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Spring is beautiful, but for many, summer is the season we wait all year long for!

Summer is in full swing in Seattle. That means taking advantage of all the outdoor fun! Our Seattle reps have a few suggestions to help you get inspired to get out and enjoy the great weather. Here's a small slice of the movie experience available in or close to Seattle. If you haven't tried them all, this summer might be the time to do it!

A great summer tradition is outdoor movies. This is a personal favorite with my family. Here's a list of every outdoor movie playing in seattle (that's actually the name of the article so it has to be right.) Outdoor movie provide family, friends and neighbors the opportunity to gather in beautiful outdoor settings, enjoy quality movies, and build a strong sense of community. Not to mention, it's a lot of fun and inexpensive or free! This year’s season will run from June 12th through September 11th and will take place at San Anselmo’s Creek Park and Fairfax’s Contrati Ball Field. Find the current Film Night schedule here. 

Spring is beautiful, but for many, summer is the season we wait all year long for!

Summer is merely days away and summer in San Rafael means taking advantage of all the outdoor fun! Our San Rafael reps have a few suggestions to help you get inspired to get out and enjoy great weather. Here's a small slice of the movie experience available in or close to San Rafael. If you haven't tried them all, this summer might be the time to do it!

A great summer tradition is outdoor movies. This is a personal favorite with my family. Film Night in the Park has been providing family, friends and neighbors the opportunity to gather in beautiful outdoor settings, enjoy quality movies, and build a strong sense of community since 2001. This year’s season will run from June 12th through September 11th and will take place at San Anselmo’s Creek Park and Fairfax’s Contrati Ball Field. Find the current Film Night schedule here. 

A Very HAPPY Goodbye to Winter!

With spring finally here, San Francisco is peeling off some layers of clothing and heading out doors. Our San Francisco reps have a few suggestions to help you get inspired to get out and smell the roses.

First off, if you've never heard of the GO card, you're missing out. Many cities offer them and it's a discounted pass to visit multiple tourist attractions. Next vacation, make sure to check out the city you are going to and search "GO and city of your choice'. Back to San Francisco, the GO San Francisco card offers you access to over 30 attractions. 1 day passes start at $65 and 5 day passes are $155. Visit as many places and as often as you like. Attractions include California Academy of Sciences, Historical Society Cartoon Art Museum Children’s Creativity Museum, De Young Museum, Exploratorium, Angel Island Roundtrip Ferry, AT&T Ballpark Tour, Golden Gate Bay Cruise, Aquarium of the Bay and more! The best thing is that it's often cheaper than paying for 1 day at the more expensive attractions!

If this is more than you might do in a week, then tuck it into your brain for the next time family comes to visit. Spring is the perfect time to visit these parks due to the smaller lines and less crowded parks!

After all that hecticness, take a trip north and relax on the Russian River. Just a short jaunt up the freeway and you feel hours away from the city. Healdsburg offers tons of activities and events all year long, but spring is the perfect time to beat the summer crowds and find a relaxing day floating. Your tour operator will set up your canoe and show you the basics of paddling before getting you into the water and sending you on your way! Settle into your canoe and journey from Memorial Beach to Crow Bar. Take your time as you float lazily along this easy, calm 4-mile (6.5-km) stretch of the Russian River, enjoying views along the way. If you choose the full day trip enjoy the 9-mile (14.5-km) journey along the calm, easy-to-navigate waters to Wohler Bridge. You can even opt for them to provide lunch. 

And finally, don't forget to plan some kind of over-night Spring-Fling get away with your BFF or significant other. The top get away, according to our San Francisco clients is the 2-day Monterey / Carmel get away. If you’re looking for a Pebble Beach tour from San Francisco, maximize your time on this 2-day excursion that includes an overnight stay in Monterey. Both with a guide. During free time, you’ll experience a variety of attractions in this coastal resort area, from Cannery Row to Carmel. Learn about Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, see one of the most prestigious golf resorts in the world, travel along the 17-Mile Drive, and pass through Half Moon Bay on Highway 1.

