Flying is hard on the skin and body and until now, I have tried to counteract the terrible jet lag, fatigue and muscle soreness by taking precautions, particularly on flights of more than just a few hours. I can often be found in the back of the plane doing yoga or stretching and amusing the passengers and crew.

So, it was not a huge surprise when on a cross-country flight this week, I happened to read a small article in the New York Times Science Section entitled, Really? Flying Can Cause Mountain Sickness. I knew fresh air was in short supply in-flight but never thought that the cabin pressure might simulate a certain altitude. Turns out, the air inside a plane is pressurized to the equivalent of about 5,400 feet to 8,000 feet above sea level. I know if I hike above 12,000 feet I don’t feel too good, so I have no illusions of climbing Mount Everest. Still, I was mildly surprised to discover this information.

To counteract the dryness, it is so important to hydrate! I make my own lavender potion with distilled water and lavender oil in a tiny, sample size spray bottle. I always ask the folks around me if they mind, before spraying.

I always travel with my yoga mat and often head to the back of the plane in-flight to stretch out and realign. Now you can actually use all that post check-in extra time at the San Francisco Airport to center yourself and work out the travel kinks. The City by the Bay has opened a yoga room in terminal two. If you don’t carry your own mat, mats are provided in the 150-square-foot room.

So, rather than kicking back with a cocktail why not salute the sun or invert a bit before your long or short haul flight? Let’s hope it’s a trend that catches on.

100 miles north of San Francisco, the drive takes a good three hours if you take time to gawk at the Oscar winning coastline. We often stop in Bodega Bay for a fish and chips or clam chowder lunch to break up the drive. This time, my seven-year-old discovered he gets carsick, and if you are prone to motion sickness this drive will surely bring it on.

Sea Ranch was a pioneering eco-community begun in the late ’60s and early ’70s. The connection between the landscape and the architecture is beautiful and certainly contributes to the serenity of the place. I dislike gated communities or housing developments in general, but this place really has captured the benefits of a uniform style with strong community ethos. The sometimes simple, sometimes elaborate wood-frame structures were inspired by the local ranches and are designed to cope with the weather and integrate well with the topography.

We were invited to a beautiful rental house with our friends and planned a feast of a menu; after all, you work up an appetite strolling along the rugged coast. Our friends always insist on renting a house with a hot tub with a view of the sea and I must say, taking a dip with my morning coffee in tow before the kids awoke was a simple pleasure I won’t soon forget. This particular house was perched on the cliffs, and waking up to the Pacific Ocean view does wonders for the soul and spirit. When you add a roaring fire and a cocktail at sunset into the mix, then you’re really talking relaxation.

We brought bikes, yoga mats, board games, books and baking projects and we all read a ton! I switched between Patti Smith’s Just Kids and reading my little one The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, which we found on the bookshelf.

This house was owned by a writer and the bookshelves were organized and labeled like a library; a nice touch. Like the book, where the Little Prince famously asks the Aviator to draw him a sheep, a flock of sheep is used at Sea Ranch to keep grass cut low to the ground to reduce the threat of fire during the summer months. It was a tender moment when we made that connection.

There is an elegant pool that is kept heated in the winter. Very few folks braved the cold weather to take a dip, but a dry sauna made the pool all the more enticing, particularly after an invigorating bike ride against the wind. With seals basking on the rocks along the coast and clear crisp February weather, one of the best moments was making a driftwood fort on the beach.

Prices on rentals range about $200-$500 a night depending on location, size and amenities. It is a perfect venue for family reunions, romantic getaways or multi-family trips. Even in the rain or mist, Sea Ranch is a great place to unwind.

We took two great hikes to waterfalls. One to the Hetch Hetchy reservoir where the temperature peaked at 107 and we saw a bear!! I was awestruck, I have been hiking and backpacking for my whole life and I have seen a lot of bear pooh, but this was amazing. The kids were rightfully scared and as we all banged rocks together I snapped a few pictures with my heart pumping. The kids named her ‘Ruperta’ after a Korean couple alerted us to the fact that it was a momma and a cub!

