San Diego and Its Neighborhoods: Different and Yet, The Same

The view from La Jolla. Are those sea lions out there?

On my recent trip to California to celebrate turning 50, one of the places I wanted to visit was San Diego, mostly because of its reputation for "perfect weather." To me, perfect weather is sunny everyday, but not too hot (i.e. not above 80 degrees) and not humid. This is the opposite of Chicago-area summer weather, which is often grey, and often very humid.

Cute little roadside Mission around Desert Hot Springs

Leaving Palm Springs, I drove East to San Juan Capistrano, in order to make a stop at the famous mission there (to be discussed in a later post), and also because I didn't want to simply take the fastest route, which seemed to backtrack through the Los Angeles area. On my way to and from San Diego, I wanted to be able to see different sights.  Then I drove on to my hotel, which I'd booked, after much weighing of ALL possible options, in La Jolla, right on the water.

The view from my hotel room! I am a very lucky girl!

I found San Diego a little tricky to understand/navigate at first. The city is huge and sprawling, and it has many "neighborhoods" which are treated as if they are separate towns, but are really all still part of San Diego, the city. Each neighborhood/town has a distinct personality, different sorts of businesses and different types of beaches. Beaches, shopping and restaurants were my priorities of places to visit during my three days in the area.

The Pantai Inn in La Jolla

The pretty, little bohemian chic hotel I chose for my stay in the San Diego area was a bit pricey for me, but I was able to take advantage of a 30% off sale featured on their website, and I really wanted to stay someplace right on the water. The Pantai Inn is rated very highly online, so I decided that would be my splurge for the trip. It was well-worth the money! See my TripAdvisor review here.

Two snoozing sea lions on crumbling concrete steps at La Jolla Cove.

I headed down to the water immediately. The "beach" in front of my hotel was not really accessible to me - you had to carefully navigate slippery cliff areas and rocks to get down to it. There were a few young and fit people down there, but I chose to walk a bit down the road, through a pretty cliffside park and over to La Jolla Cove. This postage stamp-sized beach had stairs to take you down to the water, and some veteran sea lions just lounging about. The tide was coming in strong, so it was fun to watch kids and adults alike squeal with delight as the cold, salty water inched its way up onto the sand, and crashed against the boulders that littered the beach. It was crowded but not too bad, and there were also a lot of kayakers and snorklers enjoying the water. Of course, the weather was my ideal, but the water was very cold - too much for me to swim in, since the air was only about 70 degrees.

An adorable cliffside cottage in La Jolla.

After about an hour at the beach, I drove around La Jolla to look at all the pretty houses in all different styles, from cottage, to modern, to Spanish style, all jumbled together on top of each other along the unsteady (signs posted everywhere said so!) cliffs. Parking was very scarce so I didn't visit many of the interesting businesses I passed because there was literally nowhere to put the car. But I did enjoy the scenic drive.

It's a steep drop down to the water from cliffs in La Jolla.

After a while, I decided to drive to dinner in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, an area touted as "can't-miss" by many tourism blogs and books. All of the neighborhoods seem to be connected by the main highway, so as I explored them all, I spent A LOT of time on said highway.All the highway driving time started to get to me after a while - this city is very much about the SPRAWL! But I have to admit, the highways themselves were a lot prettier than the ones around Chicago.
(to be continued ....)

Palm Springs in March

For my Spring Break/Birthday Trip this year, I decided to go to Southern California. I have been to San Francisco and the Napa area three times, but never SoCal. I was craving arid, sunny weather and the beach.

I was there for ten days - I desperately want to go back! It's as beautiful as everyone says, and so much to do. I started my trip landing at the Ontario airport, outside of L.A. which was a great choice because it was so low-key and easy to navigate, and my rental car was much cheaper ($20 a day, including all taxes and fees!) than if I had gotten on at LAX. Here is what I saw when driving from the airport. Oh, the mountains! Brings tears of joy to my eyes!

Leaving the Ontario, California airport and heading out to Palm Springs.

I did a lot of research and spent a lot of time on discount travel websites, and I got a great deal from Jetsetter for The Saguaro in Palm Springs. Quick lowdown: free parking, great pool, fun decor. Some of the staff was snooty. The "spa" was in the basement and felt kind of no-frills. The bar is cool. The food is good, but not great. But all in all, since I lot "atmosphere" and the decor is very important to me, I really enjoyed this hotel, which was mid-range in price.

Funky Barbie Doll Art Shadow Boxes Replicating Hotel Scenes

The Lobby of the Saguaro in Palm Springs

One of my favorite moment at this hotel was the first night when I went for a swim in the hotel pool after dinner. It was a clear night. There were only a few other guests around the pool, besides myself, so I mostly had it to myself. The large, full moon hung in the sky, suspended in between two palms that towered over the pool. The weather was perfect. The pool temperature was perfect. Everything was perfect. It was like a dream. Ahhhh California - your beauty is heart-breaking!

