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La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant (Half Moon Bay)

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Address: 260 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant opened in 2009 and is headed by the famous Chef Carlos Altamirano. It gained the Michelin star in 2012 and 2013, and in 2021 moved the restaurant to Half Moon Bay (Princeton). It’s an Authentic Peruvian Restaurant famous for its savory ceviche (cebiche in Spanish) with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and serves a wide variety of unique, savory Peruvian dishes that culminates the Latin Cuisine. La Costanera highlights two bars, a lounge area, and an outdoor patio with firepits. The Restaurant is situated in a touristy and retail area called Princeton and surrounded by local restaurants and retail stores. The La Costanera Restaurant is about 31 minutes from San Francisco via CA-1 South, ( 25 miles). The restaurant is open Tuesday-Thursday from 4-9 pm, Friday-Sunday from 11 am- 9 pm, and closed on Mondays. There is a lot of free customer parking available in the area.

The parking lot area is adjacent to the La Costanera Restaurant. As we walked in, we were immediately greeted by a friendly hostess and were seated at the relaxing outdoor patio with a firepit that kept us warm in sunny but cooler weather. Our table had a partial view of the Pacific Ocean, Pillar Point Harbor, and a few colorful boats. We were impressed with the festive, South American stylish design or decor of the restaurant. The huge bar that is located in the middle of the lower level is very unique and a good spot to take pictures. They also have a lot of tables available inside the restaurant. There were only a few customers at the restaurant since they just opened up at 11:00 a.m. Our server was very fast, friendly and provided us with complimentary Yucca chips and salsa. Our server even provided us with a brief summary of what dishes are popular at the restaurant. As for starters, we ordered the popular Cebiche Tasting combo (3 cebiches) which is composed of 3 savory samplers of cebiche Pescado with fresh fish of the day, aji rocoto Leche de Tigre. Cebiche Chino Peruano with sushi-grade ahi tuna, rocoto sweet chili Leche de Tigre, roasted nori and wontons. And Cebiche Mixto with fresh fish, calamari, mussels, camarones, aji rocoto Leche de tigre. He even suggested the famous Peruvian Chicken Empanada De La casa which was very delicious with lots of chicken meat inside. My wife ordered the Seafood Paella Peruvian style with bomba rice, seafood medley, saffron-tomato base (cooked in our succulent shrimp broth). While my daughter ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich with Mary’s chicken marinated in lime-chili Amarillo with salsa Criolla, chili rocoto aioli, and french fries. I had the healthier, flavorful Salmon Bandido with fresh pan-seared salmon, purple mashed potatoes, and escabeche. And for dessert, we had the smooth textured, mild, and creamy Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta which is a cooked cream and sugar. Also, all the tables were sanitized and separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family lunch experience at La Costanera, especially with the panoramic ocean-view seating surrounded by colorful local boats. Nothing compares to eating lunch with your family on a sunny day with good quality authentic Peruvian food, great service, ambiance, and a stunning ocean view. All the staff members are very friendly, fast and accomodating, especially the Manager (Yuri) on duty who visited our table and ensure that we were taken care of and have a nice first-time experience.

Tips: The second floor is only available during dinner time with a nice view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean and harbor/pier. The Restaurant is very close to Pillar Point Harbor and Oceano Hotel and Spa. There is also a Mexican/Peruvian food truck called “Lamas” across the street with delicious, sweet, fried bananas called “plantanos” for $6. Joanne’s Ice Cream serves a very good carrot cake while Cafe Mezza Luna sells pastries as well as their delicious Gelato Ice Cream. You can walk around and enjoy Pillar Point Harbor and its surrounding areas. The Pier even sells fresh live crabs through the fisherman’s boats that are docked at the Harbor.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about La Costanera Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to La Costanera Peruvian Restaurant.

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San Juan Bautista State Historic Park (San Benito County)

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Address: 19 Franklin St, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is a California State Park and a nationally recognized historic landmark surrounding the historical town of San Juan Bautista in California. Father Fermin Lasuen is the successor to Father Junipero Serra and founded Mission San Juan Bautista in the year 1797. All the old colonial buildings during the Spanish and Mexican periods in the town were well maintained and preserved. The park’s four main historic museums/buildings that were built in the 1800s are the Plaza Hotel, The Zanetta House/Plaza Hall, The Plaza Stables, and the Castro-Breen Adobe. The park also has other additional buildings within the area such as the Blacksmith Shop, Historic Jail, and an Early American Settlers Cabin. The Park hours are from 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and the admission fee is $3 for adults, free for children ages 17 and under. There is ample street parking available surrounding the Historic Park.

