Eileen and Reggie pause in the redwood grove

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

We’re walking past groves of soaring redwood “families,” some with their innards carved out as the result of forest fires.

But we’re not in a crowded national park. In fact, we’ve pretty much got the hiking trail to ourselves in Butano State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, midway between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay and only a little more than an hour from San Francisco. Butano State Park — one of the least known of the California parks — is home to a spectacular redwood/Douglas fir forest.

During our five-mile hike, we see plump yellow banana slugs, the tiny Calypso orchid and blooming trillium, a member of the lily family. But the best part is the conversations with my daughter, Reg, who lives across the country from us in San Francisco. I’d forgotten how conducive hiking is to catching up!

We’re spending the weekend here in Half Moon Bay with Reg, who works near here, and her boyfriend Dan Foldes, and I can’t think of a better respite from city living — a spectacular coast and beaches (great tide-pooling), the chance to hike through the redwoods, visit farms (ogle the baby goats) and restaurants that have been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement.

Asparagus is in season and it’s served to us — gently fried in a light batter at Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. From the beginning, these restaurants have been known for serving what is in season from local farmers. You can point out veggies to the kids in the fields and farmer’s markets and then bring them here to eat them.

There are farms that date back to the 1800s (come in fall for the big pumpkin festival), miles of white sand beaches (here’s the place to horseback ride along the beach), redwood forests and hiking and biking trails along the bluffs and among the mountains. There’s kayaking, fishing and even the chance to see how cheese is made. And, of course, the chance to sample plenty of farm-to-table good eats.

This area, we learn, is home California’s first and only broad-based ecotourism visitor program, through which more than 30 farmers, fishermen and community business members have come together to offer visitors hands-on activities and a chance to meet local residents. In order to be included in the Ecotourism Map, all businesses had to agree to follow certain environmental standards. You have your choice of options where to stay — even Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest and most photographed lighthouses in the country, is now a hostel!)

We opt to pamper ourselves — along with other families, we meet — at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, one of the most spectacular hotel locations I’ve ever seen. The hotel is high on scenic bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with two golf courses, tennis courts, walking trails to the beach and outdoor fire pits. (They leave us s’mores kits in our room.) Some rooms have their own private fire pits where guests can sit and take in the ocean.)

San Franciscans make the drive just for the fantastic Sunday brunch, (which will be especially busy Mother’s Day). It offers more than 300 items, much of which, according to Executive Chef Xavier Salomon, comes from a dozen local farms and purveyors. And not a chicken finger in sight. Chef Salomon says he doesn’t do “kids’ food” at the brunch and parents rarely ask for it — not when kids can eat delectable dim sum and sushi, mashed potatoes, roast beef, veggies in season and mini quiches. “And, of course, they go crazy for the desserts,” Salomon says with a smile. (There are Nutella crepes, apple, blackberry and peach marshmallows, chocolate mousse, flan, tiny tarts, fresh berries and cream and miniature cakes too pretty to eat. Chocolate raspberry dome, anyone?)

Good thing there are so many hiking options to walk off brunch! But with four regions to explore around Half Moon Bay — the North Coast, Half Moon Bay, the South Coast and the Redwood Region — we can’t fit it all in one weekend. We simply follow my daughter’s lead to some of her favorite places.

When we arrived, we stopped at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in tiny Pescadero to sample goat cheese (do we want pistachio and apricot, sun-dried tomato, chive?) — the best I’ve ever tasted — for our picnic overlooking crashing waves at Bean Hollow State Beach. Dessert? Creamy fudge made with goat milk. At Harley Farms, kids can watch as goat cheese is made and ogle the baby goats! (Starting in May, every Saturday, you can check out the Coastside Farmer’s Markets.)

As we walked along Pebble Beach with its distinctive small pebbles instead of sand, local kids explored the tide pools, oblivious to the cold water and wind. An Anemone! A Sea Star!

At Pescadero State Marsh, we followed a trail to watch scores of baby herons in the rookery and laughed at the harbor seals sunning on the rocks at Pescadero State Beach.

One night, we headed to dinner at the popular Peruvian restaurant La Costanera, located on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Spectacular views, spectacular food. (The restaurant is Michelin rated.) We feasted on ceviche (there are more than a dozen to choose from), empanadas (the best I’ve ever eaten), Causas (chilled whipped potatoes topped with mushrooms asparagus and avocado) and excellent seafood Paella. Despite the gourmet eats, I’m told the place is popular with families and is noisy enough that you don’t have to worry about your kids disrupting anyone’s dinner.

Everywhere here is casual and kid-friendly, it seems. The Pastorinos live nearby, but checked in at the Ritz with their two kids (ages 11 and 16) for a special treat, settling in on the Club Level where they even gave us boxes to take snacks for our hikes. “It is so easy,” Dana Pastorino said.

So easy to entertain the kids and at the same time, help them connect to the natural world.

More goat cheese, please!

(For more on Eileen’s visit to San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, read her Travel Diaries.)

© 2012 EILEEN OGINTZ, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

Where is the kale?

There’s plenty of spinach, arugula and lettuce but not the kale or the nasturtium the chef had wanted.

Jan Dane doesn’t miss a beat as she looks over the carrots and the radishes, talking to the farmers at the indoor Saturday farmer’s market in Stonington, CT, buying cheese from one, eggs and corn meal from another.

