Brews and Views

     Food and activities just GO together!  Whether it's surfing and breakfast, rock climbing and espresso, yoga and sushi, or even hiking and…beer tasting! Many of us  like to eat or drink a special something following some physical exertion.  For example, after an early morning surf with my dad, I love to get breakfast and a hot cup of tea. My brother-in-law owns two bouldering gyms which geniusly supply excellent  espresso to the die-hard climbers (they say they’re addicted to ‘rock climbing’…) And this weekend we found out that beer tasting goes perfectly well with hiking! 

     We planned on visiting Stone Brewery for my mother-law's birthday, an establishment just as famous for their gardens and family friendly atmosphere as for their strong IPA’s. While we were in the area (Escondido) we also wanted to hike around Lake Hodges, which I had never been to before. The plan was to stop by Stone and get passes to their brewery tour (which fill up quickly), then head out for a hike, returning later to take the tour and taste the beers.

     However, a trip to Stone cannot be taken lightly, especially on a weekend. After barely getting a parking space, we walked into the large and impressively architectured building with rock, stone and wood components in every aspect. But we didn't let the huge beams of wood, concrete countertops or lulling garden loops seduce us - we were there only to pick up our passes! As it turned out, getting a brewery tour on a Saturday is next to impossible - it's first come first serve and requires waiting in line for a very long time! We decided on a change of plans** - enjoy the sun and the last open table, forget the brewery tour, and hike afterwards. 

Jordi's mom & sis on the patio 

So that being settled, the five of us (me, husband, his parents and sister) snagged a sunny table, and our extremely friendly and knowledgeable waiter brought us our beers - ranging from light to dark, crispy to hoppy. Did you know that light colored beer does not mean light tasting? Coloring and taste depend on the way they roast the barley and hops. Anyways, we ordered appetizers which were fantastic although definitely expensive. Going to Stone, with families and strollers, young and old couples, groups of girls or guys, is truly something you can do with anyone. There are lots of paths and garden areas for kids to play, and plenty of outside and inside seating. It's the closest thing we have here to a garden pub we would have gone to in Cambidge, England - a place to come eat, drink and relax outside for the entire afternoon with all your friends or family! (Only the waiters here are way more cheerful...)

As the sun started to get low we headed out to the lake for an evening hike. It's about a 10 or 15 minute drive from the brewery to the trailhead at Lake Hodges. Lake Hodges is a reservoir, created in 1918 and supplying water to most of North County San Diego. Since it used to be a river, it's now a pretty long and windy lake. You aren't allowed to swim in it, although boating and fishing is allowed, and there are abundant trails and loops around the lake.
We parked at a trailhead at the corner of the parking lot and immediately started a little climb uphill. If you want something different, there are also flat trails along the edge of the lake, single track mountain biking trails or hiking trails in the hills. We did a little loop that went up a hill, along the ridge and down near the waters edge, before dumping us back in the parking lot. There are definitely more trails to explore and I would love to go back again! (Click here to see a map from the brewery to the lake,

Do rattlesnakes like port-o-potties? 

 where we parked, and the loop we hiked.
Either follow our path or be a trailblazer! )
Open spaces in Southern California are hard to come by, and compared to our hikes in San Clemente, we felt like we were in the wilderness. After being around so many people, it was relaxing to be out on the quiet hills by ourselves.   
 Lake Hodges gets hot in the summertime, so now is the time to go! But even if you do get sweaty while hiking, there's always Stone, a stone's throw away, to get cooled off...

**Flexibility is a key ingredient to successful wandering!