Sonoma Family Adventures

Whales, Hiking, and Chowder; Day Trip to Bodega Bay

By: LuckyBendLookout
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Where can you go on a day trip from the SF Bay area that’s less than two hours from the city, has breathtaking ocean views, amazing local food, an easy hike, and wildlife viewing?  Bodega Bay, of course! We usually visit Bodega Bay when we stay at our vacation home Lucky Bend Lookout because it’s…

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I’m Ready for Post Lockdown Travel! Now What?

By: LuckyBendLookout
Family Travel, , , , , 2 Comments on I’m Ready for Post Lockdown Travel! Now What?

On a scale from 1-10, how ready are you for a vacation? If you asked me, I would say I am a 11! I will go ANYWHERE as long as it’s not home and as long as it is safe. But what does a safe vacation look like? At the time of the publication of…

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Book Direct for a Better Trip; Save a Few Bucks too!

By: LuckyBendLookout
Grown Ups (Mostly), Local Advice, , , , , , , 3 Comments on Book Direct for a Better Trip; Save a Few Bucks too!

A few years ago we had a traveling revelation that changed our approach to vacationing ever since. It was all thanks to booking direct and developing a relationship with the vacation home owner. We flew our family of four to the Yucatán to meet up with some friends to escape the cold wet winter weather.…

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Three Different Road Trips Through Northern California to the Russian River

By: LuckyBendLookout
Family Travel, Itineraries, Localvore, , , , , , , 1 Comment on Three Different Road Trips Through Northern California to the Russian River

Its only an hour and twenty minutes to the Russian River but why race up there when it could take you all day? One of the things that we have come to love about the Russian River area is that vacation wonderland is so close, and most importantly, doesn’t include any travel on Interstate 80.…

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Lucky Bend Lookout Goes Carbon Free

By: LuckyBendLookout
Grown Ups (Mostly), , , , , , , 1 Comment on Lucky Bend Lookout Goes Carbon Free

We finally made it! It took us four stages to take Lucky Bend Lookout from ramshackle shack to the eco-friendly splendor that it is now. We are starting 2020 with the final stage, 100% renewable energy from solar power during the day and geothermal power at night. No more guilt for cranking up the radiant…

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Winter Warm-up with Russian River Wine

By: LuckyBendLookout
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After the holiday travel rush, visiting family in all the different cities, lugging present-hyped children from one sugar-rush to the next, it is time for the parents to take a well-deserved break from the kiddos and relax with a glass of wine. One of the benefits of hosting the Lucky Bend Lookout vacation rental is…

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Wine Events at the Heart of Russian River Winters

By: LuckyBendLookout
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Before we were blessed with children, we identified as wineauxs. Our domestic and international travel generally revolved around tasting wine in some exciting new wine region. Then kids. Over the years we have developed a few strategies keep the children entertained while we wine taste and we have found some great kid-friendly wineries. But alas,…

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Six Best Winter Activities Along the Russian River with Kids

By: LuckyBendLookout
Family Adventures, Family Travel, Local Advice, , , , , , , 5 Comments on Six Best Winter Activities Along the Russian River with Kids

The Russian River area can be enjoyed by kids and adults all year round, even in the wintertime. You just have to know what to look for and that is why we decided to come up with a list of the six best kid friendly winter activities along the Russian River. The winter around here…

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Russian River Girls Getaway Weekend

By: LuckyBendLookout
Grown Ups (Mostly), Itineraries, , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Russian River Girls Getaway Weekend

You know what? Being a supermom is exhausting! For me, life is a whirlwind of shuttling kids around, packing and unpacking for weekend adventures, oh, and trying to work too. My annual girl’s weekend is the beacon of tranquility that gets me through when it all seems too hectic. A few moments reminising about my…

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Fresh Dungeness Crab in Bodega, A Holiday Meal to Remember

By: LuckyBendLookout
Local Advice, Localvore, , , , , , 2 Comments on Fresh Dungeness Crab in Bodega, A Holiday Meal to Remember

Turkey, ham, and prime rib may be the meal that comes to mind around the holidays but San Franciscan’s and Northern California chefs know that the easiest way to have an amazingly memorable holiday feast is with dungeness crabs fresh off the boat. Dungeness crab season varies each year but generally runs from  November to…

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