San Francisco - on a Dime and in a Dash

Boudin Bakery

Coit Tower

Dim Sum

Walking Through the City

Lucky Grocery

Whether going to San Francisco for the first time or thousandth time, an almost palpable current of excitement zaps every visitor who comes to this bustling, crowded and beautiful city. Although I haven't been back in a while, I have visited San Francisco numerous times, and seen the usual. In years past I've had clam chowder bowls and watched the seals at Pier 39, shopped all day at Union Square, lunched on top of Macy's, drank Irish coffee's at the wharf, walked across the Golden Gate bridge, sampled expensive Chinese teas, meandered through Haight and Ashbury, biked through Golden Gate Park, found the Full House neighborhood, eaten chocolate at Ghiradelli square, hiked around Presidio Park, taken a trolley, toured Alcatraz, run along Ocean Beach and gone down Lombard Street. There wasn't anything particular to cross off my list this time - so we just went for the fun of it :)

We were staying with good friends in Berkeley for the weekend, but they both had to work on Friday - so we hitched a ride with our friend's roommate across the Bay Bridge and got dropped off around Pier 1 for our own adventure. We walked past Pier 39 to Boudin, San Francisco's original sourdough company. Although this cafe and factory is pretty touristy, the bread was warm, crispy and sour - and perfect with our coffees on the cold summer morning.
 From there we saw Coit tower, and decided to head up there since neither of us ever had. It's a great walk through the neighborhoods, and the path up to the tower feels like a walk in the woods. The view from the tiny park in front of the tower was great - it was probably even better from the top, but we didn't want to wait in line for an hour or pay the fee, so we read the historic plaques and laid in the sun.
After a small rest on the grass, we walked through Chinatown - one of my favorite spots. I saw a little Dim Sum restaurant that looked inviting and we went in for a lunch/ snack of the glorious rice dumplings full of meat and/or veggies, and sesame rolls - deep fried dough with sweet beans on the inside and sesame seeds on the outside. Apparently these rolls are usually eaten during Chinese New Year, but you can get them almost anywhere in Chinatown. A plate of these amazing treats, plus a sweet milk tea with boba set us back almost $5 - delicious and cheap! We continued ambling through the streets and poking into Delightful, Super and Happy shops - the best was a tiny (I mean Lucky) grocery store full of questionably edible foods I had never seen before, as well as cheap ripe fruit. Although the mysterious food looked interesting, we loaded up on a big bag of plump cherries instead, and for $2 had snacking material for the rest of the afternoon.
We walked up and down and all over, eventually landing in Union Square. I was excited to go into the big shops and look around - I even had gift cards. But a husband obediently dragging around after me with a doleful expression quickly put a damper on my perusing mood, as I felt my shopping was slowly and selfishly taking the life out of him. So we got out of there and into the hectic streets filled with painters, artisans, bums and tourists.
We found our way to the BART station, bought tickets back to Berkeley and went down into the cool tunnels to await our ride home. As we plopped into the cushioned seats of the Bay Area Rapid Transit, I reflected on the gloriousness of traipsing around an exciting city all day, and letting the public transportation take you home. The best thing about cities is being able to walk around ALL day and never be bored. And no road rage or traffic for us while we chatted about our favorite activities and finally gave our feet a rest. Au revoir City by the Bay!

Los Rios

San Juan Capistrano reminds me a lot of my beloved alma mater town of San Luis Obispo - both are tucked away in the hills, blue skies overhead no matter what the coast is doing, and a big beautiful Mission to give life and history to the community.
Saturday was my sister's birthday, and I met up with my mom and two sisters to explore the Los Rios district of San Juan Capistrano for a girls morning outing. Los Rios is a historic street on the other side of the train tracks from the main downtown area. One you cross over the tracks to the shady lane, there are numerous shops and little restaurants, a park and even a petting zoo! And best of all, Los Rios Tea House, which was the perfect destination for four girls on a summer day. Although we didn't have floppy hats or English accents, everything about the 100-year-old Tea House was picture perfect. A rambling old wooden house turned into a restaurant and venue, with flowers and plants hanging and blooming everywhere, and even a bath tub with a sporadic shower-head that serves as a quirky fountain - all made for a perfect ambiance. They serve a regular menu as well as a tea menu, and of course an extensive list of teas. The huge pot of loose leaf English Breakfast and currant scones with cream and jam were just about as authentic as you can get on this side of the pond. My mom and sisters tried some more interesting varieties of tea that were absolutely delicious as well, but I always love English Breakfast. We could have spent the rest of the day tinkering about the adorable little shops and exploring the rest of the predominantly pedestrian street, but duties (aka a birthday party) called, and we weren't able to explore or shop to our hearts content. However, the weather was perfect, the tea was great (although don't expect small prices on victorian tea menus!) and we had a perfect morning. However, since we didn't even get to the actual downtown part of Camino Capistrano, the park, or the Mission, next time we'll allot ourselves the whole day!