Dane, the mom of three, is a modern day Forager. That means it is her full time job to act as the liaison between local farmers and the chefs at the luxe 49-room Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI which is a designated Relais & Chateaux property with a focus on farm to table cuisine.

That’s why Dane also teaches classes at the hotel—whether how to shuck an oyster or introducing guests to local New England cheeses. “I loved it when a little boy tried his first oyster,” she said. She does classes on butter churning, ice cream making and grilling pizza too.

Of course it is healthier to eat fresh food. It is also important to support local farms and small business.  “Kids are very receptive,” to the message, she reports. Let’s hope the hotel gets more creative with its children’s menu!  

In summer, Dane says, she visits 5-7 farms a week—there are more than 700 food farms just in Rhode Island, she explains. She stops at large and small farmers markets too looking for what’s different (tiny radishes, a  cheese she hasn’t seen before from a local cheese maker…) “I have more than 49 farms on speed dial,” she says.

View of The Ocean House at Watch Hill RI from the beach

The chefs at Ocean House, she jokes, have “an Iron Chef mentality and are always up for a challenge.” And her finds may well end up on the menu. The evening we were there, we enjoyed a six course tasting menu (well-priced I thought at $85, with a wine pairing at $135). We had roasted beets with local Hannahbells cheese, delicious warm potato and leek soup , white Peking Duckling with kale (I guess the chef found it elsewhere)…and more. Throughout the year, there are special Farm + Vine and In the Kitchen dinners highlighting a particular cuisine.

On Sunday,  we enjoyed one of the best brunches I’ve ever had starting with oysters farmed down the road, an assortment of salads—Waldorf, cous cous, marinated artichokes, crepes(beef tenderloin or wild mushroom?) and then a yummy lobster hash sandwich amid other selections.  The atmosphere was lovely too-the dining room with its sweeping ocean views. No wonder so many people come here to celebrate a special occasion!  ($54, $25 for kids plus all the champagne you want.)

The original Ocean House, a grand yellow Victorian hotel overlooking a spectacular private beach with views of the Atlantic and Block Island, opened in 1868 and welcomed genteel guests who came for the entire summer for 135 years. The new structure was built in the footprint of the original and is just celebrating its second anniversary. I love the relaxed elegance, that there are artifacts from the original hotel throughout, the fanciful artwork and thoughtful touches (jars of goldfish and malted milk balls in our room and miniature scones to welcome us.)  There is even a children’s book by local author Ardith M Schneider about two mice, Mortimer and Max who watch the demolition of their old home in the old Ocean House and find a new home in the Watch Hill Chapel across the road. Mortimer Mouse and the New Ocean House.

Did I mention the fabulous OH! Spa with signature services inspired by the ocean and the harvest?  (Think locally harvested lavender, beach stone massage and a facial that uses peach butter and a buckwheat mask.) You won’t want to leave the relaxation room which overlooks the ocean.

The owners now are working to restore the Weekapaug Inn a few miles away that was originally built in 1899 in the community of Weekapaug, Rhode Island, with views of Quonochontaug Pond, and the Atlantic just beyond. 

This 27-room (and four two-bedroom suites) inn will that is expected to open in October with activities that will focus on the water (think sailing and kayaking), the outdoors (think bird watching with the resident naturalist) and bringing families together (think pizza made outside and curling up to read a story or play a game in the expansive public spaces.)

Dane agrees that with kids who are fussy eaters—including one of her own—it is easier to take the path of least resistance and serve them chicken fingers or burgers—the standard kids’ menu fare. Take them to visit a farmer’s market or a farm. (Websites like www.farmfreshri.org  in Rhode Island, www.localharvest.org  and www.farmstayus.com can help)

“You have to be positive about what you are eating and the kids will be responsive to that,” she suggests. Order menu items to share.

“When you are traveling,” Dane continued, “It seems like such an opportunity to get kids to try new foods….it is absolutely part of the adventure!”

In France recently with her children, even her picky eater tried sauces and quiche—a big step for a child who likes everything plain and white. Most restaurants in France didn’t offer children’s menus, Dane said–just smaller portions for smaller prices. “That makes so much sense,” she said.

Clearly.

Dr. Robert Ballard the world-famous oceanographer

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

How quickly could you decode an iceberg warning?

The kids at the Mystic Aquarium’s new “Titanic, 12,450 Feet Below” permanent exhibit, the cornerstone of the newly renamed Ocean Exploration Center, aren’t having any trouble. They’re also busy and boisterously challenging each other at the touch-table electronic game that has adults like me stymied. Speed is essential. The first to answer the most questions correctly, wins.

How many light bulbs lit Titanic? (10,000. She was a beacon of light before she sank!)

How long can someone survive in frigid water? (15 minutes.)

The kids can make fish swim closer on a large-scale interactive wall that shows a montage of Titanic video and chart their own course in the “engine room.” The giant iceberg glows and is cold to the touch; Kids take an interactive Iceberg Quiz. (Did you know only 12 percent of an iceberg may be above water?)

It certainly doesn’t seem to matter to the children swarming through this new exhibit that the Titanic sank in 1912, long before their grandparents (and maybe great-grandparents) were born.

