“Good-bye God, I’m going to Bodie,” wrote a little girl whose family was moving to the most infamous Gold Rush boomtown in California. And if you think that’s creepy, what until you see what’s left of Bodie, one of the most authentic ghost towns in the entire West. Located about 20 miles northeast of Yosemite National Park, a road trip to see the legendary Bodie Ghost Town is the perfect excuse for taking a weekend getaway to the Eastern Sierra, which is ablaze with fall colors right now.
Now that summer has officially started, I figured I’d write about one of my favorite family road trips we’d go on every summer when I was a kid: Lake Shasta. As usual we’d pile up the Country Squire station wagon with camping gear and comic books, then head up I-5 in the blistering heat until we reached the Mount Shasta Fish Hatchery, where I’d drop a nickel in the fish-food dispenser and let the pellets fly. And that was just the start of a memorable week of fishing, camping, houseboating, spelunking, exploring, and sneaking sips of beer. So if you haven’t already planned your summer holiday getaway, read on….
One of the best outdoor getaways in the Bay Area just opened after being closed for two years for repairs: Point Bonita Lighthouse in Marin. “Bonita” means pretty or beautiful in Spanish, and the term couldn’t be more appropriate. Crossing the new 132-foot-long footbridge toward the lighthouse, you have a phenomenal view of the rugged cliffs and Pacific ocean to the west, and the rolling green hills of the Marin Headlands behind you. And Point Bonita is just one if numerous historical lighthouses that stretch from Big Sur to the Oregon border—the perfect excuse for a spring road trip along the California coast. Plus, the cost to visit these historical beacons is often free or a very low fee.
Sometimes you have to go see something simply because somebody was crazy or determined enough to build it. Take the Winchester Mystery House for example: If someone spends 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, for 38 years building a nuthouse, people will line up to see it (and they do). So this week’s getaway theme is a tribute to the top seven man-made wonders that people said couldn’t (or shouldn’t) be built, all of which are a fantastic excuse to get away for fun-filled weekend of exploring Northern California.
Some of the best memories I have as a kid are the family road trips we’d take from Sacramento—my sisters and I piling in the back of our wood-paneled station wagon loaded with luggage, fighting for a window seat while dad fires up another cigarette and checks the map. It’s the quintessential American family experience, so what better way to start summer than a fun and affordable Father’s Day road trip getaway? Right then: Here are my top tips on places to go and things to do in Northern California that I promise your dad—and the entire family—will enjoy. Read full article »
Some of my favorite family road trips as a kid were to places like the Exploratorium in San Francisco or Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley to play with all the hands-on science and technology exhibits. My dad was all for it because the tickets were cheap, and my sisters and I always came home with great mind-expanding toys from the museum gift shop. So if y’all are looking for a fun and affordable family getaways, this week’s theme is all about where to take the Little Einstiens in your family for a mind-expanding getaway: The best kid-friendly museums in Northern California.
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Now that winter is upon us (and how), it’s time to plan some indoor (and warm) getaways to get you out of the house. So this week’s travel topic is about my favorite museums in Northern California. As the author of the Frommer’s California guidebook for the past 15 years, I’ve been to just about every museum in Northern California, and below are my top picks for a great winter getaway. Believe me, all of these museums are a must-visit mind-blowing experience, and the perfect excuse for an entertaining, educational, and affordable mini-vacation with friends and family. Read full article »
There’s something about strolling around a small town that restores your faith in America— that, in the long run, everything’s going to be alright. It’s the kind of getaway that does your soul some good, a relaxing visit to a place where the locals nod and say hello, the shops and restaurants are locally owned, and the pace is pleasantly slow. So if all this talk of hard times is getting you down, perhaps it’s time for a rejuvenating and quaintly romantic getaway to one of my six favorite small towns in Northern California. Read full article »
If you consider yourself a Californian then you owe it to yourself to discover the roots of your identity, and ground zero on this journey are the historical Spanish missions of California. The original chain of 21 missions stretched from Baja California to Sonoma Valley, and all were situated a day’s travel apart on horseback along El Camino Real, or “The Royal Road.” Read full article »
If you consider yourself a Californian then you owe it to yourself to discover the roots of your identity, and ground zero on this journey are the historical Spanish missions of California. The original chain of 21 missions stretched from Baja California to Sonoma Valley, and all were situated a day’s travel apart on horseback along El Camino Real, or “The Royal Road.” Today you can retrace this historic route far more leisurely with a cruise along Highway 101 while visiting five of my favorite missions, as well as some of the finest towns and cities on the coast. It’s a great excuse to pack an overnight bag and spend a couple of days on a historical (and possibly spiritual) journey filled with fascinating factoids and stories of our past. Read full article »
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