Friday, September 29, 2006

Resident Tourist Heads East

This past weekend my husband and I attended two weddings on the East Coast- unfortunately, both were on the same day. We were forced to divide and conquer. He travelled to a wedding in Ithaca, NY and while I headed off to be the Matron of Honor in Arlington, Vermont by way of Boston.

As much as I groaned about travelling all the way into Vermont for a "destination wedding," the state took me by surprise. Driving along Route 2 from Boston my best friend and I encountered charming small towns and beautiful views around every turn. And who knew there were so many places to buy Vermont Maple Syrup? We could have even purchased it at the used auto parts store. Damn TSA restrictions...

Luckily for us, the trees along our route were starting to change color. As we reached the higher elevations we could look out over forests of red, orange and yellow. I certainly miss Fall in the Midwest!

The bride and groom chose the West Mountain Inn as the wedding location. Located on a hill surrounded by mountains, the Inn provided an ideal location for a fall wedding. The rooms were charming, the staff was incredibly helpful and the breakfasts were delicious!

I quickly learned Vermont is beautiful even in the rain. An all-day rain on Saturday prevented the wedding from being held in the Inn's garden, but the rustic, well-kept barn on the property provided an excellent alternative. Armed with a large umbrella, my friend and I spent time exploring the towns of Arlington and Manchester. Manchester is home to a large number of outlet stores-- all tastefully designed and situated throughout the town. The plan of fitting all my clothes in one suitcase soon went out the window!

Although my visit in Vermont was short, I look forward to returning sometime soon. Perhaps I'll bring my tent next time-- those Inns are expensive!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Run or Walk to Save the World!

Alright, you may not be able to save the ENTIRE world... but on Sunday, October 29 you can really help your local community by participating in the Big Sur Half Marathon or 5K. Runners and walkers from around the country are gathering in picturesque Monterey to run or walk in support of local charities. My personal favorite is Habitat for Humanity!

If you're ready to dust off your running shoes and participate, go to www.bigsur.activecharityconnect.com. You can also donate to a charity runner securely online!

While you're in Monterey, make sure to stop by Phil's Fish Market (in Moss Landing) for a fantastic local meal. The restaurant's atmosphere is ideal and well worth the wait for a seat. My husband tells me the seafood is fantastic and as a non-seafood eater (crazy, i know!), I enjoyed a great chicken salad. We finished off our meal with a short walk on the beach behind the restaurant.

Happy running!

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Would you like some nature with your Sunday brunch?

IMG_0889
My favorite road trips are the ones that I can take after brunch on a Saturday or Sunday. I'm a big fan of sleeping in on the weekends, yet I still want to get out of the house and do something after a leisurely morning. That said, we have discovered the perfect post-brunch get away: Point Reyes National Seashore (pronounced Rays) in Marin County.

We visited Pt. Reyes for the first time only weeks after moving to the Bay Area and were blown away by the beauty of the land. Although we also quickly learned on that visit that finding our way back from the Lighthouse after dark is more trouble that it's worth! Who knew that so many wild animals could dart in front of your car at dusk? But, we survived- as did the wild animals- and we kept going back!

This past Sunday, after a delicious brunch, we set off again for Pt. Reyes. This time we were in search of a good hiking trail that would allow us to spend a few hours meandering through the area. As luck would have it, we found the perfect trail: The Abbott's Lagoon trail off Pierce Point Road. The 2.3 mile Abbott's Lagoon trail is great for beginners- or those of us that want to have a leisurely, scenic hike.

IMG_0894
The Abbott's Lagoon trail does just as it promises: takes the hiker over and around a beautiful lagoon filled with lush vegetation and unusual birds (this city-slicker might even call them exotic birds). We quickly hiked the 1.4 miles of sand-packed trail before hitting the beach. At this point, we could have turned around to head back to the car, but we carried on through the sand. It was a good decision. The beach surrounding the lagoon is beautiful. I had no idea that the sand could look so many different colors! We spent some time sitting on a piece of driftwood and watching birds come in for a water landing. Again, we hiked on further (about 1/2 mile) to the ocean. The site was breathtaking and I could have spent all day watching the fog roll over the ocean cliffs. For the first time in two years, I didn't even try to convince my husband that Lake Michigan is more beautiful than the ocean.

