Search Results

Cheers to Life Lessons Learned Over 60 Years I turned 60 last September. Sixty. The big 6-0. Wow...I remember when 60 sounded ancient. It was the age of grandparents, the ones with hard candy in their purses and stories that began with "Back in my day...". But here I am, 60 years into this life, and surprisingly I don't feel ancient (at least on most days). My mind still feels like I'm in my 30s, until I look in the mirror and a more seasoned face is looking back at me. While there are some difficulties that come with aging, the one thing I love about getting older is I feel like I am definitely getting wiser. Over the past 60 years of trials and tribulations, lessons were learned and wisdom was gained. Some lessons were painful, others just inconvienent, but all resulted in growth and self-reflection. The ups and downs of 60 years have led me to some core principles that I TRY to live by for a more peaceful and happy life. I have by no means mastered the ability to live by these principles 100% of the time, but they provide the guidelines and boundaries for my approach to life. When I find myself veering from these principles I can always tell because I feel less happy, less peaceful. At this point in my life, time is too precious to waste too much of it being upset or stressed. I am sharing these thoughts in the event the wisdom gained from my 60 years may be helpful to anyone else, but also to remind myself of how I want to live the rest of my life. Ride the Waves Waves Can Teach Us How to Live The only constant in life is change. One thing that becomes abuntantly clear as the years go by is that things are always changing and evolving. I used to get so frustrated when something happened that wasn't what I planned (as if I could control the whole universe with my plans). Such disruptions would cause me to stress out and get angry and subject those around me to my frustrations (probably not too enjoyable). Getting into that mental state was usually not helpful to resolve the issue or figure out an alternative plan. It led to a constant pendulum of emotions as we all know that life does not generally run smoothly and annoyances (large or small) impact us everyday. . Accepting that a situation, whether good or bad, is temporary and will not stay the same is an important life lesson. It helps with resilience in getting through a tough period because I realize that 'this too shall pass'. It helps with living in the present because if I am in a good period I know I need to appreciate it and enjoy it because 'this too shall pass'. Learning to adapt to change, both in the way I perceive it and the way I react to it, has lead to growth, resilience and new opportunities. Change has often been the catalyst for personal or professional growth that has occurred in my life. I compare adjusting and adapting to the ups and downs in life to being in the ocean on a boogie board. You paddle out into the water, which can take effort. You find a spot where the water is calm and you hang out there for a bit. As the waves roll in, you just hang on to your board and let it roll by as it lifts you up and then delivers you back down. Then along comes an epic wave that picks you up and takes you on an exhilirating ride toward the shore. You just enjoy the experience, laughing as you ride it as far as you can. Then it is over as quickly as it began and the wave drops you off on the shore as it rolls back out to sea and you paddle back out and wait for the next epic wave. I can see this wave action when I look back over the various stages and periods I have experienced in my life. There were the hard paddling times, the calm almost boring times where life was just uneventfully moving forward, the waves that rolled over me that I just had to ride out, and those amazing epic waves that came with life accomplishments and adventures. Every part of the wave is important in creating the whole experience. Keep Your Balance Balance is Key The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you've lost it. -Anonymous In keeping with the boogie board theme, the next life lesson I have learned over my 60 years is that finding balance is very important. If you are on a boogie board or a surf board and you are not perfectly balanced on the board, you will fall off and miss riding that epic wave. In my life, achieving balance in all things is the ultimate goal. I have always been good at keeping my work life and personal life balanced. I learned this from my father who always stated he worked to live, not lived to work. My dad worked hard when he was at work, but made sure to be home for dinner every night and used his weekends to ski, ride his dirt bike or his bicycle. I found a way to practice law that allowed me to be around for my girls and attend all of their athletic activities. Could I have worked harder and went further in my career? Sure, but I found a balance between my professional career and my home life that allowed me to be proud of my accomplishments in both. I use this approach in other areas of my life as well. Going out or staying home, working out or resting, eating and drinking, the principle always applies. Balance (or you could say moderation) in all things helps me to enjoy things, but not to the exclusion of other things. It is very apparent when I have lost balance because I feel tired, I feel stressed, I feel generally unwell. It is a sign that I need to make adjustments to my choices to regain the balance that brings me peace. Be Curious Staying Curious By Exploring New Places I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious. -Albert Einstein Over the years I've learned the importance of being curious. Being curious helps to stay knowledgable and understand the world around me. By asking questions I engage more deeply which makes learning an ongoing process rather than a finite experience. By remaining curious, I constantly challenge my own perspectives and try to expand my world view. Curiosity also improves creativity. Looking at a situation from multiple angles allows me to consider innovative approaches to resolve an issue (or maybe realize it's not a problem at all!). Curiosity is also helpful to keep the mind sharp. Making myself learn new things (you really can teach an old dog new tricks), keeps the neuro pathways working and hopefully will ward off mental decline as I age. Learning how to create this blog and keep it growing; starting a new job at a jewelry store learning about gemstones, metals and designers; and learning how to play pickleball (especially how to keep score!) have all kept me on my toes as I keep racking up the years. I also watch documentaries on a wide range of topics. Some that I watch are VERY random, but I always learn something new. It is now a joke among my friends and family that I often start a sentence with "I was watching a documentary about *fill in the blank". But perhaps most important, being curious has improved my relationships. Instead of jumping to conclusions or digging into my position, I try to ask more questions and genuinely seek to understand others’ perspectives. I have discovered that when I take the time to be curious it results in deeper connections. It also encourages better conversations which often lead to mutual understanding. Being curious allows me to appreciate diverse viewpoints, even if I may not completely agree. Being curious definitely makes life much more interesting! Keep Your Sense of Humor Keep Laughing and Finding the Humor A sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles - Mignon McLaughlin Stress is inevitable...whether its a bad day at work, a disagreement with a friend or partner, or simply being stuck in traffic after a long day when you just want to get home. But if you can somehow learn to find the humor in some of these every day complications, it makes things a lot easier. One thing my ex-husband was very good at during our marriage, was getting me to laugh when my stress or anger started to bubble up. It is amazing how quickly difficult emotions diffuse once I give into giggling or divert my attention to something amusing. Not that I am not still frustrated or annoyed, but the laughter takes the emotion level down a few notches so things are easier to deal with. Sometimes the only difference between a crisis and a funny story is time AND the ability to laugh at myself. Once I can zoom out and see that the thing I am stressing over really isn't that big of a deal or is only temporary, it doesn't loom so large. Putting it in perspective usually makes me realize how dramatic I am being and I can make fun of myself for overreacting. So often stories from my past that were so stressful or embarrassing at the time are hilarious (or at least entertaining) now. Laughing at my flaws and screw ups makes life seem less like a challenge and more like a fun-filled adventure. Being able to get back up, maybe a bit bruised and still limping, but with a smile on my face is an act of quiet defiance against the chaos. When I can find something to laugh about, even in my hardest moments, I feel like I regain a little bit of control. Trust Your Gut When I Trusted My Gut Instinct to Buy a House and Miraculously Found the Perfect Lot! Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself. - Oprah Winfrey As I look back on my life and the twists and turns that make up my journey, I can see the importance of trusting my gut instincts. This applies to both positive and negative instincts. It's that quiet voice in my head, often uninvited but always persistent, that says " Something's off" or " This is the right move". It doesn't always speak in words...sometimes it is a tightness in my throat or my chest or a feeling of calm that washes over me when I make a decision. Regardless, I have learned that my gut is powerful and its instincts are rooted in my lived experiences, observations, memories and even deeply buried emotions. Some of the biggest changes in my life have followed an instinct that has led me to major decisions. Strong feelings led me to move to San Diego with friends, apply to law school, move to the East Coast from Colorado, relocate to Saratoga Springs and buy/build a house. When I leaned into these inklings, everything else fell into place relatively easilydes. I never questioned decisions based on my gut instincts and have never regretted them. In fact, they were literally some of the best decisions in my life even though they might have seemed crazy to others at the time. I also learned to trust those gut instincts when they are giving me a clear warning signal of what to avoid. When I feel uneasy about a situation, a person or a vibe, I no longer ignore it. I have learned over the years that experience has allowed me to recognize those red flags waving in the background. I understand that I need to honor my peace and remove myself. My gut is my inner compass signaling that I am not moving in a direction that is true to me. Trusting my instincts isn't just about avoiding danger, but about staying in alignment with myself. Trusting these instincts doesn't mean my gut is always right (but it does have a pretty good track record!), but it does mean it deserves to be heard. People haven't always understood some of my crazier instincts and sometimes question my choices. They may ask for explanations that I can't exactly give. Sometimes " I just know" is enough for me. Intention Matters Living My Intention to See the World Intentional living is about living your best story. - John C. Maxwell As we go through life, it pulls us in a thousand different directions. Between working, raising a family, doing all the things to stay healthy and active, day to day responsibilities, trying to stay in touch with friends and extended family...the list goes on...we can lose focus on how we want to live our life and just go on autopilot getting through each day. I often compare it to that circus trick where the circus performer has a bunch of plates spinning on poles. He gets them all going and as soon as he gets to the last one, others are starting to wobble. As he turns his attention to the wobbling plate and gets it going again, the other plates he wasn't focusing on begin to wobble. It is a never ending task and there is never time to pause to enjoy the accomplishment of getting all the plates spinning, it's just about frantically running from plate to plate to keep them all going. When living this way, life becomes more reactive than reflective. We are doing what we HAVE to do instead of what we necessarily WANT to do. Obviously when you are in the thick of your career and raising kids, this is sometimes just what is required. However, we get so used to living like this, we continue on this path even when things slow down. Unfortunately for me, once things slowed down I was left with a broken marriage, an autoimmune disease, and a lay off from my job despite all my years of hard work. After I picked myself up and brushed myself off (with a smile on my face per my advice above), I realized I needed to be more intentional about my life. I needed to not just go through the motions, but know why I'm doing what I'm doing. Whether deciding how to spend my time, who I choose to spend time with, what things I give my energy to, I needed intention to add purpose to every choice. Not everything deserves my attention, not every invitation is meant for me. I have learned to say no to things that don't align with my intentions for what I want in my life and say yes with full intention to things things that will add value to my life or support those things that are important to me. Living with intention doesn't guarantee a perfect life, but it helps me live a conscious one. I make decisions based on what feels true to me. That generally leads to less regret. I still stumble or occasionally make a decision that I am eventually unhappy with, but I know I chose deliberately and not by default. I try to make sure my choices are guided by questions like " What kind of person do I want to be?" or " What kind of life do I want to create?". These guidelines help me make thoughtful choices that lead me closer to the vision I have for my life journey. Stay In Your Lane Learning to Stay in My Own Lane Once you create your own lane, there's no traffic. - Pitbull One thing I have learned in 60 years of living is that it is exhausting trying to control everyone and everythng around you. In all honesty, I am a control freak at heart and used to spend a lot of time thinking about what everyone else was doing and inserting my opinion about what I thought was the best plan of action. I came to realize that what I really wanted to do was control my own environment and how I was impacted by others' choices. I wanted to maintain my peace. The beauty of that realization is that I can control my own environment! I just can't do it by trying to control others and what they were doing. I can only do it by making choices for myself that are in alignment with my values and reacting to others' actions by making my own choices in response. Worrying about what everyone else is doing is draining and leaves less energy to focus on my own life. Obviously, when my children were younger it was my job to worry about what they were doing and guide them in their decisions as they grew up and learned to be an adult. But even with my children, since they are now adults it is no longer my job (or my right) to dictate what they should or should not be doing in their life. Every person is on their own journey and they are the captain of their own ship. All I need to do is focus on MY journey and MY growth...essentially STAY IN MY OWN LANE. When I stay in my own lane and quit worrying about what others are doing (and whether they are doing it the way I would), my world gets peaceful and quiet. My mind isn't filled with thoughts about what I wish someone else would do or what actions I think they should take. That is not my business. It is essentially the "Let Them" theory that Mel Robbins talks about. I let the people in my life direct their journey to have the experiences they want to have. For example, I was sad when my oldest daughter, Madison, decided to move far away from me to go back to Colorado (where she was born and where my family still lives). But that is a life experience SHE wants to have and I don't get a vote. Just like my parents didn't try to control my decisions when I moved away from Colorado to San Diego and then moved away again years later to New York (this time with their grandchildren in tow). I know they were sad about the distance, but I was given the freedom to take my life where I wanted to. I want to give my children that same gift This practice is not as easy as it seems. It is so easy to jump in when someone is talking and start giving advice (even if it wasn't asked for) because I know what I would do if I was in the same situation. But realizing we are different people, with different priorities, different personalities, different history, and different intentions for our life journeys makes it easier to take a step back and just listen. Sometimes people just want a sounding board as they figure out what they want to do on their own. It is actually a relief to understand that you don't have to solve their problem, you just have to be there for them. Staying in your own lane is addictive once you get used to it! It takes the weight of the world off your shoulders when you realize you don't have to carry the weight of the world! Conclusion As I said, I am still practicing following these lessons that I have learned. Habits developed over 60 years die hard. But when I do follow these principles, I find my life flows easier, it is more peaceful and I am a generally happier person. I am sure the years ahead will give me even more wisdom as I try to age gracefully. Instead of being sad about my loss of youth, I am trying to appreciate the lessons learned, the memories made and the adventures along the way.

