California Archives

Road Trip Along California’s Stunning Highway 1

Are you looking for an unforgettable road trip? Look no further than the legendary California‘s stunning Highway 1. This iconic route stretches 656 miles from Southern to Northern California and passes through some of the most stunning shorelines, historic cities, and picturesque towns in the entire state.

You may have seen Highway 1 as a backdrop in countless movies, television shows and advertisements. Most of them showcase romantic couples driving their convertibles top-down, with cool Pacific breeze blowing their hair. But it is not always sunny and warm in California. In fact, it was cold and rainy in February, but still worth the once-in-a-lifetime road trip.

If you are planning to take a road trip along California’s Highway 1, here are some must stops to eat, stay, see and relax at.

San Francisco to Monterey

Arrive at San Francisco (SFO) and rent a car from the airport so you can start your road trip right away. You can also plan to spend a day or two to explore the city’s attractions such as attractions like Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz Island. But I feel San Francisco deserves another trip as there is so much to do and see.

From San Francisco, continue south along Highway 1 to Monterey. On your road trip, you will see breathtaking views of the Pacific, redwood forests, and quaint coastal towns. Stop at Half Moon Bay to visit Maverick’s Beach, Ano Nuevo State Park, and have a bite at Dad’s Luncheonette. Continue on to the touristy town of Santa Cruz. There are plenty of family-friendly attractions in the area to fill up an entire day. But if you have limited time, take a walk along Natural Bridges State Beach, grab come caffeine from Verve Coffee, or a sweet refreshment at Penny Ice Creamery. Your next stop along Highway 1 will be Moss Landing where you may be able to see some otters during your hike through Elkhorn Slough.

Monterey

Monterey‘s rugged coastline is the most photographed portion of Highway 1. Plan to spend a couple of days here to enjoy the laidback fishing village. At Monterey Bay’s Cannery Row, you will find frequent references to its sardine packing history and the novelist John Steinbeck.

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Stay at the historic Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa that is perched dramatically on historic beachfront property within walking distance to most attractions. The rooms are large and spacious, offering private views of the water so you may be able to spot a sea lion during right from your bedroom! Make sure to book a treatment at the rooftop spa, which offers great views of the Pacific Ocean. Soak in a bath infused with organically grown hemp-derived CBD and a special blend of lavender, bergamot and ho wood. Also, you can relax in the outdoor rooftop hot tub.

For dinner, head downstairs to one of the restaurants on the property. Coastal Kitchen is one of the only restaurants in Monterey Peninsula that offers a seasonal chef tasting and wine paired menu curated by Executive Chef Michael Rotondo (named “Most Promising Chef” at Bocuse D’or by Daniel Boulud & Thomas Keller). 98% of the ingredients come from within a 100-mile radius so you will definitely taste the best of what California has to offer.

In the morning, drive out to Alta Bakery & Café in Monterey for fresh baked pastries and coffee. Housed in the historic Cooper-Molera Adobe, Alta uses locally grown, seasonal ingredients to create some unique flavors of sandwiches, pavlova and more. My personal favorite was the passion fruit doughnut.

Pebble Beach

After breakfast, take a short drive to the world-famous Pebble Beach community where you will see multi-million dollar homes perched along the shoreline. Purchase a pass at the gate to enter or make a reservations at the hotel, spa, restaurant or golf center to get your name in the guest book.

Book a lunch at Stillwater Cove, the main formal dining room at Pebble Beach. The restaurant features fresh and flavorful sustainable seafood and stunning views of the golf course and the ocean.

Get a massage at the Spa at Pebble Beach. It is one of only 90 spas in the world to receive the coveted Forbes Five-Star Award. I recommend splurging on a two-hour Royal Treatment. It’s a unique massage treatment that incorporates head-to-toe relaxation with honey, ginger and a royal jelly facial mask. After the royal treatment of the back with pure honey, a beeswax sheet is applied to support the healing process. That is followed by a therapeutic massage, foot scrub and rub. You will be so relaxed and your skin will feel like new!

17-Mile Drive

Even if you are not planning to use the facilities at Pebble Beach, you can drive on one of the most scenic drives on the Monterey Peninsula of California. 17-Mile Drive is a visually stunning stretch of roadway which hugs the pacific coastline from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. Stop at scenic lookout points at The Lone Cypress, Spanish Bay, Stillwater Cove, the Del Monte Forest, and barking sea lions near Bird Rock.

