I am looking for an integrative health practitioner in Humboldt Co. California who is knowledgeable in the possible psychological symptoms and the political issues surrounding Lyme.

Skiing and Little Kids

Hello from snowy Squaw Valley where all, or seemingly all, of the kids in California are spending their vacation. If your ski week is coming up, a few refresher suggestions may be in order. If you only ski once a year, or just rarely do a vacation rental, it’s easy to forget the little stuff.

1. Plan to pack. If you only ski (or travel to the beach for that matter), once a year, this is one case where making a list of the necessities makes sense to use to pack each year. How many miles from town does it become impossible to turn back and start again. In this year’s example, I’d estimate it was about 25 miles out that my husband realized that his ski boots were still at home. We remembered almost all of the stuff for the children’s skiwear only to remember that we forgot the parents’ stuff. This is very important if you want to be out there as an example to the kids to enjoy the snow and the skiing. The ski boots weren’t left in the basement, or even on the floor of the garage, they never even made it to the pile we accumulated to cover all the potential exigencies of a snowy holiday.

Also, remember the stuff you need to move from the ski condo/house to the ski slopes. Snow boots to walk through the snow and the slush, use of plastic sleds to carry all of the little ones’ equipments (as surely, you will be the valet for all of the multitude of equipments for you and your kids) I actually saw a mom who had a small shopping basket on wheels where she carried all of her three children’s ski equipment.

Even if there is only one child, it is often too much weight and too many pieces to carry for a dad or mom who is in good shape and can carry many pounds. And, prepare for temperature variation. It’s even easier to forget things when you live in a climate like ours in Northern California, where it’s never really hot nor really cold. It’s hard to imagine what three below is like, say nothing to 95 above.

2. Pack some mustard. Unless you have good confirmation with the owners or the management as to what is stocked at the house, add to your bag of groceries the basics you’ll need for a week. It’s hard to part with six bucks for a bottle of salad dressing when plenty of oil and vinegar is back at home.

3. Rent skis and boots if necessary in your hometown if you’re driving to ski. There’s nothing worse for kids and more fatiguing for adults than to start a ski day with a one hour trip for ski fitting. Rent at home, save money, and use your time on the slopes.

4. Plan for babysitting or for lots of in-home down time if you’re traveling with small children. Ski schools start at age three in most places as kids younger than that do not have the physical coordination required to properly teach them to ski. Even if it starts earlier, your kid may not be ready. Be fully prepared to not ski, or trade off days with your spouse. Either way, you may regret spending a lot of money to ski so little. Just keep it in mind when planning the ski vacation and set expectations. Also look for other recreational activities, like dog sledding, sleigh rides, a kids’ bungee jumping area, interior rock climbing gyms, or an area to build snowmen. Plan and figure out all the possible ways to enjoy the trip, away in the snow rather than focus on that fact that it’s a ‘ski’ week. Focus on the family down time and just enjoy the break. My little two-year old son and I had several hours of rambling around the village where he was the mayor of the village and an ambassador to all of the many dogs.

More Northern California Family Vacation Articles

My family is considering going on vacation to California this summer for a week, but we don’t know where to go. If anyone knows one of the best cities to visit and things to do there, I’d greatly appreciate it!

thanks!

So, when we got engaged last year, my mother in law said that she would take care of our honeymoon as a gift to us. She said that the only stipulation was that she would get to pick where we went for a week. She said she would make sure it was somewhere nice and run some ideas by us to make sure it wasn’t something we would hate. Originally, it was going to be Disney World. Then, California (like a road trip kind of thing), then Vegas, and then she said she would just give us a thousand bucks and her car and we could go wherever. The other day, she told my fiance that she didn’t think she was going to do our Honeymoon afterall. Our wedding is 2 1/2 months away. We are a one income couple with no extra cash. Ever. Now, I’m stuck with trying to find somewhere for us to go that is nice, but inexpensive. Any ideas? We live in Northern, Illinois, but we would travel anywhere as long as the price was right. I’m wondering about any all-inclusive resorts or well, just anything.

Classic Garden Furniture

It was in the 1800s that many people began spending a lot of quality time with their friends and families in their gardens which are also referred to as patios, by taking their regular classic furniture outdoors. The only problem was that when the weather became inclement, all the furniture had to be again brought back indoors. To keep the garden furniture in the outdoors safe and weather resistant, the need to create a solution resulted in arrange of exclusive furniture.

Most ideal for your garden:

Thomas Lee decided to come up with a solution for this. When he with his family had gone for a vacation to Westport, in New York, he needed something on which he could comfortably relax and which would also suit the surrounding ground which sloped around his cottage. With a saw and a single plank of wood he then set to work, and created the popular Adirondack chair which was made out of around eleven wood pieces. One of the feature characteristics that are most distinguishing about this chair is that it had wide armrests, and a back that was fan shaped and slightly reclined, so that the uneven ground got compensated.