We drove for about 1 hour and 30 minutes (91 miles) from San Francisco to San Juan Bautista State Historic Park via US-280 South, US 101 South, and CA-156 East. On our way, we had to pass through a few farmlands, meadows, water reservoirs, and a Premium Shopping Outlet in the town of Gilroy. And there is also a National Park located within 45 minutes from San Juan Bautista State Historic Park called Pinnacles.

We arrived at the Historic Park at around 10:30 a.m. and parked our car on Washington Street on the side of the Castro-Breen Adobe Building. The San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is small and is about 6 acres of land. Walking around the entire historical park made us feel like we were back in the early 1800s during the Spanish Colonial Era. We paid the admission fee for access to the Park in the Plaza Hotel/Museum Store. The friendly cashier informed us that the admission fee for the San Juan Bautista Mission across the street is a separate fee. All the fees and merchandise purchase proceeds will be used to cover all the costs of maintaining the famous Historical Park.

We were lucky that it was a “Living History Day” event during the time of our visit. We get to meet and witness all the volunteer docents dressed up as the early settlers during the Spanish Colonial times. They were showing all the guests how the early settlers cook outside and lived their daily lives. The docents even showed us how to bake a biscuit in the early days by using a dutch oven. We even saw an actual Horno or Bee-hive oven that is made up of bricks, feed woods as fire and used for cooking meals in the early days. The baked biscuit was soft, moist, and delicious. We even touched a real skin of an otter, beaver which was our first time. The docents showed us all the tools that they used during the early times for cooking and performing daily chores. My wife enjoyed the taste of the block of Chinese tea. The showcasing, gathering, and demonstrations were held in the Castro-Breen Adobe building.

We explored and tour the inside of the Plaza Hotel which is the park’s entrance point and built-in 1814. The early Spanish soldiers used the Plaza as a barrack that protected the Mission. Each section inside the plaza has a placard in front that indicates the name of the room and explains its history or purpose in the early days. The Plaza has two floors and visitors are allowed to take pictures. The fun part was when we were on the second floor’s veranda that is overlooking the beautiful view of the mountain, mission, and the landscape.

The next building that we visited and very interesting is the Plaza Stable/Blacksmith Shop across the Mission. There were a lot of different stagecoach on display that was used in the early days and other transportations such as wagons, carriages, and fire wagons. San Juan Bautista used to be a transportation hub on El Camino Real between Los Angeles and San Francisco. My daughter enjoyed the presentation by one of the volunteer docents on how to heat metal on coal and be able to twist it and create a unique shape.

The most interesting information that we learned is that the town is situated along the famous San Andreas Earthquake fault. Some of the town buildings had sustained severe earthquake damage during the 1800 and 1906 San Andreas earthquakes. We explored the other buildings around the area such as the Historic Jail and the early settler’s cabin. The last place that we visited which is not a part of the park is the San Juan Bautista Mission which is located across the street from the Hotel Plaza.

Overall, it was a very nice, relaxing, full of history and educational experience for us. We would suggest that you get there early and save the entire day for you and your family to enjoy and explore the entire historical town. The weather changed in the afternoon as it got windy and cold but we were prepared and brought our jackets.

Tips: The admission fee for the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park is separate from the San Juan Bautista Mission which you pay inside the Mission’s giftshop. There is a good local authentic Mexican Restaurant called Jardines and an Ice Cream Parlor called Margot’s that are close by. Places of interest that are close to San Juan Bautista are Gilroy Premium Outlet which is about 20 minutes away (great for shopping) and Pinnacles National Park which is about 45 minutes via CA-25 North (37 miles) great for hiking and nature trips. No dogs or pets are allowed except for service animals on a leash. Fourth graders often have field trip tours due to their school curriculum requirements. Customed Docent reenacts life in California during the “Living History Day” on the first Saturday of each month. We saw a few people have a nice picnic along the greenery area of the historic park.

Let me know if you have any questions and what you think about San Juan Bautista State Historic 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 San Juan Bautista Historic Park.

