Backyard Travels: 10 Great Things To Do in SoCal

1. Ride a Duffy Boat in Newport Harbor. Putter around with the family to gawk at million-dollar yachts in one of these adorable little electric-motor boats. www.visitnewportbeach.com


2. Go ice-skating on the beach. For a brief span from mid-December to early January, you can carve up the ice among the palm trees in Huntington Beach, which is more often known for its waves than its figure-eights. www.surfcityusa.com


3. Release a monarch butterfly. The St. Regis Monarch Beach near Laguna Beach offers a nightly butterfly ritual for a limited time during the summer months. A butterfly butler tells the story of the migration of the colorful insects as he releases several of them into the sunset. www.stregismb.com


4. Go see The Blue Boy at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. The iconic Thomas Gainsborough painting never ceases to amaze. And the rest of the collections aren’t too shabby, either. http://www.huntington.org


5. Take a long walk on SoCal’s longest wooden pier. It happens to be in Oceanside, where you can also catch some of the Golden State’s most spectacular sunsets. www.visitoceanside.org


6. Take a gondola ride in Long Beach. If it’s more about the experience (and less about the romance) load up the family and take a relaxing cruise aboard an authentic Venetian gondola. You can even opt for the “Pizza Cruise” and enjoy some Italian flavors with your “Oh, Sole Mio.” www.gondolagetawayinc.com


7. Check out the Millennium Falcon at Legoland. Behold The Force as the brick-themed park will unveil its new Star Wars Miniland in March 2011. http://california.legoland.com


8. Take the train to Capistrano. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner slices right through this scenic town and stops just steps from the Mission San Juan Capistrano as well as the area’s adorable shops and cafes. Just hop on the train, cruise down the coast, and spend the day exploring. www.amtrak.com


9. Take your dog to San Diego. Watch your pooch play in the waves at Dog Beach at Ocean Beach and Coronado. But make sure they dust off the sand before checking into one of the city’s numerous dog-friendly hotels. Loews Coronado Bay Resort even has a “Loews Loves Pets” program (and kids are welcome, too). www.sandiego.org


10. Go see a lighthouse. The focal point of Shoreline Village in Long Beach is the scenic Lions Lighthouse For Sight overlooking Rainbow Harbor. A pleasant walking trail encircles the grounds. Nearby and a bit more authentic is the lighthouse at Point Vicente in Rancho Palos Verdes. The interpretive center is open daily. www.palosverdes.com

Find even more travel ideas at the Visit California site.

Holiday Shopping? Yes, It's Time

I know it's a bit early, but I have a New Year's resolution to make right now that might actually do me and my stress level some real benefit: I am going to begin my holiday shopping earlier this year.

Don't laugh.

This year I resolve to stop the cursing at Amazon's "Express" shipping option prices. No more picking through picked-over shelves at Target. No more choosing the ridiculously overpriced item just to "get it over with." I'm making my list, baby, and with any luck, I won't have to check it more than twice.

Why the sudden bout of sensibility? Well, I'm not going to admit to any hidden agendas here, but it didn't hurt that I just got wind of some pretty good shopping/travel packages in San Diego for this fall and winter travel season. Yes, I can combine two of my favorite things: Shopping, and getting the heck out of town! Some offer better deals than others, but there's nothing like a change of scenery to put me in a generous mood.

Check out these cool packages; visit the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau site for more information.

• The Westin Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego is offering the Macy's Package, which includes one night of accommodations and a $100 Macy's Gift Card. Rates start at $199, plus tax (offer is based on availability, blackout dates apply, and reservations require a nonrefundable prepayment; through Dec. 31). Use promotional code CMY.


• Downtown San Diego's luxurious US GRANT hotel is offering the Bloomingdale's Holiday Shopping package, which includes two nights of accommodations, daily breakfast for two at the Grant Grill, a $100 Bloomingdale's gift card plus 10% shopping discount at Bloomingdale's in San Diego's Fashion Valley shopping center, a consultation with a Bloomingdale's 'At Your Service Personal Stylist' and after-shopping specialty cocktail and appetizer at the Grant Grill. Rates start at $500, plus tax (blackout dates apply; through Dec. 31).


• The iconic Hotel del Coronado is offering the Holiday Stocking Stuffer package, which includes one night of accommodations, a $75 resort credit valid at resort boutiques and 50% off self-parking. Rates start at $299, plus tax and $25 resort fee (based on availability, blackout dates apply; Nov. 20-Jan. 1).


• The Westin San Diego in downtown San Diego is offering the Holiday Cheer package, which includes one night of accommodations, a $50 gift card to nearby Westfield Horton Plaza shopping mall, complimentary gift wrapping for up to five boxed gifts and seasonal cocktail and appetizer. Package is $179, plus tax (based on availability, blackout dates apply; Nov. 18-Jan. 1). Use promotional code HOLISHOP.

See you at the mall ... soon.