A side table and a footstool that matched well with the rest of the classic garden furniture and of course the Adirondack styled chairs still make for a great setting which is most ideal for any inland or coastal garden. Primary vivid colored paints can be used to paint chairs that can look great on a patio or even the deck. Besides this you can even have a few pieces of furniture made from oak in the garden to create a seating nook which is very cozy. Oak furniture is well known for its durability as well as beauty.

In a cottage garden which is equally traditional, you can place Rattan garden furniture which fits perfectly. A picnic table made of wood, or some chairs made of maple or pine can help you dine with friends and family on the weekends. Those families with kids can have some furniture made of wood designed specially for the little ones. To avoid the glare of the sun, it is important to remember to add one or two parasols in the garden along with Rattan garden furniture.

Prevent from deterioration:

Proper protective finishing should be given to the wooden garden furniture on a regular basis, once you choose and purchase wooden furniture for the outdoor space. When exposed to the heat as well as the rain, this will prevent them from deterioration. Preservatives that are water repellent, exterior wood stain, an acrylic latex paint are some of the protective finishes which you can easily get in the market. For many years you can enjoy the pleasure of a beautiful garden and lawn. According to the ambience of the home’ exterior façade and your exclusive taste you can select from a wide range of styles and designs in outdoor wooden garden furniture. Redwood, pinewood, cedar, oak and teakwood as well as many other varieties of wood can be used to make wooden furniture for the outdoors.

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Why not Acquire a Property in San Felipe, Baja California?

Baja California has miles and miles of beautiful coastline. San Felipe is situated 125 miles south of the US border on that Baja coastline. It has a population of about 25,000 . This number includes the 10,000 American and Canadian residents who have retired to San Felipe.

During holiday periods there is, of course, more traffic, especially during Spring Break and other holidays. The active city has, in the past years, planted hundreds of new palm trees in the waterfront area on both sides of the seaside main drive. Tourists, locals and foreign residents like to cruise the seaside drive near the town center. There are always activities going on there. This area has hotels, resorts and restaurants and a lot of water sport activities.

There is a wide variety of facilities in San Felipe: markets, hotels, restaurants, bars, banks, clinics, trailer parks, auto mechanics, curio shops selling anything from shirts, shoes and beach wear to blankets and pottery. In San Felipe you find it all: hospitality, friendly people, warm climate, beautiful nature, white sandy beaches, mountains, etc. All this makes the San Felipe real estate opportunities exceptionally interesting for vacation, retirement or investment.

The beach in  the San Felipe area  has big tidal differences and year round warm ocean water. Water temperatures vary depending on the season. In the northern Gulf where San Felipe is situated the water temperature goes down in winter. In summer the temperature of the water may go up to 90 degrees F. In April the water starts warming up quickly and stays warm until October /November. So you won’t need a wetsuit to dive then. But in winter you will need one to dive as the water temperature goes down to some 60 degrees. Another attraction of this region is the unique eco-system because it’s one of the rare places where the desert meets the sea. The altitude of San Felipe is 10 ft above sea level. 

Many Snowbirds (Americans who live part time in Mexico) have a property or some real estate in San Felipe. Buying property there is not complicated. The San Felipe real estate choice is large and interesting. Americans and other foreigners can easily acquire property in Mexico. All Mexican real estate transactions involve a real estate agent or broker, the buyer’s lawyer, a bank and a public notary. All these four players are essential in acquiring a property in San Felipe Baja as they are experienced specialists in their own fields .For more information on these legal aspects you can contact your Baja real estate agent.

Join a group of satisfied foodies as they rave about their excellent experience at The Sophisticated Palate, a new culinary vacation getaway program launched by The Culinary Institute of America, the world’s premier culinary college. Choose from four different courses which combine chef-instructor kitchen classes with exclusive day trips in and around Napa Valley. The four classes are: Foods and Flavors from the California Harvest, A Taste of Northern California, Live-Fire Cooking and Cooking for the Next Half of Your Life. For more info and to enroll, visit www.ciachef.edu
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Sonoma County Wine Guide

Sonoma County Locals Choice Wine Guide

Sonoma County is a well known grape growing and wine producing region located 30 miles north of San Francisco. The moderate weather is ideal for a wide variety of agricultural products, but vineyards, grape growing and wineries dominate Sonoma County’s economy landscape.

The county seat rests in Santa Rosa which is about 65 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

There are over 200 award-winning wineries located in Sonoma County with twelve distinct grape growing regions, also known as appellations or designated AVAs (American Viticultural Area). These consist of Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Carneros-Sonoma, Chalk Hill, Dry Creek Valley, Green Valley of Russian River Valley, Knights Valley, Rockpile, Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain and Sonoma Valley.

For the purposes of this article we will focus on the three most northern appellations of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and the Russian River Valley.

The Alexander Valley is the most northern appellation in Sonoma County, is the warmest region, and borders Mendocino County. Alexander Valley is known for growing a wide range of grape varietals that grow well in warm climates such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varietals, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Sangiovese. These are red grape varietals that do well in warmer weather, whereas white varietals like cooler weather.

