Southern Sonoma Country Life

Summer Travel Planning - The Whole Kit and Caboodle

There has been much talk amongst my circle of friends as, I am sure there has been amongst you and yours these past few weeks,  on the subject of travels planned and some already in progress for the 2013 vacation season.

As most of us know from experience, traveling en-famille involves a considerably diverse skill set in order to accomplish travel goals, attempt to have a good time all-around and successfully return home together without having lost ones hair (significant other, offspring etc) or marbles entirely.

Writer Andrew O'Hagan hits the nail on the head in his article Party of One, in The New York Times Magazine's May Travel Issue.

"Every vacation is an ego trip for somebody," he writes. "It's just that in families the person actually commanding the ego trip has to pretend he or she is running a functioning democracy. (And vacations, like failed states, are always run by one person.) People argue so much on vacation because the occasion so often falls short of the desire: the desire is for rest, peace, no pressure and a sense of being away from one's usual self, and your average family holiday sets fire in a comic sequence to each of these high hopes."

O'Hagan presents a passionate case for traveling alone: "You lift pictures of loved ones from your suitcase and place them gingerly on the bedside cabinet and blow them a kiss. Then you take off your shoes and die of bliss," he writes. 

If the closest you're likely to get to solo adventuring this summer is a camp-out in the backyard, do take a few minutes to indulge in some vicarious solo missions in O'Hagan's excellent article before you get back to the drawing board, hours on expedia, negotiating itineraries with various family members, checking everyone's passports haven't expired, finding a cat sitter.... 

Aahh, summer travels. Where are you headed? 

Dog Friendly Beer Garden, Waterfront Oyster Bar, River Dog Pampered Pooch Packages

Dog lovers looking for adventures in the Bay Area and beyond, here are three new opportunities for you to take to the road for some R&R will pooch in tow.

The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company was just named best Dog-Friendly Restaurant and second-best Dog-Friendly Bar in the Bay Area for the second year in a row in Bay Woof’s 2013 Beast of the Bay Competition!

In honor of the occasion, they will be hosting a fundraiser for the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA called “Going to the Dogs” on the heated, dog-friendly Mavericks Beer Garden on Sunday, April 7th, from 1 – 4 p.m.

Four-legged guests will be treated to house-made Mavericks Bones and professional pet photography while their human counterparts may partake in pet adoptions provided by Peninsula Humane Society, and enjoy live music by Patrick Maier Duo along with the Brewing Company’s fresh Coastal cuisine and house-brewed beers.  (www.hmbbrewingco.com)

Closer to home, Nick’s Cove is launching new dog-friendly outdoor oyster bar and a Pampered Pooch Package this April. Overlooking Tomales Bay, the new dog-friendly waterfront patio and outdoor oyster bar adds seating for 30 people to enjoy cocktails and oysters, just in time for spring. The adjoining, dog-friendly Nick’s Cove beach is steps from the waterfront patio, and, weather-permitting, there will be bonfires lit every night for guests to enjoy while the sun sets. The Pampered Pooch Package includes:

 •    overnight accommodations in a luxurious pet-friendly Waterview Cottage or Waterfront Cottage with the pet-fee waived, 

•   BBQ oysters (for humans) and house-made biscuits (for dogs) delivered upon arrival along with a handy map of nearby dog-friendly beaches and hikes, 

•    feeding dishes and dirty-paw towels in the room and 

•   continental breakfast for two humans, plus a special doggy treats delivered to the cottage in the morning with the day’s edition of the San Francisco Chronicle.

 To reserve the Pampered Pooch Package, please call 415-663-1033 or visit http://nickscove.com/specialpackages.html

 The Little River Inn is a family owned and operated boutique resort on the Mendocino Coast and this April in honor of earth day there will be a “River Dog Package” that includes the following special amenities especially for four-legged guests:

•    Two nights in a pet friendly room

•   A three hour dog-friendly canoe excursion with Catch a Canoe

•   An $80 dinner voucher which can be used anywhere at Little River Inn including the dog-friendly parlor, for in-room dining, or in the dining room (which does not allow animals)

•    Free dog sitting while guests ride the Skunk Train

•    A goodie bag containing dogs treats and a fact sheet with information on where to hike, bike and boat with dogs

Packages begin at $568.50, reflecting a 15% room discount.  Advance reservations are required for booking.  Package does not include Skunk Train tickets. For more information, or to secure a reservation contact Little River Inn at 707-937-5942 or www.littleriverinn.com

Tin Can Tourists Coming to Southern SoCo - Vintage Trailer Chic

Vintage trailors are all the rage these days, commanding huge sums in coveted resale transactions and showing up in all sorts of places dressed up to the nines.

