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San Francisco For The “Foodie” In You
June 17, 2009
The Height at Night
Everyone knows about the Golden Gate Bridge, Height-Asbury (”The Height”, as the locals call it), the Transamerica building, and the wondrous Cable Cars. But, when I think of San Francisco, I think FOOD. You’ll have to travel a little to get the best, but it’s worth it.
“Greens” restaurant is Annie Somerville’s glorious contribution to the epicurean scene on the waterfront of San Francisco.
All of the food is grown locally, and “Greens” was one of the country’s first vegetarian restaurant. It set the trend for working with locally grown, organic foods which when combined with a bit of imagination and ingenuity, could become as tasty a dish as you could find at other ‘normal’ restaurants. My experience there was amazing. We sat on the left-side of the dining room, and watched the sun set over the marina, with the Golden Gate Bridge perched in the background.
Be sure to call ahead and reserve. “Greens” fills every night. Also, you want to insure your seat by the window. It makes for an idyllic and healthy night out.
Take an evening and travel to Berkeley, where you must experience Alice Waters’ “Chez Panisse”.
When you arrive, you will instantly feel how special this restaurant is. First of all, there is the wooden exterior which allows you to enter into the ‘natural’ environment right from the start. When inside, you can immediately sense the quality of “Chez Panisse”. Everything is immaculate, clean and professional. Like “Greens”, it opened in the early 1970s, and became a flagship for the growing organic revolution.
The menus are all 4-course meals, with a fixed price. Every menu is conceived as a total experience. For this, you pay a bit more than other restaurants, but it’s worth it. Very rarely can you digest an entire meal which works together so well. And the staff is mostly friendly and highly knowledgeable about the food combinations. This is a refreshing change for those of us visiting from the east coast!
Finally, if your plans take you through the Napa Valley (and they certainly should), then carve out an evening for one of the nation’s true culinary jewels, “The French Laundry”.
Opened in 1994, this French-style country restaurant is Thomas Keller’s masterpiece. The food is American, but with a French flair. Everything on the menu is superb, but the environment and energy of the building, décor and staff is what sets this place apart.
Each meal consists of 9 courses (yes, nine). Before you rule it out as being ‘too much’, consider that each course is a ‘tasting’. They are rather small, but exquisite. Incredibly, not one ingredient is repeated throughout the meal, and yet every dish builds on the previous. It’s the finest blend of culinary mastery and creativity in the US today (in my view). The grounds are wondrous, and one feels transported to Provence or the outskirts of Normandy. No trip to the San Francisco area is complete without a day spent in the Napa Valley. And no trip to the Napa Valley is worth it without dinner at “The French Laundry”.
Land Vs. Sea Vacations - Which to Choose?
June 11, 2009
The open ocean, or the open road, those are your choices of vacations, now how do you decide? There are upsides as well as downsides to both of these options. Your job is to weigh the pros and cons of both of these choices and then decide, but what if you have never been on a cruise? Can you really make an informed decision as to which of these is the appropriate choice for you next vacation?
Here are some of the pros and cons in no specific order to the sea vs. land vacation’s controversy, hopefully it will help you become more educated on what to expect. Of course you need to remember that here we will just be discussing general tour information, to help you become more informed you may still need to do a bit of research, but I hope that this will help.
Mexico is a wonderful vacation be it by land or sea, so that is where our comparison begins
Many cruise lines offer cruises to Mexico. Some Mexico cruise ports include Catalina Island, Ensenada, and Cabo San Lucas. Of course there are many more ports of interest in Mexico, but we will stop with this.
We have decided to cruise to Cabo San Lucas and the first part of our journey is to fly to California from wherever you live and catch a cruise to your ultimate cruise destination. Basically your cruise ship is you floating hotel on the ocean. It takes you from port to port with scheduled trips on the way and shore excursions as you go, many of these excursions are not included in the price of the ticket, so be aware that extra money will be necessary if you are interested in one of the scheduled activities on shore.
If you are cruising around Cabo San Lucas, the itineraries include many regular onshore activities that you may already be interested in. Scuba diving off the island, off road excursions, museums, or other activities may be offered to you as options on the island part of your vacation. The joy of a cruise ship is there is a cruise director creating an itinerary for you with a list of things you can do on your stop off.
If you enjoy having options given to you then a cruise may be for you. Your food on the ship, amenities, pool, games, and even casinos are already at your fingertips on your cruise ship.
