Character meals are an important part of a Disney vacation for many travelers. Character dining gives you a chance to take photos and get autographs from multiple characters in a short period of time while taking a break from lines and the heat (or rain or cold, depending on the season). Even though these experiences […]
Tips for Driving to Lake Tahoe in Winter
The scene is familiar every Friday afternoon in winter in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley. Thousands of cars take to the roads with skis and snowboards up top, bound for the many mountain ski resorts of Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is my family’s favorite ski destination, so we’ve made the drive along […]
Complete Guide to Holidays at Disneyland 2018
The Halloween decorations have been packed away and the holiday decor has been unveiled at the Happiest Place on Earth. As much as I adore Halloween Time at Disneyland, the Christmas holiday season is perhaps even more magical. My family has been able to make quite a few trips to experience the Disneyland Holidays over […]
Christmas in San Francisco: 11+ Things to Do with Kids to Celebrate the Holiday Season
My favorite time of year in the San Francisco Bay Area is almost here! The weeks leading up to Christmas in San Francisco are always filled with kid-friendly special events and activities, so it is no surprise that many travelers choose to make their way to my hometown for the holidays. Whether you are a […]
Taking a Volcano Road Trip in Northern California and Southern Oregon
We are a family that flies much more than we drive in our travels. My kids can do a cross-country flight like champs, but they aren’t used to long road trips. When my husband and I started planning a summer road trip from our home in the San Francisco Bay Area through Northern California and […]
Gilroy Gardens Review: The Best Little Theme Park You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
A little over an hour away from San Francisco and about 20 miles south of San Jose is the town of Gilroy, California. It is probably best known for its agriculture – in particular, its garlic. Gilroy plays host to an annual summer garlic festival that draws serious crowds. But Gilroy has another attraction that is […]
Halloween Time at Disneyland: Everything You Need to Know
Fall might just be my favorite time of year to visit Disneyland. Crowds are reasonable, the weather is often quite nice, and the Halloween decorations and treats are out in full force. Halloween Time, as the season is known at Disneyland Resort, has lots for everyone in the family. There is a special ticketed event called […]
Travel During Summer Wildfire Season: What You Need to Know
If you’ve been following the news lately, you may know that this summer is one of the worst wildfire seasons in the Western United States in years. Just a few days ago, wildfires forced the closure of Yosemite National Park for the first time in nearly three decades. A major wildfire just started near the […]
The Ultimate Guide to National Parks in Northern California
This post was written in partnership with the National Park Trust and sponsor Northside USA for Kids to Parks Day. My home state of California has an important designation when it comes to national parks – California has more national parks than any other state. Five of California’s nine national parks are within a few […]
California’s Mendocino County with Kids: The Comprehensive Guide
Far too many visitors to Northern California halt their travels somewhere in the middle of Napa or Sonoma County wine country. After living in Northern California for more than a decade, I highly recommend venturing farther north. There are so many amazing NorCal destinations for more adventurous travelers willing to drive just a little farther. […]
