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CALIFORNIA

News Anaheim Bakersfield Barstow Bass Lake Beverly Hills Big Bear Lake Big Sur Coast Cambria Carlsbad Carmel-by-the-Sea Catalina Island Cayucos Claremont Coronado Costa Mesa Dana Point Death Valley Nat'l Park Del Mar El Capitan Canyon Encinitas Escondido Eureka Fort Bragg Fresno county Guerneville Healdsburg Hollywood Homewood Huntingtong

Indian Wells Irvine Laguna Lake Tahoe La Quinta Las Alamos Little River Lodi Long Beach Los Angeles Malibu Mammoth Lakes Marina del Ray Mendocino Montecito Monterey Mt. Shasta Napa Valley Nevada Newport Beach Oakdale Oakland Ojai Olympic Valley Oxnard

Palm Springs Paradise Pasadena Paso Robles Pebble Beach Point Loma Rancho Cucamonga Redding Redway Redwood City Redondo Beach Sacramento San Diego San Francisco San Jose San Luis Obispo San Mateo San Marino San Miguel Santa Ana Santa Barbara Santa Clara Santa Clarita Santa Cruz Santa Maria

Santa Monica Santa Rosa Sebastopol Shasta Lake Solvang Sonoma Stockton Temecula Thousand Oaks Tomales Bay Truckee Walnut Creek Westlake Village Woodland Hills Yountville Visalia West Hollywood Yosemite

NEWS (Cities & Towns Follow the News)

Winchester Mystery House in San Jose Opened With Great Garden Tour

The new Porto Vista Hotel Is the first Art Hotel in San Diego

Lots of New Events & Happenings at the San Diego Natural History Museum

Camping Made Comfy at the Ultimate Glamping Property | Mendocino
Grove at Mendocino, CA

Carlsbad’s West Inn & Suites Wins #1 Spot in California for Families 

Monterey's AAA Four Diamond Portola Hotel & Spa Announces Major Renovations

The Newest Retreat on the Mendocino Coast - The Inn at Newport Ranch

ANAHEIM

Where to Stay

Lion Hotel Anaheim near Disneyland®

Featuring a contemporary, timeless design, vibrant décor, state-of-the-art facilities and genuine service, the beautifully renovated Red Lion Hotel Anaheim is a refreshing destination in the heart of the Anaheim Resort area (www.anaheimredlion.com). Walking distance from Disneyland® Resort, Anaheim Convention Center, and Anaheim GardenWalk, our fresh, innovative hotel is a convenient destination for vacationing families, corporate travelers and meeting groups. From the moment you enter the dramatic marble lobby, bathed in natural tones and rich leather seating, you feel welcome.

The Red Lion Hotel Anaheim has been completely transformed to help you stay comfortable with its brand philosophy -- the casually sleek design, warm color palette, inviting open spaces, and artistic finishes create an atmosphere of peace and playfulness where kids and grown-ups feel equally at home.

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa--

leads the way with the expansion of 200 additional guest rooms and 50 Disney Vacation Club villas. This represents a 30 percent expansion of the 745-room property, giving it a total of 945 rooms and 50 villas.

WorldMark Anaheim

a new 14-story timeshare resort featuring 253 units and 12 new luxury presidential suites.

Sheraton Garden Grove-Anaheim South Hotel --

285 guest rooms; and Anaheim GardenWalk, a shopping and dining resort within walking distance from the Anaheim Convention Center.

Where to Eat

Anaheim White House Restaurant

Reputed to be Orange County's "Best Steak & Seafood Restaurant" and designated as a 1909 Historical Landmark, it has a distinct Italian decor. . . .quite opulent and formal . . . . but quite comfortable. Foreign language menus are available, and the garden is perfect for strolling, outdoor dining or smoking. The Sunday Champagne Brunch is sereved from 11 am to 3 pm and the menu has a wide choice to choose from, including Vegetarian Pasta Cavalli with artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, garlic and Tuscan olive oil over fresh pasta; Ravioli Walter Nudo stuffed with a combination of Italian cheeses in Porcini mushroom sauce; Veal Armani - tender thin sliced veal rack sauteed in a sage & Porcini mushroom sauce; Sea Bass Versace baked in a parchment basket and presented in a saffron & seafood infuson, plus much more. Be sure to bring your camera; the outside of the building, resembling a place, is lit up at night and you'd swear you were in Europe!

Location: 887 South Anaheim Blvd. Anaheim, CA 92805. Reservations: 714-772-1381; e-mail: bruno@anaheimwhitehouse.com or go to web site www.aaheimwhitehouse.com

Where to Stay

Guesthouse International Inn & Suites

An artsy, intimate 50-room hotel property in downtown Bakersfield was recently renovated to become the first boutique-style accommodations in the city. With the commitment of local investors and partnership with a national brand, the Guesthouse International Inn & Suites is giving new life to an existing, retro-style hotel property and offering a unique lodging option for visitors. The inn can accommodate guests desiring either two double beds or a king size mattress at rates around $89 a night. There is also one poolside suite and two meeting rooms that can seat up to 40 people, as well as alternative accommodations across the street for long-term guests in a bungalow and four-plex apartment style building. The original building, located on Bakersfield’s main street, had a funky retro feel with a raised courtyard and pool in the center. The renovations have enhanced the artful look, with Harlequin-style flooring in shades of beige and chocolate brown, and classic black and white photos in the hallways and guestrooms. For travelers who require excellent service and economy-driven accommodations, centrally located just one mile from the Convention Center, the new Guesthouse International Inn and Suites will be the place to stay.

For more information contact Andrew Blanton, Guesthouse International Inn & Suites, (661) 327-7126, www.guesthouseintl.com.

BASS LAKE

BERKELEY

The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa

The Claremont, a member of the Pyramid Hotel Group, opened in 1915 and is located in California’s Berkeley Hills. The property features 279 uniquely designed rooms and suites, a variety of unique meeting and event spaces, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, an incomparable 32 treatment room spa, and an award-winning food & beverage program. The Meritage restaurant specializes in bringing the wine and food experience together with a menu of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. While Paragon Restaurant & Bar offers a menu of hand-shaken libations complementing a menu of relaxed American contemporary food. In addition to the culinary experiences to be found at the Claremont, guests can relax at Spa Claremont, play a game of tennis or spend the afternoon poolside enjoying this landmark’s spectacular views. For more information, please visit www.claremont-hotel.com or call (800) 551-7266.

About Pyramid Hotel Group
Additional information is available at www.pyramidhotelgroup.com.

BEVERLY HILLS

What to See & Do

Melting Pot Tours

 I was on one of the Melting Pot tours and absolutly loved it. In fact, when I'm back in Beverly Hills, I'm looking forward to going on another one. It was great fun, great food and great places we walked to.

And, if there's anyone you're hunting for a special gift for - whether it's a birthday, anniversary, Easter or Christmas, etc. - you can purchase a gift certificate for one of the tours. It's available for purchase year-round, can be purchased online, or call 424-247-9666. Don't worry about an expiration date -- there isn't one!

Some favorite shopping sources:
• Farm Boy at the Original Farmers Market prides itself on its gorgeous variety of apples, which are all carefully selected. Any variety will work here; my preferences for this recipe are Fuji, Pink Lady, and Golden Delicious.
• Ha's Apple Farm, present at local LA Certified Farmers Markets, often pops up on Tuesdays in the Plaza at the Original Farmers Market! Their Fuji apples are truly some of the best in the land.
• Magee's Nuts has walnuts, almonds, pistachios, and any other nut variety that you may like to substitute!

Remember, too, that the Melting Pot tours can be customized for private tours to fit your budget and time constraints with groups from 10 to 50.

 About Melting Pot Food Tours

Melting Pot Food Tours is the premier food tour company in the Los Angeles area. Sisters and co-founders Lisa & Diane Scalia are L.A. natives and lifelong residents of Italian descent who truly 'live to eat'. Lisa, a caterer and private tour guide, and Diane, a professional chef, cookbook author, and food writer, together have over 30 years of combined experience in the food industry and the culinary arts.
 
Given their lifetimes of experience living and working in the Los Angeles area, the Scalia sisters are particularly well-qualified to select the most interesting and intriguing neighborhoods in the city and surrounding communities in which to conduct food tours. Their careful selection of locales for their tours ensure their guests an entertaining, fulfilling and memorable culinary experience.
 
Melting Pot Food Tours started in June 2008, the first tour company of its kind in southern California, and since that time has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, CBS-TV news, Los Angeles Magazine, CNN News Headlines local edition, AAA Westways magazine, AARP Magazine and AARP Online, Daily Candy, Tasting Table, AAA World magazine, the KTLA morning news with Gayle Anderson, the Los Angeles Daily News, the Pasadena Star News, Arroyo Monthly, KCAL-9 So Cal Now television, 830AM radio, and WHERE Los Angeles. It is also consistently rated as one of the top tours in Los Angeles on Trip Advisor.

For more information contact Melting Pot Food Tours at www.meltingpottours.com  or via e-mail at info@meltingpottours.com. Or call 1-424-247-9666. You can also write to Melting Pot Food Tours at 8484 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 220, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

Maison 140 Launches "L'Heure Verte," A Nightly Adventure in Absinthe, AKA "The Green Fairy"

Cocktail hour has never been more mystifying than at Maison 140 Beverly Hills’ L'Heure Verte or "The Green Hour," a daily absinthe tasting experience recently introduced at the hotel’s intimate Bar Noir. Stylishly bringing absinthe to the Los Angeles crowd after a 96-year ban in the U.S., Maison 140’s French-inspired setting provides a perfect location from which to enjoy this much-celebrated aperitif.

Served nightly, at a price of $5 per glass, guests can celebrate the triumphant return of this formerly-banned liquor by observing one of alcohol's most inventive pours, demonstrated by the centuries-old French-serving ritual associated with this high-proof emerald elixir.

Concocting the “Green Fairy”

Arriving at a drinkable glass of absinthe requires short, but dramatic steps. A few ounces of “Le Tourment Vert” absinthe (100-proof, 50% alcohol content) are poured into a glass, which is then followed by equal parts of ice water chilled in a specially-designed absinthe fountain. The cocktail is finished with a flourish of cascading water over a sugar cube, which sits perched atop a special slotted-silver spoon, lying across the glass. With five parts water, one-part absinthe, the concoction, known as the Green Fairy, becomes a delicious aperitif.

Guests can also opt for a fierier spectacle, which includes the setting of the sugar cube ablaze before melting it into a snifter glass of absinthe, and cooling it down with ice cubes.

About Absinthe

The mysterious allure of absinthe is unparalleled in the annals of history—due in part to the myths and lore that surround it. Its most notorious and recently dismissed assignation identified absinthe as promoting drug-induced, psychotropic effects – side effects under which many claim to have seen the illusive “green fairy.” Derived from the flowers and leaves of the herb, Artemisia-absinthium (more commonly known as wormwood), absinthe’s popularity dates back to 19th Century France, where it was highly-revered by café society and by the bohemian sub-culture. Loyal devotees of the drink included Vincent Van Gogh, Charles Baudelaire, Oscar Wilde and numerous other historical figures.

“L'Heure Verte” Details:

Cost per drink is $5
Every evening from 5 to 7PM
Parking is complimentary.

For more information or to make a reservation call 310 407 7795 or email tastings@maison140beverlyhills.com. Maison 140 is located at 140 Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills.

About Maison 140

Old-world Asian influences meet contemporary Parisian delights at www.maison140beverlyhills.com Maison 140 Beverly Hills. This quaint boutique hotel’s striking décor transports guests to an old Left Bank inn, yet ceaselessly intrigues with inflections of Eastern mystique. The classic brick façade, complete with dormers, potted topiaries and signature red-lacquered doors, serves as a warm welcome from bustling Beverly Hills. Interior designer Kelly Wearstler has created a powerful blend of texture, color and pattern, mixing classic elements with Chinoiserie, 1920s styling and 1970s modernism. Each of the 43 guestrooms is a unique creation unto itself, with one-of-a-kind antiques, custom furniture and Italian linens. Thick, rich mohair throws drape the occasional Louis XVI chair for the regal feeling of a cozy home. Original artwork by Joshua Elias was commissioned for each room. The intimate Bar Noir is a stylish meeting spot for hotel guests and Beverly Hills locals alike, in a palette of black, white and crimson, custom-designed elements and Parisian antiques.

BIG BEAR LAKE

Big Bear's High Altitude Breeds Champions & Provides Ideal Training Grounds for Competitive Edge

Big Bear offers a variety of different terrain for conditioning, strength and agility. Some of the best areas to train in Big Bear Valley are the Alpine Pedal Path on the north shore, The Pacific Crest Trail, US Forest Service Roads in the Holcomb Valley, and designated bicycle routes in the residential areas. Another option for a high altitude workout is at various gyms scattered throughout Big Bear Valley.

Big Bear Lake is host to several athletic events including Amgen Tour of California, Big Bear Lake Memorial Day 5k Fun Run, Holcolm Valley Trail Run, Big Bear Triathlon, Big Bear Paddlefest, Big Bear MTB Gran Fondo, Tour de Big Bear, Kodiak 100 Ultra Marathon, North Shore Half Marathon/10k/5k, and Grizzly Stage Race. Both competitive and recreational participants enjoy the distinctive challenge to reach the finish line at these athletic events haled in Big Bear.

At 7,000 feet, Big Bear provides the highest altitude athletic events in Southern California. Participants not only choose Big Bear for its high altitude, but also because of the scenic sights combined with cool mountain breezes and excellent air quality. For more information about Big Bear’s high altitude athletic events including dates and entry fees visit www.openairbigbear.com.

Listed are preparatory recommendations for high altitude competition…

1. Do infrequent high altitude training runs to prepare mentally for the increased work effort and to practice slow and deep breathing techniques. Attempt to slow breathing patterns with deeper inhalation and forceful exhaling.

2. Practice aspiratory muscle training during practice runs at low altitude. While running, concentrate on deep inhalation techniques by allowing the abdomen to expand. Once the abdomen expands, then contract the abdomen during the exhale.

3. Consume foods that will maintain a balance pH level. Eat plenty of vegetables, some fruit daily, and don't eat too much of dairy products, grain products, and direct protein from eggs and meat.

4. Increase consumption of monounsaturated (peanut butter, olives, almonds, pecans, avocado, olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats (walnuts, sunflower seeds, flaxseed, salmon, tuna, soybean oil) during high intensity training. Higher fat consumption during high intensity training will result to a higher percentage of fat utilization compared to carbohydrates during higher intensity exercise.

5. Give yourself two full days of altitude accumulation prior to competition. During this time concentrate on increasing fluid consumption and caloric consumption of about 3000 calories a day.

6. If you cannot arrive two full days prior to competition then arrive the morning of the competition.

Big Bear is a cool getaway for athletes to train and offers a wide range of amenities. To learn about everything there is to see and do in Big Bear Lake, to book lodging, or to request a Visitors Guide, log on towww.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.

For more information contact information: Dan McKernan - Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake Resort Association, PO Box 1936, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

Big Bear Lake to Become the Cycling Capital of Southern California

Big Bear Lake is a no-brainer for anyone who enjoys riding through gorgeous scenic landscapes, whether it’s a paved road or single-track trail. One of the significant reasons Big Bear has gained so much momentum for cycling in the past six years is because it has hosted three Amgen Tour of California stage races.

Since Big Bear hosted its first Amgen Tour of California race in 2010, the town has witnessed…

==The birth of Big Bear Cycling Association (BBCA)
==Various organized rides both midweek and weekends, including Saturday morning community rides
==Ride-to-work initiative
==Major events such as such as Tour de Big Bear, which draws nearly 2,000 cyclists to the mountain resort
==Big Bear Cycling Fest is the only week-long cycling festival in the US.
==Mountain biking events that have recently sprouted up including Big Bear MTB Gran Fondo and Grizzly 100, plus that traditional Kenda Cup Series.
==Installation of a dozen bike racks in Big Bear Village, plus a full fix it station
==“Share the Road” decals on all city vehicles, public buses, and Big Bear disposal trucks.
==A major contribution from BBCA is new and improved bike routes and the Big Bear ==Cycling an Outdoor Activities Map.
==BBCA helped coordinate a south shore trail network with 350 trail-identifying signs and “you are here” poster-sized signs
==A ride to Onyx Summit tops off at 8,443 feet, plus there are epic rides around Big Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake
==A world-class mountain biking region with more than one hundred miles of trails and US Forest Service
==A favorite intermediate trail worth checking out is the new, iconic Skyline Trail, which has become known as Big Bear’s destination trail.
==Snow Summit Mountain Resort was once the site of several downhill mountain biking National Championships and three World Cups in the 1990s.
==Today, Snow Summit has once again emerged onto the mountain biking scene with ==Southern California’s only lift-served Bike Park for both downhill and cross country mountain bike enthusiasts.
==This year Snow Summit plans to add a Green-level beginner trail to its bike park making it more useable for all ages and skill levels
==Internationally known professional cycling teams train in and around Big Bear Valley because of it is an easy-access high-altitude location that is close to Los Angeles, San Diego and Las Vegas.
==Connor McCutcheon, a UCI-level professional cyclist who rides for Airgas Safeway, grew up in Big Bear where he learned to ride a bike.
==Big Bear Lake City Council recently approved a non-motorized transportation
==Big Bear pro-actively promotes bike programs at schools and produces youth-oriented events such as Lids for Kids (free helmets) and a ride-to-school bike scholarship program  

Now it’s time to lube your bike’s drivetrain and pump up those tires, and experience why Big Bear is a top choice for cycling.

Contact information: Dan McKernan - Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Lake Resort Association, PO Box 1936, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

BIG SUR COAST

More soon

CAMBRIA

Where to Stay

FogCatcher Inn in Cambria Completes Renovations

Pacifica Hotel Company (PHC), known for its collection of small boutique hotels along the California coast, recently renovated the FogCatcher Inn in Cambria, giving it a fresh, new look.

Inside, all 60 rooms have a bright, new look, with a French cottage theme. The Inn’s breakfast area and lobby were also remodeled. Located across from Cambria’s splendid Moonstone Beach, the FogCatcher Inn features fireplaces in every room, contemporary conveniences, views of the English gardens and flower-lined brick paths that lead to intimate seating areas. Guests can feel the ocean breeze through the whimsical delicate sheer curtains in their room and fall asleep to the soothing sound of ocean waves.

For more information contact (800) 425-4121, www.fogcatcherinn.com.

CARLSBAD

In the middle of an urban area, its Torrey Pines State Reserve in a majestic wilderness. Its fragile environment of high, broken cliffs and deep ravines overlook the sea and is home of one of the world's rarest pine trees - Pinus torreyana. The Torrey pines are believed to be the remnants of ancient woodland that once flourished along the southern California coast, but now they grow naturally only on this small strip of San Diego coastline and on Santa Rosa Island.

Torrey Pines State Beach, adjacent to the reserve, stretches four and one-half miles from Del Mar past Los Penasquitos Lagoon to the base of the sandstone cliff at Torrey Pines Mesa. You can swim, surf, fish and picnick here. At low tide, when the red-tinged bluff is reflected in wet sand, is the best time to stroll the beach.

Park History --

The Kumeyaay that lived at Torrey Pines traveled in bands of extended families throughout the coast, mountains and desert foothills. They lived in small dwellings and shade ramadas which were made of willow, oak, manzanita, deerweed, tule, chamise and other local plants. They were seasonal hunters and gatherers, searching for roots, berries, nuts and seeds. Using fishhooks and nets, they caught a variety of sea animals and picked up grunion, shellfish and mollusks from the beach. They also hunted rabbits, quail and deer with bows and arrows. Today, their descendents still reside in many of the same areas

The Reserve --

the 2,000-acre reserve's setting today contains approximately 300 endangered and protected species of native plans, including coastal strand, coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and Torrey woodlands. The habitats are home to sand verbena and beach primrose in the coastal strand areas, as well as California sagebrush, California buckwheat, black sage, and coastal barrel cacti in the coastal sage scrub community. The mesas and other high elevations are host to the chaparral community of plants, including chamise, manzanita, California scrub oak, toyon and mountain mahogany. The trees are fascinating to study, for they take on a variety of shapes as dictated by the elements --dwarfed and gnarled where most exposed to wind and salty air, or taller and more upright in sheltered areas.

Trails --

The 0.6-mile Guy Fleming Trail in the North Grove offers two scenic overlooks with panoramic views. This trail has the greatest variety of wildflowers, ferns, cacti and pine trees in the reserve.

The 0.4-mile Parry Grove Trail has dramatic ocean views. Steep stairs from the head of this trail.

0.1-mile High Point Trail offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the reserve and ocean.

0.7-mile Razor Point Trail meanders through coastal sage scrub, spectacular views of sculptured sandstone, gnarled trees and the surf 150 feet below. Yucca Point Overlook, accessed from both Razor Point and the beach trail, features dramatic yucca flower displays in spring and stunning examples of sandstone erosion.

0.75-mile Beach Trail is a rustic footpath through the upper reserve to the beach 300 feet below.

1.3-mile Broken Hill Trail offers a beautiful view of eroding sandstone and its north fork leads through Elfin Forest before connecting to the Beach Trail near Flat Rock.

1.5-mile Marsh Trail goes along the southern edge of Los Penasquitos Marsh Natural Preserve. The trailhead is on the east side of North Torrey Pines Road opposite the South Beach Parking Lot.

Don't forget to stop in at the Visitor Center for a look at exhibits on local wildlife, flowers and geology. You can alsopick up free trail maps here and see the native plant garden at the front of the center.

For more information call 714-858-755-2063

LEGOLAND® Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort is Officially Open for Bed and Brickfest!

A knight riding in on a horse, an adventurer arriving in a sidecar motorcycle, a pirate repelling down the porte cochere next to a LEGO® smoke-breathing dragon, and a little girl who figured out how to put a larger-than-life room key together…that’s how the nation’s first LEGOLAND® Hotel at LEGOLAND® California Resort officially opened its doors to the public today in Carlsbad, California.  

Created to bring children’s imaginations to life, the 250-room, three-story LEGOLAND Hotel opened its doors after a ceremony showcased the three room themes based on the most popular LEGO toy lines inside the family theme park: Kingdom, Adventure and Pirate. Confetti blasts showered the dragon created out of 400,000 LEGO bricks and hundreds of guests and members of the media as they flowed into the Hotel where they were surrounded by an interactive LEGO world designed for children age two to 12 and their families.

The adventure began years ago when guest feedback showed it took more than one day to explore all the Resort has to offer. “Our guest feedback is extremely important to us,” said General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort Peter Ronchetti. “After all, everything we do here is done to enhance the guest experience and help them create memories that will last a lifetime. Now they can extend their experience even further by staying and playing in an entire Hotel that builds on fun.” Construction began in October, 2011 and every detail was considered when creating the unique Hotel where each room is LEGO themed from the carpeting to the walls and bedding and contains at least eight LEGO models. There are more than 3,500 LEGO models throughout the Hotel using more than three million LEGO bricks. Five thousand minifigures line the wall behind the reception desk as a LEGO model of a bicycle riding surfer highlights the individual figures with his magnified wheels.

LEGOLAND Hotel offers themed and premium themed rooms along with junior and family suites. Premium themed rooms have additional LEGO models and décor such as themed wall paper. Suites include an extra TV and doors that adjoin to the next room. Children have their own sleeping area in every room complete with bunk beds, a trundle bed and their own TV. Special amenities in each room are designed with children in mind, such as the lowered peephole and toilet training seats that can be used with every toilet.

Interactive features include a Castle Play area, a talking and water spraying dragon on the patio, a LEGO play pit in the reception area and a treasure hunt inside the rooms where younger guests search for clues to open a locked safe filled with LEGO treasure! The Castle Play area is the hub for imagination and fun at LEGOLAND Hotel. Based on the LEGO Kingdom, Pirate and Adventure lines, the area features a pirate ship attempting to dock in a LEGO filled moat next to an interactive castle. Young guests can pull on a handle as they enter the castle causing the LEGO ogre above them to roar. Nightly entertainment takes place on the castle stage as a pirate, princess, knight or adventurer interact with young guests to get them ready for bedtime.  

A family of four LEGO dragons live within the Hotel: One smoke-breathing dragon at the entrance, a playful young dragon in the lobby sits on top of a handle and slowly spins it to make a LEGO river flow, a baby dragon peers over the ledge of the castle in the Castle Play area and an interactive bubble-blowing dragon named “Bubbles” is taking a bath on the patio as she playfully sprays water and “speaks” to young guests.

In keeping with the high standards of food served within LEGOLAND California Resort, the LEGOLAND Hotel features a variety of healthy and flavorful food options for the whole family. Bricks Family Restaurant serves a breakfast and dinner buffet with a station designed specifically for kids at a height they can reach. Mini’s Lounge is adjacent to the Castle Play area and provides guests an opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy some beverages and quick snacks. The Skyline Café features a LEGO city skyline with 35 fun scenes including a woman fighting a turkey that came out of her oven, a man swimming in his apartment being chased by a shark and a woman holding a banana to try to entice a monkey off her balcony.

The outdoor pool area, featuring a gradual incline 5-foot-deep swimming pool and a plethora of lounge chairs, gives guests a place to cool off after a day at the Park. Swim Up movies are shown at poolside Friday and Saturday nights during peak season. Surrounded by LEGO palm trees and views of the Hotel, even this pool area is a LEGO fans dream.

Located right at the main entrance of LEGOLAND California, Hotel guests will have exclusive early morning access to the theme park designed for families with children ages 2 – 12.

For more information and to book reservations, visit: www.LEGOLANDHotel.com. LEGOLAND® California Resort includes LEGOLAND California, SEA LIFE™ Aquarium, LEGOLAND Water Park and LEGOLAND Hotel opening April 5 all geared for families with children between the ages of 2 and 12. At LEGOLAND California, you’ll find more than 60 rides, shows and attractions including LEGO Star Wars™ Miniland Model Display, Pirate Reef and LEGO Legends of Chima 4-D movie. SEA LIFE incorporates LEGO® models into a child’s voyage to the depths of the ocean and features play zones, fun facts and quiz trails and the interactive Claws exhibit. For more information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO (5346).

The Park Hyatt Aviara Resort

Opened in June 2010 at 7100 Aviara Resort Drive in Carlsbad, the resort is located on California's sun-drenched Pacific coast, in the seaside community of Carlsbad, on the north shore of Batiquitos Lagoon – a vast protected wildlife sanctuary and an enclave of natural beauty.  From atop the highest ridge, overlooking the ocean and the lagoon, the San Diego resort provides a respite from the ordinary.

 The resort features 329 guest rooms and suites located in a low-rise building in Spanish colonial architectural design.  The rooms are generously sized, starting at a minimum of 540 square feet.  All guest rooms are luxuriously furnished with comfort and well-chosen Park Hyatt amenities. Each room is air-conditioned and offers a king-size bed or two double beds, a 42-inch flat screen television with Web-TV and a Sony PlayStation, and a private refrigerated bar with a coffee maker.  The seven-foot closet is spacious enough for any wardrobe and also contains a secure in-room safe.  High-speed wireless Internet is available in each guest room and all public areas.  Personal telecommunication needs are provided with two-line telephones outfitted with computer/fax connection capability. 

CARMEL-by-the-SEA

more soon

CATALINA ISLAND

Aurora Hotel on Catalina Island

The Aurora Hotel on Catalina Island features 16 guestrooms and three suites that feature modern furnishings, rich chocolate brown and turquoise hues, memory foam mattresses, hand-crafted bath amenities, luxurious linens, flat-screen television, DVD player, refrigerator, coffee makers and microwave oven. Public areas in the hotel include a sophisticated lobby and a roof-top deck with sweeping ocean, city and mountain views.

For more information contact the Aurora Hotel, (310) 510-0454 or (888) 510-0908, www.AuroraCatalina.com.

CAYUCOS

Cayucos offers accommodations for the whole family, even the dogs

Cayucos is the ultimate dog-friendly destination, with a variety of hotels, beaches and restaurants that cater to families with that one extra four-legged traveler. This cozy little beach town makes it a priority to accommodate dogs all year round. Cayucos is conveniently located on California’s Central Coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, making it easily accessible to families looking for the perfect driving-distance weekend getaway.

Since Cayucos is notoriously dog friendly, there are many hotel accommodations that are pet-friendly. The Shoreline Inn offers dog friendly amenities like doggy beach towels with special in-room dog towel hooks. Other hotel properties like the Beach Walker Inn, Pier View

Suites and the Dolphin Inn offer extras to make Fido feel at home. The full length of Cayucos Beach is entirely leash-free; meaning you, your children and your dogs can run around on the sandy beaches at your leisure. Dogs are welcomed in the water, on the sand and on the boardwalk year round. Many of the shops along the boardwalk also allow dogs so no need to worry about tying your furry friend up outside or shopping without him.
In addition to multiple dog friendly hotels, Cayucos also has a variety of restaurants that welcome dogs. Sea Shanty Restaurant, offers freshly caught local seafood, local beers and wines and doggie treats. The Sea Shanty Restaurant warmly welcomes dogs and there is even a park right across the street so you can go for a walk after dinner. Schooner’s Wharf, is a seafood restaurant offering dog-friendly seating on the lower patio of the restaurant.

Cayucos is located on California’s breathtaking Central Coast, halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco and conveniently located right off of the scenic Highway 1. For more information please visit www.visitcayucosca.com or contact Stephanie Goodwin at stephanie@verdingmarketing.com or (805) 541-9005.

CLAREMONT

HOTEL CASA 425 Opened

Hotel Casa 425, a stylish boutique hotel, opened in Claremont on September 20, 2007. Built in the style of historic California Mission architecture with refined contemporary styling, the hotel is located in the newly expanded downtown village, within steps of restaurants, cafes, shops, art galleries and a cinema, and only a short walk to the prestigious Claremont Colleges. Guests enjoy a variety of complimentary amenities, including wireless Internet access in all common areas and guest rooms; a European-style breakfast; fresh fruit and home-baked cookies; a fitness room; business center; a library of music CDs, DVDs, books, newspapers and games; concierge service; bicycles on which to explore the village; free covered parking; and a travel snack bag upon departure. The hotel is managed by the Four Sisters Inns, a full service hotel management company specializing in small, upscale properties.

For more information contact (909) 625-2272, (866) 450-0425, www.casa425.com.

CORONADO

Coronado Shopping: Everything Under The Sun

Located a bridge away from downtown San Diego, Coronado offers unique shopping opportunities throughout the island, from the bustling bayfront Coronado Ferry Landing with its colorful outdoor shopping complex to the oceanfront Hotel del Coronado with its fashionable boutiques and specialty shops. Shoppers can also delight in the "Crown City's" charming, mile-long Orange Avenue, lined with dozens of inviting stores, one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries and sidewalk cafes.

Following are a few of Coronado's most popular retail areas for shopping enthusiasts to explore, enjoy and find one-of-a kind mementos from their visit to the "Enchanted Island."

Coronado Ferry Landing

The Coronado Ferry Landing, located along picturesque San Diego Bay, is a lively outdoor retail and entertainment complex featuring waterfront dining and distinctive shops surrounded by tree-lined walkways, sparkling ponds and waterfalls, swaying palms and spectacular views of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge and the downtown San Diego skyline. Shoppers can stroll through more than 25 stores selling everything from novelty gifts and memorabilia to seashells, fine art, women's clothing and shoes, men's sportswear and more. Ample, off-street parking is available.

After a day of shopping, guests can grab a quick bite to eat at one of the Coronado Ferry Landing's casual eateries or enjoy a relaxing meal of fine dining along the waterfront at Peohe's (seafood), Candelas on the Bay (French/Mexican fusion) or Il Fornaio (Italian).

The Village

Coronado's historically preserved, downtown commercial district is called "The Village" by locals and offers a diverse collection of over 100 specialty shops and businesses, many independently- or family-owned. Shoppers can browse through the popular Bay Books bookstore, designer apparel boutiques, surf shops, home and garden/flower shops, gourmet food and wine shops, jewelry stores, candy and ice cream shops, dessert bistros like the new Weincakes and art galleries like the new Shorelines Gallery.

Orange Avenue

Orange Avenue, Coronado's charming main street, was recognized with the Great American Main Street award for its "vibrant, diverse…downtown" and originally named after the numerous orange trees that were once planted down its median. The avenue is especially appealing to shoppers with its wide pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, inviting patios and eye-catching storefront facades and window displays.

Located adjacent to the historic El Cordova Hotel on Orange Avenue is a unique collection of 12 boutique shops and four restaurants, including two serving festive Mexican fare. Situated in a charming Spanish village setting, the complex is reminiscent of Old Town San Diego with its beautiful tiled courtyards, gardens and splashing fountains.

Luxury Locales

At the landmark Hotel del Coronado's Shops at the Del, visitors can find an exquisite collection of over 15 shops and boutiques featuring upscale women's apparel, including Karen Kane and Trina Turk; men's apparel, including Tommy Bahama and Greg Norman; kid's apparel, including Roxy and Quicksilver; as well as fine jewelry, home accents, bath and spa products, toys, gourmet chocolate and candies and a wide selection of Del merchandise including apparel, books, gifts and collectibles.

Located a few miles south of The Village, the bayfront Loews Coronado Bay Resort features two unique boutique shops on property. Tide's Gift Shop & Sundries, the resort's newest boutique, offers specialty gifts from Two's Company and Mud Pies, as well as logo merchandise, books, toys and souvenirs. Market To Go offers grab-and-go dining as well as picnic baskets, travel mugs and a selection of gourmet snacks, sweets, wine and beverages.

For more information on activities and events in Coronado and the entire San Diego region, visit the San Diego Tourism Authority's website, www.sandiego.org and www.sandiego.org/coronado, or call (619) 236-1212.

COSTA MESA

The Wyndham Orange County hotel has introduced a package plan called Paws and Claws that welcomes guests traveling with their four-legged friends by providing special pet accommodations, rates, and services.

The Paws and Claws experience begins with the hotel reservation. Wyndham Orange County’s PetRequest Manager contacts guests who book the package to review a pre-arrival checklist designed to ensure that pets and their owners receive favorite treats and a directory of nearby dog parks and pet grooming, healthcare, day care and massage providers. The PetRequest Manager is available to assist owners and their pets throughout their visit.

The package also includes food bowl and water; use of a plush pet bed; nightly turn-down service for guests and their pets; a pet service directory; lint rollers; biodegradable pet waste bags; and optional ground-floor accommodations with direct access to the Pet Relaxation area, a four-acre lakeside tract where owners can walk their pets. While their pooches may enjoy a pet massage at the nearby PawSpa, Wyndham Orange County guests are welcome to pamper themselves at the Spa at South Coast Plaza, located across from the hotel. Hotel guests receive complimentary access to the spa’s world-class fitness facilities as well as a 10 percent discount on all spa services.

While guests enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner on the outdoor patio of the TerraNova restaurant overlooking the hotel’s beautiful lakes and gardens, their pets dine on special china. Restaurant specialties include a signature breakfast buffet, pasta bar for lunch and brasserie-style dinner menu featuring crispy coconut shrimp with mango dip; steamed Hawaiian-style mahi-mahi with ginger-soy glaze; and New York steak au poivre with herb fries and cognac reduction.

The Paws and Claws package starts at $139 per night on weekends and $169 per night on weekdays. Advance reservations are required.

The Wyndham Orange County also invites local residents and their pets to enjoy a Paws and Claws breakfast Sundays from 7 a.m. to noon. The Wyndham brand’s signature Fields & Sun breakfast features fresh fruits and produce, muffins and croissants baked daily and omelets cooked to order, among other choices.

In addition to pampering pets and their owners, the Wyndham Orange County hotel has pledged $5 per room night reserved under the Paws and Claws package and a portion of the price of the Paws and Claws breakfast to the Greyhound Pets of America, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding kind, loving homes for greyhounds that are retired from the Caliente Race Track in Tijuana, Mexico.

The 238-room Wyndham Orange County is located near Disneyland; Newport, Huntington and Laguna beaches; the new Orange County Performing Arts Center; South Coast Plaza Shopping Center; Spa at South Coast Plaza; and Costa Mesa Bark Park, a two-acre fenced park where pets may roam without leashes. For more information about the Wyndham Orange County hotel, call (714) 751-5100 or visit www.wyndhamorangecounty.com

Greyhound Pets of America/CA-Orange County and Greater Los Angeles is an all-volunteer, non-profit corporation dedicated to finding homes for racing greyhounds when their racing days are over. Greyhound Pets of America’s focus is on the greyhounds currently racing at Caliente Greyhound Park in Tijuana. New retirees are temporarily housed in foster homes where they stay until potential adopters successfully go through the organization’s application process.

For more information on the Greyhound Pets of America, please call (800) 298-5743 or visit www.fastfriends.org

DANA POINT

more soon

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Midnight at the Oasis: The Inn at Furnace Creek Unveils a Romantic Escape in the Desert

In the cultural desert that is today’s rushing, worried world full of stress and sensory overload, there is a little-known place where couples can connect, relax, bond and live in the moment. A place where they can be content just to be with one another. A place surrounded by pristine natural beauty, where ancient waters fuel life and nature paints a landscape with light and texture and the heavens put on a light show that is mesmerizing and humbling. This place is the historic four-diamond Inn at Furnace Creek in Death Valley – a rare and true American oasis.

During this time each year, the classic 1920s Inn at Furnace Creek reopens its doors, fills the pools and gardens with pure waters that bubble-up from the ground, sets out the chairs on the patio overlooking the stunning vistas and goes about creating artistic culinary temptations complimented by aged spirits for the fall re-opening.

Located between Los Angeles (a four-hour drive) and Las Vegas (two hours away) and literally steps from the National Park Service Visitor Center to Death Valley National Park, www.furnacecreekresort.com, Furnace Creek Resort is a unique vacation experience at a true American oasis.

Austin Adventures Announces Death Valley Adventure Week

In 2014, Death Valley National Park began celebrating its 20th anniversary as a national park, and the adventure travel consultants at Austin Adventures are noticing a strong uptick in the number of inquiries about the region.

Austin Adventures’Death Valley Adventure Vacation is a five-day, four-night itinerary for adults that includes hiking in Golden Canyon, biking in Badwater Basin, touring Titus Canyon by Jeep 4x4 and plenty of rest and relaxation at the historic AAA four-diamond Inn at Furnace Creek Resort where guests stay all four nights.  

Xanterra Parks & Resorts owns both Austin Adventures and the Furnace Creek Resort — a Death Valley National Park establishment since 1927. As a result, Austin Adventures guests are afforded exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences including a private sunset BBQ in the desert and rooms with some of the best views in the valley.

Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states, and it is infamous for being the hottest, driest and lowest place in North America. But as the Austin Adventures blog points out in a recent post, 10 Ridiculously Cool Things That You Didn’t Know About Death Valley, there’s more to this expanse of the Mojave Desert than meets the eye.  

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures (formerly Austin-Lehman Adventures) has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a provider of scheduled small group tours and customized trips to all seven continents. In 2014, Kasey Austin, Vice President of Operations, was named the World’s Top Family Guide by Outside Magazine. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings. Xanterra Parks & Resorts has operations in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Railway and The Grand Hotel; Crater Lake; Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also operatesKingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.,Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations.

DEL MAR

--If the track was classy enough for Bing Crosby and his Hollywood cronies and hot enough for the guys from HBO’s Entourage, it’s quality enough for readers to know about.
--San Diego tops the “best lists,” and the Del Mar Racetrack is a San Diego summer destination.
--It’s a classic, not-to-be-missed summer event - think Kentucky Derby every day of the seven-week season. Celebrities and socialites alike will make their way out to Del Mar for the glamour and opportunity to win the big bucks.
--The elite Turf Club is so popular that a member must invite another person (or die) to grant access.
--The views are fantastic; it’s across the street from the Pacific Ocean.
--It’s the 2nd best track in the nation, based on on-track attendance and handle (money wagered).
-- It’s a non-racing entertainment venue with free headlining concerts and festivals and a world-class horseracing venue, racing internationally renowned Thoroughbreds.
--You can rent the Seaside Cabana for a private party close to the track’s rail or reserve a restaurant table with a photo-finish view and sip Del Martinis under the warm, San Diego sunshine.
--The village of Del Mar offers hundreds of restaurants, bars and other activities to fill your readers’ time before or after the races.

EL CAPITAN CANYON

El Capitan Canyon, located 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, has a new dining option that rounds out the “pampered camping” experience. Guests can request a “Camp Butler” to prepare, grill and serve one of the Canyon Market’s signature barbecue dinner kits right in front of their own cabin. Relaxing by the fire and letting someone else roast the tri-tip and s’mores is the way to go after an invigorating day of exploring. Barbecue kits include firewood, plates and utensils, a choice of tri-tip, chicken, or hamburgers and hot dogs, side dishes, beverages and a s’mores kit. Guests can pick up and grill their own kits, order a kit to be delivered to their cabin, or request a “Camp Butler.” Prices vary.

For more information contact El Capitan Canyon, (866) 352-2729 or (805) 685-3887, info@elcapitancanyon.com, www.elcapitancanyon.com.

ENCINITAS

Quail Botanical Gardens is always worth a half or full day. Here, among 30 acres of gardens in Encinitas you'll find unusual plant displays from all over the world and the Seeds of Wonder garden, specially designed for children. Here is also one of the world's most diverse and important plant collection, including California native plants, exotic tropicals, palms, bamboo, and other unusual plant collections among scenic walks and trails. And, if you are into gardening, the Botanical Library is available for research and study.

What to See here--

Desert, tropical, subtropical and mediterranean climate gardens, plus demonstration gardens. Here you'll also find ancient cycads, majestic palms, flowering trees and the largest bamboo collection in the United States.

The Victorian Garden -- With its beautiful large lawn framed by borders of lush flowering plants.

The Walled Garden -- An intimate location enclosed with an old-fashioned brick wall that is very reminiscent of an English Country Garden.

The Waterfall View Deck -- Overlooks a three-story waterfall surrounded by palm trees, orchids and other tropical plants.

and much much more. Also, daytime and sunset wedding ceremonies and receptions and catering service is available.

Quail Botanical Gardens was originally the private residence of Ruth Baird Larabee, an avid plant collector and naturalist. In 1957, the land was donated to the public as a plant and wildlife sanctuary, and is currently operated by the Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. Classes, workshops and lectures on a variety of topics are available yearround for children and adults. Special events include the Summer Concert Series, Annual Plant Sales, Garden of Light, and Gala..

The price is $40 per person for an annual membership but day passes are available at reasonable prices. Quail Botanical Gardens are located at 230 Quail Gardens Drive, Encinitas, CA 92024. For more information go to web site www.qbgardens.org, or call760-436-3236.

ESCONDIDO

Experience the more than 50 rides, shows and attractions with a special VIP Tour with a personal guide, front-of-the-line privileges, and special front-row seating at all shows. The price is $200 per hour in addition to admission.

Escondido Children's Museum is where you can explore, experiment, and learn with an annual membership to the Escondido Children's Museum. Choose from a grandparent, family or patron membership starting at $25.

Plan on a sleepover and spend the night listening to a pack of snoring rhinoceroses or wake up surrounded by sharks. These unique accommodations, available at many of the area attractions such as the Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld and the Birch Aquarium, provide overnight programs for visitors looking for a different way to experience these popular points of interest. Prices are from $50 up.

At the Cheetah Run Safari at the Wild Animal Park, journey to a rustic camp where you can witness the cheetah's explosive sprint reach up to 60 miles per hour, while chasing a mechanical rabbit lure. Price is $69, plus admission.

Or, at the Wild Animal park, take the Photo Caravan Safari. This is an intimate adventure inside the park's field habitats in open-air trucks. Close-up photography opportunities are the norm when Indian rhinocerros lumber alongside vehicles and giraffes peer into the camera lens from inches away. Price is $90-$130, plus admission.

EUREKA

The new Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, an elegant and spacious boathouse on the waterfront in Eureka, opened to the publicSeptember 2007. The two-story complex, which also houses the Humboldt State University crew team boats and hosts small business conventions, rents out kayaks and boats, offering parents a chance to share an easygoing water adventure with the kids. Family flotillas that launch from the boathouse, located in Old Town near the Carson Mansion, can expect smooth sailing as they explore the waters along the historic waterfront, long stretches of natural bayfront, and nearby Woodley Island where seals, seabirds and boaters often rendezvous and relax.

For more information contact Richard Stenger, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 707-444-6634, E-mail richard@redwoods.info, or web site www.redwoods.info.

FORT BRAGG

The Living Light Inn, eco-friendly lodging for the conscious traveler on the Mendocino Coast, conveniently located in the nicest neighborhood in historic Fort Bragg, opened this fall. The beautiful Living Light Inn (formerly The Colonial Inn) combines craftsman style architecture with modern amenities designed for the conscious traveler – organic bedding, a whole-house water filtration system; nontoxic, biodegradable and nonallergenic cleaning products; low-impact waste practices; and all-organic beverages. The inn has been refurnished and caters to the needs of conscious travelers interested in quality eco-friendly lodging, as well as students of the Living Light Culinary Arts Institute.

For more information contact Dan Ladermann, Living Light Inn, (707) 964-2420, ext. 31, www.livinglightinn.com.

The Newest Retreat on the Mendocino Coast - The Inn at Newport Ranch

In September 2015, on the Mendocino Coast of Northern California, a breathtaking oceanfront getaway — The Inn at Newport Ranch — officially opened the Main Inn to great acclaim. And now, after much anticipation, the innkeepers are pleased to announce that the Ranch’s Redwood House -- home to three luxury suites, each boasting stunning architecture and design – and Fireside Spa are now open to the public as well. Located three-and-a-half hours north of San Francisco and twenty miles north of the historic town of Mendocino, the newly constructed Inn at Newport Ranch is part of a 2,000 acre coastal cattle ranch on the site of the former town of Newport and its lumber chute. With more than a mile of oceanfront, three miles of ridge tops, panoramic coastal views and 20 miles of world class hiking and riding trails through redwoods and along the coast, the ranch is a unique private domain for those enjoying the North Coast’s many recreational opportunities and delights, and is an ideal destination for vacations, small conferences, retreats, family reunions, weddings, and special events.*

“We are very excited to introduce to our guests to the new Redwood House and Fireside Spa,” states Will Jackson, owner of the Inn at Newport Ranch. “Here at the Ranch, it’s all about the guests’ experience, and the addition of three high-end suites provides our guests with added and innovative room options, while the upscale spa provides a service that further enhances our commitment to being a full-service luxury lodging destination.”

The REDWOOD HOUSE has three suites, each with unique architecture. There are 24 redwood trees holding up the structure, starting from the conference room and Fireside Spa in the lower level and rising up through the different suites to the roof. All three suites have a living room with and LCD flat screen TV, a dining area, kitchen, fireplace, outdoor terrace or deck with grill, private hot tub, views of the ocean and internet service. The Grove Suite is the largest unit with two bedrooms, both outfitted with queen beds and a private bath, and has commanding west-facing ocean views and a private six-person hot tub. The Newport Suite is handicapped-accessible and equipped accordingly, with one bedroom and a large walk in shower and double sink, and a pull-out couch in the living room area. The wood burning fireplace's mantle is from the old Newport Farm House circa 1900, and the décor honors the former lumber town of Newport. This suite has a stunning southwest facing ocean view, and an outdoor terrace with a dining set and a cozy private two person hot tub. The Bird House Suite is located on the second floor of Redwood House, and boasts a large room split by a beautiful redwood burl that separates the living and sleeping room. The bath has a walk-in shower, and the outdoor deck features a charming two person wooden soaking tub, seating area and grill. All of the suites have great privacy but can connect to comfortably accommodate a large family or group. The Redwood House is also home to the sauna, the Fireside Spa, and a large and dramatic conference/activities room.

The new on-site FIRESIDE SPA currently offers Swedish and Deep Tissue Massages from state-certified massage therapists, with additional services such as facials to be added in Summer 2016. The Fireside Spa is located in the lower level of the Redwood House, and features a relaxation room where guests can unwind before their massage and spend some time in front of the glowing fire while enjoying complimentary tea, water and light snacks. The spa has two private treatment suites and offers access to the sauna, and operates by appointment only 7 days a week. For details contact: theinnatnewportranch.com/spa.php

A stay at the Inn at Newport Ranch includes a made-to-order breakfast, evening fireside appetizers and libations, access to nearly all of the 2,000 acres of majestic coastline and rugged forest, and on-site concierge services.

The Inn at Newport Ranch offers horseback riding, as well as hiking trails, whale watching, and guided ATV adventure safaris along the dramatic coast and ridgetops and through the redwood forests.

* Private events at the ranch can accommodate up to 99 day guests and 30 overnight guests.

About The Inn at Newport Ranch

The three guest rooms in the Main Inn and three suites in the Redwood House are furnished to provide the ultimate in comfort, and can accommodate up to 17 guests.* The rooms are set with various themes and appointments. All rooms have luxury bath amenities, robes, a hair dryer a docking station with a radio. The Main Inn guest rooms are small and more intimate. The access to the main living space & guest kitchen are available to all guests, as is the 6-person rooftop hot tub and sauna.

The property incorporates many unique architectural elements:

Headboards from single burls and redwood slabs
A stained glass entry door depicting a local scene
Wood floors from antique stadium seats and old beams
Twenty foot long single stone steps and pavers
A dining table for 10 people from a single redwood slab
A 32 foot banquet table made from a single redwood slab
A hand carving of the Newport Lumber Chute
7 one-ton stone columns set in a 2 acre arc showing the Equinox, Winter solstice and Summer solstice
A wrap around porch with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean on the west & the ranch land and coastal hills on the east side

In each building, there is a recreation room with a 60-inch flat screen TV, and computer access is available in Main Inn recreation room. The entire property has wireless Internet for guest use, and telephone service for guest use is available in the Main Inn (calls within the USA are complimentary).

In addition, the owner’s ocean front vacation home – Sea Drum – is available for rental and can accommodate up to 10 overnights guests.* Sea Drum is adjacent to the Main Inn and Redwood House. Barb's Place, which sleeps 2, is located directly across the parking lot from the Main Inn.* This guest room has a queen bed and a lovely seating area with an electric fireplace, and a small outdoor terrace.

During their stay, guests will be offered an array of dining options. Daily menus are posted for guests’ consideration, listing the day’s offerings. A complimentary made-to-order breakfast and evening fireside appetizers and libations are offered daily for all guests, and pre-ordered lunch and dinner service are available for an extra charge.

The culinary culture at the Inn at Newport Ranch has been deemed “comfort ranch food.” The Inn sources and serves as many local ingredients and libations as possible, serves only the finest local meats and seafood, and grows some of its own vegetables, herbs, greens and flowers.

Barbecue and picnic sites such as Council Bluff are scattered throughout the property, if guests would like to enjoy a meal al fresco—next to the ocean, by a stream or on a magical hilltop with a 50 mile panoramic view.

* A full ranch buyout can accommodate up to 30 guests.

The Inn at Newport Ranch is open year-round. Rates per night for double occupancy are:

Main Inn
Low Season: Dec - Apr ($250 - $375)
High Season: May – Nov ($300 to $475)

Redwood House
Low Season: Dec - Apr ($500 to $675)
High Season: May – Nov ($600 to $775)

Sea Drum
Low Season: Dec - Apr ($750 to $1000)
High Season: May – Nov ($1000 to $1400)

For more information or to make reservations call 707.962.4818 or visit the website at www.theinnatnewportranch.com.

Location: The Inn at Newport Ranch
31502 North Highway 1
Fort Bragg, California 95437
1-707-962-4818 for reservations
innkeeper@theinnatnewportranch.com

FRESNO COUNTY

Visitors to Fresno County can now find three electronic brochures that highlight tours of Downtown Fresno’s greatest cultural and heritage treasures: Courthouse Park, the Fulton Mall and Ethnic Sacred Places, are now available to visitors on the Fresno County Office of Tourism web site. The Courthouse Park Walking Tour guides visitors down the shaded walks of this historic park that was created in 1874. The park is filled with landmarks and memorials paying tribute to the individuals and events that shaped Fresno County. On the Fulton Mall Walking Tour, visitors learn the story behind the amazing art and architecture that makes the mall so unique. Ethnic Sacred Places allows visitors to learn more about the heritage of five houses of worship located in Downtown Fresno. These Sacred Places range from Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church built in 1914, to the most recent Tam Bao Tu Temple completed in 1995. All of these downtown landmarks represent the culture and heritage of the Fresno region.

For more information contact Kristi Johnson, Fresno County Office of Tourism, (559) 262-4271, kgjohnson@co.fresno.ca.us, www.gofresnocounty.com.

GUERNEVILLE

The Creekside Inn and Resort in Guerneville, known as a family-friendly nature venue in the Russian River resort area of Sonoma County, has opened 12 new eco-friendly Nature’s Cottages. The cottages are located high in the redwood trees with views of the creek or pool yard. Double-panel, Low E brand windows and solar energy are just some of the eco-friendly details. Furnished to fit the environment with generously sized cedar log furniture, the cottages are light and airy with private decks and full kitchens. The new Nature’s Cottages add 12 rooms to the existing six inn rooms and 10 cottages.

The beauty of the area and the importance of sustaining it for future generations were the inspiration for the ecologically sustainable green practices considered throughout construction. Throughout the resort, only nontoxic cleaning and gardening products, renewable energy, and reusable and recyclable guest amenities are used. The resort also practices water conservation.

For more information contact The Creekside Inn and Resort, (707) 869-3623, (800) 776-6586, www.creeksideinn.com.

HERALDSBURG

Michel-Schlumberger Winery in Healdsburg is now offering a “Green” Tour and Hillside Tasting program. The eco-friendly Estate tour teaches visitors about the winery’s organic garden, abundant wildlife, Wine Creek restoration project, sustainable winegrowing and more. Guests are guided to the top of Benchland Vineyards for a hillside tasting of award-winning Estate wines including the Deux Terres Cabernet. Panoramic views of Dry Creek Valley and the vineyard that produced the reserve’s grapes complement the tasting lesson. Tours are offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per person.

For more information contact Michel-Schlumberger, (707) 433-7427 or (800) 447-3060, or go to web site www.michelschlumberger.com.

The Honor Mansion in Healdsburg completed a $1.2 million renovation project that includes a host of new amenities including: a six-hole regulation PGA putting green, basketball court, quarter-mile jogging track, Har-Tru tennis courts, competition-style bocce courts, competition-size croquet lawn, six fountains and multiple seating areas, two outdoor spa pavilions, herb garden used in gourmet food preparation and a classical garden with more than 100 types of roses and other flowers. Part of Unique Inns (www.uniqueinns.com), the 4-Diamond Honor Mansion also features 13 individually-decorated guestrooms and suites.

For more information contact Honor Mansion, 707-433-4277 or 800-554-4667, E-mail innkeeper@honormansion.com or web site www.honormansion.com.

HOLLYWOOD

HUNTINGTON

What to See & Do

HUNTINGTON BEACH PUBLISHES NEW DINING GUIDEBOOK

Free 68-page Booklet Enhances Surf City Culinary Experience

Insider scoops on favorite diners and restaurants come from Huntington Beach locals in the “Meet the Locals” section, and from Surf City chefs (who even share some of their favorite recipes) in “Compliments of the Chefs.” Readers will get “Grab and Go” ideas for the perfect picnic, and find inspiration on - “Setting the Scene” for an Old School, Surfside, Cool & Contemporary, or Romantic experience.

With multiple new and trendy restaurants arriving on the dining landscape, Huntington Beach is on the fast track to dining acclaim. From high-end steak, seafood and martinis, to hidden gems popular for their burritos or sandwiches, Surf City dining satisfies discerning “foodie” palates.

The first ever Huntington Beach Dining Guide, including a list of over 275 Surf City USA restaurants, is available at the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitor Bureau office, the HB Visitor Information Center (located at the base of the Huntington Beach Pier), and at various restaurants and hotels throughout the city.  An online searchable page-turning version is also available at www.surfcityusa.com.

With 10 miles of wide-open white sand California beaches, Huntington Beach is a destination of choice for vacationers and business travelers alike. To plan your Surf City USA® vacation, or to learn more about Huntington Beach, visit the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau website at www.SurfCityUSA.com or call 800-729-6232 for a free Visitors Guide.

Part of a new, $18-million, a 12-acre Chinese garden is now open at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Liu Fang Yuan, or Garden of Flowing Fragrance, will be one of the largest classical gardens outside of China and one of the largest of the Huntington’s world-renowned gardens. The enchanting landscape will include stone bridges, pavilions, a lake and plants native to China. While at the Huntington, be sure to view the masterpiece paintings and rare books, including a Gutenberg Bible.

For more information contact Lisa Blackburn, (626) 405-2140, lblackburn@huntington.org, www.huntington.org

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens  

INDIAN WELLS

more soon

IRVINE

LAGUNA

Where to Eat

The Ciff Restaurant & Bar

Dine right next to the beach with gorgeous 180 degree views of the water from the multi-level patio while enjoying a relaxing breakfast or lunch, or watch the sunset during dinner. Oceanfront, open-air dining and cocktails are available daily in the restaurant and bar, located in quaint Laguna Village which has a huge artist population. The choices of what to order are vast, ranging from chicken breast with apricot orange glaze, chicken marsala, roasted chicken breast & Champagne cream, to Maine lobster Tail, Salt and Pepper Sea Scallops, Roast Sirloin of Beef with Cognac Pepper Sauce and lots more.

Located at 577 South Coast Highway; 949-494-1956. For details check web site www.thecliffrestaurant.com

Restaurants Galore

There are numerous cafes, chains like Sundried Tomato, etc. Just stop and ask a native which is his/her favorite.

What to See & Do

There's Plenty to see & do at Laguna Beach? As follows . . .

1. With seven miles of coastline, Laguna Beach is home to more than 20 coves and beaches (all with public access), so come play in the water, build sandcastles or explore the pristine tidepools. This is a protected marine preserve, so no motorized boats are allowed in or out of Laguna's waters, which keeps the tidepools fresh and teeming with sealife you can observe at low tide.

2. Eco-Tours abound from observing dolphins and whales up close, sea kayaking above the colorful garibaldi, or taking a wildlife & beach tour to check out sea lions, seals and tidepool life. There is also a docent-led tour of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, the only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center of its kind in Orange County, Calif.

3. Laguna Beach became a popular tourist destination in the late 1800s. Today, visitors can catch a glimpse of Laguna's past by strolling the downtown and stopping at local landmarks, many dating back to the early 20th century. Laguna was a rich artists' colony and a seaside retreat many Hollywood stars called home.