Twenty-Four Hours in Long Beach

Usually I peruse through my weekly Travelzoo deals like I'm window shopping - it's interesting to see what's out there, but not planning on buying. As exciting as roundtrip flights to Ireland, all inclusive resorts in Jamaica, and half off Vegas shows are, I know it's not in the cards. The other day however, I found a deal for a nights stay at the Westin in Long Beach with two Aquarium of the Pacific tickets for $130. I thought it would be a good excuse to whisk my hard working hubby away for a mandatory two-day weekend, not to mention I'd always wanted to visit that aquarium - so I ended up buying a Travelzoo deal for first time ever! Travelzoo is very upfront and easy to use, and I had absolutely no hitches booking through them. We checked into the Westin on Sunday afternoon, completely ready for some R&R. While I had originally asked for a "workout room" that came with in-room exercise equipment, the concierge apologized one was not available, but upgraded us to an king bed/ocean view room, which was really nice. The only not-so-great aspects were that self parking was $17 (valet was$20), there are no windows you can open or balconies in the rooms at the Westin, and the pool was absolutely disgusting - you couldn't see them bottom, and I refused to get in. Other than that, the views were awesome, the room was nice and it was great to be away from home hanging out in Long Beach for a day.
My sister and her family lived in Long Beach for over seven years, so I feel pretty familiar with the small city. Enclaves of ethnic culture (the most Cambodians outside of South East Asia live in LB) and inner city life jive with the upper class Belmont Shores and 2nd street promenade. Add tourists strolling through Seaport Village and the harbor, conventioneers walking up and down Ocean Street and around the massive Convention Center, and there's never a dull people-watching moment.
Sunday afternoon we checked out a new grill a colleague recommended we try out. Beachwood BBQ excels in two things - smoking and brewing. With two smoking machines in the kitchen, most of their menu consists of smoked chicken or smoked pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ, and burgers, as well has homemade sauces, condiments and fries. Sitting on stools at the bar eating our smokey fare, we could see directly through a window into the brewing room, where all the massive shiny equipment serves as the starting point for the solid list of home brews, mostly Ale's, (along with an extensive list of local California breweries) that they serve on tap.
Later in the evening we went for a jog over to the Queen Mary across the harbor, exactly two miles away. I had never been to the Queen Mary and was hoping we'd be able to get on and at least get a glimpse. The ship is impressive, and next to it is a huge Russian submarine, which would also be cool to tour. However all tours were closed for the day, and there is absolutely no way onto the ship - unless you are staying at the hotel on board, in which case you have to show approximately five guards your room key or reservation number to pass through. Although I would love to see it one day, I'm not sure it's worth the $35 adult ticket or high security hotel stay.
Monday morning we jogged down to the harbor, along the main beach, and back into town where we stopped in at one of Long Beach's MANY awesome coffee shops. Every time I have been to Long Beach I think I've gone to different yet perfect little local coffee shop - I love that the locals seem to be keeping Starbucks at bay. After paying in cash for our homemade panini's and iced coffee's we sat for hours in the cozy shop reading newspapers and relishing the relaxing atmosphere steps away from the busy town.
After enjoying our hotel for a while longer  (TV! Water pressure in the shower! Free coffee!) we packed up and headed over to the aquarium. While the animals and sea creatures were AWESOME the amount of crying kids and YMCA groups were daunting, to say the least. We spent half our time really intrigued with the cute puffins, glow in the dark jellyfish, playful seals and massive stingrays. We spent the other half of our time running away from herds of 8-year-old kids in blue shirts or tantrum-throwing two-year-olds bumping into my knees. It's so crazy to realize what an adult world we live in, where just a couple of hours in a kid-centric location is foreign and exhausting.
After that, we were definitely ready for a late lunch! We stopped at 2nd Street so Jordi could finally try an old family favorite - Open Sesame Lebanese Food. Sipping Moroccan mint iced tea and eating our stuffed grape leaves and pita, with thick tapestries in the background made us really wish we could be in Lebanon. But the food is amazing and the ambiance is fun, which counts for something!
All in all, it was fun to get out and do something different from the normal course of a weekend. And now we know just a little bit more about Long Beach.

