This weeklong road trip covers two of my favorite places on the planet: Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. I’ve visited both these mountain regions countless times, yet each time I’m nonetheless awestruck by their beauty. The trip starts in North Lake Tahoe, winds its way to South Lake Tahoe, and then veers southeast along Hwy. 395 to Mono Lake. From there, it cuts westward on Hwy. 120 and heads up, up, up to the famed Tioga Pass and into Yosemite National Park. Just reading about it will make you want to drop everything and start packing. Read full article »
Thrills & Adventure
7-Day Dream Getaway: Lake Tahoe & Yosemite
Sunday, August 29th, 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 »
Secrets of Sonoma IV – Summer Adventures in Sonoma County
Sunday, May 9th, 2010
I get it. We need the water. But enough with the rain already. My skis are stowed in the basement, which is the official sign that I’m ready for summer—and I’m betting you are too. So for the fourth and final edition of my Secrets of Sonoma series, I’m covering all of my favorite summer activities in Sonoma County—from canoeing and biking to horseback riding and hiking. With more square miles than Rhode Island, 250 wineries, 50 miles of shoreline, 40 spas, 20 beaches, 18 golf courses, and 13 state parks, there always something fun going on in Sonoma County, and here are a few of my top picks. Read full article »
7 Awesome Outdoor Adventures
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
Now that winter has passed, it’s time to start planning your summer getaways to the great outdoors. But instead of sitting on your fanny in a camp chair all weekend (not that there’s anything wrong with that), consider taking a recreational getaway that gets your blood flowing and calories burning. As a serious outdoors nut I could write a book on Northern California’s recreational getaways, but for this week’s theme I’ve narrowed it down to my seven top picks for getting some healthy exercise while exploring some of my favorite outdoor adventure destinations. Read full article »
Spring Snow Getaways
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
Spring officially arrived on March 20th, and so did the sunny weather (finally!). But don’t hang up your skis and sleds just yet, because the best time to head to the Sierra for some fun in the snow is right now. Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts have enjoyed a phenomenal winter season and there’s still a LOT of snow up on the slopes. Now throw in some warm weather, a flurry of end-of-the-season discounts, several spring skiing festivals, and voila! The perfect recipe for a fun and affordable snow-play getaway. Read full article »
SECRETS of SONOMA II: Awesome Adventures
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
A while back I was reading an article by Tom Stienstra, the outdoors writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, where he shared with his readers a nugget of wisdom about getting outside more often that I still follow to this day: Pick an outdoor adventure, then find a free weekend and write it down, right now, in your Day Planner.
Getting it down in ink is such a simple yet effective method for motivating yourself to spend less time on the couch and more time exploring the dozens of adventures that await you throughout Northern California. So grab a pen and your Day Planner, because somewhere below is an awesome adventure or two that’s waiting for you. 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 »
Thrills & Adventure
Sunday, August 16th, 2009
Summer’s almost over, but there’s still time to plan one last getaway to the great outdoors. But instead of sitting on your fanny in a camp chair all weekend (not that there’s anything wrong with that), consider taking a thrilling and adventurous weekend getaway that gets your blood flowing and calories burning. As a serious outdoors nut I could write a book on Northern California’s recreational getaways, but for this week’s theme I’ve narrowed it down to my seven top picks for having some serious outdoor fun. Read full article »
Romantic Getaway: A romantic 2-night Santa Cruz getaway package to 
