June 7, 2012
We’re intrepid desert explorers. In fact, I was off-roading in Death Valley when I was pregnant with my daughter, and perhaps it was that experience that led to a life long love of California desert views and trips with expanses of sand and parades of cactus included. The Road Untraveled – Mojave National Preserve One ...
December 27, 2011
Many people head to Santa Barbara’s charming coastal community for summer beach going. Or perhaps to take part in art shows or kite flying demonstrations in the spring or fall. We like heading to Santa Barbara in the winter time, when the white lights strung across the main shopping district of State Street and sparkling ...
November 17, 2011
The holidays are coming on strong this year, with seasons greetings managing to greet you, ready or not, in the malls, grocery stores, and street corners. And with the holidays arriving, so do out of town relatives, ready for a visit with you and kids. And, sometimes those relatives want to see a little bit ...
August 5, 2011
Sonoma, California is near Napa, California. And as such, it’s home to lovely wineries and pretty villages, rich forests, rolling hills, and pleasant cafes. However, what makes Sonoma different than Napa is its emphasis on nature rather than the wine culture, its family-oriented restaurants and activities, and a more laid back, and slightly less expensive ...
June 2, 2011
National Parks have delighted families for generations with their natural beauty. Offering so much to see and do, these parks are a wonderful venue for families to bond, learn and grow together in the splendor of nature itself. The parks below (listed alphabetically) are 5 of the best national parks in the United States, and ...
March 14, 2011
What small child doesn’t enjoy sweet, fresh fruit – ripe strawberries, juicy blue berries, apricots, plums…apples. And what small child doesn’t enjoy the experience of picking their own fruity treat. Our kids were raised to pluck the rosiest apple from the orchard when they were still so small they had to be lifted in our ...
November 17, 2010
Many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the gourmet restaurants or the incredible setting that stretches from the blue mountains to the bluer-still Pacific ocean in this lovely coastal town just under two hours from Los Angeles. We’ve come for many reasons – to attend a concert at the beautiful downtown art deco theater, the ...
November 15, 2010
In my last article on this wonderful Death Valley desert landscape, I left you heading out of the park to the north toward Beatty, Nevada and the wonderful ghost town of Rhyolite en route. Not only is the town well preserved, its easily accessible on a paved road. Maintained by the Bureau of Land ...
November 15, 2010
The desert quiet is intense, and no matter where you spend the night, you’ll get a sound night’s sleep. And it’s a good thing, too, because one of the best times to explore Death Valley’s magnificent sand dunes is early morning. Grab a quick breakfast to go from the convenience store at Furnace Creek ranch ...
November 3, 2010
No, the town is not where they make caramels. No, they don’t have camels there, either. These were some of the questions asked when we first hit this picturesque California seaside town, a few years back, my family sharing a trip with another family, small children looking forward to the famous 17 mile drive as ...