Amazing Architecture in the Saratoga Spa State Park Just a short distance from the bustling downtown area of Saratoga Springs, is a magical place filled with history, nature, architecture, music and activity. Saratoga Spa State Park is a 2,379 acre state park that is recognized as a National Historical Landmark due to its historical and cultural relevance. It has long been a destination for people seeking the health benefits from Saratoga's healing mineral waters. The Park contains 10 mineral springs, an historic hotel, bath houses and spas, miles of hiking and biking trails, two golf courses, a performance venue, two swimming pools and much, much more. I must admit that the Park holds a special place in my heart. I have made so many memories over the years from times spent in the Park. I cross country skied here when we first moved to upstate New York in 2004, I have attended several concerts and ballet performances at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, I have celebrated high moments and consoled low moments over the years that my younger daughter ran cross country races through the trails in the Park, prom pictures have been taken around the scenic area, and I have attended events at the historic Gideon Putnam Hotel. My oldest daughter worked as a caterer at weddings and events held at the historic Hall of Springs. If you live in the Saratoga area, you can't help but become interconnected with the beautiful Park and all it offers. And those experiences are only the tip of the iceberg! If you are visiting Saratoga Springs, you need to make time to do something in the Park. This blog will give you a ton of options depending on the time of year you are visiting and what your personal interests are! Things to Do In Saratoga Spa State Park: Spa City Farmer's Market. A Farmer's Market takes place at the Park every Sunday from10-2. If the weather is good, it is held outside at the entrance to the Park off of Broadway and Avenue of the Pines. When weather is bad, it is held inside the Lincoln Bath house. If you go to the Farmer's Market, make sure to stop and snap some photos at the entrance to the Park because it is always beautifully decorated with seasonal flowers and plants. The fall decor is renowned and is a perfect place to grab that holiday card family photo! Check out this year's display below. Check Out the Classic Architecture of the Historic Bath Houses. At the center of the park there is a large open area with historic bath houses around the perimeter. It is a great place to spread a blanket for a picnic or a nap and check out the beautiful buildings and plaza. Historic Bath Houses Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Take in a live performance at SPAC. Summer includes a full line up of rock and country concerts, comedy shows, Saratoga Jazz Festival and performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York City Ballet. Beautiful Sunset and Great Music at SPAC Spa Little Theater. An intimate 500-seat theater showcasing Opera Saratoga, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center as well as other vocal ensembles, small theater performances and holiday events. Saratoga Automobile Museum. My dad is a car enthusiast and he loves to visit this Museum whenever he is in town. They have several ongoing exhibits including one about the history of auto racing in New York, as well as rotating special exhibits. The Museum building originally housed the facility that bottled the waters of Saratoga Spa State Park. This facility was owned and operated by the State of New York when the healing properties of the mineral water of Saratoga Springs was all the rage. There is an exhibit in the Museum outlining the bottling history of the building. Find out more about the Museum's exhibit schedules and hours here . Roosevelt Baths and Spas. The Roosevelt Baths and Spas was originally established in 1935 following President Franklin Roosevelt's visionary act to preserve the Saratoga Springs. The mineral water that was abundant in the Saratoga Springs area was believed to have medicinal qualities and people flocked to the area to drink and bathe in the water. Today, you can still receive the benefits of the healing water at the Roosevelt Baths and Spas. They provide hydrotherapy spa treatments including mineral baths, massages, body treatments and facials. Every treatment begins with a soak in Saratoga's naturally effervescent waters. Check out the services offered at the Roosevelt Baths and Spas here . Have a Relaxing Day at Roosevelt Baths and Spa Gideon Putnam Hotel. The Gideon Putnam Hotel is a boutique hotel with historic charm and ambiance that is located in the heart of the Saratoga Spa State Park. The hotel opened in 1935, along with the Roosevelt Baths and Spas, for health and wellness seekers to "take the waters" of Saratoga Springs. It was built by prominent New Yorker Gideon Putnam, hence the name. The Hotel continues operation to this day and is a perfect place to stay if you are in town to take in a show at SPAC (as it is walking distance to the venue). Note that the website states that the Hotel will suspend all food, beverage and lodging operations for the winter season beginning November 14, 2022 and will reopen May 1, 2023. The Roosevelt Baths and Spas will continue to operate 7 days a week through the winter. Check out availability and rates for the Gideon Putnam Hotel hre . Golfing . There are two golf courses located in the Park. There is a championship 18-hole course as well as a challenging 9-hole course. The courses are framed by towering pines creating a picturesque scene. There is also a pro shop and a restaurant for that 19th hole drink! Check out available tee times and fees here . Swimming Pools. There are two swimming pools located within the Saratoga Spa State Park. Peerless Pool is a more family oriented pool with a main pool area with a zero depth entrance, a kiddie pool and a water slide pool. There are showers, locker rooms and concessions available at the Peerless Pools. There is no admission fee for the Peerless Pools but there is the entrance fee to the Park which is $10 per vehicle. Find more information about Peerless Pool here . For a more historic Saratoga Springs experience, you will want to visit the Victoria Pool. Read my blog about this beautiful spot here . The Victoria Pool was built in the 1930's along with the Hotel and Roosevelt Baths and Spas and was used for the health treatments that visitors came seeking in Saratoga. The Victoria Pool is a more low-key pool with less child friendly facilities (although children are welcome). There is an additional fee for entrance to the Victoria Pool of $8 for adults and $4 for children 5-11 (no charge for children under 5). The Stunning Victoria Pool Hiking and Running Trails. There are over twelve miles of hiking and biking trails around the Park, including a certified running course used by high school and collegiate cross country runners (the one I spent several afternoons cheering on my daughter and her friends). The trails are beautiful and have varying levels of difficulty. Here is the link to All Trails with maps to the best hiking trails in the Park. Creekside Classroom. Creekside Classroom is a four-season environmental education center with programs offered year round. They offer guided hikes, tours and snowshoe walks. You can also pick up a brochure that will take you on a self-guided walk passing by all 12 mineral springs located in the Park. Each spring has water with different mineral compositions and different tastes. The Creekside Classroom can provide cups to taste the different healing waters in case you forgot yours! Have a Picnic. There are so many different places to have a picnic in Saratoga Spa State Park! Just pack your picnic basket and head out. Plop yourself down when you find a spot in the Park that you like. There are picnic tables scattered throughout the Park. Some are deeper in the forest, some are located next to a babbling creek, some are located right next to large playgrounds if you need something to occupy the kids. You have several options! If you have a bigger party, you can rent large covered pavilions with grilling stations. There are 10 pavilions of varying size that accommodate 50-250 people. The price ranges from $125-$300 depending on the location and the size. One of the pavilions has a volleyball net right next to it! Find our more information about the pavilions here . Other Activities. In addition to the above, there are other outdoor activities you can enjoy at the Park including Disc Golf, tennis courts, fishing, ice skating and biking. Also, the Hall of Springs is an historic building in the Saratoga Spa State Park that is one of Saratoga Spring's premier wedding and banquet facilities. If you are looking for an amazing spot with a beautiful backdrop for incredible photos, you need to check it out! Information on weddings and banquets at the Hall of Springs can be found here . So as you can see, there is no end the things you can do at the Saratoga Spa State Park. Regardless of the season in which you find yourself in Saratoga, make time to check out the natural beauty and the historical architecture that make this Park the Spa City's Crown Jewel!

Best Places To Stay: Adelphi Hotel Saratoga Arms Gideon Putnam Bed and Breakfasts on Union Embassy Suites by Hilton Saratoga Springs Spa City Motor Lodge Best Things To Do: Horse Races at Saratoga Race Track (late July through Labor Day) Breakfast on the Porch at the Track Clubhouse with Free Backstretch Tram Tour Concert or Performance at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) Museum of Historical Society of Saratoga Springs in Congress Park Picnic and Carousel Ride in Congress Park Shopping on Broadway Beekman Street Arts District National Museum of Racing and Jockey Hall of Fame Live Music at Caffe Lena Bar Hopping on Caroline Street Saratoga State Park -Picnic, Hike, Swimming at Peerless or Victoria Pools, Tennis Courts, Golf, Spa Treatments at Roosevelt Baths and Spa, Farmers Market, Saratoga Automobile Museum Day Trip to Lake George or Adirondacks Saratoga Winery Best Places To Eat: Breakfast/Brunch: Sweet Mimi's Cafe and Bakery Max London's/Mrs. Londons Spot Coffee Darling Doughnuts Country Corner Cafe PDT Maison Breakfast at the Track (July through Labor Day) Lunch/Dinner: Cantina Chianti Druthers Brewing Hattie's Chicken Shack Henry Street Taproom Kindred Hamlet and Ghost The Local The Mercantile Rhea Salt and Char Scallions Solevo Kitchen Wheatfields Happy Hour: Lucy's Il Forno Bistro Chianti Morrisseys The Wine Bar Honorable Mention: *I haven't personally eaten here yet, but have heard good things! 15 Church Osteria Danny's Best Places To Shop: Fashion: Silverado Jewelry Lifestyles of Saratoga Caroline and Main Union Hall Supply Company (Men's Clothing) Violet's The Yellow Boutique Lucia Home Decor: Silverwood Gallery Local Food: Saratoga Olive Oil Saratoga Chocolate Saratoga Tea and Honey The Savory Pantry Gifts: Into the Mischief Pangea Impressions of Saratoga Dark Horse Crafter's Gallery Northshire Bookstore

Park City Wine Festival-Sunshine, Wine and Views Last weekend my friends and I went to Park City, Utah to attend the Park City Wine Festival. The Festival was put on by Team Player Productions, where my daughter works as Marketing Manager promoting and hosting their events. I have never been to a wine festival before and I wanted to see what Madison does at her job. It was a three day immersion into Park City and wine...what a great combination! Day One-The Cellar Experience Paired Dinner: Menu for our Seven Course Meal Each day of the Wine Festival there are lunch and dinner pairing experiences at local restaurants. You have the opportunity to choose to attend a lunch or dinner based on the restaurant, the vineyard, and the menu to be served. These pairing experiences are separate from the Grand Tasting event and are an additional charge. I really enjoyed the dinner and lunch we attended and highly recommend adding on these experiences. You get a specially prepared menu, amazing food and a deep dive into the featured vineyard and the wines they are serving. These pairing experiences were probably my favorite part of the weekend! The Cellar Experience Dinner at Riverhorse on Main On our first day, we attended The Cellar Experience Wine Dinner, a wine pairing dinner at the Riverhorse on Main featuring wines from Russian River Vineyards. Riverhorse on Main is one of Park City's oldest and most distinguished restaurants and a 16 year recipient of the Forbes Travel Gold Star Award. Russian River Vineyards is a small-production vitner from Sonomo Valley, California. The Cellar Exerience Wine Dinner included seven (yes, seven!) courses all specifically curated to pair with select wines from Russian River Vineyards. As a notoriously picky eater, I was a bit nervous about the menu but I committed to try everything I was served. I was pleasantly surprised to like most of what I had (but have to admit I did not try the bone marrow). My friends who are foodies and have a much broader palate raved about all of the dishes. The pairings were on point and the wine really did enhance the flavor of the food. Learning About the Russian River Vineyard Sparkling Wine Day Two-The Oregon Uncorked Wine Lunch The Oregon Uncorked Wine Lunch On Day 2 we spent the morning exploring Park City (a separate blog on things to do in Park City is coming shortly!) and then headed to the Hyatt Centric for our paired lunch featuring wines from the Adelsheim Vineyard in the Willamette Valley. Adelsheim Vineyard is unique in that it is a pioneer in sustainable winemaking. The host was very energetic and informative about Adelsheim wines and the growth of wine production out of Oregon. The food was (again) amazing making for an incredible pairing experience. A Little Snippet of the Informative Discussion Ready for the Oregon Uncorked Lunch Day Three-The Grand Tasting Early Access Grand Tasting Tickets Are A Good Idea to Beat the Lines! The Grand Tasting is the main event at the Wine Festival and was held at the scenic Pendry Plaza overlooking the slopes of Park City. Over 100 wineries were represented so we had the chance to sample a diverse array of wines from a variety of locations. In addition to wine, we also had the chance to sample other types of drinks such as canned cocktails, aperol spritzes and some hot toddys (which was nice because it can still be a bit chilly in Park City in April). Learn About and Taste a Variety of Wines! Seems Like an Appropriate Name for a Vodka Produced in Ogden, Utah In addition to wine tasting, there are food tables offering a variety of choices. And these are no ordinary snacks, you get gourmet bites at the Park City Wine Festival! There were oysters shipped in from Washington state, lemon gelato with caviar, beef tartare, deli sandwiches and freshly cooked empanadas. There was also a charcuterie table featuring Beehive Cheeses, which are locally made rubbed-rind cheddar cheeses with exotic flavors. I was blown away by these cheeses and enjoyed flavors such as Red Butter Hatch Chili (which had a slight kick to it), Apple Walnut Smoked, Teahive (rubbed with Earl Grey tea) and Barely Buzzed (rubbed with lavendar and espresso). You can order some of these amazing cheeses for your next party at their website here . Charcuterie Table with Beehive Cheeses More Delicious Gourmet Bites Team