Palm Desert California

That's me dressed for dinner in the desert at Marriott's Palm Desert at Shadow Ridge.  You start out warm in the desert thus the sleeves and cool shoes and skirt, but it's always good to have a sweater to put on after the sun goes down...it can get cool very quickly in the desert.   We were heading out that evening, though we generally fixed our meals in since we had a full kitchen. (it's the day for D in the A-Z challenge)

Looking from the living room into the dining room and kitchen beyond with the door on left where you enter.

You can eat in the kitchen or on the nicely sized patio/balcony as we did most nights.  The balcony is large enough to accommodate 4 at the table and has a chaise lounge for relaxing during the day.

It's easy to prepare a fabulous meal like the steak, grilled potatoes and veggies and bread with the convenience of the grills between most buildings.  Nice view too.  We often would have the prep done, take it with our cocktails down to the grill and enjoy the sun setting over the mountains while we were cooking dinner.

You know you're in the desert by the abundance of cactus, and in some cases pretty cactus flowers.

Master suite has nice king bed, and soak tube with bathroom and shower area beyond.

Living room with entrance onto the balcony with a sleeper queen sofa if you need more sleeping space beyond the quest suite/2nd bedroom.

The quest room/2nd bedroom is queen/king (can't remember) with sleeper sofa, small table on the right, kitchenette which is where I was standing to take this photo.  It too has an entrance to a balcony..a separate one with table for 2.  The two bedrooms are separated by the common areas, kitchen, dining room, and living room.  Very nice with 2 balcony's in case everyone in your party doesn't get up at the same time.

Fun sculptures throughout the landscaping that serve again to remind you that you're in the desert.  The kids loved sitting on them.

Colorful Mosaic ones too. 

Kids also can enjoy the miniature golf course, or adults can practice their putting.

Jack Rabbits common desert wild life are abundant in late afternoon and early evening.

Awesome place to play golf...not though for the faint at hard.  Look at the area hubby's in...grass up to his knees.  The greens are nicely manicured, but if you're off the greens....again you're reminded you're in the desert.

Beautiful grounds the course in the middle with the villas/condo's on each side; but you can see it's a wide open area, not crowded.  I was laying down on the ground to see what the ball sees, when I took this photo lol.

A wonderful resort, we've been there several times and always enjoyed ourselves.  Take HUGE amounts of sun-screen regardless of what season you go.

The blogs search window is top left, should you want to see more about this resort from other trips.

And in keeping with our A-Z challenge, here's more D posts for you.

Daniel Boone, my childhood Hero
A Turtle Play Ground in Dog Town, St. Louis
Drayton Hall South Carolina

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

#5, mixing up number, start with 506

Crystal Cove in Southern California

Here we are day 3 of the A-Z challenge.  Before we get started, let me ask if you like the collage?  Normally I post one picture after another, but wondered if this presentation when there's so many photo's works?

We're at Crystal Cove State Park Historic District, a National Registered Historic Place in California.  Newport Coast, California.  Hubby and I visited there last month.

Crystal Cove is a small, old style beach area.  Back in days when people threw up little shanty's to give them protection from the sun, and maybe a place to spend the weekends, cook out on the beach ...like the movies of old surfers.  There's not alot to do there, but it's good for a day, maybe two if you're staying in the area.  You can walk the beach a bit before it's interrupted by rocky in-passable area's where the beach is no more.  The waters too cold to enjoy a dip in the ocean; though you do see a few small children run in and out to be quickly immersed in a big towel Mom and Dad have at the ready.  There's only 2 small places to eat if you're willing to wait, and wait in line.......AND once you do, be prepared to pay twice or three times what it's worth.

Some of the area has been rehabbed into cute little cabins, though much remains to be done in the next phase.  This area has a history, a dark period for our country regarding the Japanese who used to successfully farm the area before The War.  That is a story though for a later post.  Then there's the military story that took place here, also for another post.

Many movies have been filmed here, Like Herbie, Beaches (see the photo with the fence), and before that the silent movies.

Here's a video showing the area also.  Though, having priced the cottages (some don't even have private bathrooms), at $200.00 ish a night; I think she makes them sound much nicer then they are.  Physically getting here, to Crystal Cove requires parking your car across the 6 lane Coast Highway and paying to park, then walking through the tunnel that goes under the highway.  There are lots of steps and ramps so if you're not able to walk a distance easily, that can be a problem  You can get your parking fee wave by spending at least $15.00 in one of the 2 restaurants there...and with things being pricey, that's not hard to do.  You can also purchase a park pass and take a shuttle to The Cove.

