California Archives - Page 4 of 24

Travel Photography: Tioga Pass, Tenaya Lake, and Half Dome

July 31, 2013 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

Our trip to Mono County took us through some spectacular vistas in central California.

Tioga Pass encompasses hwy 120 through the eastern Sierras and takes you to an elevation of 9945 ft at it’s highest.

Though the family could have been extremely bored driving 4 straight hours without 3G and wifi, we were happy to have the scenery to take it. It made for a very long trip as we stopped frequently to take pictures, stretch, and admire our gorgeous surroundings.

The contrast of granite grey, lake blue, and forest green is breathtaking! There’s Half Dome in Yosemite.

San Francisco: Amazing Views from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel

July 25, 2013 by The Mom Jen 6 Comments

The city and the bay can be viewed and admired from the gorgeous rooms at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in the Financial District in San Francisco. From taking in a baseball game at AT&T Park, heading to the famous Fisherman’s Wharf, or shopping in Union Square, you’re in walking distance for great exploration.

Increasingly recognized for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides 21st century luxury with oriental charm. Above all, Mandarin Oriental is renowned for creating unique hotels through distinctive design and a strong sense of place, luxury hotels right for their time and place.

From check-in to check-out, the staff is helpful and courteous. Once we valet parked our car, our room wasn’t quite ready, so we were given cold water bottles and we were off to Little Italy (a 15 minute walk) for our food tour. At the tail end of our tour, we heard the devastating news of a plane crash at the SFO airport. I had a flight out the next morning, and I anticipated delays and as we watched in horror and shock. We headed back to the hotel and were anxious to check-in and relax in our room!

Walking into the 400 sq ft Deluxe Bay View King, we loved the soft tans, blues, and whites in the decor. The room was just right at about 70 degrees.The sitting area included a sofa, chair, table, and there began our awe of the spectacular views and understand the in room use of the binoculars on the desk! To our right, the Bay Bridge.To our left, the Transamerica Building, Coit Tower, Alcatraz Island, and more!

Stunning from any angle.

The goose down comforter on the bed looked like a puffy cloud and the area went from this…

…to this in no time. After slipping into the provided robe and slippers, I joined my husband shortly after I shot the photo. I immediately turned on the television, though I didn’t want to watch the news about the plane crash, I needed to keep abreast of my flight (or possibly cancelled flight) early the next morning. Jasmine tea service came to our room and was a pleasant treat. Cookies and pastries joined me bedside just before we fell into an afternoon slumber.

Walking past the windowed breezeway continuing the spectacular views, heading toward the elevators, we caught a glimpse of a wedding party taking photos just below us. We imagined their memories captured in film would be so amazing with the city backdrop!

In the lobby, you can find Brasserie S&P, the hotel restaurant and bar. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you can dine in or have room service treat you in a more private atmosphere.

As you can imagine, the views at night were just as stunning. There is a light show that appears on the Bay Bridge but from our angle we couldn’t tell.Coit Tower was lit up post Fourth of July and looked very neat with a cruise ship in the distance and at a closer glance we captured a US flag in the photo.

Again, waking up in the fog is still stunning from over 30 floors up!The marble bathroom was so relaxing in the morning with an amazing rainfall shower head and the aromatic Molton Brown bath amenities.

Though somewhat dampened by the plane crash, my delayed flight, and anxiety, our stay was really comfortable at the Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco. I did miss making a cup of coffee in the morning as the room does not include this mandatory necessity (in my eyes) and we were disappointed that wi-fi was only available for a $15 fee. Otherwise it’s a wonderful location and the views cannot be beat.

Our stay was hosted, parking, room tax, and gratuities our own. Our opinions are 100% our own.

South Lake Tahoe Dining: Base Camp Pizza Co. Review

July 10, 2013 by The Mom Jen 2 Comments

After spending a wonderful weekend on the south shore of Lake Tahoe we decided to stop for pizza before heading home and had an amazing lunch at Base Camp Pizza Co. Live music, balloons and comfortable Adirondack chairs welcomed us to the restaurant in Heavenly Village near the ice rink/mini golf course. It was celebration day, one year in business at this location! Claims of “The Best Family Dining Experience in the Heavenly Village” are validated by the friendly service, cozy atmosphere and mouthwatering menu.

Our servers were very friendly and welcomed the chance to explain the menu offerings and make suggestions based on our feedback. The Base Camp Pizza menu is not your typical pizza place menu and includes an enticing array of appetizers, soups & salads, pizza, pasta and desserts. After perusing the wide variety of choices on the menu we decided to go with a large Base Camp Pepperoni, a personal Thai Curry Chicken and Paige’s Penne Pasta with butter for our youngest. Probably a pretty boring choice considering all the delicious options available but hey that’s what we’ll hit next time we’re in town. Little details like drinks in mason jars were a neat added touch, something the kids had never experienced!

After ordering the décor decidedly consumed our attention. Granite tables lit by faux camp lanterns and draped with prayer flags are surrounded by eye catching large black and white photographs of the chef’s world travels.

The food arrived and it was as delicious as promised. The pepperoni was spot on with a light airy crust and the penne pasta was quickly gobbled up. But, the star of the show was the Thai Curry Chicken. Our family is not very daring in the culinary sense (as evident in our other menu selections) but the excitement the staff showed in the menu options sparked a sense of adventure that we did not regret. Base Camp’s Thai Curry Chicken Pizza is a delicious gourmet combination of sweet curry sauce, roasted chicken, yellow bell peppers, tomatoes, onion, mascarpone, lime, basil and cilantro on a delicious pizza crust that dramatically changed the way I’ll consider pizza as a meal.

