San Jose’s annual Fantasy of Lights is one of California’s most colorful and enduring holiday shows. CLICK HERE to be taken to a colorful website that describes more about this visual event.  And CLICK HERE for a festive romp with Jingle Bells animated!

DogTrekker, the email newsletter for northern Californians who seek advice on traveling with their dogs, recommends November as an ideal month for autumn walks with Rover.  Today’s edition recommends trails in the East Bay, South Bay, along the newly completed Sacramento River Trail in Redding, along the South Yuba Independence Trail, and in Marin County at Fort Baker on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  We’ve seen fall color in each of those areas, but even if it isn’t showing when you’re walking your dog, it’s a good day anyway, because you’ve got your best friend with you!

To receive DogTrekker, CLICK HERE.

The seasonal show of fall color in California is not limited to falling leaves.  Every autumn, beautiful orange and black Monarch butterflies return to the Monterey Bay area to mate.  One of the best places to see the display is at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz.  Jodi Apelt of the California State Parks reports that on every Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. through Feb. 14 (or until the migratory Monarchs depart), Monarch Butterfly Tours will occur.  Natural Bridges is located at the end of West Cliff Drive.   To know that the Monarchs are there when you plan to visit, call (831) 423-4609 in advance.

Monarch Butterfly (1/16/06)

Other colorful California State parks fall events in the Santa Cruz area include a program on Mushrooms of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Nov. 7 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Ranche del Oso Nature and History Center near Waddell Creek Bridge (16 mi. north of Santa Cruz off CA-1).  A mushroom taxonomist will describe where to find them, how to be sure they’re “the right ones,” and tips on gourmet preparation of wild mushrooms.

On the Sunday of the Thanksgiving Day Weekend (Nov. 29), a “Creeping Forest Ramble” will leave at noon from Park Headquarters at Big Basin Redwoods State Park.  Docent Doreen Devorah will lead a three-hour, 2.5 mi hike up and down the “creeping” terrain, along creeks, through fire-scarred redwoods and over log bridges.   Bring water, a snack and good hiking shoes.

Photo Credit: © 2006, John Poimiroo

New Year’s Eve is one of the most popular times of the year to “pop the question.”   At Ardenwood Affairs, a popular Fremont, Calif. wedding venue, Julie Ferrantino collects suggestions from brides and grooms about the best and worst wedding proposals.  Here’s her top ten suggestions for creating a memorable proposal.

1.    Make it romantic.
Several grooms surveyed by Ardenwood Affairs said they transformed their home into a romantic love nest with hundreds of candles, dozens of red roses, rose-petals and champagne. Creating a special environment and setting the mood helps to heighten the anticipation of the actual question. Putting in the effort to make sure everything is just right will definitely pay off.

2.    Surprise her with a proposal when she’s least expecting it.
Because most couples discuss getting married before the actual proposal, it’s difficult for a groom to generate surprise. For one couple, the surprise came as part of a routine, turned romantic.  Each weekend, they took time to hike. After a long climb, they would usually stop and enjoy lunch. The weekend of the proposal wasn’t any different, except when they sat down for lunch; he got down on one knee and proposed. Because he incorporated it into something they already did, she never saw it coming. Needless to say, they look back on that as their best hike ever.

3.    Involve family members.
Involving the family in a proposal often says miles about your commitment to marriage.  One bride said that during an Independence Day family vacation at Lake Tahoe, while basking on the beach, her groom got down on one knee in front of the entire family to propose. There wasn’t a dry eye on the beach!

4.    Personalize the proposal.
Proposing on a symbolic day or in a location with sentimental significance is quite common. One groom said held off proposing for months until their two-year anniversary. He said his bride knew he had a special dinner planned, but had no idea he was going to ask her to marry him. The day they met therefore remains doubly special in their hearts.

5.    Don’t be afraid to be extravagant.
One groom went so far as to hire a plane and wrote his message in the sky, “Will you marry me?” at Pier 39 in San Francisco. Going over the top will no doubt make the bride-to-be feel special. But because the day will always be special, tip number six is issued as a word of caution…

6.    Keep it simple.
The more extravagant a proposal, the greater the chance something can go wrong. Limit the components of the proposal to not more than three.  “The less to go wrong, the more confident you’ll be,” Ms. Ferrantino advises.

7.    Utilize the outdoors.
Beautiful scenery can be naturally romantic, so proposing outdoors reduces the need to intensify the atmosphere.  Almost 90% of the couples surveyed by Ardenwood Affairs had some element of the outdoors in their proposal. Whether you pop the question at a significant landmark, a favorite beach or park, or while sightseeing on a vacation, doing it outdoors is a surefire way to make it special.

8.    It’s OK to ask for help
A schoolteacher was stuck on exactly what to say, so he called together friends who were writers and other teachers. They helped him refine his thoughts and, more importantly, gave him the confidence to say them aloud. You can also use friends or family to help set the romantic situation. It’s difficult to arrange a surprise picnic on your own, but by enlisting helpers you can surprise her, totally. Imagine walking through the park and coming across a picnic basket, chilled champagne and a blanket, your friends having disappeared just minutes before you arrive.

9.    Don’t let the occasion override the circumstances.
Even a foolproof proposal can be derailed by something beyond your control. In one case, the groom arranged to propose in front of the Eiffel Tower on a trip to Paris, but he didn’t count on his fiancee being so ill with the flu that she still can’t remember agreeing to his proposal. Most obstacles can be overcome, but when they’re insurmountable, reschedule.  This is a fine line for grooms, Ms. Ferrantino advises, as nerves often cause them to look for any excuse to put off the proposal.

10.    Be spontaneous.
If the moment feels right, then propose!  One of Ardenwood Affairs’ surveyed grooms had planned an elaborate proposal to occur at Disneyworld towards the end of a vacation but on the first day of the trip, he felt inspired.  Further, he worried that she would find the ring before he proposed, so he found an attractive fountain and popped the question. She accepted while a nearby crowd cheered. They were thus able to spend the entire vacation living the moment as fiancés and planning the perfect wedding.

More wedding planning tips are found by calling (925) 426-3055 or online at www.ardenwoodaffairs.com.

Spectators watching the Blue Angels air show over San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week will get unlimited shuttle rides to prime viewing locations on Angel Island State Park for $5 per day. The special rate is being offered by the Angel Island Tram Tours to make it easier for spectators to get out to Angel Island’s best air show viewing spots. As an additional bonus, one passenger on each Angel Island-Tiburon Ferry will win an Angel Island Adventure Package including a Sunset Cruise, Tram Tour and lunch voucher (no purchase necessary). The Blue Angels will conduct survey flights on Oct. 4, rehearse on Oct. 5 (from 1 to 4:30 p.m.) and perform on Oct. 6 and 7 (from 1 to 4:30 p.m.). The special shuttle fare applies each day the Blue Angels fly. Roundtrip ferry tickets from Tiburon to Angel Island State Park cost $13.50 per adult/senior and $11.50 per child (ages 6 to 12), including state park admission. CLICK HERE for information about Angel Island or CLICK HERE for information about the ferry.