4. Twenty-thousand acres of wilderness attract hikers, bikers, bird watchers, backpackers and Plein Air painters, all of whom find beauty in the area’s hills, cliffs and marine sanctuaries. Hiking, biking and equestrian trails are located throughout the protected reserves.

5. Browse more than 100 art galleries and 72 pieces of public art. Pick up a self-guided tour map of the artworks at the Laguna Beach Visitors Center. The map delineates where public sculptures, art in public places and artist-designed benches are located throughout town, many of which were created by local artists. You can also tour working artists' studios in Laguna Canyon.

6. Be an artist for a day! Sign up for a Sawdust Studio Art Class where you'll create a unique art piece to wear or to share, in just one session. Offered every Friday and Saturday at 10am and 2pm, each two-hour workshop is led by a professional artist. Choose from jewelry, ceramics, pottery or fused glass. Or try an "Art of Tidepooling and Watercolor Journaling" class guided by an art instructor, where you'll explore tidepools and craft your own watercolor journal of the tiny creatures you observed.

7. Each summer, our renowned art festivals take place: Art-A-Fair, Festival of Arts and Sawdust Art Festival. Meet local artists, take in artist demonstrations and classes, and purchase unique works of art. The world-famous Pageant of the Masters uses volunteers, costumes and elaborate sets to create living pictures, and magically transforms cast members into famous works of art.

8. Laguna Beach is the perfect destination for your next family vacation. Build sandcastles on our wide stretches of beach; hunt for hermit crabs, limpets and sea anemones at low tide in our tidepools; boogie board or take a surf lesson; or stop in at the Nix Nature Center in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park for a weekend hands-on nature activity, then head out to explore the main easy hiking trails. You'll find burgers and fries, pizza, sandwiches and gelato all in walking distance from downtown's Main Beach.

9. Discover our walkable downtown village. Eclectic fashion boutiques, gourmet kitchen and home furnishing stores, art galleries and jewelry shops offer unique one-of-a-kind finds and gifts.

10. Take a cooking class at Laguna Culinary Arts. Located in Laguna Canyon, Home Chef Classes are held in the evenings; there's a weekend program of half- and full-day classes exploring specific techniques and culinary styles; and a three-day, mid-week class for beginners. It also features a gourmet Cheese and Wine Shop/Cafe and Tasting Room offering 350 different wine labels and 90 different cheeses from around the world, as well as olives, charcuterie, imported oils & vinegars, breads & crackers, cookbooks and cooking accessories.

Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts

This non-profit organization's mission is to promote, produce and sponsor events and activities that encourage the appreciation, study and performance of the arts. Throughout each year the Festival of Arts sponsors art education and provides art scholarships and grants. And, every summer it hosts California's premier oipen-air fine arts show and produces its most famous attraction, the Pageant of the Masters.

The Pageant of the Masters is the Festival of Arts; crowning jewel and one of the most unique productions in the entire world. Each evening, during the summer festival, attendees are amazed, as I was, by 90 minutes of living pictures, incredibly faithful recreations of classical and contemporary works of art, with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. An outdoor amphitheater, professional orchestra, original score, live narration, intricate sets, incredible lighting, expert staff and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have won recognition for the Pageant of the Masters as the best presentation of its kind.

Ticket holders for the Pageant of the Masters can present their stub at the Festival of Arts front gate for free admission to the art show all summer long. For information call 949-494-1145 or visit web site www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.

Location: 650 Laguna Canyon Roadf, Laguna Beach, California.

Create Your Own Art at Sawdust Studio

I was tempted to buy every piece of jewelry while watching it being made at Sawdust Studio. Here, in just two hours, students can create their own beautiful necklace, bracelet and more. Classes are available year-round Fridays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., the classes are small so individual attention is given, and it's taught by professional artists.

For details and a class schedule check web site www.SawdustStudioArtClasses.com.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center

For over 40 years, volunteers and staff at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center have given thousands of marine mammals a second chance at life by successfully rehabilitating and returning those now healthy and thriving back to their ocean home.

Here, visitors are allowed to see those mammals in healing tanks/pools and, for some, it's the first time they've ever seen a seal, sea lion or a Northern elephant seal. Depending on how many mammals are here at the time, it's worth a stop.

Location: 20612 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach 92651; 949-494-3050; web site www.pacificmmc.org.

Hike & Bike

Laguna's coastal wilderness parks are perfect for mountain biking, hiking and backpacking. Or, try the coves of North Laguna that are exciting for underwater exploration, snorkeling, scuba diving or skin diving.

Check Out the Marine Reserve or Surf or Paddle

Motor boats aren't allowed so the ocean stays clean and is perfect for booking a sport-fishing charger or jet-ski excursion. Or, if you've always wanted to learn how to surf or go paddle boarding, rent a kayak or a catamaran, you might strike it rich and spot a whale!

Art-A-Fair Festival

For decades, this has been one of Southern California's most popular art attractions where you can view art created by over 100 renowned artists and master craftspeople from around the world as well as local artists.

Open mid-June to the end of August located between the Festival of Arts and Sawdust Festival. 777 Laguna Canyon Road; 949-494-4514.

First Thursdays Art Walk

Spend a great, cultural evening on the first Thursday of every month from 6-9 p.m. year-round. It's free and shuttle bus service is available from 6:15-8:45 p.m. to gallery locations. Over 40 galleries particpate offering artist receptions, demonstrations and live music.

www.firstthursdayartwalk.com; 949-683-6871.

Laguna Art Musuem

This American art museum's focus is on the art of California and promotes an undrstanding of art and artists in American culture through collection, exhibition, research and instruction.

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and until 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month. Admission is $12 for adults, and $10 for seniors and students; children under 12 and members are free. Located at 307 Cliff Dr. at North Coast Hwy; 949-494-8971. Web site www.lagunaartmuseum.org

For more information go to web site www.lagunabeachinfo.com/visitors

Want more things to see and do at Laguna Beach? Here are more suggestions,for little or no cost, compliments of the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau:

1.     Take a Hike through Heisler Park – Located just north of Main Beach, Heisler Park offers spectacular views of the Laguna Beach coastline. Take a half-mile stroll along the paved path or enjoy a picnic on the grass or barbeque with friends.  Heisler Park is a must see for all!

2.     Take a Self-guided Public Art Tour – The City of Laguna Beach has more than 65 unique works of public art. These pieces were designed and created specifically for Laguna Beach and contribute to the life of the city. Explore the many murals, statues, benches and other pieces as you stroll through town. Maps can be picked up at the Visitors Center. 

3.     Ride a Local Bus or an open air Summer Trolley and Explore the Town – During the summer months, the City of Laguna Beach provides free trolley and bus service throughout the town. In other months you can ride the local bus for just 75 cents. Hop on one of the three routes in Laguna Beach and catch a glimpse of much of the Laguna Beach lifestyle. 

4.     Monthly Art Walk – Established in 1998, 1st Thursday’s Art Walk is a festive, cultural evening on the first Thursday of every month. The event is free and runs from 6:00-9:00pm. Free trolley service runs throughout the evening until 8:45 p.m. linking member gallery locations. Over 40 galleries participate, offering artist receptions, demonstrations, refreshments and live music. www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com

5.     Explore the Tidepools –Explore the amazing marine life hidden just below the waves.  Laguna Beach boasts impressive tidepooling opportunities, giving you an up-close look at marine life.  Drop in to the Visitors Center to view an Emmy-Award winning DVD on the tidepools of Laguna Beach.

6.     Wine Tasting in the Canyon – The Laguna Canyon Winery offers award-winning wines that have been specially handcrafted on-site.  Premium grapes are selected from small, low-yield vineyards in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, ensuring taste, quality and flavor. Tasting hours: Tues-Sun 11am-6pm. Tasting fees are waived with purchase. 2133 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 715-9463 www.lagunacanyonwinery.com 

7.     Skimboard one of Laguna’s Coves - Skimboarding began in Laguna Beach during the early1920’s when Laguna Beach lifeguards used to skimboard on flat pieces of wood. Since then, the sport has only gotten bigger and bolder. Head to Victoria Beach to see where it all began. Equipment rentals are available from several surf retailers around town.

8.     Explore California’s Oldest Museum - The Laguna Art Museum focuses on the cultural heritage of California and the unique history of Laguna Beach. It is dedicated to promoting an understanding of art and artists in American culture through collection, exhibition, research and instruction. Open daily. Admission: $12 and open daily 11:00 am-5:00 pm. 307 Cliff Drive. (949) 494-8971 www.lagunaartmuseum.org

9.     International Art Show – Featuring over 125 international juried artists and master craftsmen, Art-A-Fair is a must for art lovers.  Art-A-Fair offers visitors a chance to browse through booths of original watercolors, oils, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass and more.  Meet the artists, get hands on demos and enjoy fine dining.  Open July through Labor Day.  777 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-4514 www.art-a-fair.com

10.  One-of-a-Kind Shops and Galleries – Laguna Beach is home to over 100 galleries and one-of-a-kind shops. The artists’ village offers the complete spectrum of fine art in a casual walking environment. Whether you’re in the mood to shop for home furnishings, jewelry, surf wear, gifts or just window shop.  There are many options including ready-to-wear art and unique designer accessories.

11.  Artists’ Open Studios – Visit over 20 professional artists in private working studios on Laguna Canyon Road.  Free parking and Trolley service provided at the Laguna College of Art and Design.  The self-guided tour takes place every first Saturday in October through March from 11:00am-4:00pm. See these masters in their element as you explore their working studios, and get a sneak peek at works of art as they come alive at the hands of the artists. For an overview be sure to visit  www.lagunabeachcity.net       

12.  Treasure Island Park – Located on the grounds of the Montage Laguna Beach, this park overlooks Laguna’s beautiful coast. Enjoy an art lesson on the cliffs, a picnic on the grass, or just stroll and enjoy the sun as you watch the waves below.

13.  The Festival of Arts – This juried fine art show features original artwork by over 140 of California’s most accomplished artists. Find affordable and unique works of art, perfect for your home or business. Enjoy art workshops, tours, entertainment and a variety of special events for one low admission price. Open July and August.  650 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-1145 www.foapom.com

14.  Jazz Wednesdays – Enjoy an outdoor concert in the Hotel Laguna’s Rose Garden. Jazz concerts are held every other Wednesday from June to mid-September and feature world-class musicians.  425 South Coast Hwy. www.lagunabeachlive.org

15.  Laguna Craft Guild – From September to June, the Laguna Craft Guild sponsors bi-monthly Sunday shows in the downtown area on the Main Beach cobblestones.  This outdoor event features arts and crafts by local Laguna artists. www.lagunacraftguild.com

16.  Walk the Streets of Laguna on a Historic Bungalow Tour – Pick up a map from the Visitors Center and take a self-guided tour of Laguna’s historic homes. These bungalows and cottages date as far back as 1884 and contribute to Laguna Beach’s rich past and history.

17.  Hortense Miller Garden – Covering two and a half acres of the upper slopes of Boat Canyon, this beautiful garden demonstrates the range of plants which can be grown in Southern California’s coastal zones. Visit the garden and enjoy a tour from one of the volunteer docents. Reservations are required. (949) 497-0716 x3. www.hortensemillergarden.org

18.  Laughter Yoga – Everyday the Laughter Yoga Institute meets at the northernmost end of Main Beach and practices the art of laughter yoga. Participate in this joyful experience that uses the practice of laughter as a form of exercise. Free sessions are conducted by a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and are held Sunday-Friday at 8am, Saturday at 10am. (949) 376-1939. www.lyinstitute.org.

19.  Sawdust Art Festival – Selected “Best Art Festival” by OC Weekly Magazine, the Sawdust Art Festival features 200 local Laguna Beach artists. Browse paintings, jewelry, ceramics, photographs, sculptures, art glass and textiles native to the area. Demonstrations, workshops, entertainment and refreshments await you. The festival runs from the end of June thru August, with seasonal events held throughout the year.  935 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-3030 www.sawdustartfestival.org

20.  Fiori – Stop by this beautiful boutique, celebrating 20 years, for a look at some of the finest Italian and Greek Majolica. Their vast collection of hand-painted ceramics includes dinnerware, urns, clocks, decorative pieces and much more. Each piece is completely handmade and hand painted by the finest artisans using techniques handed down from the 15^th century. 214 South Coast Highway. (949) 494-9954. www.italianceramics.com

21.  Whaling Wall – Marine life artist Wyland has created close to 100 Whaling Walls, large outdoor murals of whales and other sea life, throughout the world.  Visit his Whaling Wall and find his exciting gallery at 509 S. Coast Hwy. www.wyland.com

22.  Enjoy Free Chamber Music on the first Sunday of each month, October- May. Concerts are free and take place at Laguna College of Art + Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road from 4:00-4:30pm. www.lagunabeachlive.org

23.  Browse North Gallery Row – Within just a short walking distance from town, North Gallery row exhibits several fine and contemporary arts galleries. Heisler Park provides a picturesque backdrop while you browse.

24.  Hotel Laguna – Originally a wooden structure built in 1888, Hotel Laguna was reconstructed in 1930 in its current Mission Revival style. The hotel has an attractive rose garden with a gazebo. Walk through the lobby and view historical photographs or enjoy a beverage at Claes Ovation or Ocean View Bar & Grille. 425 South Coast Hwy. (949) 494-1151 www.hotellaguna.com

25.  Art at City Hall – Coordinated by the Laguna Beach Arts Commission, this free exhibition showcases art by local artists.  On exhibit Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Exhibitions rotate several times throughout the year.  City Hall is located at 505 Forest Ave.

26.  Kristalle – Located in a landmark Laguna cottage, Kristalle is considered the finest gallery of its kind in the world.  Thousands of specimens are on display, including fine minerals and gold.  Stop by and view some of these amazing gems. 875 North Coast Hwy. (949) 494-7695. www.kristalle.com

27.  Enjoy Live Music at one of our Unique Restaurants – Many of Laguna Beach’s restaurants offer live music in the evenings. Stop by the White House, Brussels Bistro, K’ya Bistro Bar, or French 75 for some great food and good music.

28.  Sculpture Garden – Visit the stunning sculpture garden at the Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery.  View fine 21^st century figurative sculptures by Richard MacDonald, as well as other works inside their gallery by artists such as Matisse, Chuck Close and Picasso. 326 Glenneyre St. (949) 497-4988. www.dawsoncolefineart.co 

29.  Need Visitor Information? - The Laguna Beach Visitors Center offers complimentary collateral on the Laguna Beach area, as well as surrounding areas, information on accommodations, dining, art events, city maps, bus schedules and outdoor activities in Laguna Beach.  The Visitors Center is open daily from 10:00am-5:00pm. 361 Forest Avenue (949) 497-9229. www.lagunabeachinfo.com

30.  Explore the “Museum of the First People” – Len Wood’s Indian Territory Gallery features an extensive collection of antique American Indian art including 19^th and 20^th century Navajo blankets and rugs. There is pre-1930 Indian basketry from 75 tribes of the Western U.S., Pueblo pottery, Hopi Kachinas, Zuni Fetishes and Navajo and Pueblo “Old Pawn” and modern jewelry.  Open Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm. 305 North Coast Hwy. (949) 497-5747 www.indianterritory.com

31.  Visit the 2nd Smallest Church in the World – St. Francis by the Sea was once acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as the smallest church in the world. It is now the second smallest Catholic Church in the World. This 42-seat cathedral was built in 1933. 430 Park Ave.

32.  Sunset Serenades – Enjoy a free concert at Main Beach Park every Friday during the month of May. Listen to some great tunes as you watch the sun set over the Pacific. 

33.  Swim in our Marine Protected Waters – Laguna Beach’s seven miles of pristine coastline is a designated Marine Protected Area. Take a swim in our clean waters, observe the abundant sea life and enjoy this natural beauty for yourself.

34.  Local Farmer’s Market – Every Saturday morning, local farmers and purveyors set up shop downtown and sell their fresh goods. Purchase everything from locally grown vegetables, delicious fruits, beautiful flowers, freshly baked bread and much more.  Located at the Lumberyard Parking Lot near City Hall. Saturdays from 8am-12noon. www.cafarmersmarkets.com

35.  Play Volleyball & Basketball at Main Beach – Main Beach Park is located in the heart of downtown. Two half-court basketball courts and sand volleyball courts are available to the public. Put on some sunscreen and enjoy a pickup game!

36.  Explore Sea Life in Diver’s Cove –Located next to Picnic Beach, just North of Main Beach, Diver’s Cove is a great spot for scuba diving. Rent a snorkel, mask and fins or bring your own and jump in to see the creatures below.

37.  View a Sunset from Crescent Bay – Laguna’s northern-most stop, Crescent Bay is located where Cliff Drive and Viejo converge off North Coast Highway. Enjoy a day of skin diving, skimboarding, body surfing and tidepooling then relax as you watch the sunset over the blue waters.

38.  Check out Seal Rock – Located about 120 yards off the shore of Crescent Bay sits Seal Rock, named after the seals and sea lions that often congregate there. Check out the barking seals from the shore or kayak out for a closer look.

39.  MTV’s Laguna Beach – ‘The Real OC’ – Laguna Beach came into the spotlight when MTV produced the reality show based on our City. Check out the high school, restaurants, beaches and stores that LC, Kristen and Stephen once frequented. Stop by the Visitors Center for a handout on the featured places.

40.  Take a Photo with Laguna’s Own Greeter – Eiler Larsen was the Official Greeter of Laguna Beach. Many locals still recall their first time meeting this great man who did so much for the City of Laguna Beach. Today two statues of him can be found in town. One at 329 S. Coast Hwy and at 1200 S. Coast Hwy. Drop by and snap a photo with Eiler. If you’re a history buff, stop by the Visitors Center for information on Larsen.

41.  Take in Endless Views from Alta Laguna Park – Also known as Top of the World, this park is the perfect place to view Laguna Beach’s coastline. Set above the village area, Alta Laguna Park offers views of both the coast and the canyon. Enjoy a picnic or take a short hike 

42.  Explore the Outdoors of Laguna – In Laguna Beach access over 20,000 acres of wilderness. Hike or bike on your own or take a guided tour and enjoy Laguna Beach’s beautiful outdoors. Parking at the wilderness parks is $3 for the entire day. www.lagunacanyon.org

43.  Wine, Cheese & Interactive Art Affair – Pacific Edge Hotel partners with local caterers to offer selected wines and cheeses, and showcases Orange County's most talented chefs, while partnering with Laguna Outreach for the Community Arts (LOCA) to bring guests interactive art exhibits, where attendees can either watch the artist create the artwork, or actually participate in the creation of the art project. Admission is free and open to the public the first Tuesday of every month.

44.  Gather Around the Fire Pits at Aliso County Beach – The only beach that provides fire pits within Laguna, Aliso is a great spot for an evening bonfire. Bring your friends, something to throw on the grill and everyone’s favorite… s’mores, and enjoy a good time under the stars. 

45.  Nix Nature Center – Standing as the entryway to the 20,000-acre South Coast Regional Wilderness, Nix Nature Center is the headquarters of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the center of five different trails.  Many activities are available including mountain biking, birding, fitness hikes, Junior Rangers and other children’s programs.  Open everyday 9am-4pm. (949) 923-2235.  Entrance is free, parking $3 per day.

46.  Barbara’s Lake – Located in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Barbara’s Lake is Orange County’s only natural lake.  Enjoy a scenic hike to Barbara’s Lake from the James Dilley Preserve or Nix Nature Center, located just north of the 73 Toll Road.

47.  Pacific Marine Mammal Center – The only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center in Orange County, the nonprofit Pacific Marine Mammal Center specializes in rescue, rehabilitation and release of marine mammals. Stop in to see the animals up close…you may even catch a feeding!  Free admission. Donations accepted. Open everyday from 10am-4pm. 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-3050 www.pacificmmc.org

48.  Tower at Victoria Beach – A Laguna Beach landmark, this medieval-looking tower is located just north of Victoria Beach.  Built in 1926, it was designed as a private spiraling staircase for beach access from above.  Today the tower is closed but can still be viewed from the outside.

49.  Spring Fever Surfabout – The Spring Fever Surfabout is held over Memorial Day weekend at Thalia Street. This one-day surf contest is a great event for the whole family. Catch some sun as you watch surfers duke it out in the water

50.  Plein Air Painters Invitational – Each October, fifty of the best plein air painters in the country are invited to compete in the Plein Air Painting Invitational hosted by the Laguna Art Museum and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Watch the creative process unfold in front of your eyes as you stroll along the bluffs or in the parks.  Later enjoy the opportunity to view or purchase works at the museum. www.lagunaartmuseum.or

51.  Watch a Professional Skimboard Contest – Held every summer at Aliso County Beach, the Victoria Skimboards World Championship of Skimboarding is the sport’s most prestigious event.  Watch the world’s best skimboarders catch big waves and pull tricks as they compete for the title.

52.  Thousand Steps Beach – Located between 9^th and 10^th streets on South Coast Highway, Thousand Steps Beach is an intimate cove featuring views of some of the area’s most magnificent private homes. It’s one of Laguna’s hot surf spots and is also known for sand volleyball. (Only 227 steps, it just ‘feels’ like a thousand steps!)

53.  Sawdust Art Festival Winter Fantasy –  From mid-November to mid- December, the Sawdust Art Festival holds their annual Winter Fantasy festival. Check out this unique holiday event every weekend, featuring fine art and crafts from over one hundred exhibitors. Purchase unique holiday gifts for your loved ones. 935 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-3030 www.sawdustartfestival.org

54.  Reggae Night at Sandpiper – Thursday nights always bring out a crowd at the Sandpiper, or the Dirty Bird as locals call it. Here you will find people of all ages grooving to the beats of live reggae music. 1183 South Coast Highway. (949) 494-4694

55.  Drum Circle at Aliso Beach – If you’re lucky enough to be in Laguna Beach on a full moon, head down to Aliso Beach for a free community drum circle.  If you have a drum, great! If not, don’t worry.  Just bring yourself and enjoy the beats. Drumming from 7-10pm.  www.lavidalaguna.com/drumcircle 

56.  Coffee Cuppings – Stop by the Laguna Coffee Company on Saturdays for one of their Coffee Cupping Events. Similar to wine tasting (but with coffee!), these Coffee Cuppings allow customers to observe the coffee making process from start to finish. Learn about the differences in the coffee beans and how each blend is prepared. Participation is free. Enjoy a morning of jazz by The Swinging Quartet Laguna from 10:30am-12:30pm, followed by Open Mic. from 12:30-4:30 p.m. 1050 South Coast Highway. (949) 494-6901 www.lagunacoffeeco.co

57.  Bark Park – Let your dog off the leash to run free at Laguna Beach’s Dog Park. Over two acres of grassy area is tucked into the Laguna Canyon. Open every day (except Wednesdays) from dawn to dusk. 20672 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 910-9947 www.lbdogpark.org

58.  Sample Gourmet Cheeses and Delicious Wines – The Laguna Culinary Arts Gourmet Cheese & Wine Shop features a wide selection of cheese, delicacies, food-friendly wines and lunchtime fare.  Items from all over the world including oils and vinegars, breads, crackers and more. Come in for lunch or just a taste. Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday from 4-6:30pm. Friday Night Happy Hour starts at 5pm. Saturday Afternoon Wine Tasting is also available. 845 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-0745 www.lagunaculinaryarts.com

59.  Dolphin & Whale Spotting – Laguna Beach’s dolphin population exceeds that of Florida, Hawaii and the Caribbean combined! If you happen to be in the right place at the right time and keep your eye on the ocean, you just might see a playful pod go by.

60.  Fete de la Musique – Enjoy this mid-June afternoon of free music throughout the downtown area, celebrating the sounds of the summer with Laguna Beach’s first Sister City, Menton, France.

61.  “Green” Your Trip! – For those individuals interested in resources, tips for travelers and sustainable practices, www.greenlagunabeach.com is a great resource for you. Find restaurants serving organic dishes, hotels that offer eco-friendly accommodations, green activities to enjoy during your stay and much more.

62.  Grab a Picnic Lunch – Pick up a fresh picnic lunch and enjoy it while you relax at one of Laguna’s 20 coves, beaches or parks. Try a delicious meal to-go or a tasty sandwich from a local deli.  There will be no need to dress up for this gourmet meal.

63.  Are you a History Buff? – Built in 1923, the Murphy-Smith Bungalow is one of the few original beach houses remaining in the downtown area of Laguna Beach. It is currently the home of the Laguna Beach Historical Society. Stop by to view a glimpse of Laguna’s past. Open Fri-Sun 1:00-4:00pm. 278 Ocean Blvd. (949) 939-7257 www.lagunahistory.org

64.  Snorkeling – Take a dip in Laguna’s beautiful waters and explore the sea life below. There are several great beaches for snorkeling, including Shaw’s Cove, Diver’s Cove and Treasure Island. Bring your own gear or rent from a local shop.

65.  Laguna Beach…A College Town – Founded in 1961, Laguna College of Art + Design educates artists at all stages of their creative careers, offering Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Drawing and Painting, Graphic Design, Illustration, Game Art and Feature Animation, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting. 2222 Laguna Canyon Road. Drop in Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:00pm; Sat 9:00am-4:00pm. www.lagunacollege.edu 

66.  Sea Lion Release – After rehabilitation at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, sea lions are released back into the Pacific Ocean. Watch as they are reunited with their natural environment. Contact the PMMC to find out when the next release will be held. (949) 494-3050 www.pacificmmc.org

67.  Visit Laguna’s Oldest House – This piece of Laguna history is located at 154 Pearl Street. The home was built in 1883 with wood floated in from boats, wood from shipwrecks, as well as driftwood.

68.  People-Watch at Main Beach – Laguna’s “Window to the Sea”, this beachfront park is located in the heart of downtown Laguna. There is always plenty to see and do here at Laguna’s most bustling scene.

69.  Bette Davis House – This English Tudor home, built in 1929, overlooks beautiful Wood’s Cove. See where Bette Davis lived during the early 40's. 1881 Ocean Way.

70.  Bird Watching – Laguna Beach is a bird sanctuary, home to several unique and endangered species. Learn more about how to spot them in their natural habitat by visiting the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 923-223 

71.  Lifeguard Tower – See a piece of Laguna’s surf lifesaving history. Located at Main Beach this was originally part of a gas station built across the street in 1929. When the station was demolished, the tower was moved to its present location and converted for lifeguard purposes. The current Lifeguard Headquarters is at the north end of Main Beach.

72.  Peppertree Lane – When passing through the arched brick entry of this Laguna Beach landmark, you can experience history in Laguna’s oldest shopping district. The shops enclosed offer fine dining, clothing, gifts, and much more. 448 South Coast Highway.

73.  Crystal Cove State Park – Immerse yourself in its three miles of coastline, wooded canyons, open bluffs, and offshore waters designed as an underwater park. Swim surf, scuba, fish, mountain bike, or hike – this park truly has something for everyone. Explore on your own, or take part in a public tour of the Historic District on the second Saturday of each month. www.crystalcovetstatepark.com

74.  Surf’s up! – Visit one of Laguna’s local surf shops. Costa Azul, Hobie, Laguna Surf & Sport, Second Reef, and Thalia Street Surf Shop offer all the expert equipment, advice, and local surf-style that will have you hanging-ten in no time.

75.  Jogger’s Paradise – Enjoy relaxing scenery, cool breezes, and wonderful look-outs to stop, stretch, and refuel. Laguna’s scattered hills, ramps to the sand, and beach stairs offer variety for those seeking a vigorous challenge.

76.  Walk with a Naturalist – Each Saturday a Naturalist from the Laguna Canyon Foundation meets at Willow Canyon to share Laguna’s unique flora, fauna, and natural habitat. Willow Canyon & Laguna Canyon Road intersection. 9:00 am departure. (949) 923-2235

77.  HIP District – This historic place is a thriving and exciting business district.  “HIP” for Historic Places and “HIP” because it is!  There are 26 art galleries, 17 restaurants, and several unique coffee shops, apparel stores, a bookstore, florists, a nursery and much more.  Pamper yourself with a day at one of the many spas or enjoy a day at the beach.

78.  Sweet tooth? – Get your fix and indulge yourself at Chocolate Soldier, La Rue du Chocolat, or Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. All stores feature local handmade chocolate and other specialty treats and gift items.

79.  Beverages on the Rooftop – Atop the historic Hotel La Casa del Camino, enjoy Laguna Beach’s only Rooftop Bar & Lounge. Wonderful for a meal or just a drink while enjoying a breathtaking sunset. All menu items are $10 or less. 1289 South Coast Hwy. (949) 497-2446 www.rooftoplagunabeach.com

80.  Make Your Own Bath Salts – Not only will you find one-of-a-kind bath products from around the world, you can also make your own bath salts and perfume. You decide which fragrance suits you best. 445 South Coast Highway. (949) 494-1417. www.bubblesoflaguna.com

81.  Experience a Taste of Italy – Dolce Gelato creates delicious fresh Italian gelato handmade daily. Just one taste and you’ll imagine you are strolling through the sun-drenched, cobblestone streets in Europe.  Dolce Gelato: 247 Broadway. (949) 715-9249

82.  Late Night Happy Hour – At House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer, Avila’s El Ranchito, Rock’n Fish, Romeo Cucina, and Watermarc happy hour comes twice a day!  Call restaurant for time and days. 

83.  Kayaking – Kayak Southern California's most magnificent coastline and see Laguna Beach the way it was meant - from the Pacific, where nature performs daily. Explore hidden coves, rugged cliffs, reefs, beaches and playful sea lions. Take a guided tour or paddle out yourself.

84.  Pick up a Beach Read – Check out one of Laguna’s boutique book stores housing a wide variety of everything literary! Barnaby Rudge Booksellers or Laguna Beach Books are happy to help you find a perfect page-turner.

85.  Grazing Goats - Laguna’s own four-legged firefighters feast on native plants and effectively clear firebreaks, protecting homes and businesses. There are currently 600 on the force! Check in with the Laguna Beach Fire Department (non-emergency line) to obtain their current whereabouts for fantastic photo opportunities. (949) 407-0700

86.   Las Brisas – Las Brisas has been a Southern California landmark since its inception in 1938 as the Victor Hugo Inn.  Centrally located and overlooking the Pacific, Las Brisas is the perfect stop for a spectacular coastline view.  361 Cliff Drive. (949) 497-5434

87.  Protect the Environment – Locals and visitors alike are invited to participate in First Saturday’s beach clean-ups. Volunteers gather to keep our beaches pristine. Get a “red army” T-shirt and your own trash “picker” from 10:00am-12:00noon.  www.Zerotrashlaguna.org

88.  Art Lovers Deal – Receive unlimited admission all summer long to three world-famous Laguna Beach art festivals: Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival, all for only $19! Each passport includes one-time free parking in the Act V parking lot on Laguna Canyon Road and free shuttle service. Buy your pass online: www.LagunaBeachPassport.com

89.  Shipwreck! – Two hundred yards offshore lies a shipwreck, the Foss 125 better known as “the Cleo Street Barge.”  This ship met its rocky resting place in 1958, and is now home to an abundance of underwater sea life. A perfect destination for experienced divers and snorkelers 

90.  Laguna Playhouse celebrates 90 years! – Laguna’s oldest continually operating community theater offers an intimate atmosphere with five major theatrical productions a year as well as many community performing arts performances.  Visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com for Web site specials.  Discounts for hotel guests too.

91.  Go Veggie – Meat lovers and vegetarians alike can all agree on the delicious items from these restaurants and eateries. Nirvana Grille, The Stand and Goko Café all showcase gourmet meat-free cuisine to comply with any of your diet restrictions.

92.  Laguna Koi Ponds – Visit Laguna Koi Ponds to view the different bloodlines, body shape, luster, and color patterns. You can even pet the fish! See their fancy show quality Koi that sell for as much as $30,000! 20452 Laguna Canyon Road. (949) 494-5107 www.lagunakoi.com

93.  Late Night Loco – Taco Loco, open until 2:00am on Friday and Saturday nights, is the perfect end to an evening of dancing and fun. Their affordable prices combined with fresh and eclectic Mexican cuisine are a winning combination. 640 South Coast Hwy. (949) 497-1635

94.  Karaoke - Bring out your inner rock star and come sing along to your favorite guilty pleasure. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, Hennessey’s Tavern offers Karaoke upstairs starting at 9 pm. Starting at 9:30 pm on Wednesday nights, sing a tune on a 120” HD Karaoke projector at Ocean Avenue Restaurant and Brewery. 

95.  Student Art Exhibition – View the Annual LCAD Summer Exhibition at Gallery 793 showcasing the exceptional works of both graduate and undergraduate students. Admission is free. 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.  For days and times visit www.lagunacollege.edu

96.  Fireworks! – The Laguna Beach Board of Realtors with support from Tommy Bahama’s presents 4^th of July fireworks.  Viewing from most beaches and along Pacific Coast Hwy. 

97.  Beachfront Dance Class – In October of each year, CaDance offers a free, interactive dance class on Main Beach. Watch the waves while moving to the beat.  Details at www.lagunadancefestival.com

98.  Celebrate Heritage Month – May is Heritage Month, sponsored by the City of Laguna Beach and the Heritage Committee. This celebration features fun events, guided historic downtown walking tours, and several seminars on the unique history of our town. www.laguna-historical-society.smugmug.com

99.  Head South – South Laguna is a local’s favorite destination. Away from the hustle-and-bustle, this southernmost part of the city has a special vibe of its own. Relax in one of its parks, sunbathe in a serene cove, or stop for a margarita at a local hangout: Coyote Grill. Don’t forget your clubs - Aliso Creek Inn Golf Course has one of the most affordable rates in Orange County!

100. Build a Sandcastle – Laguna’s beaches are family-friendly and feature wide stretches of sand,     perfect for building sandcastles. Buckets, shovels and all of your favorite beach supplies are available at several Laguna Beach shops.

101. Take in a Local Film - Laguna Beach Film Society offers a third Thursday’s film screening.  Tickets can be purchased by non-members at the South Coast Cinemas box office on Pacific Coast Hwy. on the evening of the event.  www.lagunabeachinfo.com 

LAKE TAHOE & SURROUNDING AREA

World-Class Resort Properties Offer Incomparable Amenities & Incredible Savings

The Lake Tahoe area offers lodging properties to match just about every budget and every itinerary imaginable. From affordable casino resorts to luxurious lakeside properties, the region's lodging options cater to the destination guest with a wide variety of shopping, dining and entertainment. Most properties also offer shuttle services to nearby resorts. In an effort to attract the discriminating dollar of this season's budget-minded traveler, many of the high-end properties around the lake are offering VIP treatment at a fraction of the normal cost.

On the north side of the lake, The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort & Spa offers a "catch-all" stay and ski/ride package that includes deluxe accommodations, complimentary shuttle service and two adult lift tickets to a choice of Squaw Valley USA, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Alpine Meadows or Homewood. Package pricing is $319 Sunday through Thursday and $359 on Fridays and Saturdays. Located just steps from the slopes, the ski-in/ski-out Squaw Valley Lodge offers winter recreation and relaxation packages designed to maximize the adventure and romance while stretching your travel dollar. Stay and ski/ride packages begin as low as $160.50 midweek/$210.50 weekends. The Village at Squaw Valley offers the ultimate four-season mountain resort nestled slope side in Squaw Valley USA with luxurious condominium suites, a first class spa and spectacular dining and shopping. Take advantage of the "Ski 3 Free" package starting as low as $136.16 per person and save up to $237 on lift tickets.

For travelers headed to the south end of the lake, Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa offers a "Ski, Board and Play Package" which includes deluxe room accommodations and two lift tickets to Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, or Squaw Valley USA starting at $199. The Park Tahoe Inn is a perfect base camp for exploring the Lake Tahoe area and offers custom ski/ride packages to fit individual needs. Book four nights and get the fifth night free with packages starting at $300 per night. Both Harrah's Lake Tahoe and Harvey's Lake Tahoe offer "Stay and Play" packages with discounted lift tickets available for Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Squaw Valley USA and Sierra-at Tahoe Resort.

Nightlife & Off-Slope Activities: 24/7 Action Makes Tahoe America's Winter Party Capital

Once the lifts stop turning, the action truly begins at Lake Tahoe's casinos, nightclubs and music venues located within a short distance from the resorts around the lake area. For those looking to spend a day away from the slopes, the award-winning restaurants, shopping, art galleries and family entertainment options available in the newly renovated villages of Squaw Valley USA, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Heavenly Mountain Resort offer an impressive variety of options all within walking distance. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the Lake Tahoe area offers an entire spectrum of unique winter activities such as tubing, ice skating, snowshoeing, snowcat tours, zip lines and even an aqua shuttle that offers sunset après ski parties across the lake.

Lake Tahoe: Easy Access and Affordable Transportation

RTIA services destination travelers to the Lake Tahoe area located just half an hour away from the closest ski lifts. The airport provides 170 daily flights with non-stop service to 19 destinations and was named the fifth most efficient airport in North America by the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) in 2008. Southwest Airlines provides the majority of air service into RTIA, setting the benchmark for affordable air travel that competing airlines have tried to match.

A multitude of regular shuttle services and transportation options make it easy to get around the lake region and in various communities around Lake Tahoe. The North Lake Tahoe Express services the majority of North Lake Tahoe, providing regional shuttle service to and from RTIA. In South Lake Tahoe, the BlueGo transit service offers a variety of inexpensive shuttle services around South Lake Tahoe 24/7.

This season, intermediate skiers and snowboarders at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in Truckee will find new terrain to explore. The resort is adding four trails to the Northwest Territory of the mountain, bringing the resort’s trail total to 83 and skiable acreage to 2,490. Northstar is also replacing the majority of its rental equipment inventory. All snowboards, 2/3 of the snowboard boots, 1/3 of all alpine ski equipment and all cross-country ski equipment will be replaced for the 2007/2008 winter season.

For more information contact Northstar-at-Tahoe, (530) 562-2267 or (800) GO-NORTH (800-466-6784), <www.northstarattahoe.com.

Travelers to Lake Tahoe can now experience the mountain community’s authentic local culture during their next visit thanks to the new Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture (TAMC) travel planning web site, www.tahoeculture.com.

The site captures locals’ perspectives and celebrates the area’s individuals whose artistic expression is inspired by Tahoe, whether through visual or performing arts, special events and festivals or locally-made products. A “Made in Tahoe” page features products and original art produced by Tahoe-area locals. A lively “MyPlace” blog delves into locals’ knowledge and the reasons they call Tahoe home. TAMC includes a “Green Tahoe” section that honors green living and green building practices.  Other regular features include favorite hangouts, Tahoe’s art scene, resident artists, funky “don’t miss” events, culinary art and foodie hot spots, eco-friendly businesses, mountain health, outdoor recreation and Tahoe’s heritage. TAMC reaches eco-conscious travelers who want to experience Lake Tahoe’s true culture while supporting local artists and tourism businesses.

For more information contact Becky Bell, Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture, (530) 318-6454, editor@tahoeculture.com, www.tahoeculture.com.

Bridging the border between California and Nevada, the Tahoe region isn’t just a ski destination, it’s a winter paradise with more rideable acreage in close proximity than any other U.S. destination, more than 300 days of sunshine per year, easy access from anywhere in the country through the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, and more dining and entertainment outlets to appease all interests from the young-and-beautiful to families and empty nesters.

LA QUINTA

La Quinta --

is nestled against the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs and offers incredible places to stay, play, live and work. As major events with nationwide appeal come to town every year, we have witnessed the interest and the population of our town grow.

LAS ALAMOS

More soon!

LITTLE RIVER

Little River Inn

Little River Inn is a family-owned and operated boutique resort on the Mendocino coast of California with a chef-driven restaurant, nine-hole Audubon-certified golf course, professional tennis courts and day spa. Ideal for the entire family and pet-friendly, the Inn has 66 guest rooms ranging from the economical to the luxurious. Several private meeting and special event spaces with stunning ocean and garden views make the Inn an excellent venue for small- to medium-sized weddings and corporate retreats. The restaurant, helmed by CIA-trained Executive Chef Marc Dym, is a destination unto itself and the delicious, often hearty California coastal cuisine has a following so dedicated that it is not uncommon for guests to fly in by private plane for Sunday Brunch. Ole’s Whale Watch Bar is a classic local hangout where guests gather for drinks and a casual bite, and Sue Bondoux is the treasured bar manager with a remarkable 21-year history of making drinks at Little River Inn. Little River Inn has a beautiful, nine-hole golf course that plays like 18 and is appropriate for many skill levels. The Inn also has a Day Spa with three treatment rooms and offers in-room services. Overseen by fifth-generation Innkeeper Cally Dym, Little River Inn celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2014.

Little River Inn is located two miles south of Mendocino overlooking the Pacific Ocean, at 7901 N. Highway One, Little River, CA 95456. For reservations and additional information, call 707-937-5942 or visit www.littleriverinn.com.

Little River Inn is located two miles south of Mendocino overlooking the Pacific Ocean, at 7901 N. Highway One, Little River, CA 95456. For reservations and additional information, call 707-937-5942 or visit www.littleriverinn.com.

Experience the Wonder of Majestic Migrating Whales Off the Mendocino Coast

It’s a closely guarded secret that Mendocino County is one of the best spots in the world for whale watching, and the month of March is the best time to observe these majestic ocean creatures from the shoreline as they make their annual migration home to the colder waters of the north, many with baby calves in tow.

The sixth annual LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL offers lodging specials at properties throughout the seaside town of Little River, CA (including two lodging specials at the Little River Inn), a food and wine tour, family fun activities, and nature adventure all rolled into one weekend! Below is just a sampling of events and experiences inn guests and locals can partake in throughout the weekend:

Further information and details regarding the LITTLE RIVER WHALE FESTIVAL can be found by visiting littleriverinn.cmail2.com their website. Additional event details, Little River discounts, and specials during the festival can also be found by following the festival’s online map.

While all guest rooms at the Little River Inn offer panoramic views ideal for private sightings of the spring whale migration, guests have the opportunity to get even closer to these majestic marine mammals with a whale-watching excursion. The Little River Inn has partnered with Telstar Charters, a licensed whale-watching boat out of the Noyo Harbor. Costs for the trip is $35 per person and can be added on to any of the Little River Inn’s existing lodging packages.

***Note: Telstar Charters trips are daily throughout the month of March, weather permitting. The Charter may cancel trips due to weather conditions or if there are not enough advance reservations.

The package includes:

Two-night stay in an Ocean View Fireplace Room
A romantic dinner for two
Map to the “Kissing Benches of Little River”
Little River Inn souvenir backpack and all the supplies you need for your adventure, including two LRI Logo Water Bottles, John Masters Organics Lip Calm and breath mints for puckering up, and a sweet treat of decadent fudge to savor the “sweet” moment with your sweetie
Two hand-knit beanies from the Mendocino Yarn Shop to keep you warm and toasty during your adventure
Opportunity to add room upgrades and massage services at additional costs

***Note: Hand-knit beanies are exclusive to the first three Rustic Romance packages reserved; all other packages will include a 10 percent-off discount card to be used to a purchase of choice at the Mendocino Yarn Shop.

To reserve any of the above packages, please call 888.INN.LOVE, or visit www.littleriverinn.com.

LODI

LONG BEACH

LOS ANGELES & LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Tireless traveler and culinary eclectic, Rod Rotondi has used his unique experience and perspective to translate world cuisine into delicious and affordable raw, organic and vegan offerings. His three Los Angeles area Leaf Cuisine restaurants, which are set for national franchising, are leaders in the raw food and green movement. Rod’s burgeoning wholesale business, offering an array of raw and organic entrees, wraps, desserts and drinks, is prominently featured in So Cal at such retailers as Mother’s Markets, Rainbow Acres, Erewhon and Whole Foods Markets. And seeking to enlighten the public at large, this socially conscious entrepreneur is also working on a series of “Raw” uncookbooks, a DVD series and a television show.

Changing the world one bite at a time has become Rod’s approach to social activism. “Everyone has control over what they put in their mouth and these choices make a huge difference for our shared environment- our biosphere, as well as our individual environments- our bodies! Choosing organic, vegan raw foods is not only supporting our individual bodies with optimally nutritious foods, but supporting the growth of the whole organic and vegan industry- basically, our health and the health of our planet.” His restaurants are also some of the greenest in the world, recycling and composting all materials, using biodiesel in the delivery vans and utilizing compostable to go containers.

Growing up in an Italian-American family where food was often the center of family and social gatherings, hospitality and food preparation were second nature to Rod. From hand rolling his grandmother’s “secret” gnocchi, to enjoying formal Italian cuisine in Rome at the residence of his grandfather, the American Ambassador, to cooking courses in Paris, Rod’s youth was cuisine centric.

After graduating with a Masters of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School, Rod’s life took a dramatic turn. Volunteer work in Morocco and Tunisia as a manager of grass roots development projects was followed by a 6 years in Jerusalem as a Program Management Officer for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) trying to develop the private sector of the Occupied Terretories. Six years and many harrowing stories later, Rod moved to Dahab, Egypt, a Bedouin village along the Sinai Peninsula, where he developed Club Red, a major resort offering scuba diving, desert safaris, a hotel, restaurant, and a wellness center. There he opened the first yoga center in Egypt and on the millennium held the largest party in the Sinai since Moses- over 2,000 people!

Into his eighth year in Duhab, Rod lost everything, his business, all of his possessions and almost his life. That same day, his friend Swami Brahmananda emailed him that he had received a transmission that Rod’s new name was Swami Rishimurti Saraswati of the Saraswati lineage of Swamis. Go figure.

It was clearly time for the world traveler to return home. Settling in Marblehead, MA, where his parents, who were suffering from health challenges resided, Rotondi opened up Rod’s Wrap & Juice Bar, a tiny organic, vegan and raw restaurant in the back of a vitamin store. Capitalizing on a lifetime of culinary lessons from around the globe, Rod developed the recipes and concept, which he later reincarnated as Leaf Cuisine. He won “Best of Show” and “Best Theme” awards in the prestigious Marblehead Culinary Arts Festival and helped his parents make some diet and lifestyle changes, greatly improving their health.

Relocating to California to pursue his dream, Rod was immediately recruited by raw foods chef and author James Brotman (Juliano) to set up, manage and chef at a new exclusive restaurant in Santa Monica.  However Rod’s dream was to create an inclusive eatery, one so affordable and delicious that people would eat there daily and make a positive change to their lives. Thus was born Leaf Cuisine, the first certified organic restaurant certified by QAI (Quality Assurance International). Opening on October 17, 2004 to lines extending out the front door, Leaf Cuisine offers, “truly clean, delicious and affordable food in a convenient and friendly format.”

Rod, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife and baby daughter, takes part in many charity and sponsored events throughout Los Angeles including Save the Bay, The American Heart Association and the Breast Cancer Fund. He also speaks at schools and colleges and has catered the Grammy Awards and other entertainment industry functions.

Rod believes that “this is it”. Right here and now. There is a consequence for everything, which is why, “Leaf is Life.”

MALIBU

The celebrated Malibu Beach Inn has reopened after undergoing a multi-million dollar, head-to-toe remodel that will make it the only luxury hotel destination in Malibu.

The renovation, which began in October 2006, includes completely refinished interiors and exteriors, as well as the addition of a new dining room, expanded meeting space and a members-only beach club. The new Malibu Beach Inn is designed to complement its location on the sands of Malibu’s exclusive Carbon Beach by featuring clean-lined architecture and interiors, a beach-inspired color palette and natural materials. Rich woods, elegant stone, sleek glass and polished steel will be used throughout the hotel to create an organic indoor/outdoor experience that utilizes the setting’s unique marine assets.

At the heart of the renovation is a new guests-only 44-seat dining room, which will feature indoor and oceanfront terrace seating, both of which boast breathtaking views and the sound of the tumbling surf below. The hotel will offer a unique food and wine experience featuring an extensive list of hand-selected small-production wines from California’s premier wine regions paired with Mediterranean tapas and coastal California cuisine.

The hotel’s 47 guest rooms, including six suites, each with ocean views, balconies and fireplaces, will feature custom-made furnishings, luxurious fabrics and the latest communications and entertainment systems. In-room amenities will also include a mini-bar stocked with Dean & Deluca favorites, wine rack with hand-selected California vintages, and skin and hair care products from Molton Brown.

Plans for the hotel also feature an expanded lobby and 5,000 square feet of oceanfront meeting space with state of the art technology and full catering capabilities, as well as high-speed wireless and cable data connections throughout the hotel, making the Malibu Beach Inn a perfect destination for meetings and intimate corporate retreats.

Upon its opening, the Malibu Beach Inn will debut its Carbon Beach Club, an exclusive limited-membership experience that offers residents and non-hotel guests access to the hotel’s private beach with luxurious amenities and services.

About the Malibu Beach Inn

The privately owned Malibu Beach Inn is the only luxury oceanfront hotel destination between Santa Monica and Santa Barbara. Located on famed “Billionaire’s Beach,” the 47-room hotel was built in 1989 and has become a beloved destination for both leisure and business travelers. After a complete contemporary makeover, the property will feature a guests-only dining room, private beach club and attentive European-trained staff. The Malibu Beach Inn Carbon Beach will offer guests the ultimate Malibu Experience.

For reservations or other inquiries about the Malibu Beach Inn and Carbon Beach Club, check web site www.malibubeachinn.com or call (800) 562-5428.

MAMMOTH LAKES

Mammoth Lakes Ice Rink is open. At 85 feet by 200 feet, the rink is large enough to accommodate a full-sized hockey rink. The new rink will not host NHL teams, but it will be home to many Mammoth visitors skating beneath open skies.

For more information contact the Mono County Tourism Commission, (800) 845-7922, tourism@monocounty.org, www.monocounty.org

The largest private collection of ski memorabilia, fine art and literature is on display at the recently reopened Mammoth Ski Museum in Mammoth Lakes. New exhibits include the life and times of Mammoth Mountain founder Dave McCoy, with photos taken by McCoy throughout his development of the ski resort.

For more information contact the Mono County Tourism Commission, (800) 845-7922, tourism@monocounty.org, www.monocounty.org

80/50 Mammoth is named for its elevation at 8,050 feet. This new private residence club in Mammoth Lakes lifts the concept of resort home ownership to luxurious heights. 80/50 Mammoth is situated steps from gourmet restaurants, boutiques and the Village Gondola. The first four units, contained within another private residence club called Talus, sit on the 10th fairway of the Sierra Star Golf Course in Mammoth Lakes with views toward Lincoln Mountain. Designer Eric Fishburn used fine quality materials to craft homes of high detail and workmanship. An additional 19 units are planned.

For more information contact the Mono County Tourism Commission, (800) 845-7922, tourism@monocounty.org, www.monocounty.org

Westin Hotels and Intrawest luxury resort in Mammoth, a 230-condominium-hotel has opened its doors. The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth is the first full-service, luxury property in the region and the flagship property of The Village at Mammoth. The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth is located in The Village at Mammoth, adjacent to Mammoth Mountain’s 15-passenger express gondola. Among its many amenities, the hotel includes panoramic views of the mountains, a full-service restaurant, 24-hour room service, ski valet, a swimming pool and hot tubs, fitness facilities, underground parking and over 2,000 square feet of meeting space.

For more information contact the Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth, (760) 934-2526, www.westinmammoth.com. 

MARINA DEL RAY

Marina del Rey is fast becoming one of Southern California’s hottest destinations and with all the recent growth in the area, it’s easy to see why. The Marina’s building boom includes both commercial and residential developments such as hotel and retail plazas. Over the past three years, the Marina has welcomed a number of new restaurants, shops and hotel renovations. The community has improved its infrastructure as well, including improvements to parks and the addition of new brightly colored signage along its walkways and streets that tell visitors and locals alike exactly where they are and what each area offers.

Here’s an update on what’s hot and happening in Marina del Rey.

Marina del Rey was recognized as the #4 destination of Fortune Small Business’ inaugural list of the “100 Best Places in America to Live and Launch a Small Business” in the April 2008 issue. The only California destination to be recognized in the top ten, Marina del Rey was one of eight California cities featured on the list. Waterfront location, growing business opportunities, a business-friendly tax structure, along with the area’s retail and tourism features, were all factors in determining the Marina’s high ranking.

Marina del Rey is Los Angeles’ premier waterfront destination lined with million-dollar yachts, sleek hotels and lounges, acclaimed waterfront dining and fine shopping boutiques. Known for its plethora of water activity, the Marina is also a 10-minute cab ride from LAX making the area a prime destination for business travelers. With the famed Venice Beach as its neighbor to the North, Marina del Rey is, indeed, a popular destination for locals, entrepreneurs and travelers alike.

For more information, please contact Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau at 310-306-9900 or visit www.visitmarina.com.

From the estuary where Ballona Creek meets the Marina Channel to the sands of Venice Beach, Marina del Rey features a bastion of locals that offer interesting water and land based activities, all in a compact 400-acre area located just 10 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport. Once you’ve reached the Marina and checked into one of its six harbor front accommodations, you’ll enjoy one of the few places in Los Angeles where you won’t need a car to enjoy an array of exciting activities that are all accessible on foot, by bike, public transportation or boat.

The Marina is easily accessible by all forms of public transportation from LAX including three major municipal bus lines -- Los Angeles’ public Metro Bus Line, Santa Monica’s Big Blue Bus, and the Culver City bus -- reach the area’s four major passages: Washington Boulevard, Via Marina, Lincoln Boulevard and Admiralty Way. (Visit mta.net, bigbluebus.com, and culvercity.org/bus for schedules and fare information.) You can also find airport shuttles, taxis, vans and private coaches at Los Angeles International Airport to reach all accommodations in the Marina.

All of the Marina’s six hotels surround the harbor as well, and offer accommodations at a range of price points, from the luxurious five-diamond The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey (4375 Admiralty Way, 310-823-1700, ritzcarlton.com) to the deluxe Marina del Rey Marriott (4100 AdmiraltyWay, 310-301-3000, marriott.com/laxmb); to the first-class Marina del Rey Hotel (13534 Bali Way, 800-882-4000, marinadelreyhotel.com), Marina International Hotel & Bungalows (4200 Admiralty Way, 800-529-2525, marinaintlhotel.com), Best Western Jamaica Bay Inn (4175 Admiralty Way, 888-823-5333, bestwestern-jamaicabay.com), and Foghorn Harbor Inn ( 4140 Via Marina, 800-423-4940, foghornhotel.com), which offers complimentary shuttles to and from LAX.

Iconic Marina Del Rey Hotel Opens After $25 Million Renovation

Marina del Rey’s First Hotel Re-Opens with New Guestrooms, Marina-Facing Pool and Chic Indoor-Outdoor Restaurant in Time for Marina’s 50th Anniversary

Marina del Rey Hotel, the Marina’s very first hotel, has reopened today, January 5, 2015, after a $25 million renovation. Originally opened in 1964, the historic Marina del Rey Hotel opens as the Marina celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

The iconic waterfront property features 164 updated rooms and suites, a full-service restaurant aptly named SALT, 24-hour room service, concierge assistance, outdoor, marina-facing pool and sundeck, waterfront wedding venue, multiple meeting spaces, boat slips and many more 4-star amenities.

“We are proud to re-open the doors of this hotel that has served as a destination in the Marina for more than half a century,” said Matt Marquis, President of Pacifica Hotels. “We’ve put a great deal of thought and resources into the Marina del Rey Hotel to make it the preeminent hotel choice in Los Angeles. We’ve made significant investments in the Marina across several hotels, and know this will only serve to elevate the area’s hospitality landscape.”

Marina del Rey Hotel’s guestrooms reflect the California calm character of the property’s surrounding area. With cool colors and maritime touches that seamlessly blend the interior with the azure Marina exterior, guests enjoy a relaxing and retreat-like experience. Rooms are luxuriously furnished and appointed with 55” LED HDTV’s, premium high-thread Egyptian cotton linens, Molton Brown bath amenities, plush oversized robes, Keurig Coffee machines, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

SALT, the hotel’s on-the-water, indoor-outdoor restaurant, features seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmer’s markets to create a quintessential Californian dining experience. Executive Chef Mark Gold serves contemporary favorites with a seasonal twist.

Daily breakfast includes sweet and savory delights, alike. Steel Cut Oatmeal Brulee with organic milk, brown sugar brulee, toasted pumpkin seeds, and fresh seasonal berries satisfies the sweet, while Buenos Dias Chilaquiles with fresh tortilla chips, poached egg, chorizo, avocado, black beans, hooks cheddar, radish, red onion, and roasted tomatillo sauce please those wanting something savory.

Lunch and dinner offer both light and hearty fare ranging from a “Crab Louie” salad with fresh Dungeness crab meat, avocado, tomato and farm egg on little gem lettuce to Scottish Salmon on potato emulsion, with grilled king oyster mushrooms and tarragon butter. Sweet treats include a Warm Butter Cake with roasted apple and maple ice cream and a Banana Split with handmade ice cream, salted caramel, strawberry and marshmallow. Brunch combines some of the breakfast and lunch menus’ highlights, as well as champagne specials to accompany the scenic seaside setting.

Craft cocktails created by master mixologists include: the SALT with Cazadores Tequila, Patron Citronage, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, fresh lime juice, blue ice chips, blue salted rim; the Dry with green tea infused Hendricks Gin, Cherry Herring, Benedectine, fresh lemon juice, and ginger beer; and the Sweet ‘n’ Sour with Captain Morgan Spiced Rum, pineapple juice, coconut water, fresh lime juice, and hibiscus syrup. A selection of craft beers, as well as California and international wines are also available. A bar menu to accompany the refreshing beverages includes bite-sized nibbles like deviled eggs, Maine lobster roll and grilled artichoke.

A perfect after work place to mingle with colleagues or friends, or share a romantic sunset rendezvous with a sweetheart, SALT serves up a picturesque Happy Hour. Offering $5 bites, beer, wine and well drinks from 4-6:30pm, there’s no better place to cap off the day.

A poolside, kids and 24-hour room service menu are also available.

Featuring 9,700 total square feet of event space with breathtaking views of the Marina and main channel, the hotel is an ideal choice for conferences, weddings, and other noteworthy occasions. Designed to accommodate up to 350 guests, the Marina del Rey Hotel’s event facilities afford picture-perfect affairs.

A new waterfront event lawn has been added to the property grounds and offers panoramic views of the Marina. At 3,500 square feet, the grass lawn is perfect for wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, or large waterfront gatherings. Inside, parties and groups can find a variety of spaces in the hotel’s dynamic meeting rooms. A waterfront private dining room that holds up to 12 people serves as an intimate venue for parties and celebrations of all kinds.

