A special new style trip as a gift

A special new style trip as a gift

The perfect gift: a trip together, but not just any trip, a custom adventure designed for your group, based on their ages and interests. And it doesn’t have to be as big a budget-buster as you might think.

Making holiday lights a post-Thanksgiving tradition

Making holiday lights a post-Thanksgiving tradition

There’s no better time to see who has the biggest and best holiday lights than as soon as the Thanksgiving dishes are done. In some cases, before Thanksgiving if you are looking for ways to get everyone out of the house

Debunking Thanksgiving myths

Debunking Thanksgiving myths

That first Thanksgiving in 1621, the Pilgrims and Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe feasted on venison, shellfish, and while there might have been wild turkey, there were just as likely swans, ducks and geese.

Supporting Sonoma County

Supporting Sonoma County

No one wants to at all diminish the horrible impact of the fires. They just want people like you and me to realize that the best way to help is to visit

Taking the Kids — away from the crowds to play in the snow

Taking the Kids — away from the crowds to play in the snow

We discovered one week last winter that, despite the tumbles, it’s exhilarating for everyone in the family to have the chance to try a new snow activity like snowmobiling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, backcountry skiing or biking on “fat bikes,”

Packing smart for your next family trip

Packing smart for your next family trip

If you are like me and want to pack more efficiently, especially these days when you don’t want to pay for bags for the entire family (wait at the airport for them or need a larger rental car to accommodate the bags), this column is for you.

Taking the whole family on a cruise

Taking the whole family on a cruise

There are ships to suit every budget and travel style, from adventure-minded families chartering a small ship from a company like AdventureSmith Explorations that accommodates as few as a dozen guests, to a river cruise in Europe to a megaship in the Caribbean

Celebrating Halloween for an entire month

Celebrating Halloween for an entire month

You’ll need that costume a lot sooner than Halloween since theme parks, zoos, haunted attractions, farms, even zip lines everywhere are touting Halloween festivities and scares all October long