San Diego is one of the most dog-friendly travel destinations in California with a wide selection of hotels and destinations that your pup can enjoy with you. The weather is usually very pleasant so spending the day outside is no biggie.

My husband and I used to live in the San Diego area with our Black Labrador Holly. We would bring her all over the city with us, so we've had plenty of personal experience with finding dog-friendly things to do and places to eat.

This blog post covers San Diego dog-friendly parks, beaches, walkable neighborhoods, restaurants and more.

TravelGennifer RoseOctober 31, 2020San DiegoComment

Dog-Friendly Picnic at Marin French Cheese Company in Petaluma

TravelGennifer RoseSeptember 29, 2020Northern CaliforniaComment

California National Parks Checklist

The state of California is known for its natural beauty. The landscape varies greatly from region to region - from majestic mountains with dense forest floors to dry and vast deserts. The amount of outdoor recreation activities in California is enormous, and with the ever-changing seasons there’s new adventure to explore throughout the year.

California has nine national parks, which is the most of any one state (Alaska comes in second with eight national parks). Across the United States there’s a total of 62 national parks. The definition of a national park is land set aside by the federal government to protect it from development so that the general public can enjoy its natural beauty.

TravelGennifer RoseAugust 25, 2020Northern California, Southern CaliforniaComment

Los Angeles Dog-Friendly Guide

Los Angeles is one of the most dog-friendly cities in California. Whether you’re brining your dog on vacation or a local pet owner, there’s plenty of places to explore with your pooch. We regularly travel all over California and we often bring our Black Labrador Holly along with us.

This guide covers the most popular areas and neighborhoods in Los Angles, pretty much the best places to spend your time. You’ll find over 75 dog-friendly parks, beaches, walking trails with city views, restaurants, breweries, outdoor shopping centers and much more.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 28, 2020Los AngelesComment

How to Rent Cute and Classic Cars in California

Sometimes when you travel, it can be equally about both the journey and the destination. When you decide to road trip in a car that’s just plain fun to drive, it adds some adventure and whimsy to your travels.

Many folks also rent retro and classic cars for weddings, photos and special occasions such as prom, anniversaries, and more. Whatever your reason for wanting to incorporate a cool ride into your life, you’ll find many rental options for California in this blog post.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 25, 2020Northern California, Southern CaliforniaComment

Kid-Friendly Apple Hill Wineries

Located just under an hour outside Sacramento, Apple Hill is a popular place for both families and adults to enjoy picturesque countryside scenery.

Along with being wine lovers, we are also parents and we don’t always have childcare… so we are always looking for child-friendly wineries to frequent when we have to bring the whole family.

For this guide to wineries in Apple Hill, I contacted each one of the below locations and asked them about their policies around brining children. So you can feel confident when you begin making plans for your trip to Apple Hill.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 23, 2020Northern California, SacramentoComment

The Best Time of Year to Visit Palm Springs

Palm Springs is one of California’s favorite playgrounds for both bachelorette gals in their 20’s to families with children. This desert oasis offers warmth and sunshine most of the year, but events and temperatures vary from month to month.

Every month of the year offers benefits and challenges with traveling to Palm Springs. I’ve broken down the highlights of each month so you can best plan your perfect vacation.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 16, 2020Palm SpringsComment

Instagram-Worthy Restaurants in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a mecca in the desert for everything modern and fabulous. Of course that means you’ll find some of the best foodie eats inside trendy restaurants with killer aesthetics and decor.

During your visit to Palm Springs you’ll most likely be indulging in plenty of pool time at your fancy hotel. Between sunbathing you’ll be brunching, enjoy patio lunches, happy hour cocktails and then of course dinners.

This blog is all about the best eateries to frequent on your vacation. There’s many options to choose from in Palm Springs, but I’ve narrowed it down to the most Instagrammable and trendy spots for all you cool kids. It’s all about atmosphere paired with good food to really make you feel like you’re in a desert oasis.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 13, 2020Palm SpringsComment

The Best Pumpkin Patches and Farms for Photos in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is known as both a beach town and a cute farming community that comes alive in the autumn season. There are several family farms that convert into festive pumpkin patches for the public to enjoy.

The coast is one of the perfect places to take some time to capture special moments on camera. There’s so many beautiful backdrops for both families and Instagrammers.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 7, 2020Northern CaliforniaComment

Planning Your Elopement Wedding in San Francisco

My husband and I had an elopement wedding in San Francisco on July 8th, 2019. The city of San Francisco is a special place for us because it’s filled with so many memories. We met when my husband was a college student at the University of San Francisco.

Our early days of courtship were spent exploring the city, and we eventually got an apartment together in Nob Hill. Getting married in San Francisco was perfectly fitting for us.

This comprehensive guide to eloping in San Francisco covers so many topics including budgeting, legal requirements to elope in San Francisco, selecting a location, reception and your honeymoon.

TravelGennifer RoseJuly 4, 2020San FranciscoComment

Instagrammable Places in Half Moon Bay, California

My hometown of Half Moon Bay is really a beautiful place, and still remains an under the radar hidden gem. It's mostly known for the Pumpkin Festival and beautiful pumpkin patches during the fall season. But the reality is that it's a stunning photography location any time of the year.

Half Moon Bay is located 45 minutes south from San Francisco is the perfect destination for a day trip to escape the city. The temperatures are much cooler than most other areas of the bay area, so Half Moon Bay is a great place to escape high temperatures during a heat wave.

TravelGennifer RoseJune 29, 2020Northern CaliforniaComment

Instagram Guide to Los Angeles Murals

I always love a trip to sunny Los Angeles and often times during our adventures I come across a new favorite mural. There’s so many fun and colorful places and public art to photograph in La La Land.