In total the hike took us about 2 hours. Be prepared to do some hiking through sand if you decide to head to the beach. There is easy parking at the trail head and something that resembles a toilet.

Other favorite things to do at Pt. Reyes:
IMG_0902

  • Walk the "Earthquake Trail" at the visitor's center and see the epicenter of the 1906 Earthquake. Not a good trail to show to your nervous mother from the Midwest!
  • Drive to the Lighthouse and walk down the looooong steps to see it in action. Be aware that your legs may hurt the next day!
  • Visit Pt. Reyes during Whale Watching season- March, April, October. You'll have to park your car at a lot half-way to the lighthouse and take a shuttle bus. We haven't seen any whales YET, but just the possibility of seeing one is worth the trip!

For more info:

Saturday, September 16, 2006

Down the Bay to Monterey


Monterey Bay Aquarium, originally uploaded by residenttourist.


Spending a relaxing Saturday in the Monterey area was our quintessential day-trip when we first moved to California. While it is a little of a rush to see in one day if you're driving from San Francisco or Oakland, getting a hotel room pushes this trip out of the "cheap date" category.

The drive from the Bay Area is worth the trip alone. From San Francisco take Highway 1 through Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, and Santa Cruz. While Highway 1 doesn't get crazy beautiful until south of Monterey, this stretch lets you easily forget you are surrounded by millions of other people.

From the East Bay and San Jose take Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz mountains. I never really understood the speed limit signs on this road - it isn't physically possible to go the posted speed limit unless you are planning on riding along the concrete side barriers. I'm surprised I haven't made anybody sick with my driving...it's my one chance to act like I'm in a sports car commercial with my very non-sporty car!

In the several times we've been, it has always been tough finding enough excitement in Monterey to keep us enthralled for the whole day; Monterey is probably better experienced over a long weekend. Dodge the cheesy tourist shops and Bubba Gump and go for the scenic beauty. Some day we'll try kayaking the bay - it's a protected National Marine Sanctuary and the seals and birds are everywhere! The Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Path provides over 25 miles of continuous travel along the bay shore.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Seriously make time (or a whole day) for the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It's expensive, touristy, has a long line, and is definitely worth it. I've never really been an aquarium/zoo kinda guy, but this is fun, educational, and a very unique experience. I won't give it all away, because you definitely need to see it for yourself.

There are lots of other things to do in the Monterey/Carmel area, and the drive along Highway 1 south of Carmel is utterly breathtaking. Be sure to grab some strawberries and artichokes in Watsonville on your way home - they're the best.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Our "might-do" list for this weekend

Fun events this weekend:
  • California Coastal Cleanup Day - Grab your latex gloves and save the whales! Saturday Sept. 16 9AM - noon.
  • Go for a hike! - maybe we'll take this weekend off since we went last weekend. Don't want to be too outdoorsy.
  • Catch the Michigan vs. Notre Dame game! Go Blue! This one's an afternoon game - I can't wait for the 9:00am Booze n' Eggs games later in the season.

Monday, September 11, 2006

Wine Country for Beer Drinkers


Catherine and Matt Visit
Originally uploaded by residenttourist.
I'll admit it. I've become a wine country super-tourist. We've been in the Bay Area for two years and have visited wine country at least a dozen times. It's my favorite thing to do. Period. Sure, there are beautiful beaches, wonderful hiking trails and great biking spots in the Bay Area. But give me a tasting room, a flight of wine and the warm Sonoma air and I'm happy. It also helps that Mr. Resident Tourist always does the driving.

We weren't always wine country connoisseurs (not to be confused with wine connoisseurs- we definitely aren't that). The first time in Napa was terrifying. After all, we're sit-in-front-of-the-tv beer drinkers, not swirl- sip-spit-and-discuss wine drinkers. So, for our fellow beer drinkers, here are some of our tips and tricks to wine country:

1. DO NOT BE AFRAID. This took awhile for us to learn, but is by far the most important lesson. Be bold. The wineries love new people and many of them are used to all-tourists, all-the-time. So, admit your status as a wine-tasting virgin. They will be gentle, I promise.