Over the past half-century, the Marina del Rey Hotel has served as the central meeting point for local yacht clubs, fashion shows, and high-profile Los Angeles functions. Set against a Marina backdrop of yachts and aquatic adventurers, and conveniently located just a few miles from LAX airport, the Marina del Rey Hotel is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. Positioned close to local attractions like Venice Beach, Fisherman’s Village, Ballona Wetlands and Santa Monica Pier; water activities including kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing and sailing; and a wealth of renowned dining and shopping options; guests have the best of Los Angeles within easy reach.

Rates start at $209/night. To book, visit web site www.pacificahotels.com/marinadelreyhotel/specials

The Marina del Rey Hotel is located at 13534 Bali Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292. For additional information about the hotel, please call 310.301.1000 or visit www.marinadelreyhotel.com.

The iconic Marina del Rey Hotel is one of five Pacifica hotels in the half-mile radius of Marina del Rey. This prolific area penetration is part of Pacifica’s ongoing strategy to enhance regional tourism and bring additional business to the Marina del Rey area. The company’s other Marina del Rey hotels include Jamaica Bay Inn, Hilton Garden Inn Marina del Rey, Inn at Marina del Rey, and Inn at Venice Beach.

About Pacifica Hotels
Pacifica Hotels was formed in January of 1993 to consolidate the hospitality operations of Invest West Financial Corporation, which has been involved in the acquisition, development, refurbishing and operating of quality hotel properties and other commercial real estate properties for almost 30 years. Today, Pacifica Hotels is the largest owner and operator of boutique hotels on the Pacific coast. Pacifica Hotels’ 27 independent and flag properties in key California cities from San Diego to San Francisco, as well as Hawaii and Florida, feature outstanding locations, AAA 3 and 4-diamond ratings, upgraded amenities and high standards of guest service. For complete hotel descriptions and reservations, visit www.pacificahotels.com

On land, there are many ways to pack in a little fun in the sun in the Marina. Active Angelenos have long known the pleasures of exploring the beaches, bike paths and walkways that surround and intersect the Marina. Rent inline skates at Venice Beach Rentals (2500 Ocean Front Walk at the end of Washington Blvd., 310-864-3290) or bicycles at Daniel’s Bicycle Rentals & Sales at Fisherman’s Village (13737 Fiji Way, 310-980-4045), or simply experience the Marina on foot. On summer weekends, you can also experience the Marina via the WaterBus, a water shuttle which glides between six popular Marina locations including Burton W. Chace Park, Dolphin Marina, Fisherman’s Village, Marina Harbor, Mother’s Beach and Waterfront Walk. For just $1 per person each way, you’ll see the harbor’s major sites.

Another alternative is the Marina del Rey Beach Shuttle which provides free service throughout the Marina. Major stops include Playa Vista, Fisherman’s Village, Waterside Shopping Center, Admiralty Park, Via Marina & Panay Way, Venice Beach Pier, Marina Beach Shopping Center and Burton Chace Park. The Beach Shuttle operates in the summer on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and leaves 15 minutes after each hour. The Beach Shuttle also provides late evening service to the Marina’s free summer concerts in Burton Chace Park and at Concert Park in Playa Vista. Regular hours of operation are Friday/Saturday 10 am to midnight and Sundays and Holidays 10 am to 8 pm.

Visit marinadelrey.lacounty.gov or www.visitmarina.com for hours of operation and other information.

One way to stretch your legs and get a close-up of the Marina’s yachts is a stroll down Waterfront Walk. Begin at gentle Mother’s Beach at the corner of Admiralty Way and Via Marina and walk past waterfront hotels, yacht clubs and slips of gleaming boats. Continue on the bike path going west on Fiji Way until you reach the Ballona Wetlands and the Ballona Creek as it stretches into the Marina’s South Jetty, where you’ll find a bird-watcher’s delight. Free Freshwater Marsh, Saltwater Marsh and Dunes Interpretive Tours operate year-round at the Marina-adjacent wetlands on select weekend days. Call 310-306-1507 or visit ballonafriends.org for more information.

The bulk of the Marina’s eclectic mix of dining, shopping and entertainment options is also located along Admiralty Way. Spend an afternoon picnicking in Burton W. Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way, 310-305-9595; lacounty.info) with its rolling green hills and harbor views. Or try a decadent breakfast or lunch at any one of the waterfront eateries along the thoroughfare. With outdoor patios, endless harbor views and great food, these dockside dining options are perfect places to unwind and enjoy a relaxing meal. For a casual bite with delightful views, stop at Tony P’s Dockside Grill (4445 Admiralty Way, 310-823-4534; tonyps.com). Jer-Ne Restaurant +Bar at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey (4375 Admiralty Way, 310-574-4333; ritzcarlton.com) and Cafe del Rey( 4451 Admiralty Way, 310-823-6395; cafedelreymarina.com) are favorites for their fantastic brunches and water views.

At the Waterside Marina del Rey (shopwaterside.com), on Admiralty Way between Mindanao and Fiji Ways, you’ll find the perfect place to spend a few hours window shopping at a host of upscale retail outlets featuring baubles, bling and stylish clothing for men, women and children.

In the evening, a romantic stroll can end at Glow (4100 Admiralty Way, 310-578-4152; glow-bar.com) in the Marina del Rey Marriott a sexy outdoor lounge with warm amber lighting, comfortable couches, fire pits and a crushed glass waterfall. Or, wend the waterfront walk to Jer-Ne Lounge (4375 Admiralty Way, 310-574-4333; ritzcarlton.com) at The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey where low-key relaxation includes sipping cocktails fireside while listening to live jazz or DJ lounge and house music on Thursdays and Fridays. A stop at Casa Escobar (14160 Palawan Way, 310-822-2199; casaescobar.com) means high energy cocktails and dancing with live music and salsa dancing during the week, and DJ dancing on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Marina’s bike path and walkways also lead visitors along the leafy, residential Via Marina as it curves to meet the channel. Bike, walk, or blade to the North Jetty on the Marina Peninsula and watch boats putter out to see, or observe nature at work along the channel, from preening herons to feeding pelicans. Stroll down the peninsula’s big canal and ogle the architectural houses along with protected flora and fauna.

Or, follow the Marina’s bicycle path to the place where the Marina meets Venice Beach at End of Washington Boulevard. Spend the afternoon people-watching, or catching the bay view from the Venice pier. When it’s time to stop for a bite along this part of Washington, sidewalk patio dining and large picture windows make people-watching as much a part of the experience as the food. Here, happy hour rules at venues like the Venice Whaler Bar & Grill (2-10 Washington Blvd, 310-821-8737; venicewhaler.com) which attracts singles, couples, groups and lots of locals for casual cuisine, live entertainment, and an extensive drink menu. Interesting options on this end of the Marina include eateries specializing in fare from the Caribbean to Asia and Mediterranean. Try the ropa vieja at the Cuban-inspired Mercedes Cuban Grille (14 Washington Blvd., 310-827-6209; mercedesgrille.com) and sushi from the adjacent sister restaurant Naked Sushi( 14 Washington Blvd., 310-827-6209; nakedsushi.com) Or get a healthy helping of Lebanese food and sidewalk views at Gaby’s (20 Washington Blvd., 310-821-9721) a few doors down.

Further east on Washington Boulevard is the intersection of Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice. Less than two miles north of the Marina lies an area that’s become home to a hip array of eclectic furniture shops, antique stores, high-end clothing boutiques, art galleries and funky cafés. Most of the shops are squeezed in between Venice Boulevard and Main Street. Here you’ll find custom furniture shops, great gifts and knickknacks, the hottest designer clothes and galleries galore. Hungry? Look for the entrance of tea house and chocolate shop Jin Patisserie (1202 Abbot Kinney Blvd, 310-399-8801; jinpatisserie.com) , and enjoy an Asian-influenced high tea complete with finger sandwiches and scones in the Zen courtyard. Visit abbotkinney.org for more information.

Get Out on the Water

Set foot in the Marina and you’ll soon see that it’s a mecca for those who love to boat. Getting out on the water is a great way to spend the day, and here there’s plenty to experience -- from cruises, to fishing trips to small boat rentals that make for hours of fun you can’t experience anywhere else in L.A.

Hornblower Cruises & Events (13755 Fiji Way, 888-467-6256, Hornblower.com) offers Sunday brunches and weekend dinner and cocktail cruises for a unique dining experience right on the water. Thanks to Marina Boat Rentals (13719 Fiji Way, 310-574-2822; boats4rent.com) there are more ways than one to whet your appetite for being on the water. With a full range of small watercraft rentals, including electric, power, sail and kayaks, you can spend an hour, half a day or the whole day puttering or paddling around the channel and harbor. Pack a picnic and enjoy ocean breezes and the serenity of being on the water. Into fishing? Here’s a bonus for being on business: Marina del Rey Sport Fishing (13759 Fiji Way, 310-822-3625; marinadelreysportfishing.com) makes getting out on the water easy. This company specializes in public half-day and 3/4-day fishing excursions that are open to the public. Trips depart mornings and afternoons and they’ll supply licenses, poles and bait. Advanced reservations are recommended, so call ahead, hop aboard and catch that big one.

If a private day at sea is what you had in mind, a day sail or a sunset cruise is easy thanks to the Marina’s many charter companies. Couples and small groups of friends can rent a sail or power boat along with a skipper, pack a picnic, and head to Malibu for the day, taking in the coastline and miles of open cobalt ocean. Blue Pacific Boating (14000 Palawan Way # C, 310-398-8830; bluepacificboating.com), Blue Water Sailing (13505 Bali Way, 310-823-5545; bluewatersailing.com), and Marina Sailing (4633 Admiralty Way, 310-822-6617; marinasailing.com) all offer boats for daily hire.

Looking for something a little different than a “star tour” or walking down Hollywood Boulevard? It’s easy to make a side excursion to Catalina Island – another locale where you won’t need wheels -- thanks to the The Catalina – Marina del Rey Flyer (13737 Fiji Way, Suite C2, 310-577-9177; catalinaferries.com), a high-speed catamaran shuttle that makes getting to and from Catalina Island a breeze. Book a night or two at one of the island’s quaint bed and breakfasts or resort hotels and enjoy exploring the quaint town of Avalon. Visit catalinachamber.com for more information.

For those seeking the Hollywood experience, don’t fret, there are several different tour companies that will pick up star seekers in the Marina and escort them into the throes of Hollywood. Companies like Amazing LA Tours (310-587-2211, amazinglatours.com), VIP Tours (310-841-8114, viptoursandcharters.com) and Los Angeles Sightseeing (310-458-0257, lasightseeing.com) offer a variety of private, public, city, and theme park tours.

For more visitor information, contact the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau at 310-305-9545. For group information and travel trade, call 310-306-9900. More information is also available on line at www.VisitMarina.com.

Marina del Rey Marriott --

(4100 Admiralty Way, 310-301-3000, 800-228-9290; marriott.com/laxmb) has completed a top-to-bottom $10 million renovation that includes outdoor relaxation cabanas at the pool, renovated meeting spaces, new interior design, and the hot new outdoor lounge, “Glow,” with a two-story crushed glass water wall and fire pits. Playboy.com recently named “Glow” to its A-list by recognizing it as one of the top ten lounges in the U.S

Ritz-Carlton --

Marina del Rey (4375 Admiralty Way, 310-823-1700, 800-241-3333; ritzcarlton.com) has also undergone recent renovations, updating all 304 guest rooms, as well as its corridors and Club Lounge. The hotel has completed a $3.8 million expansion and transition of its Fitness & Massage Center into the luxurious Boutique Spa. The highly-anticipated spa features eight treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure services, steam room experiences, relaxing lounges, a spa retail shop and a new state-of-the-art cardio/weight studio furnished with high-tech equipment.

Marina del Rey Hotel --

(13534 Bali Way, 310-301-1000, 800-882-4000; marinadelreyhotel.com) and Marina International Hotel and Bungalows (4200 Admiralty Way, 310-301-2000, 800-529-2525; marinaintlhotel.com) changed ownership in 2006. Now owned by Santa Barbara-based Pacifica Hotel Company, elements of the hotels have been upgraded including new linens and CD-clock radios in all of the rooms, as well as updated lobby spaces with new furniture, carpets and wall hangings.

Foghorn Harbor Inn --

(4140 Via Marina, 310-823-4626, 800-423-4940; foghornhotel.com), located on the sands of serene Mother’s Beach, has added wall-mounted flat-screen televisions to all of its rooms, as well as free high-speed wireless Internet access.

Hornblower Cruises & Events --

(Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way, 866-548-9563; Hornblower.com), a full-service company that offers both public harbor cruises as well as large private yacht charters, introduced the streamlined luxury yacht Dream On, which holds 300 people and features a built-in dance floor. Additional public events include the Friday Blues Dinner Cruise where guests enjoy a live blues band and a dinner buffet while cruising the Marina waters.

Tiki Mermaid --

The Marina recently said aloha to the Tiki Mermaid (310-306-0020; tikimermaid.com), a casual “Trader Vic” style Polynesian-themed party boat that can carry up to 75 guests on two floors with two outdoor decks, a bar and a dance floor. Since it appeared on the scene, Tiki Mermaid has become popular for parties, corporate mixers and holiday events.

Blue Pacific Boating --

Last year, Seamist Skippers re-launched as Blue Pacific Boating (310-398-8830; sea-mistskippers.com). The company offers sailing instruction, skippered boat charters and bareboat charters aboard its fleet of sail and power boats at reasonable rates.

Waterside Marina del Rey --

(shopwaterside.com) was revamped and re-opened to the public in November 2005. The center was completely rejuvenated with a beautiful new look and chic new tenants including designer clothing stores Theodore and Theodore Man, Jill Roberts and Brighton Collectibles. The plaza also added a Cold Stone Creamery and an upscale French bistro called Le Marmiton, which has outdoor patio seating near the center’s central fountain.

Marina Beach Shopping Center --

Jer-ne Restaurant + Bar at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey --

(4375 Admiralty Way, 310-574-4333; ritzcarlton.com/hotels/marina_del_rey) welcomed Drew Sayes as executive chef in December 2006. Serving seasonal, local ingredients, Sayes’ menu features an unpretentious approach to California regional cuisine with global influences that keeps the restaurant’s cuisine fun, fresh and interesting. Recent menu items have included a fresh heirloom tomato and burrata caprese salad, Japanese squash soup and turbot with guanciale and hedgehog ragout.

Beechwood --

Deemed one of L.A.’s best new bars by Los Angeles Magazine, Beechwood, (822 Washington Blvd., 310-448-8884; beechwoodrestaurant.com), located on Washington Boulevard, right at the south end of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, features sleek, modern décor with leather couches in the large bar area, a patio with an outdoor fire pit, and a cozy dining room area. The creative comfort food menu from acclaimed chef Brooke Williamson, cool vibe, wine list and cocktail menu attract a broad clientele from Hollywood and business types to artsy surfers for dinner, drinks and late-night dining.

Cafe del Rey --

(4451 Admiralty Way, 310-823-6395) welcomes new Executive Chef Jason Niederkorn, who has worked at Red Pearl Kitchen and past restaurant Aubergine and Troquet in Orange County. Chef Niederkorn’s ambitious seasonal menus feature dishes like spotted skate wing with kalamata vinaigrette, truffle-topped thin crusted pizzas, a salad of frisée with banyuls vinegar topped with duck prosciutto and whimsical presentations of the day’s fresh catch.

Wharo--

(4029 Lincoln Blvd, 310-578-7114; wharo.com) brings the Korean barbecue craze to Marina del Rey with a menu of items marinated in traditional sauces, as well as a selection of fine wines and soju cocktails. Choose from kalbi (short rib), bulgogi (slices of flank steak), kobe beef, chicken, filet mignon or seafood and cook them to taste over the gas barbecue at each table. Don’t miss Korean specialties like scallion pancake and the sizzling, spicy rice-egg-veggie dish bibimbap.

Glow in the Marina del Rey Marriott --

(4100 Admiralty Way, 310-301-3000, 800-228-9290; marriott.com/laxmb) is one of the area’s newest nightspots. This lush outdoor lounge features sleek black rattan couches, warm amber lighting, fire pits, a crushed glass waterfall, sophisticated appetizers and hip cocktails and DJ downtempo music. Playboy.com recently named “Glow” to its A-list by recognizing it as one of the top ten lounges in the U.S

The Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau is an independent non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting Marina del Rey as a meeting and leisure destination. For more visitor information, including recommendations specific to your needs, please call 310-305-9545. For group information and travel trade, please call 310-306-9900. More information is also available on line at www.VisitMarina.com. The Marina del Rey Visitor Information Center is located at 4701 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292.

Approximately 60 paintings by Renoir, drawn from public and private collections in the United States and abroad, offer a fresh approach to the French Impressionist’s art. This exhibition is the first to explore the inventiveness and importance of these landscapes during the first decades of Renoir’s career. Remarkable in their freshness and immediacy, these works of art reveal nature as a deep source of inspiration and demonstrate the artist’s fascination with the effects of outdoor light.

MENDOCINO

MacCallum House is a collection of world-class properties all located in the historic and tranquil village of Mendocino. The Main Property, an 1882 Victorian, is a historic landmark. The dining room and cafe have been updated, maintaining the Victorian charm with its riverstone fireplaces but bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to the rooms. A recent acquisition is the historic Mendocino Village Inn, another stately 1882 mansion set on Main Street.

The first stage of an extensive remodel of the entire inn is nearing completion. Major restoration of three of the six accommodations in the barn on the Main Property has also recently been completed, providing elegant yet quintessential Mendocino lodging with views to the ocean and two acres of gardens. In addition, the vintage three-story water tower on the Main Property has been completely redone. Built in the late 1800s, the three-story tower has a working redwood tank on the very top and the original hand-dug well, 50 feet below, still produces water.

For more information contact Herman Seidell, MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant, (707) 937-0289, herman@maccallumhouse.com, www.maccallumhouse.com

MONTEREY COUNTY

Seafood Watch is a program created by Monterey Bay Aquarium designed to raise awareness about the importance of buying seafood from sustainable sources. Maui Ocean Center has partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to create Seafood Watch Sustainable Seafood Guide Hawaii 2008, a card which empowers consumers and businesses with the right information to make choices for healthy oceans. The card categorizes fish as a best choice, good alternative, or one to avoid altogether. More information about sustainable seafood and Seafood Watch are available on the website www.seafoodwatch.org.

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM OPENED SEAHORSE EXHIBITION

Explore the wonders of our ocean planet in nearly 200 galleries and exhibits at one of the world’s finest aquariums. Highlights include

a million-gallon indoor ocean with giant bluefin tuna,

ocean sunfish, sharks, mahi-mahi, stingrays and barracuda;

plus the largest jellyfish collection anywhere.

Other permanent exhibits include a two-story exhibit of playful sea otters,

a towering three-story kelp forest,

and the Ocean’s Edge galleries – a dramatic renovation of the aquarium’s original coastal exhibits that opened in 2005. Highlights of Ocean’s Edge include exhibits of large sharks and schooling fishes; a gallery devoted to the giant Pacific octopus; a walk-through wave crash tunnel; a naturalistic coastal wetlands gallery and shorebird aviary; and the award-winning Splash Zone family gallery with penguins, sea dragons and other engaging marine animals.

Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org for an exciting preview of aquarium exhibits and programs.

“THE SECRET LIVES OF SEAHORSES” NEW SPECIAL EXHIBITION:

Just one look at seahorses and it’s easy to see why they fascinate people. With a head like a horse, a snout like an aardvark, a belly pouch like a kangaroo, a prehensile tail like a monkey and the ability to change colors like a chameleon, seahorses are not your average fishes. A new, multimedia special exhibition at the nation’s No. 1 family aquarium will share the intriguing stories about seahorses, seahorse relatives and their habitats, as well as the threats they face in the wild. Included with regular aquarium admission.

“SPLASH ZONE: OCEAN HOMES”:

The revitalized and expanded Splash Zone: Ocean Homes – which re-opened on March 17, 2008 – doubles the area families with children can play and learn about the ocean. Over 45 new and improved bilingual interactive exhibits, activities and games allow kids and families to dive deeper into the diverse habits of the kelp forest. Features new live animal exhibits, from weedy and leafy sea dragons to pharaoh cuttlefish and potbellied seahorses. Highlights in the “Coral Reef Kingdom,” “Rugged Rocky Shore” and “Enchanted Kelp Forest” galleries include a larger and more immersive touch pool, crawl-through coral and kelp forest exhibits, a walkthrough kelp forest tunnel and larger penguin exhibit.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org for more information.

AUDITORIUM PROGRAMS: Programs featuring high-definition video footage play daily in the aquarium’s 250-seat auditorium; included with admission. Topics include jellyfish, otters, the deep sea, sharks – including the story of the aquarium’s great white sharks – and other fascinating species and conservation issues.

ADMISSION: All exhibits and programs included with aquarium admission – $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (over 65) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); $17.95 children and the disabled; under 3 free (admission prices subject to change).

In the “Getting Together” gallery, visitors learn that birds are not the only animals that woo mates with fancy dancing. Seahorses, sea dragons, pipehorses and pipefish engage in elaborate courtship rituals before they mate – sometimes lasting for three days.
Each morning during the breeding season a seahorse pair greets and signals interest in each other by displaying bright colors, intertwining tails, twirling around and promenading side by side. If the pair finally decides to mate, they’ll join together and rise in the water column as the female deposits her eggs into the male’s brood pouch where they are fertilized. The “Getting Together” gallery also features an animated film of this courtship ritual.

Competition is fierce among one seahorse species found in this gallery; male potbelly seahorses are known to fight over mates. The third smallest seahorse species, the dwarf seahorse, along with California’s only seahorse species, the Pacific seahorse, and the vibrantly colored banded pipefish are other animals featured in the “Getting Together” gallery.

In this gallery, visitors can send an electronic postcard to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to support the creation of marine protected areas in southern California waters, which are home to the Pacific seahorse, as well as five pipefish species.
Perhaps what most distinguishes seahorses from the rest of the animal kingdom is their unique life history – the males become pregnant and give birth. Tiled murals in the “Giving Birth” gallery highlight three different parenting strategies used by seahorses and their relatives. While male sea dragons and pipefish carry their young on a specialized brood patch on the abdomen or the tail, only seahorses have a fully enclosed brood pouch. In this gallery, visitors can find the longsnout and shortsnout seahorse species, along with a mangrove community that’s home to yellow seahorses and alligator pipefish.

Toward the end of the exhibition, visitors can pick up an educational card that details the problems with the curio trade and presents alternatives to buying dried seahorses in souvenir shops. And to commemorate their visit, they can take a photo alongside a five-foot tall sculpture of a pregnant male longsnout seahorse.

To “walk the talk” about seahorse conservation, Monterey Bay Aquarium is either breeding seahorses for the exhibit onsite, or acquiring animals from accredited institutions or licensed dealers who adhere to best conservation practices.
Spanish-speaking visitors will find bilingual signage and video captions throughout “The Secret Lives of Seahorses.”

“The Secret Lives of Seahorses” is included with regular aquarium admission of $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (65+) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); and $20.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. ( rates subject to change) Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Discounted tickets for members of the military and their families can be purchased in advance at many California and Nevada installations.

The aquarium is located on historic Cannery Row in Monterey. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in summer and major holiday periods from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Christmas Day). Summer hours include extended weekend hours, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. More information about “The Secret Lives of Seahorses” and the aquarium in general is available online www.montereybayaquarium.org or by calling (831) 648-4888. Advance tickets can be purchased online or by phone from the aquarium at 1-800-756-3737. Seasonal specials, details about special events and programs, family activities and live web cams can all be found online at www.montereybayaquarium.org.

The mission of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is to inspire conservation of the oceans.

Fishing for History: A Cannery Row Walking Tour

First Sunday of each month
Time: 1 to 3 p.m.
Ages: 10 and older; under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult
Fee: $16 per member; $20 per general public, plus aquarium admission

Past and present meet as we journey from the days of Monterey’s native Rumsien/Ohlone people through the boom times that made Monterey the “Sardine Capital of the World.” Along the way we’ll share stories of the diverse communities and early marine scientists who contributed to the rich culture of Cannery Row. Our guided tour starts with the historic cannery exhibits at the aquarium then leads you on a gentle walk along Cannery Row to the Maritime Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf. The program is co-sponsored by the Monterey Maritime and History Museum. 

NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT : “Mission to the Deep: Exploring the Ocean with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute,” highlights the research and technology of the Aquarium’s sister institution, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI); features interactive displays that simulate the control room of an MBARI research ship at which visitors can pilot three types of underwater robots on one of three “missions” to explore extreme ocean depths.

NEW DAILY PROGRAMS: A new 15-minute live program occurs daily at 2 p.m. where visitors can meet the only Laysan albatross (an oceanic seabird) at any U.S. zoo or aquarium and learn about the threats facing seabirds and what individuals can do to ensure the survival of these beautiful birds.

BUYING TICKETS ONLINE: Visitors can purchase aquarium tickets online on the aquarium’s web site – www.montereybayaquarium.org – without waiting in line. There’s no additional charge to print the tickets at home or pick them up at the aquarium’s will-call box office, and only a small fee if the tickets are mailed.

AUDITORIUM PROGRAMS: Daily programs include “You Otter Know,” an auditorium program in a lively game-show format that introduces visitors to the lives and adaptations of sea otters and freshwater otters. Audience members participate as contestants in this 20-minute program. “The One Degree Factor,” a 15-minute program that looks at the effects climate change is having on the world and what individuals can do to make a difference. “Jellies,” a 15-minute question-and-answer presentation about these fascinating and delicate drifters; “Exploring Monterey Canyon,” a 15-minute program with live video of deep-sea explorations; and “Empty Oceans, Empty Nets,” which examines the destructive effects of overfishing. Ongoing; beginning at 11 a.m. daily. Included with aquarium admission; passes are distributed inside the aquarium.

Most Aquarium Adventures programs run through September; some are offered year-round. Costs vary per program; aquarium members receive a discount. Visit www.montereybayaquarium.org/adventures for program details, previews and tickets (a detailed list of Aquarium Adventures is included below). Advance registration is recommended; register by calling 866-963-9645 or stop by the Aquarium Adventures Desk or Member Desk in the main lobby of the aquarium.

Regular aquarium admission is $29.95 adult; $27.95 senior (65+) and student (full-time college, with I.D.); and $17.95 children 3-12 and the disabled. Children under 3 are admitted free of charge. Discounted tickets for members of the military and their families can be purchased in advance at many California and Nevada installations.

The aquarium is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer months and extended hours until 8 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through September 5.
In 2010 the Monterey Bay Aquarium celebrates more than 25 years of inspiring ocean conservation.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Seaside Resort Development, LLC are pleasedto announce a new luxury mixed-use development in Seaside on the Monterey
Bay in Northern California. Fairmont will manage the resort, scheduled to open
in 2009. The hotel will feature 330 rooms and suites, of which 160 will be
situated in bungalows secluded amongst the trees, 24,000 square feet of
meeting space, a 14,000 square-foot Willow Stream spa, dining outlets, an
outdoor pool and the existing 36-hole championship Bayonet and Black Horse
golf course facility that the property will manage. In addition, a residential
component is planned with 170 condominiums and 125 single-family lots.

California’s treasured sanctuary of nature and tranquility tucked away in the lush Montecito foothills, San Ysidro Ranch, A Rosewood Resort, has announced the reopening of its most beloved and famous accommodation - the Kennedy Cottage. As part of the resort’s $150 million renovation and named for its most celebrated honeymooners, John and Jackie Kennedy, the Kennedy Cottage has been luxuriously restored to become one of the most exclusive and lavish retreats in California.

Beautifully decorated with a mix of casual American country and Asian accents, the two- bedroom, two-bathroom 1200 square-foot sanctuary is both elegant and private. Carefully selected antiques were handpicked from the world travels of the resort’s owner, Ty Warner. Other touches include flat screen TVs, three fireplaces throughout the cottage and a photograph of the Kennedys, taken during their honeymoon visit, which hangs in the living room. Luxury surfaces of the cottage exterior include copper rooftops and rain spouts while a 500 square-foot stone terrace boasts an outdoor rain shower and a six-person sunken spa – with both ocean and mountain views. A gated front entrance and private courtyard also provide an additional intimate setting for guests. French oak flooring covers the living room and bedrooms while the bathrooms have radiant heated ceramic tile floors. New details of the twin master suite baths also include dual pedestal sinks, polished-nickel fixtures, classic claw foot tubs and separate glass-door showers.

After a yearlong restoration, reservations for the cottage that once hosted American royalty, demonstrated by the guest register signed by John F. Kennedy, can be made at 800.368.6788 beginning at $2,990 a night.

With a rich history encompassing nostalgia, romance and tales of Old California, San Ysidro Ranch stands alone as a historical state landmark. Originally part of land titled in 1769 by the King of Spain, it later served as a way station for Franciscan monks in the late 1700s and then was used as a working citrus ranch in the 1800s. The 1800s saw a progression of development at the Ranch leading to the opening of its doors in 1893. Known for its idyllic setting, personalized service and guarding of guest privacy, the Ranch has attracted celebrities and luminaries from around the world including Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Bing Crosby and Groucho Marx to Winston Churchill, Somerset Maugham and Sinclair Lewis. Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were among those married at the Ranch. In addition, John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned there and John Huston completed the script for African Queen during a three-month stay.

San Ysidro Ranch is part of Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, LLC, which was founded by entrepreneur Ty Warner, the multi-billionaire who is committed to making the best hotels, resorts and golf courses in the world even better. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts joins a team of world-class architects, designers, and other visionaries helping Ty Warner Hotels set a new standard for luxury, making them the ultimate destinations for individuals who are as demanding as Ty Warner himself.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages properties worldwide including The Mansion on Turtle Creek and Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas, The Carlyle in New York, CordeValle in San Martin, California, Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, Las Ventanas al Paraíso in Los Cabos, Mexico, Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, and a triumvirate of world-class Caribbean properties - Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, Caneel Bay on St. John and Jumby Bay on Antigua.

For more information on Rosewood Hotels & Resorts or to make a reservation, please call 888.ROSEWOOD or visit www.rosewoodhotels.com

MOUNT SHASTA

Mt. Shasta Ski Park will introduce thousands of powder enthusiasts to four new ungroomed runs. The runs offer a cutback trail to the Douglas lift. Once you have made your way up the hill, you can take advantage of the brand new terrace deck Black Diamond Grill overlooking the park’s bustling activity. The deck is nestled between Black Fox and Red Tail runs and offers barbeque and beverages. Among routine maintenance and technological updates, the ski park has installed a computer drive in the Coyote lift and a new cable for the Marmot lift.

For more information contact Jason Young, Mt. Shasta Ski Park (530) 926-8665, www.mtshastaskipark.com.

NAPA VALLEY

Cindy Pawlcyn, Sean Knight and Ken Tominaga, partners in Go Fish, Napa Valley’s only fish house located in St. Helena, announces new additions to the restaurant’s outdoor dining area and bar.

The outdoor experience will include weekly acoustic contemporary and blues music every Thursday night, a flat panel television set for the bar and a misting system to keep patrons cool.

From its start, Pawlcyn, the pioneering Napa Valley restaurateur who also owns the venerable Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, envisioned Go Fish as a classic West Coast fish house with a few twists, including a San Francisco-inspired raw bar, classic sushi bar and a comfortable yet elegant outdoor watering hole that lets locals and visitors alike drink and dine alfresco in true Wine Country style.

Famed Napa Valley architect Howard Backen of Backen Gillam Architects, helped Pawlcyn and partners realize this vision by enlarging the original patio, which now features seating for 100 and one of Napa Valley’s largest outdoor restaurant bars.

Shaded by two large canvas awnings and the leafy branches of four mature mulberry trees, the patio’s teak and marble-topped tables accommodate groups of all sizes, from cozy twosomes to parties of 10 or more. The patio’s focal points include a large stone fireplace and the six-seat Carrera marble bar, which features a stainless steel back-bar, subtle lighting and oversized mirrors.

The restaurant’s crisp light and dark blue color scheme is echoed throughout the patio’s décor, from the long dark blue pillow-backed banquette to the light blue awning stripe and matching placemats. The Go Fish team’s enthusiasm for seasonal, local, fresh-from-the-garden ingredients extends to the outdoor dining area as well, where pots and planters are filled with an eye-catching array of edible herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruit that guests are encouraged to explore.

Go Fish’s full menu is available at the bar and on the patio, including an array of artfully prepared sushi dishes and small plates like Salt-Crusted Gulf Prawns and Monterey Bay Calamari, as well as full, multi-course fish dinners featuring entrees like the restaurant’s signature “Fish Your Way,” which gives diners the option of the day’s fresh catch served wood-grilled or sautéed with a sauce of choice. Dining is available on the Go Fish patio seven days a week 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Call 707-963-0700 for reservations, or go to www.gofishrestaurant.net.

About Go Fish

Like the children’s card game it’s playfully named after, Go Fish, has become a classic since its inception in 2006. From its start, Cindy Pawlcyn, the pioneering Napa Valley restaurateur who also founded the legendary Mustards Grill and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen, envisioned Napa Valley’s first fish restaurant as a paean to all things seafood, including a San Francisco-inspired raw bar, authentic sushi and sake bar, and classic West Coast-style fish house. Created with partners Sean Knight and Ken Tominaga, and designed by famed Napa Valley architect Howard Backen, the 220-seat restaurant delivers it all with an expansive menu that utilizes only the freshest sustainable fish and seafood that’s flown in daily, as well as farm-fresh produce that’s sourced regionally and augmented with the bounty from the restaurant’s on-site 1 1/2-acre organic garden. The restaurant’s extensive wine list includes a selection of whites lauded as the best in the bay area by the San Francisco Chronicle. Go Fish is located at 641 Main Street in St. Helena and offers indoor and outdoor dining year-round in true Wine Country style seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Acclaimed Chef Cindy Pawlcyn introduces Spring and Summer menus for her legendary Supper Club, held every Wednesday at Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen in downtown St. Helena. Inspired by the rich culinary traditions of various cultures both around the world and here at home, Pawlcyn creates a delicious feast each week that showcases her exuberant love for food and travel. Patrons should prepare for an unforgettable dining experience as they sample the edible delights of Peru, Northern Mexico's Pacific Coast, the Greek Isles, and a "Northern Lights" extravaganza featuring the delicacies of Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Drawing on her flawless culinary instincts, a 6,000-volume cookbook collection, and requests from fans, Pawlcyn takes diners along for the ride as she travels the globe on the backstreets of Napa Valley.

Pawlcyn brings three decades of experience to her kitchen. A pioneer of California wine country cooking, she has received the Robert Mondavi Award for Culinary Excellence and has been nominated twice by The James Beard Foundation for Best Chef in California. She's also noted for her around-the-world culinary travels. Executive Chef Pablo Jacinto and his staff also bring their cultural heritage and travel experiences to the table, providing ideas for the weekly themes.

Some weeks Pawlcyn keeps it close to home, exploring the distinct regional cuisines of the United States. From the corn and chilies of the Southwest to the cioppino of San Francisco, patrons get a taste of America's culinary past and learn about the diverse cultural influences that form modern cuisine. Select wines are offered with all the menus.

Price is $40, including all courses and paired wines. Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen is located at 1327 Railroad Avenue, St. Helena, California 94574.

For reservations, please call 707-963-1200 or visit www.cindysbackstreetkitchen.com

Listen about wineries while you tour the Napa Valley with the launch of WineFlight’s new AudioTourGuide CD titled “Finding Wine on Highway 29.” Wine and the wine country can be intimidating, but with the audio guide, you will know as much or more than the person standing next to you at the tasting bar. The CD allows you to listen to minute-and-a-half segments on more than 50 wineries (both boutique and behemoth) and their respective appellations as you drive near them. The AudioTourGuide includes the CD, a map with icons noting each winery’s amenities (including picnic tables, gift shops, or magnificent gardens and views), and the TourFinder. As part of WineFlight’s community outreach, a portion of the proceeds resulting from sales will benefit the County of Napa Housing Authority, specifically farm workers. “Finding Wine on Highway 29” is available at www.wineon29.com and in various wine-related retail outlets, hotels and wineries in and around the Bay Area.

For more information contact Shaun Andrews, WineFlight Visionary, (707) 225-1807, wineflight@gmail.com, www.wineon29.com.

The whole-ownership condominium-hotel is the latest development to break ground in the emerging Oxbow District in the heart of America's wine capital. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE: HOT) and Intrawest ULC announce the ground-breaking of The Westin® Verasa Napa Residences, one of the largest private developments in the city's evolving riverfront community. The property is owned by Intrawest and will be managed by Intrawest Hospitality Management Division under a long-term management agreement.

A rare real estate opportunity such as The Westin Verasa Napa Residences is the fruition of countless hours of planning and collaboration by the City of Napa and two industry leaders - Intrawest, a world leader in developing resort destinations and Westin Hotels and Resorts®, with world-renowned service executed with effortless style and a gracious attitude. This exceptional partnership between Intrawest and Westin once again brings together the visionary innovators of successful hotels and residences throughout North America.

The Westin Verasa Napa will serve as a vital cornerstone for the development of an exciting new district in downtown Napa. The riverfront development will serve to enhance the rich diversity of Napa's surrounding wineries, growers and culinary culture. The Oxbow Public Market - located next to the development - broke ground on September 28th and is a testament to the emerging region. The 40,000 square foot marketplace, which includes a scenic outdoor deck with seating along the Napa River, will feature a diverse tenant mixture of local food vendors, artisan cafes and organic farm stands. Steve Carlin, founder and CEO of the Oxbow Public Market confirms the significance of the partnership, "We welcome The Westin as a wonderful new addition to the community. Their exciting project is further evidence of the Oxbow District's growing attraction as a destination for tourists and locals alike."

Construction on the hotel will begin this year, with a planned opening in 2008. The Westin Verasa Napa will be the first full-service property to come to Napa in nearly five years. The property will also add 5,320 square feet of conference space to the Napa Valley. A downtown Napa presentation center showcases architectural models and interior design samples.

For more information about The Westin Verasa Napa, check web site www.westinnaparesidences.com.

NEVADA

The Oakdale Cowboy Museum opened its newest exhibit, “Stone Fences and Corrals in the South Central Nevada Foothills: A Living History. The exhibit brings to life the stone fences and corrals that are scattered throughout the Sierra Nevada foothills. These structures stand in the open range land as reminders of California’s hardworking past. Interviews and research collected for the exhibit explain the cowboy history of the region and how it is being carried forward into the present. The Oakdale Cowboy Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information contact Oakdale Cowboy Museum, (209) 847-5163, www.oakdalecowboymuseum.org.

NEWPORT BEACH

What to See & Do

Beatiful City Boasts Scenic Waterfront Locations to Get Fit

For most, exploring nature trails or biking along a scenic path in warm weather is unfortunately not an option anymore. The last autumn leaves are falling, winter clothes are unpacked and the first snow sightings are starting to emerge.

With the holidays right around the corner and with the pressure to look your best, why not retreat in the most beautiful recreation city in the fall? Offering the outdoor enthusiast a sunny playground to shape up on land and water, retreat to Newport Beach, CA this fall! You can have your pick of recreational paths or aquatic activities, while taking in the natural beauty of Newport Beach and relishing the sunny Mediterranean weather.

“As a local, I like take advantage of the active lifestyle in beautiful Newport Beach,” says senior vice president & chief marketing officer at Newport Beach & Company, “from hiking trails with panoramic ocean views to kayaking and stand up paddleboarding in the peaceful bay, there’s so much beauty in the destination, I never feel unmotivated to work out.”

Here are the top locations and activities to get fit on land and water.

Paths to Success:

Enjoy the many picturesque biking, running and walking trails throughout Newport Beach:

  Balboa Island: Quaint and charming Balboa Island offers a 2.6-mile walking path around the perimeter of the island. You can do your cardio while observing beautiful beach cottages and action-packed Newport Harbor.

Back Bay: The tranquil Back Bay offers a rustic trail around the 10.5-mile bike or run path. You will take in the authentic California foliage while sweating it out.

Balboa Peninsula: You can take the oceanfront boardwalk from the tip of the peninsula all the way north along the coastline to neighboring cities. If you want to stay in Newport Beach, bike, skateboard, or rollerblade along the 3-mile trail from start to finish.

Pier to Pier: Hit the sand for a 2-mile run from Newport pier to Balboa pier, located on Balboa Peninsula.

Corona del Mar: Run the stairs at petite family beach, Corona del Mar, where you can see boats of all size cruising in and out of Newport Harbor’s entrance while you feel the burn.

Crystal Cove State Park: Not only are there miles of trails several with ocean views, there is also a flat biking and walking path perched upon a bluff with an endless ocean view.

Workout on the Water:

Did you know that Newport Beach has the most outdoor water recreation space in all of Orange County? Here are options you can choose from:

 Beach: Recognized by the National Resource Defense Council and Heal the Bay, take advantage of one of the cleanest and safest beach in the country. Try yoga on the beach, swimming, surf lessons or body boarding in the waves.

Newport Harbor: There are a number of fun activities to do in Newport Harbor. And the best part is that you will forget you’re working out. Try outrigger canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, stand up paddle yoga or even a 10-person stand-up paddleboard.

Newport Beach is an extremely active community and invites visitors to join in on the fit fun. From biking trails and running paths and to surfing in the ocean and kayaking in the bay, Newport Beach is the ultimate outdoor aficionados’ playground. With holidays right around the corner, you’ll want to get fit in Newport Beach this fall.

Ride a Duffy

Duffy Electric Boats first opened its doors in Newport Beach in 1970, becoming the first modern U.S. company to build and manufacture electric powered boats on a large scale. Referred to as "the father of modern electric boats," Marshall "Duffy" Duffield actually launched the first electric boat. As a 16-year-old Southern Californian, Duffy entertained his dates on cruises in his father's gas-powered boat. Now there are 1,500 Duffys alone on Newport Harbor! Headquartered in Newport Beach , Duffy's business has extended around the globe and is recognized as one of the world's leading manufacturers of electric boats. The Duffy Boat is a signature attraction in Newport Harbor and a must do for summer!

Surf "The Wedge" or Just Be a Spectator!

The Wedge is a famous surf spot with large surf breaks close to shore. Every summer, swells that begin life off New Zealand, half a world away, finally slam home in North America at the tip of this famous breakwater. As the waves approach shore, they bounce off the jetty's boulders and, in the final seconds before landfall, merge and morph into a backbreaking and monstrous wave known as the Newport Wedge! The Wedge is an elusive wave that breaks only a few times a year-it peaks during the summer months-and because of its unpredictability, it's no place for a board. Because of this, it remains a site for wave riding in its purest form- bodysurfing. The Wedge breaks so hard, in such shallow water, that even highly skilled bodysurfers sometimes get seriously injured, proving that this is not a wave to be taken lightly. Unlike Oahu's Banzai Pipeline, Northern California's Maverick's, or any other world-class big break, the Newport Wedge has the unusual distinction of being entirely man-made.

Downtown Oxnard is becoming a center for visual arts with the opening of Studio Channel Islands Art Center West; an annex of the SCIART at Cal State univesity Channel Islands Campus, 519 S. "C" Street. The new gallery is open Wednesday through Saturdays from noon to 5 P.M. by appointment only.

For more information check web site www.studiochannelislands.org.

Visitors travelling along the Central Coast will now be able to find out all they need to know about Oxnard, Ventura County, the Central Coast region and California as a whole -- because Oxnard now has a new California Welcome Center.

The Center is located at the Town Center Building at 1000 Town Center Drive, off Interstate highway 101 at Oxnard Boulevard, and this site will join 12 other similar agencies strategically positioned across California. The Oxnard Welcome Center offers a myriad of complimentary services and information about Oxnard, Ventura County and regional destinations, in addition to general information on California itself. Oxnard was awarded the designation by the California Travel & Tourism Commission after going through a lengthy bid process.

The new Center is open Monday through Thursdays from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; Fridays from 8:30 am to 6 pm; Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.

For more information on the Welcome Center, contact the Oxnard CVB at 805-385-7545, ext. 224.

2018 Official Newport Beach Visitors Guide Now Available!

Highlighting the best to see and do in Newport Beach, the new 2018 Official Visitors Guide is now available! New this year are enhanced neighborhood spotlights, themed itineraries, extended hotel, restaurant and attractions listings, including unique Newport Beach profiles on the people and places that make this seaside oasis so vibrant. Request a copy digital or printed copy!

OAKLAND

Get a Taste of Temescal   

Temescal is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Oakland, and also one of the tastiest. Edible Excursions tours offers "Temescal Tastes," a guided tour of some of the best eats in the area. Begin your journey at the Urban Village Farmer's Market, where you will sample tacos from Cholita Linda (who will also open up a brick and mortar shop in the area soon), fresh pastries from Starter Bakery, and more. Mosy through some of the other neighborhood favorites, including stops at the Sacred Wheel Cheese Shop, The CRO Cafe and Doughnut Dolly on Temescal Alley, and the new Juhu Beach Club. Tours are held Sundays from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Sign up for a tour today!

Top Chef Opens Indian Eatery in Oakland

Top Chef alumna Preeti Mistry brings Indian street food to the Temescal area with Juhu Beach Club. The restaurant opened on March 1 and will serve dinner only for the time being (lunch to come later). Some highlights on the menu include the Sassy Lassi, a mango and lime yogurt cooler, Pav sliders (pictured here), a Curryleaf Corriander Shrimp curry, and plenty of other delicious treats. Don't forget to bring the little ones -- an extensive kid's menu is included. For more on this newcomer to Oakland's Temescal neighborhood, visit JuhuBeachClub.com.

Grab Your Mac and Cheese for the Road

Can't wait to dine at the popular Homeroom restaurant in Oakland? Now you can grab your cheesy goods to go with the drive-thru service. Download the smart phone app for Homeroom and place your order online, then pull up to the designated parking space in front of the restaurant to have your order delivered to your car. But don't get too used to this luxury -- this program will be a trial basis for dinner only until proven successfull. For more, visit the Homeroom website. 

Fulfill Your Late-Night Ramen Craving

Feeling hungry after a night out on The Town? Hopscotch, who has just been recognized as one of Travel + Leisure's "America's Coolest New Diners," has created a late-night pop-up restaurant to satisfy your craving -- the Yonsei Ramen Shop. On Friday nights between 11:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. only, head to the pop-up to enjoy a simple yet satisfying selection of traditional Japanese ramen, including appetizers such as kimchi and edamame, and a choice of two ramen bowls -- pork or vegetarian. Stay up-to-date on the latest happenings at Yonsei by following their Facebook feed.  

Beers and Brats on the Horizon

Gearing up to open this spring, The Hog's Apothecary will be an "American-style beer hall" offering a selection of 32 craft beers, four local wines, and more than 10 different house-made artisanal sausages. This casual spot near 40th and Broadway will also offer plenty of options to keep you entertained, including shuffleboards, dart boards, and three TV's so you can root for our Oakland sports teams. Keep an eye on the opening date by following their Facebook page and website. 

Cafes and bars.

Camber (Uptown) - 1707 Telegraph Avenue 
Carriage House (Old Oakland) - 827 Washington Street
Duende (Uptown) - 468 19th Street
The Forge (Jack London Square) - 66 Franklin Street
Legionnaire Saloon (Uptown) - 2272 Telegraph Avenue
Lungomare (Jack London Square)
Loring Cafe (Uptown) - 37 Grand Avenue
Ramen Shop (Rockridge) - 5812 College Avenue
Rosamunde Sausage (Old Oakland) - 911 Washington Street
Tea Here Now (Chinatown) - 1721 Webster Street
The Trappist Provisions (Rockridge) - 6309 College Avenue
 
 ONGOING:
Savor Oakland Food Tours - Jack London Square
Arctic Tours: Fenton's Creamery
Tuesdays: Free cuppings at 2 p.m. - Blue Bottle Coffee 
First Wednesday of the Month: Wine Wednesdays - JC Cellars
Fridays: Free tastings at Oakland Starbucks Coffee Company from 2 p.m. - close
Fridays: Old Oakland Farmers Market - Old Oakland
Fridays & Saturdays: Weekly Wine Tastings at Farmstead Cheeses & Wines 
Fridays & Saturdays: Dinner, a Movie and the Universe - Chabot Space & Science Center
First Saturday Tastings: Taste the latest releases at Stage Left Cellars 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturdays: Grand Lake Farmers Market - Grand and Lake Park Avenues
Sundays: Montclair Famers Market- La Salle at Moraga Avenues
Sundays: Temescal Farmers Market- 5300 Claremont
Sundays: Jack London Square Market - Broadway and Embarcadero

The Gastro Pig in Uptown Oakland

The Gastropig, a pork-centric breakfast sandwich spot, is opening in the heart of Uptown Oakland. Located two blocks away from 19th Street BART station and across the street from Pandora, The Gastropig is ideally situated for busy commuters who want to pick up a hearty breakfast on their way into the office or want to enjoy a fast, high-quality meal. The restaurant will offer an array of delicious breakfast sandwiches and pastries served all day, with additional hot lunchtime options. For more information, visit www.thegastropig.com.

Indian Street Food Restaurant, Curry Up Now

Curry Up Now, the popular Bay Area family of restaurants and food trucks, is opening their first East Bay brick-and-mortar location in Oakland, bringing area diners a new source for Indian street food. Curry Up Now menu highlights ($5.00 to $14.00) will include quintessential street food items such as Bhel Puri,, Vada Pav and Pav Bhaji. Not to be missed will be the restaurant's iconic Tikka Masala Burrito and their deconstructed Samosa along with The Naughty Naan and Sexy Fries plus many vegan and gluten-free choices. The dine-in menu will be available for take-out and off-premise catering will be a specialty of the house. Curry Up Now will feature a weekend only brunch menu showcasing traditional Indian breakfast favorites. For more information, visit www.curryupnow.com.

Shan Dong Restaurant(328 10th Street, #101) – Oakland’s best dumplings are at Shan Dong’s! From celebrities to famed dignitaries, no stop to Chinatown is complete without a meal to experience handmade dumplings and noodles. Watch the dumplings and noodles being made behind glass as you wait for your table.

Sobo Ramen (988 Franklin Street, #186) – The newly expanded ramen stop has been growing in popularity thanks to its new happy hour menu items and bar. Located in the popular Pacific Renaissance Plaza, try their soju drinks and Oakland Restaurant Week menu.

Peony Seafood Restaurant(388 9th Street, #288) – Oakland’s premier dim sum and Chinese banquet menu, this restaurant bustles on the weekends for family brunch and nighttime wedding and party receptions. The restaurant has been in business for 20 years and is a staple of Oakland Chinatown cuisine.

Cinnamon Tree Chinese Cuisine (708 Franklin Street) – This iconic restaurant is an architectural gem for photographers, especially at night when the building’s pagoda lights up the streets of Chinatown. Cinnamon Tree offers dim sum and banquet menus as well as everyday lunch and dinner options as well.

Tao Yuen Pastry (816 Franklin Street) – Don’t be surprised to find lines out the door for this small dim sum deli and party tray restaurant. They serve up fresh daily dim sum and lunch items to-go (there’s no tables to sit down and eat). Perfect for a quick breakfast, snack or a lunch on the go to eat at the Pacific Renaissance Plaza and people watch.

Best Taste Restaurant (814 Franklin Street) – Family owned restaurant with fresh Chinese BBQ and roasted ducks hanging in the window, this is a fast and affordable lunch and dinner option for diners unfamiliar with Chinese food. Stop in for the more familiar fried rice, chow mein, or chow fun or be adventurous and order the pickled chicken feet and traditional entrée items on the menu!

For more information Email at calendar@visitoakland.org or write to 463 11th St. Oakland, CA 94607; 510-839-9000; info@visitoakland.org or web site www.visitoakland.org

ABOUT VISIT OAKLAND

Visit Oakland is a non-profit organization marketing Oakland, California as a travel destination. Visit Oakland offers a variety of complimentary services and materials for travelers interested in visiting Oakland. For more information, visit www.visitoakland.org

VISIT OAKLAND LAUNCHES NEW “OAKLAND COFFEE RUSH” CAMPAIGN

Coffee Rush to Debut on International Coffee Day (September 29, 2018) and Tells the Story of Oakland’s Unique and Vibrant Coffee Culture. Oakland has over 2,300 coffee shops and over 17 roasters within the city, and they all have their own unique story to tell. From small-batch roasters that serve coffee straight from their facility, to coffee shops serving locally roasted coffee, visitors are sure to find a one-of-a-kind coffee experience in Oakland. The city’s coffee scene is thriving to such a degree that Oakland is now ranked the third most popular city in the U.S. for coffee fanatics, after Portland and Seattle

Oakland’s coffee professionals are revolutionizing the coffee scene, and are creating innovative and sustainable roasting practices. The roasting company Oakland Coffee, founded by the members of Green Day, specialize in organic, sustainably-grown, fairly traded coffee served in 100% BPI Certified Compostable pods and packaging.

Visitors can get a taste of Oakland coffee in many unique spaces, including Bicycle Coffee Company’s mobile coffee roasting bike, Red Bay Coffee’s converted shipping container, or by enjoying a cup of coffee from Café Santana Roasting Company while viewing local art on display. Oakland’s roasters also offer delicious bites like vegan baked goods from Timeless Coffee to classic pastries from Highwire Coffee Roasters.

For the more adventurous coffee drinkers, Slojoy Coffee Roasters offers a Mint Julep drink containing espresso, simple syrup and fresh mint, shaken and poured over ice and topped with sparkling water. Café Santana Roasting Company, a Latino owned and themed café, offers a Horchata Latte, Mexican Mocha, homemade Lavender Latte as well as a secret menu.

For visitors looking for a hands-on Oakland coffee learning experience, Red Bay Coffee offers latte art classes, Blue Bottle Coffee offers brewing classes and Highwire Coffee Roasters offers coffee tastings with their baristas.

For more information, visit oakland.simpleviewcrm.com. Follow on social media using @visitoakland and #OaklandCoffeeRush.

CHINATOWN

Oakland Chinatown runs from 6th Street to 12th Street, in between Broadway and Lake Merritt. 

Home to a plethora of ethnicities, including groups from all over Asia, the neighborhood is a “working Chinatown.” The constant bustling with open air vendors and other activities make the area a convenient destination for local shoppers, foodies and dedicated tourists looking for a true local gem.

Chinatown is a neighborhood that encompasses all five senses. Visitors will see ducks hanging in Chinese BBQ windows, smell traditional herbs and spices, hear vendors selling their goods, taste the delicious foods and snacks in the area, and touch each fresh produce item to purchase.

Chinatown’s proximity to Downtown Oakland, the Oakland Convention Center and Lake Merritt make the neighborhood conveniently accessible and a great place to experience Oakland’s local Asian culture and lifestyle.

Oakland Asian Cultural Center

(388 9th Street, #290) – OACC is the cultural hub of Chinatown to promote community engagement and social justice through arts and culture. Arts performances, show opening, and events are scheduled throughout the year.

Street Art – The heart of Chinatown’s intersections are beautifully painted in a red and yellow design where pedestrians are encouraged to walk diagonally. Furthermore, the city is filled with black and gold murals from the Dragon School muralist team whose mission is to fill Chinatown’s public walls with 99 golden dragons.

SHOPPING

Pacific Renaissance Plaza (388 9th Street) – The hub of Chinatown is this shopping plaza and apartment complex. Complete with its own parking garage, it is easily the best location to meet up with others before exploring Chinatown together. Home to a variety of restaurants, stores, and jewelry shops, this should be your first stop in your Chinatown visit.
New Tin’s Market (310 7th Street) – A local staple from the famous Tin family in Chinatown who owned multiple businesses and restaurants in Chinatown, the New Tin’s Market is under new ownership. However, the store still sells traditional Chinese grocery fare including a meat counter, fresh fish, and open air produce section. Check out their new Chinese BBQ section complete with roast pig and ducks!

Follow Oakland Spotlight on social media using #oaklandspotlight and #oaklandloveit.

The Oakland Spotlight program is Oakland’s first-ever neighborhood promotion initiative designed to support local businesses, spread economic benefits, and expand tourism impact to areas outside of traditional visitor locations. Featured information will include information on where to dine and shop in the neighborhood, as well as information on events and cultural activities happening that month. Venues and attractions will be selected with input from community leaders and groups from each neighborhood.

The program embraces the diversity and richness of Oakland by focusing on a new neighborhood each month, encouraging residents and visitors alike to get out and explore different parts of the city. Visit www.oaklandspotlight.com to learn more about the initiative and featured neighborhoods.

OJAI

About Ojai

Experience the magic of Ojai during any season! Ojai makes for a cozy wintry getaway and provides a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Ojai experiences some of its best weather during the holiday season, making it a perfect time to visit and take in all of its offerings -- hike Ojai's beautiful traverse mountain ranges or bike along its many wandering paths. Take a back country jeep tour, or see how olive oil is made at a local ranch. Kick start your day with some locally roasted coffee, then indulge in a luxurious spa treatment. Or do nothing at all, except cozy up to the fireplace one of Ojai's inns.

With one-of-a-kind, unchained‚ shops and boutiques (free of chained stores with its no chain store policy Ojai also offers the perfect opportunity to turn getting through it to getting away, and the chance to collect those special holiday finds in a truly charming shopping village. Visitors can browse through the numerous specialty stores offering everything from upscale apparel to fine art to hand-crafted jewelry and home furnishings. One Ojai favorite -- a great place to find that only in Ojai gift -- is Made in Ojai, featuring locally-made specialties including teas, lotions, honey, olive oil, hand-made soaps, jewelry, artwork, books and more. Book browsers can get lost for hours in Barts Books, offering all types of rare and out-of-print first editions. Treasure hunters can go antiquing at Treasures of Ojai, or shop for unique finds at Human Arts or Kava Gifts.

For more information, contac the Ojai Visitors Bureau · 206 N. Signal Street, Suite P · Ojai, CA 93023 · USA

Family Fun

For the family that is looking to enjoy small-town ambience in a friendly environment, Ojai offers a fun-filled getaway in a scenic setting. With so many local attractions and things to do in Ojai, the whole family can experience a new adventure each day.

The downtown Arcade is a place where dad, mom and the kids can stroll to Ojai Pizza Company (which makes a great picnic eaten under the trees at nearby Libbey Park), an ice cream cone at Ojai Ice Cream or old-fashioned penny candy (remember Moon Pies?) at Kingston’s Candy Company.

During the summer months, enjoy the free concerts on Wednesday nights at Libbey Park where balloons are still 25 cents each and everyone marches around the bandstand. The Fourth of July parade is the epitome of all things Americana with local Ojai residents lining the street to watch. It’s an all-day celebration with fireworks at night! Nearby Casitas Water Park offers a wet adventure in a picturesque setting around the rolling green hills of the Casitas Recreation Area, where families can enjoy many outdoor recreation activities.