We enjoyed it because it's unique.  I would not though say- it's a destination.

 


Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

#13 start with 1916

Bluffton and Beaufort, Two B's in South Carolina

 Showing you some of the highlights you can expect to find if your tour Bluffton and or Beaufort, South Carolina.  Here we are for the A-Z post.

You see a walking map of the historic area in Bluffton, a great lunch with wine to enjoy also in Bluffton, or kick back like hubby with a favorite beer in either of those fun cities.

Take a buggy ride or horse drawn narrated tour, enjoy the old houses and beautiful hanging moss and gardens throughout the cities.  Don't miss the historic grave yards or beautiful old churches.

We've toured Beaufort both on foot and in a horse drawn carriage guided tour.  Personally we preferred to walk on our own.  Bluffton is smaller and so easy to access via shoe leather express.

I've written 7 posts with more detail for those wanting more specifics about traveling there:
Beaufort
Bluffton

Both are an easy day trip from Hilton Head, South Carolina.  Both are quaint, interesting and very historical.  Neither one would be a good option with small children, in my opinion.  Too many things you can't touch, too much to listen to, too much walking.  

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

(#11, start with 1909)

Aruba

I've gotten into this A-Z April Blog Challenge late in the game with this blog, thus this post will be brief in order to meet the deadline.  This is Claudia, cutest, friendliest, best known bar tender on the whole island.  We've enjoyed happy hours with her 2 years running and are looking forward to our next trip in the fall.  If you look at the sidebar, in the cloud area you'll see I've posted about Aruba 6 previous times.  I still have plenty to say and will be posting more.

No, happy hour isn't the reason to go to Aruba, but it's always the highlight of our days there.  It's an easy international location to visit.  They like Americans, everyone is friendly, it's easy to get around, you do not need to transfer monies or speak the language.  They all speak Enlish among multiple other languages.  Claudia here is from Columbia, so she speak 3 or 4 languages.

Sun, Surf, Beach, and being barefoot...............all day long.  Heck, there's a few places you're encouraged to kick off your shoes if you have them on for dinner even.  We love it there, are anxious to return.  In the meantime....take a virtual trip and click on the above link.

Tomorrow will venture somewhere with a B

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

(17, 1888-1902)

Gay Head Lighthouse, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusettes

Gay Head Light house from a distance. Gay Head lighthouse sits on a 130 foot cliff on Martha's Vineyard in Massachusettes. The lighthouse was established in 1799, though the current tower you see was built in 1856, and automated in 1960. It stands only 51 feet tall. The lighthouse is opened only for a few hours on Friday, Sat, and Sun from mid June to mid Setember for a fee in the evening, just before sunset. The cliffs and surrounding land are closed to the public due to erosion and unsafe conditions, thus the picture from a distance. The lens from the lighthouse is on display in the museum on Martha's Vineyard and played a large roll in guided many ships safely in the harbour. In August of 2009 President Obama and his family vacationed on Martha's Vineyard and toured the lighthouse which is located at the far western end of the island.
Very little beach area exists at Gay Head, though it seems to be an area where one can, from time to time, see bathers in the buff. Apparently they feel they're far away when you're up above. The day we were there one lone couple walked the beach, he had his swim suit in hand.  Though with the telescope provided at the look out that's not true, they are indeed visible.  Perhaps they know that and like to flaunt?  Beware if you visit with small children.

English Explorer, Bartholomew Gosnold found the cliffs and named them Dover Cliffs in his journals. Though the name he used was not one that took hold. The gaily colorful cliffs were named Gay Head, a name that stuck. An Indian legend (Wampanog) tells the story of whales blood staining the cliffs, as the reason for the bright colorful cliffs. Through time, the cliff's have become mostly white, due to erosion and what took place way back from the ice age is what scientist indicate the source of colorful cliffs of long ago; rather than the story of whales blood after a long day's hunt. 

Lugguage Carousels

 You've safely made it to your destination, you're waiting in a mass of people much like a heard of cattle and the luggage carousel goes round and round and round.  Lots of black luggage that all looks alike.  How can you tell which one is yours?  Well aside from obvious, don't buy black luggage, some of those animal print ones, or bright orange...well they show up; but then most of us do have black.  Black is popular, it doesn't look like it's meant for a 10 year old girl, and it doesn't show the dirt as much.