Carmel-By-The-Sea

Continue your drive along California’s Central coast to the charming European town, Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel is not like your typical beach town. Though there is an expansive white sand beach for swimming, surfing and walking, there’s a lot more to do here. You will find a one-square mile walkable downtown filled with interesting architecture, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and wine tasting rooms. From fairytale German cottages to Spanish style villas, the architecture in Carmel is quite instagrammable!

Take a stroll down Ocean Avenue and pop into one of the 100 art galleries lining the streets. Take a self guided Wine Walk to 13 tasting rooms and learn about the local boutique wine makers. My personal favorites are – Dawn’s Dream, who supports local nonprofit organizations, and Lepe Cellars, the only wine tasting room inside a gallery.

A great way to learn about the rich history, celebrity presence of this town is by taking a Carmel History Walk. The guided tour will show you 41 passageways and courtyards (that most tourists miss on their own) around downtown Your guide will also point out the best galleries and restaurants that you don’t want to miss.

If you want a fresh and hearty California style breakfast, head to Stationary. They also serve eggs and caviar for your four-legged companions. Have lunch at Little Napoli, one of the most iconic locally-owned Italian restaurants (where even President Obama dined). And for dinner, book a table at the hottest new restaurant in California – Foray. The menu highlights wild products and foraged ingredients from the West Coast, such as chanterelles, clams and truffles. Each dish is very unique and flavorful. This will be a meal to remember!

Cocktails at Bud’s at La Playa is a must! Not only does the hotel bar offer a cozy Bohemian environment, they also sell drink for $0.10! If you are lucky enough to be there on “Dime Time,” you can get a cocktail for only 10-cents. “Dime Time” occurs once a day at the bartender’s discretion and only lasts for ten minutes. You must pay with exact change, so remember to keep dimes handy.

Big Sur

Further south on Highway 1, drive over the famous Bixby Bridge. The bridge is located 13 miles (21 km) south of Carmel. It is considered to be the most photographed features in California. There is a car park area next to the bridge where you can get out and take photos from.

You will pass through beautiful forests and beaches as you continue your drive to Big Sur. Here you can spend another full day hiking along many of the trails, surfing and beachcombing at Pfeiffer Beach, camping in the state parks, or simply soaking in the energy of the old redwood forests.

From here you have an option to continue your road trip further south towards Los Angeles. Unfortunately, Highway 1 was closed when I was visiting due to landslides and road erosion.

Hidden Gems to Visit Across America

How can you make ordinary trips across America more unique and fun? Look for hidden gems scattered around each state! Though tourist spots like museums, bustling cities, landmarks, theme parks, or national monuments are often highlights of a destination, hidden gems like the ones listed below, can turn your traveling experience from memorable to unforgettable!

When you search for activities on your vacation, try to find hole-in-the-wall places, often times located in between attraction hotspots. You’ll find yourself learning something new while getting away from the crowds.

The easiest thing to do is Google search “unique places around me,” or “unusual things to do at ____” to look for interesting wonders to visit. You’ll also be inspired to go searching for secret spots to venture to in your own backyard. Here are some suggestions on where to get started…

California: Downtown Los Angeles Underground Tunnels

Explore these hidden tunnels in Los Angeles
Image courtesy of Alissa Walker

What comes to mind when you think of California? Disneyland, the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier – I bet you it’s not this! Most people don’t realize there are a network of tunnels underneath the city. As Los Angeles began to grow a century ago, underground tunnels were carved out for transportation needs. However, the 11-mile hidden passage became even more of a hotspot during the prohibition period. Such tunnels became the meeting place for basement speakeasies and a method for people to transport liquor. But now, they have been abandoned.

To explore this hidden gem, you can slip into an elevator behind the Hall of Records on Temple Street, or you can schedule a guided tour.

Louisiana: New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum

This cultural gem is only a three-minute walk from the St. Louis Cathedral
Image courtesy of The Captain’s Ramblings

Connected to nature, spirits and ancestors, Voodoo is a historic religion in “Big Easy” city. With its mix of African, Haitian and Catholic spiritual practices, it became widespread among the slave population of New Orleans during the 18th century. Inspired by the Voodoo culture, local artist Charles Massicot Gandolfo founded the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum in 1972. This hidden gem offers interesting items for sale such as potions, books and fortune-telling. Also, you will find artifacts, antique dolls and recollections of the famous Voodoo Priestess Maria Laveau.

As the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Laveau was a black priestess who wielded tremendous power and magical abilities. Such beliefs continue today as visitors still visit her grave and make their wishes. If you want to spice up your usual trip to the French Quarter, check out this enriching culture spot.

