San Francisco has long demonstrated dedication to green environmental practices. The conservation efforts of John Muir, who founded the Sierra Club and for whom Muir Woods are named, date back to 1892. Peace activist and San Francisco resident John McConnell established the United Nations Earth Day in 1969, and Alice Waters pioneered the movement to use [...]

[caption id="attachment_7136" align="alignleft" width="356" caption="The Renaissance Stanford Court in San Francisco."][/caption]

Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that two prominent luxury hotels in San Francisco defaulted on loans last month, painting a bleak picture for the city's hotel economy.

Owners of the elegant, 97-year-old Renaissance Stanford Court on the top of ...

Sometimes those “hidden gems” are right under your nose.
That was the case for me regarding The Mosser.
I’ve poked around and posted about many of the hotels near the San Francisco Chronicle in downtown/SoMa (South of Market) where I work. I’ve had lunch at Annabelle’s Bar and Bistro on the ground floor of The Mosser — [...]

Some things are worth repeating.
I’ve lost count how many times my husband Dan and I have retreated to the Mountain Home Inn, a magical place on the top of Mount Tamalpais, about a 30 minute drive from the Golden Gate Bridge.
For our anniversary last month, we pawned the kids off with our friends in Bolinas, [...]

Turtle weddings in Mexico? What tha??
That was my first reaction. So, what does that actually mean?
Try destination wedding meets ecotourism. In an elegant beachfront resort on the tip of the Baja California Peninsula.
You’ve heard of releasing doves during the ceremony? Well, two couples exchanged their vows at the Marquis Los Cabos this month, and joined [...]

Last weekend, I abandoned my children and husband for a weekend jaunt to my other favorite city.
Yep, Frisco mama became Manhattan mama for three lovely days.
My cousin, who is like a sister to me, and I share birthdays on the same week of November. With the incentive of low off-season fares on Jetblue and an [...]

Quirky doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Bolinas is known for many things — surfers, hippies, artists,  drunks, poets, potheads, the Jefferson Airplane beach house,  Richard Brautigan’s suicide, and dogs. Lots of stray dogs.
As a deterrent to tourists, the local residents  have a tradition  of removing the sign that indicates the turnoff to their seaside hamlet. [...]