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Bruce Munro Light at Sensorio – Field of Light & New Light Towers. (San Luis Obispo County)

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Address: 4380 CA-46 Paso Robles Ca. 93446

Bruce Munro Light at Sensorio is located in the town of Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo County. The place started in May 2019, owned by the Hunter Family and created by locals Ken/Bobbi Hunter. It offers visitors amusing, vibrant and colorful kinetic experiences with their fiber optic colorful bulbs. The Field of Light is a 15 acre walkthrough experience that was created by acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. Light at Sensorio is about 3 hours and 20 minutes drive (202 miles) from San Francisco via US-101 South. It’s only open from 7-10pm and only on a few selected dates. The costs of General Admission is $43 per person, while for the child (3-12) is $22. They also offer premium packages for a Private Terrace with food platter $112 per person, and Private Terrace only $87 per person. Paso Robles is about 45 minutes away from Pismo Beach.

We ate at the Alchemist Garden Restaurant and explored the Paso Robles Downtown area. It only took us about 15 minutes to get to Sensorio from Paso Robles downtown and the free parking lot area is made up of sand and dirt. We arrived at Sensorio Field of light at about 6:45 pm and there was already a long line formed at the main entrance. Luckily, the line went fast and got in within 15 minutes but we had to pass through a security check point. We saw the beautiful sunset from the field while waiting for the lights to turn on. There were fire pits, live entertainer, tables to eat, food trucks and indoor food court (to order food) in the middle of the pavillion/lawn located in the main entrance.

There were a few benches and hays located everywhere on a large field with narrow walkway for people to sit and relax. The VIP sections were all located on top overlooking the field of lights with private terrace, fire pits, foods and warmers. The best part was when it got darker and the Field of Lights were lighted. The entire field was very colorful, illuminating, amazing, breathtakingly beautiful and turned into a magical place. We decided to walk the winding pathway and enjoy the unique experience as we saw each bulb dims and changes color. Each bulb, fibers were artistically placed and the entire field looked like a scene on a fantasy/adventure movie such as the Disney Movie “The Troll”.

It took us about an hour to walk around, enjoy and explore the entire field of lights. But they added an area for the “New Light Towers” which are colorful fiber optics inserted inside a lot of bottles that were formed like a pyramid. It was very relaxing to look at all the different colors that illuminates all the wine bottles. It felt like we were trap on a maze with colorful bottles trying to find our way out. But be careful as you walk through the dark pathways as it gets crowded with too many people walking both ways. We used our phone light to guide us through.

Overall, it was a fun, unique, memorable, mesmerizing and exciting family adventure experience. There were lots of areas that were good photo opportunity. It is a different experience for us to see the entire field with colorful lights and amazing, artistic display of fiber optic. We would highly recommend the Sensorio Field of light to the whole family, singles and couples.

Tips: Paso Robles is a small town known for it’s wineries and arts. Here are a few places we had visited such as the Sculpterra Arts and Winery, Estrella Warbird Museum, Alchemist Garden Restaurant, Opolo Winery, Downtown Paso Robles and Negrani Creamery. Bring your jacket, flashlight and warmers due to cold weather. You can purchase food, drinks, wines and hot chocolate inside. Clean restrooms are available onsite and drive slowly since the parking lot is made up of sand and gravel. Arrive early as the line gets longer but VIP will get you in earlier. No flash photography and no selfie sticks allowed.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Bruce Munro Light at Sensorio after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you. Please don’t forget to subscibe to our blog.

Click here to find a hotel close to the Sensorio Field of Lights in San Luis Obispo County

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Trattore Farms Tasting Room & Terrace Winery (Sonoma County)

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Address: 7878 Dry Creek Rd, Geyserville, CA 95441

*** On your visit please mention to Trattore Winery that you’ve seen the review via our travel blog www.explore2places.com

The Trattore Winery is a boutique winery situated high a top a hill with an amazing view of the valley/vineyards. The winery is located west of Healdsburg in Dry Creek Valley and grows both good quality wine grapes and award winning olive oil. Trattore Winery is owned by Mr. Tim Bucher and his wife Mary Louise Bucher. Trattore means tractor in Italian due to the owners love for tractors. In fact, they have a few cool and beautiful red tractors on display inside their spacious wine tasting bar area. And the winery features Rhone-style wines, olive oils, vinegar, charcuterie, panini, and seasonal wood-fired pizzas. The Trattore Winery is about 1 hour and 30 minutes (85 miles) from San Francisco via US-101 North. It is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 am- 5 pm and closed on Tuesday-Wednesday.

