Gennifer Rose blog
Welcome to our California Travel and Lifestyle blog where you’ll find our collection of all the content we’ve created. Whether you’re planning your next California vacation, searching for some new healthy recipes or seeking seasonal style tips, you’ll find that perfect blog post here.
This page allows you to filter to your interests or browse everything the Gennifer Rose Blog has to offer. You may discover something new!
Take your tastebuds on a trip around the world without ever leaving Sacramento. This blog post is filled with all kinds of global cuisine, some of them are traditional authentic and others are inventive fusion foods.
We moved to Sacramento in 2017 and we’ve seen California’s capital city become a coveted foodie destination with so many new restaurants opening up. I have to constantly be updating my Sacramento guides because the city is growing so fast!
Read MoreMy husband and I moved to Sacramento with two goals in mind, to buy our house and start a family. We’ve been living here in Sacramento for over five years now and we have a toddler and baby. We love exploring our city and finding new and engaging ways to entertain the kids.
Sacramento is a great place for families to both live and visit, with plenty of activities to keep children of all ages thoroughly amused. In this guide, we've put together some of the best things to do in Sacramento that are perfect for families. From visiting tourist attractions like the California State Railroad Museum to enjoying the great outdoors at one of the city's many parks, there's something for everyone in Sacramento.
Read MoreThe list of reasons why people loved to visit lavender fields is literally endless. Amazingly scented and full of olfactory delights, a visit to the vast fields of purple blooms is nothing short of time well spent.
Besides their captivating floral fragrance, the alluring beauty of lavender fields makes them picture-perfect as well as a great source of photography inspiration. But there’s more to lavender fields than just being the perfect backdrop source for your next Instagram post. Visiting a lavender farm is a wellness and holistic experience.
But when is the best time to visit California’s lavender fields? What are some of the best fields to visit, where, and what are they like? Read on to see our comprehensive list of visitor-friendly lavender fields in both Northern and Southern California.
Read MoreThe scene at Yankee Jims is totally picturesque with turquoise clear waters surrounded by rocky mountains and a vintage style suspension bridge hanging way above. The water is a little chilly when you first get in but on a hot summer day it feels amazing. Between June - August the summer temperatures easily reach the 90’s to the 100’s.
Read MoreIf you are looking for a fun day out with the family, then Funderland is your place. This small amusement park inside William Land Park in Sacramento, California is perfect for families with young children. Funderland is a long-standing family-friendly destination that’s been providing wholesome entertainment for kids since 1946!
This guide was made to help Funderland first timers plan their visit and come prepared for a day of fun. Learn about all the things you can do inside the park and what kid ages are best.
The day that we took the photos in this blog post, my daughter was 3-years-old and my son was 1-year-old. If you have super young kids like mine, I will tell you what you can do with them at Funderland and if it’s worth your time to visit. For older children over the age of 5-years-old there’s plenty of rides for them.
Read MoreYou may be surprised to learn that Sacramento's budding foodie scene is actually quite noteworthy and worth a visit. Sacramento has become America's Farm-to-Fork Capital with an emphasis on the region's local food production.
Read MoreSacramento is centrally located in Northern California, making it the perfect basecamp for exploring all that the region has to offer. My husband and I have lived in Sacramento for over 5 years now and we quickly discovered how incredibly convenient this prime location is for road-trips.
Within a 2-hour drive of the city, you'll find plenty of scenic places to visit, including top destinations like Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, and San Francisco. So whether you're looking to enjoy the great outdoors, experience some of the best wine and dining in the country, or want to explore a big urban city, Sacramento is the perfect starting point for your road-trip.
Read MoreFairytale Town is the perfect affordable, and fun place to spend time with your kids or grandkids, keeping them from watching too much TV or video games during school breaks and getting them out and about in the great outdoors.
It's ideal for the little ones to run around and enjoy themselves while exercising their brains with fun literacy games and colorful play sets that challenge them to use their imagination and keep them entertained for hours.
In this blog I'll take you through some of the best things you can do and all you need to know about the park. After this quick read you’ll be prepared and ready to maximize your day of family fun in Fairytale Town.