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?

Farmers' Market

Photography by Corrie Peterson Glenn and Kirsten Amavisca Sacher at San Clemente Farmers' Market

When Jordi and I came back from our world travels, homeless and broke, we began the long process of looking for jobs and a place to live. One day, on the drive from his parents house in San Diego to my parents house in Orange County, we stopped off the freeway in San Clemente to scope it out. As we drove through the cute downtown, we saw a bright Farmers' Market in the middle of the February gloom. "I could live here," I thought.

And now I do! And I love going to the bustling Farmers' Market in the cute downtown every week, just like I thought I would. Not only does the Market give you an enjoyable reason to meander downtown on a Sunday morning, but it's fun to people watch, look at all the flowers and produce, buy from the local vendors, and especially fun to get a treat from the bread and cookie man at the end of the "line-up" to go with our coffees.

Earlier this week I watched Food Inc., a documentary about American corporate farming and ranching, produced by the authors of A Fast Food Nation. Among many interesting and disturbing details, the movie emphasized the mistreatment of animals, farmers, workers, the environment, and even us, the public, by government subsidized corporations. I could go on and on about how corn is unhealthy for cattle to eat, how a major soy growing company has squashed all little farmers in it's path, how fruit is picked too early and ripened with methane gas, and chickens can't walk because of how hormonally fat they are - all so that we can have tomatoes year round and pay 99 cents a pound for chicken breasts.

But aside from all the facts and details, one practical application I took away from the movie is how important it is to be consciously aware of who I am buying from and what I am actually eating.
Although consumers think that we are at the mercy of what is put in front of us, Food Inc. puts it well when it says that we "vote" when we buy food. If we buy more chicken than we need simply because it's cheap, than they will continue to supply us with cheap chicken (at a cost to the chickens, workers, and environment) and if we want tomatoes year round, they will give them to us (from South America).

Hence, I now like to shop at Farmers' Market for more than it simply being enjoyable - it's casting my vote. Buying a delicious chocolate covered macaroon is fun, but now I try to make sure I have enough cash to actually do part of my grocery shopping there - vegetables and fruit that are in season, eggs, honey, bread, nuts, and even amazing vegan tamales!

Unfortunately, Farmers' Markets aren't easily accessible to everyone, and they can be more expensive than some grocery stores as well. These legitimate reasons, along with the time consuming logistical aspects (they usually only take place once a week at a certain time, and only take cash) can prove to be an unpractical way to shop for some.  If there is a market near you though, I recommend visiting and tasting - most vendors offer tastes for free. Although you might get three tomatoes at the grocery store for the price of a homegrown heirloom, you'll find you get five times the enjoyment from the vine-ripened tomato, it will be more nutritious, and the fact that you get to buy it from the farmer him/herself makes it all worth it.

 Even at the grocery store we can be aware of what produce is from our own state, and how the chickens were treated before we eat their eggs. Respect for our own bodies, and respect for the animals, workers, and environment will hopefully make it easier to pay the extra cents or dollars.
And there's no time like the summer, when fruits and vegetables are bountiful and bursting with flavor, to attempt to buy produce in season offered at the Market. I'm not sure how this endeavor will carry on into the winter months (canned tomatoes? frozen berries?) but local and sustainable food isn't a luxury - it's a choice. One that we make not just for ourselves but for the animals and planet that we live on - and all too often abuse. That cute downtown Farmers' Market can turn into an important interaction!