Some of the best Los Angeles neighborhoods to hunt for murals are West Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice, Abbot Kinney Boulevard and more!

This blog post is a collection of murals I’ve found over the years in Los Angeles. I have included as much location information as possible so you can find them yourselves.

TravelGennifer RoseJune 23, 2020Los Angeles Comments

Enjoy the Outdoors in Sacramento With These Top Spots and Activities

Sacramento is a rare place in California in that we experience all four seasons in all their glory. The springtime is beautiful with blossoms and mild weather, the summer is hot and dry, the fall is magical with colorful foliage and winter is cold and dark. The best time to be outdoors is the springtime and autumn seasons, but there’s still plenty of opportunities in the winter and summer too.

In this Sacramento guide I outline all of our favorite places to be outdoors and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Here in the city we have amazing parks, bike paths, walking trails with river views, historical districts, urban hangout spots and public art.

There’s also a section about excellent days trips from Sacramento if you want to experience snow, apple picking, beaches, hiking, wine tasting, kayaking and more.

TravelGennifer RoseJune 15, 2020SacramentoComment

The Most Instagrammable Coffee Shops in Sacramento

When we moved to Sacramento I was very pleasantly surprised to find a thriving coffee house scene. Not only are these java joints serving very high quality crafted coffee beverages, they’ve also done their due diligence to prove a welcoming environment to sip and enjoy.

When I’m building a guide made for Instagrammers, I’m looking for establishments that have both modern and trendy aesthetics, along with ideal photography lighting conditions. You’ll find many spots in and around Sacramento in this guide, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

TravelGennifer RoseJune 12, 2020SacramentoComment

Carmel-by-the-Sea with Baby Travel Guide

Carmel-by-the-Sea is located 2.5 hours south of San Francisco and it’s a beautiful drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Visiting the small village of Carmel-by-the-Sea is like stepping into a real life fairytale. Many of the homes are designed as whimsical cottages and they sit adjacent to beaches and picturesque landscapes.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is also an ideal vacation spot for families with babies and young children. It’s very safe, calm and has plenty of baby-friendly dining and activities. We took our little Scout when she was 16-months old and it was a very pleasant trip. In this guide you’ll find many baby-friendly options for where to eat, stroller-friendly places to explore, beaches and hotel recommendations.

TravelGennifer RoseJune 8, 2020Family-Friendly TravelComment

Family Travel Guide to Oahu with a Baby

Hawaii is a popular place for Americans to travel with their babies, my parents took me to Hawaii for the first time when I was just a couple of months old. Visiting the islands truly feels like an escape to paradise, but you don't need a passport because you aren't leaving the country. Getting a passport for a baby can be a hassle, so this is a big bonus. There's also no Zika is Hawaii so it's a great place to have a baby moon while pregnant!

The people of Hawaii are very welcoming to families and children, you'll find ample baby friendly dining and activities. In this guide you’ll find the best beaches, places to eat, baby-friendly activities and my top parenting travel tips.

TravelGennifer RoseApril 15, 2020Hawaii, Family-Friendly Travel Comments

One Day in London - How to Maximize Your Time During a 12-Hour Layover

My husband and I took a summer 10-day trip to the Greek islands during the month of July. We flew from San Francisco to London and then onwards to the island of Santorini. On the way to Greece we had an 8 hour layover in London, on the way back we had a 17 hour layover in London. Both times we wanted to maximize our time in England so we left the airports to do some sightseeing.

Yes, I know what you're thinking - those two long layovers in London are definitely not enough. You're right! Even a week might not be enough to experience the city, take in all the incredible sights, and marvel at London's beautiful architecture. However, if you're there already and have the opportunity to spend the day exploring, you should unquestionably take advantage of it.

Because there are so many things to see and do in London, you may be overwhelmed by the options, which is why I made this guide. It will help you make the most of your time in the city by offering tips for where to go and what to do during your one day in London.

TravelGennifer RoseApril 8, 2020International DestinationsComment

Oahu 4-Day Itinerary & Travel Guide

Although the Hawaiian islands are small, there’s so many sights to explore - especially on capital island of Oahu! When you’ve only got 4 days to vacation in Oahu, its definitely worth your time to plan your itinerary in advance.

I’ve broken this blog post up into sections - each one caters to specific travel interests. There’s plenty for foodies, beach lovers, nature adventure seekers and family fun. My suggestion for building your Oahu 4-Day Itinerary would be select your top four must-see items and then add-on meal options.

TravelGennifer RoseMarch 16, 2020Hawaii, Family-Friendly Travel Comment

Best Ice Cream & Sweet Shops in Sacramento

Sacramento is quickly becoming a California foodie destination, and a true foodie can really appreciate quality ice cream, gourmet donuts and apothecary candy stores. In Sacramento you’ll find a mix of old-established family ice cream parlors and new trendy ice cream.

In preparation for this blog post, I had a lot of fun doing “research” eating ice cream all over Sacramento. It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it!

TravelGennifer RoseMarch 15, 2020Sacramento, Northern CaliforniaComment

Dog-Friendly Guide to Half Moon Bay, California

Half Moon bay is the perfect weekend warrior destination, especially if you’re planning dog-friendly travel. There are many outdoor spaces where your furry babies are allowed to accompany you. Also there’s a good selection of eating establishments that are willing to accommodate dogs.

The recommended spots in this guide are just a quick drive from San Francisco or San Jose area, about an hour away from either city. You can opt for a day trip or an over-night stay, I’ve got a list of hotels that are pet-friendly.

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