“Every generation rediscovers The Titanic,” said Dr. Robert Ballard, the world-famous oceanographer whose team discovered the wreckage of the Titanic at the bottom of the North Atlantic in 1985. Ballard is the co-founder of the Sea Research Foundation’s Institute for Exploration here that includes the Ocean Exploration Center, which he conceived. It’s the only museum in the world dedicated to deep-sea oceanographic archaeology, geology and exploration.

“You saw every kind of human behavior the night the Titanic sank,” Ballard said. Passengers and crew were heroic, cowardly, brave and fearful, selfless, as some gave up their lifeboat seats to remain with loved ones, selfish, as others saved themselves at all costs. Fathers kissed their children goodbye; mothers (and most famously the “unsinkable” Molly Brown) argued in their half-empty lifeboats to return for survivors. Terrified children swept up in the confusion were separated from their families. Fifty-three of the 107 children onboard were among the more than 1,500 people who died when the ship sank. About 700 people survived.

Another lesson for today’s youth: the danger of overconfidence. Titanic’s creators famously believed they had built an “unsinkable” ship and, therefore, didn’t need enough lifeboats to accommodate every person onboard. “Everyone looks at that disaster and wonders what they would have done,” said Dr. Ballard.

But the real point here is to encourage youngsters and their parents to “journey to new depths of discovery.” That includes a 4-D theater where SpongeBob SquarePants takes you and your kids on an undersea adventure, complete with mist and bubbles.

Certainly it helps that “Titanic, 12,450 Feet Below” was designed by Tim Delaney, who spent more than three decades at Walt Disney Imagineering designing park attractions around the world. “We want to showcase science and discovery,” Delaney said. “But we want to do it in a way that gets kids excited.” That includes, he jokes, showing them how being proficient at video games can hone skills needed to control robotic submersibles used in deep sea expeditions.

When Dr. Ballard’s exploration vessel, Nautilus, is at sea, in fact, a team member monitors the expedition’s progress from shore and hosts live shows at the Ocean Exploration Center in the Nautilus Live Theater; Kids may also see what the scientists are seeing in real time from their home and school computers. (Check www.nautiluslive.org.)

Already, the Sea Research Foundation, which includes Mystic Aquarium, is one of the largest cultural institutions in New England, reaching some 2 million children a year onsite and through remote programs. It is hoped that the Titanic exhibit will help spur even more interest in the ocean.

Kids and adults clearly can’t seem to get enough of the Titanic’s story. The 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking has been marked around the world with a flurry of TV specials, magazine and newspaper articles, documentaries and special exhibits. Let’s not forget the new 3-D version of James Cameron’s 1997 film “Titanic,” which will introduce a whole new generation to the tragedy.

The Titanic Belfast exhibit has just opened in Ireland and it overlooks the Harland and Wolff shipyards where the Titanic was built. The largest Titanic visitor experience in the world (six stories tall) has already welcomed more than 50,000 people.

Some 2 million people have visited “The Titanic Museum Attraction” in tiny Pigeon Forge, Tenn., since it opened in 2010. More than 5 million have visited its sister museum in Branson, Mo., since its opening in 2006.

Museums including the Houston Museum of Science, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich., are among the venues to host “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition” with hundreds of artifacts recovered from the debris field. (A much publicized auction of more than 5,000 objects that salvagers found scattered along the ocean floor has been postponed.)

Dr. Ballard points to the use of Titanic artifacts — and the continuing search for them — with dismay, noting that these scavenger expeditions not only damage the site but also disturb what is, essentially, an underwater cemetery. “You don’t take a belt buckle from the USS Arizona,” he said. “We must preserve these sites for the next generation.”

To that end, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced legislation recently that would amend the RMS Titanic Maritime Memorial Act of 1986, which protects the wreck site of the Titanic from salvage and intrusive research. “It’s hallowed ground, not just some underwater area to be poked at or damaged for commercial reasons,” said Kerry. “This bill provides the authority necessary to help ensure the site of the Titanic is kept intact.”

When Dr. Ballard returned home after finding Titanic, he said, there were 16,000 letters from youngsters eager to join his next expedition. He founded the JASON Project to link students to science and scientists. His partnership with Sea Research Foundation has since resulted in Immersion Learning, which has brought academic enrichment programs to kids outside of the classroom, nurturing their excitement about science and discovery.

“We’re going where no one has gone before,” said Dr. Ballard. “The age of exploration is just beginning!”

© 2012 EILEEN OGINTZ, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

Freedom Weekend Aloft- May 25-28, Greenville, SC. The sky is filled with more than 80 hot air balloons during this 29-year-old annual event which offers attendees a relaxing, family-oriented, affordable and fun-filled weekend.

Ottawa International Children’s Festival, May 30 - June 3, LeBreton Flats. A celebration of the performing arts for young audiences and their families, featuring the finest in theatre, dance, arts and music from highly acclaimed international and local artists.

29^th annual Mudbug Madness, May 24-27, Shreveport, Louisiana. A four-day festival featuring non-stop live zydeco music, tons of crawfish being cooked and served every imaginable way, and a special entertainment stage and activity area called “Kids on the Bayou” that is designed especially for children.

The Magical World of Disney, May 12, Springfield, Mo. Take a trip down memory lane through some of the most magical scenes from Disney classics such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and many more presented by Springfield Symphony Orchestra.  

Antrim County Petoskey Stone Festival, May 26, Barnes Park in Eastport, MI. Celebrate Michigan’s state stone with a day of stone-hunting, stone-skipping, demonstrations, prizes, and other fun at Barnes Park near Eastport.