The upsides to a cruise are:
- Your hotel and restaurants are travelling with you
- All of your travel is taken care of in advance when you are going from port to port
- You have a cruise director that has an itinerary with a list of things to do at the ports
Downsides to a cruise are:
- Some of what you do at port are already planned for you with a time schedule you have to follow
- You are on a ship with a group of people in relatively small quarters you may not enjoy
- You still have to get to the ship before the cruise actually begins.
So, if you enjoy being in a group of people, are very social, and enjoy having a preplanned trip, then a cruise may be for you.
Now let’s travel to Mexico on a land vacation
You still need to travel via flight or driving to Mexico, if you are not cruising the decision is up to you, plan stops along the way. Once you get to Mexico, in this case Cabo San Lucas, you choose your accommodations, fancy or modest, there are many choices. Eat at a resturant with local cuisine or pick a five star restaurant of international cuisine. Choose a car to hit the open road, drive the island, see the sights, with no time restrictions.
On your own, your trip is entirely in your hands; of course the downside to this is you are in charge of discovering what Cabo San Lucas has to offer you. If you enjoy this kind of opportunity and desire choices and freedom of decision making, than a land journey is probably what you should choose.
The biggest problem with this kind of travel is you will probably pay more in the end for your vacation.
The upsides to a land vacation are:
- Freedom to choose where and when you travel
- Variety, it is the spice of life
- The open road and no set itinerary
Downsides to a land vacation are:
- In comparison to a standard cruise, you will pay more in the long run
- It is your job to find out if something is worth trying or not
So, in conclusion land vs. sea is entirely up to you, the traveler. If the benefits of a cruise outweigh the downsides, choose a cruise, but if the benefits of the open road and freedom outweigh the downsides to having to be your own vacation planner, choose a land vacation.
Whatever you choose, land or sea, if you investigate carefully, and choose what is best for you, I am sure that you will have the perfect vacation, one that suits you and will make you happy. I hope this has helped, have a great vacation wherever you choose.
What Happens in Las Vegas – More than you ever imagined
June 11, 2009
The Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada
Outside of the flashing lights, spectacular fountains, and posh hotels lies a quieter, wilder place that many people traveling to Las Vegas never see.
Millions of people flock to Las Vegas every year for a chance to strike it rich, monetarily. It’s what Vegas is known for to most of the world, but if you are looking for something else from Las Vegas, what lies outside of the city is some of the most amazing scenery and opportunities the United States has to offer.
Red Rock Canyon
Natural wonders abound in this desert climate. Red Rock Canyon just 15 miles west of Las Vegas and is almost 200,000 acres of land protected as a National Conservation Area. Easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon is visited by over a million visitors each year.
What makes this area so spectacular to see is the what it is named for, its red sandstone peaks popular for hikers and climbers. Its highest point is La Madre Mountain at 8,154 ft. It is Nevada’s first National Conservation area and offers scenic drives, hiking trails picnic areas, a visitor center and even a campground for those who prefer to rough it.
The history of the Red Rock area is filled with native peoples due to its geography. It offers water and shelter that before civilization arrived, didn’t exist in the surrounding desert. From as early as 900 A.D., Native Americans have been living in the area as noted by the numerous petroglyphs and pottery fragments that have been discovered in the area.
Red Rock is a part of the Mojave Desert and is home to over 600 plant species in an otherwise harsh barren landscape. What makes it spectacular are the complex geologic features that surround. The Red Rock area is an ancient seabed exposed to air which literally caused it to rust, hence the red coloration.
With a host of activities to participate in, Red Rock Canyon is a trip in and of itself. If you are looking for horseback riding, hiking, camping, or some of the best rock climbing you can imagine, you should definitely consider Red Rock Canyon as the place to visit.
Of course there are other amazing natural or man made places to visit in the Las Vegas area if gambling is not what you crave.
Valley of Fire State Park
Another wonderful place to visit is the Valley of Fire State Park. Also near to Las Vegas and filled with stunning red cliffs and natural wonders, Valley of fire is littered with rock drawings, unique rock formations and camping facilities as well.
Ghost towns, Springs, four wheeling, sky diving, the Hoover Dam, Canyons and waterfalls abound in this spectacular area, consider Las Vegas a destination worth visiting for your next vacation, you won’t be disappointed.
