Point Lobos Carmel

Point Lobos Park is 10 miles down from Carmel.  I can't reccomend this enough!  It's absolutely beautiful.  

Get your hiking shoes on and go! Pack a lunch and spend the day on the trails. 

Very easy to moderate trails! 

www.pointlobos.org 

Big Sur California

Big Sur is about 30 miles down the coast from Carmel.  To say it's absolutely beautiful would be an understatement.  If you are in the area, you must go! 

I'd also stop at Point Lobos, it's gorgeous! I'll make another post on that! 

As for Big Sur, eat lunch at Sierra Mar if you want a little upscale mixed with a killer view. 

The drive itself is its own wonder.  Stop often especially at Bixby Bridge and Vista Point. 

The entire trip is worth the scenic views at Julia Pfeiffer State Park! 

McConnells Ice Cream Santa Barbara California

McConnell's Ice Cream of Santa Barbara
201 W Mission St
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 569 2323
www.mcconnellsonmission.com

McConnell's Ice Cream in Santa Barbara make all their frozen treats homemade, and locally.  All of their ice cream is all natural and free of any processed or synthetic fillers. If you have the hankering for some old fashioned cold sweets, stop in and get a cone.  If you get a Sunday you may want to split it because it's huge! McConnell's was also featured on the Food Network for one of Giada's weekend getaways.

Longboards on Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf

Longboard's Grill  

210 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara
805-963-3311

 Should you eat at Longboard's in Santa Barbara? Yes!  Are you going to get gourmet food, probably not.  What you will get is food that is actually quite good, and a great fun lively atmosphere.  I can say their sweet potato fries are the best I have had. The fish from the fish and chips was a Mahi, and was tasty as well.  I ordered a wedge salad, and it was just that-- a wedge salad. 

Be sure you grab a all the nuts you can from the bar, and drop a few to the mass of pigeons that will squawk at your feet. 

Try a Mojito-- they are good there.

Sweet Potato fries, this should have been the first thing.

Get a bottle of their hot sauce to go-- a tip from my sister

Enjoy the view!

Upham Hotel Santa Barbara

The Upham Hotel

1404 De la Vina Street, Santa Barbara, CA
1.800.727.0876

The Upham in Santa Barbara sits in a quiet neighborhood on De la Vina street. It was listed on a few sites as a hotel, but I would consider it more of a bed and breakfast.  This in fact is a good thing.  The breakfast that came every day was bountiful.  First a plate of pastries and juice arrives, followed by the breakfast you ordered the night before.  Usual selections were homemade oatmeal with raisins, crust less quiche and crepes.  Should the raspberry crepes present themselves during your stay, it would be a wise wise choice to get them. 

If a quiet auberge away from the hustle and bustle is your style, then the Upham is your place.  It consists of a main house and a country cottage just a few steps away.  We stayed in the penthouse suite, on the third floor of the country place, which had a large luxurious bathroom and cozy living area. The best part of the room was a balcony with spectacular views of the area.  


The Upham is not located on the beach, but it is within walking distance of State Street and the trolley that runs back and forth to the beach.  We were able to walk our way anywhere we needed. The best thing about this place was the pricing.  You are able to get a lot for your money here.  Santa Barbara is pricey and regular single rooms at decent hotels can cost $350 and up.  We were able to book the Penthouse, usually $475 a night for $356 due to last minute booking.  They also have a special where you can call the day you are going and book a room for $185 and they will bump you up to the nicest room available at that time.  Call and talk to Elizabeth and see what she can do for you.  

Things to Do in Santa Barbara

 List from Abid

Santa Barabara Diving around the Channel Islands (which are big and beautiful and you cant miss them driving up to SB):

http://www.scubadiving.com/travel/2006/10/santa-barbara-island

Breakfast:
1. Sambos - near the beach, lots of food, old nostalgia place
http://www.sambosrestaurant.com/

2. Tuplolo junction - fancy breakfast food
http://www.tupelojunction.com/


Lunch:
1. Super Rica - greasy mexican food, but a local favorite.  Expect an hour wait if you go during peak time.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=super+rica+santa+barbara&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=4350562262764240028  Eat Here!

2. Longboards - on the pier bar that is the best place for a cocktail during the day
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=long+boards+santa+barbara&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=12011660321078861297  Best Sweet Potato Fries ever


Dinner:
1. Pascucci - great italian food that will not break the bank (whatsoever)
http://www.pascuccirestaurant.com/

2. The Palace - cajun food, a local favorite but does not take reservations - worth the wait Shaz and my favorite!

http://palacegrill.com/

3. Beachside Grill - in Goleta, which is about 10 to 15 minutes north and you have to drive.  This place is right on the water and one of Lori and I's favorite splurge places (little pricy, I recomend the halibut but everything is good)
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=beachside+grill+santa+barbara&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&view=text&latlng=17873089851480819562




Things to do:
0. Walk around state street - shopping

1. Rent bike mobiles on cabrillo street (you know the ones that are cars that you peddle)
http://www.santabarbara.com/Activities/wheel_fun/

2. See the mission

3. Walk up to the top of the santa barbara courthouse - good view, historic building, where I proposed to Lori
http://www.santabarbaracourthouse.org/sbch/

4. Hiking the santa barbara hills - I don't know the ones I have been on, but there are good views

5. Santa Barabara bowl concert - pretty cool venue if there is something good playing
http://sbbowl.com/

6. Thousand steps beach - good romantic walk beach - have to drive to it
http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=XTR001-031

