“The park offers a bird’s-eye view of downtown skyscrapers, planes lifting off from the airport, Mission Bay, the ocean...”

Walks around town, walks in the mountains, walks next to the freeway that make it easy to pretend you’ve gotten away from it all (if you ignore the sound of traffic).

It’s a new year, and the Kelly family is looking for a new adventure. “Zip-line riding is on my bucket list,” offered my husband. “I’m on it,” I said. “Our flight-line Safari is pretty popular,” …

“On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese …

“This year, I’m giving the kids the gift of raptors,” said Patrick. Lord, help me, I thought he said Rapture. But, no: we have several sons who are nature enthusiasts, and Patrick had just stumbled …

I hated getting socks for Christmas when I was a kid. So did my husband Patrick. It always struck me as a daily necessity dressed up as a gift. So, imagine my puzzlement when, upon …

"I have enough stuff,” said my aunt-in-law Cheryl when I asked her what she wanted for Christmas this year. “I prefer gifts I can eat or things to do.” I thought of cheese. Cait Gunderson, …

‘Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” — George Eliot I love that quotation. It captures my …

So, we’re going medieval for Halloween this year, thinking up costumes that can do double duty at Renaissance fairs (don’t ask). Fifteen years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to play a princess. …

At Jetpack America, one can practice their corkscrews, backflips, and high-speed donuts over water. Over 150 bucks for 15 minutes, though.

What to wear to your next black-light-themed party? Eve Kelly is glad you asked.

Trader Joe, the organic newcomer to the corn-chip party goes head-to-head with Mr. Frito.

I don’t like to be separated from my money unless I get something great in return. Even if I were rich beyond measure, you’d never see me wrapped in sable pulling up to the Marine …

Who cares who put the chocolate in the peanut butter, who does it best?

Just in time for back-to-school, a survey of what’s out there in the way of lunch boxes.

Stand-up paddle board lessons are a good, easy way to learn how to surf. But don’t do it. Surfing is no fun.

Survey of accessories (some useful, many useless) to make your car look good and sparkly.

My towheads have turned into toads. My daughters’ hair, once so golden, has gone green from too many hours in the pool. And the standard stuff at Target and Walmart didn’t get the job done. …

Summerfest at Kelly Manor will officially begin with a backyard dance party. We’re going to kick up the heels, down some sangria, and party. We’ve hired the band, sent out the Evites, and reserved a …

Swimming-pool water filtration instead of replacement could save you thousands.

Once you’ve gone under the knife, your thoughts of the sun change. Last year, I lost a chunk of eyelid. Basal cell carcinoma. They didn’t get all of it the first time, so I had …

Decorative candles can be carved or of the gel variety.

‘If life gives you limes, make margaritas,” I sang, channeling my best Jimmy Buffett. “If life gives you hordes of guests, buy margarita mixes,” responded my man Patrick. We were in the midst of planning …

There are many ways to go about becoming a San Diego lifeguard.

A tour of San Diego coffee shops that roast their own beans.

The worst enemies of permanent cosmetics exposed.

The pet debate raged on in the Kelly home. On one side are the kids who ask for a dog every time they see one in a commercial. On the other side is my husband …

"Darn it, Patrick, this is suburbia!” I complained. “I am not about to put barn doors on the shed in our front yard!” Patrick has been trying to cut costs — he’s already embarrassed to …

Turn your tomatoes and squash into butterflies and hummingbirds.

‘Shaggy and Scooby must be jealous,” Patrick said when Bernice pulled her bright yellow Dodge Sprinter down our driveway. The Sprinter has 12 seats, just like our Chevy Express, but it rides about two feet …

St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching, and my Kelly hubby is heavy into party planning. “I bought green-striped thigh-high stockings [$4.99 at partycity.com] for you,” he announced, “and a little green top-hat hairband thingy [$9.99 …

Where ’94 Chevy Suburbans go when they die.

It wasn’t gluten-free spaghetti that gave Sophia those hips.

My friend Smokee Wilson ain’t so smoky anymore. She recently started “vaping,” as she calls it — getting her nicotine fix by way of an electronic cigarette. I’ve got some family members who smoke, so …

Apricot jams, spreads, and preserves are trundled into the taste-test kitchen.

‘Didn’t you used to want to be an artist?” I asked Patrick as I dragged him out the door. “At least I’ll get a drink,” he grumbled. We were on our way to a Painting …

Casa Kelly’s 2013 New Year’s resolution is healthier living — nutritious eating, physical activity, and enlightenment of the mind. The easy part for shopper Eve is the eating. Out go the chips, in come the …

We use a lot of barbecue sauce in the Kelly house. Our favorite has always been Gates Original. It hails from Kansas City, and my mom sends me a bottle every year at both Christmas …

The cognitive thought-based method versus hypnosis for quitting the habit.

Remedies to kick a cough and keep a cold at bay.

“Viejas Outlet Center has the largest outdoor skating rink in Southern California.”

My youngest daughter always feels ripped off at this time of year because her birthday comes just three days after Christmas. She gets a second dose of presents, but we’re usually too wiped out to …

Since when is straight eggnog not good enough?

Contentment and pipe smoke filled the air in the late-night hours after the Thanksgiving feast. My brother Bill, visiting from Kansas, puffed merrily away on our patio, reveling in the mild California evening. Patrick, meanwhile, …

My son recited a Gandhi quotation at dinner. “‘I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let …

"Don’t cook for Thanksgiving this year,” said Patrick’s mother. “You know what?” I answered. “I’m not going to fight you on that. It’s been a long year.” “So, where should we go? Our treat.” I …

Sometimes you like to get raw and wild with your peanut butter.

Wine country rides in San Diego’s backcountry.

Political party: fun and games associated with Obama and Romney.

Zumba classes are more than “Here’s my butt, here’s my butt.”