Player Productions also makes sure you have plenty to do in between your tastings. They arrange for local artisans to display their crafts at booths around the Festival. Additionally, there is live music playing to enhance the lively atmosphere. The blues band playing at our Festival was great and was the perfect vibe for the setting. Future Wine Festivals and Team Player Production Events: Cheers to an Amazing Wine Festival Experience! If you are interested in going to an event like this, you are in luck! Not only does Team Player Productions have another Park City Wine Festival scheduled for October, but they also hold similar events in Vail and Breckenridge (I'm looking at you, my Colorado friends and followers). Not a wine enthusiast? That's ok...they also hold a Craft Beer Festival in Vail as well! Here is the Team Player Production website for more information on all their signature events (which also includes the Boulder Creek Festival and the Tennyson Street Fair in Colorado). For quick reference, here are the dates of upcoming wine and beer events so you can start planning! Click on the link for each event for more specific details and ticket prices. Vail Craft Beer Classi c-June 13-14, 2025 Vail Wine Classic -August 7-10, 2025 Breckenridge Wine Classic -August 21-23, 2025 Park City Wine Festival -October 2-4, 2025 Insider Tips : We had an early access ticket which means we got to enter the Wine Festival a bit before the main crowd. I highly recommend paying the extra price for this benefit. We were able to secure a table and there were no lines for food and tastings when we first got there. It gave us a chance to have a more in depth discussion with some of the wine experts and allowed for a more relaxed start to the event. By the time the crowds came we were slowing down and didn't mind the wait. Definitely include a paired lunch and/or dinner. These events were more intimate and informative as the vitners had time to really talk to us about their different wines and the production processes. The food at the restaurants TPP works with is incredible (even for a picky eater like myself!). As I mentioned above, the paired meals were actually my favorite part of the weekend. Pace yourself as you will be drinking a lot of wine over the weekend. Eat all the delicious food offered, take advantage of the Hydration Stations they have around to drink plenty of water, and don't be afraid to sip and spit! There are spitoons at every station to empty and clean your glass before the next taste. The Team Player Production events are held in fantastic locations, so make sure to give yourself time to explore the area which ever festival you decide to attend! The Park City Wine Festival was an amazing experience! The team at Team Player Productions put on such a well-organized festival and everything flowed smoothly from one event to the other. We had amazing food, drank delicious wine and got to explore Park City, Utah. I'd say that's a pretty great getaway! The Sun Setting On A Great Day at the Festival

Jo's Coffee: Breakfast Tacos are a must have when visiting Austin and Jo's Coffee is a perfect place to go to try them out. There Jo's locations on South Congress, Downtown and in Red River so you have several options to grab your breakfast taco fix. Each location serves a variety of breakfast tacos, oatmeal and granola for breakfast along with several different coffee drinks and teas. The breakfast tacos are available from 7 am until they are gone (so you may want to stop by early). The lunch menu includes grilled chicken tacos, deli sandwiches and salads available from 11 am until gone. Jo's offers an assortment of drinks (including sodas, Topo Chico, and a rotating selection of local beers and Frose). Check out Jo's menu here. Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ: Another thing you have to eat when in Texas is good ol' BBQ! There are many BBQ places to pick from and I am sure they are all fantastic. We went to Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ and really enjoyed the vibe and the food! Cooper's is open seven days a week from 11 am to 10 pm. They offer several different cuts of meat that are cooked on the open fire right in front of you. Madison got brisket and I got the chopped beef sandwich. They have several traditional southern side dishes, including a Macaroni and Cheese that was incredible! Dessert options include several different flavors of fruit cobbler with ice cream. We were stuffed but satisfied when we left! Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill: The motto for Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is "Bootlegged & Bountiful" and you gotta love any place with a motto like that! Their website says they serve "Classic American Comfort Food" and I can attest to that. The vibe in the restaurant was really cool and the food was delicious! We left stuffed...uncomfortably so. This restaurant is always packed so reservations are a good idea. 1886 Cafe & Bakery: This quaint Victorian-style cafe is attached to the Driskill Hotel. They are open until 2 pm for breakfast and lunch. They serve traditional Texas comfort food made with time-honored recipes. They also use locally sourced ingredients. We had a delicious breakfast there one morning before heading out to explore Austin. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream: Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is an incredible ice cream store with its flagship Austin shop right on South Congress ("SoCo"). They have really unique flavors such as Everything Bagel, Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flakes, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Gooey Butter Cake, and Brambleberry Crisp. You definitely need to stop here for refreshment after an afternoon of shopping in SoCo! BONUS RECOMMENDATION: Austin Eastciders Cider: This last recommendation is not a place to eat, rather it is a hard cider that is produced locally and it must be tried if you are a fan of hard ciders. I had the Blackberry Cider and it was amazing! These are just a few of the many great restaurants in Austin where you can sample some good ole Southern cooking. Let me know if you discover any other eateries that should be highlighted for future Austin tourists!

Just a short drive away from Austin (an hour and a half to be exact!) is the wonderful city of San Antonio. San Antonio was where Davy Crockett was heading when he famously said "You can all go to hell and I will go to Texas!" I had heard great things about San Antonio and its' famous River Walk and wanted to check it out for myself. Let me tell you, it definitely lived up to all the hype. My daughter and I truly enjoyed our visit to San Antonio and we encourage you to join us and Davy Crockett and head to Texas! Best Place to Stay: There are several hotel options in San Antonio. Wherever you choose to stay, I would recommend choosing a hotel situated on or near the River Walk. We stayed at the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk and I highly recommend it! The location was great as it is literally right on the River Walk and only a short walk away from most of the other things you will want to do. The Canopy also has a highly acclaimed restaurant right on the property that I will highlight below. It is also a brand new hotel so everything is really nice and fresh! Best Things to Do: Gruene Historic District/New Braunfels: About half way between Austin and San Antonio (or approximately a 45 minute drive from each) is the Gruene Historic District located in the city of New Braunfels. Gruene (pronounced "green") is a charming rustic Texas town with a distinct history. It is home to Gruene Hall, built in 1878, which is the oldest dance hall in Texas. Many big name country music stars have played here over the years. Gruene Hall still has live music every day so check the schedule and try and catch a show in this historic venue! There are also several local shops to pick up a memento from your trip, including the Gruene General Store which hasn't changed much since it opened in 1925. If you make a trip to Gruene, make sure to plan to each lunch or dinner at The Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar highlighted below in Where to Eat! Walk or Cruise the River Walk: Once you arrive in San Antonio, the first thing you will want to do is check out the River Walk. You can stroll up and down both sides. There are several bridges that can take you up and over the river whenever you want to get to the other side. Check out all of the restaurants and shops that border the River Walk and decide which ones you want to return to during your stay! There are also free water taxis that will take you up and down the river throughout the day. You can also buy a ticket to take a guided cruise up and down the River Walk. We chose to do a cruise at night so we could see the River Walk all lit up. City Sightseeing Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus: I always recommend doing these bus tours on the first day or two of your trip when they are available. Riding the full loop gives you a lay of the land and a little history about the area you are about to explore. We bought a package that included a two-day bus pass and the River Walk boat cruise. Having a two day bus pass works to get you around the city and back to any places on the tour bus route that you want to return to. There are other packages that include discounted tickets to additional sightseeing spots. Check out all your options here. The Alamo: The most famous site in San Antonio is a must see! Known as the "Shrine of Texas Liberty", the Alamo represents the heart of Texas pride and the spirit of its' people. I admit didn't know (or remember) the history of the area and I found the tour entertaining and educational. It gave me a whole new respect for the history of Texas in their fight to be independent. To do a self-directed tour you must reserve a FREE timed-entry ticket. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket for a guided tour that will give you a complete history of the Alamo with a directed tour. I would recommend the guided tour for the complete experience. You can find information on securing your timed entry ticket and tour prices here. Historic Market Square: The Historic Market Square is an area "where the culture of San Antonio comes alive". There are over 100 locally owned businesses located in the Historic Market Square that allow you to enjoy the sights and flavors of old Mexico. You can find authentic Mexican curios and artifacts, hand-crafted leather goods and hand-woven Mexican blankets for $10. After shopping you can enjoy authentic Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine at one of the several restaurants in the Square. Or you can just enjoy an authentic Mexican churro with your choice of dipping sauce! Yum! A trip to San Antonio is not complete without a visit to the Historic Market Square (and it is a designated stop on the Hop On/Hop Off tour bus mentioned above). Find more information on the Historic Market Square here. La Villita Historic Art Village: La Villita Historic Art Village is located on the southern bank of the River Walk and is easy to get to while strolling on the River Walk or after your tour of the Alamo. The "Little Village" is an artisan village that has been listed on the U.S. Government's National Register of Historic Places. The cobblestone streets are lined by historic architecture opening up into spacious outdoor plazas. La Villita has a storied history, but these days serves as a mecca for artisans and entrepreneurs selling their wares in over 25 boutiques and performers entertaining visitors at cultural events throughout the year. La Villita is the perfect place to find unique gifts and mementos to remember your San Antonio experience. I bought a beautiful hand embroidered kaftan at Villa Tesoros that caught my eye and I get numerous compliments every time I wear it! Pearl Shopping District: One of the stops on the Hop On/Hop Off Tour Bus is the Pearl Shopping District. It is a little out of the way, so if you don't do the Tour Bus you will have to have transportation to get here if you don't want to hike all the way over from the River Walk area. If you do choose to go, you will find a lovely shopping area anchored by Pearl Brewery. There are several different retailers with an eclectic mix of items from books, kitchen wares, free trade artisan crafts, home decor and clothing boutiques. There are also a number of different restaurants to choose from aside from the Brewery. On the weekends they have a large Farmer's Market with Saturdays dedicated to local farmers and ranchers and Sundays featuring local artisans. Definitely check out all that the Pearl Shopping District has to offer and plan to make a stop during your stay. Best Places to Eat: As I mentioned above, San Antonio is known for its authentic Mexican food and its Tex-Mex cuisine. We only had a couple of days and were trying to cram in all of our sight seeings so we didn't do too many "sit down" meals. We were able to check out a couple of places (and try a couple of special San Antonio treats, so that can get you started if you find yourself in San Antonio. The Gristmill Restaurant: After checking out Gruene, make sure to grab a bite at the Gristmill River Restaurant and Bar before you head out of town. The Gristmill is located beneath the Gruene landmark water tower in the ruins of a 1878 Cotton Gin overlooking the Guadalupe River. It is included on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Gruene Historical District. There are multiple levels of dining and an outdoor beer garden. We sat on an open air patio nestled in a grove of trees overlooking the River. It felt like we were eating in a tree house! The food was delicious and the setting was beautiful. La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe: For breakfast we stopped at La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe and we were not disappointed with our choice! La Panaderia is owned by two brothers who grew up baking bread and pan dulce with their mother in Mexico. They decided to share their Mexican heritage and love of baking with their San Antonio community by opening the cafe in 2014. They had so many delicious pastries it was hard to choose! Domingo: Domingo is an open-air restaurant located beneath the Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk where we stayed. The vide is cool and relaxed enhanced by the open air concept. The patio of Domingo is right on the River Walk so you can watch the boats float up and down the river and the people strolling along the River Walk. Domingo serves Mexican dishes with South Texas flavors. I had the Grilled Adobo Chicken Tacos which were delicious. Madison and I split the Skillet Cornbread made with cheddar, zucchini, and green chiles and served with honey butter. It was AMAZING! The drinks are "agave forward beverages" that are styled with edible flowers creating a drink almost too pretty to drink...notice I said almost. San Antonio is an incredible city with lots to do! I encourage you to plan a visit and suggest combining it with a visit to Austin to do all the things I highlighted in my Austin blog which can be found here. By the time you are done exploring these parts of South Texas you will be saying "y'all" and speaking with a country twang while craving BBQ and Tex-Mex!