What a fun way to travel or to add a guest room, office or hideway at home.

Petaluma's KOA Campground Resort welcomes the 5th Annual West Coast Tin Can Tourist Rally Vintage Trailer Event, Friday October 5th through Sunday October 7th, 2012.

Dozens of beautifully restored rigs are set to parade along Petaluma Blvd North at 12.30 pm on arrival early on the Friday afternoon.

Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm members plan to showcase their mini traveling museums to the visiting public.

Look out for Vintage Trailer 'yard sales' too.

Thanks to Tin Can Tourist leading light Forrest Bone for use of the majority of these sweet pics. Forrest is one of over 1,500 Tin Can Tourist members who proudly rally and caravan their cute vintage campers all over the United States.

The Tin Can Tourist Open House is free. Pull up in the parking area at the KOA at 20 Rainsville Road, Petaluma, CA.

Kudos to Chris Aluia (Lions, Tigers and Hair & Rivertown Revival renown) for bringing this little breath of fresh air to town!

Check out more info on Tin Can Tourists here.

Family Friendly Cycling in Yosemite National Park

With more than 12 miles of paved bike trails in Yosemite Valley plus many more fairly flat road miles to spin the wheels around some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, I can't think of a better place for family and friends to pedal in a single file pack!

And should you find yourself in a pickle with a tricky bike lock, it's good to know that the Park's roadside assistance unit (in conjunction with AAA) will come to your rescue. After a delightful morning's romp amongst rocks and pools of Yosemite Falls - our pedal party of nine found itself unable to open the combo locking the bulk of our substantial pack of bikes together at the entrance to the Falls' path.

Two of our teens took off in search of a ranger and returned to a round of applause in the cab of a flatbed roadside rescue truck, accompanied by a swift operating, bolt-cutter pro who advised us that it really is a good idea to take extra precautions in securing bicycles left at the base of hiking trails in Yosemite Park. Bike thieves apparantly have tuned into the knowledge that there are rich pickings in the park at peak season, as they drive through in pick-up trucks, dashing out with similar bolt-cutting apparatus, deftly  throwing their loot into the back of trucks and driving off for more.   

Don't let that put you off. There are all sorts of locks on the market to spoil a bike thief's day. And if you are particularly attached to your two wheeler, you could always sleep with it inside your tent, like our youngest did (pictured above). This made for rather constricted turn-around room in the tent cabin at Curry Village, but he, and consequently we, were able to sleep well with the rest assured knowledge that his bike was equally safe and sound!

Biking in Yosemite suits all levels and leaving the car keys in the same spot after arrival is the ideal way to explore this stunning place, as a group and individually.Bike lights are a must at night, though the risk of running into a bear is a real one, so it's wise to travel in a team!

Rental bikes are widely available for cruising the valley, stopping off to paddle in babbling brooks and mountain streams and convenient pit-stops to fill up the water bottles. Helmets are mandatory for under 18's and vital for all if you plan to ride the actual roads which are extremely busy with cars and buses during summer months.   

Check out Yosemite Valley bike trails here.

 

 

How Deep Are Your Soccer Short Pockets? Start Saving for FIFA World Cup 20th Anniversary, Brazil 2014

With the eyes of the globe currently on the UEFA European Championship, the most dedicated soccer aficionados are gearing up for 2014's monumental 20th anniversary FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

While most of us will have to make do with watching World Cup games from front row seats with soccer-loving friends and family at home, Kensington Tours has created an exclusive collection of customizable World Cup experiences for those with the means to sign up for a trip of a sporting lifetime. Based out of Rio de Janeiro, these unique sporting adventures have all the makings for a football fanatic's dream vacation.   

Kensington Tours was named in the World's Best Awards 2011 by Travel + Leisure Magazine and named one of the Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth, by the editors of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

"There's nothing more thrilling than witnessing this epic event firsthand," says Marsha Pautler, Director of Kensington's Championship Series which offers tours to the most coveted tournaments in sport. "While millions watch these international heart-stoppers on television, Kensington is putting lucky sports fans front row and center." 