More suggestions for things to do and see

Pack a picnic and head to Libbey Park.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at Kingston’s Candy Company.
Pick Pixie Tangerines during the season at a local ranch.
Go horseback riding in the foothills with a knowledgeable guide.
Rent bikes and ride the Ojai Trail.
Hike on one of Ojai's scenic trails, or even do a family geocache hike.
Boat or fish at Lake Casitas. During the summer, the Casitas Water Park is open.
Enjoy a family dinner under the Oaks at Boccali’s Pizza and Pasta.

It is no exaggeration to say that this area offers some of the most beautiful Southern California hiking trails in the world including the Sespe Wilderness and the Matilija Wilderness – just 12 miles from town. Pick up a picnic lunch at Westridge Market or Rainbow Bridge, and head to the hills for a day of adventure.

The Oaks at Ojai

Don't forget about fitness this holiday season! The Oaks at Ojai has several packages running -- The Midweek Stress Break Package including five nights, gourmet spa cuisine meals, the complete daily fitness program and choice of a personal service. Rates start at $995.

Su Nido Inn

Relax and refresh at the artsy, Mission Revival Su Nido Inn in downtown Ojai. The spacious rooms coupled with fireplaces, kitchen areas, patios and heavenly featured beds create an oasis to escape to! Several packages are offered including hiking, golfing, olive oil tastings or simply create one!

An easy 90-minute drive north of Los Angeles and 50 minutes south of Santa Barbara, Ojai is a convenient destination for regional travelers as well as national and international visitors. The closest airports are in Santa Barbara (45 miles), Burbank (70 miles), and Los Angeles (85 miles). Ojai is just a 20-minute drive from U.S. 101 via California Highway 33. Free, ample parking is available throughout the city.

For more information on holiday offers and special events, contact the Ojai Visitors Bureau at www.ojaivisitors.com or 1-888-OJAI NOW.

OLYMPIC VALLEY

Helicopter Adventures Land at Resort at Squaw Creek, A Destination Hotel

Take flight from Resort at Squaw Creek, a Destination Hotel, as the property recently partnered with Heli-Vertex to offer helicopter adventures just steps away from the hotel. The tours takeoff and land just outside of Resort at Squaw Creek for a birds-eye view of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Mountain Range.

Flight plans include seeing classic area sites such as the Six Peaks of Squaw Valley, Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Sand Harbor, Shirley Canyon and the secret powder stashes of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. Custom tours also can be developed such as special engagement flights, getting married at 10,000 feet or heli-fly fishing. The 10-60 minute private Heli-Vertex tours start at $88 per person. From taking flight to accessing the slopes, the resort provides the perfect location to access unlimited winter adventures. The property also provides on-site ice skating, snowshoe, cross country rentals, and dog sledding.

After a day of play in the mountains, refuel at Six Peaks Grille, North Lake Tahoe's premier contemporary steakhouse. Aptly named for the spectacular views of the six peaks surrounding Olympic Valley, the resort‚s signature restaurant features sustainable seafood, meats and produce. Most of the produce on the menu is grown on-site in the resort‚s Rooftop Roots hydroponic garden.

With record snowfall at Squaw Valley this winter, Resort at Squaw Creek is an excellent base to explore all that the Sierra has to offer. Spring rates start at $199. To book a reservation at the resort or to learn more about Heli-Vertex tours, please visit www.squawcreek.com or call (800) 327-3353.

Resort at Squaw Creek recently completed a $7 million guest room renovation to further enhance the experience for travelers visiting the Lake Tahoe region. As part of the renovation, guest rooms have been refinished with soothing neutral textures and colors such as warm wood tones, rich leather, mixed metal and natural stone. Mindful of the property‚s stunning views, the design includes new elements of light drapery and pops of color to complement and maximize Resort at Squaw Creek's surroundings. The new modern meets mountain design aims to give guests a sense of place as it draws inspiration from natural surroundings found in the Olympic Valley and surrounding Sierra Mountain range.

With an abundance of amenities and location 10 minutes from the shores of Lake Tahoe, Resort at Squaw Creek is a AAA Four Diamond property offering guests year-round recreational opportunities including an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Jr. championship golf course, guided fly-fishing tours, and access to miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as five restaurants highlighting regionally sourced ingredients, the award-winning Spa at Squaw Creek, three outdoor heated swimming pools, and a shopping promenade. In winter, guests enjoy ski-in/ski-out access to Squaw Valley USA, a private ice rink, and a Nordic center. The 405-room resort has been recognized as a "Top 50 Ski Hotel" in North America and "Top 150 Resorts: Mainland" by Condé Nast Traveler.

OXNARD

This city that began as a small farming community, has blossomed into the largest town in this county and celebrated its 100th year birthday on June 30, 2003. Among the treasures to be found here is the Fillmore & Western Railway, (located in the eastern end of Ventura County), having introduced its new Antique Treasure Train.

What to See & Do

 Murphy Auto Museum

You'll find displays of classic, milestone and special interest vehicles at the Murphy Auto Museum, but it now couples the collectible cars with vintage clothing from all decades. Mannequins are dressed in clothes within the particular era and are placed at the vehicles side with a historical description.

If you're ready to explore the waters deep below in Oxnard, check out Sunfish Diving. Operated by Michelle & Andy Volaski, it's available for open parties and full and half-day charters to both Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands, as well as for coastal dives. The fee includes air fills, fresh hot water shower, private dressing areas, and a self-service galley.

Contact the Railway at 800-773-8724 for train information. For more information on the area, contact the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-269-6273, or web site www.oxnardtourism.com.

Contact the Murphy Auto Museum, located at 2230 Statham Boulevard, for hours and suggested donation, or call 805-487-4333.

For driving reservations, call Sunfish Diving at 805-644-1499.

Here Come the Whales!

With a long and rich history of agriculture and farming, Ventura County is perhaps best known for strawberries, citrus, and avocados. Few realize that its colorful history is also dotted with grapevines and winemaking. Grapes were among the many crops planted at the San Buenaventura Mission in 1782, as well as on land around Santa Paula and Ojai. Though few plantings of wine grapes remain in the area today, that has not prevented many vintners from producing and selling wine here in Ventura County.

With a unified goal of getting Ventura County ‘on the map’, so to speak, several local wineries have joined forces to produce the first ever Ventura County Wine Trail map, including Oxnard’s own Herzog Wine Cellars. A benefit for visitors and locals alike, the map features seven local wineries clustered around a pictorial map of the area, as well as local restaurants, hotels, shuttle companies, and even wine-centric events. “We’re extremely excited about the map,” says Monica Agyekum, Marketing and Public Relations Director for Herzog Wine Cellars. “We want to get the word out that people don’t need to travel further north to go wine tasting,” she continued. “They can visit several wineries right here in our own backyard that produce amazing wines,” she added. Participating wineries on the map include: Rancho Ventavo Cellars (Moorpark); Bella Victorian Vineyard & Winery (Camarillo); Cantara Cellars (Camarillo); Stafford Premium Wines & Camarillo Custom Crush (Camarillo); Herzog Wine Cellars (Oxnard); Old Creek Ranch Winery (Ojai Valley), and Casa Barranca Winery, also located in Ojai.

The map was designed as a full-service tool for tourists, highlighting some of the best the county has to offer. Travelers can plan an entire trip in the area, complete with a shuttle-led wine tasting trip, hotel stay, and dining suggestions. And, the Oxnard Convention and Visitors’ Bureau has also joined in on the project, offering visitors a more complete resource for information on what to do in the area.

For more information, contact Monica Agyekum, Herzog Wine Cellars, at 805-983-1560.  For general information and for vacation planning along the wine trail, call the Oxnard CVB at 1-800-269-6273.

A little bit of “Dixie” and a lot of California fun has come into Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard, with the arrival of the new paddlewheel riverboat, the Scarlett Belle. Inspired by the legendary film, Gone with the Wind, the Scarlett Belle is a custom-built replica of the once-popular 19th century river boat designed for a stable and gliding cruise on the water.

The Scarlett Belle serves as a party boat for chartered cruises and is equipped with two enclosed and walk-around decks, which can be decorated, set up and themed different ways, allowing for individual creativity. Accommodating up to 149 people, the Scarlett Belle is 87’ long by 30’ wide and contains two bars on each level with a dance area and light show on the lower deck, allowing for fun on the water! The downstairs level is fully enclosed with arched French windows and a grand back window. The larger lower deck can also be set up for projections for corporate meetings or a family photomontage.

To complete the look of an old fashioned paddlewheel riverboat, two smoke stacks sit upright at the bow of the boat and a steam whistle announces her arrival. The grand stairway to the second level is a beautiful center point, perfect for wedding photographs. The Scarlett Belle is designed to accommodate weddings, receptions, reunions, private parties, corporate meetings, seminars and other functions that would benefit from a unique setting.

For more information, call the Oxnard CVB at 1-800-269-6273 or visit web site www.visitoxnard.com.

For more information, call 1-800-269-6273 or visit web site www.visitoxnard.com.

Oxnard continues to add new eateries, each offering different personalities and unique cuisine. Nestled in downtown Oxnard, Barroco’s Restaurant is one of the new selections, which serves organic cuisine with a 100% organic bakery on the premises. It’s chic décor offers something for everyone and it’s wide range of choices include appetizers, salads, grains, pastas, legumes, soups, sandwiches and specialty Mexican dishes. Barroco’s is located at 529 S. “A” Street.

As golf becomes more popular, Oxnard readies itself now that the River Ridge Golf Club is quickly becoming a 36-hole course with the completion of the new Victoria Lakes Golf Project. Nine of the 18 holes were added to the Victoria Lakes golf course in 2004 and an additional nine opened in July 2008. The expanded course gives golfers many more options in terms of strategic and challenging play and offer incredible ocean views. River Ridge Golf Club is a public championship-rated golf course, which made its debut in 1986. The club is complete with a pro shop and meeting and banquet and barbecue facilities .

For more information, call River Ridge at 805-983-4653 or visit web site www.riverridge-golfclub.com.

Featuring works by individuals as well as thematic shows, the Plaza Art Gallery has opened up in downtown Oxnard located on the historic plaza adjacent to the Carnegie Art Museum. Housed in an Art Deco buyilding at 329 North 5th Street, the new gallery presents works by both contemporary and modern artists, with an emphasis on Latino Art. Special exhibitions are offered on a rotating basis. Plaza Art Gallery is open Wednesdays thorugh Sundays from oon to 6 p.m.

For more information, call 805-486-6947 or visit web site www.plazaartgallery.com.

Oxnard now houses what is said to be the world’s only Woolworth Museum, located in the original Woolworth Building in downtown Oxnard at 210 W. Fourth Street. The museum displays old products, menus, hundreds of historical items, photographs, books, lunch counter items and many other artifacts. There is also a section of working vending machines from the 1950s and electromechanical games that are still playable and at original prices. In addition, the Museum also contains an old 1965 jukebox, history wall showing Woolworth from 1858 to present, original Woolworth signs from the 1930s, original 1940s Woolworth take-your-own photo booth, working machines for pens, stamps, and postcards for 10 cents! The museum also has a lunch counter deli called the Exper-Mental Café, complete with an architectural style worthy of “The Jetsons.” The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information contact the Oxnard Convention & Visitors Bureau, (805) 385-7545, info@visitoxnard.com, www.visitoxnard.com

The historic Woolworth building in downtown Oxnard has been transformed into a new bakery and cafe. Fresh & Fabulous offers classic bakery goods such as cookies, biscotti, bundt cake and muffins in addition to several Mediterranean inspired selections such as Baklava. The cafe portion of the restaurant features homemade soup, specialty salads, gourmet sandwiches, panini grilled sandwiches as well as a variety of quiche and homemade Mediterranean-style choices including hummus, bruschetta, baba ganoush, tabbouleh and more.

In addition, the new eatery offers ready-to-cook meal kits to easily preapre gourmet meals within 30 minutes. The decor plays off the art deco style of the historic Woolworth building that was built between 1949-1950.

For more information, call 805-486-4547 or visit web site www.myfreshandfabulous.com.

Patterning itself after the original restaurant that once was 'the' place for stars of Hollywood's elite, Casa Escobar opened in Oxnard at 455 S. "A" Street, and is the latest in a string of family-owned Casa Escobars to follow the original. Descendents of founder Juan and Rosa Jay Escobar oversee the Oxnard restaurant, which offers a broader Latin menu than the original restaurant in an upscale atmosphere utilizing distinct favorites from Rosa Jay's recipe file.

The newest hotel in town is the GrandStay Residential Suites at 2211 East Gonzales Road. The 57-unit hotel offers all the comforts of home combined with the services of a grand hotel. Visitors are offered one and two-bedroom studio suites with full kitchens, each completely furnished to meet ones needs while traveling away from home. Besides offering comfortable accommodations, the GrandStay will be serving Afternoon Tea the first Sunday of the month, and will be offered to residents and visitors from 3-5 pm. The cost is $20 per person and will include a variety of tea, delicious scones, tea sandwiches, and an assortment of desserts.

For more information, call the GrandStay Residential Suites at 805-983-6808.

PALM SPRINGS

Recently opened is 20th Century Photography: Selections from the A.G. Edwards & Sons Corporate Art Collection featuring vintage and contemporary American and European photography. The Palm Springs Air Museum features real planes, real heroes, and real excitement with flight demonstrations to complement the museum’s permanent collection of flyable warbirds.

Replace: For Palm Springs Visitor Information, please go to www.VisitPalmSprings.com or call 800) 347-7746

Korakia Pensione -- A Honeymoon Oasis in the Heart of Palm Springs, CA

107 miles east of Los Angeles, lies a hidden Mediterranean Oasis in the heart of Palm Springs, California -- Korakia Pensione. Rated “The Sexiest Hotel in America” by the New York Times, and a Coachella celebrity hot spot,  Korakia is the ultimate getaway for those looking for a romantic getaway rather than an endless party. The resort features authentic Moroccan decor, unique, exquisitely appointed bungalows and villas, en-suite massages, a beautiful lounge pool, complimentary yoga mats in each room, and vintage books and board games in the library. Korakia has a strict no young children policy, so while you and your lover are enjoying one another's company, you won’t face a minute of disruption in this one-of-a-kind, peaceful hideaway.

Additional hotel information and packages:

Add-on Packages to personalize honeymoon romance (prices in addition to nightly rates):

Honeymoon Welcome - $79

Shower your partner with the love s/he deserves! Upon arrival, be greeted with a chilled bottle of champagne and rose petals to truly welcome you to a weekend of paradise and relaxation.

Romantic Getaway - $300

Treat your “Someone Special” to a romantic turndown with strawberries and champagne. Enjoy a 50-minute couples massage to relax during your stay. End the day with your room sprinkled with rose petals and twinkling candlelight for an unforgettable experience.

Escape & Celebrate - $550

Upon arrival, you and your guest are greeted with an oversize bouquet of flowers. Once you’ve settled in, relax and indulge yourselves with a 50 minute couples massage. As the evening winds down enjoy a delicious candlelit dinner for two on your private terrace or another picturesque patio on our property. (Dinner provided by Le Vallauris: 1 appetizer and 1 Entrée per person.) Cap off the evening by watching a vintage film in the outdoor garden while sipping champagne underneath the desert sky. The perfect package to celebrate your honeymoon or anniversary.

Average nightly rate: $229 - $359

Location:

257 S Patencio Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Phone: 760.864.6411

PARADISE

Paradise has a new Bed & Breakfast, the Chappelle de L’Artiste, featuring three luxurious rooms with in-suite bathrooms, two rooms with fireplaces. The Tudor style inn is surrounded by 20 acres of landscaping, including a huge catfish pond and waterfall, covered patio with grill and full kitchen, a chapel, a barn and pastures with three llamas and two donkeys, all providing a quiet, peaceful retreat in a pleasant environment.

For more information contact Chappelle de l’Artiste at 530-228-0941, E-mail ladymofparadise@hotmail.com; or check web site www.chapelledelartiste.com.

PASADENA

Nestled at the base of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains, just 9 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is the city that feels like a village. From mountains caressed by the sun, through gardens radiant with roses, to extraordinary turn-of-the-century architecture, there is nowhere else quite like Pasadena. It's truly a pedestrian-friendly city. Visitors can stroll along beautiful tree-lined South Lake Avenue, known as Pasadena's premier shopping district. Old Pasadena, a 22-block historical area featuring 19th century structures and quaint alleyways, is one of Southern California's hottest main-street entertainment districts. With 200 specialty shops, antique havens, boutiques, bistros and entertainment venues, Old Pasadena offers something for everyone.

With a population of only 140,000, Pasadena offers visitors a friendly and safe enclave. The city's mild Mediterranean climate also makes for ideal sightseeing conditions. Year-round temperatures average 76 degrees F.

For more information, contact the Convention and Visitors Bureau; 626 795-9311
or check web site www.pasadenacal.com

What to See and Do

Norton Simon Museum --

My visit to this museum was fantastic, and one afternoon wasn't enough time to take in all the exhibits. I know I'll return in the near future. Known around the world as one of the most remarkable private art collections ever assembled, over a thirty-year periuod, industrialist Norton Simon amassed an astonishing collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and a stellar collection of South and Southeast Asian art spanning 2000 years. Here you'll find Madonna and Child with Book, c. 1502-03 by Raphael; Portrait of a Boy, 1655-60, by Rembrandt van Rijn; Mulberry Tree, 1889 by Vincent van Gogh, and a collection of over 100 works by Degas and much more. Masterpieces from the 20th century include works by Picasso, Modigliani, and Brancusi. Highlights from the Asian collction include the bronze sculptures Buddha Shakyamuni, c. 550, India; Bihar, Gupta period, and Shiva as King of Dance, c. 1000, India.

Approximately 1000 works from the permanent collection of 12,000 objects are on view inside the Museum's galleries and sculpture garden throughout the year - so there's always something new to see - plus two temporary exhibition spaces. In addition, the Museum offers six to ten free public programs per month, including scholarly lectures and symposia, adult education courses, music and dance performances and hands-on activities for children. Private tours can be arranged by reservation.

Location: 411 West Colorado Blvd. Pasadena.

For more information call 626-449-6840 or visit www.nortonsimon.org. The Museum is open every day except Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m., and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday. General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Members, students with I.D., and patrons age 18 and under are admitted free of charge. Admission is free for everyone on the first Friday of each month from 6 - 8 p.m. All public programs, unless stated otherwise, are free. The Museum is wheelchair accessible. Parking is free.

The Pasadena Playhouse

Established in 1917, it is the State Theatre of California. In recent years, it's become instrumental in launching new works and landmark revivals for the American Theatre. In recent years, it has produced Tony and Pulitzer award-winning plays.

Located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue, 626-356-7529. Web site www.pasadenaplayhouse.org.Old Pasadena Food Tour

Melting Pot Food Tours

I took this delightful and educational food tour and found the foods and flavors unforgettable - and discovered places unknown to many tourists and even locals. The fascinating stories behind the foods, and this historic district that was once only a sunny place of orange groves, are guaranteed to entertain and delight. Colorful alleys and secret thru-ways spiced up the tour along with great ethnic eateries and sweets havens for tastings, including an authentic Mexican tortas cafe, a rare Nepalese-Tibetan restaurant and a wonderful chocolate shop. Also included was a sensory experience at a handmade soap kitchen.

During the 1.25 miles easy walk through part of this charming Old Pasadena, a National Register Historic District, I learned its history, folklore and architecture while our guide took us through its colorful alleys, hidden courtyards and secret thru-ways. I especially enjoyed the tastings at spectacular hidden ethnic eateries and sweets havens, and enjoyed fascinating stories behind the food with 8 generous food samples enjoyed in a grazing fashion. Tours are limited to 15 people per tour guide.

Conducted on Saturday & Sunday mornings and selected weeknight evenings year-round. For exact times, check web site www.meltingpottours.com. For more information and reservations call 800-979-3370 or 212-209-3370 (int'l) from 5 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.

Old Pasadena's Shopping

Bordered by Arroyo Parkway on the east and Pasadena Avenue on the west, Del Mar Blvd. on the south and Walnut St. on the north - the main thoroughfare is Colorado Blvd. This historic 22-block area, noted for its quaint alleyways and breathtaking architectural styles, is recoglnized as one of Southern California's hottest shopping and entertainment areas. The 200 buildings dating back to the 1880s and 1890s that line the streets of Old Pasadena now hold the treasures of trendy boutiques and the dining rooms of hip eateries. Dine in one of 80 restaurants, ranging from upscale bistros to cozy outdoor cafes, or browse through 120 retail stores, boutiques, antique stores, galleries and book stores. Entertainment options run the gamut from cinemas to theatre. At night, the area offers live entertainment from classical to blues, while billiards and dancing venues are available, too.

More information at web site www.oldpasdena.org

Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA)

THE PMCA is dedicated to the exhibition of California art and design from 1850 to the present. Informed by the state's rich mixture of cultures and inspired by its impressive geography, California art has long been defined by a spirit of freedom and experimentation. HGere, exhibitions and educational programs explore the cultural dynamics and influences unique to California that have shaped and defined art in all media.

Since opening in 2002, the PMCA has produced exhibitions ranging from contemporary deisgn to historic photography to site-specific installations. Non-profit, the museum is located in a 30,000 SF three-story, miexed-use facility. The building, designed by Los Angeles architectural firm MDA Johnson Favaro Architecture and Urban Design, is one of the cultural centerpieces to the redevelopment of the historic Pasadena Playhouse District. An open-air staircase accentuated by ever-changing natural light from an oculus above creates a dramatic entrance into the museum. The stairs lead to the second-floor lobby, 8000 SF gallery spaces and a bookstore. The third floor includes a vast rooftop terrace that commands a breeathtaking vista of the 1927 City Hall dome and the San Gabriel Mountains to the north.

The museum is oipen Wednesday through Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. A fee is charged; free to museum members and children under 12, and free the first Friday of the month. Access for people with disabilities is provided.

Location: 490 East Union Street, Pasadena. Parking is available on the ground floor of the museum.. For reservations and information call 626-568-3665 or check web site www.pmcaonline.org.

Kidspace Children's Museum

Opened in 1979, Kidspace truly impressed me, especially watching children engrossed in all kinds of unique play. By 1995, the museum gained its reputation as an innovative institution in the community -- not only with annual events, including the Rosebud parade (a child-sized Rose Parade), the "creatively creepy" Haunted Housse, Critter Expo and the Eco-Arts Festival, but by enriching chldrens' lives and their families. Here, they discover the excitement of learning while engaging in the creativity of play. Through the many exhibits, kids can unleash an earthquake, feed giant bugs, craft art through nature, climb raindrops 40 feet into the air, discover earth's rocks, bring in their discoveries from outside to be identified and so much more. I certainly enjoyed exploring Kidspace as much as the children did! The museum's logo is certainly true -- "Where play & Learning are one."

Kidspace Children's Museum is definitely a complete sensory experience -- touch, smell, hear, taste and see, through the eyes of a child - and enjoy yourself completely no matter how old you are.

Kidspace Children's Museum is located at 480 N. Arroyo Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91103; 626-449-9144.

School year ours are September-May; Tuesday-Friday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.. Closed Mondays, except for select holidays and special events.

Summer hours are from Memorial Day-Labor Day, Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. If you have a membership the perks are free visits, special discounts at the store and cafe, sneak preview events and more.

Note: Kidspace has 14 gardens full of pollen, a real beeive and a cafe full of wheat, dairy products and nuts. If anyone has allergies, please be careful and alert the staff if you need assistance.

The cafe has fresh food offerings from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends. Plan on celebrating your child's special day with a memorable party here, or rent the museum for team building, baby showers, retirement parties and more. Above all, don't forget to visit the Busy Bee Learning Store where you'll find unique toys, books and educational materials.

For more information check web site www.kidspacemuseum.org.

The Gamble House

Designed by Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene, the Gamble House is considered to be one of the finest examples of architecture from the early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement. The home was built in 1908 for David and Mary Gamble (Procter and Gamble soap and toothpaste fame).

Descended from Scottish and Irish ancestors, David Berry Gamble was a second-generation member of the Procter & Gamble Company in Cincinnati, and had retired from active work in 1895. With his wife, Mary Huggins Gamble, they began to spend winters in Pasadena, residing in the area’s resort hotels. By 1907, the couple had decided to build a permanent home in Pasadena. In June of that year, they bought a lot on the short, private street, Westmoreland Place, passing up the more fashionable addresses on Orange Grove, known at that time as “Millionaires’ Row.” The house remained in the Gamble family until 1966, when it was deeded to the city of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University of Southern California School of Architecture.

The house and tour is popular among residents and tourists. However, I found the woodwork on the walls and floors lovely, but the interior of the house was very dark and felt stifling. However, the architecture, surrounding lawn, shrubs and rear garden pond was lovely.

Pamper Yourself at The Huntington Spa

You deserve a break and this is THE place to take it. At 11,000-square feet, it's a haven of wellness presenting a selection of unique massage therapies, facials, and body treatments to revitalize and relax your senses. The spa features 13 private treatment rooms, including one couples' suite, and the Chuan Body + Soul corridor, which offers treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. The stylish and elegant salon, offers makeup application, manicure, pedicure and hair services, as well as a sauna, steam room and whirlpool.

A variety of massages are offered, including The Huntington Signature Massage - a certified massage therapist uses an interpretation of Swedish massage techniques that incorporate local signature oils and lotions to relax and revitalize body and soul; a Deep Tissue Masage -- a combination of traditional Swedish movements and deep concentrated work targets muscle knots and painful tightening caused by excess stress; Hot Stone Therapy -- An ancient healing practice, stone therapy massage is a complex and highly synchronized experience utilizing hot stones that restore grounding and harmony to the body; Maternity Massage -- a light, gentle massage designed for mothers-to-be, foclusing on relieving lower back discomfort and fatigue, plus other massage types.

Located at The Langham, 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena 91106; 626-568-3900. For details go to web sites pasadena.langhamhotels.coml and thehuntingtonspa.com.

Paseo Colorado --

is Pasadena's three-block open-air urban village. With its Mediterranean architecture, lush pedestrian promenades, courtyards and terraces, it is anchored by Pacific Theatre's 14-screen cinema complex, Amadeus Spa and Salon, Macy's Department store, and Equinox Fitness Club. Its 65 distinct specialty retail shops and restaurants include Coach, BCBG Max Azria, J. Jill, Tommy Bahama, and the Yard House.

Drawing from its rich cultural heritage, Pasadena features numerous world-class museums and historical sites. The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens offers an extensive collection of literary classics, 17th and 18th century British and French art, and 150 acres of lush gardens. Highlights include an original Gutenberg Bible, Ellesmere's manuscript of Canterbury Tales, the famous Pinkie and Blue Boy paintings, and an authentic Japanese garden.

Seven centuries of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century are on display at The Norton Simon Museum, including masterpieces by Van Gogh, Degas, Rembrandt, and Picasso. The Pacific Asia Museum is dedicated to the promotion and understanding of the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific, while the Pasadena Museum of California Art features California art, architecture and design from 1850 to the present. In contrast, the Gamble House, built in 1908 is an architectural masterpiece of the American Arts and Crafts era.

Pasadena's Rose Bowl is famous for championship events including five Super Bow football games, the 1999 Women's World Cup Soccer Championship, and the Rose Bowl Game. Today, the Rose Bowl is home to the UCLA Bruins football team.

After dark, the village takes on a whole new flavor. As the birthplace of Julia Child, it is home to some of Southern California's finest restaurants with over 500 to choose from, including Madre's, the chic Latin-style eatery owned by singer/actress Jennifer Lopez. Exciting nightlife ranges from hot jazz clubs and cool comedy at the Ice House to theater at the Pasadena Playhouse and musical performances at the renowned Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

A vast array of shops, restaurants and recreational opportunities lie within walking distance of Pasadena's hotels, with accommodations ranging from intimate inns to luxury resorts. Favorites include the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel & Spa, the Westin Pasadena, Hilton Pasadena, Sheeraton Pasadena, and the Old Pasadena Courtyard by Marriott.

Where to Eat

Equator Restaurant & Bar

I was overwhelmed by the decor the first time I walked in to this restaurant -- especially by the huge golden Budda high up on the wall. Even while eating, I couldn't stop admiring the place, and the food didn't disappoint. Thankfully, I was with several friends so could taste a variety of the signature dishes, including Honey Glazed Shrimp with Sesame candied walnuts, Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai Noodles with bean sprouts, onions and crushed peanuts, Crab Pad Thair Noodles tofu with bean sprouts, onions and crushed peatnuts, and the House Special Chrispy Egg Noodles with shrimp, mussels, calamari in Lobster X.O. sauce. The soups - steamed Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, Wateer chestnut and Wonton Soup, and the Sesame Caesar Salad with napa cabbage, parmesan and Wonton chips, and the Tandoori Chicken Salad with Mango, red onion and avocado, cilantro lime yogurt vinaigrette, was all delicous. The menu is filled with a variety of appetizers, sandwiches and much more, plus a Dim Sum Brunch is served every Saturday & Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. The list of coffee and specialty drinks goes on and on, as does the smoothies and shakes, loose leaf teas, and others.

Located at 22 Mills Place, Pasadena, CA 91105; 626-564-8656. For more information and hours check web site equatorcafe.com.

Tortas Mexico

I ate breakfast here and loved the food served quickly and piping hot - the way it should be - on the semi-outdoor patio. The 'tortas' are authentic Mexican style grilled sandwiches, made with daily baked bread and the freshest ingredients I've tasted in ages at similar restaurants. They're filled with beans, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatos, onions, avocado and jalapeno peppers, according to whether you like chicken, pork, turkey, ham, weiner, egg or mexican sausage or beef inside. I also tried the 'tacos' served with onions and cilantro with beef - but you can have them with beef & cheese, spicy chicken, pork, tongue, Mexican sausage, vegetarian, or other ingredients. Burritos, Quyesadillas, Sopes Y Tostadas, Combination Plates, Kids Meals, Tamales, Salads, Nachos, or even Hamburgers are available. House specialties include Pollo Con Mole, Enchiladas De Mole, Caido De Pollo, Alambreas, Chimichanga, And much, much more. Besides serving fresh, tasty food, the prices are unbelievably low.

Located at 90 N. Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103; 626-432-4887. Open daily from 8 AM - 10 PM for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more information check web site www.TortasPasadena.com.

Cafe Santorini

Set in a historic brick building in Old Pasadena, this cafe is a locally owned restaurant that opened in 1993. I could see why it was jammed when I came for lunch -- everything my partner and I ordered was delicious and well worth the price. We sat on the charming rooftop patio overlooking a quaint courtyard while other patrons dined in the intimate indoor dining room. Specializing in Mediterranean cuisine, this cafe is a must to visit.

Be forewarned: What to order will take time because the menu is huge. My friends and I began with the Insalata di Casa which was delicious, and our main courses included Farfalle Con Pollo al Presto -- a bowtie pasta with cilantro pesto and grilled chicken breast; Grilled Beef Brochette for myself -- served with rice pilaf and roasted vegetables; and a grilled Vegetable Platter with assorted seasonal veggies, roasted potatoes with balsamic reduction and olive oil. We also tried the fantastic humus, and for dessert one of us ordered Santorini's Signature Tiramisu, another the flourless chocolate cake, and a medley of sorbets. Each was delicious and served beautifully.

Located at 64 W. Union Street, Pasadena; 626-564-4200.

Green Street Tavern

This elegant, intimate restaurant located in the heart of Old Pasadena, features excellent California comfort food with a European influence. Locally farm-grown beef, seafood and chicken combined with organic vegetables produce a variety of amazing appetizers and entrees. The well-balanced wine list and menu offers quality wine at reasonable prices.

Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, it is at 69 W. Green Street, Pasadena; 626-229-9961 - www.greenstreettavern.net.

Maison Akira

Located in the Playhouse District, owner and chef Akira Hirose has created an interesting menu featuring French and Japanese cuisine. I ordered the Asian mixed green salad with Fuji apples and candied Hazelnuts as an appetizer, the Black Angus Rib Eye Steak in a Marchand du Vin sauce as the main course, and a delicious warm apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. Each dish had the freshest ingredients and the pastries were great, too.

Located at 713 E. Green St. Pasadena; 626-796-9501 -- www.maisonakira.net

La Grande Orange Cafe

Housed in Pasadena's historical Del Mar train station, La Grande Orange Cafe is a testament to American cuisine. The menu is created with the freshest ingredients each day, and the cooking brings commonly loved classics to a new level with a modern point of view.

Located at 260 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, 626-356-4444 - www.lgostationcafe.com

Where to Stay

The Langham Huntington

I was very impressed with my stay here at this iconic landmark hotel located at the base of the picturesque San Gabriel Mountains just minutes from downtown Los Angeles in beautiful Pasadena. Covering 23 acres with grand historic ballrooms and gardens, the hotel is ideal for corporate meetings, executive retreats, leisure getaways and social events. It is also close to Pasadena's shopping area and many sightes of interest. It features award-winning dining, a luxurious spa offering treatments based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and a number of recreational activities including tennis and a nearby Nicklaus-designed golf course. In addition, bicycle rentals are available, swimming at an outdoor pool and whirlpool with sundeck, a pool bar, a complimentary fitness center, complimentary morning coffee, and complimentary transport service to select Pasadena locations.

Several on-site restaurants are available:

The Royce, a fine dining experience featuring a modern interpretation of classic dishes, two wine rooms and a glass enclosed veranda offering sweeping views of the valley.

The Terrace Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and features modern California bistro fare and an award-winning Sunday Brunch.

The Tap Room serves classic and modern handmade cocktails, an eclectic wine selections, premium beers on tap from around the world and upscale, innovative bar food.

The Lobby Lounge offers The Langham Signature Afternoon Tea Thursday - Saturday and Chocolate Afternoon Tea on Sunday, with picturesque views of the Horseshoe Garden and San Marino.

Location: 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, California 91106; 626-568-3900. For more information check web site pasadena.langhamhotels.com.

PASO ROBLES

Allegretto Vineyard Resort Brings the Oldest and Largest Food and Wine Society in the World to the Central Coast

Allegretto Vineyard Resort, the first and only luxury resort in Paso Robles Wine Country, is pleased to announce that Thomas Humphrey, Director of Food & Beverage for the resort, is leading efforts to revive the Central Coast chapter of the esteemed Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, cementing the region as a premiere destination for food and wine. Humphrey will serve as Bailli for the Central Coast Chapter.

Widely recognized as the oldest and largest international gastronomic society in the world, Chaîne des Rôtisseurs has professional and amateur members in more than 90 countries worldwide. Founded in Paris in 1248, Chaîne des Rôtisseurs is devoted to preserving the camaraderie and pleasures of the table and to promote excellence in hospitality. Each year the society sponsors young chef and sommelier competitions, while the Chaîne Foundation provides scholarships for students in these fields.

Now in its 56th year in the United States, roughly 6,000 gourmands, chefs, wine professionals, food and wine educators, and hoteliers are part of the nearly 130 bailliages, or chapters, in the U.S. – each offering a variety of culinary activities and events designed to bring the best of food and wine to local members.

The Central Coast chapter of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, was first established in 2000 by Justin Baldwin of JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, who served as the Bailli from September 2000 to September 2012. Following him as Bailli was Daniel Daou of DAOU Vineyards & Winery, who headed the chapter from 2012 to 2014. Adds Humphrey, “I’m honored to restore the Central Coast bailliage of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and look forward to bringing together the best in food and wine that our region has to offer.”

A seasoned veteran of the luxury hospitality industry, Humphrey brings more than 30 years of experience to his role at the Allegretto Vineyard Resort, having led the culinary programs of some of the nation’s most prestigious resorts and hotels. “The Allegretto is officially one of the best luxury wine country destinations in the world – a world class resort paired with world class wine,” says Humphrey. “As one of the top gourmet dining destinations on the Central Coast, our goal at the Allegretto is to always be pushing the boundaries of culinary greatness, but advancing culturally, as well. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to assist with several Chaîne des Rôtisseurs events and hold them to the highest regard. It only made sense to bring back this wine gastronomy society to our area, to further offer educational and immersive wine and food experiences to our community.”

ABOUT THE ALLEGRETTO VINEYARD RESORT

The Allegretto Vineyard Resort offers guests exceptional spaces, experiences, services and amenities along the path of life’s journey. The Allegretto is inspired by wine country and European hospitality, set amongst 20 acres of vineyards and fruit-bearing orchards on Paso Robles’ serene east side. The resort is a world unto itself with 171 guest rooms and suites, locally farmed and foraged cuisine at Cello Ristorante & Bar, a tasting room featuring the resort’s own private wine label, ballroom, intimate meeting spaces, over 40,000 square feet of event space, full-service boutique spa, pool and cabanas, manicured gardens, walking paths, 12,000-square-foot piazza, French-inspired Abbey, curated art and artifacts along with inspired vignettes that evoke that luxury, warmth, and the beauty of the good life.

The Allegretto Vineyard Resort is located at 2700 Buena Vista Drive in Paso Robles, California, 93446. For more information, please visit AllegrettoResort.com, or call 805.369.2500.

BEHIND THE VINES at the Pony Club, Hotel Cheval’s Wine Bar

Hotel Cheval (“cheval” is French for “horse”) is pleased to announce its Behind the Vines events. The Behind the Vines events take place every Thursday at Hotel Cheval’s Pony Club from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Pony Club is located at 1021 Pine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446 and for more information please call 866.522.6999 or visit www.hotelcheval.com.

Paso Robles winemakers will mingle with guests and discuss how their wines are made, their techniques for creating the perfect wine and share insights about their respective vineyards. Guests will be able to sample select wine flights while enjoying live music from a variety of Paso Robles based musicians and specialty priced small plates to pair the wine. The upcoming Behind the Vines schedule is as follows

About Hotel Cheval
Hotel Cheval is located in the charming downtown area of Paso Robles. The 16 rooms are thoughtfully and individually composed with a classic and stylish flair featuring a hint of contemporary design. Cozy window seats, fireplaces, outdoor patios, fountains and European artifacts are complimented by original artwork by Richard Tullis. Additional amenities include complimentary Continental Breakfast on the weekdays and complimentary Hot Breakfast on the weekends, flat screen televisions, complimentary Ethernet and wireless internet connections, DVD players, luxury linens and bathroom amenities by Temple Spa. Chester, Hotel Cheval’s Belgian draft horse, escorts weekend property guests on various trips throughout the downtown Paso Robles area.

Hotel Cheval Rendezvous À Deux Package

Hotel Cheval (“cheval” is French for “horse”) is pleased to announce its “Rendezvous À Deux” Package. Nestled in amongst the rolling hills of California's coastal mountain range and the surrounding wine country, Paso Robles and the luxurious Hotel Cheval are the perfect spot for a relaxing and rejuvenating rendezvous with that special someone.

The package allows couples to unwind is one of the spacious, stylish and thoughtfully designed guestrooms and savor a wine and cheese pairing in the Pony Club. Guests have the option of enjoying 18 holes of golf at the beautiful Hunter Ranch Golf Course, or relaxing with a 60-minute in-room couples massage, or a day of exploring the Central Coast wine region, which includes the memorable Hearst Castle.

After their selected option, guests can experience Chester, Hotel Cheval's Belgian Draft Horse and a vis à vis carriage for complimentary rides to and from any restaurant in "trotting" distance from the hotel (applies to Friday & Saturday evenings only).

The total package is $925 per couple for a Luxury Room, $845 per couple for a Deluxe Room and $765 for a classic room and is valid Friday & Saturday with a two-night minimum.

For reservations, access the property’s web site at www.hotelcheval.com or call (866) 522 – 6999. Hotel Cheval, which opened in April 2007, is located in the charming downtown area of Paso Robles, at 1021 Pine Street, Paso Robles, California, 93446.

Each of the Hotel Cheval’s 16 rooms is thoughtfully and individually composed with a classic and stylish flair featuring a hint of contemporary design. Cozy window seats, fireplaces, outdoor patios, fountains and European artifacts are complimented by original artwork by Richard Tullis. Additional amenities include complimentary Continental Breakfast on weekdays and complimentary Hot Breakfast on the weekends, flat screen televisions, complimentary in-room Ethernet and wireless internet connections, DVD players, luxury linens and bathroom amenities by Temple Spa.

About Hotel Cheval

The newest and only luxury accommodation in downtown Paso Robles, Hotel Cheval debuted in April 2007 in California’s up and coming food and wine region. Offering sixteen individually designed guest rooms, a library and its own horseshoe shaped bar named Pony Club, Hotel Cheval has been thoughtfully decorated with unique, original artwork and antiques from all over the world. Spend a night on a Friday or Saturday, and the hotel’s own Belgian draft horse, Chester, will escort you to dinner around the town square in a vis à vis carriage. www.hotelcheval.com

Luxury La Bellasera Hotel & Suites Opens

La Bellasera Hotel & Suites is the newest hotel to open its doors in the picturesque wine region of Paso Robles. The luxury boutique hotel features 60 oversized guestrooms and suites, spa services, hospitality and conference facilities, outdoor dining terrace, swimming pool and whirlpool, fireside cabana and a full-service restaurant and bar that serves breakfast and dinner. La Bellasera guestrooms feature a fireplace, whirlpool, wet bar, kitchenette, deluxe spa amenities, pillow-top bedding and exterior patios.

For more information contact La Bellasera Hotel & Suites, (805) 238-2834 or (800) STAY-NOW (800-782-9669), www.labellasera.com.

Allegretto Vineyard Resort, a Tuscan-inspired retreat, earns coveted AAA rating

The Allegretto Vineyard Resort has been placed in exclusive company with its recent selection as a Four Diamond hotel by AAA. This achievement ranks the Allegretto Vineyard Resort as a premier establishment esteemed by AAA’s professional inspectors, the hospitality industry, and over 57 million AAA/CAA members. Fewer than six percent of the nearly 28,000 properties approved by AAA achieve this prestigious honor. Such a distinction is a testament to the commitment of the resort’s management and staff to cultivate excellence.

AAA’s Diamond Rating is determined not only by the hotel’s features and amenities, but also its level of service with a focus on overall guest experience. Since opening its doors in September of 2015, the Allegretto has dedicated itself to creating a sanctuary for visitors, inviting them to find respite in the resort’s 20 acres filled with vineyards, orchards, chef’s garden, walking paths and central piazza. The resort is distinguished by its commitment to the museum-quality art and artifacts which have found their place throughout the Tuscan-inspired retreat and are all carefully curated by visionary Douglas Ayres. Visitors to the resort are treated to gracious hospitality and a guest-first approach that focuses on attention to detail and creating a memorable and personalized experience for all.

AAA dedicates itself to providing travel information to its 57 million members and has been using the Diamond Rating System since 1977. The Guidelines are regularly updated to reflect evolving industry trends and guest expectations. An inspector’s Diamond Rating recommendation is based on both personal professional judgment and the agency’s Diamond Rating Guidelines. A Four Diamond rating means a hotel is “refined, stylish wit upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail.”

The Allegretto Vineyard Resort prides itself on providing each of its guests with a first-class experience that stays with them long after their stay is over. The Four Diamond distinction from AAA solidifies that the Allegretto, the premiere destination resort in the wine country of Paso Robles, California, has established itself as the premium choice for travelers to the area.

For more information, please visit AllegrettoResort.com, or call 805.369.2500.

PEBBLE BEACH

About Pebble Beach Company

Pebble Beach Company, headquartered in Pebble Beach, Calif., owns and operates the world-famous Pebble Beach Resorts®, including The Lodge at Pebble Beach™, The Inn at Spanish Bay™ and Casa Palmero®. The company also operates four renowned golf courses: Pebble Beach Golf Links®, Spyglass Hill® Golf Course, The Links at Spanish Bay™ and Del Monte™ Golf Course. Its other famed properties include scenic 17-Mile Drive®, The Spa at Pebble Beach™, Pebble Beach Golf Academy™ and Pebble Beach® Equestrian Center. It annually hosts premier events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance®, AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, TaylorMade Pebble Beach Invitational presented by EMC2, Pebble Beach Food & Wine and Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. Future site of the 2019 U.S. Open Championship, Pebble Beach Golf Links® has hosted five U.S. Opens, four U.S. Amateurs, one PGA Championship and numerous other tournaments. For reservations or more information please call (800) 654-9300 or visit www.pebblebeach.com.

POINT LOMA

Just one block from San Diego Bay and five minutes from the San Diego International Airport, the Pearl Hotel in Point Loma opened in August 2007. It offers 23 vintage-modern rooms with custom floor-to-ceiling mosaic artwork, king- and queen-size platform beds, wall-hanging fishbowls with tropical fish, 32-inch LCD televisions, designer light fixtures, and vintage lamps. Visitors can also enjoy complimentary local calls, DVD movie rental, laptop computer rental and wireless Internet service. The Pearl’s saltwater swimming pool is surrounded by semi-private poolside cabanas, which can be reserved for outdoor dining and bottle service. The poolside lounge also features an outdoor theater area with a 10-foot projection screen used for “dive-in” movies or special event presentations.

For more information contact the Pearl Hotel, (619) 226-6100,  (877) 732-7573, www.thepearlsd.com.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA AREA

Local residents and visitors to the Rancho Cucamonga area will soon discover what it’s like to dine in an ocean-front restaurant in south Florida.

The Islamorada (eye-lah-muh-rah-duh) Fish Company, located inside the hugely popular Bass Pro Shops store on the east side of Victoria Gardens Regional Town Center adjacent to the I-15 Freeway, offers a unique dining experience not found anywhere else in California.

The name Islamorada was given by early inhabitants of the Florida Keys and means “Island Home.” Throughout the over 11,000 square-foot restaurant you will be amazed at the attention to detail. Upon entering the restaurant from the store there is an awesome vaulted ceiling 22 feet above with beautiful box beam trusses and ornate fish themed, custom, hand made chandeliers. A large hand painted mural is located above the massive 13,000 gallon saltwater aquarium which is raised 4’ above the store and visible from 360 degrees everywhere in the restaurant. The aquarium is home to scores of colorful, tropical fish. Trophy saltwater fish mounts hang from the walls, antiques and old pictures along with painted murals add to the relaxed dining mood.

In addition to the large dining room that will accommodate 180, there is a private dining room for 10 for more intimate gatherings. The bar lounge area is trimmed out with rich mahogany paneled wood wainscoting and will accommodate your informal gatherings for both food and drinks.

An outside dining patio seats 80 and features hand-placed inlaid seashells evoking the feeling of being at the beach. The large dining area features a superior mister system that will keep you comfortable while dining alfresco during any of the warmer summer months. The only thing missing is the sandy beach and ocean waves at your feet.

As you would expect, Islamorada Fish Company features shrimp, lobster, oysters, crab, clams, mussels, mahi mahi, grouper, calamari, tuna, trout, and even fried catfish. Wild game offerings will include buffalo and alligator. Traditional steaks, St. Louis style spareribs, rotisserie chicken dishes and sandwiches make this much more than a seafood restaurant.

You can enter the restaurant both from the outside as well as from the inside of the Bass Pro Shops store.

With a toll-free call at 1-800-258-2559 or a series of mouse clicks on www.fishcompany.com>www.fishcompany.com, you can also order Islamorada Fish Company’s fresh stone crabs, Key West shrimp, Florida lobster and several varieties of fish by the pound or by the piece and have it delivered anywhere in United States. All orders are shipped direct from the Florida Keys and guaranteed to arrive fresh and cold at your doorstep. They’ll even send you free recipes and other information on how to prepare your order.

About Islamorada Fish Company

Islamorada Fish Company began in 1948 as a marina snack bar in the Florida Keys offering the freshest fish possible, at a reasonable price, to individuals in the Keys. A full-service restaurant was added in 1994. Since then, IFC restaurants have opened in other Bass Pro Shops stores in 10 states across America with seven more states added by the end of this year.

For restaurant locations, to see a complete menu or for more information go to the www.fishcompany.com web site .

About Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops, an international catalog and internet retailer, is also America’s most popular outdoor store, offering shoppers the largest selection of quality outdoor gear, clothing and accessories from top industry names and at value prices. More than just hunting and fishing stores, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores are also part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment centers. They offer equipment for hiking, backpacking, wildlife viewing, camping, boating, outdoor cooking and more. A gift and nature center also serves up a wide variety of outdoor-related items from lamps and dishes to bird feeders and furniture. 

Award-winning in their concept and design, Bass Pro Shops retail stores are rated high as tourist-destination picks. They were recently selected by Sporting Goods Business Magazine as the #1 outdoor retailer in America. Some 85 million people visit the stores annually. Widely recognized for their efforts in conservation and outdoor education, Bass Pro Shops stores also offer Outdoor Skills Workshops for adults, kids and families. Headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, Bass Pro Shops currently has 42 retail locations in 23 states and Canada. In addition, Bass Pro Shops, also provides products and services for thousands of independent dealers world wide through its subsidiary company, American Rod & Gun.

For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, visit www.basspro.com . To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO. 

REDDING

Vintner’s Cellar is a new, full-custom winery with a focus on not only great quality wine, but a memorable, cultural experience. It prides itself on receiving top-notch grape juice imported from California as well as other regions. Vintner’s Cellar offers wine tasting by the glass or by the bottle, as well as fruit, bread and cheese to complement the wine. Wine connoisseurs are also given an opportunity to customize their bottle with their own labeling. Open Tuesday through Saturday, Vintner’s Cellar hosts live, local bands every Friday and Saturday night from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

For more information contact Allan and Jana Leard, Vintner’s Cellar, (530) 222-WINE, info@222wine.com, www.222wine.com.

The Redding Soccer Park recently opened its gates. This $10.2 million dollar, 22-acre complex is a one-of-a-kind, "State-of-the-Sport" soccer facility boasting four, all-weather, synthetic-turf NCAA regulation sized, lighted fields. The complex has a full restaurant, with over 2,000 square feet of covered seating, a play area for the younger fans, with slides, climbing walls and other features to keep them busy during the games. In addition to the restaurant area there's an administration building with a pro-shop for last minute playing needs, and classroom for instruction and team meetings. Events held at the new park have a very positive impact on hotel occupancy. The opening weekend tournament brought over 700 visitors to Redding, and accounted for about 500 room nights in the Redding area hotels. The local economic impact from one tournament can be in excess of $100,000.

For more information contact Rich Pinnell, Redding Soccer Park, 530-221-1885, www.reddingsoccerpark.com.

Redding Air Service now offers scenic helicopter tours with breathtaking views of Northern California, Burney Falls, Shasta Lake just to name a few. Fly with Redding Air Service, with 50 years of an excellent safety record, extremely experienced pilots and conveniently located at Redding Municipal Airport.

For more information contact Redding Air Service, 530-221-2851, E-mail rascoptr@c-zone.net

Bridgehouse Bed & Breakfast, Redding’s newest Bed and Breakfast, is located in Historic Downtown. With views of the Sacramento River, this 1930’s cottage style home is both comfortable and stylish. Wake to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Satisfy your taste buds with homemade specialties. Fulfill your morning workout regime on the river trail, or on the treadmill in a light filled workout room. With free wireless internet, cable TV and an ihome in each room for your ipod, you can be entertained inside as well as outside by the gorgeous Sacramento River with all of its wildlife and the many treasures Redding has to offer. The lavish and warm décor invites you in to relax and leave your busy day behind.

For more information contact Bridgehouse Bed & Breakfast by calling 530-247-7177 or check web site www.reddingbridgehouse.com.

REDWAY

The Dean Creek Resort near the renowned Avenue of the Giants has six new cabins from which to launch family expeditions to the redwoods. Located in Redway along the banks of the Eel River in southern Humboldt County, the resort recently opened the cabins, each with porch, bathroom, stove, microwave, fridge and TV/DVD combo. The cozy wooden structures comfortably sleep four in a queen bed and queen sofa bed. Opened in 1937, the award-winning, family-operated resort offers 64 RV sites with hookups, picnic tables, barbecue grills and fire rings; motel accommodations; and plenty of nearby fishing, rock hunting and redwood adventures.

For more information contact Richard Stenger, Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, (707) 444-6634, richard@redwoods.info, www.redwoods.info.

REDWOOD CITY

Here, you'll be seated at a comfortable wine bar where you can try wines by the glass before your wine shopping experience. There is a weekly tasting menu with daily wine specials, a daily European lunch plate with appetizers, cheeses and sweets, and live jazz every Saturday night. All the wines are rated 90 points or higher by the leading wine critics.

REDONDO BEACH

more soon

ROCKLIN

Bass Pro Shops

Bass Pro Shops, an outdoor retailer specializing in hunting, fishing, camping and other related outdoor gear, has opened another store in Rocklin. The 120,000 -square-foot store, features an Uncle Buck’s Fishbowl and Grill, and is located at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Sierra College Boulevard.

Rocklin, which is located in Placer County, is part of the Sacramento metropolitan area. It’s situated between the western base of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and the Sacramento Valley. The history of the area can be traced back to California’s gold rush days. The Bass Pro Shops at the Rocklin Crossings site will draw from an extended region along the I-80 corridor to accommodate the outlying suburban and rural customers in addition to those en route to the area’s many outdoor opportunities.

Bass Pro Shops Dedication to Conservation
Bass Pro Shops lodge-like exteriors and outdoor-themed interiors make them popular with customers. The outdoors feel is brought indoors through massive log and rock work, large indoor aquariums and water features stocked with native fish species as well as an extensive collection of museum quality fish and wildlife mounts. Historic photos and exhibits will pay tribute to the region’s great outdoor heritage.

For more information, visit www.basspro.com. To request a free catalog, call 1-800-BASS PRO. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bassproshops.

SACRAMENTO

The California State Railroad Museum at Old Sacramento State Historic Park is upgrading its big-screen museum theaters to digital projection and adding captioning to the newly re-mastered award-winning orientation film "Evidence of a Dream." Theatre upgrades also include digital presentation capabilities. For Link, the steam railroad was a vital ingredient to the good life in America. It is this quality of life, not machinery, that he captures so tellingly in his photographs. While Link is best known for railroad photographs taken at night, he took pleasure in recording the life of the railroad, its people, and the folks who lived along the line, at all hours of the day. These photographs focus on the final years of steam railroading on the Norfolk & Western Railway, the last major railroad in America to operate exclusively with steam power. Link’s images are regarded as one of the most compelling expressions of this long-vanished type of locomotion.

For more information contact the California State Railroad Museum, (916) 445-7387, info@californiastaterailroadmuseum.org, www.californiastaterailroadmuseum.org.

The Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa in Sacramento opened a luxurious, five-room, Tuscan-style villa in April 2007. The rooms all feature fireplaces and most have a Jacuzzi tub for two. Room rates include breakfast, afternoon tea and access to the Health & Wellness Pavilion. Villa accommodations are priced from $359 per night, plus tax. Arden Hills is an award-winning day spa and frequent site for wedding receptions.

For more information contact the Arden Hills Resort Club & Spa, (916) 482-6111, www.ardenhills.net.

There’s a fun, new way to explore. Sacramento. Hysterical Segway City Tour offers guided tours on personal Segway transporters that start in Old Sacramento and take visitors past city attractions and landmarks including the State Capitol, Leland Stanford Mansion, Chinatown and the historic Governor’s Mansion. Tours are approximately 2 1/2 hours and are offered daily at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The cost per person is $79.95.

For more information contact Hysterical Walks & Rides, (916) 441-2527, info@hystericalwalks.com, www.hystericalwalks.com.

The Sacramento region is quickly gaining momentum as a popular wine tasting destination with more than 200 wineries/tasting rooms. Most wineries are within an hour’s drive of downtown Sacramento. The Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau has produced a regional wine guide complete with maps and information on wineries in the following counties: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Yolo.

The guide is available by emailing the Visitors Bureau at wine@discovergold.org or by calling (916) 808-7777. For more information contact Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau, (916) 808-7777 or (800) 292-2334, www.discovergold.org.  

Each September, step back in time as living history characters re-enact the Gold Rush ere in Old Sacramento. Cash-in on savings with the free "Sacramento Gold Card," featuring discounts at attractions, restaurants, and retailers, using smart-card technology. Check out the vibrant arts scene, new restaurants by "The Next Food Network Star" winner, Guy Fieri, and the palpable buzz generated by the "Governator." Ideally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, Sacre=amento is the perfect base to explore surrounding Gold Rush towns for antiques, taste "Big Reds" at Sierra Foothill wineries or whitewater raft near the original gold discovery site.

For more information, check web site www.discovergold.org.

The Aerospace Museum of California is located at 3200 Freedom Park Drive, Sacramento, CA, 95652. For more information call (916) 643-3192 or visit their website at www.aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org.

For more information on attractions and events in Sacramento, visit www.discovergold.org.

Transportation Gallery

The Bicycle: This is one of the many mysteries still surrounding Leonardo’s life and work. The drawing was found in one of Leonardo’s notebooks between two glued-in pages. Visitors are invited to take photos standing behind the bicycle.

Military Gallery

Scorpion: The Scorpion was designed to slash the sails of opposing ships. Its revolving platform would permit it to maneuver and drop the large scythe where it could do the most damage.

Transportation Gallery

Helicopter: In this concept, Leonardo envisioned a pilot standing upright in the airship. To control the machine during flight, the pilot was to use his hands, feet and head. Due to the size and weight of the device with a pilot aboard, Leonardo decided to utilize two crossing pairs of what we now think of as rotor blades.

Mechanical Gallery

Large Pulleys: Here Leonardo demonstrates the effect of pulleys on the movement of weighty objects. As a result, Leonardo could demonstrate the tradeoff between speed and effort. This display is a representation of the type of interactive displays families can participate in when visiting the exhibit.

SAN DIEGO

The Presidio Trust Invites Visitors to Enjoy the Holiday Season at the Presidio

The Presidio Trust invites visitors to enjoy the winter season in San Francisco’s urban national park. The park is a perfect for those who seek green in the often white winter months, and a little calm in a busy holiday schedule. Outdoors, 24 miles of snow-free hiking and biking trails, beautiful picnic areas offer a peaceful alternative to holiday stress. Indoor options include the Officers’ Club galleries and other museums, a trampoline park, climbing gym, and more, plus free, family-friendly events this December. For those seeking activities this holiday break, the park offers ongoing Ranger talks, docent-led art walks, and plenty of opportunities to delve into history, science, food, and art.
Other holiday events include cooking demonstration of a Cinderella Pumpkin Tortellini with Rogelio Garcia, Chef of The Commissary restaurant who will be a participant in Bravo’s Top Chef Season 15, which airs in December; a Holiday Sing-Along at the Presidio Officers’ Club; and a Holidays at Carolwood Exhibit sponsored by the Walt Disney Family Museum.