Though this purple yarn do dad is in need of being removed...seen it's better days.  Tie things on your luggage.  Put something on several sides; because you know whatever you put on the front is hard to see.......they always seem to throw your suitcase on upside down with the handle part as far away from the edge of the carousel as possible.  Why, I've wonder time and time again can't they put the luggage on when the handle on the side or on outside edge?  It would sure save everyone hitting each other as they lunge across trying to reach it as it gets further away from you.  

Back to being able to tell it's your luggage.  Use bright colored luggage tags, ribbon, yarn that you can easily see from a distance.  I've seen people decals also on their luggage...but I think that might only work well if you have hard sided luggage.  AND....TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT THE LUGGAGE TAG AFTER YOU LUGGED IT FROM THE CAROUSEL........MAKE SURE IT'S YOUR LUGGAGE, DON'T ASSUME IT IS.  Though I've not gone home with someone else's luggage I know too many people who's luggage went home with someone else.  People are hurried, tired, and generally pretty agitated by the time they elbow their way through the crowd to crab the suitcase that "looks like" theirs.

If you're not traveling alone, send 1 person up to the carousel and have the others further back.  When the person up front see's an appropriate piece of luggage and starts to grab it, the other person can come forward to get it and remove it out of the way.  Nothing worse then 6 people standing there to pick up 1 or 2 pieces of luggage, keeping others from seeing what they need to see.  It's also a bit dangerous...kids that can easily get hit or tramped with luggage being yanked off the carousel.  

Stand a foot or two away from the carousel, that way everyone can see better.  Step forward when you see yours, and again back up.  When everyone pushes forward, not only can fewer people see the luggage, but there's no where to grab and put it...with people elbow to elbow.  And as luck would have it, the people up front elbow to elbow are waiting while the carousel goes round a 2nd or 3rd time........why?  The luggage on their belongs to people behind them who can't see their luggage.  And, until you let them get their luggage there won't be room for yours to be put on their.  This happens often when multiple planes are using the same carousel, and plane 1 people were there waiting........then plane 2 people get there and rush the carousel.  Plane 1's luggage is coming out first.  

Sadly, it's rare to see people being polite when retrieving their luggage.  It's a scene that seems to bring out the worst in people.  Breathe, step back, wait your turn.  YOU ARE NOT, the only person who's anxious, tired, hungry or needs to go to the bathroom.  By being able to identify you luggage and being polite and patient you can start and end your trip in a much more stress free way.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Weighing Your Luggage

 This is an absolute must when you travel by plane.  How much does your luggage weigh?  And if it weighs too much...how much extra is it going to cost you?  Why worry about that.  How many times have you seen people scrambling at the ticket counter....holding up the line while they pull stuff out of their suitcases to get beneath the 50 pounds.

This portable, light weight scale has a handle you hold, a hook you put through the handle of your suitcase so it's easy to see how much your luggage weighs.  Take it with you, pack it.  Why?  I know everyone thinks well if it was ok at home...it will be ok on the return.............not so.  Why?  Dirty close weigh more then clean close and you bought souvenirs, and you don't know how much your little gifts for the neighbor watching your house or pets weighs.

People can use the home scale to weigh themselves, then get back on with their suitcase and weigh again, subtract their weight to determine how much the luggage weighs; but........that's not always accurate and it's not all that easy.  I've seen people tell the folks at the ticket counter, I weigh it at home...blah blah blah.  Plus, you can't do that for the return trip.  Well, maybe where you're staying has a work out room and you can pack your suitcase, take it to the gym area and repeat the process there.........but really, talk about a nuisance.

Prices vary for portable luggage scales, this one was under $15.00, though some digital ones may be closer to $20.00, still it's money well spent.  I've seen a price tag of $25.00-$125.00 for luggage weighing over 50 pounds depending on the airlines and whether it's the first or 2nd bag or domestic or international travel.........so go buy the portable scale and use it.  You'll be glad you did.  I like to have at least 5-8 pounds of wiggle room so I know I won't have trouble.

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Cafe Coyote

Welcome to Cafe Coyote in Olde Town San Diego, located at 2461 San Diego Avenue.  The restaurant is family owned and has received best Mexican Food awards in 2005-2006-2008-2009-2010-2011- and 2012.  There inside areas, sorta outside areas, definitely outside areas, smaller rooms and the various bar areas.  It's HUGE.

There's lots of art work both in and out.

It's open for Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  We shared one meal for breakfast that was fantastic....and still, neither hubby or I were able to eat our full half portion.  Prices are very reasonable.  The staff is friendly, and the atmosphere casual.

More painted murals on the walls.