Every day we swam multiple times in the beautiful Birch Lake, the pool or a river stream. We played badminton, ping pong, volleyball, and tennis. Both boys rode horses (well the little one a Burro named ‘Tweety’) and did archery and other activities. My husband and I took a sunset ride which was lovely. I get anxious doing Lego or knitting but I LOVE making lanyards; go figure… very meditative. One day I worked on making beaded dragon flies. The area is full of gorgeous blue and red ones. In the evening after dinner I would go for a swim and the dragonflies would dance around me on the surface of the water. I practiced yoga every day; it helped that a couple in our posse own a yoga school and we were able to squeeze in a few sessions.  The cabin for a family of four, with all meals included was about $1400; not cheap but I must say for what it was the food wasn’t so bad.  The cabin is rustic and you need to bring your own bedding, but  that was fine by me; we now have a ‘Mather Bin’ in our garage. Tent spaces are also available for about $900 for a family of four, food included. We may do the camping option next year, but it is quite dusty/dirty and I kind of like the no-frills nature and privacy of the cabins. You can get coffee starting at dawn; which is great for those that get up that early. I loved getting my morning Joe and sitting in our hammock reading my current novel. In true SF spirit most people bring wine to dinner which is eaten on a terrace and often linger till the kitchen staff  has to kick you out. We biked everywhere and you find a rhythm to your week pretty quickly. There are hippie residues like Tie-Dye (which is so fun) and you can really make of it what you want.

The camp, originally created for city workers and now open to all SF residents, has been around for many years. Many folks came as kids and now bring their kids. Best of all the natural surroundings are stunning! Mather is 20 minutes from Yosemite and many go off the grounds for day trips. People can also pay a day rate and swim in the lake and partake in activities; I ran into a Dutch family who had done this.

Another fear I had was forced relentless socializing. Both my husband and I are very social but we feared it would be too exhausting… but you know it was great. There are plenty of people you know peripherally, others you develop random acquaintances with in the bathroom, on a horse ride,  on the dock or floating around the lake on a floaty; I even went to BINGO night.  My ten year old found a few buddies, dudes actually, and although he was still a fervent pollywog catcher, I can see the tween years fast approaching. Family camps exist all over the country, I definteily recommend it as a summer option. The only bummer was on our last day with the car packed tightly and the bike rack on we backed into a tree and smashed our back window and hatch to the tune of $2000; apparently we weren’t the first city slickers to do this. But you know, I think we’ll be back.

I had been to the same spot last summer for an epic 50th Russian Dacha birthday party, where many guests camped and a Russian BBQ ensued with a zip line, trampoline, bubbles, pool, jacuzzi and pogo-sticks for the big and little kids and of course shots of vodka and blinis for the hearty adults. This time it was for a five-year-old’s party, the daughter of my friends, the innkeepers.

Healdsburg lies at the crossroads of three of California’s most famous wine growing appellations: Dry Creek Valley, Alexander Valley and the Russian River Valley. It is surrounded by more than 60 wineries and is a favorite Sonoma Wine Country destination.

It was a surprise when I realized my son’s week at “Farm School” would be just down the road from the B & B. Deergnaw, as it is called, is an estate owned by the founders of my son’s small school in San Francisco. Synergy School 4th-8th grade students are lucky to spend a week in the spring at Deergnaw studying botany, gardening, fishing, writing poetry in the forest, hiking, camping, swimming, kayaking and learning about nature as an integral part of the curriculum. They all return in the autumn for Harvest Day. I have been looking forward to this since Sasha was a wee kindergartner. Parents told me it was a peak Synergy experience and since I love all of the above I was keen to help out, as were many other parents.  At any given time there were at least 8-10 parents and three teachers for 21 kids! I include all this seemingly random information because the experience was just so amazing, something every kid should experience.

I taught poetry writing one day, yoga the next and was a raft monitor in the afternoons. The location was just so stunning. I had been to a camp with my 4-8th grades in the 70’s outside NYC, but it was truly a camp: wooden bunks, sulphur-smelling water and lots of campfires. Alas, this time we couldn’t have a campfire because of our terrible drought and the advice/insistence of a 4th grade firefighter mom.

I was in awe of the beautiful property. We all camped, cooked and gathered outdoors, but the Deergnaw home, compound, estate whatever you want to call it, was right out of a Sunset Magazine spread, but not too precious—just perfect.  Built on more than 250 acres, Deergnaw is now an olive oil producing olive grove and one can buy their oil online and at local Farmer’s Markets.

The owners were not only gracious hosts but involved in the day to day schedule of Farm School. The parents helped with everything from cooking to tick removal. All the kids were obliged to do most of the work, including all the recycling, mulching and weighing the garbage to compare refuse production from year to year. Parents had moments to enjoy the surroundings. One dad took a killer mountain bike excursion, some fished in the pond. I hunkered down in a cushy hammock to read voraciously for an hour or so and squeezed in my own yoga practice on a beautiful deck overlooking a glorious garden.

