Attractions

Windy Hill Entrance

This hidden hiking spot is a secret amongst locals that I now want to share with you. I realize it’s not hard to find gorgeous hiking trails in California, but Windy Hill offers more than just a decent workout. Located just fifteen minutes from Stanford University and Palo Alto, Windy Hill remains one of the most remote hiking trails in the Bay Area.

Baby Fawn

This 8-mile loop brings its hikers through secluded dirt paths, large creeks, rolling hills and, my favorite, unforgettable views of both the Bay and San Francisco. Read More »

Lego New York at Miniland, Legoland California -Bridget Smith

If you are traveling with kids, chances are a visit to a theme park is in your future.  Attractions like Six Flags, Sea World, or Legoland are a convenient source of family fun.  They provide a great opportunity for families to spend time together.   Still, amusement parks also have a down side.  Admission, food, and parking can turn a fun adventure into a pricey vacation.  Here are some tips to help keep your amusement park adventure affordable. Read More »

Sculptures at City Garden, St. Louis, Missouri Photo by Jody Halsted, www.havekidwilltravel.com

Let me begin with this statement: I do not understand art.  Anything modern is lost on me.  If I can’t look at it and know what it is, well, it’s not really my cup of tea.

So when we stopped by the new City Garden in St. Louis I wasn’t sure what to expect.  But the layout of the park along with the fun water features and the fact that the art isn’t only art but is meant to be played on and around, to be experienced.  And that I can understand.

The City Garden is within walking distance of one of the Midwest’s most recognizable landmarks- the Gateway Arch – and many downtown hotels.

City Garden is meant to be enjoyed by everyone.  Paths meander through more than a hundred different species of flora and fauna.  Fountains and pools are made to splash in.  The art is meant to be climbed upon, around or in to.

If you are really into the art you can pick up a map at the garden (or download it here) and get detailed information about every sculpture.  Our personal favorites were the unnamed rabbits in the top left of my collage and Eros Bendato (top center), a large head that he kids crawled around inside of.

If you get hungry the Terrace View Cafe is open Monday through Thursday – 7 am to 7 pm, Friday through Saturday – 7 am to 10 pm, closed on Sunday, and serves fresh regional cuisine.  Reservations are recommended for groups of six or more: (314) 436-8855.

City Garden is an amazingly tranquil spot not far from the busiest part of St. Louis.  It’s a wonderful retreat whether you are visiting St. Louis or you live there.  City Garden is free and open every day from sunrise until 10pm.

If you go be sure to find the “hidden” music spot near the Pinocchio sculpture. It’s not on the map but is well worth tracking down.

Jody Halsted writes about travels with her family at Have Kid Will Travel.

Popular folk artist, Joan Baez, offered a great program even to those lost in the trees.

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

Celebrate the holidays at Universal CityWalk in Universal City, California! Throughout the month of December, celebrate Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s with different events designed for the whole family.

The CityWalk holiday event immerses guests in 35-days of festivities enhanced with decorations, an eclectic program of holiday-themed performances including jubilant choirs, live bands performing remixed seasonal classics, festive street performers, and a plethora of photo opportunities with Santa all while the world’s largest mistletoe dangles overhead and a quintessential merry “kiss-mass.”

On December 21st, Chabad of the Valley presents Chanukah fun featuring live bands and dancing in CityWalk’s Cinema Plaza. Activities, kosher food and crafts add to the festivities with the evening culminating with a lighting of Southern California’s largest menorah.

The holiday celebration will culminate with Southern California’s largest free New Year’s party bringing twice the excitement with twin countdowns at end of CityWalk and featuring a colorful firework display, confetti blasts, and live music to ring in 2009.

View of the Bay Bridge and Treasure Island (photo courtesy of Airship Ventures)

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

Have you ever wanted to ride a zeppelin? Well, I do, and fortunately Airship Ventures has brought this exciting travel opportunity to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Zeppelin over Ferry Building, San Francisco

The last few times I have ventured to the City, I have seen these airships floating above and about the Ferry Building and Embarcadero Center. According to their website, they depart from Moffett Field in Mountain View or Oakland Airport’s North Field, and in 2009, will add the Charles M. Schultz Airport in Sonoma Valley to their list of departure sites.