The inside inside bar area.  Look at the bar folks, they boast 100 different Tequila's.  Though we sample any, since we were there for breakfast, lol.  In the evenings they have life music.

This is the sorta in sorta outside area.  Open air dining, but with a roof.  Heaters available for the evenings help make people enjoy both in and out.  Fresh hand made Tortilla's.  Not only can you watch them being made from your table, you walk up from the sidewalk in front and order one to go.

Cafe Coyote has something for everyone, from small groups to large, from adults to children.  It's located on a busy corner in Old Town San Diego, where the city first began.  Lots of local color in this area.  The area gets 6,000,000 visitors annually, double what the popular and very well know San Diego Zoo and Sea World get.   The restaurant is popular with locals and tourists. 

I highly recommend this restaurant and hope to return on another trip to San Diego.  Will plan to try it out for dinner next time round. 

Pop in Often, remember Menu Mondays for dining tips, Traveling Tips on Thursday, and any day for vacation destinations.

Shopping While Vacationing

On our January trip to Hilton Head, we picked up some fun cocktail napkins.

If you read my blog very often, you know hubby and I enjoy our "cocktails".  Specifically we enjoy our Martini's.  I make a really good one, by the way; always better then what you get when you order out.  They don't have or don't take the time to properly chill the martini glasses, which is a key component of a really good martini. 

Since we were there in January, you can see a Christmas flare to our fun cocktail napkins.  Hubby likes a Gin Martini, shaken not stirred and I prefer a Vodka Martini.  Most of the time I like a Lemon-Drop Martini, but am also partial to a Dirty Martini with nice olives stuffed with blue cheese.

While vacationing, one should purchase souvenirs that reflect the fun of the trip and make you smile.  We smile every time we use our fun cocktail napkins........even if they are "out of season".

Cafe Osage in St. Louis

 Doesn't this plate make you want to pick up a fork?  Mixed grain pancakes with bananas foster type compote.  It was absolutely yummy.  Darling Daughter and I had a fantastic brunch at Cafe Osage in the Central West End in St. Louis. 

 Now that most interesting thing is...when you first walk in, you're in a nursery.  See seeds!

 A nice gift shop, both of garden and non garden related items.  During warm months you can dine outside on their patio among the beautiful plantings.

 Shop before or after you dine, there's plenty to pick from.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner is served. I highly recommend Cafe Osage and hope to return.

Brunch at SqWires in St. Louis

 I love a good Bloody Mary.  This was a very good one.  Actually it's a Bloody Mary Bar.  You get a carafe of Bloody Mary already mixed with Vodka, and add whatever your heart desires.  They had lemon, lime, celery, horseradish, pickles, olives, blue cheese squares, hot peppers, and more.  I went with banana peppers, pickles, olives, and celery and horseradish in mine.  It was yummy.  I refilled several times and still had mix left in my carafe.  You'll see the carafe further down in pictures.

 My Darling Daughter is partial to Mimosa's, which is also an option as they have a Mimosa Bar  with lots of choices of fruit and goodies to add to your drink.

 

 The environment is very comfortable.  Check out the piano player under all the neat antique radios.  They have entertainment for Happy Hours on both Friday and Sat nights, as well as Sunday morning brunch.  Brunch starts at 10 am.

 

 Decorations are interesting, flowers, and unusual arrangements like this one in the window by our table with pussy willows and purple thistles.  Notice my carafe of Bloddy Mary's?  Our table was a bit crowded so I placed it on the window ledge.

 

To give you an idea what it looks like, look up...see pulleys and coils?   Okay, so you're probably wondering where I am, what this place was.  This is SqWires located in historic Lafayette Square in St. Louis.  1415 South 18th Street, St. Louis, Missouri  63104.  Lafayette Square is a short 3 minute cab ride from downtown St. Louis and is the oldest Historic District in St. Louis.  400 Victorian homes have been restored in this area.  There's a 30 acres park, Lafayette Square Park which is the oldest park west of The Mississippi!  Impressive and very interesting area.  SqWires has outside eating during warm weather and a banquet area.  They have an extensive wine list (50) along with an impressive choice of beers.  The restaurant serves local fare and won The Open Table Diner Choice Award in 2012.

 Brunch was fabulous.  I had beef brisket hash with eggs and would most definitely order that again.  The menu is varied offering something for everyone.

 

My Darling Daughter had an egg sandwich with fresh goodies oozing out.  She would also re-order this item.

I mentioned coils and pulley's above...historically this building was part of a wire factory that encompassed the whole block.  The area now has 80 businesses and residential lofts.  