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Jardines De San Juan Mexican Restaurant & Gardens (San Juan Bautista, Ca ) (San Benito County)

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Address: 115 Third St, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045

Jardines De San Juan Restaurant is a stylish, relaxing eatery with a quaint, colorful interior & a cozy garden patio serving authentic Mexican dishes. It is located in the small town of San Juan Bautista in San Benito County, California. In 1977, Alicia and Manuel Santana opened the restaurant but passed away and are still currently owned by the Santana Family. It’s a rare hidden gem of a restaurant in the historic downtown San Juan Bautista. And in 1797, the town of San Juan Bautista was founded by the Spanish under Fermin de Lasuen. The Jardines De San Juan Restaurant is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from San Francisco via 280 South, US-101 South, and CA-156 East/San Benito County ( 90 miles). Jardines De San Juan is open 7 days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday, and 11 a.m. -7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant also is vegetarian-friendly and have vegan options available on their menu.

Parking was easy as we parked our car on Washington Street close to the side of the Plaza Hotel and the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. It took us about 3 minutes to walk from the parking area to the Restaurant. As we arrived at the restaurant we were impressed by the cozy ambiance and the Spanish Colonial Era settings of the restaurant. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were immediately seated at their beautiful outdoor garden patio table surrounded by succulents, a wide variety of plants, and colorful flowers. We were immediately served complimentary tortilla chips and salsa sauce. The friendly and fast server took our orders and provided us with a glass of cold water. As for starters, we ordered the famous, savory Honey-Chipotle Chicken Wings with ten succulent chicken wings, oven-roasted and lightly crisped, smothered in Jardines signature spicy and sweet sauce for $12.99. My wife ordered the People’s Choice Burrito which is the winner of 2015, 2016 & 2017 People’s Choice Awards at the Watsonville Burrito Bash. It’s made up of crispy carnitas, jack cheese, whole beans, sour cream, pico de gallo, cilantro, onions, and red salsa for $14.99. As for my daughter, she ordered the Beef Quesadilla with a crispy shredded beef taco, lettuce, Chon’s guacamole, tomato & cheese enchilada, onions, and black olives for $14.99. And lastly, I ordered the delicious, healthy Rock Cod Fillet which is a seasoned fillet, pan-seared, served with lime wedges and tortillas for $17.99. My wife ordered the Calavera Cocktail for $11 while my daughter had a Pineapple Jarritos drink for $3. We all shared the dessert and ordered the Mexican Classic Flan, smooth creamy baked custard in a light golden caramel sauce, served with whipped cream for $5.99.

After our lunch, we walked a few minutes and visited a small local ice cream parlor shop called Margot’s and we all had their Lappert’s Ice Cream. My daughter ordered the Cookie Monster Dough flavor, while I had the Washington Strawberry and my wife ordered the famous Dole Whip Pineapple.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family authentic outdoor lunch experience at Jardines De San Juan, especially their relaxing outdoor garden patio seatings surrounded by colorful flowers, plants, and succulents. Nothing compares to eating lunch outdoor with your family on a sunny day with good quality food, fast service, and great ambiance. It was a very memorable experience that made us feel like we were back in time during the Spanish Colonial Mission Era.

Tips: There are a lot of street parking spaces available all around the San Juan Bautista town. There is an Ice Cream Parlor store close by called Margot’s that serves Lapperts ice cream. Jardines is the sister restaurant of Manuel’s in Aptos. The restaurant is within walking distance from San Juan Bautista State Historic Park and the San Juan Bautista Mission. Try to bring a jacket just in case the weather gets cold as the town gets the cool breeze coming from the coast. Most of the food items that they serve come in large portions, especially burritos.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Jardines De San Juan Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to Jardines De San Juan Restaurant.

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Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant (Monterey County)

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Address: 101 Fishermans Wharf #1, Monterey, CA 93940

Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant is formerly known as BigFish Grill. It is located at the end of the famous historic Wharf in Monterey called Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Built-in 1846, it was Monterey’s earliest pier of stone that recognized the fisherman in the early days. The Pier offers a wide variety of local stores and restaurants such as the Chocolate Factory, Pirate’s Cove Giftshop, Carousel Fine Candies, Monterey Bay Creamery home-made ice cream, Candy World, Crabby Jim Restaurant, and many more. The Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant is about 2 hours from San Francisco via 280 South, US-101 South, and CA-156 West ( 120 miles). Rockfish Harbor Grill is open 7 days a week for lunch, brunch, and dinner from 11:30 a.m. – 9 pm. We parked at the City of Monterey waterfront public parking and paid an hourly rate via the payment kiosks located in the parking area.

