Along the Pacific Coast, south of Monterey and north of Carmel, you’ll find these iconic Cypress trees on a point near the Pebble Beach Golf Course and Resort. Make time for this gorgeous scenic drive.
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A Month of Sonoma Winery Visits
Any time is a good time for a visit to country. While many people first think of Napa Valley wineries, don’t forget to think of the other side of the bay, and the wonderful wineries in Sonoma County. Wine related travel is a popular part of a visit to Sonoma County. With 13 American Viticultural areas, each with distinctive characteristics, the Pacific coastline, redwood forests, fertile valleys, and mountains, all add to a success mix that creates outstanding wines. It’s a beautiful spot for a weekend of wine tasting or an easy day trip from Oakland, San Francisco, or Sacramento. Everyone has their personal wine preferences, and with over 250 Sonoma-area wineries to choose from, coming in all sizes and flavors, the task of choosing where to visit and what to taste can be overwhelming. To simplify the process, I’ve […]
Read MoreNo, I Don’t Want a Cracker
While he was squawking up a storm earlier, this parrot at the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Seattle suddenly got quiet when I got out the camera.
Read MoreJersey Shore: Lucy the Elephant
I love offbeat and quirky kinds of places – for just the reasons that they are offbeat and quirky. I’ve been known to drive out of my way to see the “biggest,” “smallest,” “world’s only,” “oldest” thing or place or whatever. Why not?! Although the Hurricane Sandy did a lot of damage on the Jersey shore, it didn’t harm one of the shore’s iconically quirky attractions – Lucy the Elephant. Lucy is a six story, 90 ton elephant made of wood and tin sheeting. She was put up 1881 to attract tourism and development to the south Atlantic City area, and while she was architecturally unique at the time, she soon became merely the first of several zoomorphic (animal-shaped) buildings. Did you even know there was such a thing a zoomorphic architecture? Since she was originally constructed, Lucy has been a […]
Read MorePostcard From: Chicago O’Hare Airport
One of the reasons I like Chicago O’Hare so much is that it’s filled with so much art. This is a walkway from the terminal to the train station.
Read MorePostcard: Macadamia Nut Pancakes in Hawaii
While it may be a more touristy choice than loco moco, I’ll take macadamia nut pancakes any time I’m visiting one of the islands of Hawaii. Add some coarsely chopped macadamia nuts to your pancake batter, then plop them on the griddle as usual. Add some slice fruit and more macadamia nuts on top and serve with maple (my preference) or coconut syrup. It’s a little taste of the islands even when you’re at home.
Read MorePostcard from Napa: National Cabernet Day
I know that there are all sorts of made up holidays, but National Cabernet Day is one I can get behind. One of the world’s most popular grapes, it’s a cross between cabernet franc and sauvignon blanc grapes. While the Bordeaux region of France is home to some of the best cabernet grapes in the world, you’ll also find a nice selection much closer to home – in Napa. Don’t rush out to buy a card for this holiday, just raise your glass in appreciation.
Read MorePostcard from Carlsbad: Pacific Ocean
A few weeks ago, I head to Carlsbad, California, for a weekend retreat with the staffs of TBEX and NMX. We stayed in a beach house along the Pacific Ocean coast which offered a wonderful view to stir up lots of creativity. I love quiet mornings looking out at the ocean.
Read MorePostcard from Seattle: It Doesn’t Always Rain Here
On a warm Seattle day, I’m happy at home just walking around the neighborhood. See – it doesn’t rain here all the time.
Read MoreJP Patches & Gertrude Statue
Many cities have statues honoring their founders, heroes, and statesmen. In Seattle, we have a statue of JP Patches and Gertrude. JP (Julius Pierpont) Patches was played by Chris Wedes. I hesitate to say “played” because in many respects the real person was lost in the larger-than-life persona of his television character. His was the first live show to air on then fledgling station KIRO (a CBS affiliate) and was as unscripted as they come. That was a rarity back in 1958 when the show first aired. The JP Patches showed aired twice daily and I remember watching it before school every morning at then again after school. JP lived in the City Dump, and had crazy friends like his best pal Gertrude, Ketchikan the Animal Man, Sheriff Shot Badly, and Boris S. Wort (the world’s second-meanest man) all played […]
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