
A Great Day by the Bay
Three years ago, my wife Betty and I moved to the small Bay Area city of Benicia, 45 minutes north of San Francisco. We were enticed by its waterside setting, balmy breezes, safe streets, affordable housing (by Bay Area standards), thriving art scene, civic pride, and small town celebrations such as wine walks and dog festivals. Its catchphrase, to attract visitors, is “A Great Day by the Bay.”
The town has an unusual political history. It served as the state capital from 1853 to 1854. According to local lore, during Prohibition its bars and hotels provided an off-the-beaten-track escape where politicians, judges, and the like could engage in, ahem, apolitical indulgences.
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