From the parking lot area, we had to walk all the way to the end of the Old Fisherman’s Wharf Pier to get to the restaurant. We even saw a few local performers, vendors selling artifacts, and souvenirs along the Wharf. We were greeted by a friendly hostess and were immediately seated at a corner table inside with an unobstructed spectacular view of the ocean. We were impressed with the relaxing design or decor inside of the restaurant. The hostess informed us that the restaurant just had a major overall interior renovation. All their tables are located inside and they don’t have outdoor seating. There were only a few customers at the restaurant since they just opened up at 11:30 a.m. As for starters, we ordered a basket of Garlic Cheese Bread for $8.95. My wife ordered the famous Central Coast Ciopinno with fresh fish, prawns, scallops, clams & calamari in a hearty tomato broth with garlic bread for $34.95. As for my daughter, she ordered the Grilled Sourdough Crab Melt with sliced tomatoes, American cheese, french fries for $17.95. And lastly, I ordered the delicious swordfish steak with sauteed vegetables, wild rice pilaf, lemon caper sauce for $17.95. My wife ordered the Rockfish Margarita with Milagro silver, tequila, sweet and sour, triple sec, fresh lime juice, a splash of O.J. on the rocks for $13 while my daughter had a Virgin Shirley Temple drink. Also, all the tables were sanitized and separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations.

After our lunch, we went up the stairs and visited the restaurant’s viewing area on the second floor. The views were very relaxing, memorable, picturesque with a panoramic view of the beautiful ocean, colorful local boats, sailboats, and seabirds flying all over the Pier.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun family lunch experience at Rockfish Harbor Grill, especially with panoramic ocean-view seating surrounded by colorful local boats. Nothing compares to eating lunch with your family on a sunny day with good quality food, great service, ambiance, and a stunning ocean view.

Tips: Make sure to visit their upper deck viewing area on the second floor and there is also a glass-bottom boat experience vendor booth across the restaurant. Try to visit all the nice local stores along the Old Fisherman’s Wharf Pier. There is also a cool place called Lover’s Point Beach Cove with a great view and good for a nice walk along the coast which is located a few minutes away from the Pier. There are a lot of parking spaces available where you pay on a kiosk but it gets full in the afternoon. The restaurant also offers its famous Mezcal shot and cocktail flights.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to the Rockfish Harbor Grill Restaurant.

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Point Pinos Lighthouse in (Monterey County)

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Address: 80 Asilomar Ave, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

The Point Pinos Lighthouse was built in 1855 and is located on the Northernmost tip of the peninsula in Monterey California. The lighthouse is 43 feet tall, cylindrical concrete tower with a lantern and balcony rising at the center of the keeper’s house. Point Pinos Lighthouse is the west coast’s oldest actively operating lighthouse with its original lens to guide ships on the Pacific Coast and was lit on Feb. 1, 1855. The Point Pinos lighthouse and its scenic 1.3 acres grounds are surrounded by beautiful native plants, deers, and amazing panoramic ocean views. The lighthouse is registered on the “National Register of Historic Places.” Also the small lighthouse is built into an actual house. Point Pinos Lighthouse is open to the public on Saturday-Sunday from 1-3 p.m. only.

It took us about 2 hours (116 miles) to drive from San Francisco to Point Pinios Lighthouse via I-280 South, US 101 South, and CA-156 West. We passed through several beautiful beaches situated along the coast, and small coastal towns. We arrived at the lighthouse at around 1 p.m. and parked on the streets not knowing that there is free parking made up of gravel in front of the main entrance. Point Pinos Lighthouse is surrounded by the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf links. We were greeted by a friendly volunteer docent when we entered the main entrance to the lighthouse. The fee for the lighthouse tour (inside) is $5 for adults, $2 for children ages (7-17) and it’s on a donation basis. Due to time constraints, we opted to just explore the lighthouse from the outside and the surrounding area for free. There were a few friendly and knowledgeable volunteer docents available onsite for any questions about the history of Point Pinos Lighthouse. My family and I enjoyed the beautiful, impeccable landscape surrounding the lighthouse, especially our close encounter with the deers grazing in the grassy area. And the panoramic view of the beautiful ocean from the lighthouse was very relaxing and peaceful on a warm, sunny day.

