I just got home from California. My wife and I have been married 25 years and we took a second honeymoon to San Francisco, Napa Valley, and golf mecca Pebble Beach. The biggest difference between the journey 25 years ago and this journey is that I weigh 30 pounds more. That is one pound for every year of marriage and an extra five I never shook from baby number one in 1988.
The last 25 years have been kind to northern California. Despite the often assumed barriers for development when they get around to doing something they do it right. In San Francisco every site was either renewed or reborn with class and style. The Cable Cars are in pristine shape. Lombard Street is as beautiful as ever. Union Square was alive with all of the modern stores and despite being in the heart of digital world, people where out shopping in droves. SFO airport is fresh and clean. Fisherman's Wharf remains excellent. So in my opinion San Francisco gets five stars as a place to visit. Three tips: Da Vinci Villas on the corner of Van Ness and Filbert turned out to be a great place to stay; Jackson Fillmore Tratorria continues to be a fabulous restaurant; and a local pointed us to Street a comfort food place on Polk and (about0 Broadway.
Napa and the Napa Valley also have undergone a change, an upgrade, and a renewal. First off in 1986 Napa itself, downtown, was not much to behold. Since then they have done a river flood project, developed along the river in a stylish fashion, and have made Napa to have a desirable look. Next off development has brought a Westin Hotel, the Oxbow Market, and the Wine Train to life. When you go, take the Wine Train. Excellent food, great scenery, and a great presentation. The Westin looks first class in every way. Oxbow Market has a charm to it that makes it worth stopping in for lunch.
The main difference between 1986 and today is that the wine tasting experieince itself has become big business. On out first honeymoon I remember stopping at 10 wineries and tasted for free. Here it is 25 years later and California wine, the wine business, and the food and wine presentation are so advanced and so popular that the vinyards all have gotten smart on tasting. We stopped at two vineyards on purpose. Folie A Deux makes our favorite table wine Menage a Trois and we stopped in to taste and say thanks. We also went to Artesa which is up on the west slope. The view from there was awesome and they also make some great wine. We also stopped in and peaked at The French Laundry restaurant but that alone migh have cost us $300.
One tip I have if you visit Napa is go ahead and drive up to Calistoga, but do not ignore the low country around Carneros winery. The loop around the lower Napa looks as if it could be great fun. I wish we'd have had time to stop at Cuvaison, Acacia, Ceja, and the other wineries.
Drving to Monterey from Napa we hugged the coast which of course means we crossed The Golden Gate, went through the Presdio, and we took a detour through Golden Gate Park. Every inch worth the trip. We drove right past Olympic Club where I played two US Opens and caught back up to Highway 1. Coming down the One is spectacular and every bit as worth it as taking the One from Carmel to points south. We stopped at a produce stand at one point, and make no mistake, saw the best vegetables in our country. I never knew brussel spouts were so awesome.
We never actually went inside the 17 Mile Drive instead focusing on Pacific Grove. PG is worth your time all by itself with the drive around the point, around the charming Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course, as scenic as the more famous drive. PGGC looked great by the way and it is worth playing. We stayed at The Pacific Grove Inn, a B&B on the corner of Pine and Forest. Very much a great place to stay. Our main tourist thing was Monterey Bay Aquarium that has the finest in exhibits and radical environmetalism. Walking up and down Cannery Row was excellent and we stopped into Bargetto tasting room. We've been going to Bargetto since 1987 and the host, Joe, has been there all that time. Bargetto makes two wines I like: a dolcetto and a zinfadel. Stop in and say hi to Joe.
On Tuesdays downtown Monterey turns into the best Farmer's Market we have been to. We rolled in at 4:15 and spent over an hour looking at the finest produce and some of the strangest (New Age strange) products imaginable. Arugala looked sexy on the street. Should your travels take you to the Peninsula, and you are there on a Tuesday, don't miss Farmer's Market.
Odds and ends of things to do in San Francisco. You don't need a car at all. Use BART, Muni, and all the other forms of transportation. You can take the Wine Train from SF by taking the ferry to Vallejo and they pick you up. Buying an all you can ride pass is worth it. Stopping in at Tourist Information is worth it. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Eat the food and taste the wine. NorCal is all about fine wine and the presentation. Go with it. Enjoy it. SF is getting better by the year just like a fine wine. And this trip? I took no clubs and no computer. A great idea! San Francisco, Napa, Pacific Grove are all five star places to take a vacation. Go enjoy.
