Mother's Day in Sonoma

Ever since our first trip with the kids to Sonoma County, I have been itching for an excuse to go back. We had so much fun exploring Jack London State Park and the Cornerstone Gardens, and the trip gave me the confidence to try and tackle the somewhat daunting idea of wine tasting with the kids. While the desire for another trip was there, it wasn't until a family dinner when my father-in-law offered me a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, that ideas for our next adventure starting coming together. I usually favor red wines, so when offered a glass of white, I asked for "just a little sip". That little sip quickly turned into a glass of the best white wine I have EVER had and me enthusiastically pointing out that the winery was only an hour away in Sebastapol! After a little research into the area, a day trip was promptly planned for Mother's Day.

Relaxing in Livermore

This coming summer will be the first in 4 years that I will not be pregnant or breastfeeding...which means it's the first summer in 4 years that I can really entertain the idea of wine tasting with the kids! Woohoo! Visiting wineries with children in tow is very intimidating to me. My 2 year old can be particularly unpredictable and has no concept of an "indoor voice" whatsoever. Luckily we have some friends that moved to Livermore about a year ago and have done the hard work of figuring out which wineries are best for young kids. We have taken a couple of trips to the area this Spring, so I wanted to share our favorite stops for wine and beer tasting along with a great family hike. 

Abbott's Lagoon

Point Reyes had me at "hello" and our recent trip to Abbott's Lagoon only solidified my love affair with this stunning part of West Marin. It is honestly one of the most beautiful areas that I have ever visited and thankfully there seems to be no shortage of ideas for future trips to the area!

Davis Picnic Day

If you had asked me when I was a student at UCD, if I could imagine myself returning to Picnic Day in the future with two little kids and my husband, I probably would have looked at you confused. Why would you bring your kids to an event that completely revolves around excessive amounts of day drinking? Well the answer to that question is quite simple...Picnic Day is a fantastic event that actually caters to families and children! The annual open house for Davis offers a calendar full of events starting with a parade in the morning and ending with the Battle of the Bands along Lake Spafford in the Davis arboretum. In between you will find special demonstrations and exhibits being held by the different colleges within the University and tons of activities for kids of all ages. While this day marks a very popular drinking event for UCD students, the drunken mess confines itself to the downtown area and is easily avoided if you make your way to campus by mid-day.

Donner Pass Hike through abandoned railway tunnel

One of my favorite parts of our recent trip to Truckee, was actually the drive home! I know that sounds bad, but on our way out Sunday morning, we took a hike through an old railway tunnel above Donner Lake that was really amazing. I was a little nervous about hiking through an abandoned tunnel in the mountains, and had no idea if the kids would enjoy the experience or be terrified the whole time. As it turned out, our 3.5 year old was the one that didn't want the hike to end.

Jack London Square

If you haven't noticed already, I am big fan of great coffee and craft beer. So whenever I have the opportunity to roll those two things into a day out with the family, it is sure to be a hit. Our recent trip to Jack London Square on the Oakland waterfront was no exception. From train watching and artisan candy to craft beer and locally roasted coffee, there was something for everyone in the family.

Weekend Getaway: Tahoe City

As a kid, we took a handful of trips to Tahoe during the winter, but it was never a summertime destination for our family. On our recent weekend getaway to Truckee, it was all sun and 70 degrees, so we ditched our plans of an afternoon hike and headed to the shores of nearby Lake Tahoe. As we approached Tahoe City, the impact of the current drought was very apparent. The sandy beach that was once greeted by the lake now abruptly turned to rock and went out for what seemed like forever before reaching the edge of the water. The view was definitely harsher than what I was expected, but after adjusting to the lack of water, we were still able to appreciate the beauty of the lake and the backdrop of the snow dusted Sierras.

UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley

When you have lived somewhere long enough, it's almost inevitable that you start taking for granted the beautiful scenery that surrounds your everyday life (I wonder if Parisians even notice the Eiffel Tower?). While I am certainly not immune to this, there is one view that always manages to take my breath away. Whether I'm driving on Highway 24, or along the scenic ridge-line of Grizzly Peak, the views of the Bay Area from the Berkeley hills are spectacular. On a clear warm day, the view of the Bay, sprinkled with sail boats and sparkling in the sun, is hard to beat. Pair the beautiful views with a serene garden setting, and you will find yourself in the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens.

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.

Half Moon Bay

I consider myself a fairly good driver, but give me a scenic roadway or ridge-line, and all bets are off. How anyone can drive safely when there are jaw dropping views to be seen is beyond me. Thankfully my husband was behind the wheel on our recent drive to Half Moon Bay, which took us along the famous California Highway 1. Our trip only had us on this beautiful stretch of highway for 12 miles, but that was enough to make me a believer!

A day at Muir Woods

After our recent experience at the Redwood Regional Park, we had an itching for another hike in the Redwoods. This time we headed over to Muir Woods to enjoy one of their free admission days! Since it was a holiday weekend AND free admission, we planned to arrive as early as possible (the park officially opens at 8am). We managed to get there by 8:45 and were able to find a spot in the overflow lot (just pass the main entrance).