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Fleet Week 2010 in San Francisco

It is Fleet Week in San Francisco which means lots of fun family activities and of course, the viewing of the Blue Angels.

We saw the Blue Angels for the first time with our kids two years ago and they are still talking about it. If you are planning to go, you should schedule carefully and think about where you want to view the show in advance. The traffic can be a bit… Continue

Added by Julie on October 9, 2010 at 7:30am — No Comments

Twain Harte Family Day Trips: Pinecrest Lake

We've been fortunate to have a lovely cabin up at Twain Harte this year and as a result we've been getting to know the area.

Today was the perfect Autumn day and after a slow start including breakfast at the Little Cottage Cafe (trivia note: the owner used to manage Cafe Verona in Palo Alto) we headed over to Pinecrest Lake for a family hike. With a chill in… Continue

Added by Julie on October 2, 2010 at 8:39pm — No Comments

Twain Harte Family Day Trips: Calveras Big Tree State Park and Mercer Caverns

While Yosemite is definitely the big Kahuna of attractions in this area of the Sierras, last weekend we were looking for a good day trip from Twain Harte and decided to head out to Calveras Big Tree State Park.

About an hour drive from Twain Harte, the park was created in 1931 to preserve the North Grove of giant sequoias and is considered the longest continuously operated tourist… Continue

Added by Julie on August 23, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

Sayulita Family Trip Recommendations

After a glorious week in Sayulita, I thought I’d update my last post on Sayulita. The weather was perfect for our trip and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

What I love about Sayuita is the small things—the laid back beach, lazy walks to town, ice cream cones in the town square and lunch from the stalls that line the street. The Four Seasons this is not, but to me, that is the beauty and charm of Sayulita. While at times it can feel a bit… Continue

Added by Julie on May 23, 2010 at 10:29pm — No Comments

Family Fun at Pinnacles National Monumnent

After a brief hiatus (yes, I took a full time job) I’m happy to be blogging again.

We recently took a day trip down to the Pinnacles and I was amazed that this park is so close (about 2 hours from Palo Alto) yet we had never been to it with the kids. You can go to either the East or West Entrance. We went to the West Entrance, mainly due to missing the East Entrance turn (it was… Continue

Added by Julie on March 27, 2010 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Five Tips for Family Skiing in Tahoe

With snow falling constantly over the next week in the Sierra’s, it is going to be hard to resist a snowy holiday in the Lake Tahoe area.

We’re heading up to Northstar with our kids next week. After skiing at Dodge Ridge, I’m wondering if Northstar… Continue

Added by Julie on January 16, 2010 at 11:13pm — No Comments

Seal Pups at Ano Nuevo

Situated between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal. Prime time for viewing the seals is January and February.

You can only view the seals by reserving a walk via Reserve America. Weekend dates are scarce but… Continue

Added by Julie on January 11, 2010 at 10:41pm — No Comments

Dodge Ridge Skiing and Strawberry Sledding

Looking for a great snow experience without the long drive up to Tahoe? I love Tahoe but with traffic (and kiddie food stops) the drive can be more than 5 hours. If you are looking for something closer you should check out Dodge Ridge.

Over the holiday we headed up to Twain Harte to visit family and spent two days at the… Continue

Added by Julie on January 3, 2010 at 10:30am — No Comments

Bay Area Holiday Light Destinations

Tomorrow school’s out for the holidays and luckily there is a wealth of fun holiday events in the Bay Area to keep everyone entertained. Here are just a few that are on my list for next week. See the "Events" section of the site for times and locations.

1. Christmas in the Park, San Jose.

Hats off to… Continue

Added by Julie on December 17, 2009 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Sayulita Family Spring Break

A sleepy fishing village turned surfer haven about 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, Sayulita definitely qualifies as a low hassle, high relaxation holiday from the Bay Area.

Flights (4 hours direct) are available from United, American and Mexicana and generally run between $350 and $500 round trip.

Where to Stay:

Villa Amor : Lovely villas built into the… Continue

Added by Julie on December 15, 2009 at 9:00am — No Comments

San Francisco Area Christmas Tree Farms

I can’t give up the fresh cut tree habit at Christmas. My husband reminds me that it is environmentally “not friendly” but what would Christmas be without the smell of an evergreen tree wafting through the house?