The Trattore Winery accepts both reservation and walk-in customers. I contacted the winery the same day when we were in the area and was lucky that they have availability. The scenic drive to the winery was very relaxing with the gorgeous view of the mountains and beautiful wineries. The fun part was driving through all the wineries with our Mustang convertible on a warm sunny day. We had to pass through the winery gate and drove up the long winding driveway that led us to the top of the hill. The property grounds are beautiful, clean, and relaxing with olive trees. The amazing view on top of the property was so picturesque and relaxing.

As we arrived at the door, we were immediately greeted by the friendly and welcoming owner Mary Louise. We were then escorted to our table with an unobstructed view of the valley/vineyards. The table was on a large outdoor patio, very clean and have sunshade available to keep their customers cool on a warm sunny day. The view is amazing, picturesque and looks like a picture on a postcard. We were served by both the owner Mary Louise and Candis (Manager) They were very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with an excellent service. My daughter ordered a glass of fruit juice and while my wife had the 5 small glasses of their signature wine sampler. There were a wide variety of appetizers or food pairings on the menu but we ordered the Trattore Charcuterie (serves 2-4) which is a selection of Journeyman Meat Company salumi, local artisan cheeses, dried fruit, nuts, arugula salad and house made crostini for $35. The delicious Grilled Seasonal Chipotle Chicken panini sandwiches with roasted tomatoes, white cheddar, and DCOC Chipotle olive oil for $20. The Italian with Ham Panini sandwiches with Black Forest ham, journeyman’s salumi, mozzarella and pesto for $20. My favorite is the Italian Ham Panini since I love anything with pesto. We didn’t order dessert as we were all satisfied and full with the food that we ordered. My wife bought one bottle of their popular “Two Lakes” wine and we’re lucky enough that the Vineyard owner Mary Louise signed the wine bottle with my daughter’s name on it. My daughter was surprised, very happy and thankful for the kind gesture.

Overall, we were very satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of the owner Mary Louise and the entire staff. The unobstructed view of the beautiful vineyard, the outstanding service, and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our wine tasting experience very memorable. It made our early Valentines Day celebration for my wife and daughter a success. The best part of our experience was when the owner Mary Louise signed (with my daughter’s name) the “Two Lakes” bottle that we purchased.

Tips: All their outdoor seating have a view of the vineyard. They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. Dogs and children are welcome in the winery. Lake Sonoma is about a 15-20 minutes drive from the winery. Try to visit the overlook area with a view of Lake Sonoma but drive safely as the road is winding. The winery is also close to Truett Hurst Winery which allow children and have farm animals onsite. Trattore also have a display of cool tractors inside their wine tasting bar area. You can book an “Estate Tour” or “Private Event” online or by calling them. The winery also offer seasonal wood-fired pizza on Sundays from April-October. They also offer wine club membership to customers.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Trattore Winery after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you. Please don’t forget to subscibe to our blog.

Click here to find a hotel close to the Trattore Winery in Geyserville Ca.

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La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard (Windsor, Ca.)

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Address: 3575 Slusser Road. Windsor, CA. 95492

La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard is one of Russian River Valley’s Pioneering wineries. It was founded in 1979, and was called La Crema Vinera which translates to “Best of the Vine”. La Crema is well known for it’s Burgundian- style Chadonnay and Pinot Noir. Mr. Rod Berglund founded La Crema and the current winemaker is Mr. Craig McAllister. The Estate Winery also has a old, remodeled historical barn dated back in 1900. The rustic, historic barn has a floor to ceiling glass windows with an amazing views on all angles of the Vineyard in the hills. The La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard is about 1 hour and 20 minutes (70 miles) away from San Francisco/Daly City via US-101 North. The winery is open 7 days a week from 10 am- 5 pm. The La Crema Winery is currently by reservation and also accepts walk-in customers.