Colorado: Paint Mines Interpretive Park

After hiking the famous Rocky Mountains, journey on over to El Paso County, where beautiful, brightly colored rock formations will inspire you. Unlike other national parks, orange, purple and white clay bands decorate this geological formation. It’s said that ancient Native Americans collected sediments from this area 9,000 years ago to create colorful pottery and even war paint.

For anyone wanting a hiking spot that is more intimate and has a historical background, Paint Mines Interpretive Park is definitely a hidden gem to visit.

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia’s Magic Garden

A maze of various art will blow your mind
Image courtesy of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

Wanting to add a little magic to your vacation? Make some time to visit Philadelphia’s Magic Garden. Don’t let the name fool you. Instead of flowers, mosaic tiles, antique objects and other artistic knick-knacks entirely make up this garden.

Isaiah Zagar, a local artist in the 1960s, began tiling South Street and never stopped. In addition, a wide range of Latin-American to Chinese art fills the Magic Gardens encompassing half a city block. Also, don’t forget to check out the neighborhood of indoor galleries and an outdoor labyrinth. On your next trip to Philadelphia, let yourself get lost in this gorgeous work of art!

A great way to capture all your hidden gem moments in a unique way is with a Polaroid! Make sure to check out this item to save all of your travel memories!

~By Virtual Marketing & Communications Intern, Laura Vo. Laura’s a Public Relations Major at Kennesaw State University and has a passion for supporting great causes like Go Eat Give.

Den mest radikale måde at håndtere problemet på blev foreslået i 1489 i afhandlingen Hammer of Witches. Mænd blev tilbudt flere metoder til at helbrede sygdommen, og hvis ingen af dem virkede, blev det foreskrevet at jage en heks og brænde hende på bålet. Denne op die site procedure forventedes at bryde fortryllelsen og gøre det muligt for manden at vende tilbage til et normalt sexliv.

The Museum of Broken Relationships: Must See in Croatia

The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, is by far the most unique museum I have ever been to. Unlike other museums, it doesn’t carry any antiques, jewels or historic remanences. Instead, it displays items donated by patrons from all over the world that hold symbolic value to them personally.

A Personal Connection

After realizing heartbreak, Olinka Vištica, a film producer, and Dražen Grubišić, a sculptor, coined the idea of this museum. Starting as a personal collection of previous relationships, it quickly transformed into a 1000-item traveling museum. As a result, the two Zagreb-based artists have received audiences across 13 countries. In addition, the museum won the EMYA Kenneth Hudson Award in 2010 for the most innovative and daring museum projects in Europe.

Items on display include everyday quirky items such as a stiletto shoe, CD’s, laundry basket, toy cars, letter, etc. Each of the items is accompanied by country of origin, a memoir of the relationship and relationship period. I found some notes particularly interesting and others rather funny.

The collections were diverse as people recounted short stories of randomly falling in love and of inevitable heartbreaks.

A One Of A Kind Experience

One can spend an hour or two seeing the small museum, though the museum also sells books with pictures and stories of some of the items on display. You can also find break ups on the interactive world map and read stories on the blog.

Reading stories of broken relationships is perhaps the opposite of reading romantic novels, but surprisingly they don’t get you down or depressed. I feel that reading about real-life relationships that didn’t always end well makes us realize that we live in a realistic world where everything is not always perfect. It makes you feel that you are not the only one who has suffered through a heartbreak. And it makes you smile to read about how people fall in love and cherish the smallest of gifts for years to come.

While the museum is very popular among visitors, it nearly doubles its attendance around the Valentine’s holiday. If you would like to unburden your relationship, send in your item to the Museum of Broken Relationships.

The Museum of Broken Relationships has permanent exhibits in Zagreb, Croatia and Los Angeles, California.

Golf + Travel = Passion

Continued from Ladies Who Golf….Ryann O’Toole (age 29) talks about what she loves most about traveling and how she keeps focused on good and bad days.

California native Ryann O'Toole. She holds the course record at Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, with a 66. — California native Ryann O’Toole. She holds the course record at Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, with a 66.

Which countries did you play in during the past year (2015)?

I played in the Bahamas, Canada, France, Malaysia, China and Japan.

What do you enjoy most about travel?

The best thing about traveling is experiencing the vast variety of culture in each country. Being submerged into that country’s culture for a week is so much fun. I love meeting new people, trying different foods and exploring the reasons for what makes that place so special. Every destination seems to have a reason why people have chosen to live there and I love getting to see exactly what that is!

