Archive for November, 2009

Holiday Train Trips

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

holiday_train_trips_header1There’s something about riding on a train that’s just… cool. And to ride along with your family, friends, or significant other while celebrating the holidays is all the better. Each year several local train companies festoon their engines and vintage passenger cars with thousands of lights and ornaments. It’s quite a sight to see at night, a massive torpedo of luminosity rolling down the tracks as bands play and revelers dance the night away.

So if you still haven’t made any New Year’s Eve plans or are looking for something fun to do with the kids while they’re on school break, take a look at my train of thoughts below (oh my that’s a bad pun). I’m sure there’s something here in your neck of the woods that offers the perfect excuse to hop in the car for a rolling holiday getaway. Read full article »

Fall Foliage Getaways

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Fall Foliage GetawaysNow that autumn is upon us, it’s time to consider taking a weekend getaway to enjoy some of the best fall foliage viewing in the country. November is the perfect time to take a relaxing road trip, enjoy the crisp weather, tranquil setting, and vibrant patchwork of California’s fall colors—vivid leaves of orange, yellow, copper, and red that herald the changing of the seasons.

Listed below are some of my favorite places to visit (and things to do) this time of year, such as riding bikes through Sacramento’s Capital Park, strolling around historic Nevada City, or taking a scenic drive along Ebbetts Pass, one of the prettiest byways in the country. It’s the perfect kind of getaway for a romantic weekend, snuggled up in a cozy B&B by the fire while looking though all the amazing photos of blazing elms, maples, and oaks that you captured during the day. Read full article »

Wonderful Wine Getaways II

Sunday, November 15th, 2009

When you mention the Wine Country most people think of Napa or Sonoma Valley. But true wine geeks have long known that some of Northern California’s best wine and wine-tasting experiences can be found well beyond the valleys, often at family owned wineries tucked away on one-lane roads that would be impossible to find if it weren’t for the periodic signs pointing you in the right direction. It’s experiences like these—casual yet captivating conversations with winemakers as you savor the fruits of their years of hard work—that make visiting these esoteric wineries worth the effort. Ergo, here is Round 2 of my “Who knew?” favorites. Read full article »

Romantic Retreats

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Romantic RetreatsI thought I knew wine until Larry Turley poured me a sip of his finest zinfandel. I was wrong. I thought I knew haute cuisine until I experienced The French Laundry. Wrong again. And I thought I knew luxury hotels until, many years ago, I was invited to stay at the Post Ranch Inn. Words can’t describe how wrong I was.

The point is, there are certain pleasant epiphanies that resonate with you for a lifetime, but typically they only happen if you open yourself up to the experience. We’ve all stayed at nice hotels during our vacations, but when’s the last time you stayed at a hotel that was so special it was the vacation?

The eight hotels listed below offer that sort of experience. Yes, they’re expensive, but you can’t put a price on a lifetime of fond memories. So treat yourself and your partner to an early Christmas present this year and see what it’s like to experience hospitality perfected. Read full article »

Half Moon Bay

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Half Moon BayA leisurely 45-minute drive from the busy streets of San Francisco is the heavenly little hamlet of Half Moon Bay, one of the finest—and friendliest—communities on the California coast. With its pristine beaches, mild climate, diverse eco-attractions, and close proximity to the Bay Area, Half Moon Bay combines the best of Northern California all in one convenient location, making it the perfect solution for anyone in need of a memorable weekend getaway.

What I like best about Half Moon Bay is that it’s refreshingly free of tourist-tacky shops you’ll find in other coastal towns such as Monterey and Santa Cruz. Rather, you’ll discover some of the most enlightening and eco-friendly attractions on the California coast: redwood forests, nature preserves, hiking trails, tide pools, fishing harbors, horse ranches, organic farms, and a host of superb inns and restaurants. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid and I still haven’t experienced everything Half Moon Bay has to offer, such as… Read full article »