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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Oakland A’s Games with Kids: Your Family-Friendly Baseball Guide
Thanks to the Oakland A’s for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. Spring is finally here and that means it’s time for America’s favorite past-time – baseball! My family’s love of our hometown team, the Oakland Athletics – more affectionately known as the A’s – runs pretty deep. My husband grew up in […]
Legoland California on a Budget: 10 Money-Saving Tips
My family takes many of our theme park vacations at Disney destinations. Don’t tell, but we recently decided to cheat on the Mouse. Our destination for a long weekend getaway: Legoland California in Carlsbad near San Diego. With an 8 year old daughter and a 4 year old son, my family is firmly in the […]
Top 17 Warm Weather Destinations for Families Escaping Winter
In case you haven’t been watching the news lately, winter is here. In a big way! While I’m lucky enough to live in Northern California where it never really gets that frigid, I feel for my friends in New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and in many other places where winter can really be a drag. Ready to […]
10 Amazing Winter Destinations in California for Families
This year, I have loved highlighting my favorite spring break destinations in California, California summer getaways, and best fall trips in the Golden State. And now it is finally time to tackle the fourth and final season – winter travel in California! Whether you are looking to embrace the cold and head for a snow-covered […]
