If you’re looking to squeeze in one last family vacation before school starts, one of the best places to go is California’s Gold Country. It’s one of the most underrated and inexpensive tourist destinations in California, a winning combination of Old West ambiance, affordable B&Bs, and outdoor adventures galore. My dad used to take my sisters and me up to the Gold Country when we were kids and I still remember what a great time we had panning for real gold on the banks of a creek, exploring the spooky caverns, and riding on the steam trains. Believe me, a weekend getaway to the Gold Country is one of the best adventures a kid can have. Read full article »
Offbeat Adventures
Gold Country
Sunday, August 15th, 2010Sunset Strip Music Festival
Sunday, August 1st, 2010
If you want to end your summer on a high note (literally), pull out your day planner and put this in ink: “Going to Sunset Strip Music Festival, August 26-28!” If you’re a fan of live music, rock-n-roll, and festivals, you’re in luck: For only the second time in history, West Hollywood’s legendary Sunset Strip will be closed to traffic on Saturday, August 28, for one of the greatest end-of-the-summer music festivals in America’s history—50 bands (including The Smashing Pumpkins), rock stars (Slash, Fergie, Myles Kennedy), six Sunset Strip clubs, outdoor stages, beer gardens, food trucks, and thousands of music fans enjoying one the best summer weekends in 2010. Read full article »
The 7 Man-Made Wonders of Northern California
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
Sometimes you have to go see something simply because somebody was crazy or determined enough to build it. Take the Winchester Mystery House for example: If someone spends 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for 38 years building a nuthouse, people will line up to see it (and they do). So this week’s getaway theme is a tribute to the top seven man-made wonders that people said couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be built, all of which are a fantastic excuse to get away for fun-filled weekend of exploring Northern California. Read full article »
Kid-Friendly Museums
Sunday, January 31st, 2010
Some of my favorite family road trips as a kid were to places like the Exploratorium in San Francisco or Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley to play with all the hands-on science and technology exhibits. My dad was all for it because the tickets were cheap, and my sisters and I always came home with great mind-expanding toys from the museum gift shop.
So if y’all are looking for something fun, warm, and affordable to do during the rainy season, this week’s theme is all about where to take the kids (or the kid in you) for a getaway adventure that’s both fun and educational—the best kid-friendly museums in Northern California. Read full article »
The Top 5 Road Trips
Sunday, January 10th, 2010
Some of the best memories I have as a kid growing up in Sacramento include piling into the Country Squire station wagon with my sisters (Seatbelts? What seatbelts?) and taking family road trips to the mountains or coast. Every trip was a mini-adventure filled with discovery and danger (Don’t make me pull this car over!). Even now I still get that tingle of anticipation as I load up the car with luggage and hit the open road to anywhere but my office. So in the spirit of good times and grand adventures, I’d like to share with you five of my favorite road trips in Northern California. Read full article »
The 7 Man-Made Wonders of Northern California
Sunday, July 26th, 2009
Sometimes you have to go see something simply because somebody was crazy or determined enough to build it. Take the Winchester Mystery House for example: If someone spends 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for 38 years building a nuthouse, people will line up to see it (and they do). So this week’s getaway theme is a tribute to the top seven man-made wonders that people said couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be built, all of which are a fantastic excuse to get away for fun-filled weekend of exploring Northern California. Read full article »
The 7 Natural Wonders of Northern California
Sunday, June 28th, 2009
Sometime we need to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be living in Northern California. We have it all: beaches, mountains, volcanoes, coastal forests, and a host of natural wonders—the world’s tallest and largest trees; the country’s highest peak, tallest waterfalls, and largest alpine lake; and even the continent’s deepest submarine canyon. So consider this week’s theme a wakeup-call to everyone who loves the outdoors but has yet to explore all of The 7 Natural Wonders of Northern California. Read full article »
Romantic Getaway: A romantic 2-night Santa Cruz getaway package to 