 Youth Fishing Derby, May 26, Waterville Valley, NH. Kids, grab your parents & tackle for a fishing derby on the shores of beautiful Corcoran¹s Pond! 8-11 a.m. First 100 entrants receive a t-shirt and cup of bait. Prizes awarded across age groups. Sponsored by the Waterville Valley Recreation Department & by the Waterville Valley Department of Public Safety. For more information or registration call 603-236-4695.

 B&O Railroad Museum: Day Out With Thomas, April 27 – May 6, Baltimore, MD. All aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is chugging into a station near you for Day Out With Thomas™: Mystery on the Rails Tour 2012. Thomas fans are invited to come spend the day with their favorite No. 1 engine.

 Breakfast with the Giraffes, May 12, Maryland Zoo in Baltimore. Enjoy a hot, catered breakfast up on the Giraffe deck overlooking their sprawling yard. Hear from the keepers that care for the giraffes, feed them their morning browse, visit a variety of giraffe education stations and get your picture up close with a few of our animal ambassadors!

Golden Gate Bridge 75th anniversary party, May 27, At Cavallo Point Lodge, Sausalito, CA. To celebrate the Golden Gate Bridge’s 75th anniversary, families may enjoy a seasonal buffet dinner at Cavallo Point Lodge, with views of the bridge, then watch the sky light up in a fireworks show launched from a barge on the bay.

Star Wars Fan Weekend, May 4 – 6, Woodloch Pines Resort, PA. Build Your Own Pod Racer, Movie Screenings, Star Wars Arts & Crafts, Bring/Make Costumes for Themed Activities and Parties, Best Costume (Lunch Parade)

Whistler and Blackcomb Open for Summer, May 26, Vancouver, Canada. Kids love the impressive Peak 2 Peak Gondola – watch out for the silver ones with the glass bottoms for an extra thrill as it travel over the valley. Alpine flowers are in bloom and there’s lots of great hiking all over the mountains

Dinosaurs Dead or Alive? at the Brevard Zoo, Now through May 28, Melbourne, FL. For a limited time, guests at the Brevard Zoo can travel back in time more than 65 million years and explore the world of dinosaurs through the ages. Visitors will encounter 16 prehistoric beasts that come to life as they travel through the exhibit.

Kids Fish ‘n’ Fun Derby, May 19, Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, TN. Pros with the Outdoor Adventures Network (www.MyOAN.net) will help children learn about fish habitat, behavior and equipment. Then, fish with volunteers from the Chattanooga BASS Club who will teach kids to cast, tie knots, bait hooks and reel fish in using catch and release techniques. Be sure to register.

A Day on the Farm – Wonderful World of Miniature Horses, May 19^th, Hays, KS. Come see the horse farm and see the Class A miniature horses, which are the smallest of the miniature horse breed. Take a tour of the stable and see the ribbon and trophy room, learn how the horses are trained by using the lounging pen and obstacle course. View demonstrations and and take a cart or surrey ride given by the miniature horses. See and hear about the miniatures horses from foal to adulthood, about their care, diet, training and registration.

Teddy Bear Picnic, May 5, Salina, KS. Get a check-up for your Teddy Bear (or adopt a new one)at our Teddy Bear Picnic!

The 38^th Annual Utica Sertoma Ice Cream Festival, May 26, 27 and 28, Utica, OH. The festival is filled with entertainment for the entire family with over 90 artisans from Ohio and other states exhibiting their handcrafted items. Pony rides, antique gas engines, car and motorcycle show, lots of contests and some of the best ice cream made in the Midwest, Velvet Ice Cream who is setting to make a 98 gallon sundae in celebration of their 98 years in business.  Events include a parade, Magic of Laughter Show, Little Miss Ice Cream Pageant, sack race, wheelbarrow race, water balloon toss, ice cream eating contest with local celebrities, plank race, egg toss, sheep herding and more.

Cinco de Mayo, May 5, Sausalito, CA .Gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the culture and folklore of Mexico through music, dance and traditional crafts at the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s family-friendly celebration of Cinco de Mayo.

Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival, May 4-5, Smithfield, NC. Fun for the entire family, the Ham & Yam Festival honors Smithfield’s agricultural history. With a barbecue cook-off, “What’s That Yam Thing?” contest, and food vendors, both ham and yams abound. Visitors wander through the festival area filled with hundreds of booths occupied by face painters, local non-profit organizations, and vendors selling items including garden flags, handbags, kitchen tools, handmade jewelry and many other arts and crafts. The family event keeps crowds entertained with performances on three stages, children’s games, carnival rides, pig races, and a petting zoo.

Rhubarb Festival, May 18-19, Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA. Complete with its own race car derby, tastings, games, a parade, and baking contest.

Movies at the Beach, May 28 through Sept. 2, Carolina Beach NC. Families can bring their lawn chairs and picnics for free weekly movies screened at Carolina Beach Lake Park’s outdoor amphitheater.