Do you get enough time to go out and explore the local culture?

I would never say we get enough time, but not many sports get to stay in a place for a week. I’ll take the time I can get and make the most of it. Aside from the obvious tourist destinations, I think exploring the local food and restaurants is the best way to view a culture.

What have been some of your most insightful moments of 2015?

Some of my most insightful moments of 2015 include understanding the real value of one golf shot at a time, learning to be happy with slow and steady growth, and that with each day comes with new feels, thoughts, challenges and outcomes. It is vital for a player to stay in the moment and keep the mind present and focused on the shot at hand. I see this as the key to scoring low rounds, or keeping bad days of play under control. I finally became content with this process and watching myself slowly get better week by week. What helped was seeing the consistency increase each day. Low rounds were happening more often, and on not-so-good days I kept under control. My coach Jorge Parada really helped me understand this process.

A good example is a moment from the 2015 CME Group Tour Championship. On hole 9 in my second round, I was five under and playing solid and very steady. I carded a nine on a par 4, costing me to go from five under to even par. All the great work I had done, all the momentum I was building was gone in one hole! This truly tested my ability to stay focused on the shot at hand. When I made the turn and teed up on hole 10, I knew in order to keep my round going I had to focus back into the moment. I managed to stay focused and was able to shoot two under on the back nine. Although I was not happy with the overall score of the round, I was able to recover and keep myself in the race.

I also found in 2015 that each event your body feels different, not only each event, but each day. Not every day is going to be perfect and with that comes acceptance. The best players are the ones who can go out on the course and make the most of the playing ability they have that day. They find a way to get the job done, regardless of how they feel. This is the true test of any athlete who competes day in and day out and wants to win.

When you are on Tour, how do you maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle really boils down to self-discipline and asking yourself how badly you want to become the best. On the road it is easy to look at a menu and pick the less healthy choice, or say yes to dessert. I work hard in the gym and enjoy the feeling of being healthy, so for me it isn’t hard to stay healthy on the road. The LPGA makes sure to provide us with healthy breakfast and lunch options each week as well. The LPGA is also great with providing a gym trailer that follows us around from week to week. It just takes time to create a routine and keep up healthy habits when you travel on the road.

What do you like most about golf?

I love golf for everything it gives me. The Competition, camaraderie, ability to travel and see the world and meeting people everywhere we go is an amazing experience. It is a lifelong sport that I can play until the day I stop walking. There is nothing about golf that I don’t like.

Besides golf, what are your other passions?

When I am not golfing, you can find me at the beach. I love to surf so when I take vacations, it is to places I can surf. Golfing is my passion, but surfing is my hobby. It is the one place where I can mentally check out and allow myself to get fully consumed with that current moment. Alone in the water, it is a place where I have absolutely no control and that feeling is euphoric.

Do you play for any charities? If so which ones, and why?

Yes, I play for PHIT America. It is an organization that’s setup to bring awareness to the obesity problem we have in the United States. The goal is to main provide knowledge and information for the public to learn what is good and bad for their bodies.

Click here to read part 3 of this post.

If you are inspired to play golf around the world, join Go Eat Give’s 3rd annual charity golf fundraiser on November 7, 2016 at Laurel Springs golf club in Suwanee, Georgia.

Ethical Chocolates, Both Delicious and Wildlife Friendly

As you begin to stock your pantries with chocolates and candies, pay attention to the list of ingredients listed on the package. Depending on the brand and quality of chocolate, it may be a product that is harmful to your own health, as well as to the environment and wildlife.

However, there is a chocolate brand that we like, as it surpasses all expectations of quality ingredients, refined taste, and global standards. Nuubia is a new ethical chocolate shop based in San Francisco that goes far beyond many other brands.

Hand Crafted and Environmentally Friendly

Nuubia hand-makes specialty confections from humanely sourced ingredients, without using either palm oil or GMOs. Founder, Alexandra Saunders, was born in Java, Indonesia, and has dedicated to life to conservation (cultivating palms for their oil is highly destructive of the environment so Nuubia has found a way to make ganache without the use of palm oil). Just a few weeks ago, Alexandra Saunders was an Honoree at Pongo Environmental Awards.

