Howdy, Denver!

Well, I wasn't sure what to expect of Denver, being that all I've ever heard about is the Great American Beer Fest held here every fall. Call it a cross between Phoenix and Portland, with friendly locals, good food, terrific culture, and great beer. Enjoy my re-cap of our 3-day weekend.

We stayed at the Residence Inn in downtown Denver and that is where the friendly service all started. Greeted by one of the nicest ladies we've ever encountered at a check-in desk really got the good vibes of this anniversary weekend started. (It's #28 if you're counting!) The room was so cozy with a comfy bed and living/kitchen area. They have a breakfast buffet but we didn't try it - sorry, other plans. This Residence Inn is located at 1725 Champa Street and was a great central location to walk everywhere we wanted to go. Check out this cowboy right next door.

First up on our itinerary was Breckenridge Brewing Company located at 2220 Blake Street. Great service here, very cool a/c working (it was a brisk 92 degrees outside!) with cold frosty beers. We enjoyed the restaurant as well; hubby had a good bison burger, and I had a yummy blat (bacon, lettuce, tomato, avacado) on wheat. Very good start to our walking tour.

From here we headed over to Falling Rock. Now this might have been my very favorite place - as far as ambience is concerned. The walls are covered with beer and liquor bottles and old-timey taps too. Here's a couple of shots of their decor. Love it!

The wait staff was uber-friendly, my Dry-Dock beer was cold and frothy and we enjoyed relaxing in their over-sized couches. It was like drinking with your best friends, and I was! Falling Rock is located at 1919 Blake Street - don't miss it!

Onward to One-Up right next door at 1925 Blake Street for some skee-ball, pinball, and human-sized Jenga game. We were strolling early afternoon and it was still pretty warm so sitting outside wasn't the greatest idea. The jenga bricks are a bit worn and could use some sanding and my wonderful hubby felt I need a shot of Jaeger. Who doesn't love Jaeger?? A couple of cold beers later I lost to Mr. Smith in pinball but redeemed myself in skee-ball. This place has a great feeling to it and I bet late nights - it's packed. Here's a snap of their outdoor Jenga game.

And here's the love of my life...

From One-Up we headed over to Freshcraft for a little afternoon snack and boy was I glad we did. Located at 1530 Blake Street (see how easy Denver can be?) we went for another Dry-Dock beer and some deep fried pickles. Now I don't know about you but deep-fried pickles I can NOT pass up. These gorgeous little coins of spicy goodness were peppery and hot. The beer of course could not be beat and the service was again superb. What is it about you Denver that you are so friendly? Could it be the water? Or the beer? Not sure but this wonderful attitude is pervasive and very welcoming here in the mile-high city.

Next stop was Great Divide Brewing Company located at 2201 Arapahoe, still well within walking distance. Their beers were also quite good. Jeff enjoyed a sampler and I had a refreshing raspberry wheat. Chill.

Isn't that a refreshingly delicious looking glass of beer. It truly was. Great Divide was a hip and happening place - very popular with the 30'ish crowd for sure. Happy hour was packed and new relationships were blossoming in every sun-filled corner. Aaahhh..... One of Zach's friends used to work here and she was spot-on recommending it to us. Very tasty indeed.  

Last foodie stop of the evening was right around the corner at 2148 Larimer Street and home to Biker Jim's. Oh my heavens... hot dog heaven! Your choices here include everything from bratwurst to veal wurst to rattlesnake/pheasant and on to reindeer sausage with everything in between. There are wild inventive toppings for your dogs and side dishes like Biker Jim's Baked Beans and Deep Fried Mac 'n Cheese.

Who can walk out of a place like this and not sample the delectable goods. The buns were soft and held the dogs beautifully with no soggy-ness like some buns. I had the rattlesnake/pheasant covered in some kind of cactus accoutraments. Hubby had the reindeer, and both were delicious. Service was good here but also a bit snarky. We didn't care at a bit 'cuz the food was that darn good.  It looks as if they have a small bar here but we opted for the cold and frosty root beers instead. Biker Jim's also has a food truck hangin' out downtown near the Colorado Rockies' Coors Field Stadium. Check it out...

As we were heading back to our hotel we spied a book store called "The Tattered Cover." I love cozy old independent book stores and this one was truly special. New books, used books, benches, couches, chairs, corners, cubicles, magazines, refreshingly good coffee & tea... need I say more?? 



If you've ever been to Powell's House of Books in Portland, this one is a bit smaller and cozier. I found that I might even prefer this new find and make it my favorite along with my local Changing Hands. Check it out at 1628 16th Street in lower downtown Denver. I noticed that they had two other sites in the Denver metropolitan area. Find out more at their website http://www.tatteredcover.com/. Even though I do own a Kindle, I still love the feel of a book in my hands when reading. If you do as well and you find yourself in Denver, check them out.

