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California

Silicon Valley Tech Tour: Tech Museum of Innovation

  The Tech in California’s Silicon Valley really should’t be called a museum. The word museum conjures up images of old things to look at and admire. The Tech is more of an experience – a place to try things out, learn from what you have done and then do it better. It’s very …

San Diego Zoo: 11 tips for visiting

The San Diego Zoo is one of my all-time favourites. If you find yourself anywhere near Southern California in your travels you HAVE to visit. TripAdvisor recently awarded San Diego Zoo their Traveler’s Choice Number 1 Zoo in the world  – so it has to be true! From Australian koalas to Arctic polar bears …

San Jose: Visiting Ridge Monte Bello Winery

I love Silicon Valley success stories, and Ridge Monte Bello is as good as they get. In the 1950s, four Stanford Research Park scientists decided to invest in a defunct vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains high above Silicon Valley. The purpose was a weekend retreat they would share. But …

San Jose and the new Steve Jobs film

Last weekend I caught a preview of the new Steve Jobs film, courtesy of Visit California. Perhaps I know too much about Steve Jobs and Silicon Valley to have an unbiased opinion. I grew up in the Bay Area during the time much of this was happening. It was a special time …

15 cool things to do at North Tahoe’s Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort

  One of my favourite places to stay in Lake Tahoe’s North Shore is the Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort in Tahoe Vista. I discovered it last April, on our trip to Tahoe to enjoy a little Spring skiing. We all loved it so much then, I knew that a summer break would be a MUST. …

Highway 1: A great family beach getaway in Santa Cruz

Mention that you are visiting California and many Brits will admit aspirations of travelling Highway 1, the iconic West Coast Highway that hugs the Pacific coast. The drive itself is gorgeous, albeit a bit curvy, with stunning views around every corner. But you can’t drive all day and you’ll want to pick a …

California: Sonoma Coast for families

Sonoma Coast for families Not many people in the UK know about Sonoma County. Located only 50 miles north of San Francisco, it’s long been a favourite getaway for city folk wanting to escape the foggy summers. With a family, Sonoma’s the perfect place to enjoy an active holiday, with kayaking/biking/hiking/fishing or …

A Spring saunter through Yosemite Valley

    One of my favourite times to visit Yosemite is in the Spring, and one of the best ways to discover Yosemite Valley is with a guide. Last April, we met naturalist Michael Ross for a 4-hour nature walk to catch some key Valley floor highlights, plus learn some of the …