I have loved Washington D.C. ever since my first visit in the early 2000s. For travelers, the city offers that perfect blend of vibrancy, accessibility, culture, and history. Moreover, the distinct neighborhoods and friendly people remind me of San Francisco. Over the years, as work continued to bring me back to America’s capital, my love affair with D.C. continued. I …
This is the final installment of a three-part series about California’s Highway 1. As you’ll have read in my Northern California edition, Highway 1 (otherwise known as the Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH) has played a prominent role in my family’s recreational activities for the last 14 years. In this last post I’m going to cover all the great places …
Okay, so you’ve already learned about Highway 1 and what it can offer vacationing families in Northern California. It’s time to work our way down the map, beyond San Francisco, and showcase what appeals to kids along the California Central Coast. This is arguably the most picturesque part of a Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) drive. However, that’s not to say …
This post is the first in a three-part series about road tripping Highway 1 with kids When I was a young girl in England, America seemed like a magical faraway land coated in Hollywood glitter. After all, my only touchpoint was the larger-than-life films that I watched in my parents living room. My point is, you may think there is …
Until recently, the only thing I had seen in Utah were the beautiful mountain landscapes near Salt Lake City. And that was for skiing (surprise, surprise), pre-kids. It was a momentous trip that I will never forget. Everything from the skiing to the après ski, to the company I was keeping, was spot on. It turns out we were even …
California may be known as the Golden State, but it is also known for its wine. This is thanks to the European settlers that arrived during America’s colonial era. Among other things, they brought with them a wealth of knowledge about how to grow grapes. Equally important, they knew how to produce great wine. But, while tourists flock to California …
I’ve always had an appreciation for Americana. Maybe it has something to do with my romantic nature, or the old-fashioned westerns and Hollywood movies that I used to watch as a child. Maybe it is because, as a Brit, America’s relatively short history fascinates me. After all, I grew up in a country whose origin came about after Anglo-Saxon kingdoms …
When you think of California, you typically picture blue skies, sandy beaches, outdoor activities and healthy-looking people. And you wouldn’t be wrong. No matter where I go in California, it seems that I can’t blink without seeing at least one person either running, walking, roller blading, biking, surfing or skiing. Who can blame them? California is a state that is …
When people think of Tahoe, the first thing that pops to mind is often the beautiful snow-capped mountains of the Sierra Nevada. It is easy to imagine flying down the mountainside at one of the many amazing ski resorts in the area. And who can blame you? The Lake Tahoe region is a winter wonderland that literally oozes snow-filled fun …
Every American knows the story of California’s Gold Rush. With the discovery of gold in 1848, the territory experienced a massive transformation as people migrated west in search of their fortune. Today, California’s gold-embedded past lives on. Nicknamed the Golden State, even San Francisco’s 49ers football team is a nod to the 300,000 “forty-niners” who staked their claims in hope …
Three months ago, when I first started out on this blogging journey, I met a new friend on Instagram called Faye. A fellow Englishwoman, Faye and I instantly bonded over our shared love of travel and adventure. Faye wanted to know more about Lake Tahoe and my upcoming trip to Arizona. I wanted to know more about her visit to …
I was about 26 when I first visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I’d flown out from England for a Las Vegas business trip and had craftily tacked on a couple of days for some R&R with a friend. The next thing I know, I’m flying in a helicopter over one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and …
Each year, more than 50 million visitors flock to what is arguably the entertainment capital of the world; Los Angeles, California. Combined, they pump more than $30 billion into the L.A. economy each year. That is a lot of money! As a result, it would be easy to assume that family activities in Los Angeles are anything but cheap. But …
If you live in America, and enjoy an occasional glass of wine, there is a good chance that you already know about California’s iconic Napa Valley wine region. Located just outside of San Francisco, Napa Valley is home to literally hundreds of vineyards. It is also well-known for its world-class wines. Yet you may be wondering why I’m writing an …
As the U.S., and parts of the world, start to open up, travel is once more back on the table. However, it has been so long since we were able to move about freely. It makes it easy to forget how we used to practice safe travel with our family. Add in our thirst for a return to normalcy, and …
Before I talk about airplane ear and how it can affect your baby or toddler, I want you to take a trip down memory lane with me. Think about your carefree years when, as a young adult, you would take flights to destinations both near and far for leisure or work. Those were the days when you would actively seek …