Some well known wineries and tasting rooms in Alexander Valley include Silver Oak, Murphy Goode, Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and Geyser Peak. The small enclave of Geyserville sits in the middle of Alexander Valley, and has a collective wine tasting room called Locals, as well as a few very good restaurants.

Dry Creek Valley is southwest of Alexander Valley and west of the town of Healdsburg, the hub where these three appellations meet. Dry Creek Valley is known for growing Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as several Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Mourvedre.

The Dry Creek Store is a great place to stop for lunch. It’s located in the heart of the valley on Dry Creek Rd. Notable wineries in Dry Creek Valley include Dry Creek Vineyards, Ferrari-Corano, Rafanelli, Bella Vineyards, Mauritson, and dozens more.

The Russian River Valley is just south of Dry Creek Valley and also includes the sub-appellation of Green Valley. It is recognized as a premium growing region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Warm days and the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean provides ideal conditions for growing these varietals. Other varietals grown in the Russian River Valley include Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinto Gris.

The Russian River is repleat with restaurants and eateries throughout. Some of the most noteworthy wineries include Martinelli, Rochioli, Gary Farrel, Hartford Court, and many more.

Sonoma County is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and has miles of roads along its majestic coastline. Other features of Sonoma County include the Russian River, magectic redwoods, over 20 gof courses, over 40 spas, diverse festivals, numerous local Farmers’ Markets and an incredible amount of top notch restaurants and eateries.

For these and many more reasons, Sonoma County is a very popular vacation destination point for people from all over the world. If you are planning a visit to Sonoma County be sure to check with the Chamber of Commerce in the particular area you will be visiting to see if there are any special events going on.

You may also want to contact any specific wineries you plan to visit and get a copy of their events calendar. Wineries are notorious for events throughout the year, many featuring food and wine pairing, music and holiday themes.

For recommendations of wineries and restaurants in the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, visit http://sonomacountywineguide.com.

Hello,
My family is looking forward to take a vacation this winter break and we are looking into a skiing trip.
I need to find the best deal possible for a day’s skiing lesson& rental equipment. Also, it has to be in Northern California, thereabouts.
Thanks!
Please input any useful information!

An Introduction to Napa Valley

The wineries of Napa Valley California are among the most known among wine lovers all over the world. For some, a visit to this region is a lifelong dream vacation due to it’s pleasant climate and beautiful scenery.

Located in Northern California, Napa Valley contains both the soil and the climate that is considered one of the best in the world for growing wine grapes. As one of the premier wine producing regions in the United States, Napa Valley is home to a number of different wines through it’s wineries; among them include the Chandon, Caymus and Frank Family.

Napa Valley receives millions of visitors each year that tour it’s productive wineries. Napa Valley has also become one of the premier attractions in the state of California. During a trip to the Napa Valley, visitors will have the experience of enjoying breathtaking vistas, numerous culinary pleasures and a source of inspiration for those who make wine as a hobby.

Even though this region has been historically strong, the fertile and beautiful Napa Valley has had it’s share of times where it almost ceased to exist in terms of wine production. Beginning in 1920 and ending in 1933, Prohibition became the law of the land. Around the same time, phylloxera, a root louse, destroyed numerous vines that produced the wine which resulted in the closing of several wineries. However, Napa Valley wineries reopened again after World War II and the region became popular again.

The popularity of the Napa Valley region grew even more when the region’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were deemed to be better than the fine French labels in the Paris Wine Tasting in 1976. The region is continuing to grow and expand to this day and is now home to hundreds of wineries. The Napa Valley is now home to some of the world’s best wineries.

Wine tours of the Napa Valley run from morning until evening. Visitors will not only have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of fine wines, they will also have the chance to view the entire wine making process; from beginning to end. Many of the wineries also provide high quality wines at a discount in addition to their tours.

Despite the fact that there are hundreds of wineries in the Napa Valley, the valley itself is a condensed 35 miles long. However, this gives it an added convenience to the visitor because they can easily travel from one end of it to another in a relatively short amount of time. The drive of the entire distance of the valley only takes a half hour long with traffic permitting. The main route for these wineries is formed by Highway 29. On this route, you can also find not only the larger wineries, but shops, hotels and restaurants as well. Highway 29 begins quite close to the end of San Francisco Bay at the mouth of the Napa River. Every winery can be reached along Napa Valley when traveling along this highway.

Do you have an interest in wine and thinking about your next getaway? You might want to try the beautiful and fertile Napa Valley for your next vacation.

Promote Chinese Family Vacation Camp in Northern California

My boyfriend and I are planning a romantic weekend away. We are planning on staying at either the hilton in horseheads Ny or the Mariott in Corning NY. Any suggestions? Do the Hilton Garden Inns have number beds? We planned on doing the wine tour as well, any idea if there are cabs around that area that will take us to the hotel and around??