Carmel by the Sea Hotels: Where to Stay in Carmel
If you’re vacationing in the beautiful Monterey area, I recommend staying in the quaint town of Carmel by the Sea. You’ll find many…
California Travel Tips
California has been my home state for half of my life. Its vibrant cities and nonstop natural beauty keep me in awe. But the diversity of its people, as seen in the fun food, drinks, art, and innovations are what I especially love. If you're looking for California travel tips, you've come to the right place!
20 California Campgrounds in Amazing Locations
California campgrounds: There is an astounding variety of places to camp in California, from oceanfront sites with a view, to campsites under the…
Table Mountain Ecological Reserve: Stunning Wildflower Hike!
North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve If you’re in Northern California, you need to add this hike to your spring to-do list! Wildflowers and unusual…
What to Do in Northern California in June
(Updated for 2024) Summer in Northern California means that the heat has arrived, but only in some areas — the coast is already…
Amazing Lassen National Park Hike in a Volcano
Have you been to Lassen National Park? It’s surprisingly unknown even here in California! But with jaw-dropping views, volcanoes and painted hills, and…
A Long Weekend Camping in Sonoma County
It’s Spring Break here but the meaning of that is so different this year. We’d planned to take our little trailer to the…
What to Do in Northern California in March
(Updated for 2024!) March is a beautiful time of year in Northern California — right now look for spring blooms on the trees,…
What to Do in Northern California in February
(UPDATED FOR 2023) The weather is (often) beautiful, the mustard is blooming, and the high season in travel is still months away. February…
What to Do in Northern California in January 2025
As I mentioned in last month’s post of things to do in Northern California in December, winter is a great time to visit Northern…
What to Do in Northern California in December
(Updated for 2024!) Northern California may not be the first place that pops into your head for winter travel, but winter is actually a…
What to Do in Northern California This November
Fall is such a beautiful time in Northern California. The temperatures are starting to drop but the rain usually hasn’t arrived yet, and in…
What to Do in Northern California This October
(Updated for October 2020) October is perhaps my favorite month in Northern California. The weather tends to be perfect: no rain yet, cool mornings…
A Peaceful Getaway at Basalt Campground
If you’re looking for a family getaway at a Central California campground where you can just relax, or a place to stop while passing…
What to Do in Northern California in September
Anytime is a good time to travel in Northern California, but September is definitely one of the best months. It’s still warm in much…
A Guide to Visiting Pinnacles National Park
Pinnacles National Park is one of the nation’s newest national parks, having been changed from a national monument under Obama in 2013. Compared…
What to Do in Northern California in August
August in Northern California is hit and miss. It’s still hot as Hades here, and most people have had enough of the hot summer…
Why the Presidio is Our Favorite San Francisco Getaway
Usually when planning a visit to San Francisco, we imagine a weekend of big city pleasures: views, food, museums, shopping, and, because this…
30 Best Wineries in Napa Valley
I’ve been visiting Napa Valley for about 15 years, and it’s become one of my favorite places in California. But I remember feeling…
What to Do in Northern California in July
Traveling in Northern California in July is tricky. At the height of summer, the weather is often cold and foggy on the coast but…
The Palace Hotel, San Francisco
The Palace Hotel San Francisco: What is it like to stay in this beautiful, historic property in the heart of San Francisco? San Francisco’s…
What to Do in Northern California in May
(Updated for 2024) Spring is a glorious time to be here in Northern California. Just being outdoors is one of the best things…
A Napa Valley Trip for History Lovers
When you think of Napa Valley, history probably doesn’t come to mind. But since I’ve gotten to know the area well, I’ve discovered…
What to Do in Northern California in April
(Updated for 2024!) Spring is finally in full swing here in Northern California in April! This is such a wonderful time to be in…
Favorite Hotels & Inns in Northern California
When we plan a trip, there’s almost nothing I think about more than where I’m going to rest my head. Because the right…
30 Things to Do in Lodi
For a wine geek like me, Lodi is so much fun. Not only is it affordable and small enough to make visiting easy, Lodi…
Lake Tahoe RV Parks: Our Favorite Northern California Campground
We have a tradition of taking a camping trip with my mom and stepdad every summer — they have an Airstream, so we book…
How to Spend a Weekend in Half Moon Bay
For years I’ve been looking for the perfect Northern California coastal getaway. Some places are too far away, others are too remote or…
Two Days in Long Beach
Every once in a while, a trip goes so smoothly that we just can’t believe our luck. That’s exactly how we felt during our…
Things to Do Sonoma County: 30 Amazing Ideas!