I spent the next two days in Palm Springs. I went to the town of Joshua Tree and bought snacks and water for the National Park, plus a cool green turquoise and sterling silver Native American-made ring.

Native American Green Turquoise and Sterling Silver Ring from Joshua Tree

Then I went to Joshua Tree park and hiked the closest and one of the easiest trails. I loved every minute of it. The views, the terrain - all gorgeous. There were plenty of other tourists, but it was not overcrowded. If you are ever in the area, this park is a "can't-miss" destination!

Joshua Tree in late March 2015

Joshua Tree spring cactus blossom in a crevice

Happiest in the desert!

Holding on to my hat. A windy scenic overlook, looking down into Coachella Valley.

This is a Joshua Tree!!! They are everywhere in the park.

Aside from the lazy walks in the park, my other favorite thing about that day was just soaking in the sun while driving around all the picturesquely named towns like Twenty Nine Palms and Desert Hot Springs. Even the names promise exotic beauty around every bend, and you are not disappointed. What a contrast from dull, grey Northern Illinois! A beautiful, arid, sunny landscape in every direction, as far as the eye can see. Long, dusty, curving roads seem to go on forever, and the peacefulness is Zen-like and soothing to the soul.

In my next post, I will talk about my second day in Palm Springs, California, where I visited some kitsch, did some shopping, some fancy dining, and a bit more desert hiking.

Driving California Highway 1 and the Beauty of Laguna Beach

(Photo not taken by me)

What a treasure I felt I "discovered" after driving up from San Diego on my way to L.A. Round and round some twisty curves, I let out an audible "Aaaah" as I approached Laguna Beach. Although I had the negative association from the TV show of dumb and vapid beautiful young girls and their equally beautiful caddish boyfriends, I had to give it up for the gorgeousness of this town. I wasn't going to stop but just had to. Stunning palm tree lined streets wound further and further up the hills overlooking the postcard worthy coves and beaches of the Pacific. Tons of cute shops and eateries lined the highway road - which was the main street of the town.

I decided I wanted a mid-morning bakery treat and came across C'Est La Vie, situated between the Coast Highway and Main Beach. The area serves as the town center. The bakery/restaurant was pretty, beachy white and bustling. I picked a couple of delicious pastries from the friendly counter lady, and taking advantage of the free parking (Amazeballs!) in the back of the restaurant, ate one of the pastries on the beach right out back. The beach was packed with families and young people alike and had a super fun atmosphere to it. Nice white sand gently rolled toward the water, and tall trees were everywhere for shade.

I was meeting my niece in L.A. so I couldn't afford to linger in Laguna Beach any longer, but I can't wait to go back! Just that little glimpse of the pretty cliff side homes, all the intriguingly unique and artsy shops and that gorgeous, easily-accessible beach has me craving more. Next time I visit Cali, I will stay a few days in Laguna Beach. I want to pick some little bohemian spot within walking distance of the beach (parking is, of course, difficult) and just laze there a few days. Heaven!

San Antonio, Texas: A Few Reviews on a Quick Weekend Visit

For our weekend jaunt down to San Antonio, I used TripAdvisor and Fodor's travel sites for some recommendations of things to do and see. We weren't able to fit in too much, but we did make it to a very nice restaurant for a Saturday night dinner; a couple of fantastic bakeries for to-go sweets on Sunday morning; some spa treatments with my grandmother; and a little bit of TexMex souvenir shopping.

I highly recommend Biga on the Banks for a lovely dinner along the river. From the convenient valet parking (very valuable in hard-to-park Riverwalk neighborhood), to the excellent service, we had a relaxing and delicious dinner in this beautiful space. I would describe the decor as swank and romantic, featuring curved banquette seating and huge windows looking out onto the river. So many things on the menu sounded delicious, and the beautifully-plated chicken and steak entrees we chose did not disappoint. We were pretty full by the end of the meal, but managed to squeeze in a little dessert: a trio of house-made sorbets that were amazing! It was higher-end as far as price went, but totally worth it, and everyone in our party, spanning four generations of our family, loved this restaurant.

Nichos in the entryway of Mi Tierra Bakery and Restaurant

On Sunday morning, it was cool and rainy so we decided to have breakfast at my grandmother's apartment. My son and I agreed to pick up some pastries from a local bakery for our meal. But which bakery? I couldn't decide among two of the recommended ones I wanted to try, so of course, I chose both! First we stopped at Mi Tierra Cafe Y Panaderia, which is part of El Mercado (or Market Square), a Mexican shopping and eating destination. This restaurant is a busy and bustling, large restaurant, decorated in a festive, sparkly and colorful way that I just love. The restaurant is towards the back, and the bakery is in the front. We chose an assortment of pastel sugared conch rolls and some fruit-filled empanadas to go. The staff were quick and warmly friendly. I was dazzled by all the lights, colors, aromas, and activity and I didn't want to leave. But I also wanted to stop at Bakery Lorraine.

