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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 •

Social media frenzy forces California farm to cut flower-picking season short

An abundance of flowers is a sure sign of spring in California, but a farm in Modesto was forced to end its tulip-picking season early after the event went viral on social media and huge crowds showed up.

An abundance of flowers is a sure sign of spring in California, but a farm in Modesto was forced to end its tulip-picking season early after the event went viral on social media and huge crowds showed up.

John Bos, the owner of Dutch Hollow Farms, told KCRA-TV that the decision to end the sea...
SFGATE •

'Alysa Liu is Oakland': City plans celebration rally for Olympic win

Less than two weeks after Alysa Liu came home, sporting two gold medals, the city of Oakland has announced its plans to celebrate the figure skater.

Less than two weeks after Alysa Liu came home, sporting two gold medals, the city of Oakland has announced its plans to celebrate the figure skater.

On March 12, the city of Oakland is slated to host a celebration rally at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall to celebrate Liu’s achievements at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Naturally, Liu...
SFGATE •

Lifeguards rescue stranded person from Calif. beach cliffs

The Los Angeles County Fire Department rescued a person from the Redondo Beach cliffs over the weekend.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department rescued a person from the Redondo Beach cliffs over the weekend.

On Sunday, the department’s lifeguards, air operations and Baywatch Redondo all responded to a call for a search and rescue for a person stuck over the cliffside, the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Lifeguard Division said on Instagram. They heard the person calling for help in dense...
SFGATE •

Why the California superbloom is more 'a kind of hype' than actual science

Wildflowers are having an excellent year in Death Valley National Park and other state and national parks across California, and the term “superbloom” is getting tossed around liberally. But according to experts interviewed by SFGATE, there’s no concrete way to define the phenomenon. And even if there were, some find the term problematic altogether.

Wildflowers are having an excellent year in Death Valley National Park and other state and national parks across California, and the term “superblo...
SFGATE •

Popular Mexico destination doubles down on tourism fee

A fee that has made travel to a popular tourism destination in Mexico more expensive is not only here to stay, but is getting more expensive.The government of Baja California Sur, home to popular tourism spots like Los Cabos, announced the Embrace It fee — a mandatory tax for visitors over 12 who stay in the country for more than 24 hours — in June. And now, as of January, the price has increased from 470 Mexican pesos (about $25) to 488 pesos (about $28).

A fee that has made travel to a popula...
SFGATE •

Person fatally falls in California's Devil's Slide area

A person fell from a cliff and died on Tuesday in the Devil’s Slide area between Pacifica and Montara, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

A person fell from a cliff and died on Tuesday in the Devil’s Slide area between Pacifica and Montara, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

Around 11:45 a.m., the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and the Cal Fire CZU San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit responded to reports of a person falling off a cliff at Gray Whale Cove State Beach. Speci...
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...
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