Search to save on travel with SideStep

Heard of this new way to save money on travel costs: SideStep.com? Yeah, we've all tried Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz. Well, it seems you can, ahem, sidestep the best known travel search engines (Travelocity, Expedia and Orbitz) by heading straight for SideStep.com, which will search them all at once. Sounds like a great way to save both time and money.

Details: SideStep.com. Caveat: I don't have a trip coming up for a bit, so I haven't had the chance to try this tip out myself. When I do, I'll let you know how it works.

Yosemite in winter-an insider speaks

You don't have to have a friend living in Yosemite National Park to get the inside track on what's cool about a winter visit there, but it doesn't hurt. My pal Teri just moved there to work for the park concessionare. Yep, she and her husband live right in the middle of Yosemite Valley! (I can only imagine the view out their front window). How cool is that?

Her latest report? "Right now we’ve got Chefs’ Holidays at the Ahwahnee going on until early February. Winter is awesome because there’s hardly anyone here and you often get the feeling you’ve got the park all to yourself. Badger Pass is California’s original ski area, celebrating its 75^th anniversary this season, and is seriously the safest place for families to teach their kids how to ski. They’ve also got a Nordic Center that’s all about world-class cross-country skiing and snowshoeing." Thanks for the scoop, Teri.

Details: To help plan your visit, click here. For lodging and dining info, click here.
PHOTO CREDIT: Kenny Karst, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc.

A Napa Valley hidden gem

If you're passionate about all things “green” and “sustainable”, Long Meadow Ranch in Rutherford should be on your must-see list. For years, the organic farm, organic winery, and organic ranch has been a leader in the use of organic and sustainable farming methods.

Set in the Mayacamas Mountains, Long Meadow Ranch has been featured as one of the settings and local food providers for Bravo Television’s 2009 Top Chef Finale. Though the grand tour is $175, it includes a hike around the grounds, a memorable lunch of ranch-produced fresh produce, olive oils, and grass-fed beef accompanied by their world-acclaimed organic wine. Not up for that kind of fee? Then check out their new St. Helena tasting room location (which also boasts a farm-to-table restaurant named Farmstead, slated to open in February 2010, and long-time St. Helena favorite, Whiting Nursery); taste a flight of wine for $10.

Details: Long Meadow Ranch is at 1796 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford; book tours at 707/963-4555 ext. 161; or stop by the new tasting room for Long Meadow Ranch Winery, Logan-Ives House, 738 Main Street, St. Helena. For details on lodging and dining, click here.

A dreamy (free) home show in Santa Clara

Want to while away a Saturday with your honey without spending a dime? This weekend, you can dream about creating your ideal kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor room at the California Home, Garden, & Gourmet Show at the Santa Clara County Fairground. Pick up a San Jose Mercury News for a free entry coupon. You'll see some great design, a lot of 'green' ideas, and you can catch a few how-to and cooking demos. The seminars offer a lot of help for those looking to go solar.

Details: Friday Jan 8 (noon-8), Sat/Sun Jan 9, & 10 (11-6) at the SCC Fairgrounds (344 Tully Road, San Jose). For more, call 650/593-3462 or click here.

Dining deals in Yountville/ Napa Valley

There's still time to take advantage of one of the coolest dining deals in the Napa Valley: the Moveable Feast program, good through February. It's Yountville's way of showing off the best of their best.

Say you and your squeeze want to get in some exercise, while experiencing some of the finest food in Napa's wine country. Here's the deal: some 15 top notch restaurants are within strolling distance of one another in the walkable town of Yountville: the new Bottega from Food Network’s Michael Chiarello, restaurant at Bardessono, Cantinetta Piero at Hotel Luca, and Thomas Keller/Laura Cunningham’s Vita, and more.

Want to extend your trip into the weekend? For more lodging, dining, and wine tasting info, contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce at 707/944-0904.

Details: The Moveable Feast program and free passport can be downloaded by clicking here. The passport links you to hotel packages and restaurant deals (like a three-course prix fixe dinner for $70/couple, $1 oyster specials, 50% off VIP winetasting and up to 25% off hotel/dining packages, starting at $165/double).