We arrived early at the winery around 10 am which our appointment was scheduled for 10:30 am. Our short drive from the main gate to the wine tasting room was relaxing as we saw rows of vineyards with colorful flowers. Since we arrived early, we decided to check out the surrounding area and took pictures of the property and the Historic Barn. As we went to the historic barn, we were immediately greeted by our server/sommelier “Kayla” who was very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with excellent service. Kayla checked us in and showed us the area where the reserved picnic tables are located and later brought the wine out to our picnic table. The winery grounds were very clean, relaxing, beautiful and surrounded by colorful roses and flowers all over the property. There were also a lot of outdoor tables situated all over the property with a gorgeous view of the private vineyard. And most of the outdoor tables have sunshades to keep their customers cool on a sunny day.

One of the best part of our experience was when we went inside the old, rustic, historical remodeled barn dated in 1900 and was converted into a beautiful tasting rooms for all their guests. The architectural design of the historical barn was very detailed with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking the vineyards, rustic lighting, spiral staircase, large outdoor patios and cozy sofas for guests to relax while drinking their wines. The setting or cozy architectural design inside made us want to stay there all day.

Here are some of La Crema’s Estate Winery wine tasting options and all prices are per person/guest except the picnic table package. All package prices are discounted for wine club members.

Estate Tasting is a seated wine tasting in one of their outdoor patio overlooking the vineyard with 6 wines to try and sample. The price is $40 per guest for non members with a maximum of 10 guests including non tasters. 9 Barrel Tasting is an intimate wine tasting experience with the view of the vineyard. You will sample 5 of their small production high tier wines for $80 per non-member guest, maximum of 8 guests and available Mon-Thursday. Picnic Table is a reserved table good for 8 guests maximum and is located in front of SaraLee’s beautiful vineyards where you get to bring your own food/snacks for $50 but a minimum of one bottle purchase is required. Our picnic table reservation fee was waived since we bought 3 bottles of wines. And finally the Tour & tasting is a unique tour around the beautiful vineyard via a golf cart, the price is $85 per guest for non members and available from Monday- Thursday.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the wine (my wife tasted and bought the 2018 Kelli Ann for $55/bottle), ambiance, the beautiful historical barn and the outstanding service of the staff members especially Kayla. It’s a magical place that transported us back in time due to it’s casual relaxing atmosphere, and rustic architectural property design. Their reserved picnic tables with the relaxing views of the beautiful vineyards with ripened grapes, the outstanding service, and the warm sunny weather made our wine tasting experience at La Crema memorable. Our intimate or private setting of our picnic table is worth the cost due to it’s amazing unobstructed view of the rows of vineyards.

Tips:  They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. One parking lot area is made up of sand/gravel while the other one is cemented. We bought some snacks such as cheese, crackers, dried fruits, water and juice at Mike’s Truck Garden Produce Market along the way. Don’t forget to ask the receptionist information about the self guided tour of the property. You may walk around their property especially the vineyards with all the ripened grapes. There a re a lot of great photo opportunities all over the entire property. The picnic table has a time limit of 90 minutes while kids and dogs are welcome in the property.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near La Crema Estate at SaraLee’s Vineyard close in Sonoma.

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Holiday Ice Skating Rink at Meritage Resort and Spa (Sonoma County)

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Address: 875 Bordeaux way Napa Ca. 94558

The Meritage Resort and Spa along with Vino Bello Resort a timeshare property opened its doors in July 2006. The Meritage Resort is located in Napa Valley which is known for its wide-ranging mix of charming B&B’s, chic luxury hotels, restaurants, and a wide variety of wineries. The resort offers a high-end 322 room property located in the business with free bottles of wine. Some of the rooms have a patio with an amazing view of the outdoor swimming pool, underground cave, and the vineyard situated on the hill.

It took us about 1 hour and 10 minutes (53 miles) to drive from San Francisco to Meritage Resort and Spa via I-80 East, CA-29 North/Sonoma Blvd, exit 19 from CA-37 West. We were surprised to see that they also have a unique, and vintage dining car restaurant on the premise. Some of the Hotel’s amenities are a spa treatment on an underground estate cave called Spa Terra, a winery vineyard, heated outdoor vineyard pool, bowling alley, farm-to-table restaurant Olive and Hay, fitness center, and a wine tasting room.

Since we didn’t want to drive back to San Francisco late at night. We checked in at one of the nice and quieter rooms at Meritage Resort and Spa. After checking in at around 4pm we immediately proceeded to the Ice Rink and Christmas Tree Lighting area which is located across the street of the Meritage Resort and Spa. The place was like a Winter Wonderland with a 40 foot Christmas Tree, Carolers singing, Mimes entertaining the guests, vendors selling their holiday items, Famous Disney Characters such as Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, Tinker Bell, and Santa Claus walking around taking pictures with children and families. It was a very festive atmosphere with lots of visitors and happy families.