Since Point Pinos is a snall lighthouse built into an actual house, the docent informed us that the tour inside is comprised of a visit to the kitchen, living room, bathroom, meeting room and upstairs where the ligth is kept but is currently closed and off limits. The lighthouse tour will also educate the visitors about the life of the lighhouse keepers in the earlier days.

Overall, we enjoyed our self guided tour of the property of Point Pinos Lighthouse and learned a few things about the history of the historical Lighthouse. The knowledgeable and friendly volunteer docents answered our questions. It’s a great place to visit with family, friends, couples, history buff and people that love lighthouses. We will surely take the tour inside the lighthouse in our next visit. The lighthouse is a hidden gem in the Pacific Grove area. Have a great day.

Tips: No pets, drones or motorized vehicles allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing for cold and windy weather. Close proximity to Monterey’s downtown and Lover’s Point Park. Ensure that you pay and take the short tour inside the lighthouse to see and learn more about the history of the lighthouse. Watch out for the deers that may be seen roaming around the property but don’t get too close for your safety. Enjoy the garden area where you can sit and enjoy the incredible view of the landscape and the ocean.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Point Pinos 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to Point Pinos Lighthouse in Monterey.

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Salt Point State Park (Sonoma County)

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Address: 25050 CA-1, Jenner, CA 95450

Salt Point is a 6,000 State Park in Sonoma County with California’s first underwater area. Salt Point State Park is good for people who enjoy sightseeing, photography, picnicking, jogging, scuba diving, painting, and nature study. The park is famous for its coastline, strong waves, fascinating sandstone formations, colorful underwater life, and tide pools. There are a lot of different trails to choose from within Salt Point. It has 20 miles of hiking trails and over 6 miles of rocky coasts. Tafoni’s are sandstone rocks with unique honeycomb formations found in the southern Gerstle Cove area. It is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Typically, the drive to Salt Point is about 2 hours and 30 minutes and 101 miles from San Francisco via US-101 North and CA-1 North. But we drove to Salt Point after our breakfast at Coast Kitchen Restaurant which is about 15 minutes away. We arrived at the main gate at around 1:00 p.m. and paid the park ranger $8 for the day-use entrance fee. The Park Ranger gave us a map and instructed us to just go straight until we hit the end of the road. We accidentally made a left towards the visitor center/south Gerstle Cove area and the road was very rough, with lots of gravel, rocks, and potholes. We even saw a few deers on our way back to the main parking of Gerstle Cove State Marine Reserve. There were a lot of parking spaces and public restrooms at Salt Point Main Trailhead. From the parking lot, we walked for at least 15 minutes towards Gerstle Cove. The trail led us on a downhill path up to the Cove’s beach area. From the cliff, the water at the Cove is clear pristine turquoise water. But as we descended down to the Cove area we had to navigate through all the large rocks all over the beach. And my wife even saw a few jellyfish floating in the clear water. The Salt Point Trail is beautiful, scenic, easy, and one of the main attractions. The trail on the Salt Point area is great for nature trips, bird watching, hiking, and walking. The trail was easy and saw a few spots great for a photo opportunity. The descent up the hill from the Cove was slightly challenging.

Overall, it was a fun, easy, short, and scenic trail that is great for all ages. There were other hiking trails available that you can explore at Salt Point State Park which is strenuous or challenging.

Tips: Watch out when you are driving inside Salt Point State Park as the roads are narrow 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 and picnic tables onsite throughout the park. Stay back from bluff edges and watch out for rogue waves that can sweep you out to sea. Bring binoculars to see all the different species of birds and wildlife. Watch out for dangerous cliffs and bring a jacket or sweater as the weather can get windy.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about Salt Point 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 Salt Point State Park in Sonoma.

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Coast Kitchen Restaurant at Timber Cove Resort (Sonoma County) (Jenner)

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Address: 21780 Hwy#1 Jenner, California 95450

Coast Kitchen Restaurant is a full-service classic Northern California restaurant situated in the iconic Timber Cove Resort in Jenner, California which offers stunning ocean views and a fresh seasonal local menu. The small coastal town of Jenner is located on the Pacific Coast and situated close to the mouth of the Russian River. Jenner is also known as Jenner-by-the-sea. The Coast Kitchen Restaurant is about 2 hours and 30 minutes from San Francisco via US-101 North and CA-1 North ( 97 miles). Coast Kitchen is open 7 days a week for breakfast from 8-11 a.m., lunch from 12-3 p.m., and dinner from 5-9 p.m. Breakfast and lunch don’t require reservations and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis. But reservations are required for dinner to watch the gorgeous sunset.