Atlantic Coast Kite Festival, May 5, Virginia Beach. Kite fliers and spectators of all ages experience a visual feast at the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival.  This popular event features a variety of activities appropriate for all ages and all levels of kite aficionados. Everyone is invited to take part in the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival’s “Best Kite Contest.”  To enter this contest, participants must build a kite and bring it to the festival.  The contest consists of two parts: the actual kite itself and how well it is made, and the participant’s ability to fly the kite.  Participants must be able to fly their kites consecutively in the air for 5 minutes at a height of 100 feet. The festival will take place on the beach between 16^th and 18^th Streets

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By Dale Cooper

If you’re looking for family vacation ideas, consider taking a road trip. Driving to your family vacation destination is often more affordable than buying plane tickets for the whole family, and a road trip is a great way to explore parts of the country you’ve never seen before. When preparing for a road trip, be sure to plan for anything you might need along the way. Here’s a simple guide to follow when planning a family road trip.

Vehicle checkup: The first step in any successful road trip is determining whether your vehicle is in good working order. Make sure you’re up to date on regular vehicle maintenance such as oil changes, timing belt replacement and tire rotation. You can find maintenance schedule information in your vehicle owner’s manual. It’s also a good idea to have a mechanic evaluate your vehicle to confirm that all necessary repairs are made before embarking on a road trip.

Supplies: Before leaving for your road trip, put together a checklist of everything you and your family may need. A few things that should be included on the list are:

Snacks
Clothes and footwear for expected weather conditions
Entertainment, including computers, smart phones, MP3 players, books or road trip games
First aid kit
Car care kit, including jumper cables, spare tire, tire iron, tire jack and extra fluids (coolant, motor oil and windshield-wiper fluid)

 Planning: Road trips generally require more planning than other vacations because your family will be visiting several destinations. Careful planning is especially important for road trips that span two or more days. Put together an itinerary that maps where and when you’ll arrive at each destination. For example, the drive from Albuquerque, N.M. to Los Angeles takes about 12 hours. And while it is possible to complete the whole trip in one day, traveling with kids makes that difficult. Plan ahead of time which cities you will stay in overnight, and make hotel reservations so you have a place to sleep. A hotel reservation is also a helpful motivator to stay on schedule.

Before you set off on your family vacation road trip, make sure your vehicle is covered by automotive insurance. The best way to find a policy with the coverage you need, such as roadside assistance, is to compare car insurance quotes from several providers before choosing a plan.

Reggie at Kirkwood

By Reggie Yemma (photos by Dan Foldes)

After getting news of a spontaneous spring break from work in late March, my boyfriend, Dan Foldes, and I decided to spend our time off by retreating from the city (in our case, San Francisco) and head off on an adventure to the mountains. We both are avid skiers, and have been waiting for just the right time to head to Lake Tahoe this past winter, and now spring.

The California snowfall had not been very heavy all winter (many of our friends would return from the mountains saying that they had done more hiking than skiing most of December and January). However, March was the best month of snow in Tahoe. And, we were excited to do some good hard skiing in South Lake Tahoe at Heavenly and Kirkwood resorts, both of which we had never been.

Capitalizing on the incredible conditions, the majority of the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts have announced they will be extending their seasons with most aiming for the end of April and a few continuing operations into May. Heavenly and Kirkwood extended the season until April 29 and you can ski the rest of the season free if you buy a season pass for 2012-13.

After spending three early-morning hours driving from San Francisco to the beautiful snow-draped Sierra Nevadas, we were treated to a, well, “heavenly” view of blue skies, white mountains, and turquoise water as we ascended the Aerial Tram at Heavenly Ski Resort. We both agreed that this ski area had been aptly named. We looked out over the giant span of beautiful Lake Tahoe from the top of the mountain and watched the Heavenly ski patrol line up for a photo with all of their avalanche rescue dogs. It must have been one of the most breath-taking views I have ever had at a ski resort!

The mood amongst our fellow skiers on the Thursday when we arrived was quite pleasant and cheery.  Although Heavenly’s – and indeed California’s – snowfall this year has been decidedly light, Wednesday had seen a good accumulation of snow, so conditions were good for bounding around on the slopes.  Upon exploring the mountain on our first few runs, we were struck by Heavenly’s vast amount of terrain. Friendlier than normal lift operators were happy to tell us where the best runs on the mountain were.

Our exploration eventually led us to the remote Killebrew Canyon area, where we were treated to fresh tracks and a peaceful traverse out, overlooking the infinite Nevadan plain below. We spent most of the rest of the day skiing the challenging chutes of nearby Mott Canyon as well as the fun, moderate runs off the Dipper Express lift. I decided to warm up with a hot drink at East Peak Lodge while Dan did a few more runs, and was excited to have free refills of hot chocolate with endless amounts of whipped cream and mini-marshmallows!

Après ski, we took the gondola down to Heavenly Village and wound down around a warm outdoor fire pit at Restaurant Fire and Ice. We enjoyed their happy hour special with bloody Mary cocktails. We then decided there was no better way to spend our night than to see “The Hunger Games” at Heavenly Village Cinemas. A fan of the books, the movie did not disappoint!

We got to bed early to rest up for another big day at nearby Kirkwood. We had heard a lot about its extreme terrain, and were super excited to finally see for ourselves the steep slopes Kirkwood had to offer. We arrived right as the lifts opened and immediately headed up The Wall lift. The snow was soft and the slopes were steep as we challenged ourselves to ski fast and try some new routes. We especially enjoyed skiing down Eagle Bowl and Headwaters. From The Wall, we headed over to Sunrise lift for a few runs, and got a chance to spot some extreme snowboarders getting ready to take part in The North Face Masters of Snowboarding competition.