The Christmas Tree lighting happened at around 5:30 pm and it was such a magical moment when the 40 foot Christmas Tree was lighted with colorful bright lights and holiday ornaments and decorations. All the visitors happily cheered loudly during the Christmas Tree Lighting. We enjoyed the fun performances on stage by the local caroler and local band entertainer. The Ice skating rink was situated in the middle of the lawn area facing or adjacent to the beautiful lighted Christmas Tree. There were a few VIP fire pits and special igloos for rentals available surrounding the ice rink area. We had to reserve a time slot online for a 1 hour and 30 minutes skating experience. There was a long line of excited skaters on the ice skating registration booth. The line was moving quickly as they have a lot of available staff to help with the registration and skate rentals. My wife and daughter enjoyed the awesome experience and took nice pictures on the ice skating rink facing the Lighted Christmas Tree in the background. There were lots of staff members that facilitate or watched over the skaters for safety precautions.

The best part was when we ate a late dinner at the “Crush Lounge” with 6 luxurious bowling lanes, foosball, pool tables, and shuffleboard games. All the food that we ordered was good and delivered promptly on our table. Our host server Lizabeth was very attentive, fast and helpful in serving our table. We ordered Buffalo Wings, Cheese Nachos, Fish tacos and chicken quesadilla. My daughter had the delicious Oreo Milkshake while my wife had a Margarita cocktail drink. All the bowling lanes were already reserved that night so we end up not bowling. But we had the opportunity to play bowling during our first stay in the resort.

Overall, we enjoyed our short stay at the Meritage Resort and Spa which is a hidden gem in the Napa Valley area. It was fun waking up in the morning with the stunning view of an underground cave, swimming pool, and a grape vineyard. The gardening landscape was very colorful due to its colorful leaves. It’s a great unique and romantic place to stay with your family and loved ones while enjoying tasting wine. It was a fun and memorable experience to celebrate a Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting, Ice Skating and Wine Tasting in a Tuscan Themed style resort in the heart of Napa Valley.

Tips: The resort’s vineyard on the hill is a good spot to watch the sunset. There were several fire pits with outdoor seatings available throughout the property. The resort is about a 15-minute drive to Oxbow Public Market, Napa Valley Train, Napa River Inn, Morimoto Restaurant, and a wide variety of local restaurants. There is also a premium shopping outlet located near the Resort. And don’t forget to visit the “Grape Crusher” sculpture located on top of the Vineyard on the hill. Vista Collina Resort is located adjacent to the Meritage Resort. There is a farm-to-table restaurant located at Meritage Resort called Olive and Hay.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Holiday Ice Rink at Meritage Resort and Spa after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel/room at Meritage Resort and Spa or around the area close to the Resort.

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Bodega Head State Park (Sonoma County)

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Address:  3799 Westshore Rd, Bodega Bay, CA 94923

Bodega Head Trail State Park is in Sonoma County and situated on a small town called Bodega Bay. Bodega Head shelters the bay and harbor from the power of the Pacific Ocean and is about four miles long and one mile wide. Bodega Head is good for people who enjoy sightseeing, nature walking, photography, hiking, whale watching, or simply watching the sunset. Bodega Head has two trails which are family friendly and the trailhead protects both the North and West sides of the Bodega Harbor from the Pacific storms. Bodega head bluffs and cliffs have a 360 degrees views of the Pacific Ocean with the deep blue seas. There are 2 parking lots available onsite which are the upper area which is less maintained road and the lower area which is made up of sand and rocks with large potholes. There is no admission or entrance fee to visit the State Park. And no drones are allowed in Bodega Head.

The East Trail is a 1.7 mile loop that passes through the southern coastal bluffs of Bodega Head. While the west trail is a 1.2 mile loop that leads to the coastal bluffs and overlooks the view of the Horseshoe Cove. Bodega Head is one of the great spot to Whale Watch by the west trail parking area.

