At a Glance: Stylish Sacramento

by Cheri Lucas 8:15PM April 28, 2010   No Comments »

First-time visitors to Sacramento are bound to hit up the usual: downtown, Capitol Park (and California’s State Capitol), and Old Sacramento, a district along the Sacramento River.

But be sure to head east… and wander the tree-lined residential avenues and blocks of boutiques, tiny art galleries, restaurants, and bars/clubs in Midtown, the neighborhood also known as the “Grid.”

Some of the small businesses are housed in restored Victorians, while the city’s nightlife and foodie, art, and music scenes brew here. Stroll down this charming neighborhood’s streets and find a funky antiques shop. Or make a wrong turn down a quiet alley, only to stumble upon Old Soul Co., a converted warehouse-turned-artisan bakery where locals chill on sofas and surf their laptops.

Midtown definitely gives visitors a taste of Sacramento’s hip, eclectic, and unexpected side, so if you’re staying the night, why not book a stylish room at the Citizen Hotel, a boutique hotel downtown, not far from the State Capitol.



From San Gregorio to Pescadero: Exploring the San Mateo Coast

by Cheri Lucas 9:42PM April 21, 2010   No Comments »

Since I was born and raised in San Mateo County, I’ve not immediately thought of the region as destination-worthy. This is a natural reaction to one’s hometown area, perhaps, and it wasn’t until recently had I realized San Mateo County is indeed a place worth visiting.

An ideal way to explore San Mateo’s coastal area is to start in the town of Woodside. From Highway 280, make your way to Highway 84 and stop at the Pulgas Water Temple—if you’re lucky, as I’ve always been, you will be the only one on the grounds, and can lie on the manicured, sloping lawn and read a book or have a picnic in peace. After, continue west on Highway 84 and wind through La Honda to San Gregorio. Just before you reach the coast, you’ll reach Stage Road, the old stagecoach route. At this intersection, you stumble upon the San Gregorio General Store—a historic, quirky all-purpose store that’s also a full-service bar, café, and live music venue. I love stopping here and catching a bluegrass band playing in the corner.

After you’ve stocked up on snacks and beers, head a bit further down to the beach. San Gregorio State Beach is a long strip of sand—even on sunny days when the crowds are out, you can still stake out sections of sand to call your own. If you’re up for more than a picnic out of a basket, score one of the public grills on this beach (or head to nearby Pomponio, Pescadero, or Bean Hollow State Beaches).

If you’re down for some outdoor action but not quite in a beach-y mood, a favorite stop of mine in this area is Harley Farms, a well-run goat dairy farm in Pescadero. While spring is a wonderful time to visit—the grassy pen is full of cute newborns—Harley Farms is a pretty awesome spot to visit year-round, and not only can you roam the grounds and frolic with all the happy goats (and believe me, they’re happy), you also tour the farm, learn how their cheese is made, and sample the goods in a simple yet rustic-chic dining room above the establishment’s gift shop.

If you refuse to head back into the suburbs of the Peninsula and would rather spend the night in Pescadero, try out one of these places to snooze:

  • Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel: It’s expensive, with private and shared rooms, with a nice touch: a clifftop hot tub beneath the lighthouse.
  • Pescadero Creekside Barn: A romantic retreat consisting of just one room—a loft inside an old whitewashed barn.
  • Costanoa: A seaside resort with a campground, tent cabins, duplex cabins with fireplaces, and hotel-style rooms.


“Only in San Francisco” Contest Winners

by Cheri Lucas 4:18PM April 16, 2010   No Comments »

Winners of Trazzler’s City Flavor Writing Contest, sponsored by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau and Joie de Vivre Hotels, were recently announced. A bunch of unique trips about San Francisco were written by local residents on one of the contest themes, “Only in San Francisco.” The Grand Prize Editors’ Choice winner, Traci Hui, wrote a clever entry about Paxton Gate—a store on Valencia Street that started out as an eccentric gardening store but has since evolved into a store of curiosities… and bizarre merchandise. The People’s Choice winner, Rebecca Feinberg, highlighted a tiny taquería called Casa Sanchez in the Mission District, where salsa dancing and backyard boozing are the norm.

Residents and local writers, in particular, know of hidden spots in the city and the Bay Area, especially spots that exemplify what the region is all about. One contest runner-up wrote about SCRAP, or the Scroungers’ Center for Reusable Art Parts in the Bayshore neighborhood, while another contest entrant wrote about Glen Camp, a beachside refuge near the forest in the heart of Point Reyes National Seashore.

Of course, the entries for the Only in SF theme wouldn’t have been complete without trips from the city’s most popular spots, too, like Anchor Brewing Company on Potrero Hill and the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park.

Trazzler announced 10 grand prize winners and 15 runners-up for the contest—the grand prize winners won free trips to San Francisco. Very cool!



Books and the Boho Spirit

by Cheri Lucas 4:43PM April 10, 2010   No Comments »

The great author Henry Miller lived in Big Sur between 1944 and 1962. And no getaway in Big Sur is complete without a visit to the Henry Miller Library, which isn’t a library in the most traditional sense—it’s a unique place nestled in a redwood grove where locals and visitors come together. The library is an archive, cultural center, coffeehouse, beloved local institution, and one-of-a-kind live music venue.

In fact, the library will welcome some pretty sweet musicians to play this spring, including Yo La Tengo on April 30, Jonathan Richman on May 16, and Ed Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros on May 26. Be sure to visit its website for ticket information!

Tip: On your visit, explore the grounds—you may discover a hidden spot off the beaten path.

Hours: 11 am to 6 pm everyday (except Tuesday)

Phone: 831.667.2574

Directions: Via Highway 1, on the mountain side of the road—a quarter-mile south of Nepenthe restaurant, and a quarter-mile north of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn

Lodging: If you plan to spend the night in the area, check out these places to stay, from a cottage to a campground and a yurt to a romantic resort:

-Post Ranch Inn: a posh luxury resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean

-Treebones Resort: Mongolian-style yurts on a bluff above the sea (here’s a shot inside one of these yurts)

-Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn: a vintage 1930s compound of redwood lodges surrounded by towering trees

-Kirk Creek Campground: Numerous campsites, which look out over the Big Sur coast