The Presidio Visitor Center is the place to begin any park adventure, serving as a point of orientation to all the Presidio has to offer. In the eight months since its opening, the Visitor Center has welcomed more than 100,000 visitors; triple the number projected. It offers state-of-the art interactive exhibits, a 3-D model display, maps, and an information desk staffed to help visitors plan their trip in the park. The Presidio Visitor Center is open seven days a week 10 am to 5 pm.

In this season of giving, volunteer opportunities to give back to the Presidio abound! Forest Stewards tend to young trees in the Presidio’s reforestation areas. Learn about urban forestry and arboriculture, while assisting with forest maintenance through planting, weeding, mulching and other stewardship activities. Trail Stewards help maintain and enhance a world-class trail system for the community to enjoy for now and forever. Volunteers establish a special connection to the Park and to others. Visit the website to learn about the dates, times and different ways you can become involved.

The Walt Disney Family Museum

The Walt Disney Family Museum presents the fascinating story and achievements of Walt Disney, the man who raised animation to the level of fine art, transformed the film industry, tirelessly pursued innovation, and created a global yet distinctively American legacy. Opened in October 2009, the 40,000 square foot facility features the newest technology along with a vast collection of historic materials and artifacts to bring Disney’s achievements to life, myriad interactive galleries presenting early drawings and animation, movies, music, listening stations, a spectacular model of Disneyland and much more. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in the scenic Presidio of San Francisco.

The Walt Disney Family Museum has created many world-class exhibitions, such as Disney and Dalí: Architects of the Imagination; MAGIC, COLOR, FLAIR: the world of Mary Blair; and Water to Paper, Paint to Sky: The Art of Tyrus Wong, several of which have traveled to other museums around the world. The most recent, Wish Upon a Star: The Art of Pinocchio, is the fifteenth exhibition originated by museum since 2012.

Hours:              10am to 6pm, Wednesdays through Monday; closed on Tuesdays and the following public holidays: January 1, Thanksgiving Day, and December 25. Early closure at 4pm on December 24 and December 31.

Tickets:            Museum admission is free for members and children under 5

General admission: $20 adults, $15 seniors and students, and $12 youth ages 6 to 17
This installation is free with museum-admission

Museum audio guide: free for members as download, $7 audio guide rental for members and non-members

Where:            The Presidio of San Francisco, 104 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94129

Contact:           415-345-6800 | waltdisney.org | waltdisney.org/HomeHolidays
www.facebook.com/wdfmuseum

Love Art & Culture? Then Plan A Visit to San Francisco

Artists find the city’s atmosphere of innovation and freedom of expression irresistible, resulting in a diverse collection of remarkable museums, exhibitions and events that are equally irresistible to those who love the arts.

Here are some recent and upcoming developments in San Francisco’s arts and culture scene.

Art Along the Waterfront

San Francisco has long been a city committed to accessible art. After experiencing Ai Weiwei’s work on Alcatraz, people will be ready to discover more public art and they will be in exactly the right place. The Embarcadero is home to more than a dozen public art installations. It’s hard to miss Cupid’s Span, the gigantic bow and arrow by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in Rincon Park.

On the south side of the Bay Bridge, on the Embarcadero at Second and Townsend streets, is Mark DiSuvero’s Sea Change.   Seventy feet tall and weighing 10 tons, this elegant and kinetic sculpture serves as a gateway to the newly refurbished South Waterfront.

Some installations blend history and culture. Between Piers 35 and 39, Roger Barr’s Skygate, a 26-foot-high mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture, is dedicated to the memory of Eric Hoffer (1903-1983), a longshoreman, poet and philosopher.

Many of the public art installations along the waterfront and throughout the city are part of the city’s civic art collection. For a map of public art, visit www.sfartscommission.org/pubartcollection/pubart-projects/2008/10/21/public-art-projects-map.

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) More Than Doubling in Size

A major expansion is underway at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), which has embodied bold vision and innovation from its founding in 1935 to the 1995 opening of its Mario Botta-designed building.

With more than 30,000 works, SFMOMA has built definitive collections in painting and sculpture, photography, architecture and design, and media arts, including significant examples of the art of the Bay Area and California. The SFMOMA collection is internationally recognized and continues to grow.

In 2016, SFMOMA will reinvent itself yet again by more than doubling its current capacity for the presentation of art, providing almost six times as much public space as the current building.

The centerpiece of SFMOMA's expansion is the remarkable building design developed in collaboration with the architectural firm Snøhetta. The approximately 235,000-square-foot expansion will seamlessly join the existing building.

One of the catalysts for the expansion is the addition of the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection, one of the greatest private collections of contemporary art in the world. Learn more at www.sfmoma.org.

Museum of the African Diaspora Reopens after $1.3 Million Renovation

The Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) is one of the few museums in the world focused on African Diaspora culture and on presenting the rich cultural art works of the people of Africa and of African descendant cultures around the world.  .

MoAD reopened in December, 2014, after a $1.3 million renovation with added gallery space, a more open layout for the ground floor and lobby, a redesigned Museum store, and an upgrade to all of its technology including interactive iPad kiosks in the lobby and a new website. MoAD recently was chosen as a Smithsonian Affiliate and now has access to the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of 136 million artifacts for research, exhibits and programming.

Situated in the heart of the Yerba Buena Arts District, home of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, MoAD is actively engaged in building a community that inspires, educates and connects people of all ages and backgrounds. MoAD seeks to build a deeper understanding of the African Diaspora through art, programs and events that cultivate wonder and excitement about the ways in which personal histories are connected. As a nonprofit organization, the museum's operations and programs are supported by grants and contributions from public and private sources. To learn more, visit www.moadsf.org.

San Francisco Illuminated by Light Art

Two other temporary light art installations are drawing crowds:

On Treasure Island, Bliss Dance by Marco Cochrane (2011) is on display on the Avenue of the Palms at the Great Lawn. Though no end date has been announced, the installation is considered “temporary, until further notice.” The 40-foot-tall sculpture’s lighting effects are on from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. nightly.

Permanent light art pieces within the city’s 49 square miles include:

•  Three Gems, by James Turrell (2005), de Young Museum, Osher Sculpture Garden, Golden Gate Park

•  Skygarden, by James Turrell (2007), San Francisco Federal Building, 90 Seventh St. at Mission Street 

•  Ocean Mirror with Fragments, by Jim Campbell (2007), Saunders Court, University of California, San Francisco, Koret Way

•  Constellation, by Nayland W. Blake (1996), San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St., Civic Center

•  Firefly, by Ned Kahn (2012), 525 Golden Gate Ave. at Polk Street, Civic Center

•  Language of the Birds, by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn (2008), Intersection of Broadway and Columbus Avenues, North Beach

•  …and my room still rocks like a boat on the sea…(Caruso’s Dream), by www.metaphorm.org/Brian Goggin with keehnonart.com/Dorka Keehn (2014), 55 Ninth St., south of Market Street

•  Bayview Rise, by Haddad-Drugan (2014), Pier 92, Bayview near Third Street and Cargo Way

At San Francisco International Airport, permanent light art installations include:

•  Wind Portal, by Ned Kahn (2000), International Terminal between BART Station and AirTrain

•  Four Sculptural Light Reflectors, by James Carpenter (2000), International Terminal, Main Hall, Level 3, Pre-Security

•  Spirogyrate, by Eric Staller (2014), Terminal 3, Boarding Area E, Level 2, Post-Security

•  Sky, by Merge Conceptual Design (2014), Terminal 3, Boarding Area E, Level 2, Post-Security

•  Light Beams for the Sky of a Transfer Corridor, by Vito Acconci (2000), International Terminal, A-G, Level 2, Pre-Security

•  Ceiling Flood, by Keith Sonnier (1999), International Terminal, Boarding Area G, Level 2, Post-Security
P L

While artists have been utilizing light to illuminate art from the beginning of time, light art has been gaining awareness as its own art form where the main media of expression and focus is light.   As a center of innovation, San Francisco has attracted these installations like, well, moths to a flame.

While the city is already aglow for the holidays, San Francisco is also celebrating light as art with truly brilliant, eco-friendly light art exhibits. This convergence is being called Illuminate SF and consists of six temporary and/or permanent installations:

The Bay Lights, by Leo Villareal

San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, north side of western span

The Bay Lights is the world’s largest LED light sculpture, 1.8 miles wide and 500 feet high. Inspired by the Bay Bridge’s 75th Anniversary, its 25,000 white LED lights are individually programmed by artist Leo Villareal to create a never-repeating, dazzling display across the Bay Bridge’s west span.  The Bay Lights is a monumental tour de force eight times the scale of the Eiffel Tower’s 100th Anniversary lighting. Views of this Bay Bridge light sculpture are best witnessed along the Embarcadero/Waterfront, particularly from the Ferry Building to Pier 33. See a Best Views interactive map, learn about the Path to Permanence campaign and view The Bay Lights streamed live nightly at thebaylights.org.

Three Gems, James Turrell
de Young Museum, Osher Sculpture Garden, Golden Gate Park

Best known for his visionary work with light, James Turrell’s Three Gems is a subterranean installation commissioned specifically for the de Young sculpture garden. It features a view of the sky altered by LED lighting effects highlighted by changing light and weather conditions outside.  Although Turrell has created other skyspaces, his project for the de Young was his first skyspace to adopt the stupa form. Experience Three Gems by walking through a short tunnel cut into the hill, and enter into a cylindrical space carved out of the hill. The retaining walls of this cylindrical space will be white concrete and the floor will be red stone. Once inside the stupa, sit on a stone bench lining the walls and view the sky through an oculus cut in the roof of the chamber. Viewers’ perceptions of the sky color will be subtly altered by an LED lighting system inside the chamber, and by changing light and weather conditions outside the chamber.

Permanent installation, during museum hours of operation, admission required.

NOTE: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 31 international points on 30 international carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects non-stop with 76 cities in the U.S. on 15 domestic airlines. For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit flysfo.com. Follow SFO on twitter.com/flysfo and facebook.com/flysfo.

Alcatraz Breaks Out!

Alcatraz, the world-famous former Federal penitentiary and International visitor destination in the center of San Francisco Bay, hasbenefited from a multi-million-dollar restoration and renovation that has dramatically transformed and improved the way visitors experience the iconic national park.   

A joint project of the National Park Service (NPS) and its non-profit partner, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy), the $3.5 million renovation marks the most ambitious and far-reaching program and improvement effort on Alcatraz since the Island opened to the public more than thirty years ago. In addition to dramatic new visitor enhancements, the project also ensures the ongoing preservation and protection of the Island’s rare historical, cultural and natural resources. 

Taking a holistic, experiential approach to the project, over the last two years NPS and Parks Conservancy staff have completely revamped how visitors experience The Rock—from their arrival in the historic Cellhouse, to a compelling new digital audio tour, to the new museum store featuring archival exhibits of authentic prison artifacts.  The ambitious project also has resulted in improved accessibility, and a vision to renovate and conserve the famed Alcatraz Gardens.

Highlights of the Alcatraz preservation and renovation project include: 

The new Alcatraz “Doing Time” Audio Tour has been produced by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in conjunction with Antenna Audio, a subsidiary of Discovery Travel Media. The original Alcatraz tour transformed the audio tour industry in 1987, and over the last twenty years more than 20 million people have taken it. The new all-digital version incorporates the best elements from the  original—including interviews with former Alcatraz inmates, correctional officers and family members—with new first-person dialogue, state-of-the-art sound effects, and new MP-5 players. The tour is included with every Alcatraz ticket, and is now available in eight languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Mandarin. 

Archival museum collections spanning the history of Alcatraz through its notoriety as America’s most infamous Federal penitentiary are being publicly exhibited for the first time.  Highlights include restored cell furnishings, actual prisoner artifacts, and historic artwork and photographs depicting daily life on The Rock.

The vastly expanded Alcatraz Cellhouse Museum Store features exhibits of many of the historic artifacts from the federal penitentiary years (1934-1963). Items include the actual implements used by inmates during the 1962 break out made famous in the movie Escape from Alcatraz; authentic inmate handcuffs and shackles; and correctional officer badges and blackjacks.  Complementing the artifacts, the Parks Conservancy has released a series of replicas based on these historic items as part of the unique Alcatraz product line.

On any given day, the new Alcatraz Author Program features historians, former inmates, correctional officers, naturalists and other special guests who have written about Alcatraz on the Island and interacting with visitors.  A calendar of events is available at www.parksconservancy.org/alcatraz.

The National Park Service is dedicated to making Alcatraz accessible to all visitors, and working with the Parks Conservancy has implemented various improvements, including elevators to formerly inaccessible areas of the Cellhouse and more frequent tram service from the landing dock.

The 180-seat orientation theater brings a high-tech touch to the visual history of The Rock. A new film produced by Discovery Communications introduces visitors to the diversity of the Island through compelling historical footage and first-person narration.

New exterior exhibits have been installed across the Island, providing visitors with in-depth information on The Rock’s history, architecture, wildlife, and landscape as they take in world-class San Francisco views. 

In its commitment to protect the natural resources of the Island, staff and volunteers ensure ongoing restoration and conservation of the Island ecosystem, including habitat protection for the more than 20,000 sea birds viewed on the Island each season. 

Alcatraz Gardens

a striking historic landscape with some plants originally planted in the 1800s, are being lovingly restored after nearly 100 years of decline. The Alcatraz Historic Gardens Project, sponsored by the Parks Conservancy and the Garden Conservancy, aims to restore, preserve and maintain the gardens created by those who lived on the Island during its Federal prison and military eras. The project also interprets their history, horticulture and cultural significance for Alcatraz visitors.

“Thanks to the efforts of the National Park Service in partnership with the Parks Conservancy’s supporters, staff and volunteers, the many faces of Alcatraz are being preserved for future generations,” Moore said. “It’s a great time for everyone to take a new look at The Rock, which now, more than ever, delivers one of the world’s most memorable visitor experiences.”

Alcatraz is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Visitors are encouraged to buy tickets well in advance, especially during peak summer season.  For schedules, prices, and to purchase tickets, visit the Alcatraz Cruises web site at www.alcatrazcruises.com. Additional information on the Island itself is available through the National Park Service at www.nps.gov/alcatraz, or the Parks Conservancy at www.parksconservancy.org.

About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy:  The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is a nonprofit membership organization that works in collaboration with the National Park Service and the Presidio Trust to improve park sites, enlist volunteers in restoration projects, provide services and education programs for visitors and local communities, and build a community dedicated to preserving the national parks at the Golden Gate. To learn more about Conservancy activities, visit www.parksconservancy.org.

Docent Tours of Historic Gardens of Alcatraz

New docent tours of the Historic Gardens of Alcatraz are revealing the “softer side of ‘The Rock’” to those who visit the popular national park site. Held each Friday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m., the docent tours leave from the island’s dock area, so those interested must take the 9 a.m. boat from Pier 33. There is no additional charge once visitors are on the island. For those who can’t fit a docent tour into their visit, a self-guided walking tour of the gardens is described in a new brochure, which is available for free at the dock on Alcatraz. During the docent tour, visitors explore five garden areas inspired by the work of many early gardeners on The Rock. When the prison was closed in 1963, the gardens were abandoned. Nonetheless, nearly 200 species of shrubs, succulents, bulbs and perennials continued to survive in rocky soil with no fertilizers or supplemental water. Vintage images and historical records of the Alcatraz gardens from the mid-1800s through 1963 were carefully reviewed for the “Historic Gardens of Alcatraz” preservation project, which was spearheaded by the Garden Conservancy in partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks and the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

For details contact Maria Martinez, Garden Conservancy, (415) 441-4300, mmartinez@gardenconservancy.org, www.gardenconservancy.org.

Alcatraz Cruises Launches Nation’s First Hybrid Ferry Boat

Alcatraz Cruises has introduced the Hornblower Hybrid, a wind, solar and diesel powered hybrid vessel. In addition to solar panels and wind turbines, the Hornblower Hybrid also has Tier 2 marine diesel engines. These cleaner, fuel-efficient engines reduce the amount of diesel fuel used, emissions and overall carbon footprint. The vessel also contains a number of other environmentally friendly materials. The carpeting contains post consumer recycled materials, is recyclable and meets the U.S. Green Building Council LEED criteria for recycled content. A significant portion of the interior signage is printed on Plyboo, a composite material made from sustainable sources and containing no harmful chemicals. The countertops throughout the vessel are made by Vetrazzo from pieces of recycled vodka bottles. The lighting throughout the vessel is LED, which requires a fraction of the energy of standard bulbs and provides an equal or greater amount of illumination. The Hybrid is a multipurpose vessel within the Alcatraz Cruises fleet, ferrying visitors to Alcatraz Island and Angel Island, as well as taking school groups and other passengers on cruises around the Bay. The vessel is also available for private events.

Experience Life Aboard a 19th Century Sailing Ship at San Francisco's Maritime Park

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park offers daily guided tours of the historic sailing ship, Balclutha, berthed at Hyde Street Pier. Learn how sailors adapted to harsh conditions, dangerous storms, poor food and little pay. After the guided tour, descend below deck to experience the sights and sounds of "Cargo is King," a new exhibit that tells how the Balclutha, an 1886 square-rigged ship once known as the Star of Alaska, contributed to the social and economic development of the Bay Area, California and the world packing coal, lumber, wool, wheat, rice, Scotch whisky and the mineral nitrate. The program is included in the cost to board the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier; admission is $5 for adults, children under 16 free.

For more information, telephone 415-447-5000 or check web site www.nps.gov/safr. .

“Play it by Ear” at the Bay Area Discovery Museum

The Bay Area Discovery Museum, a nationally recognized, hands-on children’s museum dedicated to childhood creativity, located at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, announced the encore installation of “Play it by Ear,” a traveling exhibition featuring whimsical creations from San Francisco Bay Area sound artists. Within the exhibition, families are able to tinker and play with original works of contemporary sound art, including a keyboard that activates dancing Slinkys, a giant music box that lets children create the melody, and a soundscape where children hear their movement. “Play it by Ear” engages families in the creative process by linking them with artists and inventors, as well as by providing an area to make their own sound art objects.

Angel Island U.S. Immigration Station Restored

After years and millions of dollars in renovation, the historic United States Immigration Station on Angel Island State Park in San Francisco Bay has been reopened for public visits. The center was the West coast equivalent to Ellis Island in New York harbor, processing immigrants arriving after journeying across the Pacific Ocean. Some 90 different nationalities entered the U.S. through Angel Island from 1910 to 1940, including Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German, Punjabi and others. During World War II, the center housed prisoners of war. The structures at Angel Island were destined for destruction, when a state park ranger found Chinese calligraphy and other writings carved into barrack walls. The writing included poignant poetry of the immigrants’ experiences and illuminated a sad period in U.S. immigration. New interpretive placards and displays, as well as artifacts representing the clothing and personal effects of immigrants who passed through the station, tell the story.

PIER 39 Welcomes New San Francisco Carousel

PIER 39 is pleased to announce the arrival of its new San Francisco Carousel. The two-story carousel was custom-made in Sernaglia, Treviso in Italy. Artisans handcrafted the glittering merry-go-round to feature numerous unique marine animals, and hand-painted the double-decker ride with stylized depictions of famous San Francisco landmarks. The marine life-influenced carousel offers 32 animals to ride, including sea dragons, hippocampi sea lions, dolphins, pandas, and of course, horses. Among the intricately designed animals are two stationary chariots and, for the more adventurous riders, there are two spinning tubs. The carousel—the only one in the country featuring artistic renderings of its home city—is hand-painted with famous San Francisco landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Chinatown, Lombard Street, Alcatraz and the popular California sea lions, who have made their home at PIER 39 for the past 20 years. The carousel is also energy efficient, with LED lighting throughout.

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco AND Meadowood Napa Valley Announce ‘Town and Country’ TRAVEL package City Lights, Country Charm - An Ultimate Dining & Wine Getaway

San Francisco is one of the most exciting and scenic cities in America, with some of the world’s finest vineyards in the nearby countryside of Napa Valley. With the new “Town and Country” travel package from Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco and Meadowood Napa Valley, travelers can treat themselves to the best of both destinations, seamlessly blending the finest in accommodations, dining and wine tasting in one ultimate travel experience.

The five-day, four-night offering begins with a personal chauffeur to greet arriving guests inside the San Francisco Airport to drive them in comfort to Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco’s door. Two nights accommodation in a luxurious guest room featuring spectacular bird’s-eye views of the San Francisco Bay awaits; a special wine welcome amenity, chef’s prix fixe dinner for two paired with select wines in Silks restaurant, daily breakfast, in the privacy of your guest room or in Silks, are just a few of the indulgent activities and amenities offered.

After two energizing days in the City by the Bay, guests will journey to the wine country for two days of quiet relaxation including indulgent spa treatments at Meadowood. Settle into a guest room with tranquil views and warm fire and emerge just in time for a private one-hour fireside wine tasting, then continue on to dinner for a memorable four-course meal with wines expertly paired in The Restaurant at Meadowood. Enjoy a country breakfast each morning in the privacy of your guest room or in The Grill overlooking the fairways, croquet lawns and wooded hillsides.

The five-day, four-night “Town and Country” combined offering includes:

Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco

Two nights accommodation in a luxurious guest room with superb San Francisco views
Round trip private car airport transfers
Full American breakfast for two daily in the privacy of your room or in Silks Restaurant
Welcome signature MO Bar Twist cocktail in MO Bar
A trio sampler of Napa Valley wines paired with local artisan cheeses and a selection of Calistoga waters welcome amenity
Chef’s prix fixe dinner for two paired with wines in Silks restaurant, awarded four stars by Mobil Guide and three and half stars by the San Francisco Chronicle
Valet parking daily
*Optional feature: Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco receives special pricing on luxury automobiles rentals and will happily arrange three days rental of a luxury car of your choice via National for an additional fee.

About Meadowood

Meadowood is nestled among 250 private acres in the heart of Napa Valley, America’s premiere wine growing region. The estate is a center for social, cultural, and viticultural life in the valley and is known for its beautiful, natural setting, gracious hospitality, classic architecture, and traditional pastimes including croquet, tennis, golf, swimming, hiking, bird-watching, fine dining, and the enjoyment of wine. Also a private club, Meadowood counts Napa Valley’s most prominent vintners among its membership. A Relais & Chateaux property, Meadowood is one mile east from downtown St. Helena and 18 miles north of Napa.

Where to Stay

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus Hybrid Living Join Forces For Eco-Chic Suites

Eco-savvy travelers can now enjoy luxury, style and a commitment to sustainability when they visit two premier hotels. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Lexus are partnering to unveil two "Lexus Hybrid Living Suites" geared for eco-conscious visitors, with the first to launch at The Fairmont San Francisco, followed by The Fairmont Washington, D.C. in conjunction with Earth Day.

Guests can sleep, eat and drink sustainably in these unique suites, with every aspect of the room meticulously planned for the eco-minded traveler, incorporating ideas and products from Lexus Hybrid Living partners (lexus.com/hybridliving). Complimentary use of a Lexus LS 600h L awaits the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite visitor who wishes to explore the area in the comfort of a low-emission luxury car that spoils the driver, not the environment.

Famed eco-designer Kelly LaPlante, of LA's Kelly LaPlante Organic Interior Design (kellylaplante.com), is responsible for the design. Organic materials and rapidly renewable resources, such as bamboo, have been used in the creation of the suite. Highlights of the décor include furniture by Kelly LaPlante and the Kenneth Cobonpue collection, eco-friendly fabrics by Q Collection, an organic mattress system by Suite Sleep, bedding by Coyuchi Organic, organic towels and robes by Nandina, environmentally friendly paint provided by Benjamin Moore Aura, and pillows and comforters by Sleep & Beyond. Lexus has installed a custom coffee table, designed by LaPlante, utilizing pieces of leather recycled from Lexus vehicles. Additionally, the designer worked with local antique dealers to secure select pieces of furniture that are both unique and sustainable by nature of their re-use.

The Lexus Hybrid Living Suite at The Fairmont San Francisco features wrap around windows offering guests postcard-worthy views of the city including the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown. The windows of the corner suite have been designed to allow natural light to stream in, reducing the need for artificial lighting and marrying sumptuous eco-friendly quarters with the beauty of the outdoor environment. All fixtures in the room utilize compact fluorescent lights, also found throughout the hotel's 591 newly renovated guestrooms and suites.

Guests in San Francisco and Washington will enjoy a Green Guide, as well as an audio podcast, during their stay. The guides recommend environmentally friendly activities in the destination, including suggested highlights found on the Lexus Hybrid Living website. From eco-friendly bath amenities to mini-bars stocked with local biodynamic wines, organic farmstead cheeses and other delicious treats from each region, the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite will provide an unforgettable taste of the "green life."

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com. To book the Lexus Hybrid Living suite, call 415-772-5147.

LEXUS HYBRID LIVING

As the only luxury automotive company selling low-emission hybrid vehicles, Lexus is a leader in offering products that minimize the impact on the earth without sacrificing style and luxury. Lexus is bringing like-minded individuals and companies together through its Hybrid Living initiative, a series of events and a web portal that showcases luxury products made with sustainability top-of-mind. Lexus Hybrid Living helps to define and inspire a new eco-luxury lifestyle by featuring furniture, fashion, art, food, architectural structures and other products that are kinder to the environment. For more information, please visit www.Lexus.com/hybridliving.

FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels, which includes iconic landmarks like The Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Monte Carlo and New York's The Plaza. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travellers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont's portfolio includes 55 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 20 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Beijing, Abu Dhabi and South Africa.

Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with over 85 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. The company also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

Spanish Language Guidebook Available for San Francisco Travel Planning

Portada has added a new visitors guide for the Spanish-speaking visitor: Descubre San Francisco en Español. The free monthly guide is available at more than 240 hotels in San Francisco, airports, select retail shopping centers and the Visitor Information Center of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. The guide is also available online. Maps, general information, neighborhood descriptions, transit tips and information on areas beyond San Francisco are covered in the guide. The magazine is distributed to outbound passengers at local airports by Mexicana Airlines; inbound passengers from Mexico (and soon Spain) receive the visitors guide. It is also distributed to travel trade professionals in Mexico.

For more information check web site www.descubresf.com.

Fisherman’s Wharf Hotel Unveils Dramatic Renovation

In a stark departure from the traditional waterfront area theme, the Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf’s $33-million renovation debuts a sophisticated style that opens the hotel up to its surroundings with a bright, flowing design. The 529-room hotel is one of the largest hospitality complexes in San Francisco’s most popular tourism area. Its new design features renovated guestrooms and common areas, as well as a unique new ballroom and a landscaped outdoor courtyard for private parties. The renovated hotel also features an outdoor living room that is an extension of the lobby, with fire pits and seating areas. The main enhancement to the hotel’s meeting space is the addition of the 2,731-square-foot Embarcadero Room. This ballroom offers an outside foyer that also includes an outdoor living room and fire pits.

For more information contact Chris Ahlberg, Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, (415) 362-5500, chris.ahlberg@ihrco.com, www.sheraton.com/fishermanswharf.

Intercontintal Hotel OpenedI

The 32-story, 550-room InterContinental San Francisco has opened at 888 Howard St., adjacent to Moscone West. The hotel includes a street-level restaurant and bar wrapping around the corner of Fifth and Howard streets in an L-shape; 46,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space; spa; swimming pool located on the sixth floor; and parking.

For more information contact the San Francisco Visitor Information Center, (415) 391-2000, vic1@sanfrancisco.travel, www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com. 

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco Announces Launch of Seasons Steak & Seafood     

Executive Chef Jeremy Emmerson and Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco announce the launch of Seasons Steak & Seafood, the newly reconcepted restaurant combining premier cuts of meat and the freshest seafood in a seasonally changing menu that innovates and refines the steakhouse concept. Emmerson and Restaurant Chef Amy Engberts combined the best of their culinary expertise to develop the new menu, which features lighter preparations of creative side dishes and a unique Surf N’ Turf tasting menu, while maintaining the integrity of the original Seasons dining experience and Four Seasons’ legendary, intuitive service.

Innovative Menu:

Coherent with Four Seasons’ reputation for offering the highest quality ingredients on the market, Seasons Steak and Seafood sources the best, prime steak and freshest seafood available, such as Korobuta pork chops and American Kobe flatiron steak from Snake River Farms and venison from New Zealand. Accompanied by roasted organic Fingerling potatoes, each steak and seafood from the grill menu is further customizable with a choice of sides – lighter, refined versions of steakhouse favorites which allow the fresh, locally sourced and organic produce to shine. Swiss Chard, Fennel and Mushroom Gratin and Baked Iaccopa Butter Beans are alternatives to traditional scalloped potatoes or creamed spinach.

Fresh Take on Surf N’ Turf:

In addition to these customizable accompaniments, the new menu offers a seasonally changing Surf N’ Turf tasting menu, unique in the San Francisco steak house genre. With the three-part tasting menu, each plate offers diners an opportunity to enjoy two, smaller portions of complementary dishes, all expertly paired with generous 3oz. pours of wine. Each course’s two-part combination is both traditional and unexpected: Tuna Tartare n’ Beef Tartare is followed by Maine Lobster n’ Milk Fed Veal Chop, and the menu is completed with Grayson Cheese n’ Profiteroles.

Premier Wine Program:

The wine program reflects the changes in the restaurant’s menu. The extensive, expertly paired wine list, emphasizing California’s boutique wineries, the majority from Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Barbara, now includes a Surf N’ Turf section of specially selected wines to pair with menu items “From the Land” and “From the Sea,” complementing the steak and seafood preparations on the menu. The wine offerings will change often based on availability, seasonality and new additions to the menu.

Executive Chef Jeremy Emmerson:

A native of Surrey, England, Chef Emmerson spent more than a decade perfecting his culinary techniques with illustrious chefs in extraordinary kitchens before arriving at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco, including positions at Four Seasons London; The Regent London, a Four Seasons Hotel; Four Seasons Palm Beach with the resort’s award winning Executive Chef Hubert Des Marais; Ritz Carlton Chicago, a Four Seasons Hotel, with Executive Chef George Bumbaris and Dining Room Chef Sarah Stegner. Emmerson oversees the talented culinary team at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco and Seasons Steak & Seafood, infusing the hotel’s connection with the local food scene with frequent trips to San Francisco Ferry Building and Farmer’s Market. Emmerson also oversees Globalchefs.com - an online culinary magazine that he launched in May 2000.

For more information on Seasons Steak & Seafood Restaurant or to make a reservation, please visit www.fourseasons.com/sanfrancisco or call (415) 633-3838.

Tours and Activities

Stroll San Francisco's Story-Tours Offer "The Whole San Francisco Shebang"
No San Francisco stone is left unturned in the self-guided, MP3/iPod-based Stroll San Francisco story-tours. Featuring professional actors portraying historical characters, San Franciscans telling their own stories, city historians bringing the past to life, music, sound effects and a lively narrator, Stroll San Francisco has 33 different tours of major San Francisco landmarks and neighborhoods. Tours can be purchased individually ($4.99-$9.99) or the "whole shebang" for $14.99.

For more information and to sample a tour, call 415-665-8911 or check web site www.strollsanfrancisco.com. .

Lisa Culinary Excursions Whet Appetites in San Francisco

Twice a week, Epicurean Concierge Lisa Rogovin leads tours of the San Francisco Ferry Building Marketplace and Farmer's Market. After a morning sampling olive oil varieties, chocolate confections, delicious cheeses and gathering goodies for home and garden, the culinary adventurers are then treated to a sumptuous lunch at a restaurant known for high quality food and the use of local and seasonal ingredients or can opt for a hands-on cooking class and sit-down lunch in a private home.

By reservation only; fees range from $125-$500. For more information, call 415-806-5970 or check web site www.inthekitchenwithlisa.com.

Museum News

Legacy of Life in Internment Camps Captured in Exhibits, New A.C.T. Drama

In 1942 following President Franklin D. Roosevelt's signing of Executive Order 9066, some 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast were interned in detention camps for the balance of the war. The remembrances of those internees, the art they created and their reactions to returning to San Francisco after World War II form the basis for several new exhibitions and a new play produced by the American Conservatory Theatre.

SF Cameraworks Opens New Gallery on San Francisco's Mission Street

Mssion's Street's "museum row" in downtown San Francisco has gained another tenant: SF Cameraworks. Located just above the Cartoon Art Museum at 657 Mission St., it is the fifth museum to open in the 600 block of Mission Street, also home to the Museum of the African Diaspora, the California Historical Society and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. Just a few steps away are the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Museum of Craft and Folk Art, Zeum and the future homes of The Contemporary Jewish Museum and the Mexican Museum. SF Cameraworks, the Bay Area's only non-profit photography gallery focusing on emerging artists, was founded in 1974. In addition to a 3,000 sf gallery, the site is home to an education center and 3,000-volume library which includes many rare and out-of-print publications.

For more information, call 415-512-2020 or check web site www.sfcamerawork.org.

Where to Eat

Bistro 1689,

1689 Church St., 415-550-8298, www.bistro1689.com, located in Noe Valley, debuted during the summer with its refined French/California cuisine emphasizing the rustic flavors of southwest France and cooked with produce from small farms, delivered daily from organic sources whenever possible. Bistro 1689, known for their Monday and Tuesday $39 three-course prix fixe menu which features "bottomless wine by the glass" (not available for wines sold by the bottle), is open for dinner nightly; closed Sunday.

Bushi-Tei,

1638 Bush St., 415-440-4959, www.bushi-tei.com, located in the heart of San Francisco's historic Japantown, combines wood paneling dating back to 1863 from Nagano, Japan with edgy modern touches. Launched in 2005 the restaurant's fusion cuisine got a coveted one star in the new Michelin San Francisco Bay Area & Wine Country guide. Chef Seiji "Waka" Wakabayashi's three-course Omakase tasting menu with wine pairing for $50 is a favorite of patrons drawn to his melding of French, Californian and Japanese influences. Dinner nightly; closed Monday.

Pres a Vi Global Cuisine & Wine Bar,

One Letterman Drive, Building D, Suite 150, 415-409-3000, www.presavi.com, opened in November, 2006 at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio. This casual restaurant and wine bar serves an eclectic array, some 20 to 30 choices, of international small plates. Chef Kelly Degala's commitment to global cuisine is reflected in dishes that reflect Spanish, Filipino, French, Italian and Latin American influences. To encourage wine and food pairings, the restaurant also offers guests the opportunity to sample single three-ounce tastes. Lunch and dinner daily.

Sam's Chowder House,

4210 North Cabrillo Hwy., Half Moon Bay, 650-712-0245, www.samschowderhouse.com, opened in October, 2006 -- a sister restaurant to Cetrella, quickly became a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Set on the magnificent California coastline in Half Moon Bay, with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Sam's Chowder House offers a casual and authentic New England-style seafood experience. The menu will feature a daily selection of fresh fish - grilled, broiled or sautéed to perfection, an array of delicious seafood dishes, live lobsters and crabs, a raw bar, and a variety of local specialties, all priced to coincide with the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. Lunch and dinner daily.

SAN JOSE

What to See & Do

Winchester Mystery House Winchester Estate Self-Guided Garden Tour

Winchester Mystery House will reopen on Friday, May 15 with The Winchester Estate Self-Guided Garden Tour. While the Estate has offered garden tours throughout its history, the reimagined outdoor tour will be a completely touchless experience featuring 20 stops throughout four acres of the beautiful Victorian Gardens. Guests will be provided with a link to the audio guide and digital map accessible on their own devices upon check-in. Tours will be offered Thursdays through Sundays and must be pre-purchased prior to arrival. Tickets are $19.99 for adults, $15.99 for seniors, and $9.99 for children, available online only at winchestermysteryhouse.com. All Garden Tour tickets holders will also receive a 50% discount to return when the Winchester Mystery House resumes mansion tours.

“We are thrilled to begin welcoming guests back to Sarah Winchester’s Estate with a phased approach focused on the safety and comfort of our guests and employees,” said
Walter Magnuson, Winchester Mystery House General Manager. “As springtime blossoms abound, the Victorian Gardens surrounding Sarah’s mysterious home have never looked more beautiful. We are happy to offer an opportunity for guests to enjoy them with a zero-contact, self-guided tour complimented by informative visuals and educational sound clips. The strongest precautions are being taken to ensure the safety and health of our guests and employees, in accordance with city, county and state guidelines and protocols.”

Tour sizes will be restricted to those in a visitor’s immediate household and capacity will be reduced to ensure social distancing. All guests and employees will be required to practice social distancing and wear face masks. Additional precautions include hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the property and enhanced cleaning of the estate.

The gift shop and cafe will be closed; however, guests interested in supporting the Winchester Mystery House during this unprecedented time can visit winchestermysteryhouse.com/support-the-estate/ to purchase the Immersive 360 Tour for $8.99, a video tour to rent for $5.99 or to purchase for $13.99, “good any day vouchers” for $26, and exclusive Winchester Mystery House merchandise.

About Winchester Mystery House
For nearly 100 years the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, has stood as a testament to the ingenuity, singular vision and lore that surrounds its namesake, Sarah Pardee Winchester (heiress to the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune). Originally known as Llanada Villa, today it stands as an architectural wonder, a time capsule of a bygone era and one of America’s most celebrated haunted mansions. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a California Historic State Landmark, a San Jose City Landmark, and is one of the leading attractions in the Bay Area. Since tours began in 1923, more than 13 million people from around the world have toured the lonely hallways, dark passages and ornate rooms of the Winchester Mystery House. It has intrigued visitors, scholars, and media from throughout the United States, and around the globe, with its combination of the beautiful and the bizarre, its story of heartbreak, tenacity and invention and its legends of the paranormal. Tours are available daily, 364 days a year. For tickets and additional information, visit www.winchestermysteryhouse.com.

Where to Stay

Hotel Valencia Santana Row Offers An Exciting Sea to Sky Package Tour - Perfect for the Summer

The boutique Silicon Valley hotel has created a stunning Sea to Sky tour for adventurous guests to enjoy while they explore the area in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains. This package for a group of 6 is a once-in-a-lifetime retreat for:

· A few couples that want to relax, be treated like royalty and enjoy the sights of Silicon Valley & beyond as they celebrate their friendship.
· A bachelorette party or sleep-over for a circle of best girlfriends.
· Longtime friends to reunite for a weekend of excitement.
· A company who wants to participate in a unique team-building experience.

No matter the occasion, this new package is an epic vacation for locals or faraway visitors.
Hotel Valencia Santana Row is the #1 hotel in San Jose on U.S. News and World Report's list, and also earned a top spot on the 2014 Conde Nast Gold Traveler's List and Reader's List.

The Hotel Valencia Santana Row Sea to Sky Tour package includes:
· A 2-night stay at Hotel Valencia Santana Row in three guest rooms: the Presidential Suite and 2 King suites.
. In room welcome goodies:
· Wine and cheese presentation featuring local products
· 1 bottle of Cristal champagne and special chocolate selection in each room
. Dinner hosted in Suite:
· Honorary guests of the hotel's Executive Chef
· Personalized 6-course menu created just for your group by Chef
· Custom wine-flight to accompany Chef's menu
· Live music in the Suite
. 2 drinks per person at Vbar
. Breakfast for the group served in Presidential Suite each morning
· A 2-hour Seahorse Equestrian Tour in Monterey on the beach
· A helicopter ride and winery tour featuring stunning Santa Cruz and famous Monterey Bay view
· A $1000 gift card for the group to Santana Row merchants with a personal shopper
· Personalized limousine service to and from all locations
·
Price: $15,000 (More guests can be added for an additional fee)

Hotel Valencia Santana Row is the only overnight establishment located on Santana Row - a European-inspired neighborhood known for its dynamic mix of upscale shopping, dining and entertainment. Just minutes away from dozens of mountain wineries and the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, it‚s the perfect place for a romantic fall wedding.

For more information and downloadable high-res images, visit www.hotelvalencia-santanarow.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

SLO County Passport is Free

Visitors to San Luis Obispo County can save hundreds of dollars on their travels through the Central Coast. The free SLO County Passport offers 50 percent discounts at participating hotels, restaurants, retail stores, day spas, golf course and wineries. The 2007 discount card is available online at www.coastalvisitor.com or by calling (805) 545-9777.

For more information contact SLO County Passport, (805) 545-9777, www.coastalvisitor.com.

Courtyard by Marriott Opens in San Luis Obispo

Visitors to San Luis Obispo can now stay at the new Courtyard by Marriott. Featuring mission-style architecture, Courtyard by Marriott San Luis Obispo features 132 spacious guestrooms and seven suites furnished with a flat screen television, complimentary wireless Internet access, and a refrigerator and microwave. Hotel amenities include five meeting rooms, heated swimming pool and spa, fitness center and the Courtyard Café which serves breakfast and dinner. Courtyard by Marriott San Luis Obispo is conveniently located near California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

For more information contact the Courtyard by Marriott San Luis Obispo, (805) 786-4200 or (800) 321-2211, www.marriott.com.

SAN MARINO

What to See and Do

The Huntington Library, Art Collection, and Botanical Gardens

After visiting this fantastic place, I know you'll agree that one afternoon or one day isn't enough to take in all the charm, beauty, history or gardens.

ART

The art collections alone occupy two separate buildings, and a third structure - the MaryLou and George Boone Gallery, offer changing exhibits. Completed in 1911, the Huntington Art Gallery was originally the Huntington's residence. Today it displays one of the finest collections of Europen art in the nation, as well as a look at the family's lifestyle. Highlights of the 18th-century British and French art include Gainsborough's Blue Boy, Lawrence's Pinkie, and Jean-Antoine Houdon's bronze Diana, the Huntress. The gallery is 55,000 square feet, displaying approximately 1,200 objects from the 15th-century Netherlandish and Italian works to British "Grand Manner" portraiture to objects from the 19th-century British Design Reform movement.

The Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art bring together American art from the colonial period through the miuddle of the 20th century. Among the painting in the 16,000-square-foot space are Mary Cassatt's Breakfast in Bed, Edward Hopper's The Long Leg, and Frederic Church's Chimborazo. Here you'll find sculpture besides paintings and decorative arts, plus a permanent exhibition devoted to the work of early-20th-century Pasadena architects Charles and Henry Greene.

Botanical Gardens

Here you'll find something new each time you come. More than a dozen gardens cover 120 acres of the 207-acre grounds. the Desert Gardens include a large outdoor grouping of mature cacti and other succulents; the Japanese Garden features a drum bridge and a furnished Japanese house; and the Rose Garden shows the history of the rose over 2,000 years. The exceptional Chinese Garden -- Liu Fang Yuan, or Garden of Flowing Fragrance -- features a lake, a complex of pavilions, a teahouse and tea shoip plus five stone bridges. Also on the grounds are the Subtropical, Herb, Jungle and Palm gardens. The Botanical Center features The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science, the Helen and Peter Bing Children's Garden, and the Associated Foundations Teaching Greenhouse -- and these all serve as hands-on discovery centers for children and families.

Library

The library contains an extraorldinary number of rate books and manuscripts in the fields of British and American hisotry and literature. The Huntington is one of the largest and most complete research libraries in the United States in its fields of specialization, plus manuscripts of Anglo-American civilization. Together, the library holds more than 6 million items.

The main exhibit hall displays a range of treasures, including the Ellesmeremanuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon's Birds of America, and a world-class collection of the early editions of Shakespeare's works. The Dibner Hall of the History of Science showcases The Huntington's extensive holdings on the history of science, medicine and technology - from Ptolemy and Newton to Darwin and Einstein. The West Hall of the Library has changing exhibitions focosing on a variety of subjects, including photography, the Founding Fathers, and significant literary figures and movements. This Library is also among the nation's most important centers for the study of the American West, with an unsurpassed collection of materials that span the full range of American western settlement, including the overland pioneer experience, the Gold Rush, and lthe development of Southern California.

Located on the 207-acre estate of the late Henry Huntington, the galleries of this research and cultural center feature 18th and 19th century British and French masterpieces including Pinkie and The Blue Boy. The botanical gardens feature 14,000 varieties of plants on over 150 acres. They include the new Chinese Garden (breathtaking), Rose Garden, varieties of plants on over 150 acres. Also, the Herb Garden, Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, Zen Garden, Australian Garden and others. The library includes works from American and British literature, including an original Gutenberg Bible and Canterbury Tales.

The Dibner Hall of the History of Science has a new permanent exhibition on the history of science and invites visitors to explore scientific ideas that changed the world in the fields of astronomy, natural history, medicine and light. The approximately 100 items on display range from Ptolemy to Hubble, from Darwin to Einstein.

The Chinese Garden is exceptional. the Garden of Flowing Fragrance - Liu Fang Yuan - is California's first public Chinese Garden. It covers 3.5 acres of a planned 12-acre site and features a lake, pavilions, bridges, and a tea house set against a wooded backdrop of mature oaks and pines. Many plants native to China complete the landscape. Phase two of the garden is now under development.

Conservatory for Botanical Science is an exciting new science education program geared toward students ages 9-12 and is housed in the 16,000-sq. ft. Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science. Using interactive exhibits, children and families can use real plants and real tools to do real science. Exotic flora and hands-on learning stations invite active exploration of plant science, ecosystems and biodiversity.

Location: 1151 Oxford Road, 626-405-2100. Web site www.huntington.org.

SAN MATEO COUNTY

About San Mateo County

San Mateo County/Silicon Valley is part of the San Francisco Bay Area with 60-miles (96.5-km) of unique coastline immediately south of San Francisco. It is bordered on the east by San Francisco Bay, on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the south through Palo Alto and Stanford University, encompassing 447 square miles (719 sq. km).

With over 170 hotels offering a combined total of approximately 17,000 guest rooms, and easy access by air, land and sea, San Mateo County has it all! Easy access via San Francisco International Airport ( SFO is located in San Mateo County) Complimentary roundtrip shuttle service to/from SFO from most airport hotels.

A safe, scenic setting just minutes away from down-town San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and the Pacific Coast! Convenient commuter rail service to downtown San Francisco & San Jose (approx. 20 minute ride: under $5 fare) Spectacular attractions from great shopping and dining to unique museums, historical attractions, and coastal towns!

CLIMATE: Sunshine and mild temperatures. Average annual temperature is a pleasant 68F/20C degrees (summer highs rarely over 78F/25C degrees and winter lows in the mid 50F/10C). Average rainfall is approximately 20in/50.8cm per year, occurring primarily from December to March.

MAJOR ATTRACTIONS: Año Nuevo State Reserve, Filoli Center, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Sanchez Adobe, Pigeon Point and Montara Lighthouses, San Mateo County History Museum, Hiller Aviation Museum, Stanford University and more!

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: PIER 39, Blue & Gold Fleet, Red & White Fleet, Golden Gate Fields Racetrack, USS Hornet, Winchester Mystery House, San Francisco & Oakland Zoos, Teatro ZinZanni, San Francisco Wax Museum, California’s Great America, the Exploratorium, the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.

Japanese Tea Garden

You're missing a lot if you haven't vacationed in San Mateo County. What's to do and see? Plenty! Start with the gardens. The Japanese Tea Garden (located in San Mateo Central) is reputed to be one of the finest tea gardens in California. Landscape architect Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo designed this stunning retreat graced with a granite pagoda, a teahouse, lanterns, and bamboo groves. The garden, containing harmoniously arranged trees, waterfalls, Koi ponds, lotus flowers, different seasonal blooms and rare plants provides a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere in the busy downtown area.

Allied Arts Guild -

is an enchanting complex of shops, gardens, artists' studios, and a restaurant. The gardens were designed to resemble the famous Alhambra and Generalife gardens of Granada, Spain. The walkways feature beautiful flowers and foliage that change colors according to the season, and the shops and studios feature arts and crafts of artisans of San Mateo County.

Sunset Magazine's experimental gardens -

part of Sunset's laboratory for Western living where editors and staff test their ideas in an environment that reflects the history of California and the West. There are various climate zones to geographical areas of the United States for growing almost every plant available in the nursery trade.

James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve -

Here, you'll find a complex marine habitat where scientists have discovered 25 new marine invertebrae and plant species (several that live nowhere else but at the preserve), and it offers one of the most diverse tide pool systems in the state, including a variety of seaweed, crabs, sponges, sea anemones, mollusks, starfish and an assortment of other fish.

Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyard -

Like wine? Five wineries to whet your taste buds are located here. The Thomas Fogarty Winery and Vineyard has twenty-five acres of Burgundian-style varietals are planted on the 325-acre estate. The mountain top setting has sweeping views of the San Francisco Bay area, while the crushing, barrel aging and bottling are done on the premises. The tasting room offers tasting menus that include a souvenir glass.

La Nebbia Winery

at Half Moon Bay has been in business for over 25 years and features an award-winning wine list, gourmet food products, private events, custom wine labeling, a scenic picnic area, and Bocce Ball courts. Several times a year, the winery holds its "bottle and cork your own wine" events at which the general public is invited to bring their own bottles and move through the pouring, corking and labeling lines.

For more information on the above and additional attractions and events, contact the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 650-348-7600, or check web site www.visitsanmateocounty.com.

San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets 

Now that the word is out, “foodies” and gourmets of all kinds are heading to San Mateo County, San Francisco’s closest neighbor that offers two sides of a gorgeous peninsula – the Coastside and the Bayside.  Already known for its convenience (SFO is there), its sunshine, scenic beauty, 90 miles of beaches and proximity to San Francisco, the area is now touting the incredible fresh produce grown in the southernmost part of the county, the fish, crab and prawns caught off the Pacific side, and the locally produced wine and microbrews.   The county is making a name for itself as a world-class tourism destination.

San Mateo County offers dining at its best.  Locally grown produce and fresh seafood, multi-ethnic cuisine, and local wineries make dining on the Peninsula a truly fine culinary experience.  A new “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” awards program recognizes local restaurants, hotels and caterers that make an effort to buy and serve produce from local San Mateo County growers, seafood caught off San Mateo County’s coastline, and beer and wine made in the county.  The San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau (SMCCVB) and San Mateo County Farm Bureau created the ongoing award program in cooperation with the San Mateo County Harbor District.

Chefs have been taken right onto the farms and docks to learn first-hand how to find the freshest products and how to serve them so that they are at their peak. Culinary teams have been trained to give diners little known facts, such as how a Dungeness crab develops and becomes so sweet.  Arrangements have even been made for groups to hear presentations by farmers, fishermen and/or winery owners as they enjoy a particular meal.   Group tours of a working goat dairy farm (milk the goats and see how gourmet goat cheese with edible flowers is made) is an option, along with behind-the-scenes farm and dock tours, meetings with growers, fishermen, and award-winning chefs, winery and brewery tours, and even self-bottling of wine.

Visitors and residents will also be informed of not only the venues that are participating in the program (a plaque in the establishment and a window sticker), but also which local products are used in the menu (special labels), the health-conscious aspect of certain dishes (heart stickers), how to take some of San Mateo County’s freshest products home (a guide of growers/fishermen who will ship their goods to visitors’ homes), and how to enjoy local wine and food pairing events and celebrations of special foods (San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets Calendar of Events).

The “San Mateo County:  Fresh as it Gets” program has enjoyed a tremendous welcome within both the local restaurant and agricultural communities.   The California Secretary of Food and Agriculture made a point of coming to present the very first “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets Awards” at a reception in Half Moon Bay.  The campaign was also the featured cover story of the California Country magazine’s May/June issue.  The program continues to grow exponentially, with increasing numbers of restaurants now serving products picked or caught the same day. The San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to be involved in a campaign that will clearly benefit the local lodging and dining establishments, the agricultural community in the county, the tourism industry in our area, and will promote economic growth and media recognition for San Mateo County. 

For more information, contact the San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 111 Anza Blvd., Suite 410, Burlingame, CA 94010, 650-348-7600 x 111, or check web site www.visitsanmateocounty.com.

SAN MIGUEL

Vina Robles Winery Opens Hospitality Center

Vina Robles Winery in San Miguel, minutes from Paso Robles, opened a 14,000 square foot hospitality center in July 2007 that consists of three main areas: tasting room overlooking the Vina Robles demonstration vineyard; retail center featuring fine wines, a deli and gourmet food items from Dean & Deluca; and the Signature Room banquet facility. Outdoor event facilities include the Jardine Court and Petite Terrace, each equipped to accommodate private parties, weddings, corporate events and small conferences. The hospitality center’s architecture and design artfully combines modern European elegance with California mission characteristics inspired by nearby Mission San Miguel Arcangel and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.

For more information contact the Vina Robles Winery, (805) 227-4812, www.vinarobles.com. 

SANTA ANA

Bowers Museum presents Dimensions of Form: Rufino Tamayo and Mixografia through January 19, 2020

Member Opening: Friday, September 20 at 6-9pm
The Bowers Museum (2002 N Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706) will present Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia. Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia features the artistic legacy of Mexican-born artist Rufino Tamayo. Fifty prints on loan from Mixografia in Los Angeles will showcase the enormous depth and range of this pivotal artist’s work, from silhouetted figures to celestial bodies and the feathered serpent-god Quetzalcoatl, this exhibition illustrates the “fourth great one’s” last artistic collaborative expedition to add form to a typically flat medium.

In 1973, the Remba Family invited Rufino Tamayo to create a series of prints at Taller de Gráfica Mexicana (TGM), which opened in Mexico City in 1969. This collaboration was what led to the invention of the Mixografia® printing technique. Tamayo was looking to change the look of his prints by incorporating aspects of texture and dimensionality into his artwork and agreed to collaborate with TGM under the condition that the studio develop a technique that would allow him to produce his prints in relief. Luis Remba rose to the challenge by inventing a process that not only allowed Tamayo to create prints in relief, but also registered the artwork’s texture and very fine surface detail. Unable to use commercial paper for this new kind of printing, Luis and Lea’s son Shaye Remba designed and built the papermaking machinery to use in the studio. The name of the print shop was changed to reflect the name of the medium for which it had become known: “Mixografia.”

Mixografia went on to publish over 80 editions with Tamayo, including the 1983 paper mural “Dos Personajes Atacados Por Perros,” which was printed using the largest conventional lithographic stone in the world, measuring 103 x 63 inches. This stone, on which the artist’s original drawing is still visible, is on permanent view in the Mixografia gallery in downtown Los Angeles. The Remba family has been involved in the printing business for three generations. Moving from Mexico City to Los Angeles, Mixografia’s three-dimensional printing technique has been improved and perfected over the course of over 40 years. Because of the medium’s versatility, Shaye and Luis Remba are always searching for new methods to expand the printmaking possibilities for the artists.

Mixografia is a studio and a medium whose perfect marriage of artistry and technology allowed Tamayo to transcend the confines of the second dimension. A lithographic stone, used for one of his largest printworks printworks, serves as a significant point of interest for the Bowers Museum exhibition. This exhibition reflects both the immense legacy left behind by Tamayo and how an aging visionary and a family of immensely talented mechanical engineers were able to combine their abilities to breathe true dimensionality into paper. Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografia is organized by the Bowers Museum in conjunction with Mixografia.

About Mixografia
Mixografia has produced over 600 unique editions by 89 artists and has exhibited pieces at institutions around the world including Staatliche Kunsthalle, Berlin; Instituto de Arte Contemporáneo, Lima; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles; Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City; Georgia Museum of Art, Athens; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Musée d’Art Moderne, Paris; National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul; National Museum of Art, Tokyo; Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna; and, the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Mixografia is honored to join the Bowers Museum in this celebration of Rufino Tamayo’s lifetime of mastery and innovation, in anticipation of Mixografia’s anniversary commemorating fifty years of printmaking from Mexico City to Los Angeles.

About the Bowers Museum
The Bowers Museum has earned an international reputation through its world-class exhibitions, including Guo Pei: Couture Beyond; A Quest for Beauty: Van Cleef & Arpels; Warriors, Tombs and Temples: China’s Enduring Legacy; TerraCotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor; and Mummies–Death and the Afterlife: Treasures from the British Museum, as well as its own extensive art collections from the Americas and the South Pacific. Enjoy a leisurely luncheon at our award-winning Patina restaurant, Tangata. Browse the rare and exotic at the Bowers Museum Gallery Store. It’s more than just a shopping trip—it’s a cultural experience. Visit bowers.org for information and tickets.
Mixografia, 1419 East Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles CA, 90011
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, or by appointment +1 (323) 232-1158

SANTA BARBARA

Santa Barbara Walking Tour

Travelers bound for the American Riviera can watch “Beyond the Rooftops: Santa Barbara’s Red Tile Walking Tour” to get a preview of historic adobes and more recently constructed buildings that embody the best of the seaside city’s Spanish-style architecture, with its wrought-iron details, white walls of adobe or smooth stucco, and memorable red tile roofs. Narrated by John O’Hurley, the 16-minute-long video podcast leads visitors on a relaxing amble through the oldest part of town – the original Santa Barbara pueblo. Encompassing 12 small, easily navigated blocks, the tour includes 17 stops and 22 historic adobes dating from the late 1700s through the 1800s, plus many of the structures built in the Spanish-revival and Moorish styles mandated by community leaders after the devastating earthquake of 1925. Download the podcast at www.santabarbaraca.com/podcasts.

For more information contact the Santa Barbara Conference & Visitors Bureau and Film Commission, (805) 966- 9222, tourism@santabarbaraca.com, www.santabarbaraca.com.

Where to Stay

What's New & Noteworthy at Belmond El Encanto for Summer

PLENTY! Santa Barbara’s only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort, Belmond El Encanto, is once again poised to be the ultimate luxury summer destination, with remarkable offerings exclusive to this charming Belmond property. Featuring 92 bungalows on seven acres of lush gardens and boasting sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, Belmond El Encanto has created seasonally-inspired culinary and spa offerings and bespoke amenities for guests looking to escape the ordinary and relax in style this summer.

Flavors of Summer

Joining Belmond El Encanto as Executive Chef, Leo Andres Ayala’s summer menu showcases both California Coastal Cuisine and seasonal favorites. From fresh local oysters and pan seared diver scallops, to wild mushroom risotto and roasted beet salad with burrata, this summer menu will entice even the most discerning palate. Chef Leo’s talent and skill in preparing the region’s finest seafood selections and local produce will be paired with stunning Santa Barbara views from The Dining Room and Terrace, offering the ultimate summer treat.

Sun’s Out, Shades On

There’s no place better to soak in Santa Barbara’s summer rays than lounging in luxury at Belmond El Encanto’s zero-edge swimming pool. Guests can enjoy bespoke poolside offerings including complimentary sunglass cleaning and Evian cooling mist while taking in sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. Belmond El Encanto’s experienced staff will cater to every need, allowing guests to indulge in the quintessential Belmond experience.