2. SPLIT A TASTING.... especially if you're with the driver. Wineries tend to charge a pretty hefty tasting fee in Napa. My philosophy is this: if you split your tasting with another person, you can go to that many more wineries before you get completely sloshed and fall asleep in the car!

3. CHAT IT UP. Talk with the person pouring your wine. Ask questions - even the silly ones. Ask for suggestions for other wineries. Sometimes they will even give you coupons for free wine tastings at other wineries. To me, that's better than GOLD. Chatting it up can also get you an extra pour of wine "just to finish the bottle."

4. TAKE THE BACK ROADS. If you have your heart set on Napa, spend as much time as possible on Silverado Trail. It runs parallel to Highway 29 to the East. Take any side road to get to it. The wineries are smaller, not as busy and overall less commercial.

5. BE PREPARED TO PAY. Many wineries charge for tastings. In Napa, I love Franciscan winery (on Highway 29) because they apply your tasting fee to the purchase of a bottle of wine. And they have great wine. Too bad more wineries haven't adopted that method...

6. GO TO SONOMA. Don't get me wrong. I loved Napa... until I visited Sonoma. There really isn't any comparison. Sonoma is filled with small, family-run wineries. Many don't charge for tastings and oftentimes the winemaker is the one pouring the tasting. Then it's REALLY time to ask questions. The roads are less crowded, the scenery is just as beautiful and the wine tastes better. We're officially hooked.*

Our Favorite Places in Napa include: Franciscan, Whitehall Lane (try the chocolate sauce or the dessert wine), Cliff Lede (worth it for the sparkling wines, not for the regular wines) and Mumm Napa Valley (a great place to sit outside).

Bottoms Up!

* More fun in Sonoma... coming soon!



Friday, September 08, 2006

Welcome!


Golden Gate
Originally uploaded by residenttourist.
Nope...not in the Bay Area anymore (although that's a damn fine picture). I move quickly, so sometimes it's hard to keep up with me. Sometimes I can't keep up with me. More info coming soon...

511 - learn it, love it, use it

Here is one indespensible and incredibly powerful resource in the Bay Area. While being consistently improved, 511 provides traffic and other commuting information over the phone and on the internet. Its traffic information is incredibly accurate - you can access it either by website or voice activated phone (just dial 511...duh). Sometimes I call just to hear a friendly voice on the other end...I suppose I should call my wife instead.

Typical conversation with the friendly 511 guy:
[Jazzy music]
511: "Welcome to 511, your Bay Area...."
Me: "Driving Times"
511: "What is your starting point?"
Me: "Oakland"
511: "Did you say 'Antioch?'"
Me: "No"
511: "No soup for you!"

For verbal abuse or useful traffic info, 511 is the way to go.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

weekend hike


Last weekend we decided to visit one of our favorite hiking spots in the Bay Area - Redwood Regional Park. Redwood is part of the expansive East Bay Regional Parks system covering most of the hills in the East Bay and many more really cool places to hang out on a weekend. We still have a lot of exploring to do in this 1,836 acre park, but what we've seen has kept us coming back.

Redwood was once home to an original Redwood forest until all of the crazy humans came and used them to build houses. (The sawdust in our walls is red - what have we DONE?) The Coast Redwoods have regrown and while it isn't as impressive as Muir Woods, the parking is a hell of a lot easier. Redwood Creek runs through the park and was where Rainbow Trout was "discovered". I bet that was an exciting day.

Be careful driving on Skyline Drive on the weekends - bikes rule the road and jump out of nowhere. We typically park at the Skyline gate for hiking. As you'll soon find out, we're pretty casual hikers and start to get grumpy after a couple miles. From the Skyline gate, there are plenty of hiking choices that don't take you too far into the canyon.

Take the Stream trail for a nice cool hike in the shade, or the West Ridge Trail for a sunnier trip. Either way makes for an easy hike. You can also take French Trail and loop around for a little extra exercise and a nice tour of redwoods.

If you drive to the other end of the park, the Redwood Gate charges for parking, but there is a huge picnic area and fields for playing. The hiking on this end of the park tends to be either flat or really steep, but you start in the canyon instead of having to hike down at the other side of the park.

For more info and directions:
http://www.ebparks.org
http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/redwood.html