Get a taste of Japan — without leaving San Francisco! I’m excited to see my latest post is up on Thrillist. Some of my favorite Japan-inspired things to do and ways to experience Japanese history, art, and culture here in the Bay Area. Check it out: How to Experience Japan in San Francisco
RECENT POSTS
Getting Off the Las Vegas Strip
I’ve been to Las Vegas a handful of times for conferences and weekend trips. I don’t gamble, but I’d do some other Vegas-y things — graze the buffets, go to shows and nightclubs, and lounge around the pool. With the exception of the pools (I love the city’s extravagant pools), I was never a big fan of the […]
TRAVEL
Where to Eat & Drink in Pittsburgh
I never really thought of Pittsburgh as a food city. I knew the city was home to Heinz Ketchup and Primanti Bros., hawker of a bazillion calorie French fry stuffed-sandwich. Lots of people love them, but they aren’t really my thing. On my recent trip to Pittsburgh, I was excited to find the city has lots […]
Spilling A Best Kept Secret: Unique Things to Do in Pittsburgh, PA
I had just landed in Pittsburgh. Two guys behind me were talking about how long it was taking everyone to get off the plane. Guy #1 (from Phoenix on his first trip to the city for work, as I had gathered from eavesdropping) said, “I guess they don’t really want to go to Pittsburgh.” Guy #2, […]
FOOD + DRINK
Holiday Gift Ideas for Travelers & Foodies
Looking for the perfect gift for your travel and food-loving family and friends? This might help! Over the last several weeks, I’ve been working to pull together my recommendations for gifts for the travelers and foodies on your list. Some of the items here are items I own and use, and others are on my own personal […]
Oregon’s Cranberry Coast + Habanero Cranberry Sauce Recipe
If you drive Highway 101 up the Oregon coast right now, you might notice an unusual fall landscape–shrubby and angular, brick red fields. This is where cranberries come from! These cranberry fields are also called a cranberry bog — a recessed rectangular pit, filled with a dense mat of cranberry bushes. The berries grow on runners […]
CALIFORNIA
A Visit to Santa Cruz Island & Channel Islands National Park
This is a guest post by Dianne Sivulka. We love visiting National Parks and try to visit a few each year. California is fortunate to have nine National Parks, more than any other state. Visitors to California often choose Yosemite or the Redwoods, but fewer people venture out to the Channel Islands. Perhaps that’s because […]
Wine Tasting in Downtown Carmel
One of my favorite Northern California weekend escapes is the little coastal community of Carmel-by-the-Sea on the Monterey Bay. Not only does the town have gorgeous white sand beaches and delicious food, it’s famously pet-friendly–you can bring your dog just about everywhere. On our recent Carmel weekend getaway, I discovered one more fun thing to […]
A Weekend in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Spring is here and my thoughts are moving to spring weekend getaways and summertime road trips. For California travelers, many of these getaways include a drive along the state’s stunning Highway 1. One of my favorite Highway 1 stops is the Monterey Bay community of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. I go to Carmel once or twice a […]