Bellini Brunch

Inspired by its sister property Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, where the Bellini was first created, Belmond El Encanto is offering its ‘Bellini Brunch’ each Sunday this summer. Featuring bottomless Bellinis and locally-sourced dishes from Chef Leo Andres Ayala, guests begin by enjoying an array of appetizers including Ahi Tuna Salad, Chilled Prawns, Smoked Duck and Charred Vegetable Salad. To continue the feast, diners can choose from delectable options including Brioche French Toast, Eggs Benedict, Steak and Eggs, Seared Rare Ahi Tuna Sandwich or a Classic Cobb. Complementing the meal, guests are invited to The Wine Room where a selection of house-made desserts from Pastry Chef Aaron Lesch await. The Bellini Brunch is $75 per adult and $35 per child (12 years and younger). To book the Bellini Brunch, call 1-805-770-3530.

Power Pedals

Belmond El Encanto offers guests an eco-friendly way to explore the surrounding neighborhood with custom-made electric bikes, complimentary for hotel guests. With downtown Santa Barbara’s popular shopping and dining district, State Street, just minutes away, guests can take a quick trip to town to explore the beachside community. Whether looking to enjoy the boardwalk or visit unique boutiques and galleries, Belmond El Encanto will provide guests with electric bikes that make it easy to get into town and back up the hill to the property. Upon request, Belmond El Encanto will prepare a picnic for guests, whether they decide to enjoy it in downtown Santa Barbara, a secluded leafy spot by the nearby historic mission or on one of Santa Barbara’s famous beaches. Picnic price available upon request, price varies.

Scent of Summer: Lemon Basil

The Spa at Belmond El Encanto encourages guests to unwind and indulge in a new special summer treatment: the Lemon Basil Body Scrub. Infusing local ingredients from the property’s lush gardens and Santa Barbara’s bountiful landscape, the Lemon Basil spa offer includes a luxurious body scrub, rejuvenating massage, and a hair and scalp oil treatment over the course of the 80 minute treatment. The full-service spa features seven treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, showers and steam rooms to create a soothing experience for every guest. To book the $240 Lemon Basil Body Scrub, call 1-805-845-5800 ext. 3545.
For reservations, please call 1-800-393-5315 or visit www.belmond.com.

About Belmond

Owned and operated by Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., Belmond is a global collection of exceptional hotel and luxury travel adventures in some of the world’s most inspiring and enriching destinations. Established almost 40 years ago with the acquisition of Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, its unique and distinctive portfolio now embraces 45 hotel, rail and river cruise experiences in many of the world’s most celebrated destinations. From city landmarks to intimate resorts, the collection includes Belmond Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg; Belmond Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro; Belmond Maroma Resort and Spa, Riviera Maya; and Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara. Belmond also encompasses safaris, six luxury tourist trains, including the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, and three river cruises. Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. also operates ‘21’, one of New York’s most storied restaurants. Orient-Express is a trademark of SNCF. www.belmond.com

SANTA CLARA

Hyatt Regency Santa Clara Completes $12 Million Renovation

Hyatt Regency Santa Clara’s $12 million guestroom renovation has been completed. Guests at the Silicon Valley hotel will find that all 501 guestrooms, suites and corridors have been upgraded with new furnishings, including the signature Hyatt Grand Bed™, 32-inch LCD flat-panel television, expanded work stations with oversized desks, enhanced connectivity and T-Mobile® wireless Internet access, and the iHome™ clock radio with an iPod® docking station and seven time zone settings.  Guestroom walls are accented by original custom artwork and feature ingenious wall coverings inspired by the binary code and alphabet. Redesigned bathrooms include additional storage space, vessel sinks and a well-lit granite vanity. 

For more information contact the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, (408) 200-1234, www.santaclarahyatt.com.

SANTA CLARITA VALLEY

Courtyard by Marriott Opens in Santa Clarita

Courtyard by Marriott Santa Clarita is the latest hotel to open its doors in Santa Clarita. The full-service, entirely non-smoking hotel is minutes from Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia Town Center, Valencia Commerce Center and the Valley Industrial Center. Oversized guestrooms feature 32" flat screen TVs, 100 percent Egyptian cotton linens, refrigerator, microwave and complimentary wireless Internet access. The Courtyard Cafe serves an extensive breakfast with eggs cooked to order. Fresh and light California cuisine is served for lunch and dinner, and available for room service. A 24 hour market is stocked with fresh sandwiches, salads, and an assortment of beverages and sundries. Hotel amenities include the Courtyard Lounge, fitness center, outdoor pool and spa and library with computers and printers.

For more information contact Mariella Becerra, Courtyard by Marriott Santa Clarita, (661) 257-3220, mariella.becerra@marriott.com, www.marriott.com.

Santa Clarita Valley Background

This is a great destination for recreation, history, adventure - and more - for the entire family. Located just 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the Santa Clarita Valley is home to two Southern California premier attractions - Six Flags Magic Mountain and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. Magic Mountain delivers 15 world-class roller coaster rides, including Riddler’s Revenge, the world’s tallest and fastest stand-up roller coaster, while Hurricane Harbor contains a family water park with a tropical pirate theme, exciting water slides, and two of the tallest fully enclosed speed slides in Southern California.

History buffs will enjoy Santa Clarita Valley’s historical attractions, including the William S. Hart Park and Museum where you can tour the estate of legendary silent film star, William S. Hart, the first cowboy movie star from 1914 to 1925. Free guided tours are available from Wednesday through Sunday, including Hart’s personal effects and movie paraphernalia, along with Native American artifacts and Western American art. Hart Park also includes hiking and nature trails, a large picnic area, campground, and a wilderness area where bison roam. A barnyard in the park contains goats, horses, sheep, deer, ducks and geese. Adjacent to the park is the 19th century Saugus Railroad Station along with several historical buildings from old Newhall. Tours of the train station are available on weekends. Or, take a trip back in time with a stop at Mentryville with guided tours of this historic town that once welcomed young oil men and their families seeking a fresh strike.

There’s more to do -- Check out Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio and Museum (the Ranch still in operation once served as the stomping ground for many actors, including Gene Autry, John Wayne, Gary Cooper and Elvis Presley); or enjoy the outdoors in and around the Valley. Beautiful lakes include Castaic Lake Recreation Area, and there’s golf, hiking, biking trails and horseback opportunities.

In nearby Agua Dulce sits the geological formations of the Vasquez Rocks, a place to hike, explore, enjoy nature, and down the road, you can wine taste at the Agua Dulce Vineyard, or be transformed into another world at the Casa Dulce Riding and Guest Ranch.

For more information or to receive a visitor packet, call the Santa Clarita Tourism Bureau at 1-800-718-TOUR or visit web site www.VisitSantaClarita.com.

SANTA CRUZ

What to See & Do

Windy Oaks Winery Opens new Tasting Room

Located on the Corralitos Wine Trail, an idyllic region in South Santa Cruz County, Windy Oaks Winery has opened a newly renovated tasting room. The 500-square foot tasting room features a curved tasting bar made from recycled redwood panels and Brazilian granite. Two sets of folding glass doors showcase the barrel room, and open out onto the 500 square foot patio overlooking the vineyard and redwood forests beyond. Parisian garden tables and chairs, shaded by market umbrellas, complete the restful scene. The soft natural colors of the tasting room, the terra cotta stamped concrete floor, and the contemporary lighting, all contribute to a feeling in the tasting room of bringing nature inside. Windy Oaks features 18 acres of pinot noir grapes and one acre of chardonnay grapes and is one of four family-owned wineries on the Corralitos Wine Trail, surrounded by redwood trees and apple orchards.

Two New Boutique Foodie Stores Open in Downtown Santa Cruz

Two new culinary stores have opened in Downtown Santa Cruz. These side by side stores both have the all-natural/organic theme in common, but have different and exciting options to offer the downtown dynamic. The True Olive Connection offers unique gourmet, fresh organic olive oil and basalmic tastings and offerings, brought to Santa Cruz from around the world. Nut Kreations opened in Summer 2011 by a local Santa Cruz couple looking to offer healthy all-natural treats and gifts. Striving to provide creations from local ingredients, Nut Kreations offers a custom nut bar with more than 120 varieties of nuts and dried fruits, along with packaged gifts and nut products.

O’NEILL CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF SURFING!

In 1952, Santa Cruz resident Jack O’Neill opened his first Surf shop starting his surfing empire from humble beginnings. Soon after, O’Neill experimented with a newly discovered product - neoprene - pieced together to keep himself warm in the cold waters of Northern California. “I just wanted to surf longer” Jack O’Neill said, launching the birth of the modern wetsuit. O’Neill’s company grew exponentially, going international in the 1980's and continuing to transform the surf realm worldwide. Boasting global watersports teams, sponsorship for major competitions, wetsuit innovations and outerwear, O’Neill has transformed the surfing landscape worldwide. 

OUTDOOR CAMPFIRE AREA AT BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK RESTORED

One of the most historic outdoor venues for interpretation and education has been restored to its original splendor. The campfire center at Big Basin Redwoods State Park was built in 1935 by Franklin Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps and has been serving generations of campers and visitors to the park since then. The campfire center has suffered in recent years, but has finally been restored, thanks to the non-profit, Sempervirens Fund. The non-profit - named for the Latin word for redwoods - has been working to preserve these majestic trees since 1902. The Big Basin project began in 2007, but was just finished due to the restoration only able to take place during dry weather. The new area includes 139 new redwood benches for the over 1 million visitors to the park each year. 

MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY CENTER OPENS  

A new 12,400-square foot Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center, prominently located near the wharf and Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz . The center serves approximately 200,000 visitors a year and features an exploration theater, intertidal touch-pool, man-made Kelp Forest, submarine canyon and other dynamic, interactive multi-media exhibits designed for both children and adults. Additionally, visitors may choose to interact with English or Spanish for each exhibit. This $3 million center, a LEED-certified building is designed to give visitors a greater appreciation of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the second-largest of its kind in the United States.

FOR THE LOVE OF GRAPES AND GLASS!

Annieglass is bringing love by the glass to their Watsonville warehouse! Following a successful “Summer of Love” wine tasting series that offered up local tastings and studio tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Annieglass has extended their tasting/studio tours to all weekends. Visitors can tour the studio on Riverside and Harvest Drive at 11:30 and 2:00 p.m., and wine tasting is also available from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Previous wineries showcased were Windy Oaks and Hunter Hill Vineyards, ushering in other local wines available for taste and purchase. Reservations and Walk-Ins Welcome.

Where to Stay

Fairfield Inn & Suites Now Open in Capitola

An 84-unit Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott has opened at 1255 41st Avenue in Capitola in July 2011. The open and bright lobby welcomes guests with a vibrant color palette of greens, blues and oranges and a stunning jellyfish chandelier by Johnson Art Studio. All rooms are suites with distinct living and sleeping areas. Each includes a microwave, mini-fridge, coffeemaker, free Internet connectivity, cordless VoIP phones and a vast HD channel lineup. The bright, spacious living room provides a well-lit work area, an ergonomic chair and an entertainment center with a second television. The hotel also offers upgraded suites with whirlpools, fireplaces and showers with dual heads. A complimentary continental breakfast is available each morning that can be enjoyed either indoors or next to a fireplace on the rooftop patio. Other hotel amenities include a heated outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool spa, exercise room, bocce court, valet laundry service and business center. The hotel also offers 1,766 square feet of meeting space. The property will be operated as a Marriott franchise, owned by Aspromonte Inns, LLC and managed by Aspromonte Hospitality, with over 50 years of lodging industry experience in Santa Cruz County and beyond.

Casablanca Inn & Bistro Re-Opens Following Renovations

The Casablanca Inn and Bistro in Santa Cruz is proudly boasting some new improvements. Located on Beach Street, near the Santa Cruz Wharf and Beach Boardwalk, Casablanca once served as a private mansion. Today, Casablanca offers luxury lodging, dining and a particular “Mediterranean” feel that allows reflects its surroundings. To better relay that feeling to visitors the dinner area, The Casablanca Room has been transformed to sunny and inviting with subtle beach tones and panoramic views. The Sea Level Room downstairs now opens to Beach Street and is a unique lunch spot that is gourmet in taste but still feels casual enough in style to step right from the beach.

Antique Carousel Organs Restored at the Boardwalk

History and music fans will appreciate the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s preservation of two antique band organs. The Boardwalk’s newly restored Ruth & Sohn band organ, built in Germany in 1894, is back at the historic seaside amusement park after a year-long restoration. The unusual instrument includes 342 pipes, a glockenspiel, percussion instruments and several animated figures that move with the music. The Ruth organ originally arrived at the Boardwalk in 1911 along with the Boardwalk’s oldest ride, the hand-carved Looff carousel, now a National Historic Landmark. The park’s antique organ collection also includes a rare Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ that once played at San Francisco’s famous Playland-at-the-Beach amusement park, dating back to 1918. The façade of that rare antique organ includes hand-painted scenes of San Francisco’s Cliff House and the California gold rush. A two-year improvement project inside the Carousel Building includes new protective glass enclosures for the antique organs and a fanciful new paint job.

Chaminade Resort & Spa Has Completed Its Comprehensive Renovation and Offers Benchmark Hospitality

Benchmark Hospitality International, which operates Chaminade Resort & Spa, has formally announced the completion of the comprehensive $15 million renovation of the historic property overlooking Monterey Bay in northern California. The renovation program included all public areas, the restaurant & lounge, guestrooms, as well as meeting and event spaces.

Perched high up on a vast hillside rising out of Monterey Bay and providing stunning views to the Pacific Ocean, Chaminade was originally a Catholic Boys School named after the French priest and educator, Father William Joseph Chaminade. The school opened in 1929 at a time when the area was a misty coastline, unexplored except by an occasional adventurous soul venturing into what were then the outreaches of northern California's hills. Today, Chaminade is reincarnated as a vibrant and award-winning resort destination, which celebrates its heritage and serene California coast setting while setting its sights firmly on providing exemplary 21st century hospitality to it guests. 

The interior designer for the new Chaminade, Andrea Dawson Sheehan of Dawson Design Associates - www.dawsondesignassociates.com - located in Seattle, Washington, incorporated this heritage into the resort's sophisticated and luxurious new interiors. To do so, she utilized a kaleidoscope of colors, borrowing pigments from the entire spectrum of the storied California sun, landscape and the resort's mission heritage, while folding in elements of the indigenous culture and that of Spain.

Fabrics, wall coverings, floor treatments, bed linens and the myriad of tasteful appointments placed throughout are of rich, elegant hews of chocolate brown, mustard, cherry, slate and tomato reds with splashes of azure, fuchsia and yellow providing dramatic accents. 

Natural materials such as walnut, cotton, wool and slate are interspersed with hand-made carpets, tiled floors, glass tile walls, brick, and finished metals. The mix has produced spaces that are visually alluring and yet soothing -- to borrow from Chaminade's heritage, inspiring and spiritual.

Outside, guests find magical, tree lined paths wrapping hillsides forested with groves of ancient oak and eucalyptus trees on the resort's 288 private acres. Groomed lawns creep up to the resort's terraces where they unite with bougainvillea and wisteria, which blanket the trellises.

About Chaminade Resort & Spa

Chaminade, a Full Service Conference Resort, offers world-class hospitality on the California Coast. Built high on a bluff, the mission-style luxury resort commands a panoramic view of the Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Chaminade's superior location offers a sense of peaceful seclusion only minutes from world-renowned golf, beaches and downtown Santa Cruz. The remarkable setting, combined with the renowned quality and personalized service of Benchmark Hospitality International, keeps guests coming back time and time again. At Chaminade, the goal is to exceed the expectations of guests during their stay at one of the finest conference resorts in the Bay Area. Benchmark Hospitality International operates Chaminade.

Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels?. The privately held company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers. Benchmark is a worldwide organization operating over 30 properties representing major metropolitan and resort destinations. Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston, with regional offices in New Jersey and Connecticut. International offices are located in Tokyo and Santiago, Chile.

For locations of properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com.  

Big Basin Redwoods State Park Opens New Trail

A new wheelchair-accessible trail is now open to outdoor lovers at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The nearly quarter-mile level trail encompasses the popular Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, and is the only one of its kind in Santa Cruz County State Parks. The trail segment curves past a creek through a sunlit canopy of redwoods, and is constructed out of decomposed granite, base rock and native soils. The trail construction has been under way for nearly two years, and is part of a larger effort to respond to the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), which says that parks need to make their majestic views of California more accessible. Other projects are under way, including upgrades on the Redwood Loop trail at Big Basin next summer and improved signage and parking at Sea Cliff State Beach in Aptos. California State Parks partnered with the California Conservation Corps to complete the project, with funding from a $96,000 grant from the Recreational Trails Program.

For more information contact Christina Glynn, Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council, (831) 425-1234, cglynn@santacruz.org, www.santacruz.org.

Historic Walking Tour Brochure for Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

A new Historic Walking Tour brochure is available to help guide visitors through the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s colorful past. The new brochure, available only at the Boardwalk, includes points of interest and fun facts and is coordinated with new interpretive signs located throughout the park. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is known as one of the last of the great seaside amusement parks remaining in the United States, and was recently recognized as the Best Seaside Amusement Park in the world by the amusement park industry. The 100-year-old seaside amusement park is home to two national historic landmarks: the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the 1911 Looff Carousel. The entire facility is a California historic landmark.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, (831) 426-7433, www.beachboardwalk.com.

SANTA MARIA

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum's New Interactive Exhibit

The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum unveiled its newest educational exhibit, Storm Water Santa Maria Style. The innovative display follows the path that water takes from the street in front of a Santa Maria neighborhood to Santa Maria area parks. This exhibit teaches children and adults that discharging old oil, cigarette butts or other litter into the gutter and down the drain can be harmful to the environment, local parks, wildlife and loved ones. Funded primarily by the City of Santa Maria Utilities Department, this exhibit includes an eight-minute video and the opportunity to follow water runoff from the curb to the park. The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is the only hands-on children’s museum in Santa Barbara County.

For more information contact the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau, (805) 925-2403 or (800) 331-3779, info@santamaria.com, www.santamaria.com.

Santa Maria Wine Country

The Santa Maria Valley Wine Country Association is helping visitors navigate their way around the valley. While wine is one of Santa Maria Valley’s top attractions, visitors don’t always know how to find the wine trail. Enter nine new sign poles strategically placed near city hubs and bustling locations that point the way to wine country attractions left and right. The Association’s new web site, www.santamariavalleywinecountry.com, and a wine trail map point out local wineries, special events and experiences that the Santa Maria Valley has to offer.

For more information contact the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau, (805) 925-2403 or (800) 331-3779, info@santamaria.com, www.santamaria.com.

SANTA MONICA

Where to Stay

Hotel Shangri-la - Iconic Landmark - Now Open

Hotel Shangri-La is an architectural gem and iconic landmark on the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. It is a beacon of Art Deco beauty, Hollywood allure, and Los Angeles history, with expansive ocean views from every room. Built in 1939, Hotel Shangri-La is a quintessential example of Streamline Moderne architecture. For decades, the Hotel Shangri-La has been a popular hideaway for guests ranging from presidents and luminaries to movie stars, artists, tastemakers, insiders, urbanites, and world travelers.

Located in the heart of Santa Monica, Hotel Shangri-La is a luxury boutique retreat just steps from the sand. Walking distance to the Santa Monica Pier, premium shopping, and world-class restaurants, Hotel Shangri-La is only 20 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport, minutes from the Santa Monica Airport, and a short drive from some of Los Angeles' most coveted attractions, including Malibu Beach, the Getty Center & Villa, and Rodeo Drive.

In October 2008, Hotel Shangri-La reopened after a $30 million refurbishment- the first renovation in more than 20 years. The new look embodies key elements of the original design of the era while bringing it into the 21st Century with a contemporary twist. The full-service hotel includes 71 rooms & suites (an increase of 17 rooms), a lush courtyard with elevated pool and cabanas, social dining restaurant, lavish suites, and posh rooftop bar. Each room & suite has been restored and modernized to include high-speed Internet connections, premium sound systems and more. The ideal balance of past, present, and future, Hotel Shangri-La is the idyllic destination for the discerning traveler looking for something inviting, luxurious, experiential and enduring.

WHERE: www.shorehotel.com-- Shore Hotel
1515 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401
800.599.1515

About Shore Hotel

Opened in October 2011 in Santa Monica, just steps from the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade, and the city’s popular beaches and shopping districts, Shore Hotel is the newest addition to the coastline—a LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified property that offers eco-friendly accommodations with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Shore Hotel is the only property in the city of Santa Monica with this elite status. The AAA Four Diamond property boasts an open-air, U-shaped design with stainless steel-clad trellis, outdoor “living room,” with pool, cocktail bar, water feature, and patio dining at Blue Plate Taco. Amenities on property include a fitness center, state-of-the-art meeting and special event space, a business center, a four-level underground parking lot, and superb access to year-round leisure activities in Santa Monica, as well as the city’s beaches. To make a reservation at Shore Hotel, please visit www.shorehotel.com or call 800.599.1515

SANTA ROSA

The Flamingo Resort and Spa Completes Renovations

The Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa, Santa Rosa’s largest conference and meeting facility, has just completed renovations of more than $2 million to the hotel, spa and health club. The renovations were completed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of this famous Sonoma County landmark, which has a long history of hosting movie stars and socialites. A new front entranceway now graces the historic inn’s facade. All guest rooms have been updated with new bedding, pillows, duvet and mattresses. The full-service restaurant, the Terrace Grille, was redecorated with entirely new décor. The poolside dining area was expanded, and new Smith and Hawkins outdoor furniture was installed.

For more information contact Dan Brown, Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa, (707) 523-3003, danbrown@flamingoresort.com, www.flamingoresort.com.

SEBASTOPOL

Sebastopol New Events Venue

Sova Gardens is a charming, new private venue in Sebastopol for indoor and outdoor events and functions. The facility offers an indoor reception area, large outdoor deck with built-in seating, gardens and a tented dancing area. The indoor Tavern accommodates up to 150 guests, while the Gardens area is suitable for parties of up to 200 people. A historic farmhouse built in 1906 is also available for rent. Onsite parking space accommodates up to 50 vehicles. Sova Gardens is available year-round.

For more information contact Denise Looney, Sova Gardens, (707) 795-4747, information@sovagardens.com; www.sovagardens.com.

SHASTA LAKE

Silverthorn Resort Offers Houseboating

Silverthorn Resort, a premier resort located on beautiful Shasta Lake, has introduced a new concept in houseboating: 12 state-of-the-art houseboats are now available for year-round enjoyment. These triple-decker houseboats come equipped with central heating and air, a full kitchen, fireplace and satellite TV with surround sound. You can now troll the waters of Shasta Lake in luxury with a CD stereo, sun deck, wet bar, waterslide, spiral staircase and Master Penthouse Suite. Wi-Fi is offered for a small daily fee, and there is Internet access up to 1,000 feet from the marina.

For more infirmation contact Michael Hannan, Silverthorn Resort, Shasta Lake, (530) 275-1571, www.silverthornresort.com.

Camping Yurts Now Available on Shasta Lake

Three Yurts are now available in Lakeshore East Campground overlooking the Sacramento arm of Shasta Lake. Though generally classified as a tent, a yurt is a modern adaptation of an ancient shelter used by nomads for centuries. Each adorable yurt is furnished to sleep 5 with one futon bed and one twin over full bunk bed. Mattresses are provided, but please bring your own bedding. Each of these yurt sites will continue to provide tent pads and parking to accommodate RV's. What better way to spend the night outdoors while sleeping comfortably!

For more information contact Shasta Recreation Company at 530-275-8113, E-mail ShastaRec@ShastaLakeCamping.com, or web site www.shastalakecamping.com.

SOLVANG

Solvang's New Cooking School

Not only is Solvang the “Danish Capital of America,” with signature bakeries and authentic specialties, but it also has 14 wine-tasting rooms and dozens of restaurants featuring local Santa Ynez Valley wine country cuisine. Now, there is a new cafe, gourmet shop and cooking school in Solvang to really savor the variety of flavors. Cooking classes on Wednesday evenings at The Chef’s Touch are both educational and entertaining, as chef/owner Kurt Alldredge demonstrates cooking and food pairing techniques. All classes are conducted in The Chef’s Touch kitchen and are a hands-on experience. The price includes complimentary wine, food throughout the class and 10 percent off retail purchases. Each class is only $65 and class size is limited to 20 for intimacy and a great experience.

For more information contact Kurt Alldredge, The Chef’s Touch, (805) 686-1040, info@thechefstouch.com, www.thechefstouch.com/classes.html

SONOMA & SONOMA COUNTY

What to See & Do

There’s no better place for summer fun and exploration than Sonoma County — and this great vacation destination just keeps getting better.

Change is in the air. The long-established Sonoma Wine Country Weekend features new locations and expanded offerings this year; it’s easier than ever to fly into and out of Sonoma Wine Country; and a delightful variety of new wineries, tasting rooms, bars, brew pubs, restaurants, eateries, lodgings, tours, attractions, events, shopping opportunities, and other Sonoma County experiences are ready to be discovered.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800 or 800-576-6662.

WINERIES

Taste Topping & Legnon Wines in Santa Rosa

Sample beautiful whites, rustic reds, and crisp Pinots in the new Topping & Legnon Wines tasting room in Santa Rosa, in central Sonoma County. Co-owners and winemakers Dana Topping and Rick Legnon have been close friends for 30 years. Together with Sandro Tamburin, director of winemaking, and Taylor Topping, house sommelier, they strive to create something unique and special in every bottle.

Relax on a comfy couch and enjoy the wine. For the $10 tasting fee you can sample four Topping & Legnon Wines, and take home a complimentary crystal etched glass. Open noon-5 p.m. Thursday and Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed Monday-Wednesday.

Topping & Legnon Wines/1301 B Cleveland Ave/Santa Rosa, CA 95401/707-755-7400
www.toppingLegnon.com

Sutro Wine offers nature walk, tasting

Stroll through vineyards, take a nature walk through oak woodlands, and then enjoy a flight of wines paired with meats and cheeses on the unique new tasting experience by Sutro Wine Country in the beautiful Alexander Valley, in northern Sonoma County.
Join wine producer Alice Sutro at the historic Warnecke Ranch, owned and operated by her family since 1911, and home to Sutro Wine Company. Tour the 45-year-old Cabernet vines and the terraced Merlot block, then take a nature walk through the oaks, including a visit to landmark Chalk Hill, with views of the Russian River, Mt. St. Helena, and Geyser Peak.

Following the light hike, caravan to Healdsburg (about 25 minutes) to taste Sutro’s current vintages in the comfort of the James Beard Award-winning Healdsburg SHED, which is a café, market, and community gathering spot. Your flight of three wines will be paired with a selection of meats and cheeses. ($50 per person; two-10 people maximum; allow 90 minutes for the tour and tasting)

Sutro Wines creates refined, small production, and diligently crafted Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot estate-grown vintages from its sustainably farmed vineyards in the Alexander Valley.

Sutro Wine Company/13301 Chalk Hill Road/Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-509-9695
www.sutrowine.com

G & C Lurton Opens Healdsburg Tasting Room

Enjoy a unique tasting of Sonoma and Bordeaux wines at the new G & C Lurton Tasting Room in Healdsburg, in Sonoma County. Owners Gonzague and Claire Lurton are well-known figures in Bordeaux, France, where they come from two of the region’s most esteemed families, the Lurtons and the Merlauts. They currently own a host of properties in Bordeaux and around the world. In 2012 they embarked on a new wine adventure with Acaibo in Sonoma County’s Chalk Hill district, just east of Healdsburg.

Their new Healdsburg tasting room offers a variety of experiences that let you discover the history of their wines, terroir, and vineyards while exploring wines from Sonoma and Bordeaux. Carefully selected wines showcase the unique style of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.

G & C Lurton Tasting Room/422 Healdsburg Ave./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-473-8556
www.acaibo.com

Cast Wines adds vineyard and winery tours, tastings by appointment

Take an in-depth vineyard and winery tour, with tastings and winemaking discussions at Cast Wines, which is tucked into the forest on a tranquil bench above the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. Offered by appointment only, the Cast experience begins with a Blanc de Noirs toast. Walk through the vineyard with glass in hand, and enjoy one of the best views in Dry Creek Valley. Discuss the winery’s farming practices, and learn how the grapes are nurtured and prepared for harvest.

The next stop is the winery crush pad for an overview of the harvesting steps in the winemaking process, paired with another Cast wine. Then visit the fermentation tank area and the barrel aging room. Each step of the way, the knowledgeable winery team will share interesting facts about the winery and the Cast approach. Finish your experience with a seated tasting of reserve wine accompanied by a cheese plate.

Cast Wines grows and crafts wines in limited quantities, highlighting the best grape sources of Sonoma County. Its property’s spellbinding views and the laid back tasting experience combine to offer an authentic wine county visit recalling a simpler time.

Cast Wines/8500 Dry Creek Road/Geyserville, CA 95441/707-431-1225/www.castwines.com

Sanglier tasting room just off Healdsburg Plaza

Choose a flight of wine spanning multiple vintages or enjoy wine by the glass in the new Sanglier Cellars tasting room, one block away from the Healdsburg Plaza, in northern Sonoma County. Sanglier Cellars hand farms 600 acres of the best vineyard sites throughout Sonoma County, working diligently to harvest wine grapes that express a purity of fruit balanced with the vibrancy and freshness of natural acidity. Always hand-picked in the cold of the night, the grapes arrive at the winery in pristine condition. Wines are made gently with minimal intervention from human hands.

“Sanglier” is French for wild boar, which are common in Sonoma County, East Texas, and much of France — and wild boars are often seen in and around Sanglier Cellars’ vineyards. Tastings are by appointment only; vineyard tours are available during the growing season.

Sanglier Cellars/422 Healdsburg Ave./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-484-4270/www.sangliercellars.com/

Gary Farrell Vineyards updates tasting room

Guests at Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg in northern Sonoma County will find the tasting space has undergone a dramatic and stylish transformation.
The old tasting room bar has been removed. Instead you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors that fold away to open the space to the outdoors and the winery’s signature views. A variety of indoor and outdoor seating options create an upscale yet relaxed and comfortable environment for tasting wines as part of a private, hosted experience. Tasting is by appointment only.

In the heart of the beautiful Russian River Valley, Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery offers a proud 30-year winemaking history and a unique sense of place. Perched atop a ridge along winding Westside Road, the winery offers a spectacular view of the valley below. Gary Farrell Winery helped put Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the world stage, and the hallmark Gary Farrell wine style remains one of balance, elegance, texture, and sense of place.

Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery/10701 Westside Road/Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-473-2909/>www.garyfarrellwinery.com

Taste Wellington Cellars in Glen Ellen

The Glen Ellen wine tasting scene now includes Wellington Cellars, a small boutique winery owned and operated by the Belmonte family, and a “brother” winery to the Belmontes’ VJB Vineyards & Cellar in Kenwood; both are located in the Sonoma Valley, in eastern Sonoma County. The Belmontes bought Wellington Vineyards & Cellars in 2012; the winery had been in operation for more than 20 years by father and son, John and Peter Wellington. It was known for its estate wines produced from vines more than 100 years old. The winery and tasting room are situated on 24 acres, with vineyards planted to a wide variety of grapes, including old-vine Zinfandel dating back to 1882.

The Belmontes are carrying on the tradition of a family owned and operated winery with limited production and estate wines. They plan to produce approximately 3,000 cases of French-Bordeaux wines annually, sold direct to the consumer and to their wine club. Plans call for building a new barrel room and renovating the existing tasting room.

Wellington Cellars/11600 Dunbar Road/Glen Ellen, CA 95442/707-934-8604/<www.wellingtoncellars.com

DISTILLERIES

Sonoma Coast Spirits opens tasting room

Discover what the Sonoma Coast Spirits artisan distillery has to offer at its new tasting room in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County. A sandwich board sign out front signals that Sonoma Coast Spirits is open for tasting, and the small tasting area in a corner of its production facility is furnished with a picnic table and rustic wood paneling. You can order tastes of their wares or a fresh cocktail. It’s open for tastings noon-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, and by appointment.

Owners Jill and Doug Olson launched their small craft distillery in 2011 with their Lemon Drop Martini, which won a gold medal at the 2012 San Francisco spirits competition. They now produce all-natural, ready-to-drink craft cocktails (Lemon Drop Martini, Pomegranate Lime, Raspberry Tango, and Mango Tango); high-proof grappas made from locally distilled grape pomace (Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Wood Aged); vodkas (Original, Jalapeno Lime, Citrus Basil, and Rosemary), and liqueurs (Amaro Herbal, Salted Caramel, Lemon Raspberry, and Pear Ginger).

Sonoma Coast Spirits/1333 N. McDowell Blvd., Suite F/Petaluma, CA 94954/707-331-0718/www.sonomacoastspirits.com

BARS & BREW PUBS

The Laugh Cellar serves comedy, drinks, eats in Santa Rosa
Combining world-class stand-up comedy shows with a wine and beer lounge and delicious eats, The Laugh Cellar in Santa Rosa aims to be Sonoma Wine Country’s comedy club. For the past three years, Crushers of Comedy has been bringing stand-up comics from Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area to venues throughout Sonoma County. Now they’ve founded The Laugh Cellar, the only designated comedy club in Sonoma County, and the only comedy club in the North Bay.

Adults-only stand-up comedy shows are offered weekend evenings (check the www.crushersofcomedy.com/calendar show calendar for details). Except for the evening show the club is family friendly, including matinee comedy shows for kids and teens.

The Laugh Club is open noon to 9 p.m. Thursday to Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Enjoy wood-fired pizza 4-9 p.m. Monday, Thursday-Saturday, and all day Sunday; bar snacks are served all day Thursday.

Happy Hour is 3-6 p.m., with drink specials and a chance to win show tickets. Amenities include outdoor seating, a big screen TV, and mobile device-charging stations.

The Laugh Cellar – The Wine Country Comedy Club/5755 Mountain Hawk/Santa Rosa, CA 95409/707-843-3824/www.crushersofcomedy.com/our-comedy-club.html

Sigh sparkling wine bar moves to bigger digs
The popular Sigh bubbly bar recently relocated to a beautiful, larger space just off the southwest corner of the historic Sonoma Plaza, in eastern Sonoma County. The move was relatively short — slightly more than a block — but at 1,700 square feet the new site offers this Champagne and sparkling wine bar more than twice the space of its old location. The new place includes a large oval bar, booths, and glamorous touches of luxury in a casual setting.

“Sigh” refers to the sound that a sparkling wine should make when being opened, as opposed to the iconic “pop.” From everyday favorites to elegant, true French grower Champagnes, Sigh offers a rotating list of more than 25 bottles from all over the world, and owner Jayme Powers is known for teaching customers how to use a saber sword to open a Champagne bottle. Sigh is the town of Sonoma’s only “bubble bar,” and in addition to serving Champagne and sparkling wine, it also serves still wine and beer, all by the glass, flight, or bottle. Guests must be 21 or older.

Sigh/120 W. Napa St./Sonoma, CA 95476/707-996-2444/www.sighsonoma.com

Enjoy craft beers at Confluence Taproom & Lounge
With 20 craft beers on tap, a pub snacks menu, and a vibrant yet cozy atmosphere, the new Confluence Taproom & Lounge in Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, is a great place to meet old friends or make new ones. The place is a dream come true for owner-beer connoisseur Peter Lopez Jr., who has worked in the beer and wine trades for 18 years. He’s been a judge for various international wine and beer competitions, organized beer festivals locally and worldwide, wrote a beer blog for two years, and co-founded the NorCal Beer Geeks — a like-minded group of craft beer enthusiasts.

The new taproom is where Lopez’ passion, love, and knowledge of beer and wine meet, which is what gave rise to the name “confluence” — defined as a coming or flowing together, meeting, or gathering. Open 3-9 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Confluence Taproom & Lounge/4357 Montgomery Drive/Santa Rosa, CA 95405/707-293-9702/www.confluencetaproom.com

Brewsters hosts ‘Bourbon and Bluegrass’ on Thursdays
Listen to amazing bluegrass music while sipping on specialty bourbon cocktails at the new "Bourbon and Bluegrass" evenings at 5 p.m. on Thursdays at Brewsters Beer Garden in Petaluma, in Sonoma County. Each Thursday the family-friendly Bourbon and Bluegrass will feature a different bluegrass band, with full dinner and beverage service. Located in a beautiful industrial setting in historic downtown Petaluma, Brewsters is an open-air dining restaurant with more than 350 seats, large heat lamps, a fire pit, bocce court, children's playground, and a live music stage.

The menu focuses on technique-driven dishes influenced by Southern Carolina barbecue and a smattering of locally sources and sustainably raised Petaluma producers and ranchers — think Southern barbecue meets California produce with a refined touch of explosive flavors. Brewsters offers more than 30 revolving local craft beers on draft, Sonoma and Napa Valley wines, and a full selection of spirits and cocktails.

Brewsters Beer Garden/229 Water St./Petaluma, CA 94952/707-981-8330/www.brewstersgarden.com

RESTAURANTS & EATERIES

SingleThread serving lunch on weekends
The acclaimed new SingleThread Restaurant now offers its 11-course tasting menu for lunch on Saturday and Sunday, in Healdsburg in northern Sonoma County.Nearly four years in the making, SingleThread opened in December 2016, crafting elaborate meals as works of art. The five-acre SingleThread Farms property and a 3,000-square-foot rooftop garden grow the boutique ingredients for the 55-seat fine-dining restaurant’s food and cocktail menus. This includes delicacies like several types of negi (onions), root vegetables like kintoki carrots and kabu turnips, green like chingensai and komatsuna, Japanese pumpkins, kamo nasu (eggplant), and yurine (lily bulbs).

The new weekend lunch service features the same 11-course menu experience as the dinner service, and the price is the same ($295, including tax and gratuity). Reservations are required.

SingleThread Restaurant/131 North St./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-703-4646/www.singlethreadfarms.com

Vintners Inn opens River Vine Café
Beginning Aug. 1, visitors and guests at the Vintners Inn, a luxurious Sonoma Wine Country hotel in Santa Rosa, can enjoy fresh, delicious fare for breakfast, lunch, or brunch in the new River Vine Café. The menu by John Ash & Co. restaurant executive chef Tom Schmidt showcases seasonal foods and produce from local sources, including the inn’s own garden. The elegantly-rustic café features a circular dining room with expansive windows that open onto beautiful vineyards and gardens; a rock fireplace and wood ceiling beams that bring natural elements to create an inviting, warm, and comfortable ambiance; and custom iron ceiling light fixtures and walls sconces for notes of elegance and grace. The café provides an array of seating options indoors and out, including quaint, smaller dining areas for intimate duos, as well as a private room for up to 80 guests for meetings or special events.

Located amid 92 acres of lush vineyards, the acclaimed 44-room Vintners Inn is a California certified green hotel offering deluxe guest rooms and beautifully landscaped grounds with courtyards and fountains. The onsite John Ash & Co. restaurant was the first in Sonoma County to introduce the concept of cooking seasonally with fresh, local foods and produce.

River Vine Café/4350 Barnes Road/Santa Rosa, CA 95403/707-575-7350/www.vintnersinn.com/dining/river-vine-cafe

Revibe Café brings Jamaican flavors to Wine Country
Western Sonoma County meets the West Indies when the region’s bountiful fresh ingredients are blended with Jamaican flavors and cooking techniques at the new Revibe Café and Scoop Bar in Sebastopol.

Relax with a fun, casual, and inspired dining experience. The Beenie Plates (small plates, served from 5:30-9 p.m.) include choices like the signature Curried Goat, slow cooked in a traditional brown curry; Smoked Pulled Pork Roti, with seared smoked pork marinated in a mild jerk sauce combined with a triple cheese mix and julienne pickled slaw in a roti wrap; and Ital Stew, a traditional Rastafarian vegan dish with an array of vegetables, grains, spinners, herbs, and spices, slow-cooked in a coconut cream. The late night Moonshadow menu (served 9 p.m. to close) offers dishes like the Seafood Patty with a savory herb blend; Black Sesame Chicken Strips with tomato herb compote; and marinated skewered shrimp with garlic, fruit oil, and grains.

The café offers made-from-scratch ice cream with exotic flavors like Hard-to-Beat (beet, sorrel, and pomegranate), Sudanese Tamarind (Indigenous African/Jamaican flavors with salted almond), and Banana Musa Zing (banana with ginger overtones and lime zest). Plus, you’ll find 12 craft beers on tap, and wine by the glass or bottle. Open 5:30-11 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Revibe Café and Scoop bar/7365 Healdsburg Ave./Sebastopol, CA 95472/707-827-8188
www.revibecafe.com

Wicked Slush comes to Healdsburg
Choose from nearly a dozen flavors of slush, freshly made bagels, Italian subs, soft-serve ice cream, and other East Coast-style treats at the new Wicked Slush in Healdsburg, in northern Sonoma County. Boston-area native and a resident of Healdsburg for 35 years, Amy Covin brings her love of her native area’s unique food offerings to Wine Country. What’s a slush? Picture a snowball, of freshly fallen snow. Firm, but flexible. Firmly packed, but not hard. Moldable. Lickable. Now picture it drenched with flavor. Raspberry. Orange. Watermelon. Mango. Or black cherry. In New York they call it an Italian Ice. In Philadelphia, it’s Water Ice. In Boston — and now in Healdsburg — they call it slush.

If you can’t choose between a slush and soft serve ice cream, try a Split — half slush, half soft serve, and layered parfait-style. Try a Root Beer Split (root beer slush layered with vanilla soft serve), a Caramel Apple Split (sour apple slush with layers of caramel soft serve), or a Tropical Cloud (mango slush with vanilla soft serve). Or order a custom split with your favorite flavors.

Wicked Slush/13840 Healdsburg Ave./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-431-9253/www.wickedslush.com

Nectary juice bar expands to Healdsburg
After three years in Sebastopol creating the first juice and smoothie apothecary bar of its kind, The Nectary brings its focus on the nourishment of well-balanced drinks and simple foods to its second location in Healdsburg, in northern Sonoma County. In both its sites, the Nectary serves a unique assortment of delicious 100 percent organic fresh cold-pressed juices; superfood and green smoothies; and probiotic beverages such as fruit-and-herbal-infused Kefir, Jun, and Kombucha.

It also offers health and wellness shots to support community immunity, hot tonics and teas for the cold winter months, and a small selection of handcrafted artisanal living/raw food snacks and sweet treats. The Nectary’s seasonal menu is supported by Sonoma County’s abundant organic produce.

The Nectary – Healdsburg/312 Center St./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-473-0677
www.thenectary.net

Flock to The Block in Petaluma for food truck delights
Choose from the mouth-watering menus of an array of food trucks gathered in a park-like setting at The Block, a new dining and drinking concept in the heart of historic downtown Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County. Open Wednesdays through Sundays, this family-friendly, open-air food truck market and beer garden features a backyard-style seating and gaming area, fire pits, live music, an Italian soda bar, and 30 different beers on tap, from low production craft beers to some classic favorites.

The Block will highlight gourmet food trucks from all over the Bay area, offering everything from international cuisine to California casual. Settle back on a couch next to a fire pit and enjoy the “chill atmosphere” minus the chill.

The Block Petaluma/20 Grey St./Petaluma, CA 94952/707-775-6003/www.theblockpetaluma.com

Savor amazing Mediterranean flair at Pinoli Cucina Rustica in Guerneville
Combine rustic Italian food (just like what Nona used to make) with farm-fresh Sonoma County ingredients, and you get the delicious creations at Pinoli Cucina Rustica in Guerneville, at the renowned Applewood Inn & Spa in Guerneville, in Sonoma County.And there is no front-house wait staff; the chefs carry the food to each table, serving the guests personally. An 18 percent service fee is charged on all checks; the fee is divided equally among the chefs.

Chef/owner Christian Darcoli, born in San Remo, Italy, also owns a Pinoli Ristorante in San Juan, Puerto. Sample menu items at the Guerneville site include Hand Made Ravioli filled with Red Meat Ragu and “Spilled Red Wine” (Darcoli’s grandmother’s recipe); Braised Rabbit with Olives and Thyme, served on Farinata; and Alaskan Halibut Caponata and Pesto (a Sicilian dish of eggplant and other vegetables sautéed in a sweet and sour sauce).

Pinoli Cucina Rustica/13555 Highway 116/Guerneville, CA 95446/707-604-7609/www.pinoliwinecountry.com

The Brass Rabbit features classic Americana cuisine, cocktails
Enjoy supper club-inspired cuisine and classic cocktails seven days a week at The Brass Rabbitt, a new neighborhood restaurant in downtown Healdsburg, in northern Sonoma County. Local chef Shane McAnelly (executive chef at the nearby Chalkboard restaurant) and his team create dishes that pay homage to American culinary classics — like lamb Wellington or Pekin duck a l’orange — while also celebrating Sonoma County’s abundant local and seasonal ingredients. Much of The Brass Rabbit’s seasonal produce comes from Chalk Hill Vineyard’s nearby 4.5-acre organic farm. The restaurant also sources from local farmers and ranchers, including Marin Sun Farms, Front Porch Farm, and Preston Farms.

The cozy 40-seat dining room includes a bar area and chef counter, and there are about eight seats on the front patio. The centerpiece of the restaurant is the enormous six-foot Argentinian-style wood-burning grill, which was made to order and also boasts a rotisserie and plancha. The drinks menu includes classic Americana cocktails like a signature Mint Julep, Manhattan, and a Moscow Mule. A section of the cocktail menu is dedicated to martinis, and the wine list focuses on the best offerings from California’s vineyards.

The Brass Rabbit/109 Plaza St./Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-473-8580/thebrassrabbithealdsburg.com

Get an organic lunch to go at Lunchette in Petaluma
Get a quick and healthy meal with the carryout plant-based lunches made with seasonal, organic, and local ingredients from the new Lunchette in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County. Lunchette offers grab-and-go salads and pizza al tagio with seasonal toppings, by the slice or sheet. Husband-and-wife team Joel Baecker and Naomi Crawford — who also operate wood-burning pizza ovens at 13 Bay Area farmers markets — designed the Lunchette menu to reflect customers’ cravings, including salads that are protein-packed and light on carbs but with great texture, like the smoked trout salad with cashews.

The ingredients come from local organic farms and artisan producers. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options are available. Catering is available for in-store pickup or delivery within Petaluma. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunchette/25 4th St./Petaluma, CA 94952/707-241-7443/<www.lunchettepetaluma.com

Savor Texas barbecue, ribs at Cloverdale Firehouse
Fans of mouth-watering Texas-style barbecue and ribs can satisfy their cravings at the new Cloverdale Firehouse BBQ & Ribs in the small town of Cloverdale, in northern Sonoma County. The menu includes favorites such as pulled pork, brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, and burgers. There are also a wide variety of a la carte choices ranging from garlic fries to fried Brussels sprouts, as well as on-tap craft beers and a wide selection of local wines. Enjoy them inside, or on the enclosed outdoor patio.

Cloverdale Firehouse is located in the former Owl restaurant, a local landmark for decades. The building has been renovated with bright colors, rescued oak tabletops and countertops, and genuine firehouse touches like fire hoses and memorabilia, creating a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy homemade meals with family and friends.

Cloverdale Firehouse BBQ & Ribs/485 S. Cloverdale Blvd./Cloverdale, CA 95425/707-894-6298/cloverdalefirehouse.com

Enjoy gourmet doughnuts, coffee at City Garden
Choose from creative twists on classic flavors of gourmet doughnuts and scones, as well as a selection of rotating seasonal specialties at the new City Garden Doughnuts & Coffee in Santa Rosa, in central Sonoma County. City Garden uses the highest quality locally curated ingredients. They lovingly handcraft their brioche dough daily from scratch and allow it to rise slowly, developing the perfect flavor and texture. The doughnuts are dunked into a hot oil bath and a blanket of not-too-sweet glaze and toppings. To complement their baked delights, they serve intriguing beverages like nitro iced tea and Black Oak coffee.

The part of Santa Rosa where City Garden Doughnuts & Coffee is located is identified on old maps (circa 1860) as “city garden.” This was a public garden and favorite community gathering spot; the new eatery honors that history.

City Garden Doughnuts & Coffee/1200 4th St./Santa Rosa, CA 95404/707-595-1932
www.facebook.com/pg/CityGardenDoughnuts/about/?ref=page_internal

Bump City Bakery offers dessert without guilt
Decadent (and sometimes boozy) gluten-free and vegan cookies and cupcakes are on the menu at the new Bump City Bakery in Petaluma, in southern Sonoma County. The kitchen is dedicated gluten-free, and many of the products are close to 100 percent organic. Emily Floyd, a fish biologist with a serious sweet tooth and a passion for baking, founded Bump City Bakery. Her science background allows her to concoct desserts that folks would never suspect are vegan and gluten free.

The bakery’s “Drunken” cupcakes include Dark & Stormy (ginger beer cake, dark rum, and lime buttercream topped with candied ginger); Irish Car Bomb (chocolate cake, Jameson, and Bailey’s buttercream, with chocolate sprinkles); and Old Fashioned (orange spice cake, Bulleit bourbon, and brown sugar frosting, with candied orange and amarena cherry). The cookie menu includes Salty Date Cookies (the bakery’s most popular), with organic Medjool dates, pecans, almonds, and chocolate chips, and sprinkled with sea salt. And during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, the bakery also offers “drunken” pies, like its Apple Amaretto Pear (Granny Smith apples and Warren pears, with a hint of amaretto).

“Bump City” is a nickname for Oakland, California, where the bakery was founded. The name imparts the funky spirit and mellow vibe that makes the city of Oakland special, a spirit that can also be found in the bakery’s desserts.

Bump City Bakery/122 American Alley, Suite B/Petaluma, CA 94952/510-882-2880
<bumpcitybakery.com

Café Lucia adds free corkage, Sunday brunch
Enjoy two new offering at Café Lucia in Healdsburg in northern Sonoma County — free corkage everyday and Sunday brunch. Free corkage at its Wine Wednesday events was so well received this spring, Café Lucia has made it a daily choice (for one standard-sized bottle per table). Bring in a bottle of your favorite Sonoma County wine, and Café Lucia will take care of the rest at no extra charge. And you can sip on a mimosa or two, or better yet enjoy a mimosa flight (with your choice of three fruit variations) during the new Sunday brunch, which is offered in addition to the regular lunch menu, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (reservations recommended). The lovely patio area is the perfect setting for brunch and mimosas. The brunch menu includes rotating egg Benedict offerings, pancakes with seasonal fruit, and a spin on French toast made with traditional massa sovada (Portuguese sweet bread — and there’s even a cheese-filled version).

Located just steps away from Healdsburg’s landmark central plaza, Café Lucia features Cozinha Nova Portuguesa — “new Portuguese cuisine” — celebrating the varied and complex flavors of Portugal, adapted to the immense offerings of top-quality Sonoma County ingredients. The result is a unique cuisine characterized by familiar Mediterranean and Iberian staples, exotic spices, and flavorings from around the globe.

Café Lucia/235 Healdsburg Ave., Suite 105/Healdsburg, CA 95448/707-431-1113
www.cafelucia.net

LODGING

Renovated Sandman welcomes travelers in Santa Rosa
Extensive remodeling has transformed The Sandman, which blends the convenience of a roadside inn with the character of a vibrant Wine Country hotel in the city of Santa Rosa in central Sonoma County. The renovations combine natural elements and handcrafted design to create a welcoming, authentic, and timeless atmosphere. Sink into the casual comfort of the lobby, lounge by the heated outdoor pool and hot tub, or enjoy a local brew at The Sandman’s new poolside bar.

Playful yet refined, The Sandman’s 134 guestrooms (plus one suite) are designed to be fresh and airy, and full of warm colors and custom touches. Graphic quilts serve as headboards, and custom throws from Faribault Mills (woven in the U.S. from recycled fibers) add comfort and warmth. Other comforts include free Wi-Fi, 37-inch flat-screen TVs, convenient kitchenette amenities, and Malin & Goetz bath products.

The Sandman
3421 Cleveland Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-293-2100
www.sandmansantarosa.com

Bodega Bay Lodge updates seaside suites
Known for its waterfront views and expansive landscaped grounds, Bodega Bay Lodge on the Sonoma County coast is welcoming guests to its five recently remodeled Ocean Club Suites. The renovations also included extensive property-wide enhancements, including the lodge’s signature restaurant and spa. Each Ocean Club Suite offers an overstuffed king bed with an adjacent queen sofa bed in the spacious living area that includes state-of-the-art entertainment. Fresh nautical décor comes in deep blues, crisp whites, and calming gray tones.

The suites feature sumptuously textured walls, sea-inspired artwork, granite fireplaces, and soaring vaulted ceilings for lots of natural light. Each spa-like bathroom offers a deep jetted tub, a separate walk-in shower with skylight, double sinks, and lots of gorgeous granite. A private terrace with comfy furniture provides easy access to the outdoor heated pool and infinity hot tub. As part of the property-wide enhancements, the spa and fitness area now feature a beautifully tiled outdoor shower and cozy fire pit, all with sweeping views. The remodeled and renamed restaurant — now Drakes Sonoma Coast Kitchen — serves breakfast and dinner menus that reflect the rich bounty of local seafood, meats, produce, cheese, and baked goods.

Bodega Bay Lodge
103 Highway 1
Bodega Bay, CA 94923
707-875-3525
bodegabaylodge.com

TOURS

Explore Sonoma County with Ale and Wine Tours
Already renowned for wine tasting, Sonoma County is quickly becoming known for its craft beer tasting, and you can experience both with a guide and designated driver from Ale and Wine Tours company. Sonoma County boasts over 425 wineries, more than two dozen craft breweries, over a dozen artisan distilleries, and almost a dozen cider producers. Visit places and people that you would never find on their own as owner/guide Shad Eddleman drives you in your car or rental vehicle to unique tasting destinations.

Eddleman’s casual “no tie required” friendliness and many years of experience guiding visitors to Sonoma County’s best wineries, breweries, restaurants, and photo ops lets him offer private custom tours based on guests’ preferences of what they want to see and taste. He can also help with logistics, like dining reservations, catering, and picnics.

Ale and Wine Tours
Various locations
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
415-729-4991
aleandwinetours.com

Getaway Adventures adds Pints ‘N Pedals Tour
Take a bike tour showcasing some of Sonoma County’s great craft breweries on the new Pints ’N Pedals tour from Getaway Adventures. Your expert guide will fit you with a Specialized Cross Trail bike plus helmet, bag, and optional comfortable gel seat cover. The first stop on this bike trek will be downtown Santa Rosa, at a well-known local brewery (either Russian River Brewing Company or Third Street Ale Works).

Then hop back on your bike and pedal along quiet side roads and the Joe Rodota bike trail to the charming western Sonoma County town of Sebastopol, and a stop at Hopmonk Tavern to enjoy their extensive beer menu and delicious lunch menu. After lunch, explore more of the area before your final stop at Woodfour Brewing Company. Then bike through farmlands and vineyards, back to your starting point.

Getaway Adventures offers cycling, hiking, kayaking, and van tours throughout Wine Country, both one day treks and mutli-day tours.

Getaway Adventures & Rentals
2228 Northpoint Parkway
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
800-499-2453
getawayadventures.com

Explore Sebastopol with Food Crush Tours
Eat, drink, and stroll your way through the western Sonoma County town of Sebastopol with the new Food Crush Tours. Discover the best this eclectic, foodie-friendly, Wine Country town has to offer — one bite, sip, and sight at a time.

Get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of the chefs, makers, and artisans of The Barlow marketplace on the three-hour guided walking tour known as Meet the Makers at the Barlow. Learn about the rich history and agricultural roots of The Barlow and western Sonoma County as you take a relaxing stroll around the beautiful Barlow marketplace, enjoying the brews, spirits, wines, and bites in this 13-acre community.

Food Crush Tours of Sebastopol founder Bridget McKenna is a 20-year Sebastopol resident with a passion for good food and fun times shared with friends. Private tours are available.

Food Crush Tours of Sebastopol
9285 Country Lane
Sebastopol, CA 95472
855-669-6257
www.foodcrushtours.com

ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS

Epicenter: 130,000 square feet of indoor sports, entertainment
Packed with a unique mix of attractions built for adults but fun for kids, the new Epicenter in Santa Rosa in Sonoma County is the San Francisco North Bay’s largest all-in-one destination for sports, recreation, entertainment, dining, and nightlife.

Entertainment options include: an upscale bowling lounge, 100-plus game arcade, two-story laser tag arena, laser maze, multi-sensory 7D adventure ride, interactive mega-play structure for kids, and toddler play area.

The sports facilities include: an arena sports center for basketball, volleyball, and more; a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year fitness center; and a trampoline park.

Kick back and watch the action in a sports bar and restaurant with two 40-foot walls filled with massive screens, multi-zone surround sound, and the ability to show up to 14 games at once. Grab pizza by the slice, nachos, and more in a sport-themed concession-style restaurant. Or relax and refuel at Starbucks.

Epicenter delivers 130,000 square feet of fun, food, and entertainment, all conveniently located under one roof.

Epicenter Sports and Entertainment
3215 Coffey Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-708-3742
www.visitepicenter.com

Sonoma Canopy Tours adds ‘Tree Top Flight’
Zip through the treetops at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour on the new Tree Tops Flight zip line course at Sonoma Canopy Tours in Occidental, in western Sonoma County.

You’ll be fitted with a specially designed harness, and the zip line lets the magic of gravity do all the work. Created as a way to perform scientific research in remote jungles and other previously inaccessible places, zip lines are increasingly popular as a high-adventure way to experience nature from a truly different perspective.

A revamped version of the former Challenger course, the Tree Tops Flight soars high overhead, with faster and longer zip lines. On other elements of the course you can savor breathtaking views of the majestic redwood forest at a leisurely pace.

Sonoma Canopy Tours also offers its Forest Flight (formerly called the Classic Course) for daytime, sunset, or nighttime trips.

Sonoma Canopy Tours
6250 Bohemian Highway
Occidental, CA 95465
888-494-7868
www.sonomacanopytours.com

Blue Waters Kayaking offering rentals at Lake Sonoma’s Yorty Creek
Folks who want to paddle or float away from it all can now rent a kayak, canoe, standup paddleboard, or inner tube from Blue Waters Kayaking on weekends at Lake Sonoma’s Yorty Creek Recreation Area in northern Sonoma County.

Lake Sonoma offers more than 50 miles of coastline and 40 miles of trails. The Yorty Creek Recreation Area public launch site (car-top boats only) provides a slightly quieter feeling than other parts of this large lake, because it is in a no-wake zone.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, Blue Waters Kayaking rents single and double kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, and inner tubes right next to Yorty Creek’s boat launch. Private tours from Yorty Creek are available on any day of the week with advance reservations.

