Living Here

Pack a wet suit and hail an eco-friendly Prius taxi. Shop for a book on dog astrology before a surfing lesson – or just take a whirl on the solar-powered Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. Whatever you do, don't even think about lighting a cigarette.

A true New Yorker may consider it a matter of pride not to have visited the Statue of Liberty. It's hard to miss the great, green lady who launched a thousand postcards

Fancy a spot of jousting? How about some Shakespeare in the pines? This weeks escapes include kayaking, Gold Rush, Italian Picnic and wine

"Fred Beckey's 100 Favorite North American Climbs" Other Provisions are Dry Dudz and the 5 Hottest Outdoor Sports in 2011

When you travel and have to leave your dog behind, you can call a kennel, hire a pet sitter – or find him a new friend online.

I'm writing on behalf of two friends who booked a trip of a lifetime to Italy recently. They also purchased trip insurance through Access America. A couple of days after paying for the insurance, they found out that the husband had to have hip replacement surgery. It was a situation that became serious within a couple of days.

Carolyn Hax answers your relationship questions. E-mail her at tellme@washpost.com.

A rockin' good time is planned next month when the Los Angeles County Museum of Art pulls the covers off artist Michael Heizer's latest creation

Wherever you have a road, it seems, you have roadside attractions. Here in the redwoods, they line Highway 101 like so many squashed squirrels.

West Los Angeles outdoors, shopping, dining, nightlife and lodging

On a steep Sierra hillside, Julia Moore planted her own magical oasis.

It always starts with the grill. Then, add a refrigerator (or at least an ice chest). How about a sink? Some counter and storage space add convenience.

This is one part in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Community Favorites, 75 can't-fail, easy-care plants well-adapted to our region and recommended by local gardeners.

Take a Sacramento home remodeling tour without leaving your house. There's also still time to plant a vegetable garden.

I need your help with a pear tree we planted in our backyard about 10 to 15 years ago. It seems to be dying a little at a time.

Home and garden events in the Sacramento region.

Heloise shares your household hints. E-mail your tips to Heloise@Heloise.com.

The Sacramento Bee hosts a network of high-quality news providers and bloggers in the Sacramento region. Here is a sampling of the best of the current Home & Garden blogs. Check out the full postings: sacramentoconnect.com.

No one's talking about giving intelligence tests, but researchers say they've shown that plants have smarts – the sort needed to help them survive dry times.

Make cut flowers last longer

Want to save water? Get a free Water Wise House Call.

It's National Dog Bite Prevention Week – a great time to remind young children about dog safety.

Benefit concert for Full Circle Treatment Circle, blood pressure screening and Spring Power of Pink fashion show

TOP PICKS

Not much beats running past redwood trees, along creeks and within a canvas of oak and manzanita groves.

For artichoke lovers, life is sweet with a slightly nutty flavor.

In a word-association game, "cabernet sauvignon" just might prompt a response of "merlot" as quickly as it would "Bordeaux" or "Napa Valley." By history, tradition, culture and color, the two grape varieties are that closely identified. Many of the world's more esteemed wines involve both.

It's time to think beyond the bear bottle.

Maybe it's in the way one cook browns meat, or another views dessert. Or it may be in the moments when a harried chef seeks perspective in the well-worn pages of "The Way To Cook."

Ever since you were a little kid, you loved foods with holes, bubbles, nooks and crannies.