Exiting the hangar at Moffett Field (photo courtesy of Airship Ventures)

The trips last either one or two hours and would be an excellent adventure for first-time or experienced Bay Area visitors. Would also make a wonderful way to commemorate a significant milestone or achievement for any local residents (50th birthday celebration, anyone?!).

Airship Ventures Zeppelin over San Francisco

Each airship holds 12 passengers, and depending on your departure point, visitors have the opportunity to view such Bay Area treasures as the campuses of famous high-tech companies (think Google, Microsoft and Apple), Stanford University, the Port of Oakland, Treasure Island, the Campanile at UC Berkeley and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge.

Zeppelin over Golden Gate Bridge (photo courtesy of Airship Ventures)

Tours start at $495 per person, and Airship Ventures offers the opportunity to reserve the complete gondola for parties up to 12 for special occasions. More details can be found on their website.

Craft and Folk Art Museum, San Francisco

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

Located across the courtyard from the Contemporary Jewish Museum is the Museum of Craft and Folk Art, a long-time institution in San Francisco. Open Monday through Friday (except Wednesdays), 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., the museum is a showcase of traditional and contemporary folk art and craft from around the world.

Focusing on one exhibit at a time allows the museum to delve into the subject and provide many opportunities to learn. The current exhibit is “The Shape of Things”, which explores paper traditions and transformations. In addition to the exhibit that features cut, folded and molded paper, along with artists who demonstrate their perspective, the museum has organized events around the same topic including the Parol Lantern Festival and Parade, an Origami demonstration in January, as well as several artist talks about the use of paper in their current work. Check the museum website for more event details.

Museum Store

As we were leaving, I noticed the museum store had many beautiful items, so while my husband took the kids outside to run up and down Yerba Buena Lane, I had a moment to investigate, and found several lovely gifts in time for the holidays. If I did not have the family waiting for me, I could have definitely spent more time!

With its proximity to Yerba Buena Gardens, as well as several other excellent museums, the Museum of Craft and Folk Art is a great stopping point on a visit through this south of market part of San Francisco.

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

The San Francisco Centre, located on Market, between Fourth and Fifth Streets, has evolved in the last few years into a shopping mecca. Founded in 1896, the Emporium was a shopping institution in Northern California; at its peak, operating locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento. The flagship store on Market Street was designed by San Francisco architect Albert Pissis, one of the first Americans to be trained at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris.

By 1980, the Emporium was united connected with the new San Francisco Centre, featuring a flagship Nordstroms. And in 1995, after several intermediary acquisitions, Federated Department Stores bought the Emporium chain, with many of the stores converting to the Macys brand. In 2006, the old Emporium building on Market was reopened as Bloomingdales, the largest Bloomingdales outside of Manhattan.

The new building retains the beautiful Emporium glass dome, as well as the building’s façade. Today, the multi-level towers are accessed by escalators and elevators and offer something for everyone, from fashion and shoes, to gifts, children’s clothing and books. In the original San Francisco Centre, Nordstroms occupies the top 4 floors, with different retailers filling in the rest. In the new part of the center, Bloomingdales holds the anchor spot, along with high-end shops and retailers, with movie theaters on the top floor.

On the bottom level, in what is called the Food Emporium, you can find cuisine to satisfy any taste, from Thai to Mexican to the San Francisco Soup Company. For a quick snack, you might try Beard Papa, the Japanese-brand of cream puffs. Also, Bristol Farms, a specialty food shop, operates a location at the San Francisco Centre, perfect for picking up dinner on the way home.

My favorite secret about this center? Uber-popular restaurant Slanted Door operates an outpost Out the Door in the Food Emporium, allowing me to get my fix of great Vietnamese-influenced cuisine without needing a reservation!

by Gudrun Enger, of Kitchen Gadget Girl

Founded in 1984, the Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco moved to its new location, the redeveloped site of the historic Jessie Street Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Power Substation, a 1907 landmark designed by architect Willis Polk, in 2008. The new museum, located just off Mission, between Third and Fourth Streets in San Francisco, is a contemporary masterpiece, and the museum itself has much to offer to visitors, with exhibits and programs focused on Jewish history, culture and art.