Sonoma County is quintessential Northern California. The charming small towns, beautiful wine country, rugged coast and rolling, farm-studded hills make it one of my…
14 First Time Tips for Disneyland & California Adventure
Thinking of going to Disneyland and California Adventure for the first time? Looking for tips for Disneyland and California Adventure so you can get…
Stags Leap District: The Best Way to Experience Napa Valley
When visiting Napa Valley for the first or fifteenth time, the number of wineries and, quite frankly, the prices can be overwhelming. How to…
A Unique Wine Tasting Experience in Sonoma County: Sutro Wine
With more than 400 award-winning wineries, Sonoma County wine country can be overwhelming. It can be hard to know where to go in Sonoma…
Recycled Art in Sebastopol
I recently taught my students a unit about recycled materials and green design, and it opened my eyes to the many uses of found…
30 Places: Where to Eat in Sacramento
Sacramento hasn’t always been known as a food destination, but with renewed interest in local ingredients and many new restaurants opening over the past…
8 Hikes at Lake Tahoe with Kids
One of the reasons that my family and I love Lake Tahoe so much is that it’s the perfect place to go hiking. The…
A Family-Friendly Visit to Napa Valley on a Budget
Napa Valley is tricky. On one hand, it represents the best of what California can do: it’s beautiful and luxurious with some of the…
Where to See Elephant Seals: Año Nuevo State Park
My son Noah is finishing 4th grade right now, which means that he and his classmates have begun the study of science with animals….
30+ Free Things to Do in Northern California
California is not only my home state but also my favorite state to travel in. It truly has a bit of everything — mountains,…
7 Discoveries in North Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe may be one of my favorite places in California, but I still feel like I’m getting to know the area. After…
30 Amazing Things to Do Mendocino Coast, California
Time and again, I’d heard that the Mendocino Coast was not only some of California’s most beautiful landscape, but also its most authentic…
How to Spend a Cozy Winter Weekend at Northstar
Want to try a cozy winter weekend at Northstar? A family getaway near Lake Tahoe? It’s no secret that we love Lake Tahoe. We…
10 Sacramento Breweries: Best Places to Drink Craft Beer in Sacramento
Sacramento is gaining recognition for its food and drink scene (and rightly so), so if you’re in town, one of the best things to…
8 Affordable Family Vacations in Northern California
Frustrated over the lack of travel writing about trips that are actually affordable? Traveling even close to home can really add up! However, traveling…
My Favorite Coastal Hike in Northern California
We’re off to the Mendocino coast in Northern California soon, and we can’t wait. We got a good taste of the wild beauty of…
A Weekend Getaway in North Lake Tahoe
Sometimes there’s nothing better than a weekend away to recharge. When I had the opportunity to stay at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, I…
The Perfect Day Trip to Livermore Valley Wine Country
One of the most impressive things about California is the sheer number of places to visit. Case in point: Livermore Valley wine country. I visited…
What to Do at the Sea Ranch
In 2016, as summer started to wind down, we realized we hadn’t taken a trip with just the four of us for months. After no…
30 Fun Things to Do in Sacramento
In this post, I’m excited to share some of my favorite things to do in Sacramento. I’ve lived in Sacramento for a total of…
A Day Trip to the California Gold Country
Last week we took a day trip to California gold country east of Sacramento. We had our eye on three places: Black Chasm Cavern,…
5 Things to Do in South Lake Tahoe with Kids
Spring may have suddenly sprung here in Northern California this week, but the fuss lately has been over the very snowy winter we’ve had…
A Day Trip to Bodega Bay
Bodega Bay is a convenient day trip from San Francisco or Sonoma County. This small town may not have a lot of attractions, but…
A Fall Day Trip to Apple Hill
A day trip to Apple Hill is a traditional fall activity for many people who live in this area. After all, Sacramento is flat…
Northern California’s Greatest Artist: Wayne Thiebaud
Wayne Thiebaud was born in 1920 and just passed away, at the age of 101, here in my hometown of Sacramento. Just after I…
Build the Perfect Day Trip to Napa Valley
I love going to Napa Valley. It’s not just the wine — it’s also the mountains, architecture, gardens, and restaurants that draw me…
Build the Perfect Day Trip to Sacramento
One of my goals for this summer was to spend more time exploring my own backyard. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by all that Downtown…
30 Fun Things to Do in Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is part of the culture here in Northern California. It’s the place where people escape the summer heat, ski on the weekends, and…
Build a Perfect Day Trip to San Francisco
What do you do when family come to visit? When my in-laws come to visit from Brazil, we always take a day trip to…
5 Amazing Yosemite Hikes with Kids
Talk to any parent of a young child, and they’ll tell you that “hiking” with a 4-year-old is just about impossible. This means that…
A Family Vacation in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is one of Northern California’s treasures, but despite living in California for 20 years, we don’t get there often enough. Knowing…
30 Things to Do in the Monterey Bay Area
The Monterey Bay area is one of my favorite parts of California. It’s a powerful combination of stunning natural beauty, wildlife, a charming small-town atmosphere,…