California Avocado Festival Carpinteria - Visit the California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria, CA. This is a three day FREE event held in October each year and benefits local non-profit organizations and promotes the town of Carpinteria. Santa Barbara county is the 3rd largest Avocado producing county in the USA. This is three days of family fun, food, music, and of course avocados! Cool competitions include the best dressed avocado, largest … [Read more...]
Willow Steakhouse, Jamestown CA – January 2002
Willow Steakhouse Jamestown - When in the historic mining town of Jamestown, California be sure to swagger up to the bar at The Willow Steakhouse, Restaurant & Saloon located at corner of Willow & Main Street. This is an authentic looking western style (gold rush era feel) bar & restaurant with a rich history (be sure to read the history section on their menu). The building dates back to the early 1860's and was named for the willow trees growing … [Read more...]
Visit Costa Rica! – December 2001
Visit Costa Rica - Costa Rica has many natural attractions. Beautiful beaches, mountain ranges, smoking volcanoes, tropical rain & cloud forests & much more await you in this small but very unique Central American Country. Flights originate and leve from San Jose - but don't spend to much time here - the natural world of the country awaits. From the cloud forests of Monteverde containing the often shy but resplendently colored Quetzal to the … [Read more...]
Belvedere Restaurant, Beverly Hills CA – November 2001
Belvedere Restaurant Beverly Hills - If you are ever in Beverly Hills, CA and you want to have an exquisite meal in an elegant setting be sure to have dinner in The Belvedere, a 5 star restaurant located inside the 5 star The Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel. The Peninsula is refined luxury, clearly evident once you arrive in their driveway. Located off of Santa Monica Blvd - the property is about a 10-45 min drive from the 405 (depending on traffic … [Read more...]
Goldstrike Jewelry, Tahoe City CA October 2001
Goldstrike Jewelry Tahoe City - If you are ever in Tahoe City, CA be sure to stop by Goldstrike Jewelry located at the Cobblestone Mall (next to Porters Ski and Sport). This store was run by a husband and wife team, Ward & Christie. Christie designed the jewelry and Ward was the goldsmith. This store contained some of the finest crystalline gold in jewelry that we have seen. View our in depth Lake Tahoe article here Update: Unfortunately … [Read more...]
Wilma’s Patio, Balboa Island CA – September 2001
Wilma's Patio Balboa Island - If you are ever on the Lido Island across from the Balboa peninsula near Newport Beach in Orange County California be sure to stop by Wilma's Patio for casual family dining. Founded in 1982, they have become a mainstay on the island - a go to breakfast spot for locals and visitor's alike. Drive onto Balboa Peninsula via a bridge and then take the short ferry ride (car, bicycle or people) which drops you minutes from … [Read more...]
Sherlock Holmes Museum, London – August 2001
Sherlock Holmes Museum London - If you are ever in London, England step back in time and be sure to visit the World's Most Famous Address which is the Sherlock Holmes Museum located at 221 b Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson lived at 221b Baker Street between 1881-1904, according to the stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Today the inside of the house is kept in the same style as in Victorian times. The museum is open … [Read more...]
McConnell’s Ice Cream, Santa Barbara CA July 2001
McConnell's Ice Cream Santa Barbara - If you are ever in Santa Barbara California be sure to stop in at the Mission Street Ice Cream & Yogurt Shop, featuring McConnell's Ice Cream. In our humble opinion, McConnell's is the "best" ice cream in Santa Barbara. This shop is located at the corner of Mission and De La Vina streets just a few blocks over from the northern part of State Street (actual address, 201 Mission Street). The prices aren't … [Read more...]
Gaumer’s Jewelry & Museum, Red Bluff CA – June 2001
Gaumer's Jewelry & Museum Red Bluff - If you are ever in Red Bluff, CA be sure to visit Gaumer's a wonderful gem/mineral store and museum. This is a family owned "rock shop"; the Gaumer's have been interested in rocks and minerals for 4 generations. Photos hang on the wall in the museum of their family during various rock hounding trips. Their passion for rocks is clearly evident once you walk in the store. Their shop is conveniently located … [Read more...]
Cold Spring Tavern, Santa Barbara CA – May 2001
Cold Spring Tavern Santa Barbara - If you are ever near Santa Barbara, CA be sure to drive the old stagecoach road into town. This narrow windy road crosses the 154 (Cachuma Pass) in two locations, one near the summit and one lower down the hill north of the summit. The tavern is located about 20 minutes north of Santa Barbara. This road winds its way through a brushy canyon under the large green bridge that was built for Highway 154 to cross … [Read more...]