Little Summer Outings: 1, 2

Recently this blog about discovering has leaned heavily on the traveling aspect, and I've told about weekend or week long trips from the Central Coast to Mexico and El Salvador. Now weeks have gone by since I've last written, but it hasn't been because I haven't been doing or discovering anything. I guess I just thought my little outings weren't exciting enough to write about, and I was too busy having a good time to stop and take pictures or document the experiences. But even so, I have some outings under my belt that might give you some ideas of what to do during these long days or empty weekends. I will share four of my most recent mini adventures in one blog post, all little trips that you can do in a day or even a few hours.

NEWPORT BEACH

Steering the boat :)

A foggy Saturday morning in the early summer had us driving up coast highway on our way to Marina Sailing in Newport Beach, donned in our deck shoes and gripping our Groupons. Unfortunately, we were running typically late, but fortunately they held the boat for us. We breathlessly jumped onboard, met the captain and the four other students. We had signed up for a group sailing class in the Newport Beach harbor through Groupon, and there were two other Groupon couples our age aboard as well.
We circled around the marina, each of us getting opportunities to practice tacking, jibing, and steering while our captain told us many stories about the eccentrics who live in the mansions on the water. Our morning on the boat felt like a mix between a class, a harbor cruise, and a vacation. Just as we were starting to get hungry for lunch, our old salt captain, who was a character straight out of a Margaritaville story, expertly guided us back to the docks just as the sun was starting to come through the clouds.

Coconuts stamped with the Bear Flag logo

Having heard about Bear Flag Fish Co. from some friends, we decided to head there for food. After all, being on the water whetted our appetite for fresh fish! We found the little restaurant in a cute enclave in the neighborhoods of the Newport Peninsula, nestled between boutiques and beach cottages on a quiet tree lined street. But the restaurant wasn't quiet - it was bustling with activity and a line going out the door. While waiting in line, you can grab a drink from the wall, anything from coconut water to canned sodas or Pellegrino. Once ordering at the counter, it will be hard to decide on just one thing! They offer a variety of seafood tacos and burritos, and a big case shows off all the fresh fish and salads. I opted for a side of ahi poke and a side of seaweed salad (both AMAZING) and Jordi got a fish burrito. We got a side of chips and salsa, which was enough to feed a family. Outside there are two big tables meant to share. As we munched our lunch in the sun, we saw some of our sailing mates who wandered into the same spot for lunch, and joined us the rest of the meal. Apparently this place is BYOB, so if you have a hankering for some craft brew to go with your fresh fish, it's a delightful spot to enjoy it. Newport Beach is full of spots to walk, ride your bike, shop, or do something fun on the water. I would highly recommend the Bear Flag Fish Company after your exertions, with a walk around the block peeking into shops or checking out the Lido theatre around the corner while you're there. Have fun - and tell me about your Newport adventures!

DANA POINT

Yoga in the Park

Free yoga in the park? What sounds like a group of stretching hippies in the shade is actually an organized event put on by a group of highly qualified yoga instructors, most hailing from local yoga studios. Every single day at 10 a.m. at Lantern Park (weather permitting), a rotating schedule has a different instructor show up to lead newbies and veterans alike through sun salutations and downward facing dog poses. I was pleasantly surprised how professional the teachers were - extremely open to teaching those that didn't know what they were doing and encouraging those that did. The donation based class is an hour long, and you definitely get a work out and stretch out of the deal, along with the fantastic views of the Dana Point Harbor. If you're a starving artist, penniless surfer or college student you can absolutely enjoy this free class, however, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend tipping these ladies and gentlemen for their time and effort in teaching. Even a five dollar tip is less than you would pay for a yoga class anywhere else!

Saturday Morning Pancakes booth at the Craft Fair in Dana Point

After an invigorating week day yoga session, head over to the harbor and refuel at Coffee Importers, popular for their delicious coffee and bagel sandwiches. However, if you go to Free Yoga on a Saturday, then I would recommend going to J.C. Beans Coffee House, another great spot and located next to the Saturday Farmers Market. Bookshelves line the walls and the smell of freshly roasted coffee greets you as you walk in the door. This independent little coffee shop is located on PCH, and it's only a block away from the Saturday Farmers Market (hours are 10 - 2). So grab your drink and walk the couple streets down to the tents and enjoy the little market. Although it's small, there are delicious fruits and veggies and it's worth the stroll. The first Saturday of the month also includes a craft fair, which is very very fun to walk around! Great jewelry, knitted hats, paintings, and my new favorite vendor - Saturday Morning Pancakes, where the cute and funny sayings stenciled on tea towels and pillows had me happily spending all my money :) The next fair is Saturday, August 4 - and who knows, maybe you'll even see Roney Macaroni there! I'm working on it, anyways.
So what with free yoga and a view of the Harbor, independent coffee shops and fun craft fairs - Dana Point delivers on a Saturday morning.