Exhausted yet? We were and headed back to our hotel to get up and wander on Saturday morning.

Hubby had this entire weekend planned as a surprise for me and I had no idea what we would be seeing or doing. First thing this morning we headed over to the Delectable Egg for breakfast. Now, it was good enough. But, it reminded me of a very clean and smaller IHOP. They even had hoddles of coffee like IHOP does. This is a chain eatery and there are a few scattered throughout Denver. If you're hungry and have a big family with you - it's decent.

Our morning walk took us through some interesting and gorgeous neighborhoods. We wandered past immense brick churches, huge old turn-of-the-century homes, and tiny apartment buildings as well. I love seeing how homes look when they are well-loved and cared for. But, I also enjoy street art and culture and lots of youthful activity. Denver has it all in the surrounding environs.



Through their Cheesman Park and into The Denver Botanical Garden we strolled. Grandma Kay used to always tell us to go to the botanical gardens in California. Not a cool idea for a couple of 20'somethings, but these two 50'somethings love them now. This garden has a very navigable strolling path with a huge variety of landscapes, flowers, trees, shrubberies, sculptures, and seating areas. Oh, and their strawberry lemonade is killer.

I loved it. And I love Jeff for thinking that this would be someplace awesome for the two of us to stroll through.

This day was a 7-mile walking day and my legs were feeling it, but we pressed on towards The Molly Brown House and Titanic Tour. What a lovely afternoon tour through this mid-1800's home decorated in period with stories of Titanic throughout. Our host had a nice spiel, yet a bit practiced. The Molly Brown House is located at 1340 Pennsylvania Street in Denver and their website can be found at www.mollybrown.org. A great visit, especially if you love Titanic lore.

Heading back to downtown Denver and some food. We loved the visit to Freshcraft on Friday and decided to head there again on Saturday. Again, great food with terrific friendly service. The Ahi Tun Salad was amazingly fresh and delicious and hubby enjoyed the Turkey Sammy on a Pretzel Roll. Of course we had the Dry-Dock beer again with some of those deep-fried pickles. Hell, I walked all day and surely deserved it!

Sunday took us to breakfast at a fantastic little place called Snooze. Don't snooze through this place my friends. Our wait was 30 minutes but I can guarantee that later in the day it's even longer. This funky little corner spot serves up hot delicious coffee with both savory and sweet breakfast tidbits. Hubby had a sausage and egg sammy on (another) pretzel roll and I had the pancake trio. Of course I did. My choice of three pancakes from their menu of chocolate chip, fresh strawberry/nutella, sweet potato, pineapple-upside down cake, red velvet, peanut butter/banana... you get the idea. I chose my three faves and ate almost the entire plate. Service here is swift and friendly, and the meals are portioned appropriately. That's one of the things I loved best. Who needs enough food for four at every seating? I like a meal that's apportioned just for one... me. Check out Snooze - really it's one of the best breakfasts I've had in ages. Snooze is located at 2262 Larimer near Coors Field. Yumm.

After breakfast we headed over to the Denver Art Museum. What a delight! Seven floors of art dating back to pre-Columbian times. We read that there were over 68,000 pieces housed here and I believe it. Another glorious piece of culture right in downtown Denver. You can visit the Denver Art Museum at www.denverartmuseum.org. You won't be disappointed.

We had a lovely weekend in Denver and enjoyed so many of the sights and sounds and eateries. I would definitely love to plan a return visit ... maybe in the cooler months though.

Till next time when I return from San Francisco...
:) Deb

Alohaaaaaa.......

Our little family of 4 + 2 set off to Honolulu, Hawaii last week and had a beautiful time. My nephew, Michael joined us and so did our good friend, Heidi. Take a peek at the view from our balcony before we get started chatting.

We stayed at the Waikiki Marriott (www.marriott.com) right in the heart of Waikiki Beach. This hotel is not on the sand but all you have to do is cross the street and you're in the thick of the tide, literally. This locale is a perfect homebase for sight-seeing, wandering, relaxing, and sleeping. Rooms were comfortable and waking up to the sounds and sights of the surf were extraordinary. The weather in Waikiki was typical year-round temps of 85 to 89 degrees with 75 percent humidity during the afternoon. We had rain only one day and glorious sunshine every other day of the week. Hubby and I took an early morning walk each day and weren't too uncomfortably sweaty!

We did many of the touristy things you might want to do in Oahu and I will share those that I can comfortably recommend to you.

