Really Fun Things to do with Your Adult Children in Seattle

February 28, 2020March 9, 2017

What are the best things to do with your adult children in Seattle?

First, make sure you create plans that everyone will be happy with and talk about it, negotiate if you have to. Just don’t make it all about Mom and Dad, include everyone’s favorite activities.

Traveling with a young family is entirely different from deciding what to do with your adult children. When the kids are younger, they pretty much have to do what we say and acquiesce to any plans that we make for them. We are the adults and they are the children.

Once these little people grow up, the game changes. Everyone is living on their own paying their own bills (except their cell phones) coming and going as they please and making their own traveling choices. Deciding what to do with your adult children now becomes a bit more of a conversation, not to mention a logistical nightmare sometimes.

All that aside, we happen to have two enthusiastic grown travelers who are willing (mostly) to do anything that I decide to plan. The fun part is that now they can insert their own experiences and planning skills and our combined efforts turn out some pretty awesome trips.

The four of us took two successful trips together last year and will hopefully be planning one for 2017.

Where is the best view in San Francisco ? We found it.

February 28, 2020March 1, 2017

Hands down, no joke, the best view in San Francisco ~

Just a couple of days ago, we visited Point Bonita Lighthouse and thought we had enjoyed the best vistas of San Francisco. But once again, our personal local tour guides, Nick and Kylie, have struck San Francisco gold and really showed us the best view in San Francisco! This is a very tall order (pun intended) because everywhere you look, this unique city shows off its beauty. Many of the tall downtown buildings have incredible bars and restaurants on the top floors offering spectacular views.

However, the view from Cityscape is 360 degrees of wonder. Because of the recent perfect weather and crystal clear skies it allowed us to see for miles and miles! No detail was too small and every hill, every bridge, every street light, every street, every landmark and the ocean seemed so close you felt you could touch it.

What to Do on a Sunny Day in San Francisco

February 28, 2020February 27, 2017

A sunny day in San Francisco may not happen as often as we would like. The weather is unpredictable and can be colder in July than in December! I’m certain that you have heard the famous Mark Twain quote “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco”. According to several sources I have found he never actually said it! He said something similar to this, but not that exact phrase.

I have traveled to the City by the Bay many times and have experienced every type of weather. But when it is a sunny day in San Francisco, when the skies are bright blue and the sun is happily shining, it is time to make plans and get out of town.

I don’t mean out of town, but rather to travel to the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy the spectacular views of the city from the other side of the bay. San Francisco is one of the prettiest cities in the U.S. with its tall buildings, enormous hills, beautiful architecture (old and new) long rocky coastlines and spectacular bridges.

At the suggestion of knowledgeable local residents, our son Nick and his girlfriend Kylie, we drove just a few minutes over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to see the Point Bonita Lighthouse. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G and FREE!

A Sunset Adventure in Antarctica – By Travels with Tam

February 16, 2017

A breathtaking adventure in Antarctica with TravelswithTam.

One of the many benefits of the life of a travel blogger is not only to experience the places we go, but the additional gift of connecting with new people. I have been fortunate to create friendships with many incredible individuals who are interested in adventure and their unique journeys are ones that I have never taken. Tam is a true adventurer and her visit to Antarctica marked her seventh continent!

Luxury in San Diego: A Sensational Stay in a Presidential Suite

February 28, 2020February 6, 2017

To stay in a Presidential Suite is VERY special!

Being loyal is an important personal attribute and being loyal to a particular brand(s) will help a great deal when you travel. We have been traveling for years together as a couple and my husband travels almost every week for business. We discovered years ago that paying special attention to your choices in accommodations as well as the airlines, makes a HUGE difference. If you stay within one chain of hotels, you build loyalty points that can be used for more travel, upgrades and for status.

If you travel a lot, it is especially nice to be upgraded and/or offered lovely amenities, bottles of wine and delightful snacks. Traveling isn’t always as glamorous as it seems. It can be frustrating, exhausting, confusing and there is no one there patting you on the arm telling you all will be ok. If we have issues with our travel plans, we have to solve them. If there are delays, we have to endure them.

Ten Romantic Getaway Ideas for Empty Nesters

February 28, 2020February 1, 2017

Planning a romantic getaway for your sweetheart?

February is here and maybe you are thinking about a romantic getaway with your sweetheart? Maybe you are not… but just maybe you should think about it? I recently participated in a fun post with Expedia where fourteen travel bloggers offered their best ideas for a couples trip somewhere in the U.S. I was super flattered to be included and you can click ==> here to read the article! There were so many cities to choose from and I thought I would add to the list here.

A Special Cake Baking Class – Seattle Style

February 28, 2020January 30, 2017

A Cake Baking Class Adventure While Traveling ~

Yes, we did it again. Alex and I took a Birthday Layer Cake Baking class at The Pantry in Seattle. When your busy adult child wants to spend time with you… you always say yes! We have found such camaraderie through our common passion for cooking and our son Nick also loves to cook! Lightening struck twice, lucky me!

When I make plans to visit a city, I try to look deeper into activities that most likely are not filled with tourists. I look for things that we (I) have a strong interest in learning more about. We always look for local bookstores, cooking stores, sports related tours, foodie tours, architecture tours, music/record stores, cooking classes, breweries, and distilleries.

An Invitation to an Italian Cooking School ~ Tuscan Women Cook

March 24, 2020January 22, 2017

Here I am enjoying a class in Seattle. I can’t wait to go to Tuscany to experience an authentic Italian class!

An Italian cooking school adventure!

Do you have days when the stars are aligned and you find yourself connecting with a special individual you have never met before? This happened to me when Coleen Kirnan of Tuscan Women Cook, an Italian cooking school, contacted me to introduce herself and tell me about her magical place in Italy.

She came across a post of mine mentioned by LA Times columnist Chris Erskine on his Facebook page and she felt we would make great collaborators. First of all, who does that any more? Who reaches out actively to another person to see if there is a solid possibility of a connection? – Oh Coleen does! She is amazing, inspiring and a real go-getter. I look forward to meeting her equally tenacious entrepreneurial partner Rhonda Vilardo, very soon!

A Day Trip in Kauai – Hanalei Bay

February 8, 2017January 16, 2017

A Hawaiian Vacation in the Winter – Yes Please!

I know many of you are dealing with really cold weather right about now! My friend Laura in Kennebunkport, Maine was looking at -2 degrees and deciding whether to go out. There are scary ice storms across the Midwest and many feet of snow around the country. I admire those of you who tough it out in those frigid temps. When it drops to the 20’s and 30’s that is SUPER COLD for this wimpy Southern Californian.

I see on social media that many people plan trips to warm weather climates during these harsh winter months. I sure would! St Barts, Hawaii, Australia, South America all sound pretty nice right about now. Hawaii is a wonderful destination to visit in the winter.

To be perfectly truthful, a Hawaiian vacation ANY time of year would make me very happy. How about you? We are so spoiled here on the West Coast, we are so much closer to the Hawaiian Islands than those of you in the Midwest, East Coast or Europe. This geographic advantage is quite sizeable and quite fulfilling!

Where to Eat in Pasadena ~ The Best Restaurants and Bars

December 7, 2016

Are you coming to Pasadena anytime soon? Is your favorite college team in the Rose Bowl? Are you up to your knees in snow, icy wind and rain? Do you long for winter temps in the 70’s? What? Yes, the 70’s.

Yes, my friend it is so. The winters are mostly sunny and mild, with no humidity, the mountains are lovely and it is only a short drive to the gorgeous beaches of So Cal. However, we do have plenty of people living here, so just a visit, ok?