Visit? Sunset: Chasing Spring: a guide for 2011

I guess this is a sneak peak at the March 2011 Sunset Magazine issue of things to do in Spring.  On their website it still shows February as their "current" issue at the time of this post.

They list 20 things that can be done. They include the following:

• Shell Creek Road in Santa Margarita (San Luis Obispo)
• Anza-Borrego State Park with 3 and 6-mile hikes 
• Multnomah Falls (Portland)
• Superstition Mountains (Phoenix)
• Grand Falls (Flagstaff)
• Chambers Creek Park (Tacoma)
• Bites by Bike tour (Portland)
• Feather Falls (Sacramento)
• Bright Angel Bicycles (Grand Canyon)
• Superstition Farm (Mesa, AZ)
• Agritopia (Gilbert near Phoenix)
• Queen Creek (near Phoenix)
• Colorado National Monument (Grand Junction)
• Campovida (Hopland)
• Capay Valley 
• Cherry Blossom Festival at Descanso Gardens (Pasadena)
• Poppy Reserve (see my previous post from April 2010)
• SOMA Get Fit (Santa Barbara)
• Living Desert (search both of my blogs by searching for "Living Desert")
• Baron Ranch Trail (near Santa Barbara)

Although I have been trying to concentrate on places to "visit" near southern California, there are multiple opportunities in the above list.  

Click here to go to Sunset.com's current issue.  This list was from the March 2011.

Click here to subscribe to Sunset Magazine

BankRate: Home Upgrades With Appeal for Retirees

This BankRate.com article was posted to Yahoo! Finance.  It outlines some things to consider if you are thinking about doing remodeling in your home.

A lot of it makes sense.  I like especially the following:

• No step transitions between rooms
• Single lever sink faucets
• Comfort height toilets

For the other recommendations and thought, read the article by clicking here.

Money: Value Vacations for Multi-Generational Family Vacations

If you have been following my blog, you know that I am receiving Money Magazine for free.  That is my disclaimer.

In a recent issue, they have a brief feature on how to get more value for your dollars when planning a multi-generational vacation.  You can read about it more by clicking here.

To subscribe to Money Magazine, click here:

Money: Four-Season Home DIY Guide

In the recent Money Magazine, there was coverage of what you need to do during each season to protect the value of your home.

They have it features on-line as well.  You can find it with the following links for more details:

• Winter
• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn

To subscribe to Money Magazine, click here:

5 Things to Do in the New Year (or at least think about it)

Woohoo!  It looks like I will be receiving Money Magazine for another year.  If you have been reading my blog, you will know that my previous issue had Dec10 on it which usually means that my subscription will expire, but the most recent one has Dec11 on it.

One of the articles lists five things to do in the New Year.  They are as follows:

• Shop for a no-fee checking account
• Save your raise
• Go for a checkup
• Score a better rewards card
• Use your vacation days

For more details, click here to read: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/pf/1101/gallery.Things_to_do_in_2011.moneymag/index.html

To subscribe to Money Magazine click here:

Kids are just messy. They are not hoarders.

I ran across this article in a recent Los Angeles Times paper called "They're messy, not hoarders" which can also be found on their website (link is below). It is written by Alexandra Abramian-Mott and has some interesting points.

With four kids, it seems like we do have a lot of stuff (read toys) for the kids, and it seems like there are things out all the time.  We keep on telling ourselves to decrease bringing things into the house, but things sneak in one way or another.

Click here for the article:  http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-kid-hoard-20110129,0,1785505.story

Visit? Snow Play in the San Bernardino Mountains

We went to the Big Bear Snow Play earlier this month.  It looks like there are at least three that are in the San Bernardino Mountains.  You can view pictures from our trip by clicking here.

• Big Bear Snow Play. $25 for the day. Bring cash. http://www.bigbearsnowplay.com/
• Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain. $25 for the day.  Bring cash.  http://www.alpineslidebigbear.com/
• Snowdrift Park.  $12 per hour.  This looks like you need to walk up to the top.  http://www.snowdrift.net/index.html