Let's Go to the Beach

By the San Clemente Pier

Trestles - crowded but good

My all-time favorite activity is "going to the beach". This encompasses surfing, bodysurfing, boogie boarding, swimming, laying out in the sun, reading, bocce ball, football, picnic, walking down the beach, etc, etc. In my mind, the options are limitless when it comes to spending a day at the beach. Jordi, on the other hand, likes to surf, get dry, and then leave to get out of the sun. Luckily I found an old beach umbrella I got from a garage sale, and he can stay happy under that.
So with the sunny days, warm water, south swells and a beach umbrella - we are set, and have been spending every spare minute at the beach! When deciding on what local beach to grace with our presence for the day, these are some pro's and con's, and issues to be weighed before deciding on the perfect location for us.
T-Street - Fun waves for people of all levels, and a big sandy beach, with stairs and fire-pits - blackballed (no surfing) on the weekends.
Trestles - We love the big selection of fantastic waves and the pretty walk down to the beach. However, everyone from other countries, inland counties, or San Clemente groms that want to prove a point go there to see and be seen. It's a scene.
The Pier - Also a crazy scene during summer months, but no long walk makes it easy to take a lot of stuff (i.e. kayak) and set up camp. Areas for surfing or swimming are right there, as well as Fisherman's Restaurant, pizza shop, ice cream store, rentals, etc..
State Beach - With a state park pass, this is one of the nicest and easiest places to go - easy parking, snack shack, bathrooms and showers, and a pretty beach that's usually not too crowded. The waves are dumpy (steep and fast).
San Onofre - If you are up for waiting in line for hours to get in, or you happen to go on a Tuesday morning, than this is definitely a great beach to hang out at for the day or an afternoon. You can drive up to the sand, and pretty much tailgate - and in between BBQ'ing and Horseshoeing you can surf at the many breaks down the beach. Usually a pretty friendly scene.
Trails - Just south of San Onofre, this is a state campground and beach. After walking down a big hill to the bottom of the cliffs, there are a few secluded beaches and mostly uncrowded (though usually not as good) surf. If you can catch it on a quiet morning, you may forget you are in Orange County.
Doheny - Early morning, big swell and low tide? Fun surf session. The rest of the summer? Big Beach Party. Bicycles, beach volleyball, grassy park areas, more foam surfboards than you see at Costco, and lots of BBQ's - this is not for the faint of heart.
These are just a few top spots, and my perspective on them, but there are many more we haven't even gone to yet! Which beach is your favorite, or where do you go most often and why? If you don't live by the beach, what is your body of water of choice?

Food - A Cheaper Way to Travel

They say that books can take you on adventures to far off lands - and I have more good news: So does food!
 Jordi and I love watching Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain, the globe galavanting foodie, as he makes his way through both popular and unknown places around the world trying their food and discovering their culture. Recently we've watched his shows about Miami and Puerto Rico, peeking my interest in that area. Then we got our most recent issue of Conde Naste Traveler, (a thoughtful Christmas present from my cousin) and they featured a whole spread on the best places to eat in the Caribbean.
Since we've already used more than our allotted vacation time for the year, the odds of making it to the warm waters and crispy food of the West Indies anytime soon were slim - until Groupon came down from the heavens and offered me a great deal on Eva's Caribbean Kitchen.
Located just a few miles up the coast in South Laguna Beach, Eva's is a cute and authentic piece of the Caribbean.
Pineapple, plantains, curries, peppers, and seafood galore! An extremely bright and open tiny restaurant complete with an extensive rum list and mouth blazing cajun prawns - add a warm summer night, and I did almost feel like I was in another world. Of course, neither reading nor eating are quite as good as actually being there - I have never finished a book taking place in China feeling jet lagged, full of dumplings, and a souvenir of my name in calligraphy in my bag. But reading about places gives you knowledge and an appreciation for different places and cultures. Likewise, eating something completely new and interesting in an authentic setting, while not the same as actually going to the islands, gave me knowledge and insight into that world - in a most wonderfully fun and delicious way!
Southern California is one of the most diverse places in the world, and there is abundant interesting food as a result. We are blessed to be able to sample very authentic versions of Thai, Vietnamese, Mexican, Cuban, Peruvian, Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese, Indian and more. It's up to us to find the ones that are authentic and enjoy the different places and cultures through the dishes they offer - right in our back yard!
Where is your favorite restaurant that whisks you off to a different land?? Please share!