The last 25 years have been kind to northern California. Despite the often assumed barriers for development when they get around to doing something they do it right. In San Francisco every site was either renewed or reborn with class and style. The Cable Cars are in pristine shape. Lombard Street is as beautiful as ever. Union Square was alive with all of the modern stores and despite being in the heart of digital world, people where out shopping in droves. SFO airport is fresh and clean. Fisherman's Wharf remains excellent. So in my opinion San Francisco gets five stars as a place to visit. Three tips: Da Vinci Villas on the corner of Van Ness and Filbert turned out to be a great place to stay; Jackson Fillmore Tratorria continues to be a fabulous restaurant; and a local pointed us to Street a comfort food place on Polk and (about0 Broadway.
Napa and the Napa Valley also have undergone a change, an upgrade, and a renewal. First off in 1986 Napa itself, downtown, was not much to behold. Since then they have done a river flood project, developed along the river in a stylish fashion, and have made Napa to have a desirable look. Next off development has brought a Westin Hotel, the Oxbow Market, and the Wine Train to life. When you go, take the Wine Train. Excellent food, great scenery, and a great presentation. The Westin looks first class in every way. Oxbow Market has a charm to it that makes it worth stopping in for lunch.
The main difference between 1986 and today is that the wine tasting experieince itself has become big business. On out first honeymoon I remember stopping at 10 wineries and tasted for free. Here it is 25 years later and California wine, the wine business, and the food and wine presentation are so advanced and so popular that the vinyards all have gotten smart on tasting. We stopped at two vineyards on purpose. Folie A Deux makes our favorite table wine Menage a Trois and we stopped in to taste and say thanks. We also went to Artesa which is up on the west slope. The view from there was awesome and they also make some great wine. We also stopped in and peaked at The French Laundry restaurant but that alone migh have cost us $300.
One tip I have if you visit Napa is go ahead and drive up to Calistoga, but do not ignore the low country around Carneros winery. The loop around the lower Napa looks as if it could be great fun. I wish we'd have had time to stop at Cuvaison, Acacia, Ceja, and the other wineries.
Drving to Monterey from Napa we hugged the coast which of course means we crossed The Golden Gate, went through the Presdio, and we took a detour through Golden Gate Park. Every inch worth the trip. We drove right past Olympic Club where I played two US Opens and caught back up to Highway 1. Coming down the One is spectacular and every bit as worth it as taking the One from Carmel to points south. We stopped at a produce stand at one point, and make no mistake, saw the best vegetables in our country. I never knew brussel spouts were so awesome.
We never actually went inside the 17 Mile Drive instead focusing on Pacific Grove. PG is worth your time all by itself with the drive around the point, around the charming Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course, as scenic as the more famous drive. PGGC looked great by the way and it is worth playing. We stayed at The Pacific Grove Inn, a B&B on the corner of Pine and Forest. Very much a great place to stay. Our main tourist thing was Monterey Bay Aquarium that has the finest in exhibits and radical environmetalism. Walking up and down Cannery Row was excellent and we stopped into Bargetto tasting room. We've been going to Bargetto since 1987 and the host, Joe, has been there all that time. Bargetto makes two wines I like: a dolcetto and a zinfadel. Stop in and say hi to Joe.
On Tuesdays downtown Monterey turns into the best Farmer's Market we have been to. We rolled in at 4:15 and spent over an hour looking at the finest produce and some of the strangest (New Age strange) products imaginable. Arugala looked sexy on the street. Should your travels take you to the Peninsula, and you are there on a Tuesday, don't miss Farmer's Market.
Odds and ends of things to do in San Francisco. You don't need a car at all. Use BART, Muni, and all the other forms of transportation. You can take the Wine Train from SF by taking the ferry to Vallejo and they pick you up. Buying an all you can ride pass is worth it. Stopping in at Tourist Information is worth it. Walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Eat the food and taste the wine. NorCal is all about fine wine and the presentation. Go with it. Enjoy it. SF is getting better by the year just like a fine wine. And this trip? I took no clubs and no computer. A great idea! San Francisco, Napa, Pacific Grove are all five star places to take a vacation. Go enjoy.
Written on Thursday, 15 December 2011 12:04 by David Ogrin
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