We landed before lunch and had originally thought of wandering through Chinatown, but upon arrival changed our plans. I didn't see a lot of places for shopping or dining, so we headed for our hotel and lunched next door at Tiki's Grill and Bar right next door. Great decision - very tasty meals and the wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. Thank you to our waiter for sending us to RumFire for drinks later that week. Check Tiki's out at www.tikisgrill.com. for menus, location, and hours of operation. Their mai-tais were probably the best we had all week.

Monday ... We stopped into Leonard's (famous bakery) for a malasada. I always say that every culture has some sort of fried dough and this sticky sweet treat is a Portugese-style donut favored here in Hawaii. They come straight up with cinnamon sugar or Hawaiian sugar or filled with custard, guava, lilikoi, or chocolate fudge. Warm and tasty - don't miss 'em. I found Leonard's with the help of my Yelp.com pals and thank them profusely. You can find loads of malasadas and other sugary treats at www.leonardshawaii.com.

Pumped up with sugar we headed out to the Pearl Harbor area; a place I have long wanted to visit. This historical area is an important history lesson for visitors of all ages. Pearl Harbor is a First-come, First-Served National Treasure, so plan your day accordingly. We arrived at 8:00am and received tickets for a 10:00am entry. There is still plenty to see and do if you have to wait, and remember you have to check all your purses, backpacks, and camera bags. At $3, it's not really too bad a deal. We visited the USS Missouri and found it to be a fascinating experience. I've never been on anything other than a cruise ship and the tour below-decks was fascinating. Don't discount this or the Aviation Museum just because they're not as well-known. Your visit to Pearl begins with a lovely video that explains the details leading up to the bombing and some incredible footage. Directly after the video you will proceed to a navy transport out to the actual memorial. Here's a pic of the Memorial Wall located within the memorial.

Lucky for us, we saw a group of people waiting around near the exit and as we peered closer we saw two survivors signing autographs. Here's Alfred Rodriguez signing his name and happy to be doing so ... these men are national heroes!!

Several hours later we headed on over to Hank's Haute Dogs for some of the best hot dogs of our lives. Chorizo dogs, Portugese sausage dogs, old-style Chicago dogs, lobster dogs, chili dogs, and on. You get the idea. I had the Hawaiian dog loaded with mango mustard and pineapple relish. Now, where can I get that here in Phoenix?? My son had the Fat Boy and it was a deep-fried bacon-wrapped tidbit of goodness. Their fries are done up in duck fat (if you choose) as crunchy as you please.

On this particular day of our visit we headed next to Punchbowl, the Cemetery of the Pacific. Call it our World War II day I guess. This gorgeous piece of property has a lovely view and memorials to the veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. It's peaceful and quiet here and a good visit for cemetery lovers. No pics of the graves, but the plumeria trees were blooming everywhere.

Tuesday ... a quick little stop into the Diamond Head Marketplace for a fantastic breakfast. Eggs and bacon and spam and loco moco and ahi with eggs and coconut pancakes and... you get the idea. The grill area is situated next door to a bakery/market with snacks, drinks, and fresh blueberry cream cheese scones that'll rip your arteries to shreds. Try the plantation iced tea with a smidge of pineapple added for sweetness. We loved this place so much that we had to head there after our hike - it was that good and we were that hungry. You will find their info at www.diamondheadmarket.com. When you go there, tell them that their friends from Phoenix sent ya... mahalo. After our first breakfast we drove to the crater that is Diamond Head. This was my favorite thing of our entire trip. Five-hundred and sixty foot ascent with rocky switch-backs and steep staircases to a pinnacle that had an incredibly inspired view of Oahu. Up top was a fabulous old WWII bunker as well that was fun to peek out of. It took me a little over an hour to get up the trail and back down and I was certainly pumping and panting. I'm not in the best shape of my life, but if I can do it... you can too. What a glorious morning. Oh, and Big-time Props to the little lady in her 60's who was hiking the steps up and down and up and down and up and down for exercise without even breaking a sweat. Jeez. Such a great morning deserves a relaxing afternoon and we took it with glee. We spent a bit of time lazing around the pool area, and then headed down to the beach to watch Erin take a surf lesson. One of the best days on vacation... ever.

Take a look at her successes - she was awesome!

Wednesday ... We decided to take a drive up and around to the north shore, encircling the island of Oahu. Stops along the way included the Dole Pineapple Plantation with the world's largest maze; a few small towns with shrimp trucks; the beaches of the North Shore; and an inspirational replica of a Buddhist Temple. Now, the plantation was a ton of fun as we wandered through the maze in a remarkable 37 minutes - Erin was the winner of this race. The place is a bit touristy though but if you're out that way, you should give it a shot. The North Shore was a bit uninspired if you ask me, probably because we were not at the height of the surfing season. The boys loved the garlic shrimp from Macky's though and that was worth half the drive at least.

