands’ future.

A trip to Hawaii is about to get even more expensive for travelers in an attempt to preserve the islands’ future.

Hawaii lawmakers have passed a first-of-its-kind bill to raise the tax on hotel stays and other vacation rentals, specifically to fund efforts to fight climate change. Senate Bill 1396 was unanimously passed in the Senate on April 25. On May 2, the House of Representati...
SFGATE •

Historic Lake Tahoe south shore casino to be reborn as a new brand

Harveys Lake Tahoe originally opened in 1944 as a family-owned and -operated casino on the south shore. In 1963, the casino expanded to a high-rise hotel. Now, Caesars Entertainment is in the midst of plans to renovate the hotel-casino, and on Wednesday, the company unveiled plans to rebrand the property into Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino — part of a new branch of the Caesars brand that launched last year in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Harveys Lake Tahoe originally opened in 1944 as a f...
SFGATE •

Dangerous Bay Area freeway on-ramps reopen after $100 million redesign

A project to fix a Bay Area interchange known for causing dangerous car crashes is finally complete. On Monday, Caltrans and the Alameda County Transportation Commission announced that the project addressing the Gilman Street interchange with Interstate 80 in Berkeley was complete. The $100 million bill was paid for by various government entities and constituent tax dollars.

A project to fix a Bay Area interchange known for causing dangerous car crashes is finally complete. On Monday, Caltrans...
SFGATE •

Major Bay Area lawsuit settled, clearing way for Calif. high-speed rail project

After years of negotiation, Millbrae and the California High-Speed Rail Authority reached a settlement on April 17 to resolve a lawsuit the city filed in 2022 that threatened to delay construction of Millbrae’s high-speed rail station, clearing a significant hurdle for California’s elusive bullet train project. The city and rail authority reached a decision that addressed the city’s concerns over local control of the land and proper integration with the city’s other transit services.

After year...
SFGATE •

Nearly half of California IDs aren't acceptable for travel after May 7

The deadline by which travelers will need a Real ID for domestic flights is just two weeks away, but only 55% of Californians have one.

The deadline by which travelers will need a Real ID for domestic flights is just two weeks away, but only 55% of Californians have one.

After several years of extending the deadline to obtain a Real ID for domestic travel, the Department of Homeland Security is preparing to enforce the requirement on May 7, 2025. But a CBS News data analysis conducted from Apr...
SFGATE •

British Airways flight attendant found dead at San Francisco hotel

On April 15, a British Airways flight crew stayed in San Francisco for two nights on a stopover. But when the crew was scheduled to leave on Thursday, April 17, one flight attendant failed to show up for his shift, which raised alarm bells among his fellow crew members, according to the Sun. Hotel staff let his colleagues into his room, where they found the man deceased.

On April 15, a British Airways flight crew stayed in San Francisco for two nights on a stopover. But when the crew was schedu...
SFGATE •

'I'm actually not happy': California Coastal Commission backs massive hotel

A proposed development in Santa Barbara has divided some in the Central Coast city for years over which is more valuable: maintaining one of the few remaining enclaves of affordability for artists and small businesses, or embracing the tide as a luxury hotel seeks to reshape the shoreline.

A proposed development in Santa Barbara has divided some in the Central Coast city for years over which is more valuable: maintaining one of the few remaining enclaves of affordability for artists and small b...
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