Bodega Head is about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive (77 miles) from San Francisco to Bodega Head State Park via US-101 North. But we came from Napa area (Yountville area) which only took us about 1 hour drive to Bodega Head. We passed through a couple of towns, local stores along the way such as the Valley Ford Cheese & Creamery, Estero Cafe, Valley Ford Supermarket. The cool place that we made a stopped over and ate is the famous “Bodega Bay Oyster Company.” We had our late lunch and ordered the famous “Kumamoto” bbq oysters, clam chowder, shrimp tacos and garlic bread.

We also passed through the popular Bodega Bay “Spud Point Crab Company” which is famous for its signature clam chowder. Bodega Head is about 3 minutes away from Spud Point. We made a right turn at the end of the road and drove up on a two-way, winding, narrow paved road. We had to be careful and paid attention to the other oncoming cars driving downhill and leaving the area. The large parking area was very busy since it was almost sunset and made up of sand and gravel with large potholes.

Overall, it was a fun, beautiful place to watch sunset with a 360 view of the Pacific Ocean with the deep blue seas. We enjoyed and experienced the power of the ocean as the waves crushed at the huge rocks and mesmerized by the beauty of nature at sunset. There were other hiking trails available at Bodega Head that you can explore with the entire family.

Tips: Watch out when you are driving uphill towards Bodega Head as the roads are narrow, slightly winding and two-way streets. Always watch out for oncoming traffic and pay attention to cars coming in and out of the parking space. There are public restrooms onsite but without a sink, so bring your toilet paper and hand sanitizer.. Bring binoculars to see all the different species of birds, wildlife and whale watching. Parking lot is made up of sand and gravel (unpaved) with large potholes. Watch out for dangerous cliffs and bring a jacket or sweater as the weather changes.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Bodega Head State Park after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel close to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve Park.

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Kaneohe Sandbar (Oahu)

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Address: 47-86 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Kaneohe Bay is located on the East side (windward) on the Island of Oahu. The Kaneohe sandbar is a natural formation and a collection of exposed islets surrounding coral reefs. The Kaneohe Sandbar is one of the unique, best-kept secrets, and exciting places to visit in Oahu. The sandbar is only exposed during low tides in Kaneohe Bay. The Kaneohe Bay is the largest bay of the main 8 Hawaiian Islands. The bay is protected by reefs from the waves of the open ocean. From the shoreline, the beautiful sandbar is about a mile away and only accessible by boat or kayak.

We drove for about 35 minutes (16 miles) from our Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Kaneohe Bay via HI- 63 North. We arrived at the He’eia kea Boat Harbor at around 9 am and parked in front of our boat. We paid and reserved a tour under Captain Bruce Kaneohe SandbarTour company. There is also a public restroom available onsite and a small Cafe, that serves snacks, ice cream, and sandwiches. We were early enough to find a parking space in front as parking is limited. We checked in with the staff members and decided to take pictures while we were waiting for the others. We were given safety instructions and basic information by the friendly, fun, and knowledgeable Captain Crystal and her staff members. We were also instructed that we had to remove our shoes, slippers or aqua socks before boarding the boat. There were some snacks, drinks, fruits and water games, and snorkeling gears for guests to use.

The boat ride from the harbor to the sandbar only took us 10 minutes. We were all in awe as we approach the Kaneohe Sandbar with its clear deep teal blue color and white sand. The boat anchored at around 9:50 am and we were informed that it was free time and our departure will be at 12:15 pm. We all jumped into the pristine clear blue water and proceeded to the other boat that stored all the free use of kayaks, (SUP) stand-up paddle boards, floaties, tubes, and many more. We choose to use the tubes and stand-up paddle board and took pictures with the background of the mountains. The bay water was warm, clear, and shallow (knee deep). After an hour, we were all called and were asked who wants to participate in snorkeling on the reef to see some fish and turtles. We decided to not do snorkeling since we already had experience with snorkeling. The best part of the tour was when it started to rain just for a few minutes followed by the sunshine. It was an amazing, memorable, experience for me and my family to enjoy the tropical rain in the middle of Kaneohe Bay.

All the guests were busy either kayaking, snorkeling, having lunch, playing beach volleyball, taking pictures, or just simply enjoying the beautiful, picturesque panoramic views of the Koolau Mountains and nearby islets.

Overall it was a great, memorable, and one-of-a-kind experience for me and my family. It is our first time visiting a sandbar and was a good treat or surprise for my daughter’s 13th birthday celebration. We even saw a few turtles (honu in Hawaiian) swimming through the clear blue turquoise water in the bay.