Nuubia is the first chocolatier to not only refuse to use palm oil but to ensure that what they make has no negative impact on the rainforests of the world. The company is also working to launch the Chocolate Wildlife Project which provides farmers with a viable source of income. For example, Nuubia purchases its ethical chocolate and ingredients directly from farmers who learn to produce sustainable, habitat-friendly crops.

With Indonesia being the world’s 3rd largest exporter of palm oil, the production of palm oil has devastated the natural habitats of the animals and orangutans that inhabit the area. Founder, Alexandra Saunders, took a personal interest in orangutan conservation when she lived in Indonesia and studied them in graduate school at UC Berkeley. It was through this passion that Nuubia created the Chocolate Wildlife Project, which provides small farmers living on the edges of the Orangutan habitat with a viable source of income to abstain from destructive farming practices.

The Delicious Products

Some standout ethical chocolates from Nuubia include fresh-squeezed lime juice with vanilla bonbons, Caramelized Hazelnut Spread Sauce, that can rival just about any Nutella out there, and finally Johnny Walker Black Espresso Ganache Half Spheres! So when a box of chocolates is under the tree, you know that no orangutans were harmed to make your chocolate and that your treat can be enjoyed guilt-free.

Not to mention the OMG Candy Bar was awarded “Best Foods in the U.S.” by Esquire Magazine. Layers of hazelnut praline, sea salt caramel, rice crisps, and dark chocolate come together in harmony to create the perfect mood-altering balance. The chocolatier at Nuubia is Lionel Clement in 2011 he was named Chocolatier of the Year by Pastry Live.

Nuubia also offers a heart-shaped chocolate special (for pick up only), filled with more chocolate bonbons. This is the ultimate sweetheart gift for any special occasion.

Connect with Nuubia Today

In February 2015, Nuubia San Francisco opened its first flagship retail space in the newly built “Market on Market” inside the Twitter building, bringing fine chocolates, confections, natural spreads, macarons, handcrafted ice creams and seasonal specials to the city. Either take a selection of these handmade items home or stay and enjoy a chocolaty treat with freshly brewed latte in-store while sitting at Nuubia’s Chocolate Counter. The chocolates can be purchased directly from their instore location or ordered online. When ordered online they arrive very well packed with an ice pack and delivered within a couple of days directly from the store.

10 Ridiculously Cool Things That You Didn’t Know About Death Valley

Cold? If yes, sorry to hear that, but it seems like a perfect time to read about the hottest place in the country. While Austin Adventures has been traveling to Antarctica for some time now, in three short months, it will celebrate the departure of its inaugural trip to California’s Death Valley. It is somewhere that has an abundance of people visiting all year, and is truly an impressive natural structure that leaves people in awe of its large structure and the heat of the environment.

This national park is known for its superlatives (hottest, lowest, driest, etc.) and really proves that America has some great wonders you need to see. The attraction is not as boring as some people may think such as you may be surprised to find out that you can play a round of golf at the aptly-named Furnace Creek. See below for some more surprising facts about the area…

1. 20 Years of Till Death Do Us Part!

In 1994, Congress made this section of the Mojave Desert a national park.

2. Largest in the Lower 48.

Measuring in at a whopping more than 3.4 million acres, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S.

3. Record-Holder for More Than 100 Years.

The highest recorded temperature in Death Valley is 134 degrees Fahrenheit which was measured in July, 1913 and is the highest recorded temperature in the Western Hemisphere.

4. A Year Without Rain.

Death Valley is the driest place in the country. In 1929, not a single drop of rain was recorded.

5. How Low (on land) Can You Go?

Death Valley is home to the country’s lowest point, Badwater Basin, which lies at 282 feet below sea level.

6. Notable Neighbor.

Death Valley is only 80 miles from the highest point in the country, Mount Whitney, which tops out at an elevation of 14,505 feet. In other words, the lowest and highest points in the contiguous U.S. are less than 100 miles apart!

7. Lots of Life.

Death Valley is home to more than 1000 species of plants (including 50 that are found nowhere else in the world), 300 species of birds, 51 species of mammals (including bighorn sheep and mountain lions), 36 species of reptiles and a handful of amphibian and fish species.

Scenic view of Death Valley sand dunes and mountains.

8. Humans Call it Home.

Archaeologists have found evidence of human presence in Death Valley that dates back at least 9,000 years! The Timbisha Shoshone Native American Tribe has inhabited Death Valley for the past 1,000 years.

9. Golfers are Welcome!

The Furnace Creek Golf Course at 214 feet below sea level is the world’s lowest golf course and golfers can play 18 holes year-round (although the game is less popular in the height of summer).

