California Week: Paso Robles

Paso Robles is inland from Cayucos about 35-40 minutes, through some of the prettiest landscape ever...windy roads through golden hills, dense cypress trees, vineyards...Before we got to the actual town of Paso Robles, we met up with our friend Joeli who owns the General Store in Paso (they abbreviate it), who wanted us to meet her friends Alex and Monica who own the Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery. They started making wines in this area back when there were only 17 vineyards, and now there are over 300 (and that's just in the last 15 years). Their wines are amazing, as are the vodka and gin they are producing. They are the nicest people, so if you're driving up or down the 101, it is worth making a quick detour to come to their tasting room.

 

While we were super pressed for time in Paso Robles, we do know the one place you have to go, the General Store. Besides it having the best edit of everything from cookbooks to food to kitchen pantry items to beauty products, it's just a community hub. Joeli and her partners that own it are not just the nicest people, they are also the most enthusiastic. I told her she should go into real estate, and then also be in job placement, because she certainly made me want to move there. Since we didn't have the time to do anything but stop in her store, and the neighboring store called Firefly that is run by a mother and daughter, my only suggestion for this area is that you 1. need to stop here--it's 5 minutes off the highway 101, and 2. ask Joeli where to eat, where to stay, what to do.  If you're in a hurry like we were, you can call ahead and have them prep a picnic for you, which you can just bring along on the road. It's certainly going to have some local products that are made with love, by some great artisan with a fantastic back story--that I can guarantee.

Mar Vista, CA

I've written about Mar Vista before in a roundup of spring break ideas, but I found some pictures that I didn't post before, and I love this place so much, that I have to post about it again. It's a couple of hours north of SF, is on the Pacific Ocean, and is a grouping of cottages with an organic garden that you can pick from. Perfect.

Winter Break Ideas: So Cal

As much as I love Northern California, unless I'm thinking about skiing, I don't want to head there in February. Since I live in New York, in an ideal world (read, fantasy), I would want to go somewhere that is 70 degrees and upwards, and has a pool that is nicely heated. Here are some spots that I wouldn't say no to...

The Ace Hotel, Palm Springs
We got married here 14 years ago, and haven't ever been back with Clara. I think it's time. And the place we stayed way back when, L'Horizon, doesn't take kids, so I can dispense with nostalgia, and head straight to the Ace, which I think looks like the perfect spot for us.

Venice Beach Eco Cottages
I haven't stayed here, but I sure would love to stay in walking distance of Abbot Kinney where two of my favorite restaurants, Gjelina and Shima, and two of my favorite stores, A+R and Tortoise, are.

Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
This just looks like a great family resort, that has all of the old-school-ness that I love.

I Love: Hotels With Organic Gardens, Part 3

I wrote about Mar Vista last March, as a spring break idea, and am reminding you of it now, since I'm in this 'hotel with organic garden' mode. We went to Mar Vista a couple of years ago, and it was such a great trip.  We had our own little cottage, with a fully equipped kitchen, and a porch, and plenty of space around it so we never felt like our neighbors would be inconvenienced if Clara was having a meltdown (or if we were). All of the cottages are all situated around a large grassy meadow and garden, with tons of room for kids to run, a rope swing, animals to look at, and a fantastic soaking tub. Then there are the chickens to gather eggs from, and the organic edible garden to harvest whatever is in season. (It's also where Clara pulled her first food out of the ground.) Across the road is the Pacific Ocean, so you have views of it from the property, and in five minutes walk, you are on the beach. Yes, it's a schlep from San Francisco (close to three hours), but it's so worth it, as long as you build in plenty of time to get there, and some stops along the way in Point Reyes to pick up some provisions for your kitchen at Mar Vista at Tomales Bay Foods and Toby's Feed Barn. After all, this is the kind of place you won't want to leave--you'll probably eat breakfast and dinner at the property, and go out for lunch and a little adventure. 

For the Rental Files: Stinson Beach, CA

(6 Alameda Patio) 

I love this part of the California coast. It's so close to San Francisco, so it's easy to get to, and the food is just so good in that area. I haven't stayed in Stinson yet, but I want to rent one of these houses for a week sometime soon.  

I think this house looks promising.  It sleeps four, and it's two blocks from the beach, in the village of Stinson. It's $2200 for the week.

This house is one that we just wish would go on the market, because it's exactly what we'd want to buy and fix up, just a little bit...not too much. It's $1600 a week and it's right on the beach, although the decor isn't exactly inspiring (sorry--the pics on their site are so small).

This one is really just for a couple, but it's worth saving in the files for that much needed parents getaway. I think the styling on this one is pretty great for a rental. It's $1500 for the week.