Enjoy Horseback Riding Vacations - Visit Writinghorseback.com Travel blogs are bubbling up faster than popping corn in a microwave oven. What makes a travel blog unique? Obviously the travel blog has to be well written and have wonderful photos; it also has to have a highly-focused niche that is often searched for on the internet.

My niche - horseback riding vacations. 

Passion for Travel and Horse Lover

At Writinghorseback.com, I've combined my passion for travel with my love of horses. It made sense to launch Writinghorseback.com, as I'm not the only horse-crazy fool who jumps at the chance to go on a horseback riding vacation as often as possible.

Writinghorseback.com will serve as your guide to horseback riding vacations and equestrian travel deals. As I'm already traveling to wonderful locations for my newspaper and magazine articles, I thought it made sense to have a website devoted to the best horseback riding vacations. 

An Icelandic Horseback Riding VacationAs the site grows, I plan to offer lodging and equestrian-based horseback riding vacation discounts to subscribers. My first exclusive rate is for a trip to Iceland to ride the Icelandic ponies. I will also be writing horse-related tack and riding apparel reviews.

• Swim in a waterfall after horseback riding in Kauai, Hawaii
• Ride horseback to a bootlegger still in an abandoned coal mine in Wickenburg, Arizona
• View an osprey nest before horseback riding on the beach in Olema, California
• Learn what to look for in a solo horseback riding vacation
• Relax in a hot tub after horseback riding on Ten Mile Beach in Mendocino County
• Come share your horseback riding vacation discoveries at Writinghorseback.com

If you are a fan of social media, please consider becoming a Writing Horseback Facebook Fan. Not only will you find me on Twitter @Nancydbrown, I'm also the equestrian tweeter behind @Ridinghorseback.

Yosemite's Half Dome Yosemite is a beautiful place in the winter time. No crowds, fresh snow and glorious days to take in the breath taking sights.

My high school senior recently returned from a five day and night trip to Yosemite. It was sponsored and partially funded by the public high school she attends in Northern California.

Jane Kelson teaches geology at Campolindo High School and spear heads the Yosemite Institute Field Course. In addition to studying geology, biology and ecology, the students do "hands on" projects such as testing the water quality of Yosemite Creek. It's outdoor classroom experiences like this that keep students motivated and opens their eyes to alternative areas of exploration.

Campolindo High Students Experience Yosemite in the Winter

High school senior Andi Kohen said, "the best part of visiting Yosemite was that it was an amazing opportunity to bond with fellow students while participating in a fun learning environment. Visiting Yosemite taught me a lot about how to respect nature, such as trying not to leave one crumb behind in order not to upset the ecosystem. Not only did it teach us to respect nature, it also taught us to respect others, such as our Yosemite Institute instructor when they are trying to teach us something important. It was an amazing experience and I'm so glad I got a chance to experience it."

 

Yosemite FallsThe students slept in the canvas-covered tent cabins at Curry Village for a couple of days and then moved to the eastern part of Yosemite valley. They cross country skied on fresh fallen snow, glided across frozen ice on skates, created a human pyramid in front of a fallen tree trunk in Mariposa Grove and ate lunch at the base of a waterfall. How awesome is that?

As some of you know, California schools are taking a huge economic hit. Our Acalanes School District is experiencing  a $4.8 million district budget shortfall.

Administrators are going through classroom course offerings with a fine tooth comb to see where cuts can be made. Classes such as the Yosemite Institute Field Class may be on the chopping block. For our students, and future high school students who follow in their footsteps, I hope organizations such as the Moraga Education Foundation continue to fund outdoor classes such as this.

The experiences our children have outside the classroom are as powerful and motivating as their studies behind closed walls.

Photos courtesy of Kendall C. Brown

Castello di Amorosa photo by Nancy D. BrownMy favorite tips and locations for visitors to Calistoga, California.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is a downtown walking tour of Carlo Marchiori murals: Starting at Miquel's restaurant,1437 Lincoln Ave. See facing murals which show old Calistoga painted by this Italian-born muralist.

Insider Tip: When looking at these murals, Marchiori is the figure in the barber chair; the man reading the paper in an upper window is based on his brother; the dogs peering out the door are Marchiori's. His partner, Tony, is the inspiration for the Chinese laundryman whose work can be found all over town, including Brannan's Grill and Enoteca Wine Shop. Carlo's art gallery, Galleria Ca'Toga d'Arte, is next to Vermeil Wines, 1206 Cedar Street.