The best part of the day though was in the Temple of the Gods at the cemetery and Byodo-in Buddhist Temple. Though it was a replica, it was serenely peaceful and a truly spiritual visit for all of us. Gorgeous, right??

Now, I have never ever seen a black swan before so I had to snap a pic of this lovely creature. You can just see the raindrops in the background on the water with the koi fish swimming below.

Thursday ... This day began at Lulu's for breakfast and what a breakfast it was! Exceptional wait staff who are friendly and helpful, with an honestly savory menu. If you're very lucky, they'll create something special for you. Hubby had them mix a bit of spam into his loco moco and they now call it Lulu's Loco Moco. Ask for it if you dare. Hubby finished it no problem - Winning!!!

The eggs benedict with spam was also a taste-treat, as was the french toast and pancakes. The fresh fruit with coconut couldn't have been any fresher. Fresh pineapple... I miss you so much. I cannot imagine a better place to start any day. Maybe the breakfasts are so good here for the local surfers so they can stay out in the water all day. Whatever the reason, I'm in whole-hog. (so to speak.) You can find Lulu's info at www.luluswaikiki.com. 

Directly across the street from our breakfast at Lulu's is the Honolulu Zoo (www.honoluluzoo.org.) Now, if you've been to the San Diego Zoo or the Dublin Zoo or any other major zoo, you may be expecting something bigger, but that's just not necessary on Oahu. Picture - hilariously wild hollerin' gibbons monkeys, a baby elephant dusting himself, giraffes snacking, big cats, and visitor-friendly exhibits and you've got a great city zoo. If your kiddos are smaller you may spend more time, but we walked the entire place is just about two hours. I can't resist these gorgeous long-necked beasts, can you??

The boys were off to do what boys do, and the girls headed to the Iolani Palace. This beautifully restored Hawaiian palace was the official residence of the Hawaiian monarchy. Who knew there was a monarchy here?? Note to self - pay better attention in history class! Everything you need to know about the palace is on their website at www.iolanipalace.org. Well, almost everything. The parking is hard to find and the ticket booth is around the corner, so keep walking. The lovely ladies of the palace were so pretty and friendly. I loved the little booties we had to wear to protect the floor surfaces of the Iolani Palace. The Koa wood throughout gleams with a magnificent shine and each room was decorated with historical perfection. The basement also houses a few treasures and some before/after pieces of furniture. Be sure to spend a few hours here and marvel at all there is (or was actually.) Iolani Palace is located across the street from other government buildings and a beautiful old Hawaiian church that was built with coral from the depths of the ocean.

As if there wasn't enough goodness at breakfast, Erin and Heidi and I had afternoon tea at the Moana Surfrider Resort. We were calmed by the sounds of the surf and sweet Hawaiian music under an over-sized banyan tree. The chirping birds and the warm summer sunshine on the porch added to the ambience for sure. This was one of the nicest teas I have ever experienced with a choice of eight different aromatic tea varieties to start. Creamy pumpkin soup led the way, followed by treat-sized tea sandwiches of smoked salmon, egg salad, and cucumber cream cheese. The scones were nicely done with lemon curd and devonshire cream, and the petit fours included coconut macaroons, green-tea French macarons, mango cake, and fresh fruit tarts. The lemongrass sorbet that finished us up, truly finished us up. Wow. Make your reservation and find out more here at www.moana-surfrider.com/dining/veranda/. Now, if money were no object (and you know that money is ALWAYS an object) I would stay here at the Surfrider. We came back later in the week for an afternoon cocktail and wandered through the entire place. It has a lovely plantation feel to it and the folks who work here are as gracious as can be. Don't know when or if I'll ever be back, but if I do return.... you'll find me here.

Friday... Our last day took us to Lulu's for breakfast again and then out to the Bishop Museum. This was another historical gem with several buildings on the property. There's a planetarium, sports museum, exhibit hall, and the main building of Hawaiian artifacts. You'll see capes, feathers, crowns, bowls, instruments, and weapons here that are carefully preserved. The tikis (from the 1800's) are marvelous as you can see below. I do love a good Tiki!

We spent several hours here and you might too. The Bishop Museum is also located downtown in a quaint neighborhood. Their website can be found at www.bishopmuseum.org and has info on prices and visiting exhibits as well.

