Sand People - great Hawaiian shopping on Kauai, Oahu, and Maui.

Whether you're picking up souvenirs for family and friends, or looking for that perfect dining room knick-knack, it's always fun to bring home a little something that reminds you of your trip.

We discovered a little gem of a store in the Poipu Shopping Village on Kauai's south shore. For the little people in your life, there's even a Sand Kids. As we explored the rest of the island, we also visited their shop in the Old School Building at Hanalei Center on the Kuhio Highway.

Filled with beautiful gifts and souvenirs, Sand People has been in business for over 20 years. Their large selection of nautical and beach house influenced items includes bags, casual clothing, soaps, lotions, accents pillows, artwork, and a impressive array of jewelry (which requires no luggage space to get home).  

Lighthouse accommodations with views of San Francisco.

These days, truly unique places to stay are few and far between. And most of them come with a price tag that makes them out of reach for mere mortals like us.

But there's a Bay Area splurge where you can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience without traveling halfway around the world or taking out a second mortgage. The East Brother Light Station has four rooms in the Victorian lighthouse and a small room in the fog signal building. So if you've dreamed of spending the night in a lighthouse - and who hasn't - you can.

The Huntington Library & Gardens -- a great day trip from Los Angeles.

When we moved to Southern California a couple of years ago, one of the first places we visited was the Huntington Library and botanical gardens. After shoveling snow in the Northeast for three years, it seemed like Eden. Especially since it was February and 75 degrees.

The Beaux Arts style house and extensive gardens were owned by Henry and Arabella Huntington. In 1919, they transferred the San Marino estate and collections to a nonprofit educational trust. The property - once nearly 600 acres - now covers 207 acres, 120 of which are landscaped.

Two of the estate's building house art collections.