Read MoreIf you haven’t guessed it by now, I am a huge fan of the TV show The Office - as evidenced by this massive guide you’re about to read. My friends and I decided to completely geek out on a trip to Los Angeles and dress up as our favorite The Office characters while we went on a self-guided tour to many of the filming locations in Southern California. I was dressed as “3-hole-punch Jim”, Kara was Dwight and Brianna was Kelly.
The Office show takes places in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but in reality most of the show is filmed in Los Angeles. The most commonly used cities for filming locations is Van Nuys, Panorama City and Studio City - which are commonly known as “The Valley” to LA locals.
Read MoreSan Diego is a desirable vacation destination for many reasons. The weather is excellent year-round, the beaches are pristine, and San Diego is home to two of the most world-famous animal parks.
Both the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park are enormous parks filled with a huge variety of rare and endangered wildlife. You can easily spend an entire day exploring each park, which leads to the conundrum of how to decide which park to visit during your trip. Hence this guide!
My husband and I are former San Diego residents, and my entire in-law family still live there. We’ve spent many family vacations exploring both the animal parks with our kids, and we can provide both a local and insider perspective.
In this comprehensive guide you’ll find detailed information about both animal park’s exhibits, top animals to see, location information, baby and kid-friendly pointers, and even what to eat. We’ve left no stone unturned and you can use all these tips to help you make an itinerary decision.
Read MoreLocated inside the Kimpton The Sawyer Hotel in Midtown Sacramento you’ll find Punch Bowl Social. This venue can be best described as an entertainment and amusement hub featuring old-school meets modern games, arcades and billiards.
Inside the two story 25,000 square venue there’s bowling alleys, foosball table, giant versions of favorite board games, darts, vintage video games and more. Not to mention there’s a restaurant and multiple bars for crafted food and cocktails.
The aesthetics and decor are quirky and modern with large glass windows showing skyline city views of Downtown Sacramento. This is an ideal place for date nights or friends girls and guys night out.
I’ve been both in the daytime and at night to Punch Bowl Social. During lunch hours it’s very calm and low key lounging. But when the sun goes down the energy level kicks up and there’s twinkling lights everywhere and a buzzing scene.
Read MoreOne of the highlights from this summer was our Highway 1 road trip from Sacramento to Carmel-by-the-Sea. We added a new twist to our road tripping adventures by swapping our hybrid car for a completely electric Chevy Bolt car rental. We have considered purchasing an all-electric vehicle so this was the perfect opportunity for us to get some real-life experience driving one.
Our Chevy Bolt EV gets over 200 miles on a full charge, which makes it ideal for California road trips. There are a plethora of charging stations sprinkled all over the state, making it easy and cost-effective to drive between major cities.
In this guide we will share our learnings and tips from our experiences driving an EV vehicle on long road trips. While some may seem like common sense, I’m sure there’s at least one point you’ll find as helpful advice for your own future road trips.
Read MoreSacramento is quickly becoming one of California’s favorite travel destinations, thanks to the thriving farm-to-fork foodie scene and modern stylish surroundings without the big city price tag. Sacramento is also one of the few places in California where you can really experience all the seasons. In fall the foliage turns beautiful autumn colors, summer is very hot and ready for pool swimming, winter is cold and spring is full of April showers and sweet blossoms. During the cold days of winter you bundle up in your home, but once spring rolls around you’re ready to breath fresh air and enjoy some time outdoors… hence the raincoat and boots!
Read MoreApple Hill is essentially an outdoor playground for families, with numerous farms that welcome visitors. While Apple Hill is known for its apple picking in the fall season, there is also plenty to do during the months of Thanksgiving and Christmas. This scenic area of Northern California is not just about apple orchards. Here you can taste fine wines from local wineries, attend unique seasonal events, picnic surrounded by picturesque scenery, and enjoy classic holiday traditions.
Visitors have been coming to this beautiful area for over 50 years, and believe it or not, the popularity of these farms continues to grow in modern times. With so much to do in Apple Hill, you may need some advice on where to start. Read on for suggestions on some of the most popular things to do during the holiday season.