Fundraising for Kirkwood Ski Patrol

On our way back over to the Mountain Village Area, we ran into one of the happiest dogs in the world, a member of the Kirkwood Ski Patrol! We spent the rest of the afternoon skiing on the Cornice Express Lift, finding stashes of fresh snow, tight cliff tunnels to squeeze to, and mini-cornices to jump off of.

Not wanting to leave, we decided it was time to hit the road back to San Francisco. But, we cannot wait to come back next season to explore the extreme terrain of this mountain way more. Here’s to some late season snow, and a beautiful spring break in Lake Tahoe!

Ethan and Hannah viewing Yellowstone bear from a safe distance

By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Media Services

Meet Ethan Eagle.

Let’s not forget Oscar Osprey, Brett Bison, Freddy Frog and Tommy Trout.

My young cousins Ethan Sitzman, 9, and his sister Hannah, 6, who live in Denver, named all the wildlife we saw as we explored perhaps America’s greatest natural zoo — Yellowstone National Park where 67 species of mammals, 322 species of birds, six species of reptiles and four species of amphibians call home.

But a visit to a national park — even Yellowstone — is more than the chance to see wildlife and spectacular scenery, like the two enormous waterfalls at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, geothermal features like Old Faithful (Did you know Yellowstone has more geothermal features than anywhere else in the world?) or to learn that Yellowstone was originally named for the yellow tint in the rock, derived from sulfur.

A visit to a national park is about stepping out of your comfort zone, overcoming challenges as a family, whether on a long kayak paddle before 7 a.m. (yes, that was us on Yellowstone Lake last summer leaving our wilderness camp where we’d spent two nights as far away from tourists as we could get) or in Ethan’s case, overcoming a long-held fear.

As we celebrate National Park Week from April 21 to 29 (all 397 national parks are free with many special activities offered.) It’s important to remember that the best part of a national park experience can be the chance to reconnect with the outdoors as a family. “Kids forget about iPads, iPhones, TV, etc., says Dan Austin, of Austin-Lehman Adventures whose company has been leading trips to Yellowstone, and other national parks, for more than 25 years.

“These experiences open the mind to endless discoveries and, more often than not, a passion for the outdoors that can last a lifetime,” he says.

It’s something I’ve witnessed in my own family. My youngest daughter, Mel, says those national parks trips when she was little (and complained her legs were “broken” from all the hiking) spurred her interest in environmental science — her college major; her older sister, Reg, went on to lead teens on wilderness trips in national parks and now works for Vida Verde, a California nonprofit organization that enables inner-city kids to have outdoor experiences. (Think hiking past towering redwoods, exploring tide pools or getting up close and personal with goats.)

Head to a national park near your home and celebrate Junior Ranger Day on April 28. Whet your kids’ appetite for a summer visit to a national park through WebRangers, the National Park Service’s site for kids, which offers all kinds of activities and games. To date, some 200,000 kids have taken part in the program! In honor of National Park Week, Lonely Planet has created a free download of the USA’s Best National Parks’ Top 15 Experiences, including great planning information, from their “Discover USA’s Best National Parks” guide. It’s available on their Facebook page or at LonelyPlanet.com.

Wherever you are outdoors, especially in a big national park, the key is to slow down and get out of the car (many visitors don’t) and off the beaten track, Dan Austin says.

That’s how we were able to watch Yellowstone’s famous bears safely. Rangers estimate that about 150 grizzly bears and more than 500 black bears live in the park and visitors are cautioned to stay at least the length of a football field away from them. Our Austin-Lehman guide, Matty Kirkland, spied one from our van, turned around, parked and raced up a hill with his scope so we could watch as the bear (the kids named him Bobby) snacked on greens amid the wildflowers hundreds of yards away, oblivious to our presence.

Certainly watching that bear in his own environment from a safe distance was a wondrous site, but more important was watching Ethan triumph over his fear of the lumbering beasts, once Kirkland convinced him to peer through the scope.

Until that moment, I’d wondered if we really needed guides in Yellowstone. It’s not a far-flung destination, after all, where we don’t speak the language. But throughout that trip, we saw a far different Yellowstone than we had in the past and it was far more relaxed. Our affable Austin-Lehman guides not only got us away from the crowds to places I wouldn’t have found, but also thoroughly entertained the kids (they sat between a giant stuffed bear in the van), had snacks at the ready, told us what to look for and then explained what we were seeing. We didn’t have to worry about hard-to-get hotel reservations and the best part: The kids didn’t bicker or whine because they were having so much fun. (All-inclusive Austin-Lehman Yellowstone trips start at $367 per day for adults and $293 for kids. A new Montana Family Camp itinerary that includes Yellowstone is less expensive.)

Other companies, including Adventures by Disney, Backroads and Tauck Tours are among those who also offer special guided Yellowstone and national parks trips for families, enabling you to focus on the experience rather than the logistics.

If your kids are 8 or older, you can also sign on for a five-night Total Yellowstone package through the park’s concessionaire (pricing information).