You can visit Monterey Bay Aquarium independently, if you wish. Explore Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf and Downtown Monterey at your own pace. See downtown Carmel and Pebble Beach Golf Links and travel along jaw-dropping 17-Mile Drive. Overnight accommodation and round-trip hotel transport included. If you've always wanted to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this overnight tour is ideal, as you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the attraction without sacrificing your sightseeing time.

A Very HAPPY Goodbye to Winter!

With spring finally here, Los Angeles is waking back up with the beautiful weather. Our Los Angeles reps have a few suggestions to help you get inspired to get out and smell the roses.

First off, if you've never heard of the GO card, you're missing out. Many cities offer them and it's a discounted pass to visit multiple tourist attractions. Next vacation, make sure to check out the city you are going to and search "GO and city of your choice'. Back to Los Angeles, the GO Los Angeles card offers you access to attractions for one price. So instead of paying to get into Universal Studios ($105), Magic Mountain ($77), Knotts Berry Farm ($72) and Lego Land ($93) separately, pay $190 for a 3 day pass or $250 for a 5 day pass and have unlimited access to all 4 and 23 other attractions. One and two day passes are also available. If this is more than you might do in a week, then tuck it into your brain for the next time family comes to visit. Spring is the perfect time to visit these parks due to the smaller lines and less crowded parks!

After all that hecticness, take a hike. Los Angeles has some of the best and most scenic hiking trails that exist. Check out this article for the 10 best trails in the area. Eaton Canyon's my personal favorite. Most of the hikes listed here are easy to moderate, so it’s not necessary to be an experienced hiker to enjoy them. However, it’s always wise to keep a few things in mind when you’re planning an excursion. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, carry plenty of drinking water, use sunscreen and wear sunglasses. Take along a camera, make sure you stay on the trails and have fun.

And finally, now that the weather is nice enough visit one of Los Angeles' beaches. Santa Monica is a favorite because of all there is to do. There’s so many places to dine and shop, you’ll never run out of ideas. Take the kids to the charming Pacific Park or the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Rent a bike and enjoy the leisurely pace of life by the beach or, just get in some sunbathing – and if your're brave, the water feels great to some who like the chili spring water!

GOODBYE WINTER!

With spring finally here, San Diego is waking back up to the beautiful weather it's known for. Our San Diego reps have a few suggestions to help you get inspired to get out and smell the roses.

Speaking of roses, spring is blooming away in the San Diego area. If you love world class floral ensembles, check out these great area exhibits:

• Through April, visit the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego’s East County as colorful wildflowers bejewel the sun-scorched desert landscape.  Call the Park’s 24-hour “Wildflower Hotline” at 760-767-4684 before planning a tour of the desert flora. 
• Now through May - At the Flower Fields of Carlsbad, California, a vibrant sea of giant ranunculus flowers transforms 50 acres of hills into rows of brilliant color.  
• Balboa Park's Offshoot Tours provides free, one-hour tours that highlight the park’s lush botanical offerings; the tours begin at 10 a.m. on Saturdays in front of the Balboa Park Visitors Center. 
• On April 21–22, the City of Coronado presents the 87th Annual Coronado Flower Show in Spreckels Park.  Guests will enjoy flower sales, live entertainment, food and an awards ceremony.  
• April 12–15, the San Diego Museum of Art blossoms during Art Alive 2012, an enchanting spring exhibition.  

If flowers don't pack enough action for you, spring is also an excellent time to go whale watching. "We’ve been quite surprised over the last few weeks to have multiple Blue Whale sightings, 4 so far!.  This is unusual as Blue Whales call Southern California home in summer months, with the earliest sightings typically in May.  Is this a result of El Nino?  Water temperatures are averaging about 8 degrees warmer than normal.…"  WOW! it's an exciting time to go whale watching. See a record of what's been sighted recently and schedule a trip of your own at San Diego whale watching.com

And our final spring tip (just in case some of us didn't already know,) is to act like a tourist! Spring is the time to visit San Diego Zoo Safari Park  or Legoland or Sea World. It's even a great time to plan a romantic weekend in a nice hotel, maybe the Historic Coronado Hotel. Apart from spring break, kids are still in school which means less people at amusement parks. Many tourists also wait for the perfect weather of summer to visit San Diego, which, as we all know, creates massive crowds and the hotel prices sky rocket! So get out there and act like a tourist. The just slightly less than perfection weather is a very fair exchange for room to hear yourself think and deep discounts.