Blue Waters also offers Lake Sonoma Full Moon Camping Tours. Their lakeside campsite is easily reached by a scenic paddle, and is equipped with camp chairs, a camp stove, grill, firewood for one fire, and fresh water. It’s also staffed by one of Blue waters’ capable and friendly kayak guides. The Full Moon tour includes a guided night paddle from camp.

Blue Waters Kayaking
At Yorty Creek Recreation Area (Lake Sonoma)
2651 Hot Springs Road
Cloverdale CA 95425
415-669-2600
www.bluewaterskayaking.com/lakesonoma

Sonoma Valley Springs area debuts summertime farmers market
A new community farmers market unfolds on Sundays this summer — July 9 to Sept. 10 — in the central Sonoma Valley, in eastern Sonoma County.

Created by the nonprofit Agricultural Community Events Farmers Market, which runs about 13 farmers markets in Marin and Sonoma counties, The Springs Community Farmers’ Market will offer fresh fruit and produce, live music, kids’ crafts, and other activities.Collectively, the Sonoma Valley’s unincorporated residential districts of Agua Caliente, Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, and Fetters Hot Springs are known as The Springs. About 30 vendors are expected to participate in The Springs Community Farmers’ Market, which will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sundays in Larson Park in Boyes Hot Springs. Parking will be available at nearby Flowery Elementary School.

The Springs Community Market
Larson Park
329 DeChene Ave.
Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95476
415-999-5635
www.communityfarmersmarkets.com

SHOPPING

Shop Forest to the Sea in Guerneville
You’ll find nature-related gifts, tools, and more in the new Forest to the Sea Nature Store in the riverside town of Guerneville, in western Sonoma County. The store is the latest project of the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, a nonprofit environmental and interpretive group that works in partnership with the California State Parks department to support volunteer, educational, and stewardship programs in the Russian River area of the Sonoma Mendocino Coast District. The Stewards advocate for and volunteer in the local state parks, and operate a diverse range of programs for school children and the general public, including renovating the Pond Farm Pottery, a significant cultural site in Austin Creek State Recreation Area.

Located in downtown Guerneville at the junction of Main Street and Armstrong Woods Road, the Forest to the Sea Nature Store is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It carries a variety of nature-related items, including pottery made by Pond Farm students, jewelry, and many of the educational items that the Stewards offer in local visitors centers.

Forest to the Sea Nature Store
16215 Main St. #1
Guerneville, CA 95446
707-604-7116
www.stewardscr.org

Sonoma Flower Mart blooms in The Barlow
A passion for all things flower-related and a desire to support the local floral economy prompted Nichole Skalski and Kathrin Green to found the new Sonoma Flower Mart in The Barlow center in the western Sonoma County town of Sebastopol. Open twice a week (7 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday), this wholesale flower market works with more than 15 local farms in Sonoma County and greater California to provide the highest quality flowers available. Sonoma Flower Mart is open to the public, but a wholesale badge is required to receive wholesale pricing.

Founders Skalski and Green are both members of the North Bay Flower Collective, a group of flower growers and designers in the North San Francisco Bay Area with a fierce dedication to the slow flowers movement.

Sonoma Flower Mart
6790 McKinley St. #130
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-888-0313
www.sonomaflowermart.com

Jam Jar adds store in Guerneville Bank Club
An established working art studio and retail shop in Santa Rosa’s SOFA art district, Jam Jar has expanded, opening its second store in the Guerneville Bank Club in the Russian River Valley, in Sonoma County. Owned by artist Molly Perez and jewelry maker Jamie Jean, Jam Jar offers an eclectic collection of craft home décor, art, vintage items, jewelry, and other local goods. The goal is to provide a selection of goods from the owners as artists as well as from other local small studios and makers. It’s a colorful, inspiring place to shop for one-of-a-kind pieces.

It fits in well at the Guerneville Bank Club. Built in 1921 and lovingly restored, this historic bank building also houses a wine tasting room, a pie and ice cream parlor, clothing and home accessory stores, and a display by the Russian River Historical Society. There’s also a photo booth in the original bank vault.

Jam Jar West
16290 Main St.
Guerneville, CA 95446
www.facebook.com/jamjargoods

Les Lunes offers sustainable fashion in Healdsburg
Find clothing that’s stylish, comfortable, and ethically and sustainably made at the new Les Lunes store in Healdsburg, in Sonoma County. A world traveler, entrepreneur, and mother of two, Anna Lecat offers comfortable, ethically made clothing with Parisian flair, in her clothing line made from sensually soft bamboo fabric. A graduate of the distinguished Esmod Fashion School, Melanie Viallon believes that, “clothes are there to support the wearer, we are not there to fit them.”

Together at Les Lunes, they strive to strike a perfect balance between effortless elegance and flattering comfort. The Les Lunes clothing line includes womenswear, menswear, lingerie, graphic Ts, loungewear, activewear, and petites. In addition to Healdsburg, Les Lunes has stores in San Francisco, Corte Madera, and Walnut Creek.

Les Lunes
322 Center St.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-473-8687
leslunes.com

Tamarind contemporary clothing opens Healdsburg boutique
Fans of global chic fashion can now indulge their desires at the second location of Tamarind women’s clothing boutique, in Healdsburg in northern Sonoma County.
Influenced by a Japanese design aesthetic at an early age, boutique owner Andrea Kenner went to at New York’s famed FIT for her studies, but also traveled to the depths of Africa and South America. The result is Tamarind Boutique, a distillation of Kenner’s influences, merging meticulous hand-prepared textiles, seductive leathers, timeless shapes, and hand-hewn luxury jewels.

Kenner selects global up-and-coming designers who meet her exacting standards, and introduces them to her clientele in a custom atmosphere. In addition to the original location in The Barlow center in Sebastopol and its new store in Healdsburg, Tamarind operates an apparel, shoes, jewelry, and accessories store online.

Tamarind Healdsburg
418 Healdsburg Ave.
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-473-8773
shoptamarind.com

OTHER

Relax and rejuvenate at Massage Me in Healdsburg
Experience the relaxation found in nature and the sounds of running water at Massage Me, Ashley Hansen’s private studio just off the Healdsburg Plaza, in Sonoma County.
As a Certified Massage Therapist, Hansen works with a mixture of modalities, including Swedish, deep tissue, and sports massage to provide a full body relaxation experience. She incorporates nature and touch into her client’s lives. Her services include full body relaxation massage and chair massage in a private and professional studio.

Massage Me/137 Matheson St./Healdsburg, CA 95448/530-798-8077/healdsburgmassage.com

Find your passion in Sonoma County, located only 30 miles north of San Francisco and featuring more than 425 wineries, 100-plus organic farms, and 50 miles of stunning Pacific Ocean coastline.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 707-522-5800.

Spring in Sonoma County means bud break in the vineyards, new tasting rooms, and a full bloom of arts activities and exhibits.

The county’s craft beer movement continues to gain momentum with the addition of new breweries. Of course, Sonoma County’s creative chefs and winemakers are also in on the act, creating new flavor experiences to help make your trip a memory that will linger in the mind, and on the palate.

New events, paired with tried-and-true festivals and events make spring the perfect time to plan your trip today at www.SonomaCouty.com.

WINERIES

New Sonoma House at Patz & Hall

For 25 years, winemakers at Patz & Hall have been making acclaimed wines from just two varietals: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In January, the winery kicked of its 26th year in business by moving from Napa to Sonoma, where they now have a comfortable space to offer memorable tastings of their wines.

Located just north of the Eighth Street wineries, the Sonoma House at Patz & Hall is within biking distance of the Sonoma Square and the shops of downtown Sonoma. The salon is set in the middle of a vineyard and offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy several unique tasting options, and striking views of the Mayacamas Mountains to the east.

In the salon, Patz & Hall offers seated, private tastings that include six Chardonnay and Pinot Noir single-vineyard-designate wines, paired with locally sourced gourmet food pairings. The salon experience is $50 per person and lasts approximately 60 minutes, and can accommodate up to 10 guests per tasting. Appointments are required and available Wednesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

A less formal experience is offered at the tasting bar, where guests enjoy a seated tasting of four Patz & Hall wines. Cost is $25 per person, and no reservations are required, but suggested.

Location: The Sonoma House at Patz & Hall
21200 Eighth Street East
Sonoma, CA
707-265-7700
info@patzhall.com
www.patzhall.com

Iron Horse Toasts Diversity with Rainbow Cuveé

Iron Horse Vineyards has just released a new, limited edition, vintage sparkling wine called Rainbow Cuvée. “It’s meant for everyone who believes in love, justice, and equality,” said Iron Horse CEO Joy Sterling. “And, nothing says marriage quite like a gorgeous bottle of bubbles.”

The wine is vintage 2009 Blanc de Blancs — 100 percent estate Chardonnay, aged three-plus years en tirage. The dosage, or finishing element, makes it unique. Only 250 cases were produced. Rainbow Cuveé is available at the Iron Horse Tasting Room and online for $58 per bottle.

Iron Horse is best known for its sparkling wines, which have been served at the White House for five consecutive presidential administrations, beginning with the historic Reagan-Gorbachev Summit Meetings in 1985, ending the Cold War.

Location: Iron Horse Vineyards
9786 Ross Station Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-887-1507
www.ironhorsevineyards.com

The Tasting Room on the Green: Mutt Lynch Winery, Deux Amis Winery join forces

Two of Sonoma’s most notable winemakers — Brenda Lynch and Phyllis Zouzounis — showcase their unique varietals in The Tasting Room on the Green, located in Windsor. The two women are featuring Primitivo and Charbono as well as more well-known Sonoma County varietals like Chardonnay, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc

Mutt Lynch Winery, as the name would suggest, is dog-friendly. All labels have dogs on them and pooches are invited to stroll into the tasting room with their human friends in tow, to enjoy free water, treats and plenty of canine-themed wine swag. The Windsor Town Green, just steps from the tasting room, allows a perfect spot for dogs to take a stroll before or after the tasting room experience.

Deux Amis Winery, French for “two friends,” started a partnership between two friends, Phyllis Zouzounis and Jim Penpraze. Specializing in outstanding Zinfandels, the varietal that comes with the stamp of Sonoma County firmly imprinted upon it. A small amount of Petite Sirah is blended into Deux Amis Zinfandel for added depth and complexity.

The tasting room joins other winery tasting rooms already established on the Windsor Town Green, Vino Valpredo and Dom Whitney.

Location: The Tasting Room on the Green
9050 Windsor River Road
Windsor, CA 95492
707-942-6180
www.muttlynchwinery.com

SPAS

New Ways to be Zen at Osmosis Day Spa

Located on five secluded, scenic acres, Osmosis is a Japanese-style retreat with beautiful bonsai and bamboo gardens. Close to the breathtaking Sonoma Coast, Wine Country and redwoods, it is the perfect place to relax and “get centered” this spring. They offer two new packages:

Location: Osmosis Day Spa & Sanctuary
209 Bohemian Hwy
Freestone, CA 95472
www.osmosis.com/specials

TOURS

Vin de Luxe Tours

This new wine tour company is owned by Bruce MacKay, a knowledgeable wine educator and guide who used to work in the high-tech world. In 2013 Bruce became a Certified Tourism Ambassador for Sonoma County, and has crafted a series of tours to showcase Moon Mountain for its recent American Viticulture Area recognition. The tours have been created for couples, or two couples traveling together. Tours require a few days to confirm appointments, and picnic choice.

“Over The Moon”

This unique experience begins at the Sonoma Skypark where visitors take to the skies for a 30-minute open cockpit flight with Captain Bob in his 1926 Travelair Biplane. You will see the “quilt” of vineyards and wineries called Moon Mountain from above. Once your feet are on the ground, it’s off to tour two wineries and a gourmet picnic lunch. Cost is $850 per couple and includes air tour, personal driving, picnic lunch, and winery fees.

“Walk on the Moon”
A driver takes guests to Glen Oaks Vineyard on Moon Mountain, to meet the winemaker and walk in this historic vineyard. After wine tasting and a picnic lunch, it’s off to Naked Wines, a collective of aspiring winemakers. Finish the day with a visit to Figone Olive Oil to taste olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and chocolate tasting at Wine Country Chocolates. Cost is $395 per couple and includes personal driving, picnic lunch, and tasting fees.

“The Valley of the Moon”
Take a trip back in time, beginning with a tour of Old Hill Vineyard, which includes more than 30 varietals dating back 150 years. Next, a visit to Jack London State Park for a private tour of Jack London’s Beauty Ranch, the legacy of London’s passion for the land. Enjoy a picnic lunch accompanied by hearty Zinfandel made from grapes grown on the property. The day ends with a visit to Panglos Cellars, in Glen Ellen, for a wine flight paired with artisan cheese. Cost is $495 per couple, and includes personal driving, picnic lunch, and tasting fees.

MacKay is also available to help create a personalized tour in Sonoma County.

Location: Vin de Luxe Tours
www.vindeluxetours.com
707-799-4148

ARTS

New Children’s Museum

Sonoma County has a place to inspire children’s creativity and stimulate their curiosity at the new Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. The museum, is adjacent to the Charles M. Schulz Museum and the Redwood Ice Arena.

The museum has an outdoor nature education area, where kids are greeted by Mary the butterfly, their host during their stay in her garden. She’ll encourage children to explore her lifecycle by playing in a butterfly egg, climbing on and in caterpillars, and emerging from a chrysalis.

Kids will be able to roll down hills, explore paths, and dig for treasure in a gravel pit. A miniature Russian River runs for fishing and a mechanical water play area is a draw for all ages. A playful farmers market will welcome shoppers and gardeners, while the tractor and windmill attract curious hands and minds. In Ella’s Art Studio, children can explore with paint, chalk, fabrics, clay and more.

More attractions in the museum will be added later in the year. Look for an indoor Science and Imagination Gallery and a TOTtopia toddler room.

The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County ia open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays Admission is $7 for adults and children. Babies under 12 months are free.

Location: Children’s Museum of Sonoma County
1835 West Steele Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
www.cmosc.org

New Discovered Artists Exhibit at Sonoma Valley Museum

The Sonoma Valley Museum is highlighting the work of four exceptionally talented artists who live and work in Sonoma County. The artists were chosen by a jury and their work shows that artists who live and work in Sonoma County are committed to their practice, involved with their community, and engaged with the present.

Each of the four artists in “Discovered” has a distinct, yet connected vision of the world today.

Maura Harrington juxtaposes scenes from her local, natural environment with the fluorescent, artificial world that surrounds us. This contrast presents a startling, eerie and familiar aura.

Miles Votek, is an interdisciplinary artist exploring utopian visions of California through contemporary video and ceramics. His romantic, apocalyptic worlds collide in his struggle to make sense of the failed dreams of Western idealism.

Erik Castro’s poignant photographs and videos allow us to step into the world of people we typically observe from a distance. Choosing subjects who we see and ignore every day, such as homeless children, he forces us to look at difficult subjects and confront our feelings of despair.

Stan Abercrombie, with his encyclopedic knowledge of art and architecture, assembles objects and images into two and three-dimensional combinations that inspire abundant curiosity and mystery.

Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults. Children K–12 are admitted free, as are SVMA members. Additional information is available

Location: The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
551 Broadway
Sonoma, CA
707-939-7862
www.svma.org

New Location for Calabi Art Gallery

After four years in Petaluma, Calabi Art Gallery has moved to a new Santa Rosa location. The new space is a bit larger where more artwork can be displayed and owner and restoration artist, Dennis Calabi, has more storage.

Calabi is a conservator and restorer of paintings created by lesser-known and underappreciated artists in Sonoma County, the Bay Area, and beyond. Customers say it’s obvious when you walk in that Calabi is a man who loves the work and just wants his clients to love it too.

The gallery’s inventory ranges from 19th to 21st century, representational to abstract, including paintings, sculpture, graphics, photography, and mixed media. Prices range from $40 for photographs, to thousands for fine art work. The new gallery will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Location: Calabi Gallery
456 Tenth Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
707-781-7070
calabigallery.com

Sonoma County ARTrails Reintroduced

This open art studio tour will be reinstated this fall with new sponsorship from the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. The two-weekend event is scheduled for Oct. 11-12, and Oct. 18-19. Art fans will have the opportunity to visit more than 160 artists in their studios and even purchase works.

For 28 years Sonoma County ARTrails, sponsored by the now-defunct Arts Council of Sonoma County, introduced artists directly to art fans. Now, the Sebastopol Center for the Arts has stepped in to sponsor the event. The center also hosts a popular, similar event — Art at the Source — which will take place May 31- June 1 and June 7-8, and will feature 150 artists in their studios, mostly in western Sonoma County.

Both events showcase the breadth and depth of the artists who live in Sonoma County.

Location: Sonoma County Art Trails
707-829-4797
www.artrails.org/
info@sonomacountyarttrails.org

LODGING

Improvements at Sonoma Creek Inn

Located a short drive from wineries, parks, and the downtown area of Sonoma, the Sonoma Creek Inn is an affordable and casual hotel that just completed updates to improve their guest experience.

Their 16 guest rooms now have new carpets and bed treatments. Each also received a new flat screen television and Keurig coffee maker. The inn has a brand-new air conditioning and heating system, and the check-in area has a beautiful new hardwood floor.

Rooms are decorated with original artwork, handcrafted accessories, art tiles, and are painted in warm, inviting colors. Many rooms have private outdoor patios or porches, a perfect spot for relaxing after a busy day exploring Sonoma County.

All rooms have individually controlled heat and air-conditioning, complimentary wireless Internet access, telephones with data ports, in-room refrigerators, hairdryers, ceiling fans, and cable TV. Free onsite parking is included with all reservations.

Location: Sonoma Creek Inn
239 Boyes Blvd.
Sonoma, CA 95476
888-712-1289
www.sonomacreekinn.com

Click to go Camping

Camping at Austin Creek State Recreation Area in Guerneville just got easier, and a lot more hip. For the first time, campers can secure camping spots through Hipcamp.com, instead of dealing with a first-come, first-served basis.

Hipcamp is a Bay Area start-up founded by software engineer Alyssa Ravasio, a 25-year-old area native who started the company out of the frustration of finding open campsites. Park officials confirm the old system of getting a camping spot at Austin Creek caused frustration for those who traveled to the reserve, to discover spots already taken. They hope the new system will encourage more people to camp.

The 5,700-acre reserve has 23 campsites, 15 of which can now be reserved through Hipcamp.com. An additional eight sites are set aside for walk-ups. Reserved campsites at Austin Creek cost $35 per night and walk-ups are $25. Sites can be reserved at www.hipcamp.com/ca/north-coast/austin-creek/bullfrog-pond-campground

Location: Austin Creek State Recreation Area
17000 Armstrong Woods Road
Guerneville, CA, 95446-9587
707-869-9177 ext. 3# (Monday - Friday)
707-869-2015 (Weekends)
www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=452

New wedding elopement package at Sonoma Coast

Sea Ranch Lodge, a small, secluded property on Northern California’s rugged Sonoma Coast, is a serene destination that embraces the beauty and bounty of nature in myriad expressions. Now the romantic hotel is offering a special all-inclusive small wedding package. Perfect for weddings from two to 24 people, the package includes a romantic ceremony at Bihler Point, a secluded breathtaking point on the bluffs with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.

The package includes:

• Romantic ceremony on Bihler Point
• Personalized non-denominational marriage ceremony by our resident officiant
• Wedding coordinator
• Photographer
• Three-course dinner with wine in Black Point Grill’s Private Dining Room
• Sparkling wine toast
• Bouquet and/or boutonniere
• Floral table centerpiece
• Wedding cake
• Commemorative champagne flutes for the wedding couple
• Ocean View Room for the wedding couple
• Full made to order breakfast the following morning

Prices range from $2,500 to $5,000, depending on the number of guests attending.

Location: Sea Ranch Lodge
60 Sea Walk Drive
The Sea Ranch, California 95497
707-785-2371
www.searanchlodge.com

BREWERIES

New Craft Brewery Tap Room Opens in Windsor
St. Florian’s Brewery has opened a new taproom in Windsor. The craft brewery, run by a husband-and-wife team, welcomes visitors to stop in and try their beer made on premises and see how the beer is made.

The Tap Room features St. Florian’s beers as well as lively games of dominoes or cards. Guests are invited to bring their own food, or take-out from nearby restaurants on the Windsor Town Green. Or customers may purchase from local food trucks that stop by.

Named for the patron saint of firefighters, St. Florian’s is run by Amy and Aron Levin. Aron, a fire captain for the local fire department, named his brewery to recognize the “hero in all of us” and they donate 5 percent of their profits to fire-related and community-based organizations.

St. Florian’s Brewery is open Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. They also announce additional hours and event on their Facebook page.

Location; St. Florian’s Brewery Tap Room
7704A Bell Road
Windsor, CA
707-838-BREW
info@stfloriansbrewery.com
www.stfloriansbrewery.com

Warped Brewing Company
This new brewery and tasting room just opened its doors in February at The Barlow in Sebastopol. It has a fun, funky vibe with a retro video game theme. Currently, Warped Brewing produces four beers including Pixelated Porter, a molasses porter; Orbital Outrage; California Common; and Crash of ’83, a very balanced IPA.

Owners Noah and Mirjam Bolmer also own Barley and Hops Tavern in Occidental. After tasting, guests may head west for dinner where their beers are paired with burgers, sandwiches like the Curry Fried Chicken Sandwich, or entrees, like their Guinness Cottage Pie made with ground beef, English peas, carrots, and onions in a Guinness gravy, topped with mashed potatoes and baked.

Location: Warped Brewing Company
6790 McKinley St. #190 (in The Barlow)
Sebastopol, CA
707- 829-2061
www.facebook.com/WarpedBrewing

Fogbelt Brewing Company
Long-time friends Paul Hawley and Remy Martin both grew up in Sonoma County. Hawley has been working at his family’s winery since 2005 and Martin studied brewing at UC Davis and local breweries.

From these experiences comes their newest venture: Fogbelt Brewing Company. Named for the unique area in coastal Sonoma County where the fog from the ocean meets the mountains of the redwoods, Fogbelt is located on Cleveland Avenue in Santa Rosa, in the same Wineyard mall as D’Argenzio Winery.

Befitting a brewery named for the weather conditions that produce California’s iconic redwoods trees, all of the beers on offer are named for famous redwood trees. Th beers ininclude Lost Monarch Wit Beer, Atlas Blonde, Del Norte IPA, Hyperion Red Ale and Armstrong Stout.

Fogbelt is open Thursday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m.

Location: Fogbelt Brewing Company
1305 Cleveland Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA, 95401
707-978-3400
www.fogbeltbrewing.com

New Location for Taps Petaluma
In February, this beloved restaurant and tasting room moved down the street from its original location in Petaluma.

An aging ventilation system in the pub’s tiny kitchen gave way, preventing them from serving their popular hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and wings. Repairs were too expensive, so the business found a bigger location where they can prepare all of their customer’s favorites, and a few more. They also have room for more beers on tap.

Location: Taps Restaurant & Tasting Room
54 E. Washington Street
Petaluma, CA
707-763-6700
www.petalumataps.com

RESTAURANTS

Palooza Gastropub and Wine Bar: From Food Truck to Restaurant

Owner Jeff Tyler has made a name for himself in Sonoma County with Palooza Catering and sought-after food trucks that serve everything from hot dogs to sliders. Now he has a brand new brick-and-mortar restaurant in Kenwood, the Palooza Gastropub and Wine Bar.

The menu changes seasonally and offers small plates that range from $8 to $13. A recent menu featured kale salad, savory cannoli stuffed with mascarpone cheese and bacon, and roasted bone marrow with grilled toast and micro greens. Main dishes range from $15 to $19.50 and may include a veal meatloaf wrapped in bacon with brown butter mashed potatoes, fried monkfish drenched in Rogue Dead Guy beer batter, served with frites and hibiscus ketchup. Palooza is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Location: Palooza Gastropub and Wine Bar
8910 Sonoma Highway
Kenwood, CA
707-833-4000
www.paloozafresh.com/

Central Market in Petaluma Reopens

Maybe it’s his New Orleans roots, but not even a little chimney fire could keep Chef Tony Najiola and his team down. Central Market, one of the county’s acclaimed farm-to-table restaurants reopened in December after being shut down by a fire that broke out Aug. 31.

Central Market is located in the historic Maclay Building, built in 1918 in the heart of downtown Petaluma. Thanks to a quick response from local firefighters, the flames damaged the restaurant, but did not destroy the building.

After months of hard work, Central Market is back and open daily for dinner. Their cuisine is rustic California-Mediterranean, with ingredients coming from Muleheart Farm, Central Market’s own dedicated farm.

Location: Central Market
42 Petaluma Boulevard North
Petaluma, CA
707-778-9900
www.centralmarketpetaluma.com

Topsy’s Kitchen Serves Southern Breakfasts

This new hot spot in Petaluma serves farmhouse cuisine with a focus on Southern comfort food. Breakfast are lunch served Tuesday through Sunday, and customers rave about the warm, fluffy New Orleans-style Beignets, egg scrambles, breakfast bowls, fried chicken and waffles, and fresh baked sticky cinnamon rolls.

Location: Topsy’s Kitchen
131 Kentucky Street
Petaluma, California 94952
707-773-4743 (773-4PIE)
www.facebook.com/pages/Topsys-Kitchen-Petaluma

New Location for Sift Cupcake + Dessert Bar

Sonoma County just got a little sweeter with the opening of a third Sift Cupcake + Dessert Bar in Petaluma. The company already has locations in Cotati, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco.

All three locations serve cupcakes in flavors such as Red Velvet, 24 Carrot, and Limonata. They also create delicious flavors of macaroons, party cakes, whoopie cookies, and ice cream sandwiches. Walk in customers are welcome, as well as orders for custom gifts, parties and weddings.

Location: Sift Cupcake + Dessert Bar
404 Mendocino Ave-Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
www.siftcupcakes.com

Healdsburg Bar & Grill Now Serving Breakfast

The beloved burger joint and “hang out” spot on the corner of the Healdsburg Plaza is now serving breakfast. The new menu follows the same focus as the lunch and dinner menu that has made the Healdsburg Bar & Grill so popular — good comfort food with a Southern accent. Look for house made cinnamon rolls, bagels, fried chicken and waffles, eggs served over-easy on pork hash, omelets and egg scrambles.

The restaurant, owned by Top Chef Master Doug Keane, is open daily now starting at 8 a.m., with breakfast served until 11 a.m.

Location: Healdsburg Bar & Grill
245 Healdsburg Ave
Healdsburg, California 95448
707- 433-3333
www.healdsburgbarandgrill.com

Fresh Mediterranean Dips Available from Taverna Sofia

Dip into authentic Mediterranean goodness while picnicking in Wine Country, or looking for a healthy snack.

Created by Chef Sofia Petridis-Lim, owner of Taverna Sofia Restaurant in Healdsburg, these flavorful dips are vegetarian, and most are gluten free. Available in specialty markets like Big John’s and Shelton’s Natural Foods in Healdsburg, Taverna Sofia dips add pizzazz to pita bread, chips, sandwiches, grilled meats, raw or roasted veggies, and more.

Choose from:
•Kopanisti – a spicy cheese dip. Feta blended with pickled peppers, mint, and spices
• Tzatziki – the iconic Greek sauce. Thick yogurt with a kick of dill, garlic, and cooling cucumber
• Baba Ghanoush – flavorful roasted eggplant blended with tahini, zesty chopped tomatoes, peppers and herbs
• Skordalia – a rich dip of garlic blended with almonds and potato (not gluten free)
• Hummus – creamy organic garbanzo beans, Greek olive oil and tahini
•Taramosalata – A bold salty dip made from imported carp roe with lemon juice and olive oil

Location: Taverna Sofia
244 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95449
707-431-1982
www.TavernaSofia.com

New Immersion-Brewed Coffee at Shed

At the cool, new modern-day grange, called Shed, in Healdsburg, visitors can follow their nose to the new Brew Bar. This is where they make “immersion-brewed” coffee by the cup. Immersion brewing combines the full-bodied richness of a French press with the clean taste of filter-dripped coffee. The drink is drip-activated but sits covered before pouring. It’s the best of both caffeinated worlds.

A 12-ounce cup is $3, and is made with single origin beans roasted for Shed by neighboring Flying Goat Coffee. They also sell the Immersion Dripper used to make the coffee, in case visitors decide they’d like to make it at home.

Location: Shed
25 North Street
Healdsburg CA 95448
707–431–7433
be@healdsburgshed.com

WINE SHIPPING

Ship Your Wine Home from Sonoma Valley
Bodega Shipping Co. Sonoma specializes in wine shipping. Located in Sonoma Valley, it’s an ideal solution to ship wine from several wineries home.

Providing the same great service no matter the size of the order, Bodega Shipping has eliminated all hidden fees. Packaging costs are factored into the prices. The company will pick up any package for free within the city limits of Sonoma.

Electronic shipping forms are available on the website and can be accessed from any mobile device or computer. Here customers can make pickup and shipping request for wine they may have collected.

Most other shipping companies require a written description of all the wine to be shipped. Bodega has a “submit a picture” option, making it faster and easier for the customer.

Customers can submit payment on the form or at the time of pickup using mobile credit card readers. All orders receive a confirmation email after submission and tracking information once the order is shipped.

Currently, Bodega Shipping is offering a 10 percent discount. Just use the promo code “sonoma” in the payment section of the form.

Location: Bodega Shipping Co. Sonoma
www.bodegashippingco.com
750 West Napa St.
Sonoma CA
707-343-1656

CYCLING

Cycling Challenge Adds Local Food and Brews
While getting ready for its fourth event, the Sonoma County Backroad Challenge cycling event has new sponsors and activities this year. Less than two months away, registrations are pouring in so sign up now. This year, teams or 10 or more received 10 percent off registration fees. The event is limited to 1,750 cyclists.

The ride offers three routes: Century Ride (99.7 miles, 7,419 ft of elevation); Metric Century (71.6 miles, 4,262 ft of elevation); and the Half Metric (37.4 miles, 1,495 ft of elevation)

Vendors will be supplying food and drinks at rest stops: Wholefoods, Smari Organic Icelandic Yogurt, Artisana Foods, Clif, and GU. CamelBak will be giving out free gear at the post-ride festival to some lucky riders (must be present to win). Three Twins organic ice cream will be serving up dessert at the festival.

And then there is beer: Petaluma Hills, Henhouse, and Lagunitas will all be serving up their craft brew at the festival at Penngrove Park. Riders won't go away hungry or thirsty after the ride. Staying overnight? Petaluma Hotel is “cyclist friendly.” Ask for Jessica when booking.

Sonoma County Backroad Challenge Cycling Event
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLcKAzTZWcc
www.backroadchallenge.com

Sonoma County, located 45 minutes north of San Francisco, provides a genuine, independent, and adventurous wine country experience, featuring more than 400 wineries, 100-plus organic farms, and over 50 miles of stunning Pacific coast.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call + 1 707-522-5800.

New Tasting Rooms, Food Experiences and an Artistic Visionary for Music --- Rediscover Sonoma County in 2015

Discover new food tours, cooking classes, and ways to experience the abundance of Sonoma Wine Country. Several longtime Sonoma County restaurants have begun new eras with new owners, remodeled décor, and fresh new menus. Wineries focus not only on good wine, but good food, and sharing it with visitors. And tune in to the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, which has a new leader at the helm.

There is always something new to discover in Sonoma County. Plan your visit today at www.SonomaCounty.com.

Sonoma Mission Inn's Historic Roots Honored

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa --

has been awarded membership in the Historic Hotels of America organization. This organization was created in 1989 to preserve the authenticity of America's best destinations. It identifies quality hotels that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa location was considered a sacred healing ground by Native Americans who discovered the hot mineral waters and built a sweat house that stood for generations. San Francisco physician T.M. Leavenworth was the first to commercially develop the hot springs in 1840. In 1895, the property was bought by Captain H.E. Boyes, who built the Boyes Hot Springs Hotel on the site.

A disastrous fire struck the hotel in 1923, but the current resort rose from the ashes just four years later, as an architecturally accurate replica of a California Mission. The resort was closed during the Great Depression, but was reopened in 1933 by hotelier Emily Long. During World War II, the hotel became an “R & R” site for sailors and marines.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
100 Boyes Blvd.
Sonoma, CA 95476
1-866-540-4499
www.fairmont.com/sonoma/

Green Music Center --

Gets New Leader from New York Philharmonic Zarin Mehta, the former president and executive director of the New York Philharmonic, has been brought in to oversee artistic programming for the Green Music Center at Sonoma State University. Mehta plans musical events for Joan and Sanford I. Weill Hall, the center's 1,400-seat concert hall, including appearances by the San Francisco and Santa Rosa symphonies and an array of international orchestras and musical soloists.

Mehta will also begin plans for two future venues at the center. One is the 250-seat Schroeder Hall, named for the character in Charles Schulz' Peanuts comic strip, and scheduled to open in August 2014. The MasterCard Performing Arts Pavilion, a large, open-air venue, is expected to open in 2015.

Mehta ran the New York Philharmonic until 2012. He has also been the president and CEO of Chicago's Ravinia Festival, and was managing director of the Montreal Symphony. He is the brother of conductor Zubin Mehta.

The Green Music Center
1801 E. Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
866-955-6040
www.gmc.sonoma.edu

“Save the Gravenstein” Hard Cider at Devot Gardens

Devoto Orchards Cider has just released their 2013 “Save the Gravenstein” hard cider. The beverage is handcrafted from organic apples grown on the Devoto family farm in Sebastopol. The semi-dry, food friendly cider is crisp, with the tartness of a Gravenstein apple, and a dry finish. The cider pairs well with seafood, pork, and sharp cheeses.

Founders Jolie Devoto-Wade and Hunter Wade are second-generation apple farmers, who were inspired to start a hard cider company after laying down roots at their family farm. In August, when their Gravenstein apples are at peak ripeness, they pick them, press them, and pour their energy into every drop.

Two generations ago, back when apples were king, the Devotos planted 6,500 apple trees. Since then most of Sonoma County’s orchards have been replaced with vineyards, taking with them the centuries-old Gravenstein. But the Devotos still have more than 50 heirloom apple varieties on 26 organic acres.

Devoto Gardens
655 Gold Ridge Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707-823-6650
707- 861-0595

WINERIES

New Event to Celebrate the Russian River Valley and Pinot Noir
The Russian River Valley Winegrowers have created an inaugural event to celebrate the Russian River American Viticultural Area (AVA), and to celebrate the wine this region has become world-famous for, Pinot Noir.

Russian River Valley Pinot Classic
May 25-25, 2014
www.pinotclassic.com

New Tasting Lounge for Rosenblum Cellars
Rosenblum Cellars welcomes visitors to their new urban-chic Tasting Lounge in Healdsburg. The bright and airy tasting room is located just off the Healdsburg Downtown Plaza near Relish Culinary Adventures and The Wurst eatery.

In addition to a tasting room, the new location includes an event and educational space, a lounge for locals and club members, and an outdoor patio. The Tasting Lounge provides wine flight tastings, wine-based cocktails, "Bites & Flights," Zinfandel ice cream, wines by the glass, and non-alcoholic beverages for designated drivers.

A calendar of educational offerings will provide a forum for local growers, food and wine-pairing seminars, and seminars with local artists and artisanal food producers.

Rosenblum Cellars Tasting Lounge
18 Matheson Street
Healdsburg, CA
707-473-9267
www.rosenblumcellars.com/

Tricycle Wine Company Opens New Tasting Room
Tricycle Wine Partners opened their first and only tasting room at Cornerstone Sonoma just a few weeks ago. Their labels include Molnar Family, Kazmer & Blaise, and Obsidian Ridge. These are wines that have helped the company develop a reputation and style for producing single-vineyard, small-batch wines crushed from the grapes of their own vineyards throughout Northern California’s Wine Country.

Tricycle Wine Company’s new tasting room includes a tasting bar, a deck, and a bocce court. They are open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For a more intimate and extensive experience, join a Tricycle Wine Partners associate for a 90-minute, private, in-depth educational tasting experience. As you taste, enjoy a tour of the Cornerstone Gardens and adjacent vineyards. A winery associate will then lead you through a tasting of their rare, reserve level wines as well as special library and special selections. Advanced reservations for a private tasting and can be made at Tastingroom@tricyclewine.com or call 707-255-4929 ext. 1. Cost is $40 per person.

Tricycle Wine Co.
23568 Arnold Dr. (inside Cornerstone Gardens)
Sonoma, CA 94576
707-255-4929
www.tricyclewineco.com

St. Francis Winery Named a Best Restaurant in America
It’s not a typo. St. Francis Winery in Santa Rosa has been named by OpenTable as one of America’s 10 Best Restaurants. Executive chef David Bush (formerly of the girl & the fig and The Carnelian Room in San Francisco) and his staff create a wine and food pairing experience at the winery that wins rave reviews. OpenTable based its list on 5 million reviews for more than 19,000 eateries across the U.S.

The 1 1⁄2-hour pairing features six courses that feature local ingredients and are paired with wines from St. Francis’ artisan collection. Seatings are scheduled for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Two seatings are scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The price is $50 plus tax, although wine club members receive a 20 percent discount. Reservations are encouraged and can be made at <http://www.opentable.com/st-francis-winery-and-vineyards>OpenTable.com, or by calling 800-795-6674.

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards
100 Pythian Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
www.stfranciswinery.com

New Chef at J Vineyards & Winery
Erik Johnson has joined J Vineyards & Winery as their new executive chef and is sharing his knowledge in a new series of cooking classes at the winery. Previously, Johnson was the executive sous chef at Healdsburg’s Dry Creek kitchen and has taught classes at Relish Culinary School.

Now guests may get a taste of Johnson’s skills, and take a few home with them in cooking demonstration classes. Look for a new schedule of spring and Easter entertaining classes on J Winery’s website in the near future.

Johnson also creates the food-and-wine pairings in the winery’s Bubble Room, a full-service tasting salon, where guests enjoy a three-course meal made from locally sourced ingredients and paired with rare library and small-production wines.

Bubble Room tastings are offered Friday through Sunday with seatings at 11 a.m., noon, and 3 p.m. Cost is $75 per person and reservations are strongly encouraged, by calling 707-431-5430.

J Vineyards & Winery
11447 Old Redwood Hwy
Healdsburg, CA 95448
888-594-6326
www.jwine.com

Where to Eat

Kenwood Restaurant Gets New Owners, New Menu

For 26 years, the Kenwood Restaurant on Highway 12 has been a staple in the area, attracting locals, tourists, and local winemakers who would often gather there after the kitchen had closed for the night. Owners Max and Susan Schacher have now passed the keys to Bill and Rebecca Foss, who also own Fish restaurant in Sausalito.

Chef Anthony Paone is in charge of the kitchen, and the menu reflects “Sonoma cuisine,” using fresh local ingredients, and in the case of proteins, using them from “tip to tail.” Look for dishes like duck and hominy soup with a poached duck egg, cioppino, pink trout with cornbread stuffing, and rabbit sausage. The menu changes frequently with prices ranging from $9 to $30.

The Kenwood Restaurant serves wine and beer and is open from noon to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Kenwood Restaurant
9900 Sonoma Hwy, Kenwood, CA 95452
707- 833-6326

Seared Steak and Seafood Opens in Petaluma

A new era begins for a beloved restaurant spot formerly known as Graziano’s in Petaluma. For 31 years, customers have been served authentic Italian cuisine in the historic site. Now it has been remodeled and reopened as Seared Steak and Seafood.

Chef Joe O’Donnell and his staff shop farmer’s markets and local growers daily to put together a “roadmap” of flavors on their menu. Fresh, line-caught seafood, a great array of steaks, and some interesting side dishes with twists such as brussel sprouts with shallot, hazelnuts, dates, bacon, and Point Reyes blue cheese crumbles.

Seared is open for dinner every night except Monday, and they also have a great Happy Hour menu offered Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Seared Steak and Seafood
170 Petaluma Blvd. No.
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-762-5997
petalumaseared.com

Riccardo’s Restaurant and Bar Opens in Santa Rosa

In Santa Rosa’s Bennett Valley, a new neighborhood restaurant and bar breathes new life into a gathering spot that had become a stalwart in the area. What was once known for decades as J Barleycorn’s is now Riccardo’s Restaurant and Bar.

New owners have remodeled with a beautiful new bar, half-round booths in the dining room, and have filled the walls with hundreds of old family and local photographs that give you a sense of history about the area.

It’s a casual spot where customers can catch up with each other or catch the game. The menu features items like a French Dip, a brisket sandwich with coleslaw, a pear salad, and snacks such as potato croquets and zucchini sticks. The full bar features artisan cocktails as well as wine and beer.

Riccardo’s is open daily offering lunch, dinner and snacks. They host a daily Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Riccardo’s Restaurant and Bar
2700 Yulupa Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
707-545-7696
www.riccardossantarosa.com

Twisted 2

Twisted 2, a new intimate eatery, opened in December in downtown Petaluma. Some regular visitors may remember Twisted Vines Wine Bar and Café with great fondness.

Owners Dick and Julie Warner closed that business, except for the wine shop, and have now created Twisted 2 in a different and smaller space inside the Lan Mart building.

But don’t let the size fool you. There is a lot happening at the five tables in this 600-square foot space. Namely, great food and wine pairing.

A complete four-course prix fixe dinner costs $95 with wine pairings, and $60 without. Julie creates the food and the menu changes often. Choices may include pan-roasted Liberty duck breast or grilled lamb chops with a red quinoa tabouli and mint salsa.

Dick works his magic pairing wines with each dish. Diners may also enjoy “Happy Hour and a Half” from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with a menu that features great wines and food and very affordable prices.

Twisted 2 is open Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 707- 789-9914.

Twisted 2
29 F Petaluma Blvd. North
Petaluma, CA 94952
Twisted2Info@gmail.com
707- 789-9914
www.Twisted2.net

Red’s Apple Roadhouse

Highway 116 meanders through Sonoma County’s west side, which is full of agricultural treasures, antiques, and some great food finds. This is one of the area’s newest, in a cheerful roadhouse right next to a beloved staple, Mom’s Apple Pie.

Red’s Apple Roadhouse opened its doors in November and is serving up homey comfort foods like fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and coleslaw, burgers and onion rings, pulled pork sandwiches, and chicken and dumplings.

On weekends co-owner and chef Berry Salinas creates hot donuts served with fresh coffee, along with other breakfast delights. Customers rave about her biscuits and gravy.

Red’s Apple Roadhouse is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. serving lunch and dinner, and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch and dinner

Red’s Apple Roadhouse
4550 Gravenstein Highway North,
Sebastopol, CA 95472
707- 861-9338
www.redsappleroadhouse.com

New Greek Night at Taverna Sofia

Taverna Sofia is one of Healdsburg’s newest foodie gems, serving authentic Greek and Mediterranean dishes made with both local and Greek imported ingredients. Now the casual restaurant takes the Greek experience up a notch on the last Saturday of each month for Greek Night.

From 6:30 to 10 p.m. customers are treated to live Greek music on the scenic patio that features a mural of the island of Santorini. Greek dancing is encouraged by all, and belly dancers help shake up the mood as well.

Reservations for Greek Night are highly recommended and can be made by calling 707-431-1982.

Taverna Sofia
244 Healdsburg Avenue
Healdsburg, CA 95448
707-431-1982

Pop Up Dinners at Suite D

Just a couple of miles from her destination restaurant, the girl & the fig, Sondra Bernstein has opened a fun warehouse space called Suite D. It is connected to the company’s catering kitchen and decked out in large 30-foot murals, fun lighting fixtures and reclaimed wood. Everything in the space is mobile and able to accommodate pop up dinners and parties that range from casual ping pong parties, to fancy five-star fetes.

Suite D is available for parties and events, and there is also a full menu of pop up www.figsuited.com/#!events/c1cti>dinners scheduled throughout the year.

Suite D
21800 Schellville Road
Sonoma, CA 95476
707-933-3667
www.figsuited.com

Foodie Experiences

Savor Healdsburg Food Tours

Discover the culinary oasis of Healdsburg in a three-hour, fun tour led by a local, who happens to be a foodie herself. Tammy Gass and her staff give visitors an exploration of history, insider’s advice on must-dos in the area, and will lead you to some of the tastiest food and beverages in the area.

Tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and cost $85 per person, which covers all food and drink tastings on the tour. Or, if you have a group of 6 or more, let Savor Healdsburg plan your own custom tour. This is a great option for wedding parties, company team-building outings, or convention goers.

Savor Healdsburg Food Tours
info@savorhealdsburg.com
800-979-3370
www.savorhealdsburgfoodtours.com/

Travel the World at the Savory Spice Shop

The Savory Spice Shop in Santa Rosa offers a new series of international cooking classes that will give locals and visitors a global taste of spices and cuisines. Students will learn about the foods of North, Central and Southern Chile on Feb. 9, with dishes ranging from Oven Baked Maduros (plantains) to Turrón de Vino (red wine mousse). And on Feb. 23, it’s a Carnavale! Celebrating with a Brazilian menu of Feijoada (pork and black bean stew) and Pao de Queijo (a delicious cheese bread).

Classes begin at 4:30 p.m. and cost $30, including recipes. To sign up, call 707-284-1310.

The Savory Spice Shop
317 D Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95494
707-284-1310
santarosa@savoryspiceshop.com

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 800-576-6662.

Sonoma County -- Terrific Tours

Terrific Tours provides each guest with a fun-filled and hands-on approach to wine tasting in Sonoma County. Tour guides will show you the best wineries in the area, and give you pointers on how to taste wine, how it is made and why grapes grow so well in Sonoma County. This unique approach limits each wine tour to an intimate group of ten guests (special care is taken to place individuals in a harmonious group), and includes a fabulous gourmet lunch and most tasting fees for only $95. Terrific Tours can also accommodate requests for limousine service or larger private groups.

Tour guides are not just chauffeurs – they are industry professionals and provide one of the most comprehensive wine tours in Sonoma County. Terrific Tours ensures that every guest has the richest experience possible; the guide accompanies the group into each winery to be available to answer questions as they arise. Having locals drive ensures that tour guests arrive safely and efficiently get from one Sonoma County winery to the next. Terrific Tour Guides personally take guests behind the scenes to give them a first-hand look at how wine is made, and demonstrate how to love it more! Terrific Tours will leave people enlightened and rewarded with the perfect Sonoma wine experience!

For more information call (707) 658-2748, or check web site www.terrifictours.com

Sonoma County Bohemian Highway Corridor

The Bohemian Highway Corridor in Sonoma County winds its way for 8.8 miles through towering redwoods, quiet pastures, rocky ravines and three charming hamlets tucked off the beaten tourist path. Freestone, Occidental and Monte Rio, situated on the Bohemian Highway Corridor, are three of the first towns settled in the Sonoma County region. Visitors here will find mild year-round climate, beautifully restored Victorian homes, organic farms, eclectic boutiques, specialty nurseries and quaint B&Bs such as the Inn at Occidental. Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty of variety along the Bohemian Highway Corridor, including kayaking and fishing at the Russian River, and hiking at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.

For more information contact Sherry Huss, Bohemian Connection, (707) 874-9407,

Horizon Air Adds Sonoma County

Horizon Air offers daily direct service from Sonoma County to Portland . The airline currently offers once-daily service from Sonoma County to Seattle and Los Angeles. Air service to Portland will be operated with Horizon Air’s fuel-efficient, 76-seat Q400 turboprop aircraft. With its near jet-like speed, the Q400 will take one hour and 50 minutes to travel between Sonoma County and Portland. Horizon Air serves wines and microbrews at no extra charge as part of its regular in-flight service to passengers 21 years or older on all of its flights from Sonoma County. In addition to the usual two pieces of baggage that can be checked at no charge, Horizon will accept a box of up to 12 bottles of wine per passenger at no extra charge from customers on flights departing Sonoma County. The wine must be packaged to courier standards for shipment.

For more information contact Horizon Air, 206-431-3647 or 800-547-9308, www.horizonair.com.

What's New in California's Sonoma Wine Country  

Bud break in the vineyards, and Sonoma County visitors are greeted with new and exciting great escapes. Here’s a look at what’s new:

Eco-Tourism

See sustainable vineyard practices up close and personal with Kunde Winery’s new Vineyard Tours. Free vineyard hikes will be offered from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. No reservations required. For a more in-depth Eco experience, join vintner Jeff Kunde for a four-mile hike through Kunde vineyards to view sustainable growing practices and learn about the habitats and ecosystems within the area. Picnic lunch and wine tasting included in the $75 registration fee.

For reservations, call Kunde Estate Hospitality Department in Kenwood, CA at 707-282-1534 or visit www.kunde.com.

With a varied terrain known for yielding quality winegrapes, Sonoma Wine Country’s vineyards also offer a variety of bird watching opportunities. With several locations voted “Globally Important Bird Areas” by the American Bird Conservancy. Sonoma County boasts a prime location along the west-coast migration route. The shores of Bodega Bay offer a year-round birding spot where more rare birds have been spotted than in any other area of Sonoma County. The San Pablo Bay wetlands create a natural habitat for watching and photographing large flocks of shorebirds and waterfowl.

For detailed bird watching areas visit www.audubon.sonoma.net/birding/birding.html.

Lodging

Melitta Station Inn Bed & Breakfast --

in Santa Rosa opens new guest facilities including a new King Suite with lounge and mini-kitchen, a guest spa with hot tub, on-site massage, wireless capabilities, exercise area and a 400 sq. ft. meeting facility. With these additions, the Melitta Station Inn will appeal to small meeting organizers who desire an alternative to a larger hotel. Owners Tim and Jackie Thresh have included an array of solar panels to their inn, which now runs on clean solar power. The Melitta Station Inn offers luxury English country cottage hospitality, gourmet breakfasts and access to a modern spa.

For more information contact 800-504-3099 or info@melittastationinn.com. The Melitta Station Inn is located at 5850 Melitta Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95409.

Big Yellow House

Looking for a rural chic getaway to Sonoma County’s Russian River? The Big Yellow House in Monte Rio is now available for vacation rentals. This grand Dutch Colonial riverfront home sleeps 16+ in five bedrooms. Complete with all modern amenities including high-end kitchen appliances, TV, DVD/VCR and musical instruments. Don’t miss another sunset along the river!

For more information contact Bonnie Spindler at 415-474-4445.

Wine Experiences

Ace in the Hole Pub

on the Gravenstein Highway in Sebastopol, known for serving its signature hard ciders and world-class beers, releases their first vintage. The 2005 Geoffrey House Pinot Noir is made from Russian River grapes off a small local estate vineyard. The wine has been aged in French Oak for 12 months with very Burgundian characteristics and will be available for taste and purchase at the Ace-in-the-Hole Pub. Only 40 cases will be available.

For more information call 707-829-1101 or visit www.acecider.com.

Inn at the Willows

nestled along the Russian River in Guerneville, opened Isabelle’s Wine Lounge and Tasting. Isabelle’s features wines and micro brews from Russian River area producers. Isabelle’s features complimentary petit plates made mainly with locally grown and produced vegetables, fruits and chesses.

For more information call 800.291.1905 or visit www.innatthewillows.com.

Kokomo Wines

one of Dry Creek Valley’s hottest wineries, announces the grand opening of their tasting room, Kokomo Tasting Lounge, located in Historic Railroad Square, Santa Rosa. Kokomo Tasting Lounge is the first ever winery operated tasting room in the 100+ year history of Railroad Square. Located at 305 Davis St., the Lounge is a comfortable place to experience great wine and enjoy the convenience of downtown Santa Rosa shopping and dining. Kokomo Tasting Lounge, open seven days a week from 12 pm – 7 pm.

For more information or to schedule an interview with the winemaker, please call Rebeca Lidz at 707-523-3076 or email rebeca@kokomowines.com.

Peterson Winery

opens a new tasting room at their Timber Crest Farms outside of Healdsburg, CA in the Dry Creek Valley. Peterson Winery, known for their small production, zero-manipulation style wines ranging from Zinfandel to Petite Sirah and Muscat Blanc can be reached at

707-431-7568 or friends@petersonwinery.com.

Jacuzzi Winery

The Carneros region of Sonoma will soon welcome Jacuzzi Winery. The new 18,000-square-foot, rustic-Italian stone structure is inspired by the Jacuzzi family home in Udine, Italy. Due to open in the spring of 2007, the structure sits on 190 acres and honors the family Italian immigrants who came to America in the early 1900’s.

V-Twin Vineyards

While dreaming of a way to pay their bills and still ride motorcycles, the owners of V-Twin Vineyards created a motorcycle themed vintage deemed more leather than lace. The first release, 2004 V-Twin Zin, is bursting with berry aromas and flavors of raspberry and black cherry. V-Twin operates currently as a “virtual winery” at www.vtwinwines.com, but expects to have a clubhouse tasting room soon.

For more information, contact 707-573-8215.

CigarBQ Wine Tour

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of cigars, wine and food with the CigarBQ® wine tour! The tour begins at 10am with tours of cigar friendly wineries. Enjoy a stogie with several winemakers as you taste through their wines. Cocktail reception at Equus begins at 5:30. The $50 ticket price includes transportation, cigars, wine and food.

For more information visit www.cigarBQ.com.

Culinary

Olive Press

has relocated alongside the new Jacuzzi Winery. Created in 1995, The Olive Press is committed to making only the finest Award-Winning California Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The new tasting room, gift store and pressing facility are dedicated to “all things olive”. The new location will be at 24724 Arnold Drive/Highway 121 in Sonoma, CA.

For more information visit www.theolivepress.com or call 800-965-4839.

Geyserville Inn and Hoffman House Restaurant

now offers weekend dinner service. Housed in a beautiful restored building constructed by the Hoffman Family over 100 years ago, the Hoffman House restaurant specializes in gourmet lunches, fresh salads and hot breakfasts. For more information please call 877-857-4343 or stop by for dinner, 21714 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA.

Red Rose Cafe

With an array of menu items ranging from hearty BBQ ribs and catfish to tofu scrambles and veggie sandwiches, the Red Rose Café is winning the hearts and tastebuds of locals. The rose-lit décor compliments the eclectic menu and their widescreen TV makes the Red Rose Café the perfect place to catch a game.

The Red Rose is located at 1770 Piner Road, Santa Rosa, 707-573-9741.

Charizma Wine Lounge & Deli

For California cuisine with a Swedish touch visit Charizma Wine Lounge & Deli in Guerneville. With a comfortable, colorful and charismatic atmosphere, Charizma serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week and dinner Thursday – Tuesday. Enjoy their wine lounge with tasting flights and small plates of food and cheeses or a sunset on their patio serving BBQ food all summer long.

Visit www.charizmawinelounge.com or call 707-869-0909 for more information.

Nit's Thai Creations

Nit Bynum, a native of Thailand, has opened her award-winning restaurant Nit’s Thai Creations located on the Russian River between Rio Nido and Guerneville. This season guests can enjoy a wine bar with Thai tappas paired with local and imported wines and the deck overlooking a beautiful undeveloped stretch of the Russian River.

Contact Nit Bynum, 707-431-9549 for more information.

Tours

Flying Horse Tours

added a new 10 person horse-drawn wagonette with fringe top.
The carriage, drawn by elegant horses, travels leisurely along a scenic route through the award-winning vineyards of Alexander Valley. Our tour includes wine tasting at Alexander Valley's finest wineries as well as a complimentary gourmet picnic.

For more information visit www.flyinghorse.org or call 707-849-8989.

Rickshaw Rudy's

Hop on the area’s first pedicab service in Windsor and Santa Rosa, Rickshaw Rudy’s. Rudy’s will offer bike taxi service for special events, by the hour and on-call. Services will run throughout Downtown Windsor and Santa Rosa for special town events.

For a complete listing of where you can find Rickshaw Rudy’s visit www.rickshawrudys.com or call 707-483-7322.

Family Fun

Candy and Kites

in Bodega Bay offers “Friday night fun flys”, stunt kite flying lessons at Doran Beach Campground. Families are encouraged to bring their own kites, however there will be a large selection of kites to try. Kite flying runs from 6 pm – 7 pm on Friday evenings until the end of October. Candy and Kites specializes in being nice to you since 1983.

For more information about “fun flys” call 707-877-3777. To purchase a kite or some of the world’s best toffee, stop by 1415 Coast Highway 1, Bodega Bay, CA 94923.

Sonoma County, located 30 miles from San Francisco, is America’s premier wine, spa and coastal destination, featuring more than 250 wineries and 76 miles of stunning Pacific coast.

For a free visitors guide or information on hotels, wineries, events, spas, attractions, and dining in Sonoma County, visit www.sonomacounty.com or call 800-576-6662.

STOCKTON

Delta River Cruises Return to Downtown Stockton

After a nearly two-decade hiatus, visitors can now cruise the San Joaquin Delta aboard Delta River Cruise’s 149 passenger catamaran, the “Princess of Whales,” which features two decks and a full galley with a tasty menu and a full bar. Cruises are offered year-round and include guided sightseeing cruises, dinner cruises, mystery cruises, day-long cruises to San Francisco and special event cruises. The ship is also available for special events, weddings and private meetings.

For more information contact the Delta River Cruises, (916) 399-9342, deltarivercruise@sbcglobal.net, www.deltarivercruise.com.

TAHOE CITY

History in the Making--Tahoe City Lakeside Trail Open Linking Trails, Connecting Our Communities

After 25 years of perseverance, dedication, partnership, and collaboration the remarkable Tahoe City Lakeside Trail was completed on June 21, 2012. The Trail is a parkway, winding through public and private properties to provide the “missing link” in the largest trail network at Lake Tahoe. The existing nineteen mile trail system was missing this key one mile segment through Tahoe City, forcing hundreds of thousands of trail users onto the State Highway through the town.

First envisioned in the 1980's, funding was secured in the 1990’s to begin design and permitting. Despite its short length, this missing link has been incredibly challenging to design and build because of its unique waterfront location. Much more than a "trail", the project has become a linear parkway with overlooks, plazas, picnic areas, seat walls, and environmental restoration. It connects the North Shore Trail, West Shore Trail, and the Truckee River Trail with a safe, and separate trail through Tahoe City.

A lakefront/riverfront connection was problematic from the start, wrought with environmental and property ownership concerns. After years of meetings with property owners, regulatory agencies, and funding partners, the "lakeside" alternative was ultimately approved. Due to property owner coordination issues and funding availability, the project required multiple phases of construction. The first phase was completed in 2001 and the final phase will be complete this June.

The spectacular trail runs along the water’s edge in Tahoe City and offers unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River. California State Parks, the United States Forest Service, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, Placer County, and many commercial property owners served as partners in the project by working with TCPUD to modify their property to ensure the construction of the trail.

