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Big Sur and Monterey Getaway

Lisa O
Jan 17, 2013
2 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2024

Bixby bridge — Bixby Bridge on a chilly wintery day (well, as wintery in California as you can get!)

Holiday cookie on a Christmas tree — The holiday spirit on display in Monterey

It was a nice way to cap the year: a quick trip to Monterey and Big Sur complete with a sprinkling of sun to set off the scenery and provide a backdrop for last-minute resolutions. Mine definitely included getting away more often given the proximity to such beautiful natural eye-candy!

Speaking of eye-candy the Portola Inn, located on Monterey Bay, boasts a fair amount of well-appointed decor put together by someone with an eye for fabulous spaces. The reason I mention this is that all the details come together to create a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere where you instantly want to kick back and relax. "Why go out all night when we can hang out in such a room?" was the question I asked immediately.

Of course we did manage to get motivated to leave when our appetites beckoned. We ambled down the street to Montrio recommended by the hotel staff and found a small table in the very crowded restaurant. We sampled the luscious lobster mac n cheese, a bistro steak (with truffle fries - wow!) and a sweet creamy bread pudding served alongside passionfruit ice cream. A nice find indeed.

The next day we saw the line for breakfast at Rosine's snaked out the door requiring us to keep our patience in check and go with the crowd. The food was good, with large generous portions that could have fed 3-4 per plate (I am serious about this.) When reading about the history of Rosine's this seems to be part of their "claim to fame" (in Monterey at least!) and it seems like something that resonates with customers. For me personally I always feel guilty leaving so much food on the plate and eating it all was definitely out of the question.

Our last stop of the day was Nepenthe (Big Sur) where we sipped hot spiced cider against the backdrop of the Pacific. The chill in the air was tempered by the welcome winter sun and I couldn't help but make a mental note to visit again during summer (although the crowds would probably be more visible.)

Overall, rather than looking forward to the new year I took a moment to catch my breath and count my blessings which are beyond measure. And with that, we were on the road home again to get ready to ring in the new year.

Healdsburg delights:Barn Diva, Catelli's, Russian River Brewing

Lisa O
Oct 24, 2012
2 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2024

No matter how many times I visit Healdsburg there's one thing that always stands out: great food, and lots of it.

First stop, Barn Diva for a fantastic lunch of salad, fries and quiche. Of course the salad wasn't just any salad, it was chock full of avocado, blue cheese, beets, shaved carrots and crunchy croutons married with a creamy tarragon dressing. Add a side of fries - which are really more of a cross between a chip and a fry - to go with the rich quiche and you are ready to hit the winery trail.

Quiche topped with avocado — The quiche at Barn Diva in Healdsburg

Our one and only winery visit this trip was Schlumberger (an old favorite) where reservations are recommended and a seat beside the lovely, relaxing fountain in the courtyard a must. We took this opportunity to listen to the hypnotic symphony of water trickling and wine glasses clinking in the warm, embracing late-season sun.

After a check-in at the hotel and a power nap we headed out to the Russian River Brewing Co in Santa Rosa. I'll admit, beer isn't my first love but the sampler seemed necesssary. We tried all the samples with mixed reviews: I liked the sour versions (Supplication, Temptation and Consecration) and my companion liked the Redemption or the blondes (what a surprise.)

All that wine and beer tasting created quite the appetite so we headed to Catelli's in Geyserville. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (or Triple D) you SHOULD believe the hype: amazing 12-layer lasagna , homemade ravioli (in two sauces) are just a few of the dishes to die for. Oh, and the bread which feels like a course on it's own. Hint: if you order the lasagna it arrives with two large pieces of very garlicky, buttery bread.

Ravioli with red sauce — Why choose when you can have both red sauce and butter? At Catelli's (the BEST)

Once the plates arrived I asked my dinner companion if he wanted a taste of my ravioli (which of course he did.) Asked the same question about his lasagne I hesitated oh-so-briefly to which I was told "take some now before it's gone". Although a nano-second to me, the lasagne quickly disappeared and I made a mental note to visit Healdsburg - and Catelli's again soon.

Palm Springs Eternally Vintage

Lisa Oda
May 16, 2012
1 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2024

Want the ultimate in getaways? Then consider Palm Springs where it's like a trip times two: you can immerse yourself in a host of activities AND travel back in time to the 60's. A short stay will reset your attitude and you too will depart feeling like an official member of the rat pack.