Winter family fun, including Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s celebrations.
Winter Wonderland
Reconnecting During Annual Snow Trip to Mammoth Mountain
It was 17 degrees with snow on the ground. My fingers were starting to hurt from the cold even though I had liners underneath my gloves, but I wasn’t about to head indoors. Numb fingers, who cares? I was with my daughters dancing to Flo Rida, Usher, Rihanna and Katy Perry mixed in with some old-school favs like Bon Jovi, Duran Duran and the Go’s Go’s. Friday night of New...
Family Getaway: A Picturesque Holiday Weekend in the Santa Ynez Valley
This is the first year that both my daughters are in college, which makes the holiday time even more special. I’ve been looking forward to having our house full again since move-in day in September, so when we realized midweek that all four of us were free for the weekend, we knew we wanted to go somewhere fun together. We didn’t want to drive too far and we wanted somewhere...
See the Rose Parade 2017 From All Angles
The Tournament of Roses is an American institution that Southern California can claim as its own. But instead of New Year’s Day, this year’s Rose Parade will take place on Monday, Jan. 2 with the fitting theme of “Never On Sunday.” Founders decreed back in 1893 that the parade would never be staged on a Sunday (and it never has), because they feared the festivities might scare the horses hitched...
See Hanukkah In a New Light
“Can I have a cell phone for Hanukkah?” is not an uncommon phrase to hear in L.A. leading up to the Jewish Festival of Lights. Hanukkah is not one of the major Jewish holidays, nor does it have a history of gift giving associated with it. But, because it is typically in December near that other holiday – a magical time filled with music, twinkling lights, swirling snowflakes, flying reindeer...
First-Time Skiing Tips for Success
First time skiing with kids? Use these tips to have a great experience An avid skier since I was a teen, I was eager to share my favorite winter sport with my three kids. Young adults now, each of my kids stepped into his or her first pair of skis by age 4. Our family ski trips are among our favorite memories: Snacking on Cheerios on chairlifts while watching skiers...
The Great Wolf Lodge Gets Buried by Snow
When the leaves start falling in Autumn, turning the world into a basket of warm and wonderful colors, the Great Wolf Lodge also undergoes a dramatic transformation that shifts with the seasons. Santa arrives at the lodge’s lobby the Saturday after Thanksgiving, accompanied by the lodge wolves, Violet and Willey, driving behind his sled in their cool convertible. In the back of the lobby, the group comes upon a giant...
Celebrate the Season in San Francisco
The City by the Bay offers merry fun that will revive your holiday spirit. The lead-up to the holidays can be an especially exhausting time for parents. It’s a special time, yes, but – let’s be honest here – it is difficult to embrace the magic of the season when you’re face-planting into bed every night. Perhaps it’s time to hit the pause button, pack up the kids and some...
A Magical Winter Wonderland Comes to Westlake Village
If you’re looking for a charming winter wonderland for the whole family, the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village has snow, s’mores, cookies with Mrs. Clause and much more. The Four Seasons Westlake Village is one of my fav getaway spots. I have escaped work deadlines many times with my mom friends to find absolute tranquility and bliss in the hotel’s exquisite spa. I’ve enjoyed overnight stays here with my...
7 Don’t-Miss Events for December
Check out these great family events happening in December. They are our top picks for family fun.
Family Holiday Traditions Worth Sharing
Add any of these ideas from L.A. families to your seasonal celebration. When you roast a Thanksgiving turkey in my house, you have to use Grandad’s stuffing recipe. And all the up-and-coming young cooks in the family are pressed to take a good whiff of the stuffing so they can learn how much poultry seasoning to add. (Sniffing is the best way to tell.) Family and friends love my Christmas...