I just returned from a long girl's weekend in Nashville, Tennessee and I already can't wait to go back! If you love listening to live music by talented musicians, you need to plan a trip to Nashville, also known as Music City, immediately if not sooner. Nashville has been the launching pad for many past and present popular musicians. As you walk up and down Broadway, there is live music playing in every bar all day and all night by excellent performers hoping to be discovered and make it big. Even if music isn't your cup of (sweet) tea, Nashville has plenty of other things to keep you occupied. There is amazing food, sporting events, museums, history, and lots of shopping. And don't forget the moonshine! This was my second visit and I can tell you it definitely won't be my last. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Nashville and I am sure you will love it too. Best Places to Stay: Downtown: If the main focus of your visit will be the honky tonks on Broadway or attending a concert or sporting event at Bridgestone Arena or Nissan Stadium, you will want to stay in the central downtown area. There are many hotel choices downtown, but the prices tend to be a bit higher due to the location. The trade off is being able to walk a block or two to many of Nashville's attractions. This convenience will come in handy after a full day of sightseeing or bar hopping to listen to all the great music. We stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel Nashville Downtown and I highly recommend it! The location was fantastic and an added bonus was the incredible free hot breakfast and the free snacks and drinks at the 5:30 Kickback every day. The breakfast was more substantial than the usual free breakfast offered in hotels. There was fresh scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, a waffle station and a cook making pancakes in adorable Music City shapes! The afternoon "snacks" included a full on dinner buffet with alfredo pasta, grilled chicken, garden salad and soup. You also got a punch card for three free drinks every day during your stay (cocktails, wine or beer!). Unfortunately we were usually out and about around 5:30 every day so only took advantage of the Kickback on the first day, but it was there if we wanted it. It would be a good way to keep your spending down as you can potentially cover two meals and drinks everyday! The Gulch: The first time I visited Nashville I stayed in an Airbnb in The Gulch. The Gulch is a newer upscale area with chic boutiques and trend-setting restaurants. It is a great place to stay, especially if you don't plan to spend a majority of your time on Broadway. Broadway is only a quick 15 minute walk away, but The Gulch is definitely removed from the craziness of the main downtown area if you prefer a more low key vibe. The Gulch is where the famous "What Lifts You Up" Wings mural is located for that perfect Nashville Insta moment. There are only a few hotels in this area, so you would most likely be staying in an Airbnb if you want to stay in The Gulch. Best Things to Do: Old Town Trolley Tours: Whenever I travel to a new spot, one of the first things I do is to jump on the hop on/hop off tour buses that most tourist areas have. This gives me a general overview of the area and also highlights those things I want to make sure I see before I leave. Nashville was no exception. We took the Old Town Trolley Tours which has 14 different stops as it takes you around Nashville. Some of these stops will be specifically highlighted in this list, but there are many different stops that may be of interest. The great thing about the hop on/hop off is that it gives you transportation around the city and you can get off and explore where ever you choose. Another Trolley will be around to pick you up about every 30 minutes. To me the cost of the ticket is totally worth the benefits! Honkey Tonk Bar Crawl: Obviously! This is the main Nashville attraction. Most honky tonk bars are located on lower Broadway, known as Honky Tonk Highway. Live music starts at 10 am every morning and goes until 3 am! There are so many bars and honky tonks it is hard to know where to go. Some of it is just a trial and error effort. There are no cover charges in Nashville, so you can just walk up and down Broadway (and the nearby side streets) and pop into any place that looks interesting. Most bars pipe the music being played inside onto the sidewalk, so if you hear someone you like you can run inside to listen some more. Many of the bars have several different floors with a different band on each floor so make sure to check out every floor of a place you like. If it is a nice day or evening, be sure to head to the very top if the bar has a rooftop. Many of the bars in Nashville are partially owned (or inspired) by today's most popular country music stars: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton to name a few. So if you have a favorite country musician, check to see if they have a place and be sure to put that one on your list. Having been to Nashville twice now, I have found a few places that I consistently enjoy: Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row Honky Tonk Central Kid Rock's Big Ass Honky Tonk Rock-n-Roll Steakhouse Luke Bryan's 32 Bridge-Especially the rooftop bar! Lucky Bastard Saloon-One of the newest honky tonks on Broadway. Nudie's Honky Tonk-A great spot for a rooftop selfie capturing Broadway lights in the background! Yee Haw Brewery/Ole Smokey Distillery: We discovered this place after a tip from a local and we are so glad we did! The Ole Smokey Distillery is on 6th and Peabody, just a short walk from lower Broadway. It is a great option for lunch before heading down to the honky tonks. Before lunch, you should definitely do the moonshine tasting. For $10 you get a drink (either a Yee Haw craft beer or a seltzer) and several tastings of the flavored Ole Smokey Moonshine. After you complete the tasting you get a $10 coupon that you can use in the bar area for another drink or you can put it towards the purchase of moonshine to take home or a souvenir from the gift shop. So basically the tasting ends up being free...not to mention fun! We sampled Blue Flame Moonshine (basically tasted like Everclear-yuck!), Sour Cherry, Butter Pecan, Peanut Butter, and pickles and pineapples soaked in moonshine. These flavors are just the tip of the ice berg as the wall was filled with a colorful display of other varieties of moonshine and whiskey! We then made our way over to the bar and my friend Christina (a craft beer fan) bought a flight of Yee Haw brews to try. The snack bar offered several different types of tacos from White Duck Taco that were reasonably priced at $4.95 a piece. Christina got a fish taco while I opted for a Thai chicken taco with mango salsa. What a fun way to spend the afternoon! Line Dancing Lessons at Wildhorse Saloon: The Wildhorse Saloon is an iconic Nashville venue. It has the largest dance floor in the downtown area and an expansive stage for live performances. There are two floors to view the stage and a suspended herd of wild horses on the ceiling. Line dancing lessons are free and taught by an instructor in between sets of live music. We learned two different line dances including one called the NashVegas Shuffle. The schedule for performances and line dancing lessons can be found on the Wildhorse Saloon website. They also have a full menu, so you may want to consider this place for dinner and a show (plus a little bit of dancing). There really isn't too much room to line dance at the other honky tonks, so it was fun to have the opportunity and the instruction. Museums and Historic Buildings: There are many, many museums and historic buildings to tour in Nashville. Admission charges vary. Here is a list of just a few: Frist Art Museum Tennessee State Museum-Located near the Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park This is a stop on the Trolley tour. The Parthenon-Nashville is called the "Athens of the South" primarily because of its focus on higher education, but also because it is home to a full scale replica of The Parthenon. Inside the replica is a museum that houses paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries and, like The Parthenon in Greece, houses a 42 foot statue of Athena. This is also a stop on the Trolley tour. Country Music Hall of Fame-I visited this museum on my first visit. It is substantial and took about half a day to get through it all. There is a lot to see and experience at the museum. I love country music so I enjoyed it, but if you are not a big country music fan it may not be worth the cost and time to you. Ryman Auditorium- You can tour the building that was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. It is cool to see this historic venue up close and personal. There are still live performances at the Ryman and I have been told it is a fantastic place to see a show, so you may want to check out the schedule during your stay to see if you can catch one. Patsy Cline Museum-I have not visited this museum, but love Patsy Cline. Maybe next visit! Johnny Cash Museum-Christina and I went to the Johnny Cash museum on this trip. It is small and doesn't take long, but costs $22.95. Personally, I didn't think it was worth it as I am not a huge Johnny Cash fan. However, for a true fan there was a lot of cool memorabilia that would be interesting. What I did enjoy was the Johnny Cash cafe/bar right next store. There was a cool "Johnny" vibe to the place. That doesn't cost anything to go in! Gaylord Opryland/Grand Ole Opry: The Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center complex is located outside of downtown Nashville. You will require a car or an Uber ride to visit. If you have not been before, it is worth the trip. The complex is amazing and is a one of a kind 9 acre atrium with indoor streams and gardens. There is a variety of activities, shopping and restaurants, Of course it is the current home to the iconic Grand Ole Opry. I went to a show at the Grand Ole Opry on my first visit and am glad I did it. I didn't feel the need to make the trek out there this time, but something that everyone who goes to Nashville should do at least once. Sporting Events or Concerts: I like to schedule some of my trips around a sporting event or concert that I want to see. That way, I can take in an event I would like to enjoy anyway, but also get to check out a new area! The Tennessee Titans play football at Nissan Stadium which is walking distance from downtown. The Nashville Predators play hockey at Bridgestone Arena which also hosts a variety of concerts and is located right on the Honky Tonk Highway. I planned my first visit to Nashville to see the Zac Brown Band at Bridgestone Arena and got the best tickets I have ever had for a concert at a reasonable price! I am spoiled now. If you are interested in going to Nashville, see if you can schedule it around an event or concert. So easy to do both here! Best Places to Eat: Prince's Hot Chicken or Hattie B's: Nashville is known for its' hot chicken, so you have to try it at least once while you are here. Prince's Hot Chicken is the original hot chicken restaurant. Hattie B's appears to be the most popular. At every Hattie B location there is a long line of customer's waiting to get a taste of the local favorite. Hattie B's has levels of hotness so you don't have to feel left out if your palate doesn't appreciate spicy. Their levels are described as Southern (No Heat), Mild (A Touch of Heat), Medium (Warming Up), Hot! (Feel the Heat), Damn Hot!! (Fire Starter), and Shut the Cluck Up!!! (Burn Notice). How brave are you? Hattie B's also has several other traditional southern foods on their menu so there is something for everyone. Assembly Food Hall: Assembly Food Hall is located on 5th and Broadway so it is a perfect place to grab a bite to eat while cruising up and down Broadway at the honky tonks. Assembly Food Hall has over 30 different eateries (including locations for Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken), bars and three stages so you don't have to miss any live music while you eat. Christina grabbed some sushi while I chose a wood-fired personal pizza. A great space if you are with a group because you can avoid the prolonged discussion about where you should eat when everyone is in the mood for something different. All the different options can be found here. .Biscuit Love: Biscuit Love is located in The Gulch and unfortunately I have never been because there is always a SUPER long line! I have included it in this blog because the consistent long lines are a sign that it must be pretty good. Biscuit Love is a local family-owned business that serves biscuits and breakfast. They started in 2012 with food trucks and now have three brick and mortar restaurants. Their location in The Gulch is open daily from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. My recommendation if you really want to try one of their award winning biscuits is to get up early and hopefully beat the line. Good luck! Milk and Honey: Milk and Honey is another breakfast place in The Gulch. I got one of the best chocolate croissants in my life from Milk and Honey on my first visit. This time I tried the almond croissant and it was just as spectacular. They have sit down restaurant with a substantial menu, but again long lines have foiled my plans to check out the sit down options. I was "forced" to stick with the walk-up bakery options. Can't say I was disappointed. Goo Goo Chocolate Co.: Goo Goo Clusters are Nashville's Official Candy. The store is located across from the Johnny Cash Museum and Bar. You can buy a variety of premade Goo Goo Clusters or you can design your own personal Goo Goo Cluster that will be made while you wait. The personalized Goo Goo can be made with a variety of sweets and add ins to satisfy your own unique sweet tooth. Click here to start planning what you want to include in the *Insert Your Name Here* Goo Goo Cluster. We bought a few of the premade and each one was delicious! We tried the classic Pecan Goo Goo Cluster (pecans, caramel, and marshmellow nougat covered in milk chocolate), Lil Goos (peanuts, caramel and nougat covered in milk chocolate) and the PB&P Premium Goo Goo Cluster (peanut butter, caramel, and pretzels covered in dark chocolate). Another Nashville original you don't want to miss! Yee Haw Brewery/Ole Smokey Distillery: I already talked about the reasonably priced, delicious tacos served at the Ole Smokey Distillery above, but wanted to include it here under Best Places to Eat so you don't forget about this option. Best Places to Shop: There is so much to do in Nashville, you might think that you will not have any time for shopping. But that would be a mistake! There are several places you will want to check out in order to pick up those special gifts for family or friends left behind or that special something that will always remind you of your incredible trip to Nashville! The Gulch: You can find some of the usual chain stores like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon in The Gulch, but you can also find chic boutiques that have unique vibes and trendy clothing and home decor items. One store in particular that I loved was Kittenish, a very pink and very girly boutique owned by Jesse James Decker. The branding in the store was on-point and the prices were reasonable. It just felt fun to shop there! There is also a store in The Gulch called Paddywax Candle Bar where you can sip mimosas and make your own candle with a variety of fragrances to choose from. Marathon Village: Marathon Village is a stop on the Old Town Trolley route. Marathon Motor Works is an old automobile factory that has been transformed into a unique retail complex. Stores here include Antique Archaeology (owned by American Picker's star Mike Wolfe), Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson stores that sell licensed merchandise, souvenir shops, an olive oil shop and a distillery and winery that offer tastings. In addition to the stores, there are artifacts from the auto manufacturing history that line the halls giving the location a unique and interesting feel. The half an hour time between Trolleys gives you just enough time to check out this area and hop back on to continue your Trolley tour. Broadway: Mixed in along the honky tonks are stores that sell authentic cowboy apparel like boots and hats. They are ready to outfit you so you can fit in with the crowd. There is also upscale shopping right outside the Assembly Food Hall on 5th and Broadway with stores like Free People, Sephora, the Apple Store, Ariat and the Nash Collection (where I found my really cute NASH sweatshirt to remember my trip!). Nashville is such a unique and vibrant city I have no doubt you will fall in love with it just like I have. There is so much to do, if you discover something fun that I haven't mentioned, please comment and share! I will definitely be back so would love new suggestions! It's not goodbye, Nashville, it's see you later!

