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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 •

Hawaii and California dominate list of best resorts in the US

A hotel in Hawaii, where guests can swim with hundreds of fish, including manta rays, was named the best resort in the U.S. for the second year in a row.

A hotel in Hawaii, where guests can swim with hundreds of fish, including manta rays, was named the best resort in the U.S. for the second year in a row.

U.S. News & World Report recently released its list of the best resorts in the U.S. The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii took the No. 1 slot. The five-star re...
SFGATE •

A stinky beach in California is named best beach in the US

A scenic California cove, commonly known for its surfer culture and the sea lions sunning on its shores, has risen to the top of Tripadvisor’s list of best beaches in 2026.

A scenic California cove, commonly known for its surfer culture and the sea lions sunning on its shores, has risen to the top of Tripadvisor’s list of best beaches in 2026.

La Jolla Cove, located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, has been ranked the No. 1 beach in the country in Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awar...
SFGATE •

Icy roads and heavy traffic anticipated for Bay Area drivers headed to Tahoe

The snow is waning after a deadly snowstorm early in the week that closed resorts and left thousands without power. But Bay Area travelers looking to head to Tahoe to take advantage of the fresh snow at ski resorts will need to be careful heading to the mountain.

The snow is waning after a deadly snowstorm early in the week that closed resorts and left thousands without power. But Bay Area travelers looking to head to Tahoe to take advantage of the fresh snow at ski resorts will need to be care...
SFGATE •

Second Bay Area skier found dead at Northstar

A skier who went missing at a Tahoe ski resort has been found dead, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Facebook on Thursday.

A skier who went missing at a Tahoe ski resort has been found dead, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Facebook on Thursday.

The Sheriff’s Office received a report at 11 p.m. on Wednesday of a missing 21-year-old man. Authorities located his car in the parking lot of the Northstar California Resort, where the man had been skiing.

The Sheriff’s...
SFGATE •

Bay Area man dies at Tahoe ski resort after collision

A 53-year-old Bay Area man died at a Tahoe ski resort on Sunday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to SFGATE in an email.

A 53-year-old Bay Area man died at a Tahoe ski resort on Sunday, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to SFGATE in an email.

On Feb. 15, Northstar ski patrol responded to an on-mountain collision of two guests on the Polaris trail at Northstar California Resort. The Northstar Fire Department pronounced one of the skiers dead, Northstar California Resort s...
SFGATE •

Deadly Tahoe storm drops over 5 feet of snow in 3-day stretch

Tahoe’s dry January was followed up by an intense and dangerous winter storm that closed highways and ski resorts while dropping feet of snow in the region.

Tahoe’s dry January was followed up by an intense and dangerous winter storm that closed highways and ski resorts while dropping feet of snow in the region.

“We had several feet of snow up in the Sierra, even in the Tahoe Basin, and Truckee areas, and then even down in Reno where we had reports of anywhere from 6 to 8 inches,” National Wea...
SFGATE •

Weather official warns Tahoe travelers to end holiday weekend early

With a three-day weekend ahead, Bay Area travelers have their first opportunity in several weeks to enjoy fresh snow in Tahoe. However, drivers hoping for an easy trek may need to cut their trips short to avoid an incoming snowstorm.

With a three-day weekend ahead, Bay Area travelers have their first opportunity in several weeks to enjoy fresh snow in Tahoe. However, drivers hoping for an easy trek may need to cut their trips short to avoid an incoming snowstorm.

"Our message is that if you do...
SFGATE •

California skier dies at Tahoe ski resort

A 26-year-old man died at a Tahoe ski resort on Friday, the Truckee Fire Protection District confirmed to SFGATE in an email.

A 26-year-old man died at a Tahoe ski resort on Friday, the Truckee Fire Protection District confirmed to SFGATE in an email.

On Feb. 6, Northstar California Resort’s ski patrol responded to a skiing accident on the Martis trail run. The advanced run on the backside of the mountain feeds into the Martis Camp Lodge, a members-only access point at the resort.