Talk about a culture shift! Bakery Lorraine is a bright, cheery, open space set in The Pearl shopping and entertainment complex, centered around The Pearl Brewery, a cool historic building from the 1880s. This bakery is more yuppie/hipster, with a clientele that appeared to be mainly urban singles, young couples, and families with small children. It was also busy and bustling, and parking on this Sunday morning was a bit difficult, as we had to circle around a couple of times. The pastries and baked goods in the front glass display cases looked beautiful, and there was a wide variety to choose from. We chose several (tarts, scones, buns, and muffins) which were boxed up by rushed and harried young people behind the counters. There was also seating for those who wanted to eat there at the bakery.

So how was everything? Fantastic! I recommend both bakeries for delicious pastries and fun atmospheres. I guess it just depends what sort of pastries and what type of environment you are in the mood for, but you can't lose with either of these choices.

Mokara Spa - when we were here, it was crammed with disgruntled customers waiting for their services.

During the weekend, my grandmother and I treated ourselves to a spa day. She had never had one before! I do them all the time, and in fact, whenever I travel, I like to treat myself to a spa treatment. I did research on which were the best spas in San Antonio and I decided on the Mokara Spa, also in the Riverwalk neighborhood. It is apparently the only Forbes 4-star spa in the city, and it is connected to the Mokara Hotel. I was pleased that there was valet parking, and the entry way to the spa was very pretty. However, first impressions were not good. We entered the spa and were immediately enveloped in a loud and slightly disgruntled crowd. There was a meandering line of women waiting to check in for their spa services and the desk staff was not keeping up. Several of the women waiting were getting annoyed, and the staff was snippy. We finally were checked in after about 15 minutes. I didn't care for the front desk staff because they were not warm and friendly but had a snooty attitude. But finally we were able start our services. My grandmother got a reflexology foot massage that she said was amazing! I didn't go back into the room with her, but it apparently was very nice. I booked a mani/pedi for myself. Those services took place in a large open room with several stations. It was nice but not particularly unique or awesome. My technician was okay. My grandmother's was very nice and took extra care of her. I ended up tipping my grandmother's aestheticians a little extra because she was so pleased with her services. But truthfully, I was a bit underwhelmed with this spa/salon. It was nice but it didn't wow me, and I certainly wouldn't put it at 4 stars.

For how short our trip was, I was able to fit in a bit of shopping. Walking along the river from our hotel, I cam across La Villita Historic Arts Village. Billed as "one of San Antonio's first neighborhoods", this shopping and restaurant complex is made out of traditionally southwestern-styled buildings and it's very picturesque. There are many shops, several restaurants and lots of art galleries. I wish I'd had more time to look around but after walking around a bit, I only made it into one shop, Casa Manos Alegres. This is a really cool shop with imports from Mexico and Guatemala. It features all sorts of arts and crafts, home decor items, and clothing and accessories. I purchased two arpilleras depicting village scenes, and two pretty embroidered Mexican blouses. I thought the prices were reasonable and there were a lot of cool things to choose from. Highly recommended!

San Antonio is a really neat city with a lot of beautiful historic buildings, some natural beauty and lots to do. I want to go back, for longer this time. Definitely a worthy tourist destination.

A Weekend in San Antonio, Texas

A pretty church in downtown San Antonio, TX

Early in March, my 22-year-old son and I flew down to San Antonio to visit my 93-year-old grandmother. Aside from some pleasant time visiting and just shooting the breeze with Oma, we tried out a few of the local businesses. One I can recommend is the Westin Riverwalk. I was originally planning to stay at another hotel, but my reservation was lost, and they had no vacancy, so we walked over to the Westin and were relieved that they were able to accomodate us at the last minute, for the reasonable rate of $ a night. I also joined the Starwood Preferred Club (which is free) and received a few extra perks, like bottled water, free wi-fi, and some snacks. We chose to park in the street-side lot across the street, because at $16 a night, it was cheaper than hotel parking, which along the River Walk, is always expensive.

The Lobby of the Westin Riverwalk

Another shot of the Westin Riverwalk lobby

The Riverwalk from the patio of the Westin

More of the peaceful and pretty Riverwalk in San Antonio

We stayed at the Westin for two nights. The lobby was impressive and tasteful. The rooms were nice, and very comfortable. The bathroom was nice, everything was clean, and I loved the green leaf-shaped soaps they offered. While there, I bought a pair of sunglasses from the gift shop, and got a free toothpaste and comb (which I'd forgotten from the front desk). The front desk staff was very warm, friendly and efficient. I would say my only negatives were that the breakfast in the hotel dining room was expensive and pretty mediocre, and the room was a bit dark. But otherwise, I think it's a good hotel choice along the river.