When I crave Calistoga cuisine, I turn to Sol Bar at Solage Calistoga.

To escape work I get a mud bath or massage at one of the many local spas within Calistoga. I enjoyed a girlfriend getaway at the Roman Spa Resort.

For complete quiet, I can hide away at Bothe Napa Valley State Park.

If you come to Calistoga, get your picture taken in front of the Napa Valley welcome sign.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Brannan's Grill get the braised short ribs.

Calistoga is my one stop shop for food, wine tasting and mud baths.

Best Place to watch local crafts people at work: Calistoga Potter Jeff Manfredi can usually be found working on his wheel creating artisan pottery in his studio.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to The Candy Cellar. They have great salt water taffy. Try the award-winning Calistoga Mud Fudge or the Lattee Fudge.

Photo ops in Calistoga include the Castillo di Amorosa.

The best vantage points are taken by climbing to the top of the tower and looking out over the valley.

Bird in a Cage by Carlo MarchioriThe most unique art tour: Every Saturday from May-October, artist Carlo Marchiori leads tours of his home, Villa Ca'Toga. Visitors will see the grounds, "ruins," grottos and garden. His sly humor and creativity spill out of every corner. One guest room is painted to make you the bird in a birdcage. There's even a cat peering in at you and the room comes with yellow pajamas. A bargain at $25 per person.

In Calistoga, an active day outdoors involves hiking, biking or walking.

My favorite hikes: Kortum Canyon Road at the intersection of Hwy. 229/128 and Lincoln Avenue is a great walk. Bothe Napa State Park has lovely redwood groves for strolling year-round. Oak Hill Mine Trail, at the other end of Lincoln Avenue by Silverado Trail, is a thigh-burner, but the views are worth it.

Calistoga's best museum is the Sharpsteen Museum of Calistoga. A place to see glimpses of Calistoga's past with dioramas of what the town looked like in the 1860's. You'll see a completely furnished old-fashioned kitchen, blacksmith shop and turn of the century house and parlor all housed in an original Brannan Cottage with its arched gingerbread facade. There were more than a dozen of these guest cottages at the site of Calistoga's first spa resort.

You don't need kids with you to visit this historical museum, but if you do, they'll love the stagecoach and the miniature model trains. You can also see Ben Sharpsteen's Oscar from his work as a Disney animator on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." There is also a double-sided dollhouse made by Calistoga resident Ruth Durbin.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read The Weekly Calistogan.

You can tell a lot about Calistoga from visiting the local festivals.

In the spring you should attend the Mustard, Mud and Music Festival, March 6-7, 2010. Visitors can leave the car behind and walk to live music all over town while tasting about two dozen of the areas wines.

In the summer Calistoga offers free concerts in the park every Thursday from the last week in May through the end of August. Taking place from 6-8 p.m., each week features a different band and a chef is on site for an al fresco dinner.

In the fall visit the wineries during harvest or go up in a hot air balloon.

In the winter you'll want to watch Calistoga's Annual Lighted Tractor Parade. Vintage and modern tractors, antique trucks and construction equipment bedecked with lights roll down Calistoga's main street to celebrate the holiday season and Napa Valley's agricultural heritage. December 4, 2010 is the date for the 6 p.m. start of the parade at Lincoln Avenue to Cedar Streets.

Calistoga Roastery Table of KnowledgeFor a great breakfast treat have the coffee cake and coffee at Calistoga Roastery. Anyone who wants to know what's really going on in town heads to "The Table of Ka-nowledge," an opinionated group of residents gathering spot.

Just outside of downtown Calistoga you can visit Robert Louis Stevenson State Park.

The best way to see downtown Calistoga is to walk.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss the Old Faithful Geyser. (Truth be told, I have not visited the Geyser yet.) Or they can find the Queen Bee at Vermeil Wines. The tasting room used to house a beeswax candle shop. Tasting room manager Mary Sue Frediani kept the two small doors that you can open to see the bees hard at work behind the glass making beeswax and honey.

 
What are your favorite things to do in Calistoga?

Thank you to Eden Umble of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce for assistance with this post.

Castle and Calistoga Roastery photos by Nancy D. Brown. Photo of Bird in a Cage courtesy of Villa Ca'toga website.