GOODBYE WINTER!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous furry forecaster, failed to see his shadow, meaning spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says. Our Modesto representatives are are feeling the warmth, craving some rain and shared these spring time ideas for shaking off the cold weather and getting back out into the sunshine. Here's a few Modesto gems you might not have visited lately. 

The McHenry Mansion is Modesto's Treasure.  It is the city's only original Victorian home and one of the few remaining reminders of the town's rich heritage.  Its restoration has proved to be the community's most visible, extended renovation project. Thousands of local citizens have participated and contributed to the restoration. A typical day at the McHenry Mansion may include a group tour for a busload of school children in the morning, docent-conducted tours for a hundred people in the afternoon, and an elegant private party in the evening.  The Mansion is used by the community almost every day, with an average of 20,000 annual visitors.  

Gallo Center for the Arts- The mission of the Gallo Center for the Arts is to enrich the quality of life in the San Joaquin Valley by providing an inspirational civic gathering place where regional, national and international cultural activities illuminate, educate and entertain. The Gallo Center for the Arts celebrates the diversity of our community by offering an array of affordable cultural opportunities designed to appeal, and be accessible, to all. The Gallo Center for the Arts will accomplish this mission through programming that:

• Provides a venue for the area's leading performing arts organizations
• Brings great performances from around the world to the area
• Offers motivating arts education programs for youth

The Modesto Certified Farmers Market runs April through December each year.  Support local farms, small neighborhood businesses and enjoy starting off the morning with a stroll down the Market's lane!  Tons of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, eggs and cheeses are peddled...  Morning pastries, fresh bread, local honey and more fill the stalls...  It's a foodie's paradise. Saturday mornings at the Market typically include live musical entertainment and delicious food demonstrations by local chefs or vendors.  Check the calendar for more details.

The market will be opening even earlier this year: first, ease into the season, only Saturdays in April, then the market will resume its regular Thursday & Saturday morning schedule the second week of May.

Whatever seems fun to you, we hope that you take advantage of the beautiful weather that's coming and spend some time outdoors. 

GOODBYE WINTER!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous furry forecaster, failed to see his shadow, meaning spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says. Our Anaheim representatives are are feeling the warmth, craving the rain and shared these spring time ideas for shaking off the cold weather and getting back out into the sunshine.

Do people still say, "Duh?"

Well this one's a duh, it's a temptation to not talk about Disneyland because... well... the entire world knows that Disneyland is the main attraction in Anaheim. BUT, when's the last time you went? Have your kids met Lightning McQueen? Did you know that "The Force" is with Disneyland? This advice is short, if you haven't gone lately, it's worth scraping the money together, skipping Starbucks for a month... (wait, give me a second... 20 times $5 = $100) okay, skipping Starbucks for 2 months and giving Mickey a visit. After all, it's the happiest place on Earth, and like most attractions, the last attraction you visit is the one in your own backyard. 

Medieval Times - Join the epic battle of steel and steed - "In myth and in legend, the knight and his horse are forever linked. Few things are held in such great esteem by the medieval warrior than his stalworth horse, who possesses the bold strength of his master and the quiet strength of his ancestors." Step into this monster sized medieval castle and step back in time to a rougher, simpler time with live jousting and of course a damsel's kiss awaits the victor. Forks here are optional and kinda lame. Yelling is encouraged and a few cups of grog will have you happily chanting for your knight and pounding on the table. With a smaller price tag than a visit to see Mickey, this is an affordable splurge and one heck of a place to enchant out of town guests. Shows include a 4 course meal and before the King introduces the tournament players and the jousting begins. 

