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…
Continue
Added by Julie on January 16, 2010 at 11:13pm —
No Comments
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…
Continue
Added by Julie on January 11, 2010 at 10:41pm —
No Comments
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.

…
Continue
Added by Julie on January 3, 2010 at 10:30am —
No Comments
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.…
Continue
Added by Julie on December 17, 2009 at 6:30pm —
No Comments
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:…
Continue
Added by Julie on December 15, 2009 at 9:00am —
No Comments
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 thermo…
Continue
Added by Julie on November 26, 2009 at 10:47am —
No Comments
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…
Continue
Added by Julie on November 15, 2009 at 12:30pm —
No Comments
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.

…
Continue
Added by Julie on November 8, 2009 at 11:00pm —
No Comments
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 atmosp…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 28, 2009 at 4:00pm —
No Comments
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 pe…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 21, 2009 at 9:45am —
No Comments
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 reso…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 17, 2009 at 8:30am —
No Comments
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 Ar…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 7, 2009 at 2:36pm —
No Comments
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 t…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 5, 2009 at 1:30pm —
No Comments
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…
Continue
Added by Julie on October 2, 2009 at 9:21am —
No Comments
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:…
Continue
Added by Julie on September 14, 2009 at 1:34pm —
No Comments
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…
Continue
Added by Julie on September 8, 2009 at 10:36pm —
No Comments
Have your kids been asking when you are going to take them on a camping trip? Do you dread the thought of pitching tents and cooking over a fire?

Costanoa may be the answer to your dilemma. Just over the hills and down the coast,
Costanoa is a wonderful spot for…
Continue
Added by Julie on September 7, 2009 at 4:21pm —
No Comments
San Francisco can be a terrific weekend destination and even though it is a day trip for Bay Area families, an over night adventure can feel like a real vacation without long drives or flights.

While I am a big fan of the San Francisco getaway, I've been surprised how hard it is to find a great hotel…
Continue
Added by Julie on August 29, 2009 at 9:30am —
No Comments
This fun seaside town offers great beaches, a boardwalk for the kids with a vintage carousal and roller coaster, great hikes and terrific shopping and restaurants.

Also, with some new options for accommodations and dining, Santa Cruz is a more attractive weekend getaway than ev…
Continue
Added by Julie on August 23, 2009 at 9:00pm —
No Comments
Now that the kids are heading back to school, it’s not too early to think about what you do over those school holidays which at least in California public schools are more plentiful than ever. It may seem early to book tickets but there are some great deals out there right now.

…
Continue
Added by Julie on August 21, 2009 at 6:41pm —
No Comments