10. February is Just Fine!

The average high temperature in February is 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the average low is 46 degrees Fahrenheit – a perfect range for an active adventure vacation! February is also typically the wettest month. On average, it sees .51 inches of rainfall.

Austin Adventures’ first Death Valley adventure vacation departs on February 15, 2015!

~ By Katie Jackson on behalf of Austin Adventures.

A Day Trip to Muir Woods

Located 45 minutes north of San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge is a place where you can find trees older than the USA itself. It’s called Muir Woods and it happens to be the home of thousands of ancient Red Wood trees. Not only is Muir Woods a national park, it is also a great hike for any outdoor enthusiast.

Hiking Trails Suited for Everyone

The hiking trails are good for beginners to advanced hikers. They can take from 2 hours to a full day to complete. There are a few campsites on the property if your inner boy scout needs a nature fix. If you have the time and can handle the terrain, the hike up to the hidden beer garden is absolutely the best thing you could do with your day.

The full-day hike will take you through a variety of landscapes from the glorious redwoods to fields of wildflowers. There are small creeks sprinkled through the trails. As you ascend, you are rewarded with extraordinary views of the surrounding mountains.

Sights to See Along the Way

The beer garden or Nature Friends Tourist House is a nice break from the hike. Isolated on the side of a mountain is a hidden cabin. Anyone can drive there, but the hike is much more enjoyable. As you sit among the other travelers playing popular 90’s board games and consuming beer on picnic blankets you will feel a bit of nostalgic euphoria.

If you have time in San Francisco, all travelers alike should visit Muir Woods. The welcome center has a variety of educational information and activities for all ages. If you enjoy adventure, the hiking is beautiful and the smell of evergreen with a shady canopy brings you into a state of instant serenity.

~ By Joy Hmielewski. Joy is an ex-office worker with a love for adventure. A few years ago she picked up a camera and learned everything she could. She never wanted to spend her days in a cubical so she started a photography business and traveled anywhere she could go for cheap. She now travels extensively with a backpack and a small budget. Follow Joy on Facebook, Twitter@JoyDoesStuff and Instagram: @JoyDoesStuff

San Diego Dining Guide

San Diego is one of those cities where buzz words like “farm to table, organic, locally sourced” are norms, not novelties. Southern California chefs use mostly seasonal ingredients, unless they source the very best (such as New England scallops or Maine lobsters) from another region. This is, of course quite evident in the healthy and wholesome dishes available on the menus.

Here are the top five restaurants (not according to any formal standards or classification) that we tried. All of them have very different ambiances and located in different neighborhoods across San Diego. If you are a tourist in the city, you definitely want to account for some extra time exploring the areas before dinner.

1. 1500 Ocean at Hotel Del Coronado. Located at the historic property where the famous Marilyn Monroe movie, Some Like It Hot was filmed, Hotel Del Coronado is must-see for any visitor to San Diego. Coronado Island is a short ride from downtown by way of ferry or drive across the bridge. Stay at the hotel if your wallet allows, but at least go for date night dinner to 1500 Ocean. Outdoor fireplaces, cool ocean breeze, classy interiors, make for an intimate ambiance. Enjoy delicately prepared bounties from the kitchen such as this melt-in-your-mouth yellowfin tuna sashimi with jalapeño and avocado mousse, tooth-picked by a dainty tangerine radish. Entree of perfectly grilled sea scallops with a medley of grapes, almonds, capers, green beans, Thai basil and pickled lemons is far from a “simple” recipe. For desert, don’t shy away from the molten chocolate cake with poached cherries, toasted almonds, and vanilla ice cream. Your taste buds will thank you! 1500 Ocean has a great selection of wines and cocktails as well. Make your reservation after sunset you can get a chance to stroll along the beach.

2. PrepKitchen in Little Italy. Not an Italian restaurant as suggested by its location. This is the latest globally inspired creation by the Whisk n Ladle group, which has three acclaimed locations across San Diego. The hip and trendy PrepKitchen believes in a lot of flavor, and simple presentations. Their original idea of selling food prepped and ready to go did not take off as clients demanded the sit-down restaurant experience. With an extensive handcrafted drinks menu , seasonally evolving dishes, and a variety of tapas, PrepKitchen is the watering hole/ late night hang out restaurant that is also popular with the locals.

3. Cody’s in La Jolla is a cozy spot by the water, only walking distance from the seals. Hit any time of the day and get a table at the open air patio or the stylish interior. The food at Cody’s is fresh and delicious. Try the French toast for breakfast, and lobster rolls for lunch. Even the pancakes are the most scrumptious you will ever have.