Tips: Ensure that you pack lots of bottled water to stay hydrated, and wear aqua socks or just barefoot since the sand is fine. You can bring your own snacks or food but the tour company provided us with some snacks, drinks, and water gears for us to use. Be at the dock or harbor earlier since parking is limited. There is also a small cafe with outdoor tables that sells sandwiches, snacks, and ice cream in the Harbor area. There were plastic cubbies available to use underneath each seat. The common tour hours that are being offered are either 9:30 a.m. and 1 pm.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Kaneohe Sandbar after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near Kaneohe Sandbar in Oahu.

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Hazel Hill Restaurant at Montague Resort in Healdsburg

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Address: 100 Montage Way, Healdsburg, CA 95448

Hazel Hill Restaurant in Montague Resort is an indulgent French-influenced California style cuisine that is perched on a hill in Healdsburg with an amazing view of the mountain and vineyards. The restaurant is nestled in the 258 acres of rolling vineyards with heritage oak groves. surrounding the property. It is also an exclusive and expensive resort with two beautiful swimming pools, private rooms with a view and lots of amenities onsite. The restaurant is located minutes away from historic downtown Healdsburg. Hazel Hill Restaurant is about an hour and 40 minutes ( 79 miles) away from San Francisco via US 101- North. Hazel Hill is open 7 days a week and the breakfast hours are from 7:30 am-10:30 am, lunch is from 11:30 am- 2:30 pm and dinner is from 5:30 pm- 9pm.

We were impressed and in awe of the exclusivity and modern decor of the property. We had to passed through the main lobby with a fireplace in order to get to the restaurant. The Restaurant is by reservation only and it’s usually difficult to reserve a table due to it’s popularity. We arrived for lunch at Hazel Hill Restaurant at around 1:30 p.m. and was amazed by the ambiance and unobstructed views of the mountain and vineyard. We drove slowly up on a hill for about 3 minutes on a narrow winding road. As we arrived on top, we were immediately greeted by a friendly valet attendant, who opened our car doors, gave us a claim stub, and parked our car for free. (The valet service was free only on the day we visited). We noticed a lot of very expensive and exotic cars parked in front of the hotel. We checked in with the friendly host and were seated right away.

We were seated in the outdoor patio/terrace which we had requested with an unobstructed view of the mountain and vineyard. The server provided us with a fresh bread with olive oil and butter. As for our drinks, we started off with non alcoholic beverages. We ordered Manzanita with lemon, honey, sparkling apple cider for $8. And Spring Bloom with pomegranate grenadine, lime and soda for $8. As for our main entree, my daughter ordered the famous Westholme Wagyu Steak frites with ramp vinaigrette, bearnaise for $38. While my wife had the JB’s Spicy Squid Salad with arugula, white beans, and taggiasca olives for $21. As for me, I ordered the savory Southern BBQ Shrimp with grits, white cheddar and tasso for $36. And finally for our dessert we had the Donut Holes (12 pieces) with vanilla cream anglaise and chocolate sauce for $13 (its similar to Beignet). To our surprise, we were also served a free complimentary Meyer Lemon Tart meringue with sable breton and fresh berries for our Wedding Anniversary.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the foods that we ordered. The amazing view of the vineyard, the great service and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our experience special and memorable. We would highly recommend the Hazel Hill Restaurant due to the quality of food and the amazing mountain and vineyard view.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Hazel Hill Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel or place to stay near Hazel Hill Restaurant/ Montague Resort in Healdsburg, Ca.

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Lanikai Beach (Oahu)

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Address: Mokulua Dr Kailua, HI 96734

Lanikai Beach is located on the windward eastern side of the Island of Oahu. The word Lanikai means “The Heavenly Seas” in Hawaiian. Lanikai Beach is a beautiful, stunning beach on windward OĘ»ahu, with the famous twin Mokulua Islands, which has an interesting history. The beach is about half a mile long and it’s one of the most scenic stretches of coastline on Oahu. The Lanikai area/community is considered an upscale neighborhood in Hawaii.

We drove for about 40 minutes (16 miles) from our Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Lanikai Beach via HI- 61 as we passed through Nu’uanu Pali Lookout, Buzz Steakhouse, Kailua Town, and Kailua Beach. We arrived at the famous Lanikai Beach around 9 am and were lucky enough to find parking in the residential area. There was only limited parking on the street and lots of “No Parking” signs.

