this is a page for

California

North Lake Tahoe: Spring skiing and lazing by the lake

    The Modern Family on North Lake Tahoe Skiing One of the best things about visiting Northern California is having North Lake Tahoe a short reach away. Just a 4-hour drive from San Francisco, this snow sport mecca has the highest concentration of ski areas in the world (12 …

9 family friendly wineries in Napa Valley

Looking for family friendly wineries in Napa? Want to visit Napa Valley’s legendary wine country, but not sure you should bring the kids? Won’t they get restless while you go on and on about something they won’t even be able to drink until they are adults? And what if they start pulling each other’s hair and …

3 days in Napa with the family

“We’re going to Napa!” I enthusiastically told one of my Bay Area friends, intoxicated by the thought of long afternoons picking out favourite wines in one of California’s most famous sun-kissed counties. “You’re leaving the girls with your parents, right?” she asked cautiously. She wasn’t the first to question my intentions. It seemed to …

Favourites: Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa, Huntington Beach

There are few hotels I call favourites. The ones you remember fondly, where everything just falls into place and allows you to enjoy family time with no distractions. I visited the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa 6 years ago on a press trip – and the kids are STILL talking …

Insider’s guide to walking over the Golden Gate Bridge

  Can you walk the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito/Marin County? The answer is a resounding YES! If you are going to San Francisco you MUST set aside a few hours to walk over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge (which is painted red btw, not gold). It’s a wonderful way to experience the …

Spring skiing at Dodge Ridge!

The Modern Family snuck in some California Spring skiing this Easter break at Dodge Ridge, a cosy family resort tucked in the Sierra’s between Tahoe and Yosemite. Dodge Ridge is where I learned to ski in the 70s. It’s the closest snow to where I grew up in the Bay …

Going on Safari … in Sonoma! #safariwest

  I close my eyes and I hear it again. “Ca-caw!” “Ca-caw!” I know exactly what it is – that big colourful bird with the really long wings! Our guide this afternoon had warned us he might be active tonight. The flamingos are in full force, chattering away in the …

Visit Apple Headquarters: The Apple Park Visitor Center

  The Apple Park Visitor Centre has finally opened! Yay! If you are in Silicon Valley, you need to stop by. It’s pretty much the coolest place to get a cappuccino – or use an augmented reality app to explore Apple’s new HQ! Where do I start? First of all, …