Kensington's World Cup experiences all feature official tickets, exclusive access to the Match Pavilion hospitality tent, gourmet cuisine, open bar, bilingual host, commemorative gift, stylish centrally-located premium hotels, chauffeured transfers and onsite 24/7 support.

While not at the games, travelers will discover Brazil's vibrant culture and natural wonders during private guided tours of its many highlights. From Copacabana's white beaches andSugarloaf Mountain to rainforest safaris and lively samba music, these enriching experiences are guaranteed winners. If a World Cup trip's on your bucket list,  pack your flag and get ready to be a part of soccer history in the making at the most widely viewed sporting event in the entire world.  

These experiences are the first of Kensington's World Cup series to be launched. Additional options, at a variety of price points, including fan-favorite Follow Your Team options.

Kensington's customizable FIFA World Cup 2014 experiences include:
 
World Cup ­ Round One Group Matches
8 Days from $15,595 per person. Click here for details.

World Cup 2014 ­ Round of 16 & Quarter Finals
9 Days from $20,595 per person. Click here for details.

World Cup 2014 ­ Semi Finals & Finals
8 Days from $33,995 per person. Click here for details.

Based in Wilmington, DE, Kensington Tours is the inspiration of intrepid explorer and Royal Geographic Society Fellow Jeff Willner. His thirst for travel stemmed from growing up in Africa where his parents worked for most of his childhood and where he discovered the richness of global cultures.

A veteran of global expeditions to over 70 countries, he has criss-crossed the continents to experience the extraordinary. During these years, Willner realized the vast difference between a package tour and personal discovery – where deep knowledge and personal attention of a local guide can turn a trip into an experience.

 

O Beautiful For Spacious Skies - Best Foot Forward for California Outdoor Adventures

From the farthest Western reaches of remote beaches of Point Reyes to purple mountain majesties of Yosemite, Southern Sonoma Country Life is on the road this week with the teens - taking in the best of our part of the country's spectacular natural bounty.

I successfully wore in a new pair of trail shoes hiking in and out of Coast Camp at Point Reyes National Seashore this weekend and hope to give them plenty of action in Yosemite to round out a week of the great outdoors. There's nothing more satisfying than leaving behind the remote controls and stepping out of cell phone coverage for a few days of old fashioned, fresh-air, dusty-footed, family togetherness!

 

 

 

 

 

Extreme Recycling - Petaluma's Reclamation Road Reality Show Hits Every Town America

"Every floorboard, every beam, every building tells a story, if you speak the language," says Petaluma's Heritage Salvage star of the new small screen reality show Reclamation Road. Watch out for the intrepid, poetic Michael 'Bug' Deakin as he travels the road less trod in search of abandoned, old buildings to tear down and use anew. Every Tuesday morning at 8am Pacific Time, Bug'll be releasing his latest episode from somewhere or other, or maybe your home town in the United States. The man is amazingly brilliant and with his gift of the gab, we're glued!

Bay Area Based Acces Trips Announces First-of-A-Kind Morocco Culinary Tours

Photo Credit - Kasbah Omar/Access Trips

Photo Credit - Kasbah Omar/Access Trips

Photo Credit - Kasbah Omar/Access Trips

Photo Credit Credit - Kasbah Omar/Access Trips

With its September Morocco Culinary & Cultural Tour sold out, Bay Area-based leading exotic, adventure tour operator, Access Trips, is offering new August 2012 dates for its most popular group trip ever.

Under the expert guidance of CEO, Tamar Lowell, Access Trips has perfected an itinerary for guests that goes beyond a culinary immersion to illuminate what often becomes a life-long passion for Moroccan cooking, culture and cuisine.

As the first to offer a journey where the Moroccan culture is explored through its cuisine in 2010, Access Trips possesses a deep understanding of Morocco’s rich landscape, customs, and people. This expertise manifests itself in a trip that highlights the country’s magical and mysterious blend of Arabic, Berber, French and Spanish influences.

From the charming fishing community of Essaouira to a small, picturesque Berber village perched in the High Atlas Mountains, travelers experience the vast and vibrant diversity of Morocco on a culinary expedition that is not to be missed.

Don’t miss your chance to join what travelers have already called "the trip of a lifetime."