Bats, BBQ and Breakfast Tacos? Must be in Austin, Texas. Austin has been on my travel bucket list for a long time. Austin is marketed as the "Live Music Capital of the World" and I love live music. I went expecting a Nashville vibe and was so excited because, as you know from my post about Nashville (which you can find here), I LOVE Nashville. However, I have to be honest and say I was a little disappointed when I first got to Austin. If there is a Nashville-type area with live music playing all day long, I never found it. There are a lot of different Districts in the downtown Austin area and it can be confusing to figure out where to stay and where to go if you are not familiar with the area. While our hotel was very cool and had a great location, I don't think we were in the best place for the live music experience. Despite my music letdown, we still had a great time exploring Austin and taking in all of the other things it has to offer like Bats, BBQ and Breakfast Tacos! I hope this blog helps you figure out what you want to experience in Austin and then find the best location to use as your home base to explore this very progressive and interesting city. Best Places to Stay: As I said, there are several different "Districts" in downtown Austin that each have their own distinct vibe. You should pick a hotel that is located in the District that is situated closest to the things you are most interested in. Here is a brief summary of some of the more popular entertainment Districts: Congress Ave Historical District: Congress Avenue runs through the center of downtown Austin from Lady Bird Lake to the Texas State Capitol. Hotels in this area will be close to the Texas State Capitol and government offices as well as Austin's central business district. South Congress Avenue (or "SoCo" as the locals call it) will probably be on your Austin To Do List. See my description below under Things To Do for the reasons. Sixth Street Entertainment District: This is the hub of Austin nightlife and has been dubbed "Dirty Sixth" by locals. There are many bars and restaurants and lots of activity nightly. Sixth Street is closed off to traffic from Thursday through Saturday night to accommodate crowds. Rainey Street District: Rainey Street is a trendy party area with colorful historic homes that have been converted to restaurants and bars. Red River Cultural District: Apparently this is the live music hub and where I should have stayed to check out why Austin is called "The Live Music Capital of the World"! I did love the hotel we stayed at though which I will describe below. Second Street District: This area is known as downtown Austin's shopping hub and is filled with local boutiques and trendy fashion shops. If you are looking for a retail fix, this is your spot! There are several other distinct Districts within the downtown area. I have just highlighted a few of the more popular ones. Check out Austin's Tourism site for a more complete description of all of the areas so you can determine which location is right for you! We stayed at the Driskill Hotel which is the oldest operating hotel in Austin. The Driskill was built in 1886 and, just like the Biltmore in Providence which I talked about here, the Driskill is rumored to be haunted. The incident that is responsible for one of the hauntings apparently happened in a room right down the hall from where we were staying! Alas (or thankfully, depending on your perspective), we did not experience any paranormal activity during our stay. If I keep staying in old, haunted hotels, I am bound to have a ghostly visitor someday! In any event, the Driskill Hotel is a beautiful building with a prime location right on Sixth Street so it is only a few short steps to rowdy nightlife if that's on your agenda. It is also easy walking distance to Congress Street and the Texas State Capitol. I highly recommend The Driskill Hotel! Best Things to Do: Congress Street Bats: This is the most iconic thing to do in Austin. Every night at sunset people gather on or around the Congress Street Bridge to watch millions of bats fly out from beneath the bridge. You can also sign up to take a tour boat out on the water to watch the bat show from below. This actually may be a better spot because the tour operators shine a red light up to the bridge which helps to see the flurry of bat activity more clearly. It was a little anti-climactic because we couldn't see the bats that clearly from the top of the bridge, but we caught glimpses and it is an amazing spectacle nonetheless. And you can't go to Austin and say you didn't see the Congress Street Bats! Added bonus...you can get a great sunset selfie with the Austin skyline in the background. Lady Bird Lake: The Colorado River runs through downtown Austin into Lady Bird Lake ("LBL"). LBL is not a true lake, but a damned portion of the Colorado River. In any event, it is a great outdoor space in the middle of the city where you can kayak, run, walk or bike. Swimming and motorized watercraft are not permitted on the Lake. The Ann and Roy Hike-and-Bike Trail makes a complete loop around LBL. The Trail is 10.1 miles long and mostly flat. Texas State Capitol: Check out the Texas State Capitol and the surrounding grounds. There are free guided tours daily that last between 30 and 45 minutes. You can also pick up a free brochure at the Capitol's north entrance or the Information Desk and do your own self guided tour. University of Texas at Austin: Check out the UT at Austin campus and keep your eye out for Matthew McConaughey or Brene Brown. They both teach classes here! You never know where you may bump into them. UT is proud to claim Matthew McConaughey as their own and even had a Christmas tree devoted just to him in the school bookstore! South Congress Street Shopping ("SoCo"): I mentioned this above when talking about the Congress Street District. It is a great place to spend an afternoon strolling and shopping. It is one of Austin's trendiest neighborhoods and is known for unique independent shops, galleries and vintage stores. For those more mainstream shoppers, the Yeti flagship store is here as well as Reformation and Kendra Scott jewelry. Esther's Follies: Located on Sixth Street, this comedy show has been described as a modern-day vaudeville mixed with political comedy...the "Texas answer to SNL". The windows open up to Sixth Street and the comedians utilize the outside and unsuspecting pedestrians to enhance the show! It usually sells out, so you may want to grab your tickets ahead of time here. Bars on Sixth Street: There are many to choose from and several have some form of entertainment. We stopped in at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar and had a great time singing along to the requested songs. Zilker Metropolitan Park/Barton Springs Pool/Zilker Botanical Garden: A great recreational area to spend the day. There are many park amenities such as picnic areas, volleyball courts, and a nature and science center. One of the premier features of the park is Barton Springs Pool which is a natural spring fed pool with year round average water temperature of 68 degrees. The Zilker Botanical Gardens are also nearby and provide a relaxing escape from the bustling city. Best Places to Eat: Jo's Coffee: As the intro to this blog suggests, Breakfast Tacos are a must have when visiting Austin and Jo's Coffee is a quintessential place to try them out. Jo's has a variety of breakfast tacos and coffee drinks, as well as burgers, sandwiches/wraps, salads and alcoholic drinks. Check out Jo's menu here. Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ: Another thing you have to eat when in Texas is good ol' BBQ! There are many BBQ places to pick from and I am sure they are all fantastic. We went to Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ and really enjoyed the vibe and the food! Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill: The motto for Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is "Bootlegged & Bountiful" and you gotta love any place with a motto like that! Their website says they serve "Classic American Comfort Food" and I can attest to that. The vibe in the restaurant was really cool and the food was delicious! We left stuffed...uncomfortably so. This restaurant is always packed so reservations are a good idea. 1886 Cafe & Bakery: This quaint Victorian-style cafe is attached to the Driskill Hotel. They are open until 2 pm and for breakfast and lunch. They serve traditional Texas comfort food made with time-honored recipes. They also use locally sourced ingredients. We had a delicious breakfast there one morning before heading out to explore Austin. Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream: Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream is an incredible ice cream store with its flagship Austin shop right in SoCo. They have really unique flavors such as Everything Bagel, Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flakes, Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Gooey Butter Cake, and Brambleberry Crisp. You definitely need to stop here for refreshment after an afternoon of shopping in SoCo! Austin Eastciders Cider: This last item isn't a place, it is a local hard cider that must be tried if you are a fan of ciders. I had the Blackberry Cider and it was amazing! Conclusion: All in all, even though I personally don't think Austin competes with Nashville as the "Live Music Capital of the World", it is a very fun place to visit with lots to see, lots to do and a lot of delicious food to eat. I highly recommend a visit to Austin to check out the Bats, BBQ, and Breakfast Tacos! If you venture to Austin, you should definitely combine it with a visit to San Antonio! San Antonio is only about an hour and a half drive away with some really cool stops in between. Check out my Best of San Antonio blog for tips on the best places to stay, the best things to do and the best places to eat in San Antonio. Y'all come back, ya hear?

