This week’s local travel tips are for everyone who’s tired of listening to his or her skier friends boast about all that fresh “pow pow” in Tahoe. So you don’t ski or snowboard—big deal. There are plenty of other exhilarating winter activities in the Tahoe region that don’t require you to buy absurdly expensive lift tickets and humiliate yourself on the bunny slopes.
I’ve been heading up to Tahoe every winter since I was a toddler and I know ALL the best places to play in the snow, whether it’s bombing down the hill on a saucer at Granlibakken or dog sledding through a snowy alpine meadow. No previous experience is required for any of these getaways, so start planning a Tahoe getaway today to play in all that glorious new snow. Read full article »
Standing in the center of San Francisco’s Union Square during the holidays is an experience not to be missed. The city has a living pulse of its own this time of year. All the stores are resplendent with twinkling lights and fanciful displays. Christmas trees festooned with lights and ornaments fill the square while children stand in line to talk to Santa. Sharing these kinds of special moments while discovering the perfect gift for your loved ones are what the holidays are all about. Being in the fashion industry for nearly ten years, I have come to find that San Francisco is loaded with high-fashion hideaways all over the city, and here are a few of my favorites. 
If you’re looking for something interesting and affordable to do this winter, Mother Nature is putting on some pretty good free shows this time of year. Much of the wildlife in Northern California is doing the wild thing, and they don’t care who’s watching. Some of the most fascinating eco-excursions in the state only take place in the winter, such as the monarch butterfly migration to Pacific Grove, millions of migrating waterfowl in Sacramento Valley, and elephant seal mating rituals at Año Nuevo State Reserve (believe me, if you’ve never seen a pair of 2-ton elephant seal bulls fighting over a lady, you’re in for a treat). So grab your day-planner right now and carve out a few days this December for a winter wildlife watching getaway. 
Romantic Getaway: A romantic 2-night Santa Cruz getaway package to 
