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  Step back in time in Virginia City!! I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Virginia City. If you’re like me, you want to go back in time and have a great experience whether it’s dining, entertainment or lodging. You certainly don’t want to leave too early. Three days is perfect to get away to this famous historical western town where you walk the streets with buildings dating back to the 1800’s; some refurbished. There is great shopping! Find yourself a dynamite western hat, or leather boots, or a beautiful victorian blouse, or get some candy and memorabilia at the Virginia City Mercantile Shop. Some of the best food you will ever eat is at the Sawdust Corner or the Bonanza Cafe. Here are some hard facts about Virginia City:  At 6200 feet on Mount Davidson, historic Virginia City is 25 miles from Reno and 45 miles from Lake Tahoe. Like many cities in Nevada, Virginia City was a mining “boomtown” with more than $400 million in g

  San Francisco to Fort Bragg; some of California’s hidden jewels and hideaways! My photographer and I on assignment, decided to travel to the Northern California area to see what a family could find on a budget, to include; dining, activities, and lodging. We found several high-rated lodgings and instead zeroed in on one that was being upgraded, was clean, safe and affordable but within reach of San Francisco. The Econo Lodge Inn & Suites – Novato, Ca. located in Marin County, had a very clean, affordable and spacious room, 2 queen size beds, with a kitchenette, like an Extended Stay Suite. Room rates are affordable depending on the time of year. A great deal for the money. Just off of 1-580. Only a 30 minute drive to Fisherman’s Wharf , Golden Gate bridge and Sausalito. Pacheco Ranch Winery, the oldest land grant property in California, is nearby with wine tasting. The lodge is close to the charming downtown of Novato with wonderful shopping. Sonoma and Napa Valley are within a s

GRANLIBAKKEN TAHOE, Tahoe City, Ca. In Norwegian, Granlibakken means “a hillside sheltered by fir trees.” This resort is truly a relaxingLake Tahoe hideaway with a touch of European hospitality. My photographer and I on assignment were warmly greeted by the Resort Manager, Kay Williams and the staff. We had a wonderful conversation with Kay on the history of Granlibakken and an overview of the resort. In 1947 the first ski-lift in the Lake Tahoe basin was called, ‘Olympic Hill’ and was at Granlibakken. In 1952, the Junior National Jumping races were held there and in 1960 the USA Olympic Ski Jumping team trained on Olympic Hill. Today, it’s a grand resort. It’s known for its premier Conference Center which has dining, meeting rooms and exhibit space totaling over 16,000sqft., with conference rooms accommodating groups from 10 – 500 people. They host local Rotary meetings , weddings, to large international science seminars. The setting is serenity and quiet nestled amongst the beautiful