A drive along the California coast on Highway 1, known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), is an awe-inspiring journey that everyone should do at least once! The PCH runs from San Diego all the way to Washington State, but if you don't have time to do the whole thing you will still be amazed by the views of any portion you choose to do. One of the most famous sections of the PCH is the part between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Along this route you can see the famous Big Sur area and cruise through a number of awesome California coastal towns. This is the journey my friend and I took on a recent girls' trip to California. I will give you our itinerary as a starting point, but you can easily add many more stops or spend more time in some of the areas if you have the time. You can also eliminate some of our diversions if you don't have a full10 days or if you want to make it all the way down to San Diego on your epic California coastal journey. Day One-San Francisco You can view my previous post on our whirlwind day in San Francisco here. This is definitely a place where you can add more time if you have it. If not, use our plan to see as much of San Francisco as you can in ONE day! Days Two and Three-Napa and Sonoma Valley This was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip! View my previous blog post about my magical experience in California Wine Country here. Napa and Sonoma Valley aren't actually on the coast, but we wanted to make sure we could spend some time wine tasting before heading down the PCH and we are so glad we did! Day Four-Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and the 17 Mile Drive from Monterey to Carmel-by-the-Sea My friend and I are extreme planners, but on this trip we decided to go outside our comfort zone and try to "wing it" with hotels after we left Sonoma Valley. This new approach didn't last long once we tried to find accommodations along the coast in the summertime, especially during the post-COVID vacation boom. We couldn't find anywhere along our planned coastal journey to stay on Saturday night, so we grabbed the only room we could find in Emeryville located across the Bay from San Francisco by Berkeley. Even though it wasn't exactly on our agenda, it was a very nice hotel and gave us a comfortable place to rejuvenate after all the wine-tasting of the previous two days. Half Moon Bay: We got up early the next day and headed back over to the coast to hop on the PCH down to Half Moon Bay. I always think of the band Train when hear about Half Moon Bay and if you are a Train fan you know what I mean. We stopped at the well-known Barbara's Fish Trap ( www.barbarasfishtrap.com ) for an early lunch. I am not a big seafood fan, but the crab cakes were delicious! TRAVELER TIP: Bring cash because they don't accept credit cards and go early because a long line will form and there aren't a ton of tables. We also saw long lines at Sam's Chowderhouse down the road, so if you can't get into Barbara's Fish Trap for your seafood fix this looks like a good alternative. After lunch we drove down the coast to Waddell State Beach to watch all of the surfers and kite surfers. If I was younger and more adventurous I would definitely try kite surfing because it looks awesome! Santa Cruz: From Half Moon Bay we drove south on the PCH to Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a cute little beach town with a boardwalk and some beautiful cliffside walkways to take in the surrounding scenery. We parked on the street near the Natural Bridges State Beach and then walked along the West Cliff Drive scenic pathway that hugs the coastline. The pathway provides breathtaking views of Monterey Bay. If you want, you can walk the pathway all the way to the Santa Cruz wharf. It is generally flat so it is a very easy walk for everyone and you can go for as long (or as short) as you want. We didn't visit the wharf while we were there because it was a Saturday and it was extremely crowded, but it looked like a fun place! The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546 ) is also in Santa Cruz and is a great place to see California Redwoods. There is a vehicle day use fee of $10, with discounts for seniors and larger fees for tour buses. The Park is nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains and has 15 miles of hiking and biking trails. There is an easy walking loop that takes you through a grove of old-growth Redwood trees with the tallest tree towering 285 into the air and measuring 16 feet wide! The oldest trees in the grove are 1,800 years old. 17 Mile Drive from Monterey to Carmel-by-the-Sea: Heading south on the PCH, you will find an entrance to the beautiful 17-Mile scenic drive from Monterey to Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are three other entrances so depending on where you are coming from another entrance may be more easily accessible. There is a $10.75 fee per vehicle to enter the 17-Mile drive and once you enter you will follow a map through several points of interest, forested areas, coastline views, beautiful mansions, and famous golf courses including the world-renowned Pebble Beach golf course. Depending on how long you linger at the various points of interest or scenic overlooks, the drive could take up to 3 hours. If you are heading south on the 17-Mile scenic drive you will end up right at Carmel-by-the-Sea which is where we planned to stay for the next three nights. Day 5-Carmel-by-the-Sea, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Monterey and Big Sur As I mentioned above, our well-intentioned plan of "winging it" on our California road trip didn't work so well. So much for us trying to be more relaxed about our travel planning! When we discovered that we were going to have trouble finding reasonably priced hotel rooms along our route, we got right to work planning out our accommodations for the rest of our journey. We decided to stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea for three nights as it was centrally located to many of the sites we wanted to see. It was actually kind of nice to have a home base for a few days and not have to pack up and move every morning. I guess Ann and I are not the relaxed, "go with the flow" travelers we had hoped to be! But it all worked out in the end and the moral of the story is that we are going to continue with our natural state of being super planners. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve: We started our day with a beautiful six mile hike at the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The Reserve is just a mile or so south of Carmel right off the PCH. You can see my more detailed blog about visiting this "Crown Jewel" of the California State Park System here. Carmel-by-the-Sea: After our hike, we stopped in downtown Carmel for some lunch and shopping. There are several excellent restaurants in downtown Carmel, it just depends on what you are in the mood for. We ate at the Mission Bistro (https://missionbistrocarmel.com ) right in the middle of the downtown area. I had a Burrata Salad with grilled chicken that really hit the spot after our morning hike! The shopping in downtown Carmel is equally as satisfying with many exclusive shops and boutiques to find whatever you may be looking for or discover that thing that you didn't even know you needed! Monterey: Next we drove north on the PCH back to Monterey to check out some of its highlights, including spots made famous by HBO's hit show "Big Little Lies". We drove through Cannery Row, a cute little shopping area in the area's old cannery buildings. It looks like there are mostly touristy shops in Cannery Row as opposed to the boutique shopping in the downtown Carmel area. After cruising through Cannery Row, we set off to scope out the various location shots from Big Little Lies. First stop was the Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey (not to be confused with the giant tourist attraction Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco). There we ate at Palace Trattoria which served as the set for Blue Blue's Cafe, the quaint coffee shop overlooking the harbor where the main characters met to drink coffee and spill tea. Apparently the restaurant has been mobbed with BLL fans since the show aired so they can sit at an outside table and share their own gossip. Of course Ann and I had to do the same and get a picture! Next stop was to Lover's Point Beach in Pacific Grove where we learned that the Blissful Drip coffee shop from BLL didn't actually exist but was a set constructed at the Lover's Point Beach. The set is long gone, but we snagged a picture at the Beach anyway. The final BLL location to scout was the Bixby Creek Bridge in Big Sur so we headed south on the PCH to check it out. Big Sur: From watching Big Little Lies, I was under the impression that Big Sur referred to a beach town along the California coast. While there is a small unincorporated village with a collection of small roadside businesses and homes called Big Sur, when you hear someone talking about Big Sur they are most likely referring to the rugged stretch of California coast between Carmel and San Simeon. It is bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean. You travel through the area by the narrow 2-lane PCH. Hold on as you take sharp turns, veer toward seaside cliffs and try to take in the spectacular views of the coastline. It is not for the faint-hearted...just ask Ann who got very nervous as I drove the winding road. It is totally worth braving the journey as it is some of the most picturesque scenery in the world. The opening credits of Big Little Lies shows just a glimpse of what it is like driving over the Bixby Creek Bridge. Day 6-Capitola City Beach, Ragged Point and Morro Bay Capitola City Beach: We headed back north to the northern end of Monterey Bay to the Capitola City Beach. This a small urban beach known for the bright, colored hotel rooms built right on the sand that offer a beautiful backdrop to the beach. There are several shops and restaurants along the Esplanade right by the beach. We ate at the Margaritaville restaurant that sits right on the beach looking out at the ocean and the colorful buildings. Ragged Point: We then headed back southbound on PCH and drove along the Big Sur coastline again (once is not enough!) until we got to the south end of Big Sur. There we pulled off at the PIedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery which is home to more than 7,000 Northern Elephant Seals which are the second largest seals in existence. You can see the stats on the picture above! Morro Bay: Next stop...Morro Bay! Morro Bay is a quaint little village right off the PCH. It is known for a large volcanic mound at the end of Morro State Beach called...what else...Morro Rock. Morro Rock is 576 feet tall and is the dominating feature of the town. There are several eateries along the harbor if you want to make this a lunch stop on your road trip! Day 7-San Luis Obispo After Morro Bay we headed to San Luis Obispo (or SLO as the locals call it) to crash for the night. We stayed in a charming family owned hotel called the Apple Farm Inn (www.applefarm.com). The Inn has 106 unique and charming rooms and is centrally located for easy access to SLO's many sights. After we dropped off our bags, we headed over to Avila Beach to relax from our travels and catch a few rays. That night we strolled along the bustling Higuera Street to check out the shops. I made several purchases at an adorable store called The Junkgirls (www.junkgirls.com) which was filled with unique and handcrafted gift and decor items. I highly recommend a stop here! Off Higuera Street is the infamous Bubblegum Alley where pieces of chewed gum cover the walls (see pic below). Gross or cool? Only you can decide. Other sites in SLO we didn't get a chance to check out are various wineries, the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (a 1700s Spanish mission with a museum), the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus, and of course nearby beaches and hiking trails. SLO has a very cool vibe and I wish we could have spent a little more time checking it out! Day 8-Solvang and Santa Barbara Solvang: After a restful night sleep at the charming Apple Farm Inn, we hit the road to head to a spot a little inland from the PCH. Ann had done some research and suggested we check out Solvang, a small city in the Santa Ynez Valley known for its Danish architecture and wineries. We are so glad we took this side trip! Solvang, which is Danish for "sunny fields", is an adorable destination known as the "Danish Capital of the World". You may recognize the name as it has been featured or mentioned in several different TV shows or movies. Most notably it was the setting for the movie Sideways starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church as two men traveling through the Santa Barbara wine country. They stay at the Hitching Post so we had to snag a picture of that landmark! You feel as if you have been transported to a European village as soon as you enter the Main Street that goes through the middle of town. You can take a leisurely stroll down Main Street and take in all of the shops that fill every nook and cranny of the buildings lining the street. Of course you can't leave Solvang without trying some of the delicious danishes that can be purchased at any of authentic Danish bakeries in the area. We also hit the Sunstone Winery, a Santa Ynez Valley winery, on our way out of town. What a great day...Solvang was definitely one of my favorite stops on this trip! Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara is a short 45 minute drive from Solvang and where we planned to stop for the night. We stayed at The Eagle Inn ( www.theeagleinn.com ) and I highly recommend it. It has a perfect central location and a delicious free breakfast in the morning. After checking in we strolled along the harbor and checked out the city. Santa Barbara has a great vibe and is a place I would even consider living! The lively downtown features an outdoor shopping area that runs along State Street with tiled courtyards, fountains, chain retailers and small boutiques. Artwork is sprinkled around the town including bronze statues and wall murals. There are several hip cafes and outdoor restaurants, breweries and wine bars. We ate at a brewery called The Cruisery located at 501 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA ( www.thecruisery.com ) which gets its name from "Brewery + Beach Cruiser = Cruisery". The Cruisery has an awesome outdoor eating space to provide for entertaining people watching in the historic downtown area while we relaxed with good food and drinks. After dinner we took in more sites and caught a beautiful sunset over the harbor to cap off an incredible day! Day 9-Ojai and Santa Monica Ojai: Ann suggested we take another detour off of the PCH to check out Ojai (pronounced "OH-hi") which is a small city in Ventura County located in the valley of the Topatopa Mountains. Ojai sits in one of the few east/west valleys so the early morning sunrise fills the valley with sunshine and the late sunsets create a "Pink Moment" painting the surrounding peaks in rosy hues. There is a strong Bohemian vibe to the city and spirituality is a big part of the culture. Apparently the valley lies in a geomagnetic vortex zone where energy fields arise from deep within the earth's core and visitors come to visit the many wellness retreats and meditation centers. The restaurants and cafes in Ojai are all locally owned and serve artisan food using local organic produce. The views driving into the valley were stunning. We parked at the head of a hiking trail that took us up above the city looking down into the valley. (SIDE STORY: I didn't see the sign advising not to leave ANY valuables in the car due to high theft and left my purse in the car. When Ann mentioned the sign I freaked out and rushed to get back to the car so I didn't fully enjoy the hike and the beautiful views. So, travel tip...make sure to read all warning signs and take any valuables with you if you hike so you can leisurely enjoy the beauty surrounding you!). After the hike and heart-racing return to the car, we stopped in town to have a quick drink at the Topa Topa Brewery. I had a hard Kombucha which was very tasty and made me feel a little healthy while drinking. Santa Monica: Feeling calm and restored after our visit to Ojai, we headed to Santa Monica where we planned to stay for our last night before flying out of LAX the next day. In all honesty, Santa Monica didn't feel particularly relaxing or safe. We walked around and checked out the famous (or infamous) Santa Monica Pier. It felt like something we had to do, but it wasn't really our scene. Lots of typical boardwalk food and the traditional boardwalk rides and games. We came, we saw and we quickly left. From there we walked over to the Third Street Promenade which is a three block car-free, open air shopping area. We strolled up and down the street and checked out the Santa Monica Place mall located at the south end of the Third Street Promenade. While it was nice enough, there is nothing especially noteworthy or unique about this area. We were getting travel weary from our epic 10-day long journey, so we returned to the hotel room to rest up for our long journey home the next day. The next morning we got up early to walk along the ocean and it became clear why so many people look fit and healthy in California. The beach volleyball courts were already packed, the boardwalk was filled with runners, walkers and roller bladers, various exercises classes were being held up and down the boardwalk and beach including HIIT and Spin classes. It would be so awesome to take a spin class on the beach looking out at the Pacific Ocean! New experience for my bucket list. Day 10-Hollywood, Beverly Hills/Rodeo Drive and HOME! After our early morning walk in Santa Monica, we jumped in the car and drove towards LA. Even though I lived in San Diego for several years and frequently took day trips to LA and surrounding areas, I had NEVER seen the Hollywood sign in person so that was on my agenda. We first went to the most popular viewing spot in Griffith Park. Griffith Park is one of the nation's largest urban green spaces (5 times the size of New York's Central Park!). There are several hiking trails up to the Griffith Observatory that has a great view of the Hollywood sign. You can also drive up to the Observatory, but this spot is EXTREMELY crowded and parking is difficult if not impossible. Since we had limited time and were not prepared to hike, we needed to find an alternative viewing spot. With the help of Google and Ann's stellar research, we found that there is a lesser known viewing spot from Lake Hollywood Park. To get there you drive through a residential neighborhood up a steep, hilly road. You will know once you get there because although not the most popular, it is still crowded. Snag the first parking spot you can find and walk over to the park for a perfect viewing spot! After all this time I finally can check this sight off my "to do" list. Before leaving California, we stopped at the iconic In-N-Out Burger one last time. Can't visit California without stopping at least once. Delicious and inexpensive! After lunch we drove around Beverly HIlls and stopped to walk on Rodeo Drive. The 90210 zip code has a reputation for a reason. The streets are beautiful and the homes are amazing. Rodeo Drive is crazy and it kept bringing up "Pretty Woman" vibes for me. I wanted to go into a shop and say "Big mistake! Big! Huge!", but unfortunately wasn't planning to go in and drop a load of cash shopping. Since shopping on Rodeo Drive wasn't in our budget, we wrapped up our sightseeing and headed to the airport to catch our flight home. CONCLUSION This was an amazing journey that cannot be completely captured by words and pictures. However, I hope that by sharing some highlights from our trip you will be inspired to plan your own California Coast road trip. I felt like I got to do it twice...first in person and then by reliving it when creating this blog post. Both times I felt awed, overwhelmed and grateful for the experience. If you have had your own amazing California Coast trip, please comment with additional input and ideas for those currently planning their epic adventure! Let's go!