If you prefer going on your own, take advantage of ranger-led activities. Ask their advice for kid-friendly hikes and experiences inside the parks. Use websites like ParkVisitor.com, which pull together user reviews of U.S. national and state parks and more with insider tips (even where to get a good burger). For iPhone and iPad users, there’s even a new Passport to Your National Parks app. Don’t despair if you can’t get reservations when and where you want to go. Consider some of the less visited but equally wonderful parks like Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota, Sequoia and Kings Canyon in California, North Cascades in Washington State and Mesa Verde in Colorado, among others (www.nps.gov.)

Last summer, after three days and two nights camping in Yellowstone, Ethan and Hannah had completed the activities required to become Junior Rangers (everything from tracing the route we’d taken through the park to checking off all the animals they’d seen) and they stood proudly at the Mammoth Hot Springs Visitor Center as a ranger swore them in as Junior Rangers.

Watching their excitement at being in one of our country’s greatest treasures was worth every mosquito bite we’d gotten.

“As a Yellowstone Junior Ranger … I will continue to learn about the natural world, even after I leave Yellowstone,” they pledged.

I hope they will. I know they won’t forget the days they’ve spent here. And that’s a good first step.

(For more on Eileen’s trip to Yellowstone and Montana, read her Travel Diaries) 

© 2012 EILEEN OGINTZ, DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

Desserts at the Sunday brunch Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Sushi…dim sum…corn bisque, chilled mint pea soup… Peking Duck…roast beef, ham..Thai curry…freshly shucked oysters and shrimp

I don’t know where to start.

We are at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay’s Sunday Brunch that is so popular in the Bay area that people drive an hour or more to indulge.

There are some 300 items to choose from and not a chicken finger in sight, says Executive Chef  Xavier Salomon. Chef Salomon  says at the brunch  he doesn’t do “kids food”  and parents rarely ask for it—not when kids can eat delectable dim sum, mashed potatoes, roast beef, veggies in season, mini quiches.. “And of course they go crazy for the deserts,” he says with a smile—nutella crepes,  apple, blackberry and peach marshmallows, chocolate mousse, flan, tiny tarts , fresh berries and cream, miniature cakes too pretty to eat (chocolate raspberry dome anyone?)

Perhaps what makes this brunch different than those at most hotels is that much of the food is locally sourced—all the fruits, vegetables, the chicken, the beef, the ham, the lamb.  Chef Salomon says he’s most proud that the food at the brunch is so fresh coming from a dozen local farms and purveyors with 11 chefs cooking, slicing and serving  as we eat—shucking oysters, carving beef, cutting chicken—so that nothing sits in chafing dishes.

The day we visited was  Easter Sunday with  little girls kids dressed in   brightly colored dresses, boys in dress shirts and grownups sporting pink and purple bunny ears. There was an Easter Egg hunt going on outside and a visiting petting zoo with baby goats, chicks and bunnies. To whet our appetite for the brunch, we took a long walk along the Coastal Trail that is popular with dog owners and visitors with high cliffs, crashing surf, sea birds…

This is one of the best brunches I’ve ever experienced and I’ve seen a lot of them—likely because of the freshness of everything that is served. This is an area after also known for its farms and the variety of what is served from the Thai chicken curry to the  seared miniature lamb chops  and lavender honey glazed ham to Dungeness crab and baby carrots.

You’ve got to come hungry and plan to stay awhile which we do, taking in the spectacular  Pacific Ocean views just outside.

That goes for kids too. “Parents want the kids to experience  different foods,” the chef says.   Out of maybe 1000 covers on a Sunday, he says, he might have only two requests for chicken fingers or fries which he will of course bring. That’s not the same for room service, he adds, when kids’ items are far better sellers than the petite filet or broiled chicken breast that is on the kids’ menu.

“I grew up in France,” the Chef says.”We never ate all of this fried food like they do here!”  And with food like this, there’s no need to. Pass the sushi.

Reggie examines a bananna slug in Redwood grove

The Giant Redwoods, soaring hundreds of feet in the air, were amazing. But what was even better was the conversations with my daughter Reggie as we hiked through Butano State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is her turf—she works near here at Vida Verde, a nonprofit organization that provides environmental programs for inner city kids–and she knows the area well. But we don’t get to see her often and I’m glad for the opportunity to catch up. That we’re in such a beautiful spot is a bonus.

We were midway between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay,  where we are staying at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay  and only a little more than an hour from San Francisco .

Besides the giant redwoods, Butano is known for its bio-diversity (Butano is thought to be named after a drinking cup from a bull horn).  We walk past groves of Redwood “families” some with their innards carved out as the result of forest fires. We learn that Redwoods get about 30 per cent of their moisture from fog but as the climate warms, less fog threatens their survival. Butano State Park—one of the least known of the California parks—is home to a Redwood/Douglas Fir Forest.

We see plump yellow banana slugs, blooming Trillium a member of the lily family, and the tiny Calypso orchid during our five-mile hike.

We stop for a snack—courtesy of the Ritz which offers Club level guests the chance to pack “box lunches” from the bountiful breakfast offerings. (There are always cookies and penny candies too—perfect to take along on a hike)   

I’d forgotten how much good conversation happens as you hike along without any distractions (no cell service here)!   

There are the chances for all kinds of hikes here including the long Coastal walks (as I look out my hotel window, I see the crashing Pacific Ocean) we take the following morning.  

There is camping at Butano State Park but I’m glad we can repair to the Ritz. After a shower, we head up to the Club Lounge for snacks and drinks. It is crowded with families—kids watching the wedding taking place in the courtyard below.