On Feb. 6,...
SFGATE •

California skier dies at Tahoe ski resort

Olivia Harden is a travel reporter at SFGATE, where she has written and reported stories in destinations across the state since 2023. She was born and raised and refuses to leave Southern California. Olivia graduated from Chapman University with a B.A. in English and journalism and has since been featured in Buzzfeed, Mic and more. Her previous role was as a staff writer at Matador Network, a leading travel publication.

Olivia Harden is a travel reporter at SFGATE, where she has written and rep...
SFGATE •

Lobster trap buoy, drones, infrared cameras save stranded Santa Barbara surfer

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department used infrared drones Friday evening to rescue a stranded surfer who was clinging to a lobster trap buoy off the coast of Goleta.At 6:28 p.m. near Haskell’s Beach, a 26-year-old male surfer lost his board and was swept away about a quarter-mile from the shore due to the high surf, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said in a post on X. The surfer grabbed onto the buoy a quarter of a mile from the beach, where he awaited rescue. A friend immediately r...
SFGATE •

Bay Area airspace crowded with private flyers just hours after Super Bowl ends

Whether they came to see the Seattle Seahawks take home the trophy or just watch Bad Bunny’s halftime show in person, the wealthy spectators who opted to fly private to Super Bowl Sunday brought a massive spike in private jet traffic to the Bay Area.

Whether they came to see the Seattle Seahawks take home the trophy or just watch Bad Bunny’s halftime show in person, the wealthy spectators who opted to fly private to Super Bowl Sunday brought a massive spike in private jet traffic to the Bay Are...
SFGATE •

In famous Calif. park, people are using feces to fight new parking rules

Since Jan. 5, visitors to the largest urban cultural park in the United States have been required to pay to park at all 12 of Balboa’s lots. What had previously been free suddenly cost as much as $16 per day for anyone hoping to go out to dinner, visit any of the museums or just go for a walk.

Since Jan. 5, visitors to the largest urban cultural park in the United States have been required to pay to park at all 12 of Balboa’s lots. What had previously been free suddenly cost as much as $16 per...
SFGATE •

California man dies while snorkeling on Maui

On Saturday, around 11:45 a.m., first responders arrived at Makena Landing on Maui for a man who became unconscious while snorkeling, according to a news release from the Maui Police Department. Bystanders pulled 69-year-old Huntington Beach resident Frank Archuleta Jr. out of the water and attempted lifesaving measures.

On Saturday, around 11:45 a.m., first responders arrived at Makena Landing on Maui for a man who became unconscious while snorkeling, according to a news release from the Maui...
SFGATE •

A decade later, measles returns to Disneyland

On Friday, the Orange County Health Care Agency notified the public that an international traveler who had arrived in the country at Los Angeles International Airport had visited Disneyland on Jan. 28. The agency urged community members who may have been in shared spaces with the traveler to ensure immunity.

On Friday, the Orange County Health Care Agency notified the public that an international traveler who had arrived in the country at Los Angeles International Airport had visited Disneyland...
SFGATE •

New TSA fee could add 30 minutes to airport security for some travelers

Nearly eight months after Real ID enforcement began, the Transportation Security Administration hopes that charging stragglers may encourage them to finally get on board.“We’ve said since last May, when we started Real ID, we’re going to ramp up enforcement, and this is the next step,” TSA spokesperson Jessica Mayle told SFGATE.

Nearly eight months after Real ID enforcement began, the Transportation Security Administration hopes that charging stragglers may encourage them to finally get on boar...
SFGATE •

Private LA airport for celebs causes alarm with NTSB

A top transportation safety official warned that the Federal Aviation Administration is disregarding concerns that a California airport could be the site of the next fatal crash.

A top transportation safety official warned that the Federal Aviation Administration is disregarding concerns that a California airport could be the site of the next fatal crash.