Discover Your Passion for Moroccan Culture and Cuisine on Access Trips’ Morocco – Culinary & Cultural Tour.
 
Indulge your senses as you experience the vibrant colors, complex customs and striking flavors of a country on the crossroads of civilization. Learn the art of preparing local cuisine, become acquainted with regional specialties and traditions, uncover the tools of the Moroccan kitchen and discover your inner chef all with the help of experienced local chefs and an expert multilingual guide.

To meet booming demand, Access Trips is announcing a new tour departing August 30, 2012. This trip is in addition to the tour’s remaining 2012 departures on October 11, November 8 and December 20 – with the September trip already sold out.

Highlights of the nine-day tour include:

Masterful Moroccan Cooking Instruction – Learn the art behind the preparation of Morocco’s abundant regional specialties from expert local instructors. Discover your inner chef as you are taught to prepare fish tajine using the catch of the day in the fishing village of Essaouira. While staying in the village of Anrar in the High Atlas Mountains, master Berber specialties including barbeque kebabs, breakfast crepes, and the delectable pastilla – a delicacy combining flaky pastry, savory meat and sultry spices. From traditional lemon chicken, to Moroccan soups, salads and coucous there is no end to the culinary delight that awaits.
Retreat to Essaouira – Wonder at the authentic charm of the old fishing village and artist enclave as you explore a cultural mix of ancient architecture, enjoy a spectacular seaside lunch, ride a camel and peruse local art galleries.
 
Experience a Berber Village – Explore the traditional Berber village of Anrar, and become acquainted with regional customs as you stop in for a cup of tea with a local Berber family before enjoying a sumptuous dinner back at the riad Kasbah Omar.
 
Navigate the Vibrant Markets of the High Atlas – After a 45-minute walk through olive and fruit groves along a river, delight the senses as you explore the souk lathine – the traditional Monday Market where Berber villagers come to trade. Select organic vegetables, meat and chicken to be used in the day’s cooking classes and walk back to the Kasbah with your donkey carrying the produce.
 
Explore the Ourika Valley – Embark on a journey through the Ourika Valley, one of the most stunning and ancient valleys of the High Atlas. Drive to the ancient Jewish village of Algjii and meet with the last Jew in the valley, a man who has dedicated his life to guarding the 500-year-old tomb of a legendary rabbi. Visit an organic herb garden before choosing to either embark on a rewarding hike to a magical waterfall or return to the village for a traditional ceramic workshop.
 
Discover the Imperial City of Marrakesh – Explore this enchanting palm oasis set against the snow-capped peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, as you spend an two days touring mystical Marrakesh. Discover the expansive harem quarters of the Bahia Palace, the ancient royal Saadian Tombs, the vibrant and historic Jewish mellah and the majestic Koutoubia Mosque all before even entering the 9th century walled medina.
 
Wonder at the Markets of the Medina --Wind your way through a serpentine labyrinth of the ancient bustling souk and take in the sights of Moroccan craftsmanship at its best. Learn about local artisan specialties, such as carpets and metalwork, during visits to local artisan co-ops.
 
Thrill in the Magic of Djemaa el-Fna Square – Roam the famed square where mystical snake charmers, hustlers and mischievous monkeys add to the nightly drama, as Berber acrobats, fortune-tellers, musicians and engaging storytellers seduce a bustling crowd.
 
Deluxe Accommodations in Stunning Riads – Unwind at the end of each day in the comforts of stunning Moroccan riads, traditional Moroccan homes featuring an interior courtyard and garden. Whether overlooking the jaw-dropping High Atlas Mountains or the sparkling sea, all accommodations feature breathtaking views of the Moroccan landscape.
 
Marvel at the Rare Argan Tree – Stop to tour an argan oil cooperative on your journey from Essaouira to Marakesh, and witness the elusive, UNESCO protected argan tree endemic only to Morocco.
 
Rates start at $2,890 per person and include transfer to and from the airport in Casablanca and Marrakesh, all breakfasts, one lunch, five dinners, and deluxe accommodations. Groups are limited to 12 travelers, who are accompanied by a multilingual local guide. For more information please visit www.accesstrips.com or call (650) 492-4778.

Access Trips has announced its full lineup of 2013 dates available now for booking at www.accesstrips.com.

