"The coldest winter I ever spent, was summer in San Francisco." ~ Mark Twain
Butterfly finishes her college courses this Saturday (WHOOP!), and after she sleeps for a week, I am looking forward to planning some Dream Destination stops with her for our trip to California. I miss our friends and family in the Golden State, but I don't miss living there. There is much to be said for the clean air, blue sky, mountains and breathing room of Colorado, where we now live. That said, there are some places in California that just can't be replicated in any other part of the world...and I want to make sure that we get to revisit them while we are there!
Without further ado...here are my Golden State Dream Destination (NorCal edition):
1. San Francisco Chinatown. San Francisco Chinatown is the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, as well as the oldest Chinatown in North America. It is comprised of only 24 blocks. The open air markets and apothecaries and bustling crowds are fascinating to take in. The architecture from the street lamps to the Dragon Gate are also stunning. I also enjoy watching the elders playing Chinese chess in Portsmouth Square. Another fun thing to do is take a tour of a fortune cookie factory (I hesitate to call it a factory, as it is just one small room...but fun to watch). Currently, ten of Emperor Qin Shihuang's Terracotta Warriors are on display with other artifacts at the Asian Art Museum in Chinatown and I would like to see that. But, the main reason to go to Chinatown is for the food! Restaurants, big and small, abound and you can eat from one end of Chinatown to the other and never eat the same thing!!
2. Gizdich Ranch. Gizdich is a family owned farm in Watsonville that has acres and acres of fruit! Admittedly, the best time to visit the ranch is in summer when the berries are crazy on the vines! You can pick strawberries, blackberries and gigantic ollalieberries! Besides their berries, they have a large apple orchard consisting of 16 varieties of apples, which may be picked in the fall. Also, in the fall, they have a pumpkin field. So, what is in season when I am there in April? PIE!!!! Gizdich makes the BEST pies ever!!! While the fields and orchards may not be ready with ripe fruit in the spring, the pies are ever available. The ranch also has a working apple press for their amazing juice that you can watch in action throughout the year. My favorite thing about Gizdich pies, is that they top off a meal from my absolute favorite restaurant in the world, which is just down the highway from Gizdich and is stop #3 of my Dream Destinations.
3. Phil's Fish Market. Oh. My. Goodness. Ohmygoodness! OH MY GOODNESS! I make their amazing cioppino at home, but there is something about rolling in off the beach into this actual cement floor, sandy, no-frills restaurant and ordering Fettuccine with Crabmeat and Bay Shrimp in a Saffron Cream Sauce that just can't be reproduced at home! There is absolutely NOTHING fancy about Phil's except the food. Often, the line is long...but well worth the wait. Bring a sweatshirt, as the market is somewhat open air. And put a pin on the map to show where you are from. Probably the nicest thing about Phil's...is Phil, who can almost always be spotted checking in with the patrons! Oh...I am hungry now!
4. Monterey/Carmel. Hands-down, the most amazing real estate in California is this area! And on the 17 Mile Drive, you can see the best of the best of this area! Wildlife, ocean life, seals, Pebble Beach and other golf courses, amazing homes and ocean views are all peppered along this stretch of California's coast! I find the need for oxygen whenever I go on this drive because every view from every angle is breathtaking!
Carmel is gorgeous, and Ocean Beach is a phenomenal place to take a walk on white sands. But, just up the street from the beach is MY favorite place in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The Cottage of Sweets is a candy shop that sells old time candy and unusual treats, too. When we go, we ALWAYS order the Turkish Delight. But, the most delightful thing about that Turkish Delight is not the candy itself, which is pretty extraordinary, but the conversation. The man who owns the shop will start a whole Narnia conversation with you if you order it. He stands about 5'6" and when he asks you who your favorite Narnia character is and why, he is happy to share that the height challenged Reepacheep is his! Because little guys can do GREAT things! It is definitely worth the stop in.
As stunning as the Monterey Bay area is...there is one place that everyone loves that I HOPE I do not have to visit. I say this in vain, because I am usually outnumbered by the people I am with. But, I just have to say, if I never ever visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium again, it will be too soon.
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| Okay....these guys are safe.....but.... |
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| Dark and Scary Monterey Bay Aquarium |
I know that the aquarium is world-renowned and considered quite a feat in aquatic study and development, but to me it is a nightmare just waiting to happen!
I should mention that a close second to my fear of flying is fear of aquariums. Well, not the aquarium itself, but the things IN the aquarium. And not really all things (I really like the bat rays), just some things. Mainly, sharks. And besides being afraid of flying, aquariums and sharks, I also am petrified of earthquakes. And also drowning. So...when I am at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, all I can think is that we are going to have some 8.0 earthquake, all the glass is going to break and it will be a race to see whether I drown or get eaten by a set free shark first! Oh, they try to make it all friendly with cute, little bat rays you can touch, shorebirds, fun-loving otters and innocent touch pools...but the sharks are just waiting for their big chance at a last meal! Don't laugh....it could happen.
Gotta Mosey!
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