For the past few years, there have been a number of quite stellar art exhibitions featuring impressionist or sort of near-Impressionist art in the northern California region. Now the museums seem like they are focusing on more modern art, which appeals less to me. Still, there are lots of shows that sound interesting. Here is a completely subjective sampling.
Japanese Prints: Hokusai at LACMA
April 13–July 28, 2013
LA County Museum of Art
Ongoing
The Haggin Museum, Stockton, California
Like Norman Rockwell? Check out J. C. Leyendecker.
Inspiration Points: Masterpieces of California Landscape
May 31–August 11, 2013
Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum has one of the best collections of early California art around. IMHO.
Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
June 1 – October 13, 2013
In celebration of the Americas Cup races.
Diebenkorn: the Berkeley Years, 1953–1966
De Young Museum, San Francisco
June 22–September 29, 2013
I know, Diebenkorn is more modern than my typical recommendations. But every artist working today has to contend with Diebenkorn somehow.
The Epic and the Intimate: French Drawings from the John D. Reilly Collection
June 30–September 29, 2013
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento
David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition
DeYoung Museum, San Francisco
October 26, 2013–January 20, 2014
November 9, 2013–September 7, 2014
Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Paintings from the SF MOMA collection while that museum undergoes renovation.
And of course, the really big not-to-miss show:
Anders Zorn, Sweden’s Master Painter
November 9, 2013–February 2, 2014
Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco
Among many artists I admire, Anders Zorn is ranked as one of the Big Three among many painters I respect, though he is less well known to the American public. (This Big Three comprises Sargent, Sorolla, and Zorn.) There was a smaller show at the Isabella Stewart Gardiner Museum in Boston earlier this year. This show promises to be much larger, and a chance for those of us not going to Sweden to see his work in person.
What shows have I missed that you are looking forward to seeing this year?
Stephanie Benedict's Blog 
I’ve heard Sorrolla will be at a museum in San Diego in 2014.
Thanks for the tip, Betty Wilhelm. I had not heard that.