ABOUT ACCESS TRIPS

Access Trips is the leading adventure tour operator specializing in exotic learning vacations to 13 countries worldwide. Access Trips offers a wide range of small-group outdoor sports and culinary-focused trips that are expertly designed to allow guests to experience a new culture, learn new skills or fine-tune existing ones, and revel in the splendor of their destination.

Based in San Francisco, California and launched in 2001, Access Trips’ impressive portfolio includes cooking, surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, and multisport itineraries. Regardless of the focus of the activity, Access Trips caters to a variety of skill levels, serving the novice as well as the expert in a relaxed, non-intimidating setting with the help of world-class instructors and multilingual guides. 

Photo Credit - Riad el Assafir

Take A Walk on the Wild Side Along the Pacific Coast Trail with Author Cheryl Strayed

Back in my early twenties, accompanied by a couple of my closest girlfriends, I traversed the highly memorable, wet and windy West Highland Way, in Scotland (excluding one day of cheating that entailed hitching rides on a ferry across a stormy loch), a cross-country trek from coast to coast in Southern Ireland one freezing cold November, as well as several other smaller, less, ambitious hiking boot rambles in the British Isles.

Since crossing the pond and embarking on the great and all-encompassing adventure of motherhood, my long-distance hiking days have been on hiatus. 

Author Cheryl Strayed's singular, well-trod boot on the cover of her account of a solo hike of the epic Pacific Coast Trail spoke to me from the bookseller's cozy shelf. I took the book, suitably entitled Wild with me to read during my Australian escpade of late and have to report that I raced through it at a clip of a pace that Strayed herself would have been proud of.

I've since read that Reese Witherspoon's production company has designs to make this tale of adventure, survival and self-redemption into a movie, which I can envision might have its merits, but likely no where near as good as the book.

 

Food for Thought - Intercontinental Culinary Contest Idea!

I’ve an idea for a new reality TV show. After hitting the ground running here in Australia with my Mary Poppins' mission to make a few tasty, wholesome, balanced dinners for my sister Kerry and family following the birth of their new baby boy, the thought struck me mid-supermarket aisle that I ought to have brought along a few of my favorite recipes, logged in the notes section of my smart phone.

The fact that I’ve been making a mad dash to the store daily with the general gist of what my sister’s been missing in the home cooked department, of late, with no idea of what’s where on the supermarket shelves in Sydney’s Bondi Junction, has made for something of a game-show grab-and-go.

The Italian hubby made me promise to switch my phone to airplane mode. He’s the keeper of our family-of-five phone bills so I’m sworn to seeking out free Wi-Fi when out-and-about overseas and not having much joy in figuring out the internet whenever I do strike gold on a potential Google search for a roving recipe.

Thus, my repertoire in the culinary arts has been conjured up behind the cart as I stare, bewildered, in the produce department, wondering why there aren’t any yellow or orange peppers.

We’ve had lengthy conversations over dinner as to the surprisingly sparse offerings of local, organic foods in Sydney. Restaurants are renowned for great food, here in the hub of New South Wales, but the average grocery shopper has to work hard to seek out the freshest and most varied of produce.

Wild rice was on my mental list during yesterday’s jaunt. A big bag of beautiful mixed rice back home would make for two meals for my large family, simmered for an hour at a cost of around $3.99. After scouring the shelves in the rice department in a couple of competitor supermarkets in the massive Bondi Junction shopping center, the best I could come up with was a tiny little, spice-size packet of a few ounces, for the same price. I opted for new potatoes instead.

Day five of my visit and I’ve stocked up on supplies for the next three evening meals, freshly made falafel with roasted Mediterranean veggies, Tahini and a loaf of the lovely Turkish flat bread that’s so popular here in Australia, baked chicken with cannellini beans and leeks (and old favorite, ala Oliver, Jamie), trusty-staple, spaghetti with homemade meatballs and sauce….  

 Back to the TV show idea. We’ve watched all sorts of super chefs go for it in the commercial kitchen, filmed on various continents, but how about a series where contestants are sent to foreign countries without any access to recipe notes, cookbooks or the internet and plunged into neighborhood supermarkets, on a timer, to source and carry back the contents of family-style meals, to concoct in a home kitchen unfamiliar to them. Figuring out the oven controls, pots and pans, utensils, available seasonings and oils – all part of the versatility required to compete with globetrotting home chef contestants!