It rained for a few minutes when we arrived and the sun came out right after. We grabbed our backpack and packed all the essentials as there are no restrooms or showers available on the beach. We just walked for about 10-15 minutes from the parking to the main entrance which is a residential area. We had to pass through a narrow area and were surprised at the stunning view of Lanikai Beach. The amazing, panoramic view of the clear blue water, cool breeze, and white sand were very relaxing. There was even a coconut tree (good for taking pictures) right in front of the entrance to the beach. We had to set up our beach blanket, beach towels, sunblock, and spam musubi for our snack. The beach sand was very soft and golden. We played in the ocean water and explored the beach including the reef area. My daughter enjoyed swimming in the water with the view of the two islands from afar called “Mokes” while my wife took a few pictures of the fishes near the reef. We only stayed for about 1-2 hours on Lanikai beach as we have to visit other places.

Overall it was a fun experience for us to be able to visit one of the most famous, beautiful beaches in Hawaii with Turquoise clear blue water, soft sand, and a cool breeze. It’s a place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle lifestyle in the city such as Waikiki. I would highly recommend this place when you visit the Island of Oahu.

Tips: Get to Lanikai Beach as early as possible (before 9:30 am) due to the limited parking spots. Bring everything to the beach (chairs, towels, sunblock, bottled water, snacks or spam musubi and there is no public restroom available. Pay close attention to the “No Parking” signs as they will tow your car. There is also a closer beach called Kailua Beach which is more developed and has public restrooms and picnic tables available. Some people park their car in Kailua Beach and just walk or hike to Lanikai Beach as these two beaches are not connected.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Lanikai Beach after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

Click here to find a hotel near or around Lanikai Beach.

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Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail (Oahu, Hawaii)

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Address: Makapuu Lighthouse Rd. Honolulu Hawaii 96825

Makapu’u Lighthouse is located on the East side of the Island of Oahu. The Lighthouse is built in 1909, Makapu’u Lighthouse is a shining beacon situated on a 600-foot seacliff. The place is open 7 days a week from 7 am- 6:45 pm. The Lighthouse is colored red and white and it is off limits for safety. The famous movie “50 First Dates” by Adam Sandler was filmed in the Makapu’u Lighthouse. The walk or hike to the Lighthouse is about 30 minutes one way or 60 minutes roundtrip. The elevation gain is 500 feet and is warm, windy, and humid as you ascend towards the top.

We drove for about 30 minutes (14 miles) from Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Makapu’u Lighthouse via HI-72. Our drive to the Lighthouse via HI-72 was a very scenic, winding road, relaxing and fun. We arrived in the parking lot of the Lighthouse at around 1 pm. We drove our Mustang convertible slowly as the free parking is made up of gravel and sand.

We forgot to bring our walking /running shoes so we end up using our slippers to hike up the lighthouse. We were surprised and intimidated as we saw the uphill paved trail leading up to the Makapuu Lighthouse. We had packed some bottled water, sunscreen, and a hat as we ascend the gradual uphill climb to the top. The weather was sunny, and warm with the cooler wind. We drank water constantly and had to stop a few times to get a breather and water break. The gradual steep climb to the summit was challenging but doable. There were a lot of people (families, pets, etc.) climbing the hill that day. We stopped at a few lookout areas with guard rails to rest. The view from the lookout was beautiful, picturesque, and panoramic with the clear blue sea in the background. We were told that we may be able to see Humpback Whales from the month of November to May.

Overall it was a great memorable experience for us to be able to hike up to the Makapu’u Lighthouse with our slippers. LOL. My family and I felt accomplished and proud as we completed the challenging hike to the top of the lighthouse trail. I would highly recommend this place when you visit the Island of Oahu. We also learned a few things about the history of the Makapuu area as we read some of the informational signage along the way.

Tips: Ensure that you pack bottled water to stay hydrated, sunscreen to prevent sunburn, and wear comfortable walking shoes. There is another trail or route with sand and gravel that will lead it to the Makapuu Tidepool. Halona Blowhole and Halona Beach Cove are about a 6-minute drive via HI-72 from the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail parking lot. There are a lot of great spots to take a picture or selfie. Pay attention to people that are walking near the parking lot area.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Makapu’u Lighthouse after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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Waimea Valley/Falls (Oahu, Hawaii)

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Address: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

Waimea Valley/Falls is located on the North side of the Island of Oahu. The place is open 7 days a week from 9 am- 5 pm. Waimea Valley is known for its spiritual significance to Ancient Hawaiians. The Valley was awarded to the Kahuna Nui (high priests) in the early days. The Waimea Falls also known as Wailele Falls is a natural rain-fed 45-foot waterfall that is 30 feet deep and located within the Waimea Valley. Visitors/locals can swim and get closer to the waterfalls but it is dependent on the daily waterfall conditions. The 2 main attractions in the Valley are the lush green Botanical Garden and the Waimea waterfall.

