Wild lupine, which you can see at the end of the Sagehen Creek hike out to Stampede Reservoir Donner Memorial State Park There are many trails around Donner Lake. Look carefully for free parking off Donner Pass Road, past the park entrance, and you will also see a trailhead before getting to the Tahoe Donner club. You can also drive all the way around the lake to the very end and park for free, then walk into the trailhead there. I highly recommend walking in and visiting the

Whether it's Halloweedn or true crime, check out the paranormal activities long rumored at these Pacific Grove-area spots.

Eureka's a hike from the Bay Area, but there's loads to do on the way and when you're there. Road tripping to Humboldt If four-and-a-half hours seems long, it's better to plan some fun stops along the way to break things up. Wineries Starting around Hopland, Jaxon Keys' sign is always sharing their latest award-winning wine. The Nelson Family Vineyar has fruit trees and olive oil, too. And when you get up to Ukiah, Rivino Winery's sign for their Boujee sparkling wine over

We are super excited to share that we have a new home in Eureka! We will be welcoming traveling medical professionals working at the local hospital, Providence St. Joe’s, which is right down the road. But there's lots to do for weekend visitors. Just three short blocks from our place to the red pandas at the Sequoia Park Zoo and they're famous Redwood Skywalk. Check out my blog with what to do on the way to Eureka and what to do when you get there. There's so much to do in

VLMOGUL is a '82 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia pop-top camper van available for photo and film shoots and events via WHEELS agency.

In May 2020, Pacific Grove ended their program for allowing a small number of regulated short-term home rentals, for example those booked...

Big Little Lies wasn't the first show to be shot in and around Pacific Grove, Monterey and Big Sur. Turner and Hooch is one of our favs, and

Truckee-area brewing companies bring the fun of an afternoon in Napa or Sonoma to your North Lake Tahoe trip. Whether it's an apres-ski stop

Looking for a happy hour spot close to our #Jewelbox Cottages in Pacific Grove? For an inexpensive drink and bar grub? For some fun? Yes please! Sardine Factory The Sardine Factory’s first nightly Happy Hour, yes first!, is offered daily from 5pm-6pm. But you can also head over from 9:30pm-10:30pm for another round. They feature $8 signature cocktails, $6 wines by the glass and $6.50 small bite starters. Their "Flaming Sardine" is the featured above: Galliano liqueur flamed

When people think of Monterey Bay, marine mammals might be the first animals that spring to mind. But there's another awesome animal experie

Where's the best place to get skis or snowboards in town? That's one of the most common questions that I get from guests staying at...

Limekiln State Park is on the southern end of Big Sur but it is worth the drive. There’s not a lot of camping, but when we arrived, the rangers carved out a spot behind one of their work trucks for our SUV, so we could enter. Thanks guys! This is a full redwood to waves park with three do-able but fun hikes that will wow you and impress visitors…and dates. Get Limekiln State Park details here. Beach Hike A quick trot over the bridge gets you and your picnic to a beautiful s

>> Enjoy this guest blog from international golfer and pilot, Alex. Check out his blog here. << Through the many generations of golf...

Our Jewelbox Cottages in Pacific Grove are at the gateway of California's Central Coast wine region. Here are top spots for wine tasting

The Aquarium is the best-known attraction in the area, but it's also one of the most expensive. Here are three attractions you can enjo

Have a happy, merry and safe holiday! Save $25 on your next booking & get $25 when you refer a friend or relative...plus they save $25,

The green plaques on Pacific Grove's pretty dollhouse cottages have many stories to tell...and a few secrets that many would like to kee

When you come to Donner Bliss to celebrate a special occasion, you have great dining options in Truckee. Check out these elevated dining fav

The Sierra Buttes are a great day trip from Donner Bliss. At the foot of the Buttes, you'll find a trio of lakes: Sardine Lake (pictured here), Packer Lake and Sand Pond. You can hike to the fire lookout station at the top of the mountain buttes for a once-in-a-lifetime stunning, challenging but truly rewarding hike. It's a perfect day trip to snag a primo spot at Sand Pond, hike to the lookout, then relax by the pond or fish on Sardine Lake, and top it off with drinks and d

Vacationing with your pet can add a wonderful dimension to a family vacation – not having to kennel a dog or arrange home visits for a cat can take a huge burden off of travel planning – but there are still arrangements to be made to travel smart when hitting the road with your animal. Both our vacation rentals Donner Bliss cabin in Truckee, Lake Tahoe ​​ and our charming pair of jewelbox cottages in Pacific Grove welcome pets. We've had both dog and cat families stay, a

If 2016 was the year of pre-sale frenzies and hand-wringing in online waiting rooms, then 2017 may be The Year of the Resale for San...

SugarBowl resort has sent this very helpful note about how to handle yourself on the mountain when there's this much snow. #Weather...

In town, on the way up the hill, or on the way home, here are the spots you can go sledding for free!

Winter driving conditions can be one of the trickiest things for California travelers. You thought driving in the rain was bad? Try white-outs, my friend. Here are some tips for hitting the roads up to your mountain get-away. Check the Weather and Road Conditions The best way to get their safe is to check ahead and prepare for the driving conditions you'll be in for: For weather and storm advisories: NOAA Weather.com For road conditions: Caltrans – Type in the h

Did you know about Truckee's free shuttle? It operates in the winter to local ski resorts and in 2019 added service to Tahoe City and...

Skating and playing hockey are some of the funnest things to do in the winter. With ice rinks around the Bay Area, it's also something...

Whether there's snow on the ground or meadows of wildflowers, mountain biking is a sport that enthusiasts can dive into year-round. Just...

Don't stop at the first place you see. Even though Safeway is easy to spot on the corner Donner Pass Road and Hwy of Skip the lines and...

Buying new every year is costly, especially for a family. Plus the cost of lift tickets and accommodation add up over a season. Gear...

The best way to find a new experience, service or product is from a trusted source that's already tried them. Here for your travels, here...

Donner Lake is a Northern California recreational mecca on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. It is a magnet for all water sports, including swimming, stand-up paddle-boarding, boating, wake boarding, water skiing, and fishing. Some of the biggest lake trout in California are caught here. This side of Truckee is know as "Donner." It is the first Truckee neighborhood that you get to when driving from the San Francisco Bay Area and once you take the Donner Pass Road exit