Take the kids to Billy Beez. The Anaheim location is found at the Anaheim Garden Walk, the premier outdoor shopping location, with tons of restaurants and entertainment to boot. What could make that better? Billy Beez. A safe place to drop off the kiddos. While you shop, have a date night with hubby or get in a work-out, the kids can run off all their energy, jump til their heads burst open or do a fun craft, giving you a needed break or just letting them have their own age appropriate fun. They can journey into Billy’s Rainforest for a one-of-a-kind adventure and experience in the 17,000 square foot Play Arena. It's the home of wildly twisting slides, a one-of-a-kind Ball Blaster Arena, bouncy trampolines, intricate obstacle courses and so much more! This unique indoor playground offers safe, hands-on fun for the whole family!

GOODBYE WINTER!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous furry forecaster, failed to see his shadow, meaning spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says. Our Fontana representatives are are feeling the warmth, craving the rain and shared these spring time ideas for shaking off the cold weather and getting back out into the sunshine.

Exotics Racing is the most exciting thing you're going to find in Fontana! Is G-force your drug of choice? You have to invest in your wild side and feel the rumble of an exotic super car under your bum! 0 to 60 in the time it takes you to realize you should scream... and the speedometer is no where near redlining, and not slowing down. It's for sure the largest fleet of exotic super cars you have access to, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi R8, Mercedes-AMG GT S, Corvette Z06, and the Nissan GT-R. Take the wheel of these incredible machines and push their performance to the limit with one-on-one coaching from a professional racing instructor!

Center Stage - Center Stage Theater is Fontana’s newest Theatrical Event Center. Center Stage is home to TIBBIES Great American Cabaret, the Inland Empire’s finest dinner theater, multiple professional “Broadway Style” productions, touring artists, community and private events. This is also the home of Murder and Mayhem in Fontana. Participate in a 3-course meal intertwined with devilishly fun entertainment. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the quirky cast of characters who will take you on a journey back in time. The show is presented in three acts. Between courses our mysterious cast will engage you in quiet conversation about the mystery at hand. A great afternoon or evening of dining, mayhem and murder at Center Stage Fontana! If you've never been to a murder mystery meal, you have to go. It's one of the most fun things you will ever do.

This state of the art facility features some of the latest in audio, video, lighting and presentation technology. Additionally the theater boasts a complete banquet and catering menu and a full bar. You can also rent it out! 

And if you are looking for family fun on the cheap, check FREE things to do in Fontana, you'll find a list of parks, trails and inexpensive day trips already thought through for you. I find this site helpful for the lazy Saturday mornings. You work hard all week, you chauffeur little Jasmine to ballet class, Christopher to baseball and both to karate, while meeting work deadlines, doing homework and trying to get in 6 hours of sleep a night... per person even. Having "family bonding" time that includes some vitamin D can be a challenge. Let this site remind you about the batting cages. The batting cages, of course, how does one forget the batting cages, fun for all. On the other hand who has brain cells available when Saturday morning rolls around?

GOODBYE WINTER!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous furry forecaster, failed to see his shadow, meaning spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says. Our San Jose representatives are feeling the warmth, craving the rain and shared these spring time ideas for shaking off the cold weather and getting back out into the sunshine.

San Jose Municipal Garden – a one-time prune orchard – is today one of the most attractive of its kind in the world, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The garden is exclusively devoted to shrubs of the rose family and features over 4,000 rose shrubs with 189 varieties represented. Hybrid–teas comprise 75% of the plantings. These shrubs are characterized by a single high centered bloom per stem. 

Located just outside downtown, this is where you can see spring, spring into life. April marks the beginning of the flowering season that lasts through November. If you've never been, visit early on and then make sure to return in early May when the sweet fragrant roses peak. Nature will leave you in awe with the change just a month makes! 

The San Jose Rose garden was also voted a best location to get married. After all, wedding season comes right after spring.

