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Holiday break with the kids: what to do?

Dear Weotta blog readers,

The following is written by a special guest blogger, my mom.
She is quite the expert on doing San Francisco right with the whole family; believe me I know from experience.

Happy Holidays,

Grant & the Weotta team

___________

Holiday break with the kids: what to do?

The holidays bring a special gift of two weeks without school.  This is a wonderful time for the family to be together.  Fortunately, all my children are home for the holidays.  We are doing a lot of cooking, hiking, a little bit of shopping, lots of talking and so much laughing.  It’s the togetherness that makes the holidays so special – not the presents or spending lots of money.  In fact, there are so many things you can do that cost very little and are fun experiences to share with the family.  Now that Christmas and Hanukkah are over, it’s time to get out and play!

Since it’s just after the holidays, it’s always fun to walk around Union Square and see the decorations and lights before they are taken down.  Fisherman’s Wharf is decorated too, but if the lights are gone, there’s so much else to interest the kids.  Start at Pier 39 and walk to Ghirardelli Square.  There are lots of places to stop along the way and yummy snacks for everyone in the family – the kids will love the sundaes at Ghirardelli Chocolate.

San Francisco is always a fun city to explore.  A different way to look at it is to explore some of the 300 stairways in the city.  You could do a Google Search or start with www.sisterbetty.org.  Everyone knows about Lombard Street, said to be the “crookedest street in the world,” but wait until you climb, and climb, and climb stairs all over the city!  Sometimes it’s good to have a “designated driver” to meet you at either the top, or the bottom of the hill, depending on if you want to climb up or go down.  Don’t forget an updated map or a GPS system as many of the stairs cross over several streets.

We love to walk through Golden Gate Park and there are so many things to do, both inside and outside.  Few cities can boast of such a big park right in the middle of their city.  Since the time they were old enough to walk, my kids always loved to walk through the conservatory and the Japanese Tea Gardens.  There are lots of other paths too.  Don’t forget warm jackets as the weather changes fast, good walking shoes that can get muddy, and healthy snacks.

With all the daytime sunshine predicted, a trip across the Golden Gate Bridge to Muir Woods is a good thing to get on the calendar.  It’s a place to celebrate trees, enjoy native plants, and work off some of those extra holiday pounds as you hike.

If you feel like heading out of the city, take a drive tour down the coast along Highway 1.  A day pass will let you park at the state beaches along the way.  And there’s Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero.  Seeing the sea elephants is amazing, but in the winter you need to have advanced reservations and take a tour, so call ahead. It’s worth it!  A great stop along the Route is Sam’s Chowder House right before Half Moon Bay.  The chowder is amazing and the fried calamari is the best.

To top off your family adventures head across the Bay to Berkeley’s hidden gem, the Scharffenberger Chocolate factory tour.  Little kids and grandparents alike will love it, so take the whole family to this one.  The tour is free, but you have to sign up in advance.  The tour includes complimentary tastes, a little chocolate education, and a glimpse into the kitchen to see where the magic happens.

Weotta hurry, before we know it  school will be back in session. Enjoy!

Broken heart, job loss, family overload? If the holidays are giving you the blues…

Escape into nature, on a budget.

The holidays can be rough enough without the added downer of a break-up, a layoff or your annoying underage cousin asking you if their fake ID is good enough for the local bars. So how might you avoid a potentially stressful holiday season? Take a break, go into nature and save money by staying at a Northern California Hostel during their 50^th anniversary! For you skeptics, I implore you to continue reading and learn about these gorgeous treasures that rest in the Bay’s backyard. These accommodations are a far cry from the lodgings you paid pennies for during your youthful backpacking adventures in Europe or Latin America…I assure you.

Why hostels? During these uncertain economic times, singles, DINKs (dual-income, no kids) and families can all benefit from a mini-vacation while saving a few bucks. Also, as a non-profit organization, the cost of your lodging at any Hostelling International hostel in Northern California directly supports numerous programs, such as Hostel Adventure Program, which educates inner city kids on intercultural and environmental practices through an overnight stay at one of the network hostels. Hostels provide the perfect retreat for friends, a solo soul-searching escape, or a historical adventure into the past that will surely impress your family’s know-it-all history buff.

Point Montara Lighthouse Hostel: Imagine spending a quiet night near a historic lighthouse, waking up to the Pacific Ocean and taking a vigorous walk along a secluded beach cove with tide pools. Recently rated 6^th worldwide among Hostelling International’s 4,000 hostels, Point Montara offers a unique experience for their guests. Not only can you chip away at the blues by escaping into the sunset, but you can also sip an espresso while reading about the only lighthouse that existed on both the Cape Cod and Montara coastlines. This spot is only 30 minutes south of San Francisco, along the Pacific Coast Highway…you can’t go wrong.

Sacramento Hostel: This 19^th century Victorian mansion is great for families looking to wean their kids of Wii and teach them something about the state’s capital. The building’s classic restoration will transcend you to the Gold Rush days, perfect for even the scariest of ghost stories!

Point Reyes Hostel: For any traveler seeking fresh air, coastal views and wilderness deep inside the pristine National Seashore, this hostel provides the only available accommodations. The rustic and Certified Green lodging is ideal for groups looking to escape urban chaos and wander the multitude of trails surrounding the hostel. For large family reunions, or for friends needing a getaway before holiday insanity takes over, do what I’m doing, and rent out the entire Bunkhouse which sleeps 20 comfortably. Carpool up with your best pals, set up dinner/breakfast crews, bring guitars, drums and maybe even cajones to dance the night away. In the morning, wake to the beauty and magic of the 70,000-acre park, walk the grounds and slip into a blissful state as you make your way out to the rugged seashore.

More hostel suggestions to satisfy every taste, check out Hostelling International for worldwide accommodations.

Weotta make a reservation today!