Our drive to Coast Kitchen Restaurant in Jenner was a very fun, scenic, and winding road. The beautiful panoramic view of the ocean during our travel was well worth the challenging drive. We saw a lot of dairy farms, cows, cheese, and local creamery stores on our way to the restaurant. We arrived at Coast Kitchen around 10 a.m. and easily found a parking space in front of the resort. We loved the amazing coastal view from the front area of the resort along with the pool, foosball, and ping-pong tables situated in front of the resort for the hotel patrons to use. There were a few hiking/walking trails around the property for people to use. We also took pictures of a Timber Cove landmark obelisk called “the Bufano Peace Statue Movement. It’s situated at about 93 feet above the cliffs and is designed by Beniamino Bufano who is a famous San Francisco artist and sculptor.

There were 3 of us at our party which includes 1 kid and 2 adults. We immediately sat on one of the outside tables in the patio area with an unobstructed view of the ocean. It’s hard to find or sit on an outside patio table on a warm sunny day due to guests wanting to enjoy the weather. We were greeted by a friendly server named Amaya that took all our orders. There were only a few customers at the restaurant since they just opened the restaurant at 8 a.m. And our food was delivered to our table within 5-15 minutes. My wife ordered the famous Timber Cove Eggs Benedict with house-cured tasso ham, English muffin, poached eggs, hollandaise, smoked paprika for $17. As for my daughter, she ordered the Eggs Any Style with 2 farm-fresh eggs, country potatoes, applewood smoked bacon or breakfast sausage toast for $14. And lastly, I ordered the delicious Breakfast Sandwich with housemade spicy pork sausage, fried egg, arugula cheddar cheese, paprika aioli for $16. My wife ordered the Bloody Mary with housemade mix while I just had a cranberry drink. Also, all the tables were sanitized and separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun breakfast experience at Coast Kitchen especially with all the outdoor patio tables overlooking the beautiful ocean. Nothing compares to eating outdoors with your family on a sunny day with good quality food and a stunning ocean view.

Tips: No reservations are needed for breakfast and lunch it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis. But if you want to watch the sunset then reservations are required. Be careful when driving as the roads are very winding and lots of switchbacks. Visit Salt Point State Park which is about 10-15 minutes away from Coast Kitchen Restaurant. During our visit, we saw a few whales feeding or hanging around on the coast which was visible from our table. There were a few areas around the property that has a wooden benches for people to sit, relax, and enjoy the ocean view.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Coast Kitchen in Timber Cove Resort after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to Coast Kitchen Restaurant in Sonoma.

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Russian River Vineyards (Forestville)

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Address: 5700 Hwy. 116 N, Forestville, CA 95436

The Russian River Valley is one of the world’s greatest winemaking regions. Russian River Vineyards is owned by a fourth generation farmer and aspiring winemaker Mr. Giovanni Balistreri, and has a farm-to-table outdoor dining settings. The vineyard features authentic farm-to-table menu selections and is vegetarian-friendly offering vegan options. Mr. Balistreri won the “Best Red Wine in Sonoma County” award in 2016 at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Russian River Vineyards estate-grown Pinot was also named as the “Best Pinot Noir” by North Bay Biz Magazine. The Russian River Vineyards is about 1 hour and 20 minutes (72 miles) from San Francisco via US-101 North. It is open Monday-Thursday from 12 pm- 5 pm and Friday to Sunday from 12 pm- 6pm.

The Russian River Vineyards is by reservation and also accepts walk-in customers. We arrived early for lunch at the restaurant at around 12 noon which our appointment was scheduled at 12:30 p.m. Since, we arrived too early, we decided to check out the surrounding area. The property grounds are beautiful, clean, and relaxing. I also took a picture of a cool green truck that is in the middle of the parking lot area and owned by the winery. We were finally called, seated on an outside table with an amazing view of the vineyard. There were a lot of outdoor tables situated all over the property. And most of the tables have sunshade to keep their customers stay cool on a sunny day.