On our visit this weekend, my children were excited by the Family ArtPacks, which we picked up after paying admission. With these packs, we took our time to discover the museum, staying for a while in a few locations so my daughter could finish her coloring.

Every Sunday, special family programs are offered, including gallery adventure tours and drop-in art making sessions. And each quarter, the Museum offers Family Days – the chance to enjoy admission-free access to the exhibits and performances, and celebrate Jewish holidays.

One of my favorite features of the museum is the free cell phone tour – as I wandered around the museum, I listened to the architect Daniel Libeskind discuss the design of the new space. If I had really been on the ball, I could have downloaded the tour from the Museum website and listened to it on my iPod!

The two-story museum, in addition to ongoing exhibits, has several current exhibits, including the StoryCorps StoryBooth project, started in New York by MacArthur Fellow Dave Isay. Recording oral histories, the project seeks to capture personal stories that reflect American culture. I stayed for a while at the listening station, enjoying (and occasionally getting misty eyed) at some of the outstanding personal narratives.

Ticket prices are adults $10, seniors and students $8, and members and youth under 18 receive admission. Open daily, except Wednesdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and staying open late on Thursdays until 8:30 p.m., the Contemporary Jewish Museum is definitely worth a visit!

Here’s some facts to chew on. There are over 16,000 golf courses in the U.S., out of which 959 are in New York. About 13% are more or less eco-friendly, while the rest are guzzling water and making the surrounding environment toxic with fertilizers and destruction of natural habitats.

What we’re going to do here is find some truly green golf resorts in New York, so you can enjoy guilt-free luxury golf vacations.

To do this, I had to cross-tabulate a list of New York’s golf resorts against Audubon International’s list of certified sanctuaries. FYI, Audubon International certifies golf courses that meet required standards for protecting water quality, conserving natural resources, and providing wildlife habitats.

There are a total of 27 New York area golf courses in Audubon’s list, and out of these, 5 are part and parcel of a resort type facility, while the rest are stand-alone golf courses. 3 of these 5 resort courses are located in the same resort. Which basically leaves us with a grand total of three eco-friendly golf resorts in New York.

Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY (www.turningstone.com/): This 1200 acre resort in the Mohawk Valley has 3 out of its 5 championship golf courses – The Shenendoah, Sandstone Hollow, and the Kaluhyat Course – listed by Audubon. The resort has been listed in GolfWeek’s ‘Best resort Courses’, and has been home to a PGA tour.

Off the course, this 4 diamond resort has diverse accomodations to suit your taste including a cozy lodge, a hotel, and an RV Park. The resort also offers a worldclass spa named Skana, fine restaurants with gourmet dining and other casual dining options, a wide variety of entertainment facilities featuring celebrity performances, and a nighclub and casino.

Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, NY (www.mohonk.com/): Soon to be a 140 years old, this enchanting lakeside Victorian castle resort in the Hudson Valley offers a 107 year old landmark course with a Scottish architectural influence with sweeping views of the surrounding valleys. Listed by Audubon as a cooperative sanctuary.

In addition to the golfing, the resort offers spa facilities, ice skating, boating and fishing, cross country skiing, fly fishing, hiking and walking trails, rock climbing, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and other outdoorsy activities.

Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, NY (www.otesaga.com/): A 100 year old facade which looks kinda like a federal building from the outside, this resort hotel stretches across the lakefront on the southern shore of Lake Otsego, and is home to the Championship Leatherstocking golf course, designed in 1909 by Devereux Emmet, and considered to be one of the most challenging, and scenic, courses in the East. Also a certified Audubon cooperative sanctuary.

Resort offers lake and pool swimming, canoe rentals, salmon and trout fishing, and group skeet shooting expeditions. City slickers have hunting and fishing guides on hand for assistance. Excellent place for some down time with a great view of the lake from the veranda.

Photo by danperry.com via flickr (creative commons).