Author Archives: cindybrownmiller
Pismo Beach, California June 20, 2023
Today started really well – the sun was shining and the dunes at Pismo Beach were amazing – unfortunately it ended at the Emergency Room! I had a slight accident and fell off the ATV on my head. I couldn’t remember where I was (I thought maybe Florida due to the sand and ocean?) and … Continue reading
San Jose and Monterey, California June 18, 2023
We’re making our way south from the Russian River Valley to Los Angeles. Our first stop was the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Sara Winchester, the widow of the Winchester gun heir, lost her mother, father-in-law, and husband within a few months and inherited a huge fortune. She did not have any children and … Continue reading
Monte Rio, California June 17, 2024
When I start to plan family trips, we have a family meeting to decide what we want to see. I learned the value of family meetings when we traveled to Europe. I thought my family would definitely want to see the Louvre, Mona Lisa, and Notre Dame in Paris, but all they really cared about … Continue reading
San Francisco, California June 15, 2023
Alamo Square and the famous Painted Ladies rowhouses were beautiful in today’s sunshine. Haight-Ashbury’s hippie vibe is still alive and thriving.
San Francisco, California June 14, 2024
We visited the Golden Gate Bridge this morning. Traffic was heavy and noisy and the weather was cool and windy, so I decided to only walk about halfway across. The highlight of our day was an evening tour of Alcatraz! I knew these tours filled fast, so I booked it in March. The ferry ride … Continue reading
San Francisco, California June 13, 2024
We’re starting our 16 day family vacation in San Francisco. I haven’t been to California since I was a girl, so it’s fun to see things through my kids’ eyes. We are staying at Club Donatello in downtown San Francisco only one block from Union Square. Based on the sightseeing I’ve planned, this should be … Continue reading
Madeira, Portugal November 11, 2022
We are on a 14-day trans-Atlantic cruise from Spain to Miami on Holland America’s Oosterdam. Our port of call today is the beautiful island of Madeira. It is an autonomous region of Portugal located 320 miles off the coast of Morocco. I’ve hired Up Moutain Madeira for a full day tour of the island. We … Continue reading
Lisbon, Portugal November 9, 2022
We took two tours today – a full-day tour with Easy Going Portugal to Sintra and an evening tuktuk tour of Lisbon with Eco Tuk Tours. Miguel with Easy Going Portugal picked us up and we headed to the pine forests of Sintra. Sintra is a gorgeous area with UNESCO World Heritage status. The area … Continue reading
Cadiz, Spain November 8, 2022
We boarded Holland America’s Oosterdam yesterday in Malaga and arrived in Cadiz this morning. We explored Old Town on foot, watched surfers in the afternoon sun, and shopped at El Corte Ingles.
Xcaret Parks, Mexico April 22, 2022
Hotel Xcaret Arte, where we are staying, includes unlimited admission to Xcaret’s 8 parks. We’ve already visited Xplor Fuego and Xcaret Mexico, and we went to Xenses today. This park takes about half a day to visit and includes rides and attractions that include all of your senses.