Our server/sommelier Leo was very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, fast, and provided us with an excellent service. We first ordered an apple juice and soda drink for both myself and my daughter while my wife had the wine “Chester” as a complimentary drink. There were a wide variety of appetizers but we ordered the appetizing Artisanal Cheese Board with local & artisanal cheese, seasonal fruit, & honey roasted nuts served with Costeaux specialty bread for $31. Pulled Pork Sliders with sweet and tangy BBQ pork on sesame slider with coleslaw for $15. Roasted Beet Salad with roasted golden & red beets, goat cheese, shaved red onion, candied pecans, & arugula tossed in balsamic for $15. Grilled Veggie Focaccia with roasted eggplant, zucchini, winter squash, caramelized red onion, marinara sauce, arugula & mozzarella cheese for $18. Meat Lovers Focaccia with journeyman cured meats, mozzarella cheese, topped with parmesan & arugula for $18. All the food that we ordered was served on compostable plates, spoons, forks, and knives. We didn’t order dessert as we were all satisfied and full with all the food that we ordered. My wife bought 2 bottles of wines and we’re lucky enough that the Vineyard owner signed one of our wine bottle that we had purchased.

Overall, we were satisfied with the quality of the food and the outstanding service of our sommelier Leo, and the entire staff. The relaxing view of their amazing vineyard, the outstanding service, and the beautiful sunny warm weather made our farm-to-table experience very memorable. Covid safety protocols are in place, such as compostable tableware, low-touch wine service, and cleaning/disinfecting between seatings.

Tips: There is a good cheese factory called Bohemian where you can purchase a wide variety of good, quality cheese. Request for outdoor seating with a view of the vineyard when making a reservation and be there early as it gets crowded by noon. They have a large parking lot area for all their customers. They also have a live performance to entertain their customers. Dogs and kids are allowed in the winery. The parking lot area is made up of sand and gravel.

Let me know if you have any questions, comments or what you think about the Russian River 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 close to the Russian River Vineyard in Forestville.

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Point Sur Lighthouse (Monterey County)

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Address: Monterey Ca. 93940

The Point Sur Lighthouse was built in 1889 and it is 40 feet tall and 360 feet above sea level. The lighthouse is part of the Point Sur Historic Park. It is situated atop a dramatic Volcanic Rock just offshore in Big Sur. The navigation beacon at Point Sur Lighthouse has warned the sailors away from the craggy shores of the foggy Pacific Ocean. The lighthouse’s lens is about 4,330 pounds of glass and brass that was activated in August 1889. The Point Sur lighthouse and its scenic grounds are surrounded by beautiful native plants, sealions, and relaxing panoramic ocean views. There is also a former Naval Facility situated near the lighthouse and within the Point Sur Historic Park. The famous Bixby Creek Bridge is about 6 miles away (14 minutes drive) from the Point Sur Lighthouse.

It took us about 3 hours (136 miles) to drive from San Francisco to Point Sur Lighthouse via US 101 South, CA-156 West, and CA-1 South. My family and I enjoyed the relaxing coastal scenic drive to Point Sur Lighthouse via Ca-1. We passed through several beautiful beaches situated along the coast, small coastal towns, and winding roads with switchbacks. The tour is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The cost of the tour is $15 for an adult, $5 for ages 6-17, and below 5 years old is free. As of now, they only allow 40 people per tour group due to Covid restrictions.

We arrived at the lighthouse at around 9:15 a.m. and parked in front of the main iron gate. There were already 4 cars parked ahead of us on the side of the road waiting to get in. The volunteer tour guides opened the main gate at around 9:50 a.m. and guided all the visitor’s cars inside. We were informed by the tour guide about the rules and regulations prior to driving our car inside. We then drove slowly for a few minutes on a long dirt road that led us to the parking area at the bottom of the hill. There were about 20 of us in our tour group and were greeted by friendly volunteer tour guides. We had to descent on an uphill paved pathway to the top of the lighthouse. The walk or hike to the top of the hill is about half a mile and slightly steep. The tour guides stopped for about 4 times on our way up the hill and educated us about the history of Point Sur lighthouse. Each stops gave us some time to rest, take pictures, enjoy the view and drink some water. The volunteer tour guides even showed us where all the sea lions hang out to bask in the sun.