Read MoreLooking for a winter road trip destination where you can walk through a real life winter wonderland? California is a great place to go! With its many snowy mountain ranges, there are plenty of places to explore.
Winter is a wonderful time to enjoy the snow, whether you're hitting the slopes or simply playing in the snow. Snowboarding and skiing are great ways to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Sledding and snowman-building are fun activities for families with young children. There's something about being in the snow that just makes people feel happy, and there's nothing quite like relaxing in a cozy cabin after a long day of playing in the snow. If you're looking for a reason to love winter, start with snow travel. It's an experience you'll never forget.
In this blog post, we will outline and give the highlights to some of the best snowy destinations in California. Whether you're looking for a place to ski or just enjoy the scenery, we have you covered. Keep reading to plan your trip to some of the best winter road trip destinations in the Golden State!
Read MoreWith countless hidden gems, Sacramento is a destination that deserves to be on your California travel bucket list. The first time most people visit California’s capital city of Sacramento, they almost always wind up spending some time in historical Old Sacramento. While many cities have their own version “old town”, the Old Sacramento District really takes the cake with blocks of preserved buildings, working locomotive steam trains, shopping and dining, and beautiful Tower Bridge and Sacramento River views.
The Old Sacramento area is home to the highest concentration of historic buildings and landmarks in the state. It has a lovely Old West look and feel, with horse-drawn stagecoaches slowly making their way through its scenic streets. There are over a hundred shops and restaurants, as well as countless cafes and hotels now housed in its attractive old buildings.
Old Sacramento is one of those rare places where there’s truly something for everyone. Within the 8-block grid of Old Sac there’s kid-friendly attractions and not-so-kid-friendly spots. Families can bring their children and simultaneously adults can enjoy more mature activities with booze and sophistication.
This Old Sacramento guide is divided between things to do with your kids and adult only activities for a day out on the town or date night with someone special. There’s also plenty of foodie suggestions for those who enjoy eating well while on vacation.
Read MoreIf you're looking for a county escape that's far enough away to feel like a mini-vacation but still close enough to get back to the city on Monday morning, Placer County is the place for you.
In Placer, the off-season is not a thing, meaning there is never a bad time to pick up the kids and take the family on a spontaneous weekend getaway that you will all enjoy. Whether you want an action-packed weekend full of adventure or a more laid-back, relaxing time with the family, I guarantee Placer County won't disappoint.
Located just 130 miles away from San Francisco, the area is home to over 1,400 square miles of unspoiled land, beautiful rolling hills, and breathtaking views stretching from the historic Gold Country Foothills to the High Sierras of North Lake Tahoe.
There's no other way to say this: Placer is a superstar Northern California region for outdoor activities, offering something for everyone. From hiking and cycling to boating, fishing, or just relaxing on the lake or river beach, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy your time here.
In this blog, I'll go over some of the best hidden gems in Placer County that will make your trip unforgettable. Whether you’re there for a day trip, a weekend warrior or even a longer extended stay, you'll never be bored. I've also included plenty of adult-friendly things to do for couples who are on a romantic weekend.
Read MoreAfter all my holiday celebrating and Christmas-themed research I’ve done in this past month of December, I can officially declare that there’s no shortage of holiday cheer in California’s capital city of Sacramento.
One common theme I discovered is that the people of Sacramento really love supporting their peers, i.e. fellow Sacramento locals. On my list you’ll find ample opportunities to shop both small businesses and local artisans, plus support the arts like the Sacramento Ballet.
Read MoreApple Hill is pretty much a farm lover’s paradise! Most farms throughout the US are closed to the public, but in Apple Hill you’ll find over 50 local family farms and small businesses that welcome guests to pick produce and enjoy the countryside scenery.
Apple Hill is not actually a city itself, the territory runs through the small town of Camino into Placerville, CA. The Apple Hill community includes fruit & veggie farms, wineries, B&Bs, flower gardens, Christmas tree farms, restaurants and even a day spa.
While Apple Hill is most popular in the autumn season for apple picking and pumpkin patches, there’s actually plenty to explore year-round. In this blog post I outline all the hidden gems to see, eat, photograph and explore inside Apple Hill.
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