Other highlights in Waikiki... the beach area was really nice and we wandered up and down the strip every single day. Nighttime was a bit kitschy with street performers and a prominent homeless population. We dined at Duke's Waikiki and enjoyed it immensely one afternoon (www.dukeswaikiki.com) dining on burgers, nachos, a terrific plate of fresh ahi, and grilled fish. We also sampled from the Hawaiian Cookie Company each and every day. They have locations all over the island and are almost as numerous as the famous ABC stores, though MUCH tastier. RumFire in the Sheraton Waikiki (www.rumfirewaikiki.com) was one of our favorite evening stops for nicely crafted cocktails. The music was pretty loud here, so if that kind of thing is a bother you may want to get a table further outside on the deck. We also had a great burger at Teddy's Bigger Burger located just around the corner from our hotel. Burgers come in three sizes and several different varieties and were pure bliss. Crowded, loud, limited seating, and kinda dirty, but some of the best burgers around can be found here at www.teddysbiggerburgers.com. We also hung out at our own hotel around the pool area some evenings and loved the pleasant music and accommodating service. What a great week ... Mahalo, Oahu.

Hmmm.... up next I'll be visiting Denver (for the first time) on an anniversary treat with hubby. Twenty-eight years if you're wondering.

Aloha,
:) Deb

Lovely Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is one of the loveliest places in all of California, though there are certainly many to choose from. Situated just north-east of Oakland about an hour's drive away and worlds apart! We flew into Oakland via oh-so-convenient Southwest Airlines (NO baggage fees!!) on the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend. Our son invited us on a fun weekend and we happily agreed. 

We rented a Ford Edge from Budget and it drove smoothly the entire weekend. A big shout-out to Budget for having a smooth check-in process and several choices available to us when we arrived.

We did some research for lodging (on Yelp, of course) and Jeff found an incredible B & B called The Inn on First. It is located on a lovely tree-shaded street near downtown Napa and is uber-charming. There truly is no other place to stay when visiting Napa I have decided. From our first e-mail welcoming us and and asking for our food issues or allergies to a lovely good-bye from the inn-keeper, The Inn on First is a traveler's dream lit up with considerable charm.

The cozy living area has a fireplace, comfy seating, travel and food magazines, fresh chocolate chip cookies, hot water for tea or cocoa, and port to warm your insides. Check Jeff out relaxing in the living room.

We stayed in the First Crush Room and found it to be a terrific respite from the craziness of our real life. A super comfortable king-sized bed, two easy chairs, fireplace, jacuzzi tub, split of champagne, and home-made chocolate truffles. Oh.. and that jacuzzi (or bathroom shower) is built comfortably for two. Our son stayed in the Budding Vine Room and it was just as magical with a queen-sized bed. Ambience is mostly everything but the breakfasts here are to die for! Jim is one of the most creative chefs on the planet. Think extraordinarily unique warm dishes such as breakfast chicken pot pie with flaky home-made puff pastry served with fresh fruit, warm doughnuts, and home-made granola. There is more, but telling you everything would deny you the pleasure of a wondrous surprise each and every morning. Jamie is a gracious innkeeper with a healthy knowledge of the Napa Valley, wineries, restaurants, and fun things to do. We had an idea of what we wanted to do and he helped us hone in on our final decisions. The surrounding area is lovely for a walk as you can see by the photos of the neighborhood below.

... and it's a short distance to downtown shopping and dining. Try the Bounty Hunter for chicken on a beer can or grilled steaks and bbq ribs and a huge wine selection. Or check out Carpe Diem for small plates and terrific food. If you want something casual head up to Gott's Roadside Stand for some of the best burgers ever. Lastly, the Napa Valley Toffee Company has the best milk and/or dark chocolate toffee you have ever tasted. You must drop in and grab a snack box for yourself. Don't blanche at the pricetag either. It's totally worth it.

I'll truly never stay anywhere else in Napa Valley. You can make a reservation for yourself here by checking out their website at www.theinnonfirst.com.

So what did we do all weekend you ask? We visited wineries of course. 

First up was Hendry Winery located in Napa, and a lovely tour with Mr. George Hendry. 

Now, we have been here once before with our good friends, the Ashtons, and wanted to introduce our son to the most knowledgeable winery tour we've ever done. George Hendry is passionate about his vineyards and his winery for good reason. He is welcoming and friendly and his expertise and honesty are the hallmark of this family-owned winery. The tasting is also quite informative and the wines are crisp, fruity, and delicious. Mr. Hendry is a foodie too and he gave us quite a few good mix and match tips for his wines. I'll never forget to 1) eat fatty foods with my higher tannin wines, 2) freeze my goat cheese for an hour before shredding, and 3) prepare more beef bourguinone. Sampled, purchased, sold, and packed for airplane travel. Fantastic! For tour reservations or to purchase their fine wines you can check them out at www.hendrywines.com.