Take the kids to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. Happy Hollow Park & Zoo connects people to nature through play! Let your little one act like a lemur. The Lemur Woods Exhibit features endangered lemurs with a parallel play area for children to hop, jump and move like a lemur! Just one of the hands on adventures to be had here. There's classes and camps and 16 acres of wildlife with the added twist of kid focus at every turn. Your little Tommy is encouraged to play doc right beside the actual veterinarian at the Doc's Critter care. And when Mommy and Daddy need a pit stop, find Redwood Lookout play area. Built for multiple age groups, there's an area for your toddler Rebecah, a bigger structure for older kids and it's all built to model a ranger lookout station. Find it nestled in the redwoods area and watch the kiddos slide, swing, climb and play on the ropes.

Those trips are day trips and take a bit of planning, but if you are sitting at home at 4pm wondering if the meatloaf could be thawed out before dinner time and wrestling with the thought of even eating meatloaf, let alone, find something to serve with it... It might be time to take an impromptu jaunt downtown. Check out the downtown San Jose Association's site, if you can imagine your heart going pitter-patter, PITTER-PATTER for something, you can find it downtown. Unless it's a Mangalitsa pig, those are truly hard to find, I bet there's a few in San Jose but probably not on that site. Other than that, you're in great shape! 

Downtown’s vibrant nightlife allows you to get to know neighbors and visitors from around the world. Pubs, cantinas, sake bars, and bierhauses appeal to everyone, not just British, Irish, Mexican, Japanese or German clientele. Upscale wine bars serve more mature crowds in cozy settings. Dance clubs, bars and restaurants offer a variety of live music that electrifies the downtown scene into early-morning hours. Visit http://sjdowntown.com/ and make your plans for tonight or just grab your keys and head out, windows down, hair flying and adventure on your tongue, you can't go wrong.

GOODBYE WINTER!

Punxsutawney Phil, the world’s most famous furry forecaster, failed to see his shadow, meaning spring is right around the corner, or so the folklore says. Our Sacramento representatives are are feeling the warmth, craving the rain and shared these spring time ideas for shaking off the cold weather and getting back out into the sunshine. Sacramento is almost dripping with history. You can scarcely walk a block in the heart of Sacramento without discovering a piece of our state or nation's history. Here's a few lesser known, but history rich options:

Visit Sutter's Fort - In the heart of Midtown Sacramento, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park captures the pioneer spirit of families arriving in wagon trains at the dawn of the California Gold Rush. John Sutter built the Fort and his agricultural empire, was critical in the rescue of the tragic Donner Party and served as a diplomat with the Mexican government until it all came crashing down in 1848. A fascinating place to visit for history field trips, kids and adults! 

The California Sutomobile Museum - In 1982, a group of volunteers met to discuss the concept of an auto museum to be located in Sacramento–the first auto museum in the West to be established in perpetuity. Before the close of the meeting, a challenge was made by an attendee, who produced a one hundred dollar bill and asked who among the group would match it. Five additional one hundred dollar bills came forth and the plan was born. The paperwork was begun to form the non-profit corporation and foundation, and the fruition was seen exactly one year later, on October 5, 1983, when the California Vehicle Foundation was established. 

The museum alone is fascinating. There is also always a great event right around the corner. Checkout the calender here.. What kind of cool stuff will you find, you ask, how about joining us (yes, us, because I'm going!) Join us April 9th and drive a Ford Model A.  That's cool, drive a piece of history. 

Fairytale Town- While Fairytale Town isn't overtly historic, many would agree that fairytales are a part of our history and social make-up. And, if you have a kid, it's a heck or a lot of fun. Let your imagination run wild at Fairytale Town, a 2.5-acre children’s play park and outdoor children’s museum that brings fairytales and nursery rhymes to life! Located in William Land Park in Sacramento, Fairytale Town has delighted millions of guests, inspiring imagination, creativity and literacy since it opened in 1959. Over 25 bright and colorful play sets give young children a backdrop to act out their favorite stories, to encourage creative discovery, and to exercise their minds and bodies on child-friendly slides throughout the lush grounds.