For more information on the Lakeside Trail Festivities or to sponsor a section of trail for the human link please contact Kelli Twomey at the Tahoe City PUD at 530.583.3796, x21 or ktwomey@tcpud.org

TEMECULA

Where to Eat

Palumbo's Ristorante

My partner and I had an enjoyable meal here on the outdoor patio that's covered with pretty plants. Appetizers included Fried Calamari, Bruschetta al Prosciutto, Steamed Clams and other delectable dishes, while Organic Lettuce, Spinach, Arugula and other vegetables from local organic farms make for very tasty salads. Or, try the fresh Spinach, chopped Antipasto Salad, Salmon Salad, etc. For Pasta, among the choices are Fettuccine Alfredo, Penne with Broccoli, Tomato Basil Angel Hair, Spaghetti with Organic Spinach, Gnocchi, Penne with Sauage and Sun-dried Tomatos. The baked Manicotti Florentine and classic Lasagna were delicious and served piping hot, while the Steak Sinatra, Lamb Chops and Chicken were also yummy and tender. My partner tried the Jalapeno Shrimp Fettuccine, while I tried the Salmon Florentine - all excellently prepared.

Lunch specials are available at only $6.

Located at 41925 Fifth Street, Ste 101, Old Town Temecula, CA 92590; 951-699-7925. Open Tuesday-Sunday at 11 a.m. For more information check web site www.PalumbosRistorante.com or e-mail palumbosinoldtown@verizon.net.

Where to Stay

Quality Inn Southern California

I enjoyed a very comfortable stay at the Quality Inn Southern California Wine Country lodge which recently had been renovated. Clean accommodations and a friendly staff made this the perfect choice to rest up and use the pool after seeing all that the Temecula Valley has to offer. And, each time we passed through the lobby, we were happy to drink the fresh lemon water provided for all guests, free of charge. Accomodation prices were quite reasonable as well.

For more information contact the Quality Inn at 27338 Jefferson Avenue, Temecula; 951-296-3788 or for reservations worldwide call 800-4choice or go to choicehotels.com.

Palomar Inn

Built in 1927 during Prohibition, this historical landmark hotel is still active decades later and is the first 'modern' hotel in Temecula since being redone. The building once contained a drugstore, post office and switch board western saloon. Today, in addition to ten reasonably priced rooms, it is also home to the most complete selection of wines in Temecula Valley -- known as the Temecula House of Wine on the main floor.

For reservations call 951-676-6503 or go to web site palomarhotel@gmail.com. It is located at 28522 Old Town Front Street.

Uptown Temecula

North of Old Town Temecula adjacent Jefferson Avenue is Uptown Temecula. The popular corridor is home to “Temecula Hotel Row” where visitors find the sincere conveniences and consistencies of branded hotel properties including (from north to south): Quality Inn, La Quinta, Fairfield, Extended Stay America, Holiday Inn Express, Best Western, Springhill, and Hampton Inn.

Holiday Inn Express

Newly completed at Holiday Inn Express are a new lobby, fitness room, and meeting room. There is also a fresh, new breakfast-area where complimentary, hot breakfast is available to overnight guests each morning.

What to See & Do

About Temecula Valley and the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau

With natural gifts of climate and geography, bolstered by Pu’eska Mountain, the Rainbow Gap, and the Santa Margarita Gap, Temecula Valley is widely recognized for its scenic vineyards, award-winning wines, and gracious and friendly wineries as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. The popular boutique destination also includes Downtown Old Town Temecula, Pechanga Resort & Casino, and the Temecula Wine Country Golf Trail, and is home to three-time, award-winning California State Winery of the Year, South Coast Winery.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau (TVCVB), the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors, is online including a complete, daily Events Calendar at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. The TVCVB also welcomes filmmakers, directors, writers, production companies, ad agencies, and location scouts online at FilmTemecula.com. The Temecula Valley Visitors Center is located in Downtown Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes) adjacent the free Old Town Temecula Parking Garage.

Exploring the Open Spaces this Summer in Temecula Valley

Trails can be accessed on foot, bike, or horseback to explore the reserve. Popular day-hikes include trails to Riverside County’s two oldest standing structures, the Moreno and Machado Adobes, built in 1845 and 1846. Monument Hill, which features gentle rolling hills and stunning scenery, is a loop hike that is perfect for hikers of all abilities. Interpretive trail walks encourage a deeper understanding of the natural surroundings, while interpretive programs, guided hikes, and themed-exploration days make the reserve accessible to all. A variety of picnic locations accessing the stunning views and scenery are offered throughout the reserve. The Visitor Center, open Tuesdays-Sundays, is a fabulous starting point for maps, information, and helpful guides.

Other outdoor must-do activities in Temecula Valley this summer include horseback riding, fishing, boating, swimming, golfing, biking, and hot air ballooning over the gorgeous hills.

The Santa Rosa Plateau Reserve is open daily, sunrise to sunset. Daily walking fees to access the trailheads are just $4 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, visit http://www.rivcoparks.org/santa-rosa-plateau-ecological-reserve/.

Latest Events

Behind the Wine Bottle with Hart Winery

Go behind the wine bottle with second generation Jim Hart at Hart Winery. Hear the story of their beginnings, the hard work and passion for their wine. Learn about the local wine region community and what to try.

For details check web site VisitTemecula.org

Live Entertainment All Summer Long in Temecula Valley during its Summerfest Celebration

From headline concerts, live music, and Shakespeare in the Vines, to vineyard picnicking, extraordinary dining and delicious wines, visitors experience Summerfest in Temecula Valley’s lush vineyards, charming Old Town Temecula, and exciting Pechanga Resort & Casino.

Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival Highlights a Summer of Music, Hot Air Balloons & Wine

The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival features dawn hot air balloon launches, premium wine tasting, microbrew tasting, food and wine pairing, chef demonstrations and beer and food pairing, as well as a full international food court, arts and crafts, and a kids faire.

5 Top Ways to Discover the Great Outdoors in Temecula Valley

From relaxing hikes to championship golf courses, horseback trails through wine country to cycling to a bucket-list-worthy ride in a hot air balloon over the valley, there is an outdoor adventure for every visitor in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country.

Stay Fit While Traveling in Temecula Valley’s Southern California Wine Country

Outdoor fitness options abound in the Temecula Valley allowing traveling adventurers to stay fit and healthy while visiting the region’s beautiful rolling hills, picture-perfect landscapes, and sunny Southern California weather.

3 Terrific Ways to Experience Aerial Adventures in the Big, Blue Skies in and near Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

“From floating serenely in a hot air balloon with spectacular views of rolling hills and vineyards, to the incredible thrill of tandem skydiving and the sensation of freefall in an indoor sky-diving wind tunnel. There are 3 terrific ways to experience aerial adventures in the big, blue skies and beautiful, year-round weather, in and near Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country,” explains Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Celebrating a visit to Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country with an aerial point of view makes a stay-over a once-in-a-lifetime, exceptionally memorable experience. These aerial activities are especially great for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, wedding proposals, first dates, holidays (like Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day), and for group-travel and business incentives. Enjoy special mid-week (better-than-weekend) hotel-motel-resort rates Sunday-through-Thursday and more fully experience the casual, picturesque valley’s Downtown, Old Town Temecula; Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country; and Pechanga Resort & Casino.” The popular destination is 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert; and 11⁄2 hours from Los Angeles.

1- A Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country Hot Air Balloon Flight

As much an adventure as it is a delightful discovery, a hot air balloon flight over Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country is the opportunity to experience some of Southern California’s remaining open, rural countryside. Floating serenely over open-country with a big, blue sky overhead provides a spectacular view of rolling hills, vineyards, farms, ranchlands, and citrus groves.

Throughout the year, hot air balloon flights highlight an ever-changing scene that puts one in touch with the seasons. Wisps of summer’s morning mist lingering above vineyards vast and lush. Chance-opportunities to witness grape harvest at dawn from overhead. The brisk cool of autumn as vines’ leaves turn golden and red. The crisp of morning in winter, dormant vines row-upon-row, and snow-capped mountains circle the valley. Then wildflowers in bloom after early spring rains.

The valley’s delightful, year-round climate makes it possible for hot air balloon companies like A Grape Escape, California Dreamin’, D&D Ballooning, and Magical Adventures to launch year-round, 7 days a week including holidays (weather permitting) – floating quietly, just above the vineyards and to 2,000 feet. With no definitive line of perspective, the nature of hot air balloon flights is generally enjoyable, passive, and surreal. Because hot air balloons fly in Southern California’s inversion zone, temperatures aloft are typically as mild and comfortable as on the ground.

In Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, hot air balloons launch at sunrise; flights are approximately 1-hour. Local hot air balloon companies accommodate as few as 2 passengers for a romantic flight, or up to 12 or 14 with families, friends, and coworkers. Fleets of multiple hot air balloons accommodate larger groups up to 40 passengers. Many hot air balloon companies offer special celebration packages, sparkling wine toasts, and certificates of flight.

2-A Tandem Skydive at Lake Elsinore

North of Temecula, Skydive Elsinore is located next to Southern California’s largest natural lake and the rustic Ortega foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains. Outfitted in a jumpsuit, goggles, altimeter, and harness that secures one to the jumpmaster, tandem skydiving here via a dual harness system is a way to experience the thrill of freefall – the wind rushing and the sense of speed – and flying, then pulling the student ripcord of a parachute made for two.

Before taking off and jumping from an altitude of about 12,500 feet, tandem skydivers receive specific training. From exiting the aircraft and arching one’s body in freefall, to familiarization with the workings of the tandem parachute, and how to pull the ripcord at the right altitude (if the jumper chooses not to, the instructor pulls it).

With tandem skydiving, freefall averages 120 miles-per-hour or 200 feet-per-second. Few jumpers feel anything but exhilaration after leaving the door of the aircraft. While breathing is possible, the excitement of the tandem skydive typically leaves jumpers breathless. Freefalls generally last about 60 seconds.

3-Indoor Skydiving at Perris Skyventure

A state-of-the-art, 96-foot-tall, vertical wind tunnel makes indoor skydiving and the sensation of freefall – without an airplane – possible. Geared up in a jumpsuit, helmet, and earplugs, participants generally become familiar with floating on the powerful column of air and with the art of indoor skydiving in a few minutes.

The skydiving wind tunnel is a pressurized room consisting of two compartments. The first is the antechamber, the waiting room; the other is the chamber where the wind flows. Typical flying sessions are between 1 and 2 minutes; a 4-minute session is recommended for a more thorough flight experience. The number of sessions typically depends on fitness and experience. Small groups generally share 30 to 60 minutes.

An instructor supervises each group as wind tunnel flying varies slightly from skydiving. The airflow is custom-adjusted to the flyer’s body size and experience. Through hand signals, the instructor is available at all times to help with proper flying techniques and proper form. Also available is a “Sensory Overload” package that includes 2 minutes of wind tunnel time and a tandem skydive in a single day.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors is online at VisitTemecula.org; on Facebook, “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country”; and on Twitter, @Visit_Temecula. The Temecula Valley Visitors Center is open 7 days in Old Town Temecula, Third Street and Mercedes, adjacent Temecula Civic Center. For visitor information and assistance, call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.

25 Irresistible Reasons to Midweek, Summer Vacation in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country 

“Hotels, motels, and resorts are all generally ‘more affordable’ midweek (Sunday night through Thursday night) and recreation like wine country tours, hot air balloon flights, and golf generally is, too. That is one of 25 great reasons to midweek, summer vacation in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country,” explains Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “The advantages and opportunities are compelling from hip, historic, and fun Downtown Old Town Temecula; and relaxed, gracious, and friendly Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country; to upscale and exciting Pechanga Resort & Casino. Accommodations provide a satisfying experience while travelling; there is a wide variety of things to experience; and we’re just about 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert, and 11⁄2 hours from Los Angeles.”

1. More Affordable Midweek Hotel Accommodations and Recreation

Not only are lodging rates at Temecula’s 15 hotels, motels, and resorts typically lower midweek (versus weekends) but recreation costs like wine country tours, hot air balloon flights, and golf are generally, more affordable, too. For lodging reservations, go to VisitTemecula.org

2. Weekday Advantages in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

Weekdays naturally provide greater opportunities for appreciating approximately 40 award-winning Temecula Valley So Cal wineries’ individual styles at a more leisurely pace. Less-busy weekdays are especially wonderful for visiting extremely popular wineries like Callaway, Leoness, Mount Palomar, Ponte, South Coast, Thornton, Wiens, and Wilson Creek.

At all Temecula Valley wineries midweek, the greatest bonus is the potential for memorable conversations with winery family-members or winemakers. Most wineries are family-owned and open daily for impromptu, winery-to-winery wine-tasting 

3. Perfect Midway, Midweek Stay-Over: From Los Angeles or Orange County En Route to San Diego

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country and all that Old Town Temecula and Pechanga Resort & Casino have to offer make for fun days and nights on a Southern California vacation. Schedule a midweek, ‘stay and play’ detour en route from Los Angeles or Orange County to San Diego.

4. Ringo Starr and Other Midweek, Summer Concerts at Pechanga Resort & Casino

Celebrate summer at Pechanga’s midweek concerts with respected musician and performer Gary V of the Phillippine recording scene; the living legend, beloved drummer of the Beatles, Ringo Starr; and uniquely contemporary, country music artist, Dierks Bentley.

5. More Romance Midweek

Less hustle, less bustle, means more romance midweek in the Old Town Temecula dining-shopping-entertainment district, in welcoming Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, and at intriguing Pechanga Resort & Casino.

6. Easier Weekday, Golf Tee-Time Availability

Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country’s impressive golf courses often offer better tee-time availability weekdays. Extend your stay and celebrate the richness of the game on all seven, local courses: Journey at Pechanga, Temecula Creek Inn, Cross Creek, The Legends, Red Hawk, The Golf Club at Rancho California, and Pala Mesa.

7. New Bingo Matinees and Evenings – Midweek at Pechanga Resort & Casino

Pechanga Resort & Casino’s beautiful Grand Ballroom serves as bingo hall Monday through Thursday afternoons and evenings. Inquire about advance events, electronic buy-in, paper buy-in, booster upgrades, and add-ons.

8. More Midweek Attention Along Old Town Temecula’s Tasting Trail

Leisurely weekdays mean more attention in Old Town’s palate-pleasing artisan and specialty-food shops, and wine tasting rooms. Linger at Temecula Olive Oil Company, Temecula Valley Cheese Company, Old Town Spice Merchants, Old Town Root Beer Company, Old Town Sweet Shop, and the Lorimar Winery Old Town Tasting Room.

9. More Affordable Group Hotel Rates Midweek

Most Temecula hotels offer special midweek (better-than-weekend) group rates with reservations for 10 guestrooms or more. Organize an extended get-together with friends, rendezvous with coworkers (past or present), or reunion with family and share the Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country experience Sunday through Thursday. For group hotel rates, contact Visit Temecula sales at 951/491-6085 

10. The Natural Beauty of Overnight Packages at Temecula Creek Inn

Secluded and tranquil, Temecula Creek Inn offers an Unlimited Golf Package with play on TCIs highly rated courses, a Wine Country Romance Package, a Welcome to Wine Country Package, and Chauffeured Wine Country Getaway Package 

11. Intriguing Packages at Embassy Suites – Temecula Valley Wine Country

Embassy Suites offers an intriguing quartet of accommodations-and-activities packages. Experience Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country with the Jeep and Wine Country Tour Package. Escape to beautiful greens and fairways with the Red Hawk Golf Club Package. Know a sweet rendezvous with the Romance Package and relax your senses with the Spa Package.

12. Four Diamond Accommodations and an Exciting Variety of Packages at Pechanga Resort & Casino

Pechanga offers Four Diamond overnight comfort and luxury, and hotel packages like Journey to Golf with golfing at Journey at Pechanga – one of California’s finest courses; Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country Tour packages with Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle or Temecula Valley Trolley, or as an ultimately memorable Hot Air Balloon Tour; and Rest and Relax Massage and Couples-at-Spa-Pechanga Packages. Inquire also about Room and Show packages for specific summer concerts.

13. Trio of Fun Packages at Fairfield Inn & Suites Temecula

Stay at Temecula’s Fairfield and experience Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country three, fun ways: A Grape Escape Hot Air Balloon Flight Package, Grapeline Wine Country Tour Package, or Sunrider Jeep Tour Wine Country Package.

 14. Stay-and-Play Packages at Holiday Inn Express - Temecula

With contemporary accommodations and good value in uptown Temecula, Holiday Inn Express offers a Golf Package with golfing at the vacation-worthy Cross Creek or The Legends golf courses; a fun, Grapeline Wine Country Tour Package; and a Temecula Valley Hot Air Balloon Adventure Package with California Dreamin’.

15. Discounted Rates for Multi-Night Stays at Ramada Old Town Temecula

Stay just south of Old Town Temecula at the Ramada for 2 nights and enjoy a 15% discount, or stay 3 nights and save even more with a 20% discount 

16. Upgraded and Renovated Embassy Suites – Temecula Valley Wine Country

Extensive upgrades and renovations are complete at Embassy Suites – Temecula Valley Wine Country. Guest suites have new carpeting, bedding, and high-definition 37-inch flat-panel TVs. The expansive outdoor area now features enhanced landscaping and a newly converted salt-water swimming pool; and the hotel boasts a new restaurant and sports bar.

17. Remodeled and Refreshed Hampton Inn & Suites - Temecula

Now even more welcoming and traveler-friendly is uptown Temecula’s Hampton Inn & Suites. The lobby, breakfast room, and fitness center are remodeled and expanded.

18. Newly Renovated Extended Stay America – Temecula Valley Wine Country

Described as “incredibly comfortable” and featuring fully equipped kitchens and plenty of space, all of Extended Stay’s rooms are newly renovated. New flooring, fresh paint, upgraded bedding, and flat screen TVs make for a better stay in uptown Temecula.

19. Newly Remodeled and Refreshed Ramada Old Town Temecula

The newly remodeled Ramada has a fresh welcoming lobby and guest rooms are freshly painted and feature new bedding.

20. Upgrades in Progress at Best Western Country Inn

Uptown Temecula’s Best Western is upgrading its guest rooms and expanding the breakfast room. The country-style inn is conveniently located to Old Town, The Promenade, Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino.

21. Family-Friendly Temecula Lodging

For families of all ages on summer vacation, a hotel swimming pool and complimentary morning breakfast are prime amenities. Enjoy them at Quality Inn Wine Country, La Quinta Inn & Suites Temecula, Fairfield Inn & Suites Temecula, Holiday Inn Express-Temecula, Best Western Country Inn Temecula, SpringHill Suites Temecula Valley Wine Country, Hampton Inn & Suites Temecula, Embassy Suites Temecula Valley Wine Country, Rodeway Inn, and Ramada Old Town Temecula. Another option with a swimming pool is Motel 6 next to Sam Hicks Monument Park and the Temecula Valley Museum. Helpful note: the Rodeway Inn, located on Old Town Front Street, is within walking distance to fun and educational, Pennypickle’s Workshop, Temecula Children’s Museum.

22. Pet-Friendly Temecula Lodging

Visitors with pets reserve and enjoy pet-friendly accommodations at Quality Inn Wine Country, La Quinta Inn & Suites Temecula, Extended Stay America – Temecula Wine Country, Motel 6 Temecula – Rancho California, and Temecula Creek Inn.

23. The Ease and Excellence of Hotels’ On-Site Restaurants

Temecula Creek Inn has the memorable Temet Grill restaurant featuring wine country cuisine. Embassy Suites – Temecula Valley Wine Country has the new Sweet Spot Sports Bar and Grille. Meanwhile Pechanga Resort & Casino hosts Bamboo, Blazing Noodles, The Great Oak fine dining steakhouse, Journey’s End in the golf course club house, Kelsey’s ale house, Paisano’s Italian, and the Seafood Grotto, plus Pechanga Café, The Pechanga Buffet, and Temptations Food Walk.

24. The Wonderful Indulgence of Room Service

Especially on weeknights (dinner in the room) and weekday mornings (breakfast in bed), hotel room service can be a welcome indulgence. Catering to guests’ culinary whims is in-room dining at Temecula Creek Inn, Embassy Suites – Temecula Valley Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino.

25. Opportunity to Stay Historic at the Palomar Inn Hotel

Located in the heart of Old Town Temecula, the Palomar is a 10-room, historical landmark built in the late 1920s. From here, do a self-guided Old Town historic walking tour arch-to-arch; visit the They Passed This Way Monument; shop for antiques and collectibles; and dine alfresco at Old Town’s bistros like Front Street Bar & Grill, Palumbo’s Ristorante, and Soro’s Mediterranean Grill.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau (TVCVB), the regions’ official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors, is online at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. The TVCVB Visitors Center is open 7 days in Old Town Temecula, Third Street and Mercedes next to Temecula Civic Center. For more information and assistance, visitors may call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.

Early Summer's Best Places to Shop in Temecula Valley

“Among many great reasons to vacation in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, is the great variety of fun shopping adventures – from Downtown Old Town Temecula to Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, the Promenade Temecula, and Lake Elsinore Outlets, too,” shares Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Get ready for Southern California’s longest season with an early summer stay and explore Temecula Valley’s best places to shop. From specialty artisan foods and the season’s top fashions, to perfect accents and favorite wines for summer entertaining and celebrations. For greater, individual attention – and special, mid-week hotel rates – plan your stay for Sunday through Thursday and more fully enjoy Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino.” The casual, picturesque valley is 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert; 11⁄2 hours from Los Angeles.

Old Town Temecula: Sensational for foodies and others, too.

Revel in early summer at the 60+ specialty stores of the hip and historic, 12-block, Old Town Temecula shopping-dining-entertainment district. Temecula Olive Oil Company is an excellent first stop. Taste and learn at the (complimentary daily) olive oil and balsamic vinegar, tasting bar – actually an intriguing and informative mini-class in food ideas. Then gather oils, vinegars, peppercorns, herbs, mustard, rubs, and sauces for simple and delicious, summer meals to make at home. Purchase also a fresh baguette and a bottle of ‘Just Dip It’ to enjoy back at the hotel.

At Old Town Spice Merchants, the shelves hold an amazing variety of spices, sea-salts, and teas. Sample the fresh-brewed tea-of-the-day. Summer sensations include strawberry-kiwi, a refreshing herbal detox tea, and cranberry bog black tea. Also consider the savory barbecue rubs like Old Town mesquite, Temecula steak rub, and coffee barbecue.

Old Town Sweet Shop is known for its fresh-made fudge (free samples daily), great chocolate-lovers’ selection of chocolates and truffles, and incredible assortment of nostalgic, novelty candy. Other treats include twenty rotating flavors of hand-scooped ice cream. Old Town Root Beer Company features over 300 varieties of sodas, root beers, and ginger ales. Look for novelty flavors like ‘bacon’ and ‘peanut butter and jelly,’ too.

Step into charming Temecula Lavender Company for locally grown, pure, small-batch, signature lavender products for bath, body, and home. Sample lavender lotions; especially nice for summer is the lavender-lemon salt scrub. Down Front Street, find Old California Lavender with locally grown and made lavender lotions and oils, and flea-repellent pet products.

One of Old Town’s favorite shopping destinations is The Farmer’s Wife; women love this store! Shop here for classic summer sandals and accessories; books and journals; home décor and garden accents. Just across the river from Old Town Temecula is Granny’s Attic. Discover collectibles, antiques, vintage clothing, and one-of-a-kind American furniture dating to the 1800s.

All that shopping surely inspires an appetite. Dine alfresco with award-winning Temecula Valley So Cal wines at Old Town restaurants and bistros. Front Street Bar & Grill has specialties like Irish nachos, legendary Reuben sandwich, gourmet bleu-cheese burger, and jambalaya. For salad Caprese, thin-crust Margherita pizza, and classic lasagna, experience Palumbo’s Ristorante; tabouleh, tzaziki, falafel, and kabobs – Soros’s Mediterranean Grill; and for savory barbecue, Sweet Lumpy’s. 

Save room for fresh-brewed coffee and classic, old-fashioned dessert made-from-scratch at Robin’s Nest. Temptations include treats like red velvet cake, German chocolate cake, carrot cake, lemon bars, and lemon meringue pie.

Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country: Sure palate pleasers and more.

Early summer visitors to gracious and friendly, Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country are easily enchanted by the quality, award-winning wines and unique merchandise at the valley’s approximately 40 wineries. Taste wines and purchase favorites for enjoying at home, for featuring when entertaining, and for sharing with friends.

For light, refreshing wines to enjoy with summertime picnics, consider the 2011 Pinot Grigio at Cougar Winery; and the newly released Mousseux muscat sparkling wine at Oak Mountain Winery. For sparkling wines to toast college graduations, anniversaries, and the 4^th of July, consider the sparkling wine at Lorimar Winery and the brut champenoise at Briar Rose.

Luscious red wines for Father’s Day and summer barbecues with steaks or classic burgers, include the 2008 Zinfandel at Mount Palomar Winery; and the 2005 Meritage at Baily Vineyard & Winery. (Among wine country dining: Mount Palomar has Shorty’s Bistro; Baily, Carol’s Restaurant.) 

Vindemia Vineyard & Winery is a must stop. Wine tasting is from Friday to Sunday from 11 am-5 pm. You can also arrange for a hot air balloon flight, daily, from here at web site www.californiadreamin.com. Located at 33133 Vista del Monte Road, Temecula 92591; 951-699-0601

Much to the delight of enthusiastic shoppers, most of Temecula Valley So Cal wineries host gift areas or winery gift shops. At Ponte Family Estate Winery – the stately barn with the wrap-around porch – the Ponte Marketplace is especially popular for its unique dipping oils, wine accessories, and home accents. On-site is alfresco dining at The Restaurant at Ponte. 

The gift boutique at Tuscan-inspired South Coast Winery Resort & Spa features summer resort wear like dresses, jeans, and trendy tops; plus home décor and lighting, and rustic taper candles in wine-themed colors. On-site are indoor and outdoor dining at the Vineyard Rose.

Maurice Car’rie Winery is a charming, Victorian-style farmhouse. The gift shop features a great variety of wine accessories, wine-related and wine-themed items. Deli items are also available to enjoy in the picnic area.

At Callaway Vineyard & Winery, summer 2012 will include the debut of the new visitor center, gift shop, and tasting room. The Callaway gift shop has long been recognized for its beautifully displayed merchandise ranging from wine-related accessories to seasonal offerings like bright, summer tableware, garden décor, and fun jewelry. On-site is Meritage Restaurant with stunning vineyard views. 

Promenade Temecula: Stylish, cool, and looking good.

The Promenade Temecula is the perfect summertime destination for shoppers of all ages. With a distinctive indoor/outdoor lifestyle layout featuring some of today’s most sought-after stores and a wide variety of unique restaurants, the shopping center offers an unparalleled experience for visitors. 

With more than 170 specialty stores to choose from, guests may enjoy a variety of high-end shopping and family fun. Shoppers can stop by to pick up the latest summer trends at Macy’s, H&M or the Lemonchello Boutique; select a timeless piece at Coach; or check out the latest technology to capture those summer memories at the Apple store. Later guests are invited to relax and savor a delicious summer meal at one of Promenade Temecula’s outstanding selection of restaurants, including Lazy Dog Café, PF Chang’s China Bistro, and Yard House. 

Treat yourself, family, and friends to the newest summer blockbuster at Edwards 15 Cinemas, or enjoy the fine Southern California weather by spending time in the center’s unique open-air Main Street-style plaza. The outdoor shopping plaza features a full array of restaurants and specialty shops including Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn.

Guests are also invited to visit the newly installed Wine Walk, an interactive wine country experience created especially for Promenade Temecula guests. This unique installation features six of the most well-respected Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country vineyards including Briar Rose Winery, Gershon Bachus Vintners, Leoness Cellars, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, and Wilson Creek Winery. 

Promenade Temecula also hosts a wide variety of exciting events throughout the summer, including family-friendly gatherings and a summer-concert series.

Lake Elsinore Outlets: The delights of discounts.

At the northwest corner of the valley is Lake Elsinore Outlets with 50+ discounted and factory stores. Shop popular outlets like Bath & Body Works, Billabong, GAP, Guess, Levi’s, O’Neill, OshKosh, and Pacific Sunwear. For name-brand footwear, explore Bass, Nike, Reebok, SKEECHERS, and Vans.

Inquire in advance about the Lake Elsinore Outlets ‘Shop and Play’ package that includes special savings and souvenirs, and two tickets to a Storm baseball game. The minor league team is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors, is online at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. The Temecula Valley CVB Visitors Center is open 7 days in Old Town Temecula at Third Street and Mercedes, adjacent the Temecula Civic Center. For more information and assistance, visitors may also call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.

Thornton Winery

Opened in 1988, and nestled in the heart of the Temecula Valley Wine Country, a visit to this charming winery that combines old world style with new world taste, is a must. Helre, award-winning and premium varietal wines have won numerous awards, and the Methode Champenoise process that is used has proven to be the best for producing fine quality Sparkling Wine/Champagne. Many of the award-winning varietals emulate classic wine styles of the Mediterranean and Rhone regions.

During our wine tasting tour, we found wines with great freshness and flavor produced using whole cluster pressing, extensive blending, barrel aging, and different vinification techniques -- all explained by an excellent tour guide.

From the outside, we were also impressed -- for the elegant French-style chateau overlooking vineyards of the Temecula Valley, is incredible beautiful and I couldn't stop taking photos of the Cafe Champagne, the breathtaking Fountain terrace, Herb Garden where the chef collects fresh herbs for his delicious meals, and the indoor Gift Shop and Champagne Lounge. The restaurant has won a Five Star Award for its "Contemporary Fusion Cuisine," and I can't wait to eat there again - and again, for the food was extraorldinary and served in beautiful dishes.

Come even if you don't drink wine -- for the Thornton Winery is the site for the popular Champagne Jazz concert series, scheduled from April through October -- performed on the beaugtiful Fountain Terrace, the winery's intimate outdoor setting. And, this is a great place for weddings, banquets and winery tours.

Location: 32575 Rancho California Road, Temecula 92591, PO Box 9008. Winery (951) 699-0099. E-mail: info@thorntonwine.com. www.thorntonwine.com

Additional Wineries in Old Town Temecula, established in 1859, include:

Longshadow Ranch Winery - 951-240-5177

Lorimar Wines & Tasting Room - 951-240-5177

Villa de Calabro Winery & Olive Oil Co. - 951-695-4525

Granny's Attic & Old Town Antique Faire

If you love collecting antiques - or just looking at some real oldies - check out Granny's Attic where you'll fnd 30,000 square feet of collectibles, 200 shops filled with antipques; old time sodas and candies, and furniture and clock repair. At Old Town Antique Faire, check out the vintage collectibles, Victorian apparel and accessories, and one-of-a-kind collectors' items.

Granny's Attic is located at 28450 Felix Valdez, Temecula, CA 92590; 951-699-9449. Web site www.mygrannysattic.net.

Old Town Antique Faire is at 28601 Front Street, Temecula, CA 92590; 951-694-8786.

Kidspace Children's Museum

Kidspace is a unique children's museum that features exhibits, programs and activities over more than four acres of indoor and outdoor space. Although my children weren't along with us on this trip, I loved the place. It encourages a child's growth and development through explorations of the environment, investigations in science, and artistic forms of expression that captivate the inquisitive and grown minds of children ages 1-10. And, I have to add, that it enriched me, too, as I watched dozens of children enjoying themselves tremendously.

Kidspace is an interactive learning environment that is fun for everyone. With more than 20 exhibits to explore, activities of learning and discovery take place side by side with the creativity of play. Some of the exhibits include:

Raindrop Climber -- this enclosed glass climber soars 40 feet into the air, with climbing platforms sculpted into the form of raindrops.

The Dig -- Uncover plant and animal fossils native to the Pasadena Arroyo Seco

Trike Tracks - follow the marked routes on special Kidspace tricycles (I even spotted an adult trying to join in the fun)

Interpretive Arroyo -- a mini model of Pasadena's own Arroyo Seco with gentle, rolling water and native plant life for kids to explore and discover

Nature Exchange -- bring samples of rocks, plant life, soil, or other natural objects to trade at the Kidspace Nature Exchange. Kids can share their knowledge of the object to earn points on their Nature Exchange Membership Card to trade for new items or artifacts.

Bugsy's Diner - learn about the anatomy and feeding habits of insects

Bug Collection - get up close and personal with over 20 species of live exotic insects from spiders to hissing cockroaches to beetles and more

Harvest Corner -- Get your hands dirty in the vegetable garden as you learn how food grows.

Opening Summer 2012 is Newton's Physics Forest - an interactive world of physics and green space created to inspire and encourage young scientists. It is designed to complement the Museum's established and celebrated natural science program and is built outdoors in the beautiful natural setting of the Arroyo Seco. From ball drop launchers, giant levers and swiveling kaleidoscopes, there will be activities to touch, teach and ignite children's love of science.

Kidspace is also open for private events. Rental fees include tables, chairs, standard lighting and many creative decor packages are available. Also offered is specialized educational programming, such as 'learn n play team building," for your next forporate program focusing on leadership development, teamwork, or general ice-breaker activities and entertainment. On-site catering is also available.

Regularly scheduled programs take place. For details and the latest calender of events, check out web site www.kidspacemuseum.org.

Location: 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103. 626-449-9144; FAX 626-449-9985

Six Ways to Go Au Natural in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country

“Nothing recharges one’s spirit like exercise outdoors in the natural environment surrounded by thousands of acres of rolling hills, vineyards, and spectacular views. Midweek vacations in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country provide beautiful advantages and opportunities to get out, get back to nature, and experience fresh air, big skies, and inspiration. Enjoy six ways to go au natural, plus special mid-week hotel rates Sunday through Thursday,” shares Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. The casual, picturesque valley includes Downtown, Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley So Cal Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino; and is 1 hour from Orange County and Palm Desert; and 11⁄2 hours from Los Angeles.

1. Explore the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

Hikers and nature enthusiasts enjoy some of California’s rarest landscapes by exploring 40 miles of trails (for the novice, advanced, and even wheelchair-friendly) at the 8,300-acre Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. The 3,000-acre rolling grassland is widely regarded as one of California’s finest, remaining, native bunchgrass prairie. Coast live oak woodlands and the rare, ancient Engelmann oak savanna are home to acorn woodpeckers, red-shouldered hawks, and great horned owls. Meanwhile, patches of coastal sage scrub are home to distinguished, horned lizards. Throughout spring, look for mule deer, long-eared cousins to moose and elk.

Access to trails is daily throughout the year, from sunrise to sunset. Two adobe structures on the Reserve date back to 1846 and once served as bunkhouses for cowboys. Private, naturalist-led hikes are available by advance reservation for groups of 12 people or more.

2. Golf Journey at Pechanga

Widely recognized as one of the finest golf courses in California, the Arthur-Hills designed, Journey at Pechanga, snakes through native canyons and along the boulder-strewn mountain, rising and falling 300 feet in 18 holes. Design and construction of the course on nearly 300 acres of ancestral land, preserved almost all of the mature, native oak trees including the ancient Great Oak visible from the back nine. Estimated at 850-1,500 years-old, it is one of the oldest, coast live oak trees in the world. Journey’s signature hole 6 has a breathtaking 175-foot drop – the largest elevation drop on a California course.

 Journey’s amenities include a pro shop, driving range, locker rooms, pro lessons, tournaments, the 527-guestroom Pechanga Resort & Casino, golf packages, Journey’s End restaurant, Journey ala Carte snack bar, and Journey’s Lounge.

3. Saddle-up for a Horseback Ride through the Vineyards

A guided, horseback ride through the vineyards with Wine Country Trails by Horseback is an ideal way to experience Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country’s natural richness first-hand. Rolling hills of trellised vines comprise vast vineyard acreage making for a scenic, leisurely tour. Rides are on quality, well-seasoned horses in the early morning when dew is still fresh on the vines; in the afternoon with gentle ocean breezes; and in the evening with the setting sun as a backdrop.

Wine Country Trails by Horseback offers packages combining features such as horseback tour, wine tasting, and gourmet dinner.

4. Hike the High-water Lakeview Loop Trail

Hiking boots and plenty of water are requisites for hiking the High-water Lakeview Loop Trail at Southern California’s largest reservoir, 4,500-acre, Diamond Valley Lake. Located in what is known as the Valley of the Mastodons (for the fossils unearthed on-site during construction), the 21.8-mile trail loops around the lake over three dams and offers hikers incredible lake views and vistas. 

Nearby is the Western Science Center, home to the exciting artifacts and Ice Age fossils found in the Diamond Lake area. Mastodons and mammoths are hallmarks of the LEED-certified Center’s collection. 

5. Golf Temecula Creek Inn

Nestled against the Rainbow Gap – one of Temecula Valley’s most recognized geographic features – Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country’s original, prestigious course, features 27 holes of championship golf surrounded by 350 acres of rugged, natural beauty. With course designs by Ted Robinson Sr., and Dick Rosen; and a coveted 4-Star rating in Golf Digest’s Places to Play guide, each of Temecula Creek Inn’s distinctive nines offers a secluded layout where the fairways are lined with century-old oaks and towering sycamores. From the traditional adjoining fairways of the Creek Course, to the scenic beauty of the Oaks Course, to the dramatic elevation changes of the precision-demanding Stonehouse Course, each serves up challenge and reward. Well-marked trails wrap around the resort, leading hikers and joggers on morning and late afternoon jaunts; and birdwatchers revel in watching majestic, Red Tail Hawks soar high above.

Temecula Creek Inn’s amenities include a pro shop, driving range, pro lessons, tournaments, 130-guestroom Temecula Creek Inn, golf packages, and the Temet Grill restaurant and lounge.

6. Watch Solar Cup Boats on the Water

Just east of Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country and surrounded by rolling hills of chaparral, is 1400-acre Lake Skinner – home to the annual Solar Cup solar-powered boat race, the largest in the United States. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the event, (May 18, 19, and 20) features single-seat boats each with an official skipper and sunlight as the only power source; qualifying events, endurance races, and sprint races.

Lake Skinner is also home to the annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival each June.

VisitTemecula.org is the official website of the Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau. The 501(c)6 non-profit organization stimulates tourism and economic activity, and is the region’s official resource for visitors.

Antique Shops Galore; Art & Collectible Shops; Craft & Gift Shops -- plus much more to see and do in Old Town Temecula.

Upcoming Events

With natural gifts of climate and geography, and bolstered by Pu’eska Mountain, the Rainbow Gap, and Margarita Gap, casual, picturesque Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country shares the richness of the valley with 2013 seasonal fests, festivals, and special events. Celebrated daily with the sunny, relaxed spirit that is synonymous with Southern California, each season has its distinctive splendor. Throughout the year, Downtown Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino welcome visitors with a unique variety of events. For the most robust experiences, visitors arrive days before festivals and events begin and extend their stay after. Special, midweek (better-than-weekend) hotel-motel-resort guestroom rates (Sunday-through-Thursday) provide appealing savings that can become resources for additional activities (hot-air-balloon flights, winery tour-and-tastings, golf) and for purchases of Temecula Valley goodness and greatness (premium, varietal wines and proprietary blends; artisan foods). The popular, boutique destination is 1-hour from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Desert; 11⁄2-hours from Los Angeles.

Transportation

The Grapeline Wine Country Shuttle

My partner and I had a fabulous day of visiting wineries and picturesque vineyards taking this shuttle. The operator described the countryside pluses, stopping many times to let us enjoy the fantastic views, and visited many excellent wineries along the way.

The Vineyard Picnic Tour includes wine tasting at four wineries, a gourmet picnic lunch and either an expert tasting presentation or a behind-the-scenes winery tour.

The Wine Shuttle, which we took, includes a flexible itinerary and generous winery discounts during the a-la-carte wine tasting adventure.

The Private Excursion customizes an itinerary that can include owner-hosted tastings, exclusive winemaker's dinners, and just about anything you can think of. Or, select one of the popular wine tasting packages and treat yourself to a carefree fun day.

All guests receive the Grapeline Value Passport - a bundle of exclusive offers from area wineries, restaurants and shops. The Shuttle also covers Paso Robles (805)239-4747; San Luis Obispo (805) 283-2765; Santa Barbara (888-894-6379 as well as Temecula (951-693-5755). For more information go to web site www.gogrape.com.

THOUSAND OAKS

More soon

TOMALES BAY

Nick’s Cove & Cottages Opens at Tomales Bay

Nick’s Cove, the beloved cabins and restaurant that delighted Highway One travelers with funky quarters, BBQ oysters, and the freshest seafood hauled in by local fishermen until 1999, has been lovingly brought back to life by Pat Kuleto, in partnership with acclaimed chef Mark Franz. Opened in summer 2007, the new Nick’s Cove & Cottages in Marshall feature luxury cottages located on or over the water, a 400-foot pier with docking for local fishermen, an artful array of antique boating memorabilia and the fully restored 130-seat, indoor/outdoor Nick’s Cove restaurant with its spectacular views of Tomales Bay, long celebrated as one of the California coast’s most pristine settings.

For more information call (415) 663-1033, (866) 63-NICKS, or go to web site www.nickscove.com.

TRUCKEE

Where to Eat

Squeeze In

Even if you have to go out of your way, GO! This restaurant is fantastic, inexpensive, and a real treat. If you love omelettes, you'll find these are the best you ever tasted. The crab omelette is made with 'real' crab meat and so big and tasty that I bet you won't be able to finish it. Ask for a take-out bag & enjoy it later in the day or the next morning. I did. The menu is so huge that you'll spend at least ten minutes trying to figure out what to order because there's such a great selection. The servers are friendly and the atmosphere just plain fun.

The restaurant's business card and menu states: "You'll love our food or it's free!" I'm willing to bet that no one ever feels it's not excellent and the restaurant's brag, "Besst Omelettes on the Planet" -- in my opinion although I haven't been to countless restaurants for omelettes -- is true. What I tried WAS the best!

Location: Historic Downtown Truckee, 10060 Dunner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161. Web site: Squeeze.In.com.

VISALIA

More soon!

WALNUT CREEK

Walnut Creek Holiday Inn Express Opens with Distinctive Arts and Crafts-Inspired Décor

The new Holiday Inn Express in Walnut Creek was upgraded to fit the tastes and needs of today’s traveler. The interiors are influenced by the California Arts & Crafts movement, incorporating warm colors, comforting textures and natural-wood millwork. The hotel’s spacious public areas encourage socialization and relaxation. The Great Room features a conservatory with two-story windows, a library, leather sofas and an Internet kiosk with complimentary computer workstations. Guests can also enjoy the Breakfast Room, which is perfect for enjoying the hotel’s complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar. The hotel is minutes from downtown Walnut Creek, which offers upscale shopping and dining in a quaint village atmosphere. The 161-room hotel is near the Pleasant Hill BART station, where guests may board a train for a 37-minute trip to San Francisco.

WEST HOLLYWOOD

What to See & Do

West Hollywood has a Theme Song

West Hollywood is proud to unveil its new theme song, "Welcome Me Home (West Hollywood)." The song, by musician Kristy Hanson, won the Summer of Music original song contest after a judging process and public vote. "Welcome Me Home" was inspired by WeHo's warm and welcoming community and the freedom to be yourself and follow your dreams.

"Welcome Me Home (West Hollywood)" is available for free download on SoundCloud.

An L.A. girl by way of Ohio, Florida and Michigan, Hanson’s music has been featured on Clear Channel, XMU Radio, and radio stations across the country. She has performed at colleges and clubs around the US, including LA’s Hotel Café and New York’s Rockwood Music Hall. Before she hits the road again, Kristy is hard at work this fall on an EP with her indie rock side project, “East Paris,” and a solo EP of her new, loop-based pop songs.

Fashion's Night Out West Hollywood Recap

West Hollywood was once again the center of Fashion's Night Out in Southern California with prominent in-store events and a rockin' afterparty on The Sunset Strip at The Standard, Hollywood in West Hollywood.

Check out the West Hollywood Celebrates Fashion's Night Out video to get a glimpse of all the action. Or view pictures from visitwesthollywood.us4.list-manage.comafterparty at The Standard.

West Hollywood Marketing & Visitors Bureau · 8687 Melrose AVE STE M38 · West Hollywood, Ca 90069

Where to Eat

La Boheme Launched

Cafe La Boheme has undergone a complete transformation. The new restaurant will be more relaxed, informal, vibrant, unpretentious and, of course, tasty. The only returning elements are the gorgeous chandeliers of course. "They were just too amazing to discard, notes General Manager Brian O'Connor." "We looked around and realized that you could still have fun dining under a chandelier...that about wraps up our new vibe, " he notes.

With Executive Chef Christine Banta still guiding the kitchen, and famed restaurant designer Margaret O'Brien (recent winner of Angeleno's Best Restaurant Design for Republic) back to recreate the new restaurant, Cafe La Boheme will provide great food that can be enjoyed in a more casual environment. "The menu will be multi-faceted--lots of choices, from entrees to hot and cold appetizers and noodles and rice dishes," explains Banta. With a classical French background but coming from a Japanese/American family, Banta’s menu will reflect her many influences. “We’ve stripped things down this time around,” she explains. “The plating will be more rustic and less technical, but definitely still beautiful. Presentation is important, but food is definitely the focus.”

Stand-out dishes will range from an Octopus Salad featuring creamy sesame soy vinaigrette to Spicy Albacore soy wrap with lettuces, crispy shallots and shiso to a Warm Sliced Sirloin Salad with red onion, cilantro, cucumber and lime jalapeno vinaigrette. Other standouts to look forward to include Edamame Pesto Fettuccine, Catfish with black rice, roasted corn, baby zucchini and lemongrass amazu; Rocky Chicken Breast with whole grain mustard sauce, baby vegetables with garlic mashed potatoes; Miso-glazed Salmon with hon shimeji bamboo rice and spinach sauce; Roasted Beets with avocado, smoked trout and carrot ginger vinaigrette, and of course a 55-Day Dry-Aged Steak.

The original restaurant was a pioneer in restaurant design, and the new Cafe La Boheme will be equally as impressive and dynamic. So what is out? The tablecloths are gone. The tromp e'loile is gone. The velvet, jewel tones and mosaics are gone. And what is in? More private booths. Wicker. A lush lounge/bar. New paintings. New attitude. “We’ve taught the old dog a new trick,” explains O’Brien. “It is as wild and wonderful as before, but in a completely new light. The redesigned space is about action and color with formal structure rejected. The idea this time around was to make a change of costume in tune with today—the objective is to express!”

In addition to the menu and design changes, the bar has been completely re-done and expanded. “We want this to become a real neighborhood/after-work meeting place,” explains Brian O’Connor. “The whole idea this time around is to think of it as a real bar. It is its own experience. We will be serving a ‘snack menu’ which will feature smaller portions off the main menu and there is great seating and vibe overlooking the restaurant. It will definitely be a great place to hang-out early until late.”

Cafe La Boheme is located at: 8400 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069. 323-848-2360. Restaurant Hours: Sunday through Thursday: 5pm – 10pm. Friday and Saturday: 5pm – 11pm.

Brick+Mortar, Smoke

is a steakhouse with California-inspired fine dining dishes, most of which utilize the restaurant's mesquite wood-burning grill. Located at 9010 Melrose Ave. Open nightly for dinner 5 p.m. - 2 a.m. Happy Hour is offered Mon - Fri 5 - 7 p.m. in the bar area. For reservations call (310) 385-2222.

An intimate charcuterie house and wine bar, Gorge offers a menu ranging from house-made sausages to fromage de tete to Red Snapper terrine. Located at 8917 Sunset Blvd. Open Mon - Sat 6 p.m. - midnight. For reservations call (310) 657-MEAT(6320).

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village Launches “Sustained Living” Menus

Director of Nutrition Paulette Lambert and Executive Chef Alex La Motte have created Sustained Living menus, featured in multiple dining outlets at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. Sustained Living dishes were created to give guests balanced, delicious dining options to maintain a healthy lifestyle with ease.

Registered Dietician Paulette Lambert serves as Director of Nutrition at California Health and Longevity Institute (CHLI), Four Seasons’ on-property comprehensive health and wellness center. The new healthy and nutritious menus are based on California Health and Longevity Institute’s nutrition philosophy of plant-based meals with whole grain, high fiber carbohydrates and lean animal protein. Based on the Harvard School of Public Health’s nutrition and diet studies, this combination of foods aids in chronic disease prevention and improves overall health.

Sustained Living menu items range from 120 – 550 calories and are available on the breakfast and lunch menus in The Lobby Lounge, all-day menu in The Spa, and will eventually appear on the Hotel’s room service menus as well. Sustained Living breakfast options include Ancient Grain Porridge with barley, quinoa, steel cut oats, non-fat Greek yogurt, peaches and pecans (370 calories); and 9 Grain French Toast with wild blueberry compote and assorted berries (370 calories). Lunch dishes feature Mushroom and Kale Calzone with goat milk ricotta, kale pesto, eggplant, squash, whole grain crust, and a baby kale salad (520 calories); Quinoa and Heirloom Beans with Mohr Fry Calypso beans, garden beets, local peas, cotija cheese, and green harissa (465 calories); and Chilled Thai Coconut Curry Carrot Soup with a pine nut and citrus relish (120 calories).

For dining reservations please contact Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village at 818-575-3000 or visit the website at www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage.

About Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village
As the world’s leading operator of luxury hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts currently manages 91 properties in 37 countries.  Open since 2006, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village provides a preferred address for both business and leisure travelers, and the highly personalized, anticipatory service that Four Seasons guests expect and value around the world.  The Los Angeles Valley hotel features 269 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, 40,000 square-foot award-winning spa, and state-of-the-art California Health and Longevity Institute on 20 acres of lush grounds. For more information on Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California, visit www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage.

WOODLAND HILLS

Woodland Hill Ice Skating

Owned and operated by Special Ice, Woodland Hills Ice features over 7,000 square feet of 100% real ice, a 100x60 overhead tent structure, and offers the best outdoor skating in the San Fernando Valley. The facility will be open for daily public skating seven-days a week, including extended holiday hours. In addition, the facility will offer learn to skate classes, private instruction, birthday party & event packages, fundraising opportunities, film rentals and sponsorship opportunities.

Woodland Hills Ice is located in the Macy’s parking lot of the Westfield Promenade at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91367. Season seven prices are $13 for child admission including rental and $15 for adult admission including rental. Multiple session punch cards will also be available for purchase.

For additional information, hours and pricing, visitwww.woodlandhillsice.com.

YOSEMITE

What to See & Do

For more information on Yosemite's Vintners‚ Holidays at The Ahwahnee or to make reservations, call 801-559-4949 or visit www.YosemitePark.com/Vintners.

ABOUT THE AHWAHNEE
The Ahwahnee, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel featuring rustic architecture with Native American, Middle Eastern and Art and Crafts design elements, is located in scenic Yosemite National Park, which is home to stunning natural beauty, year-round activities and historic charm. The Ahwahnee was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and in 1987 it was listed as a National Historic Landmark. Condé Nast Traveler magazine recognized The Ahwahnee in the 2010  'Reader's Choice Awards' as one of the top 100 resorts in the United States.

For more information, visit www.YosemitePark.com/Ahwahnee.

Timberline Gallery & Gallery Yosemite “Rocks” the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary

Events of all kinds help to celebrate the occasion of the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary both inside Yosemite and in the surrounding gateway communities.

The southern gateway, known as California’s Gateway to Yosemite, is honoring the anniversary with many local events. Yosemite “Rocks” – an Artistic Learning Series is the first to kick off the New Year. Gallery Yosemite and Timberline Gallery will host this series on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 2 pm to 4 pm thru September. This is a free event at the galleries in Oakhurst.

“The story of the Yosemite Grant is a very exciting one” says De Karlen - a former National Park Service Ranger. “For the most part, it started around the campfire in Wawona. Now, 150 years later, we are the keepers of this information and need to pass it on!”

De is very passionate about the Park and preserving its history. She wants everyone to know the history as well as the icons. “The more we learn, the more we can share and get others excited about this national treasure” De continues, “especially during this monumental anniversary year.”

For more event information go to the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau website at www.yosemitethisyear.com and for more information on the Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary go to www.nps.gov/yose/anniversary.

Evergreen Lodge Offers New Adventure Tour

Evergreen Lodge at Yosemite has introduced the Rim of the Valley Snowshoe Adventure, a unique guided Yosemite snowshoe trip. This new guided adventure, provides Yosemite visitors with an unforgettable day of absolutely stunning vistas. The Rim of the Valley Snowshoe Adventure follows one of the prettiest trails to one of the finest overlooks in all of Yosemite: Dewey Point. The route takes snowshoers up and down small forested ridges and through snow-covered meadows to the breathtaking Dewey Point. There, incomparable views of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, Three Brothers and other famous Yosemite landmarks await. Dewey Point also provides stunning vistas of the snow-covered peaks in the northern high country, including Mt. Conness and Mt. Hoffman, as well as the peaks of the Clark Range, which form the southern border of Yosemite. Throughout the day, naturalist guides share their intimate knowledge of the park and make sure trip-goers have a fun, inspiring and educational experience. Advance reservations required.

For more information contact Lesli Brown, Evergreen Lodge, (209) 379-2606 or (800) 93-LODGE, leslib@evergreenlodge.com, www.evergreenlodge.com.

Y Explore Yosemite Adventures

Y explore Yosemite Adventures is a family-run company offering a new way to experience Yosemite National Park. Y explore Yosemite Adventures specializes in professionally guided hiking tours and photography workshops in Yosemite National Park. Custom tours are available for individuals, groups, and families of all ages and experience levels. They operate year-round in Yosemite, and the tours deliver extraordinary experiences with excellent photo opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information contact Y explore Yosemite Adventures, (209) 532-7014, (800) 886-8009, http://yexplore.com

YOUNTVILLE

Where to Eat

Mustards Grill Celebrates Over 25 Years In Napa Valley

Mustards Grill, Napa Valley’s landmark restaurant, pulled out all the stops in June to celebrate twenty-five years of extraordinary food. When award-winning Chef Pawlcyn first fired up the grill at this wine country roadhouse in 1983, she was at the forefront of the farm-to-table revolution, and set a precedent for culinary innovation and excellence that continues to be an inspiration today. A place where Mac trucks are as welcome as Mini-Coopers, Mustards enchants and surprises all who visit with creative twists on America’s favorite comfort foods.

Throughout the month of June, Pawlcyn paid tribute to her culinary past by rolling out Mustards’ greatest hits, including appetizers, entrées, and desserts from various years along the way. Chinese chicken salad, ripe garden tomatoes with basil, and warm goat cheese salad have all evolved into classics, becoming standard fare at diners and restaurants across the country. These and other iconic dishes are now part of America’s culinary heritage, and the public was able to experience the original creations firsthand.

Mustards Grill became an instant hit when it opened its doors in 1983. But just like a movie or song that keeps fans entranced for decades, this overnight sensation had staying power. More than just a neighborhood hangout, devoted fans have been meeting here for lunch every week for two decades. Perhaps even more telling is the fact that newcomers never feel out of place. Much like Cheers, which gained a foothold in America’s imagination that same year, Mustards is a place where everyone knows your name. The idea of a spot beyond the realms of home and work, where people can let down their guards and meet new friends, resonates just as strongly with today’s customers as it did then. This warmth, however, is just one part of the recipe.

With Northern California’s bountiful harvest at her fingertips, Pawlcyn draws inspiration from her extensive travels and vast cookbook collection (with upwards of 6000 volumes) to invent the cross-cultural combos that Mustards is famous for. From the very first menu it was clear that Pawlcyn had a unique approach: She combined grilled, locally made, house smoked ham with Jarlsberg cheese and tomato chutney for a new take on the classic ham and cheese sandwich. With Executive Chef Erasto Jacinto by her side, other scrumptious dishes followed: Sonoma duck with tomato salsa and black beans (1988), fried calamari with curried slaw (1994), and chile marinated lamb shanks with mashed potatoes and pumpkin seed pesto (2006).

Pawlcyn’s commitment to fresh, local, and hand-grown food goes beyond the norm. The tomatoes for the housemade ketchup, served as a condiment to Mustards’ famous onion rings (1983), come from her personal organic farms. Mongolian pork chops (1986), tea-smoked duck (1992), and baby back ribs (1990) all get their wood-smoked goodness from the house smoker, hand-built by a German bricklayer. Persimmons, apples and citrus grow on trees in Mustards’ garden, one of the first organic restaurant gardens in the country. Local blueberries, the size of marbles, show up in cobblers and crisps.

Pawlcyn went on to become a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author, chef-owner of Go Fish and Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena, and co-creator of many renowned Bay Area restaurants, including Fog City Diner, Bix, Roti, Tra Vigne, and Buckeye Roadhouse—quite a journey from twenty-five years ago when Pawlcyn was in her 20s and had just realized her dream of opening Mustards.

Mustards Grill is located at 7399 St. Helena Highway in Yountville, California and offers lunch and dinner seven days a week. For reservations please call 707-944-2424 or visit www.mustardsgrill.com.

What to See & Do

Discover the secrets of Yountville, where small is the new big

Why should you travel so far, for a town so tiny? Tiny can be rock-star. Consider Napa Valley’s most refined destination, Yountville. Set amid the vines with gorgeous mountain views, Yountville is a tiny town with sophisticated ambience and world-class appeal.

The village of Yountville boasts stellar cuisine including a halo of Michelin stars, the ideal base for fine wine lovers, and lodging from  the indulgent Bardessono to the French-chic Maison Fleurie – plus luxurious spa experiences, shopping, galleries and theater. All the while, it still enjoys a small-town lifestyle, and most everything is within walking distance.

And it has more surprises to savor, in every season. You could:

Sip a glass of bubbly fireside at Ma(i)sonry, an art, design and wine gallery housed in a historic stone residence

Take a guided walk through the Secret Garden, whose bounty is used by hallowed chefs of the French Laundry

Take a leisurely pedal through the vineyards then spread out a picnic in the park

Book a garden party at Lucy at the Bardessono, where Lucy’s chef will be your host

Sample the world’s best jelly donut, at Bouchon Bakery

Settle onto a stool for a little people-watching at Pancha’s, the only true dive bar in town, family-owned and a favorite locals hangout

After your spa treatment at Villagio, savor a creamy, dreamy Meyer lemon curd tart at Villagio’s afternoon tea 

Buck the wine trend and do a cocktail crawl—start at REDD with Ann's Manhattan, named for Chef Richard Reddington' mom and blended by barkeep Jason Withrow, regarded by his peers as the best mixologist in town

Lounge by the rooftop pool at the Bardessono, ringed by those gorgeous vineyards and mountain views

For more information please contact the Yountville Chamber of Commerce, 6484 Washington Street, Suite F, Yountville, CA 94599 United States

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