Cutting your own tree can be a memorable family outing and there are some terrific options in the Bay Area. So pack up the saw, the thermos of hot cocoa and the checkbook (many tree farms don’t accept credit cards) and find… Continue

Added by Julie on November 26, 2009 at 10:47am — No Comments

Holiday Carousel and Train Rides in the San Francisco Area

Step away from the holiday rush to experience some unforgettable Christmas rides on trains and carousels in the most magical settings the San Francisco Bay Area has to offer. Your kids will be talking about these experiences through 2010!

Tilden Park Carousel

The setting of Tilden park in the hills above Berkeley together with a carousel… Continue

Added by Julie on November 15, 2009 at 12:30pm — No Comments

San Francisco Holiday Tea Hot Spots 2009

Together with attending the Nutcracker and seeing the holiday lights, holiday tea can be a fun tradition with the kids at this time of year. While there are many options for holiday tea, there are several stand-outs that are known for their food, holiday décor, and kid-friendly activities.

The Ritz Carlton. The… Continue

Added by Julie on November 8, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

San Francisco Area Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremonies

A holiday tree lighting ceremony is a great way to kick off the holiday season and you may want to start planning now as these ceremonies start in just three to four weeks (yikes).

While there are many ceremonies around the Bay Area, I created a list of favorites based on input from members and other moms. I focused on ceremonies where there was atmosphere based on the location (highly commercial venues like shopping malls didn't make… Continue

Added by Julie on October 28, 2009 at 4:00pm — No Comments

Best Bay Area Pumpkin Patches

Fall is upon us and I can’t resist a post on the best pumpkin patches in the Bay Area. In my original post I focused on more "rural" pumpkin patch options. Since then I've had a couple folks mention great options that are a bit easier to access. I've added those below as well as Uesegi's down in Morgan Hill.

While I do love Half Moon Bay, I personally try to steer clear of Highway 92 and the pumpkin metro created by Lemos Farms and… Continue

Added by Julie on October 21, 2009 at 9:45am — No Comments

Best Family Resorts near Playa del Carmen and Tulum

Playa del Carmen and Tulum are relatively easy trips from the Bay Area, with 5 hour direct flights from SFO to Cancun. This area provides an amazing combination of natural and cultural treasures including protected reefs, white sand beaches, jungle, caves and Mayan ruins.

The trick with this area is finding the right family accommodations as many of the resorts focus on couples or even require that everyone be over 18.…

Continue

Added by Julie on October 17, 2009 at 8:30am — No Comments

Spring Break Travel Planning for Bay Area Families

If you are thinking of traveling with the family for Spring Break, you may want to jump into the planning process now.

While April is still five months away, even in this kind of economy, great accommodations and inexpensive flights get snatched up early. In the next couple blog posts I’ll highlight some of the favorite spring break destinations for Bay Area families. But first, here are a couple things you may want to do in… Continue

Added by Julie on October 7, 2009 at 2:36pm — No Comments

Roaring Camp Railroad and Henry Cowell State Park

Fall is a great time to explore the amazing redwood forests we have right here in the Bay Area. The weather is cooler, the colors are changing and what better way to see these amazing trees than from a vintage steam train?

At Roaring Camp, located in Felton between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, you can enjoy a ride on an antique steam train through the redwoods while learning about forest ecology… Continue

Added by Julie on October 2, 2009 at 9:21am — No Comments

Point Reyes Family Escape

Elk, seals, deer, migrating gray whales and accommodations that echo New England and Cape Cod? Yes, and it’s only a little more than an hour from San Francisco.

In classic northern California fashion, this is a place where nature, cuisine, and culture come together beautifully.

What to Do:

Point Reyes National Seashore (… Continue

Added by Julie on September 14, 2009 at 1:34pm — No Comments

48th Annual Great Sand Castle Contest in Carmel

If you’re looking for a fun beach trip this weekend, you should check out 48th annual Great Sand Castle Contest to be held Sept. 13 on Carmel Beach, south of 10th.

The theme this year, “Doghouses and Playhouses” is both dog friendly and kid friendly. The castle building starts at 8:00 am and judging starts at noon. You can make a day of it and hit the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the afternoon. The Seahorse Exhibit is supposed to be well… Continue

Added by Julie on September 8, 2009 at 10:36pm — No Comments

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