We drove for about 1 hour and 15 minutes (38 miles) from our Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel to Waimea Valley/Falls via HI- 99 North. Our drive to Waimea Valley was very scenic, and fun, as we passed through the Dole Plantation, Haleiwa Town famous for Matsumoto Shave Ice/Giovanni Shrimp Truck, and Laniakea Beach where you get to see turtles on the beach. We arrived in Waimea Valley at around 2 pm and the free parking lot was almost full. We drove slowly as the free parking is made up of gravel and sand. There is also another beach parking lot at the entrance but charges a parking fee. The main entrance to the Waimea Valley has signage and is right across the Waimea Bay Beach.

We had to pass through the Waimea Valley Visitor Center, Cafe, and gift shop before we finally reached the main entrance to the Valley. At the entrance booth, we paid $25 for adults ages 13 and up and $14 for kids ages 4-12 years old. It took us about 30 minutes to walk from the main entrance to the Waimea waterfalls. It was a fun walk as we had to go through lush-greenery Botanical Gardens, had to cross a few bridges, and saw a wide variety of beautiful, exotic, tropical plants and fruits along the way. The distance to the waterfalls is about 3/4 miles one way and 1 1/2 miles roundtrip. We learned a lot about the Hawaiian culture in the early days as we explored the historical botanical garden. There was signage everywhere that explains the history of each area we visited and the path to the Waimea/Wailele waterfall.

We knew that we were close to the waterfalls once we saw the Wailele snack bar and the last bridge where we saw the 450 ft waterfalls from afar. There was a public restroom and a changing room before and after the last bridge. We were so excited when we heard the gushing sound of the waterfall and were in awe as we saw the beautiful, picturesque Waimea waterfall. There were friendly lifeguards who handed us a complimentary, required lifevest before we swam in the waterfalls. There were a lot of rocks during our descent to the water. The aqua socks that we were wearing helped prevent us from slipping through the slippery rocks in the water. The water was cold at first but we got acclimated to it and the water was warmer as we got closer to the waterfall. The best part was when we reached the bottom of the waterfall and felt the mist and the gush of the waterfall closer to our heads. My daughter and I felt the water trickle into our heads and enjoyed every moment of it. It was a very exciting, fun experience to be able to swim and get closer to a waterfall. I brought my non-waterproof cell phone (wouldn’t recommend doing it, just in case you drop it into the water) in the water and took lots of videos/pictures near the waterfall. Be careful as the lifeguards had to call out on people who were swimming towards the corner where rocks may fall on you. The lifeguard called on everyone as they close the area at 5 pm.

Overall it was a great memorable experience for us to be able to swim underneath a waterfall. It is my daughter’s first experience swimming in a waterfall. I would highly recommend this place when you visit the Island of Oahu. We also learned a few things about the history of the early Hawaiian culture and lifestyle as we navigated through the lush greenery botanical garden in the Valley.

Tips: Ensure that you pack bottled water to stay hydrated, and wear aqua socks especially when you want to get closer to the bottom of the waterfalls to prevent slips and falls from the rocks. There is a lifeguard on site who will also provide a complimentary lifevest to each person that will swim on the waterfalls. Stay away from the side of the waterfalls as rocks may fall on you. Bring a towel to dry yourself and there is a changing room near the bridge and an outdoor shower to wash. There were benches for people who doesn’t want to swim and a small gift shop to buy water gear. Always remember safety first and don’t do anything unsafe or beyond your comfort level. We even pack a first aid kit just in case of an emergency. They also have a Luau at one of their restaurant onsite. The shuttle that will take you from and to the waterfall wasn’t running or available during our visit. ATM is located inside the gift shop.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Waimea Valley/Falls after your visit in the comments below. And kindly share our family travel blog site with your friends and family. Or even include our travel blog website address when you post your pictures on social media. Have fun and stay safe. Thank you.

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