We danced around a maypole, ate strawberries, cream and brown sugar and took a night hike to a spring. Each kid hiked alone in the dark, a sort of rite of passage/nature experience/empowerment exercise. I was only able to go for two days but look forward to future Farm School experiences and further exploring the Healdsburg area.

My friend’s birthday fell on Inauguration Day so she really wanted to celebrate this year for many reasons. The weather was so glorious and we were headed to this resort called Seascape in Aptos, California. Just a few minutes south of Santa Cruz, this lovely spot is a great respite from the frantic city life I call my existence.

Five moms were headed to this condo to celebrate our good friend’s momentous birthday. The trip started out like some AbFab meets Sex in the City moment with three of us in a Volvo in heels, driving down Highway 1 at 10 p.m. It was pitch black and we were jabbering away about the economy when I thought I heard a plane crashing (the USAIR flight crash landing on the Hudson River fresh in my mind). Turns out, the front tire blew. It was terrifying….

I won’t go into the sitcom-esque story but suffice to say after our husbands insisted we could change it in the pitch black with no flashlight;  we decided it was not going to happen since none of us felt confident in our tire changing skills. Ultimately, a very cute tow truck driver came to our rescue (cue the laugh track).

With the trip off to an ominous start, we arrived at the condo and drank heavily, cherishing the moments without the kids, who were due to arrive with the husbands the next day. I retired early, sure that I wanted to enjoy the glorious surroundings in the morning more than partying. I awoke to brilliant sunshine and the pools and Jacuzzis beckoned.

After scones, yogurt and fruit I rallied the troops and we took a walk on the grounds. One of the big things, that the kids loved once they arrived, golf carts scoot around the property and take you anywhere you want to go. The drivers are very friendly and helpful. We decided to hoof it and work off our hangovers and breakfast before a yoga practice overlooking the surf. The setting couldn’t have been better, the sun warming our souls and shoulders. I had to keep reminding myself that it was January and most of the country in a deep freeze.

The children arrived and the mood changed; they frolicked in the pools and had a great time. That night all the adults went out to eat in Santa Cruz and the birthday girls’ husband had arranged for two babysitters in a separate condo. After margaritas, champagne, cake and beer in the decorated condo we all played a rousing game of Taboo — hampered a bit by mixing tequila and champagne.

The next day the beach was on the agenda. The weather was almost warm enough to body surf but we opted for sand castle building and magazine reading on one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve been to in Northern California. There were fire pits and we noted that one could even request equipment for marshmallow roasting to be delivered by golf cart, something my kids thought sounded simply magical. The price tag was more than $50! Not in my budget.

The condo was very comfortable and we were lucky, one of our party’s parents owned it and let us use it for free. Normally prices run between $300 and $700 depending on size and season. It is not cheap and I found mixed reviews on tripadvisor, which surprised me. We brought our own food but there is a restaurant with a great view on the premises.

This is not the sort of getaway I take often, but one I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to attend. I would recommend it for a splurge and a taste of the good life in California. The site couldn’t be more stellar, made picture perfect by the weather and company. I definitely felt rejuvenated.

Now, with a busy family and work life, I’m constantly looking for ways to integrate my yoga to suit me: my moods, schedule and health. Traveling always includes my trusty mat, attached to the outside of my checked baggage, encased in a cheap yoga bag. This battered and dusty mat has a lot of miles on it. Whether on my in-laws’ deck on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, my friend’s adorable apartment in Paris or a geothermally-heated floor of a guest house in Iceland, my mat is more vital to me when I travel than almost anything else, besides my passport. Sure, practicing yoga before and after your journey can be a great way to ground your travels, particularly after long flights and dramatic time changes. But beyond the rigors of air travel or long road trips, there are practical reasons why I love to practice diligently when away from home.

For one, when I’m gone I don’t have all my day-to-day responsibilities and maintenance to eat up my time.  Two, yoga really helps me feel good physically: awake, in the moment and ready to tackle a day on my feet or food that is presumably different from my regular routine. I have taken yoga trips or retreats where yoga is the trip, but that’s a different story. I’m talking about taking your mat, maybe a belt, even a Styrofoam block or eyes pouch, and carving out time to practice; even fifteen minutes in the morning can set you right for the whole day.

There is that immeasurable gratification one gets from combining loves in your life. Whether atop a mountain, on a beach or in your hotel room, bringing yoga into your travels and travel into your yoga helps to expand both practices.