7. Butterfly beach - monticito beach


Places to stay: Near state street or the wharf (cabrillo street) are the best places, below are recommendations

There is a holiday in express that is right next to state street that is affordable
http://www.hotelvirginia.com/


Fess Parker double tree is nice, but further from state street


Canary Hotel - Pricey, but good location
http://www.canarysantabarbara.com/


Biltmore - expensive, but nice 

www.fourseasons.com/santabarbara

Upham Hotel-  Super Nice bed and Breakfast ( Not near the beach-- but lovely)

www.uphamhotel.com/

La Super-Rica Taqueria - Santa Barbara, CA

La Super-Rica Taqueria

622 N Milpas St
Santa Barbara, CA 93103 34.4278 -119.6872

I found THE taco stand in Santa Barbara.  Are you surprised?  When I went online to look up the reviews for La Super Rica Taqueria, I read that it had been a favorite of Julia Childs.  Good enough provocation for me I tell you.  I am a taco stand snob, if there is such a paradoxical thing.   I like good tacos, hole in the wall-y, grandma making, fresh masa tacos.  I was not disappointed.  There was a pretty long line when we arrived, and it was around 2:00pm.  By 3:00 we had our food, and a table.  I would not advise going here at lunch time unless you like punishment akin to steak waving in front of a hungry dog.  Go around 3ish when the line thins a bit.  The tacos were worth the wait, but what pushed this place to greatness was the tamale.  The tamale, vegetable filled and topped with cream sauce, was hands down the best tamale I have eaten.  It was a heroin tamale. Yes, that's what it was.   Full on fantastic.  If you are in Santa Barbara and you do not stop here, you either do not care about food, or you have just escaped a mental ward.

Arclight In the Galleria at Sherman Oaks in Studio City California

Arclight Sherman Oaks

15301 Ventura Blvd
(at Sepulveda in the Sherman Oaks Galleria), Sherman Oaks, CA
www.arclightcinemas.com/

 If you are in LA, taking in a movie at an Arclight theatre is a fun thing to do.  You can order site specific seats online for any of their locations.  What makes the Arclight different from a regular theatre?  Well, it is nice to pick your seats-- but they also have a bar and restaurant inside.  This makes it a perfect one stop spot for a date, movie night with the girls or the family.  The seating is spacious, and plush. You will definitely pay more for all the extras, with tickets around $15 each.

We went in a little early and ordered food.  Of course my diner chose the burger.  I will have to say the few bites I had were pretty darn tasty.  If the rest of the food is on par there is no reason not to eat here and get the full experience.

Oh and have the sweet potato fries.

Caioti Pizza Cafe Studio City LA California

Caioti Pizza Cafe 

4346 Tujunga Ave., Studio City, California 91604
Map Link and Directions
818.761.3588 Fax 818.761.3606
caioti@earthlink.net

 

Caioti is a cute little spot of Tujunga in Studio City.  On Sundays they have breakfast food on the menu as well as their classic Italian.  I ordered the old world style pizza.  It comes usually comes on a thin crust with no tomato sauce.  I opted to add sauce, and in hind site should have ordered it on the side since the crust was so delicate. E ordered the french toast and it was good as well.  This is a family friendly place, so feel free to bring all the kids.

Euro Pane Bakery - Pasadena - Pasadena, CA

Euro Pane Bakery 

950 E Colorado Blvd
Ste 107
Pasadena, CA 91106
Neighborhood: Pasadena

(626) 577-1828

 

I am and have been a Food Network junkie since the times when Emeril was bamming in a studio apartment sized kitchen on tv.  Those where the days I would come home high and pretend my bean burrito was foie gras. First off, I had no clue what foie gras was, but was sure it was fashionable and tasty.  Now I do know what it is, and I wouldn't come near it with a ten foot pole. I am also way long over my green phase. 

But I digress.

The whole round about point is that I watch food network like a wide eyed loris and typically dream of the strange and inviting concoctions presented.  A particularly favorite show of mine, besides Triple D, is The Best Thing I Ever Ate.  Like I said before I often daydream of the foods they show, but I never pegged myself as someone who would run to one of the restaurants shown.

Ok, we all know that is a lie, of course I would run to any restaurant that was well in my perimeter. 

On one show Adam Gertler was in a nondescript neighborhood bakery.  I was half watching when the egg salad sandwich caught my eye. My attention became acute, and at that very moment I knew one day I would be eating one of those sandwiches.  So creamy and inviting they looked. Fast forward to a week ago when I was in California.  After a short search on the internet, I found the home of the tempting egg salad sandwich.  It was in Pasadena, only fifteen minutes from where we were.  Did you get that, FIFTEEN minutes.  Well, this was a no brainier.  We went!

I walked in and could hardly stand it.  I ordered, then waited, then looked around, then waited, and finally my plate from heaven came out.  The bread was crusty with a schmear of tomato pesto.  To the side was the most fabulously delicious egg salad I have ever tasted.  It was simple mixture of homemade mayonnaise and soft boiled eggs delicately spiced.  I ate the whole thing, which was a feat for me.  This is a must anyone traveling the area.

They also serve the softest most decadent macaroons around.  The most popular is the chocolate and caramel with fluer de sel.  Eat it, Eat it, Eat it!