Archive for February, 2010

Whale Watching

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

It’s time to witness one of the greatest wildlife migrations on the planet, and it’s happening just west of you. Every March herds gray whales can be spotted from shore as they journey northward along the coast, completing the last leg of their 14,000-mile annual round-trip. The proud parents are heading back to their Arctic feeding grounds after giving birth to their calves in the warm waters of Baja California (yes, even baby whales are adorable).

Ergo, this week’s theme is all about my favorite places along the Northern Coast to spot gray whales—from Mendocino to Monterey Bay—as well as the best whale watching boat tours and places to stay during your whale watching getaway. And don’t forget to bring binoculars. Read full article »

Posted in Parks & Wildlife, Seasonal Escapes by Getaway Guru | 3 Comments »

Romantic Road Trips

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Romantic Road TripsIf your Valentine’s Day weekend wasn’t exactly the whirlwind of romantic wonderment you hoped and dreamed it would be, it’s not too late to take a do-over. Spring is right around the corner and plenty of hotels are offering heavily discounted rates and packages to lure local lovers on a romantic weekend getaway. Of the dozens of deals and events that have come across my desk this week I picked a few of my favorites, all of which are guaranteed sure-things for couples in need of an extension on their Valentine’s Day intentions. Read full article »

Posted in Mind, Body & Spirit, Romantic by Getaway Guru | 1 Comment »

Dog-Gone Getaways

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Dog Gone GetawaysWe recently did a survey at LocalGetaways and one of most requested topics for local travel tips was pet-friendly getaways. Which makes sense, because there’s nothing more sad than saying goodbye to your little buddy as you walk out the front door for weekend getaway. Ergo, this week’s theme covers a few of my top picks for pet-friendly destinations in Northern California. Better yet, add your own tips and advice to our pet-friendly blogs below. We’d love to hear from you. Read full article »

Posted in Pet-Friendly by Getaway Guru | 5 Comments »

Garden Getaways

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Local Getaways - Great Getaways - Garden GetawaysI have a confession to make. If I didn’t have to visit Northern California’s botanical gardens and preserves to review them for my travel guides, I probably never would have learned how amazing the places are. Until I actually visited the spectacular Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park and the mind-blowing Cornerstone Festival of Gardens in Sonoma Valley, I never realized how… entertaining the world of botany can be.

If you’re already a fan of gardens, you won’t need encouraging, but for all you too-cool-for-tulips types, trust me: A getaway to any of these five botanical gardens will turn your thumbs green in no time. Read full article »

Posted in Mind, Body & Spirit, Parks & Wildlife by Getaway Guru | 2 Comments »