The Pastorinos live nearby but checked in over night with their two kids ages 11 and 16 for a special treat. “It is so easy,” said Dana Pastorino. “We don’t even have to go to a restaurant…We have something to eat, come back in a few hours for something else…and then desert… it is a huge treat!

“It’s really convenient and the food is really good,” agreed 16-year-old Paige Pastorino.

“I can get what I want and I don’t have to wait,” added her 11-year-old brotherPeyton.  The best part, the two alleged, was no nagging from their parents to finish a restaurant meal. “And you don’t have to ask anyone for anything…you just go up and get it,” said Peyton.

We left the other families making dinner out of the bountiful offerings —everything from cheeses and crackers to seared scallops, salami, and more….to head to one of the area’s most popular restaurants Pasta Moon in Half Moon Bay, celebrating its 25^th anniversary and known for its farm-to-table philosophy. The restaurant has made it a priority from the beginning to seek and serve what’s in season from local farmers and has been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement.

We love the ambiance –the brightly painted walls, the guitarist is playing in the lounge.

Asparagus are in season and we are served them Misto — gently fried in a light batter. Yum!   The Bruschetta is made with local greens and sundried tomato pesto.  My husband has Ravioli Butternut Squash —all of pasta is house made— and my daughter Eggplant Parmesan with fresh mozzarella and basil.   I opt for the nightly pasta special with more local veggies.

We end with a house speciality butterscotch pudding.

Yum!  A terrific way to end a terrific day.

I love it when the conversation at dinner is as good as the food!

Peace Pagoda in Japantown San Francisco

Everyone knows San Francisco’s bustling, busy Chinatown, the largest outside of Asia.

But Japantown?  “People just come here to eat,” says Dawn Shalhoup, who represents Japantown and took us on a walking tour. They don’t realize how much there is to do!”

Come the weekends of April 14 and 21 for the 45^th annual Cherry Blossom Festival spotlighting traditional customs and culture that are part of the rich heritage of Japanese Americans. As part of the commemoration of the March 11th disaster in Japan, the San Francisco Japantown community and the Friends of the Urban Forest recently planted 16 new cherry trees with the idea that another 30 trees will be planted later this summer.  More than 50 cherry trees were planted just over a year ago.

The neighborhood that is now Japantown (Nihonmachi) is approximately one mile west of Union Square and is part of San Francisco’s Western Addition, a subdivision that came into being with the writing of the Van Ness Ordinance in 1855.  Take the self-guided  San Francisco Japantown History Walk along an approximately 10-block route through the heart of Japantown. Download the Map: Page 1 and Page 2

Sign on for a culinary tour with local Foodie Lisa Rogovin and her company, Edible Excursions along a flavorful path of seven stops including century-old, family-owned businesses, artisan shops and restaurants.

The main thoroughfare is Post Street, between Fillmore Street (to the west) and Laguna Street (to the east). The Japantown neighborhood is generally considered to be bordered on the north by Bush or Pine Street, and on the south by Geary Boulevard. Its focal point is the Japan Center (opened in 1968),^] the site of three Japanese-oriented shopping centers and the Peace Pagoda.

 The first Japanese arrived in San Francisco — or Soko as they called it — in the early 1860s. For the most part, they lived in Chinatown and in neighborhoods south of Market Street.  It was not until the devastating 1906 earthquake and fire drove many of them from their homes that they began moving to the Western Addition. As they settled here, they built churches and shrines and opened typically Japanese shops and restaurants. The neighborhood took on a very Japanese character and before long became a miniature Ginza known as Nihonmachi, or Japantown. It is here that the foundations of San Francisco’s Japanese American community took root.

During World War II, the Japanese Americans in San Francisco and in other West Coast communities were uprooted and interned in what was one of the great tragedies of the War — and a most regrettable episode in our country’s history. After the war, many Japanese American residents returned to the city. Today, nearly 12,000 Japanese Americans live in San Francisco and approximately 80,000 live in the greater Bay Area and this area has been refurbished, though stores restaurants and business remain in the hands of families who have been here for generations.

Another hidden gem is Hotel Tomo that is now run by the Joie de Vivre group and boasts colorful furniture, a wall-sized mural in every room and  even a Mecha suite with a six-foot LED screen outfitted with Xbox Play Station 3—ideal for a tween’s birthday party as was happening later the day we visited. Rooms start under $150

Certainly there’s plenty to eat—and the chance to try new foods. How about a sweet potato latte (surprisingly delicious) at yakinQ café  which is actually Korean where Red Bean shaved ice and pumpkin lattes  are also popular.

We ate Hijiki which is rice, eggplant or spicy shrimp or pickled plum wrapped in seaweed with rice at the New People building, where kids will also like the quirky offerings at the shop (maybe a dress for their kitty?)

We stop for Mochi—a pressed rice pastry with red bean paste that has a jello-like consistency at Benkyodo that has been here since 1906 and is one of the last Mochi manufacturers in the United States.   We snack on Okonomyaki—a kind of egg and beef pie (kids will love because the fish flakes they sprinkle on top seem to wave)—at Izumiya in Japan Center

Like Origami? Stop in at Paper Tree, a store that has been here more than 100 years where you can see all varieties of Origami—a sea horse, an orangutan, a cow—even the Golden Gate Bridge in the window.