Travel to Dallas – A Mecca of Opportunity
June 11, 2009
Dallas in the Evening
A popular travel destination has become Dallas Texas. The third largest city in the United States, Dallas offers a wide variety of opportunities for a wonderful vacation. Whether you idea of Texas is a traditional southern vacation with rodeos and state fairs, or one a bit more urban with art and shopping, you can find either trip right in Dallas.
Dallas offers a wide variety of options for your next vacation. The urban experience is varied and will keep you busy with any number of things to do and see. If art and style are what you seek, look no further. Dallas is the #1 shopping destination in Texas.
From Neiman Marcus, to Highland Park Village, a variety of shopping experiences awaits you. Highland Park Village was built in 1931 and is recognized as the first shopping center in American history. Located in Dallas, it is home to shopping including Ralph Lauren and Chanel, but also some great restaurants and filled with Dallas charm.
The Dallas Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday-Sunday and has enough to do for an entire vacation by itself. Visit the gallery and peak into ancient Egypt with the Tutankhamen and the Gold Age of the Pharaohs exhibit,stay late and experience some wonder jazz performances, concerts, or film screenings, and eat at the famous Seventeen Seventeen restaurant. Let art and history provide you with a vacation you will never forget.
If the wild side of Texas is what you crave, there is always the Dallas Forth Worth Metroplex, offering
a variety of rodeo experiences like nowhere else in the world. The Cowtown Coliseum is home to the worlds first indoor rodeo! Rodeo and air conditioning, the best of both worlds. The Mesquite Rodeo was built in 1986 and offers rodeo from April to October just 15 minutes from Downtown Dallas.
Livestock shows, barrel racing, and non stop rodeo action await you in this traditional Texas vacation opportunity.
Dallas offers much more than what is listed here. Dealy Plaza Museum, aquariums, fine cuisine, fantastic accommodations, and so much more can be found in Dallas. Plan a trip around one of the many festivals in Dallas or just go and see some of the world finest 20th century architecture. Dallas is definitely a destination you shouldn’t miss.
Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part IV – How the West was Won
June 11, 2009
This is the last step in our travel across America, ending here in the Great American West. The Western United States is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Some of Americas truest stories of monetary success as well as survival are from the West. Cowboys and Indians come to mind when thinking of the west to many people, but the west also includes Alaska, our 49th state.
In this, the finale of our journey across the United States, we will focus first on the traditional old west part of the United States, places that conjure images of covered wagons, tales of survival in harsh terrains, and my favorite, the gold rush!
In 1849 the California gold rush began. James W. Marshall discovered gold, and the rush was on. It didn’t take long until hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, were sailing or riding to California to stake their claim on instant riches. Also called forty-niners history was made with their tales of riches and ruins.
Interstate 5 travels through Old Sacramento, a historical journey you are not soon to forget. Old Sacramento is home to many historic buildings kept in their original state for a snapshot to the past. Old Sacramento offers the “Spirit of Sacramento” an historic riverboat as well as the California State Railroad Museum.
Begun by John Sutter and his landing party, Old Sacramento is the old west at its finest. Stories of gold, migration and murder abound in this old west town. You will find many places of interest nearby. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park gives visitors a chance to pan for gold, or if you prefer, head to the Suspects Mystery Dinner Theater to solve an old west river boat murder! California offers much for the historical tourist to do, check out any of California’s many historic sites for an idea for your next vacation.
Now on to the other west, Alaska. Its history is based in part on similar circumstances to that of California. That being the gold rush. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park located in Skagway is definitely worth visiting.
Divided into two parts, the Seattle and Skagway Units, there is enough to keep a history buff busy in two different western States.
The Skagway Unit is located in Alaska and boasts a variety of exhibits, audio visual presentations and a visitor center, not to mention the vast area of wilderness surrounding you. The Curatorial center houses a collection of material from over 50 excavations in the historic district of nearby Dyea. Discoveries so far include saloons, a liquor store, railroad depot, bakery, cigar and confectionery store, dry goods store, tailor and furrier shop, paint and wallpaper store, transportation company, catholic church rectory, mission house, the home of the founder of Skagway, and a residential district.
Explore the possibilities in Alaska. Remember to check times of operation for all of your destinations. I hope you have enjoyed your journey across the United States. Go out and see what you have been missing, our history, our link to the past.