Next up we headed over to Sonoma to visit Gundlach-Bundschu.

This darling winery is also family-owned and we love their German-style wines. The tasting room was quite crowded but we were invited to sample at the wine club bar - thanks GunBun for your friendliness and hospitality! The staff couldn't have been nicer and the wines were quite tasty, especially the Gewurztraminer and the Tempranillo. Can't wait to have them at home with our friends and family. Their website is www.gunbun.com.

We had a very tasty picnic lunch of cheeses and crackers from the Sonoma Cheese Factory (www.sonomacheesefactory.com) located right on the plaza in Sonoma. I got a chance to step into the Solano Mission here on the plaza as well. It is the northernmost mission on the California Mission Trail and I'd never stopped into it before. Lovely.

We tried a new winery after lunch and visited Bartholomew Park Winery in the midst of Bartholomew Park. This public park area is gorgeous! The wines were good as well and the servers were very friendly. We purchased their Sauvignon Blanc and their Zinfandel as well. You can check them out at www.bartpark.com. They are certainly worth a trip.

Day two took us out to Rombauer, one of our very favorite wineries. We love their Chardonnay and we are not big Chardonnay drinkers. Buttery, rich, crisp, and oaky - it's a lovely taste. Also quite good are their zinfandels. The big jammy tastes are tough to beat, so we brought home a few bottles of that as well.

The Rombauer patio is lovely with a gorgeous view of the valley and the Rombauer Gardens. Sampling these tasty wines can happen on the patio or inside the tasting room. Both offer exceptionally friendly hosts, exceptional wines, and a great view.

Look how happy Zach and I are after sampling their Chardonnay and their Zinfandel!

The Rombauer Gardens are meticulously maintained and a lovely place to picnic. Interestingly, the cookbook, "Joy of Cooking" was originally written by Mr. Rombauer's great aunt and it fits in very nicely with their vision here at the winery. Their website can be found at www.rombauer.com where you can plan your visit or purchase some of their delicious wines.

Off we went to Castello di Amarosa. This winery is owned and operated by the Sattui family so it's comprable in taste and ambience to the V.Sattui tasting rooms in St. Helena. The castle is marvelous and a terrific historic replication complete with vineyards and a view.



We loved wandering about and taking pictures before tasting in an underground cellar. The hosts here are friendly and similar to V.Sattui they allow you to taste and taste and taste. So... we bought and bought and bought. We picked up a few bottles of this and that and a half case of their Fantasia desert wine. Oh my goodness - velvety smooth and fruity deliciousness. Can't wait to share. Check out the castle at www.castellodiamorosa.com.

And on to Flora Springs, the Estate. Oh wow! We have sampled at their tasting room and wanted to try something different so we made reservations for the Estate. We are so happy that we did because their wines are that good. From start to finish, Travis made us feel welcome with his wit, humor, and considerable knowledge of the winery and their wines. Every single vintage was delicious and the side by side barrel comparison was enchanting. We know all about extended maceration and French vs. American Oak barrels now. Thanks, Travis!

I heartily recommend a visit to Flora Springs, either the tasting room on Hwy 29 or their Estate. We enjoyed their wines so much that we joined their wine club and look forward to receiving two bottles each shipment. The Estate tour requires a reservation, but you can drop in to the tasting room during open hours. Check out their website at www.florasprings.com.

We wanted to sample some sparkling wines so on our last day we visited both Mumm and Gloria Ferrer. Hint Hint Hint... stick to Mumm. The view is incredible, the staff is gracious, and the sparkling wines were pretty damn good. I never really felt a liking for sparkling wines, but Mumm has changed my mind. I guess I just never put it all together since many times champagne gives me a slight headache. These didn't. We sampled and shared and enjoyed the sunny day and the view from their patio. If you like sparkling, head here straightaway. Their website can be found at www. mummnapa.com. Check out the fun we had...

If you love wine, you may enjoy a trip to the Napa and/or Sonoma Valleys. If you can't make it there, visit some of these wineries' websites and get a glimpse of what they're all about. You can order wine directly from the website, sample them at a restaurant near you, or visit your local wine shop and chat about your personal likes and dislikes. A good sommelier is right around the corner!

Cheers to you,
Deb :)

Next up.... Waikiki Beach and the Island of Oahu

Sapphire Princess Coastal Cruise - April 2012

If you really truly want to get away from it all... jump on a cruise ship. Nothing like it in the whole world. There was even a sea day where we slept in till 11:00am. Seriously - that has NEVER happened!!

We boarded in San Pedro (a garden spot to be sure) after spending a quick night at the Renaissance in Long Beach. You can easily skip the Renaissance. There must be other properties out there that are not as worn and/or tired.

