National Women’s Month started out as just one week, back in 1978, and it was an observance of notable women in Sonoma County. By 1987, the concept had expanded both to a full month and the entire nation. Here are some ways to honor women in the Golden State—and to make a great day trip or weekend out of it.
Take in cool exhibits and screenings.
Museums and galleries around the state are paying tribute to female movers and shakers throughout March and beyond. At the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, this month’s Oscar Sundays film series will feature both Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning movies written by women, such as When Harry Met Sally and Thelma & Louise. While you’re at the museum, note the Pillar Campaign, with several literal columns named in honor of women in film, including Rita Moreno, Hattie McDaniel, and Sophia Loren.
Nearby, at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, take in stories that recognize the history of women in Los Angeles, past and present. In Oakland, check out a screening of Chicana, a 1979 film that is considered to be the first major feminist Chicana documentary, at the Oakland Museum of California (March 17). The film’s director, Sylvia Morales, will be on hand for a conversation afterward. At the San Diego Air & Space Museum, stop by American Women of Flight, which honors icons such as Amelia Earhart, Sally Ride, and the 99s, a nearly century-old association for female aviators (ongoing).
Play outside.
Soak up the scenery over International Women’s Day Weekend with a Sail on San Francisco Bay (March 9) hosted by SF Bay Adventures. The ride out of Sausalito, held on a reconstructed tall ship named the Schooner Freda B., will feature stories about notable women in Bay Area history, such as Janis Joplin and architect Julia Morgan. Or take a walk around one of California’s cooler attractions: the East Bay’s Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. Come on a Friday morning and you can visit with real home front workers who served in WWII.
In Los Angeles, you can pedal through women’s history on the Women’s History Ride. The 4.9-mile loop begins at Union Station and winds through Downtown L.A., passing through various landmarks associated with some of the city’s most towering women figures from the fields of architecture, women’s rights, and philanthropy. Conveniently, you don’t even need a bike—the ride is sponsored by the Metro Bike Share program, and visitors can set out on their rides whenever they choose. Passes can be purchased via the organization’s app.
In the desert, over the past 100-plus years women have shaped the evolution of Palm Springs, the city known as a mecca of resorts, midcentury modern architecture, and golf. On your next visit, pair your relaxed vibes with a newfound appreciation of area history after learning about these Women Pioneers of Palm Springs.
Or plan your own trip with a woman-owned outfitter. Ride a bike around Sonoma County with Ace It! Bike Tours, stopping at wineries and breweries along the way, or ride the Pope Baldwin Bike Path in South Lake Tahoe after picking up your bike of choice at the woman-owned Anderson’s Bicycle Rentals.
Taste, shop, repeat.
Woman-owned restaurants, shops, and wineries crisscross the state, and you can celebrate dozens of them in one week in San Luis Obispo County. During the Restaurant Week–style At Her Table celebrate women through the art of culinary connection (March 1–10), or just make the most of menu specials at spots such as Jeffry's Wine Country BBQ in Paso Robles, Corazon 805 Tacos in San Luis Obispo, and Bramble Pie Company in Atascadero. In Huntington Beach, you can browse, eat, and take yoga classes from this curated list of women-owned businesses, including Red Table restaurant, Surf City Skates, and the boutique Model Citizen.
Finish off the month by indulging in a seriously wine-focused meal: The Women in Wine Dinner at Farm Restaurant + Bar in Napa Valley (March 29) includes a four-course tasting menu as well as meet-and-greets and tastings with four standout winemakers. Participating wineries include Chimney Rock, Paula Kornell Sparkling Wines, Blue Farm Wines, and Hanna Winery.
Another option: Toast the great women in your life at a woman-owned brewery, such as Lost Coast Brewery in Eureka, Fort Point Beer Co. in San Francisco, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales in Capitola, or Crowns & Hops in Inglewood, not far from Downtown Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium.