"My only regret in life is that I did not drink more wine." -Ernest Hemingway The second stop on our epic California road trip was Sonoma and Napa Valley. The well-known wine country is 45 miles north of San Francisco and only about an hour's drive (depending on traffic getting out of the city), but there is a local airport if you want to fly right into the region. A getaway to this area is magical and you feel like you have been transported to a whole other world. So grab those cute sandals you couldn't wear in San Francisco, throw on a a cute sun dress and your most stylish sunglasses or sun hat and get ready for an incredible experience! Where to Stay...Napa or Sonoma Valley? This is an age old debate...should you go to Napa or Sonoma when you visit the region. I say, why not BOTH? They are only 20 to 30 minutes apart and if you are there for a few days you can easily spend time in each location! The common advice is that Napa is bigger and more commercialized while Sonoma is quainter and more low-key (and probably a tad cheaper). My personal observation is that this description is accurate, but they are both great spots. In addition to the central area in both Valleys, there are also lots of smaller towns within each region that are also charming and would make a great home base while visiting. I recommend doing some on-line research about the various wineries that you would like to visit, map out your choices to see where most are located and then make a lodging choice based on that. You can either stay in one place for the whole time and drive around (or find transport) to explore the entire region or you could choose to spend a night or two in each location. We stayed at the El Pueblo Inn in Sonoma ( www.elpuebloinn.com ). El Pueblo Inn has been family owned and operated since 1958. It has a good location which is walking distance to local grocery stores and Sonoma Plaza (the shopping area mentioned below). With your stay you also get a good continental breakfast to get your day started, a peaceful courtyard with beautiful landscaping, and a nice pool/hot tub area. Some of the rooms have balconies. The downside was our room was a little dated and dark. However, El Pueblo Inn is very reasonably priced (relatively-most hotels in either Valley are a little pricey) and for the cost, the benefits mentioned above far out-weighed the negatives. Besides, we were really only in the room to sleep so dark is good, right? There are many, many choices for lodging throughout the Valleys and you probably can't go wrong with most of them. What to Do: Uhhhh...wine tasting and tours, of course! See below for just a few suggestions from the hundreds of wineries in the area. I personally would not try to book more than three in a day, but two is probably better. First, you don't have to rush to get from one place to the next and can sit and enjoy the wine and the ambiance of each unique winery. Secondly, you do get full from all of the tastings (especially if you eat at some point in the day-which you definitely should with all that wine drinking!), so you become less enthusiastic to taste as the day goes on. Hiking-If you (or your liver!) need a break from the wine consumption, there are many hikes in the area to get out and enjoy the beautiful scenery in the Valleys. Disclaimer: We didn't do any hikes during our visit, but I saw information about many and I can only imagine the views from some of the hikes is amazing. Go to Alltrails.com to find descriptions of hikes in the area Shopping-Sonoma Plaza located in the center of Sonoma is a beautiful 8 acre square park with cute boutiques, gift shops, and restaurants lining all sides of the park. Downtown Napa is a larger commercial district with more stores and fancier dining establishments. St. Helena in Napa Valley also has a Main Street of cute stores and restaurants (including some of the places recommended below!). Make a note that most stores close at 6, so don't plan to shop after a day of wine tasting because the doors will be locked by the time you get there. We learned this from personal experience. Cruise Around and Take in the Sights-If it is within your budget, I HIGHLY recommend renting a convertible and driving around the area with the top down. Driving through the miles and miles of vineyard lined hills with the wind blowing through your hair and the sun on your face is a feeling like no other. Taking an afternoon to drive around both Valleys (or maybe even over to the coast) is a very enjoyable way to spend the day! Where to Taste: There are literally hundreds of wineries in the area. Making a choice of which ones to visit will depend on a number of factors. What to Consider: Is there a wine you really enjoy that comes from Napa or Sonoma Valley? If so, you may want to visit that vineyard to learn more about it or to try other varieties made by the winery. Alternatively, you may want to branch out and try new wines that you don't already know about. What do they offer? Some vineyards only offer tastings. Others have options to take a tour. Does the vineyard offer food? Most have options to purchase cheese or charcuterie boards, but some have more substantial offerings and you may want to visit these places closer to lunch or dinner. See below for description of Charles Krug Winery which had wood-fired pizza we could order with our tasting and it was delicious! What is the cost? There is a range of costs for the tastings offered at the various wineries. The difference depends on what type of tasting or tour you sign up for, as well as the size or notoriety of the winery. Generally, tastings range from $40-60. The tasting and tour we took at Schramsberg Vineyards was $80. It is important to assess what you get for the tasting fee to determine if it is worth it or not. Sometimes we got less for the more expensive tastings. That was always a bummer. Do you want to go to a larger, more commercial winery or a smaller, family owned vineyard? I suggest including some of both in your schedule. There is definitely a different vibe to each. The smaller vineyards feel more personalized and relaxed, but there is nothing like the magnificence and grandeur of some of the larger vineyard properties. Where are your staying? As I noted above, the areas are close so it is definitely doable to get to both. However, if you don't have a designated driver and/or you are trying to do many tastings in a day, you may want to make sure the vineyards you choose to visit are in a more concentrated area. There are options to take a Wine Train or other organized tours which eliminate this question (and concerns about driving) as they will have pre-arranged stops. If you are overwhelmed by all of the options or don't have a specific preference, this may be the choice for you! Please note that advanced reservations are required for most, if not all, wineries. This could also impact your choices if you wait too long and can't get a reservation at your preferred vineyards. The only exception would be if you take an organized tour or Wine Train because your reservation will be included with your ticket. Wineries We Visited: Below is a description of the vineyards we went to. I started with my favorites first, but it was hard to rank because they all were amazing in their own way. Schramsberg Vineyards-1400 Schramsberg Rd., Calistoga, CA 94515 www.schramsberg.com This vineyard was my favorite! So much so, that I joined their Wine Club and will receive deliveries of their wine four times a year. Schramsberg Vineyards is a smaller family owned vineyard that makes Chardonnay and Pinot Noir based sparking wines. They were one of the few vineyards that offered a tour along with tasting and I think this really enhanced my experience. The tasting took place in the darkened caves where bottles and bottles of sparkling wines are aging. The Schramsberg Vineyards are home to the first caves dug for wine storage and was the first hillside vineyard in Napa Valley established in the 19th Century. The vineyard was almost destroyed by wild fires recently and as you drive up the hillside you can see from the scorched trees how close the fire came. There is a monument on the property thanking the local firefighters for saving their vineyard. The cave tour was a little more money then other tastings, but you got six tastings and the tour of the caves so it was definitely worth every penny. The tour made it a total experience and I actually learned a lot about wine and wine tasting in general. I highly recommend including this vineyard on your schedule. Domaine Carneros-1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559 www.domainecarneros.com As described on their website, "Domaine Carneros is a singular winery best known as a small grower-producer of methode traditionelle sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a breathtakingly beautiful chateau." The chateau sits high on a hillside and the patio overlooks gorgeous scenery as you enjoy a flight of FULL-SIZE glasses for your tasting. This is where scheduling three tastings in a day became a problem. By the time we got here we were full and couldn't even finish all of our glasses! If you add this winery to your schedule, make sure to put it earlier on the itinerary before you stomach gets too full. Inglenook-1991 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford, CA 94573 www.inglenook.com Iglenook is the vineyard owned by Francis Ford Coppola (the director of many popular films including The Godfather movies). Fittingly, the entrance and property of the Inglenook winery looks like something from a movie. Funny story-we didn't read our reservation closely enough and couldn't figure out how to open the grand gate. Once we figured that out, we tried to video ourselves driving through the gate but it started closing on us when we where only part way through! Security had to reopen the gate so it didn't close on us. I can only imagine the laughter that was going on in the Security Guard station watching us struggling! Slightly embarrassing, but oh well...you only live once and you have to capture the moment. In any event, we finally got through the gate and took in the gorgeous estate before making our way out to the terrace for our tasting. The woman who managed our tasting was so enjoyable and knowledgable that she made the whole expereince! After the tasting we explored the property a little more and there are exhibits related to cameras and filmmaking due to Mr. Coppola's day job along with the history of the vineyard. Charles Krug Winery-2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.charleskrug.com Charles Krug Winery is Napa Valley's oldest Winery Estate. It was established in 1861 by Charles Krug, the visionary father of Napa Valley winemaking. It was purchased by the Mondavis, wine-making royalty, in 1943 and for over 75 years and four generations they have been operating the winery. There is some Mondavi family drama related to this winery and the Mondavi estate down the road. Be sure to ask for the details if you visit this winery. The tasting room also has a medallion on the floor that marks the spot of a time capsule buried underneath, so that's pretty cool. The other thing that makes this winery stand out is the delicious wood-fired pizza you can order with your tasting. I would make sure to plan your visit to Charles Krug around lunch or dinner so you can kill two birds with one stone! Beringer Vineyards-2000 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.beringer.com Beringer is a large commercial vineyard. The property is definitely beautiful and the wine was good, but this was my least favorite of the vineyards we visited. The cost for the tasting was a little more expensive and you didn't get much for that value. Small tastes, brief description and not much else. Wasn't bad, but wasn't anything special. Where to Eat: I sound like a broken record, but there are many, many places to eat throughout Napa and Sonoma Valley and again, you probably can't go wrong with most choices. My friend Ann is a master researcher, so she found some excellent places for us to grab a bite to eat. I should make it clear right now that I am NOT a foodie. Ann and I both decided before we left on this journey that food was not going to be a major part of our budget, so we did not look for or eat at any fine dining establishments. We looked for places with delicious food that were quick and budget-friendly. If that is what you are looking for, I am your girl! Below are a couple of places we found that met the above criteria in spades! El Molino Central-11 Central Ave., Sonoma, CA www.elmolinocentral.com El Molino Central is a small Mexican Restaurant that serves tortillas, tamales and fish tacos. They also serve beer and wine to go. Its colorful exterior gives you an idea of the vibe. There is no indoor seating, but they have a large patio area that was very crowded when we got there. Always a good sign! The prices are moderate and the food is excellent. I ordered the Chicken Enchiladas Suizas and was in heaven. Living in upstate New York, I have missed authentic Mexican food. I grew up in Colorado and lived in San Diego for a bit so I am spoiled. Ann ordered the fish tacos and gave them two thumb's up. Gott's Roadside-933 Main St. (Hwy 29), St. Helena, CA www.gotts.com Gott's Roadside is a classic American roadside grill that serves a variety of burgers and other traditional roadside options, but it also has vegan choices. They also have some unique California-inspired dishes and seasonal specialities. All menu items use locally sourced ingredients. Their menu also includes sushi, fish tacos, salads and hand-spun organic shakes. There is bound to be something for everyone on their menu. And because it is in Napa, you can also order wine by the glass or the bottle or you can try a Frose, a frozen blend of rose wine, strawberry and citrus. The stars were aligned when we got there because there was no line and we just walked right up to the window to order. However, a few minutes later there was a super long line and every time we drove by Gott's again there was long line. So if you go, be prepared to wait in a bit of a line. But as I noted above, when there is a crowd there is definitely a reason. The food was delicious. Also, keep your eyes peeled for celebrities because I am pretty sure Kristen Chenowith was sitting with a group of LA friends at the table right next to us! Charles Krug Winery-2800 Main Street, St. Helena, CA 94574 www.charleskrug.com Check out the section above about the Charles Krug Winery to see a picture of the yummy wood-fired pizza we had at our tasting. You don't have to pay for a tasting to go in and order a pizza, so keep this in mind as a dining option even if you don't want to sample their wine. SO BOTTOM LINE-PUT NAPA AND SONOMA COUNTY ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET LIST! If you haven't been to Wine Country yet, start making plans immediately! You won't regret it. Plan that long-awaited girl's trip or romantic getaway, depending on your situation or your mood. Either way it will be an experience you will never forget.

