Weekend Getaway: Truckee, CA

The first time Truckee landed on my radar was about a year ago when I overheard someone I work with say that she always stays in Truckee when their family goes skiing at Northstar. Truckee? Really? I had never really given much thought to this small town that you pass by on the way to North Lake Tahoe. After doing a little research, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that what I had always assumed was nothing more than a place to fill up on gas, was actually a charming place to settle down for the weekend. It didn't make Sunset Magazine's Top 10 ski-towns in the West without reason.

Westside Santa Cruz

My kids love the beach. My husband loves craft beer. And I love a good cup of coffee. With that said, it was only a matter of time before we found ourselves taking a trip to Santa Cruz. This laid back beach town has always been a destination for surfers and beach-goers, but explore beyond the beaches and you will find a great selection of local boutiques, eateries and family friendly breweries/tap rooms.

A walk in the Presidio

I once told someone that I was “not much of a hiker”.  I went on to explain that I preferred a more "urban environment" for my strolls.  I was drawn to the ever-changing scenery of walking in my neighborhood, admiring century year old homes one block and passing cafes and boutiques the next.  On my first maternity leave I must have walked EVERY block of the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland.  I would weave my way through the streets, taking in the architecture of the homes, and occasionally popping into a store for some browsing.  Fast forward a few years, and what was once a peaceful walk in the neighborhood is now one that requires my constant focus (looking for cars backing out of driveways, making sure my kids stop at the corner etc…). While I still LOVE these outings, the appeal of a calmer environment has definitely grown on me.  This past weekend, I may have found the perfect marriage of peaceful hiking in an urban environment during our visit to The Presidio in San Francisco.

Davis Farmers Market and Winters, CA

I love college towns. With the exception of my high school years (which were spent in Marin), I have always lived within miles of a University campus. The energy that students and faculty bring to the community is so refreshing and there always seems to be something happening when the school year is in session. One college town that is near and dear to my heart is Davis, CA. My husband and I are both graduates of UC Davis and it is one of our favorite places to escape to with the kids for the day.

Visiting the UC Berkeley Campus: A list of my favorite things to do!

One of my favorite childhood memories is going to Cal basketball games with my Dad. We would sit in the very last row of seats at the top of the stadium and my dad would watch the game while I ate a chocolate malt and then ran around the empty seats. It was such an exciting adventure as a young kid to walk through campus, admiring all the beautiful buildings and being a part of the unique energy that college campuses exude. While we don't make it to a lot of games these days, we love just taking the kids over to U.C. Berkeley. The campus has so much to offer that every trip seems to have something new in store for us. Below are a few of my favorite things to do at U.C. Berkeley.