At a Tuesday press conference following a National Transportation Safety Board meeting in Washington, D.C., Chair Jennifer Homendy spoke abo...
SFGATE •

Amtrak announces big changes for travelers on key Calif. route for Super Bowl

Northern California sports fans looking to avoid the hassle of navigating street closures and parking nightmares on Super Bowl Sunday may consider taking public transportation to get around. Perhaps anticipating a rush of riders, Amtrak is making some major changes to accommodate the busy weekend.

Northern California sports fans looking to avoid the hassle of navigating street closures and parking nightmares on Super Bowl Sunday may consider taking public transportation to get around. Perhaps a...
SFGATE •

Southwest is saying goodbye to its most divisive policy. Here's what to know.

The airline has operated under an open-seating policy, sometimes referred to as a cattle call, for nearly 55 years. Gone are the days of waking up early to check in and secure a good boarding group. Instead, like every other airline, customers will be assigned a seat number. Equally significant, it will add seats with extra legroom and charge more for them.

The airline has operated under an open-seating policy, sometimes referred to as a cattle call, for nearly 55 years. Gone are the days of wa...
SFGATE •

Uptown Oakland hotel apparently closing, stops taking reservations

Located in the city’s burgeoning Uptown neighborhood, the 172-room Moxy Hotel at 2225 Telegraph Ave. has stopped accepting reservations, is not taking phone calls and has closed its bar. Attempts to book a room on the hotel’s website for a few days in February resulted in a message that the hotel was sold out.

Located in the city’s burgeoning Uptown neighborhood, the 172-room Moxy Hotel at 2225 Telegraph Ave. has stopped accepting reservations, is not taking phone calls and has closed its bar....
SFGATE •

Other Bay Area airports lag behind SFO in holiday traffic growth

During one of the biggest travel months of 2025, two Bay Area airports, which have yet to push their passenger numbers to near prepandemic levels, saw fewer travelers than the year before.

During one of the biggest travel months of 2025, two Bay Area airports, which have yet to push their passenger numbers to near prepandemic levels, saw fewer travelers than the year before.

In November, around 831,000 passengers traveled through San Jose Mineta International, a 13% decrease from the same peri...
SFGATE •

Another travel delay on I-80 creates pain point on route to Tahoe

Bay Area drivers on the Eastshore Freeway in Contra Costa County should prepare for another pain point on Interstate 80.

Bay Area drivers on the Eastshore Freeway in Contra Costa County should prepare for another pain point on Interstate 80.

Caltrans has planned overnight maintenance between Buchanan Street in Albany and Highway 4 in Hercules through February, it announced Thursday. As part of the $85 million project, Caltrans plans to install traffic signs and electrical conduits, replace tra...
SFGATE •

More major Calif. airports to get TSA upgrade already at SFO

The Transportation Security Administration is expanding another program to keep the agency’s promise of TSA PreCheck airport security lines that are 10 minutes or less. But some California airports didn’t make the cut.

The Transportation Security Administration is expanding another program to keep the agency’s promise of TSA PreCheck airport security lines that are 10 minutes or less. But some California airports didn’t make the cut.

The agency plans to expand its Touchless ID program by this...
SFGATE •

Highway 101 gas station closure to create 40-mile gap on North Coast

Last week, the Yurok Economic Development Corporation (the economic branch of the Yurok Tribe) announced that the Shoreline Fuel Mart in Orick will close on Jan. 1. Its absence will create a roughly 40-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 101 between Trinidad and Klamath without a fueling station for an unknown period. Orick is a gateway town to Redwood National and State Parks.

Last week, the Yurok Economic Development Corporation (the economic branch of the Yurok Tribe) announced that the Shoreline F...
SFGATE •

California lawmakers demand answers after 8-hour traffic jam on I-5

Several California lawmakers are questioning the efficacy of the state’s transportation agencies after a major interstate in Southern California was unexpectedly shut down three times in the last three months. California state Sen. Catherine Blakespear led an inquiry and wrote a letter Monday to the California Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol and the San Diego Police Department, questioning the three abrupt freeway closures on Interstate 5. The interstate is a major ro...
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