Mindy’s family of 4 (2 adults and 2 teens ages 18 and 16) traveled to Carmel Valley and San Francisco this month for a fun and relaxing family getaway.  Their first stop was the Carmel Valley Ranch, an upscale resort that sits at the base on the Santa Lucia Mountains.  Activities at the ranch include golf, tennis, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, organic garden, learning about honey bees, equestrian center, spa, mountain-top yoga, pools and daily activities such as geocaching and s’more making.  Their huge suite had a separate living area with sofa bed.  They enjoyed exploring the seaside towns of Carmel-by-the Sea, Monterey and Pacific Grove which offered plenty of great dining options, shops and place to watch beautiful sunsets.  One day was spent visiting Big Sur, the second most visited tourist attraction in the US (after Times Square) and where the mountains meet the sea. There are plenty of spots to pull over for undeniably beautiful photos.  A stop at Julia Pfeiffer State Park included a hike.  After two nights, they moved onto San Francisco with a stay in a one bedroom suite at the Hotel Monaco (with separate living room with sofabed and rollaway). This small, boutique hotel offers attentive service, nightly wine receptions and complimentary coffee and tea each morning.  The staff was friendly and helpful– quickly learning their names and lending to the “homey” feel of the hotel.   As a Kimpton Karma member (free membership) they got coupons for their minibar, a free movie and free internet.  Day one in the city included a small group highlight tour which featured the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Chinatown, the Haight, Twin Peaks, the Presidio, Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf and Ghiardelli Square.  They learned about the history of the city and about local politics, sports, culture, architecture and life style unique to San Francisco. The tour proved to be a great orientation of the city and to figure out which neighborhoods to further explore.  Day two included a walking tour of Chinatown, home to the 2^nd largest Asian population in the country.  They learned how and when the Chinese arrived in San Francisco and how they live today.  The tour was led by Linda Lee, a second generation Chinese American who was born and raised in the neighborhood.  Linda was a pleasure and delight to walk with and her sense of humor added to the experience.  They learned about Chinese medicine (herbs and other natural healing elements), religion, language (an incredible variety of dialects are spoken) culture, art, and food.  They even toured a small factory where fortune cookies are still made. A dim sum lunch was the perfect ending to this tour.  The Valenci’s also biked over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, explored various neighborhoods, visited family and friends and enjoyed a comedy show.  Overall a great trip!