Our first stop was the Point Sur Lighthouse which we had the opportunity to go inside and explore the lighthouse. We were excited especially my 12 years old daughter as it was our first time exploring the inside of a lighthouse. We had to climb all the way up to the top where the lighthouse lens is located using the original spiral staircase. The best part was when the tour guide opened a small door that led us to the outside of the lighthouse with a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding beaches. After the lighthouse, we head into the Museum where we saw all the displays of historical facts and items. My daughter even tested the foghorn that was used in the lighthouse. We then proceeded and climbed a 61 steps stairway that led us to the Carpenter/Blacksmith shop that had all the antiqued and preserved carpenter’s tools displayed. The next building we visited is the head keeper’s and assistant keeper’s quarters. All the room’s old interior designs were preserved, even some of the furniture and household items. My favorite part was that every room in the house has a view of the Pacific Ocean through the windows especially in the bathroom. And lastly, we visited the gift shop where they sell all kinds of souvenirs and paid our admission fee.

At the end of the tour, we were given a few minutes to take pictures and use the public restrooms before our descent to the bottom of the hill. Overall, we enjoyed our 3 hours tour and learned a lot about the history of the Point Sur Lighthouse. The knowledgeable and friendly volunteer tour guides answered all our group’s questions. We will definitely visit the former Naval Facility on our next visit which is also located inside the Point Sur Historic Park. Have a great day.

Tips: There are ample free parking available on a dirt road at the bottom of the Lighthouse. Portable Public restrooms are available near the parking area on the bottom of the hill and near the Head/Assistant Keeper’s quarters. Wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing for cold and windy weather. Try to arrive at the gate at least 30-40 minutes earlier as it is on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Point Sur Lighthouse tour is only available on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. You may bring bottled water but there is no food allowed.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about the Point Sur 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.

Click here to find a hotel close to Point Sur Lighthouse in Big Sur.

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Tony’s Seafood in Marshall (Tomales Bay)

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Address: 18863 Shoreline Hwy Marshall, Ca. 94940

Tony’s Seafood is a classic Northern California seafood house on Tomales Bay in Marshall. In 1948, Tony’s Seafood was originally established by a Croatian Fisherman named Anton Tony Konatich. But later in 2017, Hog Island Oysters Company bought Tony’s Seafood from the family. Tony’s Seafood in Marshall is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from San Francisco via US-101 North ( 56 miles). Tony’s is open from Thursday to Tuesday from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. Reservations and walk-ins are welcome.

Our drive to Tony’s Seafood in Marshall was a very fun, scenic, and winding road. The view of Tomales Bay during our travel was well worth the drive. We saw a lot of dairy farms, cows, cheese, and creamery local stores on our way to Tony’s. We arrived at around 11 a.m. and end up parking on the side of the street close to the water and saw a few oyster shell casings on the side of the road. There were a few people already in line ahead of us but we made a reservation online. The friendly hostess greeted us and sat us outside on a table closest to the water. All the tables were separated to adhere to the Covid-19 safety regulations. We even saw a few customers with their dogs having lunch and enjoying the view. The weather was beautiful and sunny but later became windier at around 12:30 p.m.

There were 5 of us at our party which includes 2 kids and 3 adults. We ordered the Pacific raw oysters which are $21 for 6 pieces, grilled bbq and chipotle bourbon grilled oysters for $17, pasta and clams for $27, HIOC clam chowder for $17, HIOC Bloody Mary. Our food was delivered to our table within 5-10 minutes. My wife and sister-in-law loved the raw and grilled oysters while dipping them in the special sauce that they had provided. The grilled bbq and bourbon oysters looked appetizing and delicious. The clam chowder, pasta, and clams were not too thick or creamy but very delicious and fresh ingredients. My daughter enjoyed her grilled cheese and some fries on the side.

Overall, we enjoyed our fun lunch experience at Tony’s Seafood especially with all the outdoor (covered/non-covered) tables overlooking the beautiful Tomales Bay. Nothing compares to eating outdoors with friends and family on a sunny day with good quality food and fresh raw or grilled oysters.

Tips: Make sure you make a reservation and get there early to find parking, avoid the long lines and wait times during lunch(12 noon). You can reach Tony’s Seafood either via Nicasio Valley Road or Tomales Petaluma Road. We took both ways and find that Nicasio Valley Road has more winding roads than the Tomales Petaluma Road.

Let me know if you have any questions or what you think about Tony’s Seafood in Marshall after your visit in the comments below. And kindly subscribe, comment, and 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 Tony’s Seafood Restaurant in Marshall.