Happy Hour Hopping

View from Cannon's in Dana Point

     Wherever you live, there are always the enticing and delicious-looking restaurants you wistfully pass by, but for those of us on a budget, actually enjoying what they have to offer is usually not a practical decision.  However, Happy Hours can turn these luxurious dreams into an affordable treat for a few inconvenient hours during the day or week - and taking advantage of them can be a fun way to get acquainted with the restaurants in your area. Jordi and I, being the bargain hunters that we are, tend to utilize these deals as our main means of eating out. In fact, this week we went to both Happa J's and Cannon's, and are still within our budget. However, not all happy hours are equal - I wanted to share the ones that offer good food as well as drink specials, and a nice atmosphere to enjoy. So with that in mind, here are some of our favorites:

The Cellar (my all-time favorite):

Where: Downtown San Clemente

When: 4-6 Tues - Sun

What: $5 pizzette's, house wine (usually $9) and beer on tap (think Chimay)

Why: Great little outdoor patio where you can people watch and enjoy the weather. Live music every night! 

Riders Club

Where: North San Clemente

When: Mon-Fri 4-6

What: $2 hotdogs - homemade relish, potato chips and pickled beets. $3-5 high end drafts. Not ever on happy hour special, but they do have the best hamburgers ever, including the portabello mushroom burger.

Why: Local owners are super friendly and knowledgeable; lots of outdoor seating; close to the beach and beach path; everything is high quality and homemade. 

Fisherman's

Where: San Clemente Pier 

When: Mon- Fri 4-7

What: Every day they offer $3 meals such as BBQ chicken, taco's, etc, and a drink special

Why: The food and drinks are ok, but the view while sitting on top of the water and watching the surfers and sunset on a gorgeous day are worth it. (If you don't make it to happy hour, order a soda, coffee or $3 glass of champagne and still enjoy a cheap seat over the water).

Happa J's

Where: South San Clemente

When: Tuesday 4:30-9:30, Sunday 11-3

What: Taco Tuesday - homemade tortillas grilled in front of you, filled with poki, shrimp, etc - for $3!!! It's unbeatable. This deal goes all night, with $2 drafts. Their Sunday poki bowls are awesome.

Why: Really quality food; fun, casual setting; Watch whatever game is going on, a surf video, or sit on the deck. 

Cannon's

Where: Dana Point Harbor

When: Every day 4:30 - 6:30 (yes, even weekends!)

What: Half off drinks and appetizer/small meal deals

Why: The view is amazing! Overlooking all of the Harbor and past San Clemente. Is that La Jolla in the distance? This view would normally cost you a $30 entree at least. 

Velvet Yogurt

Where: San Clemente

When: Fridays 3-5

What: Half off frozen yogurt

Why: This sumptuous but expensive self serve yogurt becomes accessible to the lay people once a week. Stock up!

Mimosa Cafe:

Where: Downtown San Clemente

When: Saturday and Sunday mornings

What: $2 pastries

Why: Mimosa is a classy cafe that can easily set you back a few for eggs benedict and croissant french toast. On the weekends however, you can get their quality coffee or tea with small perfect pastries, and not rob the bank. Filling? Maybe not quite. An affordable weekend treat in a fun setting? Yes! 

Most of these tips are for the San Clemente area - are there any amazing deals near you that others should know about?

Summer Concerts

I love free things. In fact, one year for my birthday my brother gave me a watch he received for free in a cereal box because he thought I would appreciate it more and actually wear it. Which I did, on both accounts.

Summer is a perfect time to enjoy free things. Since the weather is so nice and it's free to hike, play tennis, or go to the beach, it feels like there are so many options for the budget-minded. And last Sunday we stumbled upon one more - summer concerts in the park!

It was a beautiful yet windy summer afternoon when we decided to ride our bikes three miles from our house in downtown San Clemente to the Dana Point Harbor. Once down the big hill and safely on the bike path, it's a flat and easy ride all the way there.  We thought about renting stand up paddle boards, something we've both been wanting to try, but apparently it was too windy so the rental place was closing up. Not quite ready to ride back, we decided to climb the steep staircase that starts on the main harbor road and disappears enticingly over the top of the cliff. When we finally got to the top, we found a huge grassy park overlooking the whole harbor, it was gorgeous. So this was Lantern Bay Park - I had heard of it but never known where it was. Hundreds of people lounged on blankets, bbq-ing and hanging out in front of a big stage set up for a concert. We found out that Lantern Bay Park hosts Summer Concerts every Sunday afternoon at 4:30 (we were there at 4). I happened to have a towel in my backpack, so we decided to get a drink, find a spot on the grass and watch the show. The stand at the park offered beer or wine for $5 or $6, but since we didn't have cash we would have had to pay an ATM machine another $3.50. Instead we hiked a hill to the nearest grocery store where Jordi got a $2 beer and I got a 69 cent coke. Worth the walk, in my opinion!
We sat down and enjoyed the concert along with the whole fun-loving, dancing and eating park. The music was an enjoyably typical Classic Rock cover band, which the tipsy 40 year olds seemed excited about! I liked watching the families and groups of friends that were amazingly prepared with their coolers and gourmet picnics. The best was a family in front of us that had ceviche in cups complete with corn chips - I would never have thought of that!
Anyways, after the concert we biked home, perfectly content with how we had spent our late afternoon - outside in the sun, lots of people, fun atmosphere and of course - free music!
Are there community concerts in the park near you this summer? What is your favorite thing to pack in a picnic?