Features reporter

John Metcalfe

John Metcalfe is a Bay Area News Group features reporter for The Mercury News and East Bay Times, covering nature, food, the arts, and notable things to do in the Bay Area for the Eat Drink Play section. He lives in Oakland with no pets unless you count a thoroughly embedded family of backyard raccoons. Follow him on Twitter at @citycalfe or on Facebook.

A gray whale calf nuzzles its mother. People in Northern California will have a chance to spot these migrating whales during the many whale festivals of spring 2026. (NOAA)

5 fantastic Whale Festivals in Northern California for spring 2026

February 28, 2026 at 1:49 p.m.

From Mendocino to Monterey, whale fests offer the chance to glimpse these migrating giants -- plus hiking, dining and rocking out.

Stasher has determined the best tourist attraction to be the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. The rankings were calculated by considering five factors: online ratings, TikTok likes, distance from an airport, the country’s safety and quality of local lodging. (Dreamstime/TNS)

This California spot leads list of worst tourist attractions in the world

February 27, 2026 at 8:08 a.m.

The Eiffel Tower and Disney World come out strong but L.A. does poorly.

Cattle graze in the foreground of Point Sur State Historic Park along California’s Big Sur coastline.

The world’s best honeymoon trips include this California paradise

February 26, 2026 at 7:40 a.m.

Planning a romantic getaway in 2026? Vogue has you covered with these unforgettable destinations.

Air travelers wait to board a flight at LaGuardia Airport in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The worst (and best) US airports for flight disruptions

February 6, 2026 at 7:40 a.m.

Some 248 million domestic passengers experienced flight disruptions in 2025. Here's where it was worst.

It’s believed that in the 1980s, Julia Child ordered Black Bean Chili from Cafe Beaujolais in Mendocino, popularizing the dish. The recipe appears in “The New Cafe Beaujolais Cookbook” by Julian Lopez, being published on Feb. 3 by the Collective Book Studio. (Photo by Daniela S. Tallman/The Collective Book Studio)

Super Bowl recipe: Julia Child’s fave black bean chili from Mendocino’s Cafe Beaujolais

January 29, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Julia Child was said to have ordered this homey vegetarian dish in the 1980s, helping put the restaurant on the map.

The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., on Route 66 still has its iconic vintage neon sign. (iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus)

America’s coolest motels include these spots

January 21, 2026 at 7:40 a.m.

It's the 100th anniversary of the motel. Here are some classic and cool ones to visit, as recommended by Vogue.

Multnomah Falls is shown in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area near Bridal Veil, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, file)

10 travel gems to visit in 2026 that are off the beaten path

January 18, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.

A strong case can be made for these creative destinations.

FILE: Festival goers attend the H-D Museum during Harley-Davidson's Homecoming Festival - Day 2 at Veterans Park on July 15, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

10 fascinating U.S. transportation museums to geek out to in 2026

January 7, 2026 at 7:40 a.m.

The largest steam locomotive ever built, the Batmobile and warships — time to hit the road to see the best.

The cold months are a fine time to enjoy high-octane, spiced beers sometimes called Christmas ales or winter warmers. (Getty Images)

Chatting about the joy of winter beers with Craig Thomas, Master Cicerone

January 3, 2026 at 7:11 a.m.

Curious about those dark, spiced, high-octane beers served around the holidays?

This recipe for an Old Rasputin chocolate cake was developed by Sheila Martins of North Coast Brewing Co. in Fort Bragg, Calif. (Courtesy of Mark Ruedrich/North Coast Brewing Co.)

Old Rasputin chocolate cake from North Coast Brewing Co.

December 31, 2025 at 9:02 a.m.

This darkly decadent chocolate cake relies on a stout with a cult following. If you're feeling naughty, drizzle it with ganache.

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