We have family friends with whom we’ve recently begun embarking on weekend getaways – trips that are within an easy half-day’s drive from South OC. Over the long weekend in February, we trekked to South Lake Tahoe to take active advantage of the epic snowfall. Then last month, we opted

Exceptional, Indulgent – the Ideal Napa Valley Retreat When folks say ‘Napa,’ pretty much all anyone hears is “adults only.” It honestly seems like one of those idyllic, sun-soaked, resort locales where everyone is getting a spa service and playing golf while sipping the region’s renowned varietals. Simultaneously. Not to

If someone casually told me they’d be vacationing in the Sonoran Desert, I’d tell them to stop pulling my leg. Sounds like scorpions and a sunburn. But the moment a friend or colleague mentions Palm Springs, another mental image pops up entirely: and it isn’t one I’d run from. The

This has been a big year. A big one to celebrate, to recover, rebuild. A comeback year. For Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort (SierraatTahoe.com), a new chapter begins in its 75-year history as this is the first season since the devastating Caldor Fire in 2021 that the slopes have opened, making the record

Superior Staycation on California’s Golden Coast Usually when my husband and I travel, we’d use the verb “schlep” to describe the general disarray that accompanies our family of four. Especially if we’ve got the teens in tow – cruising in and out of hotel rooms, or fiddling with yet another

It’s rumored that more than 150 movies are filmed in New York City every year. I’d wager that a good portion of those are made during the holiday season, celebrating the most populous city in the country under a blanket of white. Iconic landmarks, glittering skyscrapers, and some would argue

A few years back my teenage daughter came home from school using the phrase “beyond.” I gathered after it was expressed a few times that it meant “extra,” or “really great.” And then I felt very old. After enough time passes though, those juvenile phrases you think you’re unlikely to

Full disclosure: I’m a mom of teenagers and as such, am continually on the hunt for bonding opportunities that a) don’t involve electronics and b) do entail entertainment and activities that are enjoyable for both age brackets. So I was thrilled when my suggestion of a day trip to the

The Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular There’s an extremely popular Joni Mitchell song that starts, “It’s coming on Christmas/ They’re cutting down trees”, and it is one of my absolute favorite markers of the season, despite its melancholy tone. Christmas is just one of those seasons full of feeling that runs the

Known as one-half of the “Twin Cities,” Minneapolis is one of the most welcoming, culturally rich places to visit as a family in the country. With growing numbers of gorgeous parks, beautiful lakes, hiking trails, bike paths and verdant green spaces, this city is also home to a vibrant arts