Great Escapes: See an Oscar-Winning Movie

Most moms only get to go to the movies with the kids. Then it's either a teen action flick with flying robots, something with talking dogs or a computer-generated, animated monster movie. If you are lucky enough to have a date night with your spouse, you still may not get to see what you want.

Now that the Academy Awards are over, this is a great time to treat yourself to the Oscar-winning film you have not seen yet. Why not take yourself on an afternoon movie date? Better yet, call up your best mom-friend and make a play-date for the two of you. Choose a movie that you both really want to see.

Start with breakfast at in the Industrial Park. It serves breakfast until 11 a.m. and has a lunch menu of classic sandwiches, hamburgers and salads. From there, take the scenic route to the Century theater in Vallejo, by taking East Second Street to Lake Herman Road. Enjoy the winding road while the hills are so green.

The best time to go to a movie is early afternoon when it's not crowded and the kids are at school. If you have little ones, recruit family to baby-sit or trade favors with another mom.

The early bird matinee, the first of the day, usually starts about 11:30 a.m. It's also the best deal, $6.25, which makes it easier to justify that $6 popcorn. At the movie, turn off your cell phone, sit back and get lost. The world can live without you for the next two hours.