San Francisco is an amazing city with so much to see that most people take at least three days to take it all in. You could easily fill a whole week with activities (including day trips to outlying areas like Napa/Sonoma or Yosemite...although these areas are entitled to a trip all their own!). I have been to San Francisco on many occasions and am usually there for at least a long weekend. However, on this particular trip, my friend Ann and I were doing an epic journey down the northern California coast and only had limited time (limited=a day!) to spend in the City by the Bay. Ann had never been to San Francisco so we had to be very efficient in our planning to fit in as much as possible. From my previous visits, I had several things I wanted to show her that would have easily filled the day. But Ann is an expert researcher and came up with some additional things to check out that I had never seen and we wanted to add them to the already busy agenda. Lucky for us, we are both hyper-organized and compulsive planners. So between the two of us were were able to come up with a ONE day schedule that pretty much covered the whole San Francisco area. If you only have a day, you can use our plan to make sure you really SEE San Francisco. However, I recommend that you take this itinerary and spread it out over a few more days if you have the time. It would certainly be more relaxing! The "San Francisco in One Day" Agenda Following is the list of the things you can do in San Francisco in a day. You can do them in any order that makes logical sense for you depending on where you are staying. We stayed at a motel right across from the Presidio, so our day started there. I should also note that we did have a car that allowed us to drive to some of the places, but if you are adventurous and looking to get in your steps for the day you can walk (but be prepared for some intense hill workouts as you walk the steep streets!). Alternatively, you can grab Ubers to get to some of the more out of the way locations. First Stop-The Presidio The Presidio is a national park located at the south end of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was originally home to native people, then subsequently became a military post under flags of Spain, Mexico and the U.S. It is 1,491 acres (5% of the total area of San Francisco!) and includes museums, hotels, restaurants, hiking and biking trails, scenic overlooks, picnic areas, beaches, a golf course and other things I am sure I am forgetting because there is SO much there. Entry to the Presidio is free. We walked along a path that took us down to an area called Crissy Field. This restored area used to be an airfield and now has wide green fields for picnicking or sports, a marshy area for bird-watching and nature observation, a wide beach with a stunning view of the San Francisco Bay, and nice flat trails for walking or biking. This is one of many spots in San Francisco to get a great picture with the famous Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Second Stop-Marina District/Fisherman's Wharf From Crissy Field, we followed a walking path heading toward the Marina District and Fisherman's Wharf. The path goes along the coast, so on the way we had more amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as some great looks at Alcatraz. We walked along the harbor and saw all the beautiful boats anchored there (with the ever-present Bridge in the background) as well as some of the beautiful colorful homes which line the street across from the harbor in the affluent Marina District. Ann is a big coffee drinker so when we spotted a coffee truck parked near the Marina Green with a LONG line (always a good sign) we figured we had to stop for some refreshments. I don't drink coffee, but scored a delicious chocolate croissant! The guys working the truck were extremely energetic and friendly so it was a nice boost to our morning. After our coffee break, we continued along the path to the Fisherman's Wharf area. Fisherman's Wharf is VERY touristy, but you can't come to San Francisco and not see it. That would be like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Fisherman's Wharf has a lot to see so there is bound to be something for everyone. There is the iconic Ghiradelli market place where you can get delicious chocolate or ice cream treats, the sea lions who are usually swimming and sunning at Pier 39, tons of touristy shops to pick up that souvenir you think you have to have (but then don't know what to do with it when you get home), great restaurants and of course great people watching. Fisherman's Wharf is also where you pick up the ferries to Alcatraz or nearby Sausalito (which we didn't have time for this trip). Unfortunately, we also missed the Pier 39 sea lions because of the season (we were visiting in June but I have included pics from a previous trip I took during September when they were there). We ate lunch at the iconic Boudin Sourdough restaurant. They are known for their clam chowder served in sourdough bread bowls. As I don't like seafood and Ann wasn't that hungry, neither of us had that specialty dish so I cannot personally recommend it. However, as noted above about the coffee truck, when there is such a buzz about something there is usually a reason. So, if you like clam chowder, you should definitely put it on your "Must Try in San Francisco" list! Boudin's also sells sourdough loaves in the most adorable animal shapes that kids (or kids at heart) would love! We were able to watch the masters at work creating these masterpieces. Third Stop-Powell-Hyde Cable Car/Lombard Street Like Fisherman's Wharf, you can't go to San Francisco and not ride a cable car. That is sacrilege! So imagine our disappointment when we found out that the cable cars had stopped running during the pandemic and were not scheduled to restart until August! There is nothing like riding an open air cable car up and down the steep streets of San Francisco. I was so disappointed that my friend was going to miss that experience. But the Travel Gods were looking down on us! We went to the Powell-Hyde cable car station (located across from the Ghiradelli Marketplace) and found the cable car operators were training and preparing for the August re-opening. Ann asked if we could get a ride and they offered to give us a free short ride from Fisherman's Wharf up to Lombard Street (which is where we wanted to go to anyway). Just goes to show it never hurts to ask, because you might get exactly what you want! So Ann and I got on the cable car with one other bold soul who must have asked for a ride and took a trip up, up, up the steep street. It was the best cable car ride I have ever had because there weren't crowds of people blocking my view and it was free! We got dropped off right at the top of Lombard. Perfect! And we didn't have to walk up that hill! Lombard Street is that famous "crooked" street that you always hear about. It gets its reputation from the eight tight turns in one block. It is located in the Russian Hill District just a short (uphill) walk (or if you are lucky, cable car ride) from Fisherman's Wharf. You can walk up or down Lombard Street depending on which side of the block you find yourself on or you can drive down the one way winding street. In addition to the multiple curves, Lombard is also know for it's beauty. The homeowners on Lombard all maintain beautiful landscaping which adds to the iconic reputation. Fourth Stop-Painted Ladies/Haight-Ashbury/Union Square/Chinatown At this point we went back to get the rental car to continue our explorations. We plugged in our destinations to Google Maps and took off. First stop was the famous "Painted Ladies" across from Alamo Square at Hayes and Steiner Streets. You may recognize the Painted Ladies from the opening of Full House. It is one of the most photographed locations in San Francisco. The open space of Alamo Square across the street provides the perfect location to get a good photo of the Painted Ladies with the San Francisco skyline behind them. It would probably be a great photo op at dusk, but our jam-packed agenda didn't allow much leeway for that kind of timing. In addition to the Painted Ladies, there are other Victorian homes around Alamo Square that don't get the same attention, but are just beautiful (if not more so!). We hopped back in the car and drove a short distance to the historic Haight-Ashbury District to step back in time. The District was one of the main spots for hippie and counterculture activity in the 1960's and it maintains that vibe. Back in the day it was home to revolutionaries and famous singers such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin. My subsequent research on the area indicated that you can drive by the old Grateful Dead home (710 Ashbury St.) and the old Jefferson Airplane home (2400 Fulton St.). We didn't know to do that, but make a note if you head to this area and are a fan of either of those bands. The Upper Haight area is filled with boutiques and hip restaurants, as well as flamboyant clothing stores, piercing and tattoo parlors, while down the hill in Lower Haight there are alternative bars, consignment stores and music shops with old vinyl. There is definitely a cool, hippy vibe to the place that is totally different then the rest of San Francisco. We didn't take the time to get out and walk around, but it is on my "To Do" list the next time I go back. After we left Haight-Ashbury, we cruised by Union Square in the central downtown area. Union Square refers to a one-block plaza and the surrounding area that has the largest collection of department stores, upscale boutiques, gift shops, art galleries and beauty salons in the U.S. There are also many hotels in this area. I have stayed in the Union Square area on past trips and it is a nice central location, especially if you are interested in shopping while in San Fran. A few blocks from Union Square is Chinatown. We just cruised by the Dragon Gates this time, but I have enjoyed the delicious Chinese food served up here in the past and can confirm that it was delicious! There are so many restaurants to choose from, but I don't think you can go wrong with any choice in Chinatown. Fifth Stop-Land's End-Coastal Trail Land's End is a hidden gem in San Francisco. It is not one of the more obvious attractions, but is certainly one of the most beautiful! The Coastal Trail at Land's End is a hike that takes you along the rugged coastline, weaving in and out of cypress forests. There are great views of the ocean and the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. It is generally an easy hike, but there are portions where there are increases in elevation that are moderately challenging. You can make it as easy or hard as you like. Even a short walk along the flat part of the trail will give you breathtaking views. If you are a photography buff, be sure to bring your equipment because there are numerous spots to take amazing photos! Below are some examples of the different shots you can get at different spots on the Trail. (Disclaimer: I am a novice photographer so imagine the pictures you can get if you are an expert!) If you go a decent distance on the Coastal Trail, out and back will probably take one to two hours depending on how far you go and how often you stop to take selfies! In my opinion this is a "MUST SEE" when you go to San Francisco. Helpful hint: There is a visitor center with restrooms by the parking lot nearest to the old Cliff House. I would park there and visit the restroom before you head out. Sixth (And Final!) Stop-Golden Gate Bridge Park After the busy day of sight seeing we had, it was time to head out to Sonoma/Napa Valley for the next stop on our California Coastal journey, but before we actually drove over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way out of town, we stopped at the Golden Gate Bridge Park at the base of the Bridge. Here you can get the "up close and personal" shot of the Bridge (like the one at the beginning of this blog). There is also a visitor center area with restrooms, information, souvenirs of the Bridge and food. If you walk down a path past those buildings, you come to a nice little spot to grab the perfect Golden Gate Bridge selfie. So there you have it, how to explore San Francisco in ONE day! If you can stay longer, I would definitely recommend it, but it can be done if timing only permits a short stay. Some Additional San Francisco Tips Here are some other general tips for traveling to San Francisco: Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." Just because it is in California, doesn't mean it is warm! September is the warmest month in San Francisco, so that may be the best time to visit if you have flexibility. Otherwise, be sure to pack clothes for cooler temperatures or at least throw a jacket and a pair of jeans into your suitcase. Along the same line as necessary apparel to pack, be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes. You will be walking around a lot! You will also be walking up STEEP hills, this is guaranteed no matter what direction you are heading. Although San Francisco is a trendy town and you may be inspired to wear those cute, stylish sandals, you will be regretting that choice pretty quickly. In this case it is better to feel good then to look cute. Save those cute shoes for Napa! Don't be alarmed by the fog you will wake up to every morning. San Francisco is known for its fog, but it generally burns off by mid-day (but this doesn't mean it will be warmer...see above!). You will hear this over and over when you visit San Francisco, but do NOT leave any valuables in your car whenever you are parked. Car break-ins are rampant. Even with all the warnings, I overheard a couple of different people talking about getting their car broken into and their things stolen. They are not joking when they warn you about this problem. If you can't take it with you, try to leave everything else in your hotel or at the very least in the trunk out of sight. Stay away from the Tenderloin District. This is an area of high concentration of homeless and is known for being dangerous. As in a lot of other places, the pandemic has hit San Francisco pretty hard and has increased their already large homeless population. I didn't see an extraordinary increase from my prior visits, but just be aware that this is a problem in some areas, particularly the Tenderloin District. We didn't do it on this day due to time constraints, but I highly recommend a tour of Alcatraz if your agenda allows. You take a ferry over from Fisherman's Wharf and can tour the famous prison. It is very interesting (not to mention the amazing views of the San Francisco skyline you can get while on the ferry!). Another thing we didn't do this time that I have done in the past is a ferry over to Sausalito for the day. Sausalito is a quaint little town with cute boutiques and many restaurants. It gives you the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy all the coastal views while also letting you see a different location. I hope this blog inspires you to plan your visit to the City by the Bay (hopefully with a few more days to explore!). I highly recommend a trip to San Francisco if you haven't been yet. As you can see, there is so much to see and do! I welcome any other tips or suggestions from your travels to San Francisco as I definitely hope to go back again!

Where To Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Washington D.C.- Located in Georgetown Hamilton Hotel What To Do: Smithsonian Museums International Spy Museum Bus Tour of the Monuments (especially cool to do this at night when monuments are lit up!) Walk around Georgetown Go Down to Georgetown Waterfront (to shop, eat or catch a party boat!) Grab a Drink at a Speakeasy. There are several, but I went to a cool one called The Mirror! Dip Your Toes in the Fountain at the Washington Monument Where To Eat: Capital Burger Via Sophia (in the Hamilton Hotel) Nick's Riverside Grill (on Georgetown Waterfront) Angolo Ristorante Italiano (in Georgetown) Georgetown Cupcake