San Francisco stole my heart in the year 2000. It was a brief visit, but it had a lasting impact. Several months later, with a work visa in hand, I packed up my life into two suitcases, said goodbye to family and friends in London, and crossed the Atlantic. The rest, as they say, is history. I sometimes get asked …
San Diego is somewhat unique for Southern California. Only 120 miles from Los Angeles, its average temperatures are about 7 degrees cooler than its neighbor during the summer. This is due to the maritime climate. While San Diego rarely gets hot like LA (think over 80 degrees), it does stay warm most of the year. The evenings are relatively mild …
Have you heard of Fort Myers Beach? I hadn’t. At least, not until my parents asked me to join them there, in 2004, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They were retired and, like many other retirees, had started spending some of their winter months golfing in southwest Florida. Fort Myers Beach, a town on Estero Island, was their latest …
I’ve always been a big proponent of exposing my kids to adventure activities as early as possible. I think it builds confidence and teaches them important life skills like resilience, problem solving, creative thinking and communication. In my experience, when children are really little, adventures can be as simple as navigating man-made lily pads across a pond at a local …
Before I get into Oahu, I want to set the scene. The first time I visited Hawaii, I was 16. At the time, I was living in Japan with my parents and sister, and Hawaii was any easy destination to visit over school break. I remember we stayed in a gorgeous little rental on the island of Maui. The house …
North Lake Tahoe has been my “happy place” ever since I moved to San Francisco 20 years ago. I call it my happy place because I quite literally feel a sense of calm, peace, and happiness every time I reach the edge of the Tahoe National Forest. Not even my children, on their most mischievous of days, can dampen my …
Just when it seemed that the fallout from coronavirus couldn’t get any worse, a new idea is trending that could potentially derail summer vacation plans for families. And President Biden has echoed the sentiment, and given it life. I am, of course, talking about how the school year may be extended into summer break. I quite literally gasped when I …
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would write about Bora Bora. A destination that is (arguably) one of the most romantic places to visit in the world. Specifically I want to address why Bora Bora is a good destination for kids. I’ve been lucky to have traveled to this little South Pacific island in French Polynesia twice. The …
Last month, a very dear friend of mine bit the bullet and took her family on a plane so that they could continue to enjoy an annual ski trip. It was a much-needed vacation, and a step toward normalcy after many months of anything but normal. At the time, she admitted that she was extremely anxious about her travel decision. …
The desire and ability to escape to a far-flung destination is a constantly moving target in today’s global pandemic environment. As much as some of us want to get away, there is a myriad of rules to consider, in addition to concerns about safety. And, with new coronavirus variants starting to gain traction, these rules are likely to continue to …
Rome is an amazing city to visit with children, so long as they are old enough to cover some ground. I found that my boys, aged nine and six, had absolutely no problem walking from our hotel to various historical sites each day. In fact, they were easily able to handle both Rome and our larger tour of the Italian …
The Amalfi Coast has been a popular playground for the rich and famous ever since the days of the Roman Empire. Today, the coastal towns along this beautiful stretch of the Italian peninsula play host to glamourous yachts and honeymooners from all over the world. But is the Amalfi Coast family friendly, or is it just for romantic souls and …
My kids have always got a kick out of the Italian peninsula being shaped like a boot (lo Stivale). In fact, Italy is one of the few countries they were able to easily identify from a young age. This meant choosing Italy for one of our summers vacations was a no-brainer, especially when I also factored in their love of …
Summer family vacations can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. Learn how you can start saving money for the vacation of your dreams today.
It’s crazy to think that this pandemic has been raging for a year now. For many in the U.S., COVID-19 has equated to being more or less house-bound. After all, the CDC has repeatedly warned Americans to stay home to protect themselves against the coronavirus. As a result, travel has been off the cards; at least the type of travel …
Before I talk about family day trip ideas, I just want to say, “I get it”. You are sick of being stuck at home. A home that has been your family’s own personal office, school, restaurant, gym, and playground ever since you began sheltering in place due to COVID-19. Now, to compound matters, it is winter and you feel even …
Not surprisingly, RVing has become even more popular this past year, as families try to find new ways to vacation during a pandemic. A family RV trip offers mobility and adventure, as well as a way to avoid crowds. Some families, like my friend Annie, even decided to stay on the road in a more permanent capacity. She embraced home …
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