Trippin': Break Out For Spring Break

Alas, spring break is upon us! But what to do? Here are a couple of travel tidbits that might spur you to hit the open road:

An American Girl in Chicago: Head to the Affinia Chicago hotel for its American Girl Place Package ($229 standard, $289 deluxe) that includes a doll-sized bed, pillow and blankie so your child's American Girl can sleep in comfort. The package also includes a turn-down treat for the child and the doll and a custom welcome note. The deluxe package includes an AG keepsake, Affinia Chicago rubber duckie, breakfast for a child in C-House, dining discounts and other fun stuff. The hotel's concierge staff can help make reservations at the American Girl Cafe. The packages are available through December.

Special Menu: Kids and food allergies make for difficult traveling companions, which is why Jim Lindfors, executive chef at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa's BIN189 restaurant, is willing to create special menus for special appetites. Simply contact the resort two days prior to your arrival with your dietary needs, and Chef Lindfors will create a menu with your child's name that suits his dietary needs. Lindfors, whose son is on a restricted diet, says he creates the menus "to make these kids feel special, not different." Call the restaurant directly at 909-337-4189 to set up a menu for your stay at the resort, which is situated on the shore of Lake Arrowhead in the San Bernardino National Forest. The luxury lodge, located about 90 miles east of L.A., offers 173 guestrooms, a spa and other amenities.


Travel to Trees: Doubletree Hotels have partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to bring a 2,500-square-foot traveling Exploring Trees Inside & Out exhibit in which kids can crawl around the logs, listen to the sounds of the forest and even become a forest creature through the wonders of technology. The exhibit will travel to the California Science Center June 1-Sept. 6. Or see it at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia through May 2 and enjoy the hotel chain's new Bed and Breakfast package (free full breakfast buffet for two adults and two children!).

Spring Travel Fever

I don't know about you, but the recent rains put a damper on my usual Valentine's Day/Presidents Day travel lust. But now that the sun is back and bringing up my core temperature, it's also making my feet itch.

But where to go and what to do? My budget's not any bigger, that's for sure. So I was pleased to see what looks like a pretty good deal at the luxurious Omni San Diego. Starting at $219 for one night, the "On the Road Again" package has some pretty fun perks for a traveling family (and includes free valet parking, to boot).

At check-in, kids receive a backpack full of games and toys as part of the hotel's Sensational Kids program. Cookies and milk are delivered in the evening, just in time to settle in after a day of exploring Sea World, the zoo or any number of great attractions the city has to offer.

In fact, art lovers can check out the new Bernar Venet exhibit, a series of 12 outdoor sculptures placed at key locations along San Diego’s waterfront district and throughout the city (including an installment outside the Omni).

The 32-story, 511-room hotel is also situated next to PETCO Park (there's a skywalk connecting the two) at the entrance to the city's Gaslamp Quarter, a fun place to meander and explore.

Upon check out, kids receive games for the ride home as well as some heathly snacks.

Live from Napa!

We decided to trek to Napa for the weekend, testing the notion that a wine-tasting destination is for grown-ups only. That might prove to be true in the end, but the sights, sounds, smells and, of course, cuisine, is suitable for all ages.



Our accommodations for the weekend are housed in the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, which bills itself as the greenest hotel in the U.S., proudly proclaiming its status as Gold LEED-certified. The carpeting is from recycled materials, the paint and adhesives do not emit any toxic gases and housekeeping uses only Earth-friendly cleaners. Even the toilets use only a gallon per flush, as opposed to the usual 1.6. And to drive home the nature-loving point, a friendly trio of ducks and a pair of majestic swans cheerfully welcomed us at our patio, which overlooks a small pond and waterfall.

The hotel, which also offers a spa and a pleasant restaurant, is oddly situated south of Napa but is a pleasant oasis and jumping off point for the wineries and other attractions (which we hope to hit while we're here).

For dinner, we jumped in the car and headed into downtown Napa. Tired from six hours jammed into the car, we tumbled out into the first restaurant we saw that seem to exude warmth and the aromas of a wood-fired oven. Uva Trattoria Italiana turned out to be a family-friendly but linen-tablecloth affair, just the right mix of upscale candlit tables and casual diners. We cuddled up to the table, dipped warm ciabatta into garlic-infused olive oil, and plotted our main courses. Kate opted for the kid's cheese pizza with an extra sausage topping, Jack took the regular cheese pizza and Steve and I took our leads from the hand-written menu filled with fabulous specials.

Mine was the Pasta e Fagioli al forno – cranberry beans, prosciutto, fontina cheese and bread crumbs. Each bite was like wrapping myself in a warm and buttery Italian hug. Steve had the overnight roasted porchetta - pork shoulder rolled with caramelized onions and herbs with butternut squash risotto. The mixture of meat and creamy risotto yielded  such a happy medley that each bite made me feel as though I'd be able to speak fluent Italian.

And the best part? There were babies, couples and groups of people all happily snuggled into the inviting rooms!

Tomorrow: wine and other adventures? Stay tuned ...