But you absolutely should not miss "Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles" in Long Beach. This local treasure serves up crispy, tender fried chicken and sweet waffles side by side. Their extras are super yummy as well - grits, candied sweet potatoes, collard greens, and even fried chicken omelettes. The fried chicken livers were a big hit at our table as well. Roscoe's is located at 730 E. Broadway Avenue in downtown Long Beach. Here I am with the girls on their staircase in the entry-way.

They've got a website too - hit it at www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com. Yummy!!!

Princess has done a lovely job with the Sapphire - she is gorgeous throughout! Expanded options include their Vines Wine Bar, an International Cafe with tasty treats, and bright public spaces throughout their piazza. We enjoyed Crooner's for martinis every single damn day - delish. Our room was nicely appointed with a very comfortable bed and a teeny-tiny shower. Oh, well. Balcony cabins looked a lot bigger than our inside on this trip but we were on a budget this time. The food was quite good and the buffet was set in stations that made filling our plates very easy. Sea days brought fun onboard with a very dedicated and entertaining cruise staff and we truly enjoyed our time onboard.

We miss you Ian, Melissa, and Ryan! And those cocktails by the pool too, right hubby??

Visiting California coastal ports is certainly not new for us as we have visited many times before. But they are all fun cities and we had adventures we've never had on previous visits.

Santa Barbara is a lovely town with plenty of shopping and eating. You can meander up State Street or take the trolley or wander the pier and find treats of all kinds. Sunday mornings bring an art walk with all kinds of visual arts and crafty delights.

We walked up the road to Fess Parker's Doubletree Inn and picked up our Budget rental car. Plan ahead here - they were sold out of cars by 9:30am. Our Santa Barbara adventure included visits to Mosby Winery, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., and lunch at Firestone-Walker Tap Room. Mosby Winery had some tasty wine and a lovely setting, but we were not met with the warmest of welcomes. Hmm?? Do they think that will entice me to buy any of their wine? Snooty attitude aside, we did buy wine. It was good, and lucky for them my money spends just like everyone else's no matter what I'm wearing!! It was Sunday after all and Sunday pants are the rule for me.... always. I won't pass on their info - you can look it up if you're tempted. There are plenty of other wineries in the greater Santa Barbara viti-cultural area that you may want to visit. Check out http://www.sbcountywines.com/ or http://www.santabarbara.com/winecountry/ to get your research started. We love wine, but we really love beer too. The biggest surprise of our day was the delicious beer and (uber-delicious filtered water as well) at Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. A very friendly and welcoming staff with great beer, pretzels, and a mustard dip - what more can you possibly want on a warm California day? Drop in and give them a try - the Davy Brown Ale was my favorite. Their website is http://www.figmtnbrew.com/.

Firestone-Walker also has wonderful beers but we have sampled them previously, so no surprises here. The burgers and fries are great and you can sit inside or out. We sat on their outdoor patio and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air. It's a dog-friendly patio too, so you can bring your scruffy friends along too. Firestone makes excellent wine too. Check them out at www.firestonebeer.com and enjoy.

One thing we have never ever done is ride our bikes across the Golden Gate Bridge. This has been a dream of mine for awhile now and Yippee!! We did it. Of course we had to stop for a toasty-warm Irish Coffee at Buena Vista before hiking up the hill to get our bicycles. Of course we did! Now, Blazing Saddles (www.blazingsaddles.com) in San Francisco has the market cornered on bike rentals and we chose the option of having a guide to take us across. Christopher was knowledgeable, helpful, and led us at a very comfortable pace. The day was gorgeous (as all days must be in SF) and we made the 8-mile trek in about 2-1/2 hours with plenty of pitstops. The Palace of Fine Arts is gorgeous and reminded us of a few scenes in "The Rock" with Sean Connery and Nick Cage. It's a great movie really; find it if you've never seen it.

We sampled brownies and macaroons at The Warming Hut before continuing up on our way and darned if those weren't the tastiest little treats ever!

The bridge itself was the easiest part of the ride as it is completely flat and not too terribly windy up there. Gazing out across the bay was a stunning view and one that should not be missed in your lifetime. We flew down the hills into Sausalito, another adorable little city with shops, restaurants, and wonderfully delicious ice cream. The ferry ride back was quite easy and we returned the bikes to continue our day.

Next up was a cable-car ride to Chinatown and lunch at San-Sun Chinese Eatery. I found this place on Yelp and couldn't have been more pleased. Clean restaurant, clean restrooms, and homey wonderful fried rice. The combination fried rice had pork and shrimp, but there were many more choices with a variety of meats. I had the shrimp egg-foo-yung and it was tasty, albeit with a few too many onions. If you've a hankering for the real deal, stop into San-Sun at 848 Washington Street in Chinatown, San Francisco. Their menu is so extensive. Check out their website at http://www.sansunrestaurant.com.

