California is pretty boom or bust when it comes to rain. After years of drought, we have finally had a few solid years of rain, this year more than most. In Southern California when the rains have been particularly strong, something wonderful happens, a Superbloom! Superblooms happen when seeds that have lain dormant get enough moisture to grow. There are a number of places to view flowers, one is the…
Activities
Summer Reading Recommendations – 2018
Summer is here so its time for my yearly summer reading recommendations! Last year I wrote up a list of book recommendations and it was one of my most popular posts of 2017 – to read that post – go here. I’ve compiled a new list of summer reading recommendations based on some great books I’ve read in the past few months (details below). So, kick your feet up on…
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Activities
San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA)
This spring I had a conference in San Francisco and was able to squeeze in a short visit to the SF MOMA, a museum I’ve wanted to visit for years. About a year ago I resolved to try and visit more museums. Fortunately, because I travel for work, I’ve been able to chalk three of the United States’ best modern art museums off my list. See my previous posts on…
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Activities
Five Tips for Spending a Day at the USS Midway!
The Midway is a top destination for visitors to San Diego and for good reason! We recently took our kids to visit the historic ship and they absolutely loved it. Even if you’re not into jets or aircraft carriers, exploring this giant ship is fascinating. From the food preparation to feed a “city on a ship” to the cramped living quarters, to the belly of the ship where thousands of…
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Activities
A Day at the Cabrillo Tidepools in San Diego
The Cabrillo National Monument at the point of Point Loma in San Diego is a fantastic place to visit for some great history, unbeatable views and easy hiking. In addition to the museum and lighthouse, the area also has one of the best-protected and accessible rocky “intertidal” tidepool areas (which means, the unique ecosystem that lies between the high and low tides) in southern California. They are stunning! We took the…
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Activities
Thinking about Disney Annual Passes? Read this First
Do you love Disney but aren’t sure if a Disney Annual Passport is right for you? Are you wondering if getting an annual pass is worth the hefty cost? Last year we decided to forego buying a lot of Christmas and birthday gifts and instead purchased Disney Annual Passports for our family for the year. We were hesitant to do it because we worried that we wouldn’t use the passes…
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Activities
Five Fun Ways to Get Kids Hiking (without Complaints)
Hiking is one of the most amazing ways to see the world. I love hiking and I’m trying to pass on that appreciation to my children. One of the challenges however, is getting the kids through a climb with minimal complaints (can I get an amen?). Candy is the world’s best motivator, but there are other ways to get kids smiling up a mountain. Here are five ideas to get…
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Activities Destinations
Experience San Diego from A to Z
There is so much to do in San Diego. This post is an A to Z of San Diego and takes you from South county to North, it has eating and drinking, historical sites, activities and more. Check out the below for 26 ideas of things to do, from A to Z. Look out for more posts in subsequent weeks as I dive further into San Diego destinations. AleSmith My husband will…
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Activities
Map Your City This Summer!
Love the City You Live in! Last month I wrote up a post on 15 Fun Summer Activities with Kids [you can read the full post here]. One of the ideas in the post is to get a map of your city, hang it and mark all the places you visit this summer with colorful push pins. Not only is it great for teaching children about geography, but it help…
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Activities
Summer Vacation Book Recommendations
Start your summer right with some new summer book recommendations! Summer is here, which means some time by the pool or beach for reading! I have some fantastic summer book recommendations for you! In the last two months I’ve been on the road a lot for both work and fun and have read some books that were nearly impossible to put down. I’m going to continue to add to this list throughout…
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