I highly recommend having brunch here, and exploring the area.  In June and December there is a tour of homes which I would love to do, if I happened to be in St. Louis then.

**This awesome brunch with my Darling Daughter was only part of our wonderful "Girls Wkend"

HandleBar in The Grove St. Louis

There's a story behind the animal prints and me climbing up on this rather large bike sculpture, (HERE), but for now let me tell you about Handle Bar.

The bike sculpture is outside the bar, and once inside you understand why.  Bikes also hang from the walls and ceiling,

It's a friendly, neighborhood establishment located in The Grove in St. Louis on Manchester Avenue (4127)

Where it's not uncommon to see people really relaxing, playing games or cards.

Born in Moscow, Tatyana immigrated in 1999.  She was homesick for her native land, but soon fell in love with the city of St. Louis and moved there in 2005.  She rode her bike through all the parks, The Riverfront, and interesting neighborhoods St. Louis has to offer and realized she could truly commute on her bike, not something possible in Moscow.  She was free to pick a destination, hop on her bike and just pedal.  She opened HandleBar in 2010 at the Old ChurchKey Bar5 location to share her interest in healthy food with a bit of a Russian influence (unusual for bars), local beers, local artists, and bikes.  Bikes as art, bikes to sell, bikes to ride. 

The Grove..seems to be a newly named neighborhood area in St. Louis.  Manchester Road, parts there off are part of Historic Route 66.  St. Alopysius Church was vacant for years, demolished and some of the brick and other items were used in the building/rehab of ChurchKey, now HandleBar.

**I'm reminded of a saying, Get your kicks on Route 66.......and you still can.

Stop in, enjoy a brew, play a game and enjoy!

Reservations for Two at Your Marriott Villa

 Here we are with another Menu Monday adventure.  This however, isn't about which restaurant to eat out, this is an alternative.  Traveling can be expensive, eating out all the time even more so.  We like to stay in condo's where we have a kitchen and care prepare most of our meals in.  We picked up a delicious stuffed chicken breast from Whole Foods.  One was more then enough for a really good meal for the two of us.  We had left overs which came into play another night.  Nice dinner rolls, stuffed chicken breast baked in the oven, fresh green beans seasoned with fresh Pancetta, and nice bottle of wine.  A meal as nice as many out.  The chicken is easy, put it in the oven for about an hour while you're having cocktails.  Lightly brown a few pieces of Pancetta in a skillet (and you really only need a few pieces because it's so flavorable), then add the green beans after they've cook for a few minutes in the microwave.  A meal for about 12.00 without the cost of the wine.

 Skillet pasta.  Cook pasta as you normally would (I had Linguini), but drain it just a bit before it's done, as it will finish cooking in the skillet.  Brown some Pancetta, add onions, and peppers (I like red ones).  Have half a pound of shrimp washed (with or without tails, I prefer without), and toss those in along with a good handful of fresh spinach.  When it looks like the shrimp are almost there (almost pink), add your pasta.  Blend, turn off heat and add fresh cracked pepper.  Serve with dinner rolls and a nice bottle of wine, and freshly grated Romano or Parm. Cheese...Again a easy, affordable splendid meal.  

Not perhaps the best sounded name, but how bout left over stir fry?  This meal can abe done in a skillet on top of the stove, and or in a wire basket/pan with holes on top of a grill.  We have a small pan with holes that travels with us.  Even the handle folds.  Remember the left over chicken from the stuffed chicken....perfect as it's already cooked and will require time only to heat it through.  Cut up peppers (here I used yellow and red for color), onions.  About 1/4 pound of shrimp (again I prefer without tails as they're so much easier to eat).  Cook veggies first, add chicken, shortly there after add shrimp.  Naturally we're still serving nice dinner rolls and a bottle of wine.


**We have a shopping list we print and take on all trips.  We add add appropriate items based on where we are.  Hilton Head, we added shrimp.  We cook in, we cook on the grill.  Shopping well helps you save time and money.  We bought 1 pound of shrimp and got 2 meals plus I did a shrimp cocktail one evening with our cocktails.  We bought one stuffed chicken breast and got 2 nice meals from that.  Standards are always onion, peppers, fresh spinach.  I don't think it's possible to cook without those items.  A bag of dinner rolls, wrapping a few in foil to bake with each meal..you can't go wrong.


We had steak on the grill one night, typically we top that off with a foil pouch of cut up veggies...onions, mushrooms, and peppers and or fresh green beans.  Having items you can use for multiple meals is the way to go.