We enjoy watching travel shows and adore the biting sarcasm and wit of Anthony Bourdain. He visited San Francisco on a recent program and stopped into Li-Po Cocktail Lounge for Chinese Mai-Tais. Well... so did we. These sweet little spirits knocked us for a loop as they were loaded with 151 and a few other toxic alcoholic wonders. Li-Po is quite the interesting dive bar located at 916 Grant Avenue in Chinatown, San Francisco. You won't be driving yourself home after this visit. Ha!!

Our visit to San Diego was made complete with a stop into Kansas City BBQ, one of the sites used to film the movie, "Top Gun." Remember the bar scene where Goose is playing the piano? Filmed right here. And yes, we love "Top Gun." And yes, we have our own code names as well. Kansas City BBQ has a poor location right on the train tracks at Harbor Drive, but the burnt rib ends, fries, and cold beer were delicious. Check them out at http://www.kcbbq.net for more information and their menu.

The day was gorgeous and we headed over to The Fish Market for lunch. This place is incredible fresh delicious-ness! Fresh fish, smoked fish, crab salads, sushi, sashimi, ceviche, you name it.. and ice-cold beer to boot. This place sits right on the ocean and the day couldn't have been more pleasant. Sailboats drifting out to sea, the Midway right next door, and some truly inspiring sculptural art honoring our veterans. I haven't been here in about 2 years and was so impressed with the whole harbor area. Visit The Fish Market at 750 Harbor Drive the very next time you are in the San Diego waterfront area - you will NOT be disappointed. Find them online at http://www.thefishmarket.com.

We finished up our cruise with a quick stop into Ensenada and a visit to Papas and Beer. We shared a few cold beers, strolled through the downtown area, picked up a few trinkets, and went right back to the ship where we belonged!

If you're the cruising type or thinking of cruising check out the websites for my favorites: Princess Cruises (www.princess.com) or Celebrity Cruises (www.celebrity.com) or Holland America (www.hollandamerica.com) or Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com.) They all have something good going for them. Choose something with a good itinerary and an affordable price. The fun will follow you. Or... drop me a line and I'll be happy to help you make a choice.

Where are we headed next you ask??
Napa and the Wine Country

Relax and breathe...
:) Debbie

Celebrating Arizona's 100th Birthday

My book-club girlfriends and I were off for a delightful weekend in Prescott, Arizona. As we move through 2012 I am making the effort to see as much of Arizona as possible in this... the 100th birthday year of our great state. Off to Prescott we are early on a spring Saturday morning. Downtown Prescott has the cutest little shops and eateries. We had a yummy Mexican lunch at Maya's and then shopped the square area. Our favorite little jewelry shop, The Artful Eye, beckoned us and of course we all got a little something we couldn't live without. Prescott has antique shops, jewelry shops, candle shops, bookstores, bars, and art galleries. Just wandering through this little city rejuvenates my soul.

We stayed at the Hassayampa Inn, which is a designated historical property located in downtown Prescott. We have stayed other places, but this is our favorite. The hotel staff are so warm and friendly, and the lobby is completely welcoming.

You won't be disappointed with a stay here, either with your girlfriends, or your significant other. The beds are comfy and the whole place is relaxing. I will mention that it is reported to be haunted and there were some chills amongst our group the night we were there. The walls are very very thin and you can hear noises in the hallway and your neighbor's conversations as well. Just to forewarn you...

We enjoyed our dinner at Bin 239. Lovely bruschetta, very nice salads and pizza, and a wonderful assortment of wine. The wait staff is very efficient and helpful and the little dining area is warm and cozy. Stop in and have a glass of something tasty - you won't regret it.

A lovely little walk in the morning down to the coffee house (can't remember the name.. sorry!!) but it's right along the creek on Gurley Street past downtown. The servers are friendly, the coffee/tea was hot, and the goodies in the bakery case were yummy. Back to the hotel to meet our friends for a real breakfast.

Breakfast for us in the hotel dining room and those luscious lemon ricotta pancakes, or fresh trout with eggs, or a country breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. The food here is fresh and wholesome. I'd get the pancakes if I were you!!!

Prescott is a quirky place and you don't know what you might see when you visit. Lots of bikers come through on their way to somewhere else. This little lady allowed me to photograph her. Isn't she cute??

I think I'd like one of these myself. Hey Jeff... whadya think??



Get on out there and rove my friends!

Deb :)