4. Amaya’s at Grand del Mar resort features a distinctive menu with Mediterranean influences. Set in a gorgeous countryside setting with Italian inspired architectures, a visit to Grand del Mar is worth alone the trip. Carefully appointed suites, infinity pools, manicured gardens, award winning spa, wooded quiet scenery and top notch service are some other reasons to stay overnight. Chef Matthew Sramek presents an array of tempting appetizers, pastas and risotto, and savory entrees, such as Grilled Garlic Prawns with a pistachio and sweet pepper romesco and Rotisserie Veal Chop with gratin of asparagus and prosciutto.

5. NINE-TEN at the Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla is a popular destination among the local fashionable crowd and foodies in-the-know. Led by award-winning Chef Jason Knibb and Pastry Chef Rachel King, the restaurant offers the perfect combination of sophistication and casual elegance along downtown La Jolla’s historic Prospect Street. Evolving California Cuisine emphasizes a market-driven, farm-to-table philosophy with locally made cheeses, artisnal breads and an award winning wine cellar. Every dish is created with extra attention to wow the diners with visual and textual finesse. Looks too good to eat?

More on what to see and eat in San Diego

Some Like It Hot at The Del Coronado

Regarded by critics as one of the finest American movies ever made, Some Like It Hot continues to delight audiences 50 years after it debuted in 1959; in fact, the American Film Institute named it No. 1 on their list of the 100 best comedies of all time.

Filmed in 1958, the United Artists movie was shot on location at the Hotel del Coronado, Southern California’s landmark Pacific resort. The Del’s iconic Victorian architecture made it the perfect backdrop for the film’s 1929 setting, along with acting icons Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Says author and scholar Laurence Maslon, who released Some Like It Hot: The Official 50^th Anniversary Companion in September 2009 during the 50^th anniversary celebration at the Hotel del Coronado (published by Collins Design, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers in the US and Anova Books in the UK), “There have been a lot of movies shot on a lot of locations, but only a few marriages of celluloid and place can be considered truly legendary. Chief among those magical moments is the sight of Marilyn Monroe cavorting on the beautiful beach at the footsteps of the Hotel del Coronado.”

Plot

The Prohibition-era story follows the exploits of Lemmon and Curtis, out-of-work Chicago musicians who accidentally witness a gangland slaying. Making a run for their lives, the men disguise themselves as women and join an all-girl band traveling by train to Florida. Here, a ukulele-strumming singer, played by Monroe, catches the eyes of both men, but it is Curtis’ character who assumes still another identity – an unlucky-in-love millionaire – to successfully woo and win Monroe.

Lemmon’s cross-dressed character, meanwhile, is vigorously pursued by a bona fide millionaire, played by Joe E. Brown. The hilarious gender-shifting romantic romp is played out at California’s famed Hotel del Coronado, which director Billy Wilder found to be the perfect substitute for Florida in the Roaring Twenties.

Sunshine … California-Style

At least one Floridian was less than happy about Wilder’s decision to shoot the movie in San Diego. Miami Mayor Robert King High reportedly said it was “a sacrilege” to let Southern California play the role of Florida’s “Sunshine State.” This sour criticism was ably met by Coronado’s mayor, who wired back, “Some like it hot, but not as hot as Miami in September.” The mayor’s rebuttal also referenced Florida’s gnats, mosquitoes and hurricanes, none of which plagued the temperate island of Coronado.

An “Uproariously Improbable Set”

Like all American resorts, the Hotel del Coronado had endured some tough years during the Depression and World War II, but it was this period of benign neglect that helped preserve the resort, making it the perfect setting for Wilder’s 1929 story, which he co-wrote with I.A. Diamond. Said Wilder, “We looked far and wide, but this was the only place we could find that hadn’t changed in thirty years. People who have never see this beautiful hotel will never believe we didn’t make these scenes on a movie lot. It’s like the past come to life.”

Although at least one critic didn’t believe the hotel was real, describing The Del as “an uproariously improbable set.” The hotel’s 1888 Queen Anne Revival-style architecture does tend toward the fanciful, with rambling white clapboard, lazy verandas and red-turreted roofs, which an earlier writer had characterized as a cross between an ornate wedding cake and a well-trimmed ship.

