Welcome Gutsy Travelers!

History, adventure, chic western towns and gold: You'll find them all in California's Calaveras County. As we drove to California Gold Country, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite, I was wowed from the get-go: a vivid landscape of golden-hued hills, grazing cows, a bounty...

Glaciers carved out Yosemite Valley and water gave life to the wilderness. Yosemite attracts 4.5 to 5 million visitors a year. The National Park is constantly working on ways to find solutions to the crowding problems. Although Yosemite boasts 1,200 square miles of...

With the famous span of the Golden Gate Bridge as the backdrop, the San Francisco Presidio National Park is a great escape. This huge National Park is nestled along the Bay and Crissy Field extending through 262 acres of historic forests to the cliffs above the...

When the walls feel like they are closing in and I need a boost again, I return to the wide-open spaces of the southwest and the healing peacefulness of the canyons for a road trip in Utah and Arizona.                 Nothing can put life into perceptive better than...

The Challenge of a Cross Country Bicycle Trip Why another bicycle trip? My daughter asked if I would bike across the US with her. I'm impulsive so I jumped at the chance to spend time with her as well as to have a great adventure. But I had no idea what lay ahead....

Barcelona’s sensory-rich food scene, stunning Gaudi-designed architecture and glitzy nightlife lure big crowds in the summer. Last year over 18 million tourists descended upon the Catalan metropolis of 5.5 million people. If you want Barcelona to yourself and you want...

When you think of Sonoma County, images come to mind of vineyards and vine-covered hillsides, elegant tasting rooms and fabulous dinners at intimate restaurants. Beyond the famous food, wine and vineyards, Sonoma offers plenty more to discover. Go West Beyond the...

Paso Robles, mid-way between San Francisco and Los Angles, is known for wine tasting and summer concerts. Recently  my husband and I drove 3 ½ hours south of San Francisco to visit the famous wineries. An added bonus was the temporary outdoor exhibition of British...

We fed the bears marshmallows from the back seat of the family car when I was kid. Cranking down the window a few inches we’d toss leftover peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and sweets to the fat bears who waddled from car to car along the road into Old Faithful....

Think Telluride is all about powder skiing and film festivals? Thing again! This is the place where Butch Cassidy began his bank-robbing career at the San Miguel Valley Bank on June 24, 1889.  After the heist, Cassidy and two buddies mounted their steeds, shot their...