Although only exterior scenes were filmed at hotel, the interior scenes do look very Del-like (right down to the placement of the lobby elevator and stairs). This probably explains why so many Some Like It Hot devotees – even after seeing the Hotel del Coronado for themselves – absolutely refuse to believe that the movie’s interior scenes were not filmed at The Del.

Favored by the Fans, Overlooked by the Oscars

The movie was a box office success, grossing over $8 million initially and earning several million more over the next few years – somewhere between $10 and $15 million.

Monroe’s financial deal – she received between $100,000 and $300,000, as well as 10 percent of the film’s gross profits – was a very lucrative arrangement in its day, and Some Like It Hot turned out to be her most profitable venture.

The movie was also a critical success. Variety called it the biggest hit of 1959; Monroe received a Golden Globe for her performance, as did Jack Lemmon. The film itself also won a Golden Globe for “best comedy.”

In spite of its financial success and public accolades, the film received only one minor Academy Award for “Best Black and White Costume Design.” Today it is thought that Some Like It Hot was just too risqué for 1959, when the big winner that year was Ben-Hur (also in the running for various Academy Awards were the likes of Diary of Anne Frank, Room at the Top, Pillow Talk and Porgy and Bess).

The Some Like It Hot story line is racy, and Monroe’s costumes are incredibly revealing, even by today’s standards (though, according to Wilder, Marilyn was not interested in fashion … as long as the costumes revealed “something,” she was satisfied). Ahead of its time perhaps, present-day reviewers marvel that the movie still comes across as such a wholesome film; this was Monroe’s forte: she was sexy, but childlike.

Although this is the Monroe film most shown on television today, the actress reportedly never liked her performance.

~ Story and photos courtesy of Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego.

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San Diego’s Obsession With The Beet Salad

During my recent visit to San Diego for the Travel and Adventure Show, I dined at some of the most reputable restaurants in the city. I was delighted to find that many of the places cooked with fresh, high quality, farm to table ingredients that included locally sourced vegetables and meat.

San Diego is blessed with temperate climate, abundant sunshine and varied topography that allows for a variety of foods to grow year-round. Beets are in season during the winter and spring, although the chefs I inquired told me, “San Diego folks ask for it year round” and every restaurant is unofficially required to have beets on their menu. Apparently, the locals complain when they don’t see “beet salad.” Nothing wrong with that since beets are one of the healthiest vegetables out there. They are rich in antioxidants, folic acid, fiber, anti-inflammatory properties and cancer-fighting agents.

Trust me, after 5 days of noticing the beet salad at every venue, I started to think that all the chefs in San Diego area must have received some sort of a memo about it. Here are some of the variations I discovered…

Hotel del Coronado‘s flagship ocean front seafood restaurant, 1500 Ocean served homemade burrata (Italian cheese made with mozzarella and cream), with heirloom beets and valencia oranges, tossed in Temecula (a city in California) balsamic.

Prep Kitchen in Little Italy’s version included fresh baby spinach, satsuma (Japanese mandarin), avocado, goat cheese, whole pistachios, with a gentle dressing of balsamic vinaigrette. It tasted more like a salad with beet as an important ingredient hiding below the spinach leaves.

Amaya, the Mediterranean restaurant at Grand Del Mar, took a slight twist on the classic recipe. Their Roasted Beet Salad was a simple concoction of pickled shallots, tangerine, goat cheese, molasses-candied walnuts and mache (French name of the edible salad green Valerianella locusta).

My favorite was this elegant creation by Chef Jason Knibb of Nine-Ten Restaurant, located at at Grande Colonial Hotel in La Jolla. Red and yellow baby beets were adorned with a light goat cheese pudding, shaved fennel, smoked oranges, drizzled with citrusy beet vinaigrette, and sprinkled with pistachio and cacao crumble. I would have never thought of using cacao dust for garnish but its an ingenious idea. The dish was a symphony for all the senses.

The chefs in San Diego have inspired me to cook Beet Salad at home more often. Here is a simple recipe that I have created using all that my tastebuds have guided me from this trip.

Easy Beet Salad Recipe:

Soak the beets in water with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, then scrub them well. Cut them into quarters and boil in water for 15-20 minutes until fully cooked but not too tender. If a sharp knife can go through easily, the beets are good enough to use in salad. Drain water and cool. You can also use them raw if you like.

In a large bowl, combine any greens (Boston lettuce, Bibb lettuce, Baby spinach), with fresh chopped oranges, diced avocados, crumbled goat cheese and roasted pistachios. Add good quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar, toss gently and serve immediately.