We shared a contrast of cool ice cream and warm pear crisp for dessert, utterly scrumptious and and enough for the 5 of us to share! We headed west down out of the mountains with full bellies and smiles on our faces. Plans are in the works for another trip to South Lake Tahoe to include mountain biking, hiking, a swim in the lake and most definitely a visit to Base Camp Pizza Company for a decidedly different and delicious pizza experience. With plenty of seating indoors and out, (think firepits and heaters in the cooler weather) a full bar, and live music daily, this is the way to spend the afternoon or evening with loved ones in Tahoe!

Our meal was hosted to facilitate this review, all opinions and gratuities our own.

California Wine Country: Garden to Glass Summer Events at Kenwood Inn and Spa

July 1, 2013 by The Mom Jen 4 Comments

Kenwood Inn and Spa introduces Garden to Glass, an event series offered select Thursday evenings now through September that provides an educational and delicious peek into the hotel’s award-winning food and wine program.

The “Garden” events invite guests to walk the Kenwood gardens to select fresh ingredients with Executive Chef Steven Snook while enjoying a glass of HKG Sparkling Rosé. Following the tour, Chef Steven utilizes the freshly picked fare to demonstrate the creation of select Kenwood Inn and Spa signature menu items to be enjoyed immediately. On our most recent visit to Kenwood, we witnessed Chef Steven clipping rosemary in one of the resorts’ many gardens. The gardens around the property are lovely examples of one resort’s commitment to Farm to Table cooking!

Wine Director Ann Davis hosts the “Glass” events designed to provide firsthand knowledge on how the basic tactile sensations from food and wine can either create an affinity or conflict with one another. Aspiring aficionados will swirl and sample wines from boutique wineries in the Sonoma Valley and beyond paired with bites from the Kenwood kitchen.

My husband and I participated in the Glass event, the inaugural class if you will. Ann was so personable and full of knowledge, no question was too simple for her. We learned that it was all about balance when it comes to food and wine, you want to bring out the best qualities of your wine with the right bites. You learn that it’s simple science (Molnar Chardonnay bitter/sour when you pair with strawberries, sweet when paired with salty green olives. Merlot with 100% cocoa was bitter and chalky, paired with peppered brie, balanced and lovely!) and you probably have been doing it all along and don’t realize it!

Garden events will be offered Thursdays, July 11, August 1, September 5 from 4 – 5 p.m. and includes a garden tour, cooking demonstration and tasting with Executive Chef Steven Snook. Glass events will be offered Thursdays, July 18, August 15, and September 12, from 4 – 5 p.m. and includes wine tasting, education and light bites.

Tickets are $40 per person or $70 for a couple per event, with 10 percent of ticket sales going back to the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 1.800.353.6966.

I participated in a media event, all opinons are my own.

Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel: 4 Doors to Tahoe Tourism

June 20, 2013 by The Mom Jen 3 Comments

When you think of Lake Tahoe, you think of the beach on the lake, the mountains for skiing/snowboarding, the forest for mountain biking or hiking, and Stateline for entertainment. On each of our trips we love partaking in 2-3 of those lovely area amenities. Formerly the Embassy Suites, Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel is a newly independent property as of April 1, 2013 and has doors that open to each of those amenities. Sitting on property that is literally on the border of California and Nevada, this hotel is close to all you love in Tahoe and is a fabulous place to stay with your family!

From a 30 second walk to Harrah’s Casino, a 7 minute walk to the lake, a shuttle ride to Heavenly ski resort, or quick mountain bike ride to hop on the Powerline Trail, the Lake Tahoe Resort is in the heart of Tahoe. Find a staff member of the hotel and check out their badges, you’ll see each person’s unique and personal connection to Tahoe. Ask them about their interest and maybe it’ll be something you take up on your trip! That is, if you leave this great hotel.

From the outside it looks small, but once inside the towering floors, open skylight ceiling, and atrium feel shows the magnitude of the hotel.

Every room in the hotel is a 2-room suite with tons of room to relax, sleep, and even share a meal. A full living room with a sleeper sofa, chair, and flat screen is adjacent to a dining table and chairs. Then walk over to the wet bar across from the full bathroom. Through a door you’ll find a king or two queen beds offering comfort and privacy at the same time.

I love added touches like a second flat screen so kids and parents can watch their favorite shows, a separate sink/vanity when fighting over the bathroom ensues with the teen, and robes are always a homey touch!The bedroom view gives you a taste of what’s out the doors of the hotel.

With your stay you get a generous happy hour with unlimited full-bar and veggies, dip, and popcorn. There are tons of seating, and with the aid of plastic cups you can even enjoy your food and beverage while watching the kids in the pool on the same level. A large flat screen TV offers sports in one section, or grab a tray and take your goodies back to the room. I have to admit we planned out two nights around the fun happy hour, you get a community feel and it reminds me of eating in the dining halls in college but only family style, it’s a great vibe.

Also included is the huge breakfast buffet. Want a special order omelette, pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, oatmeal, cereal, etc? You’re bound to find it cooked fresh and to your liking, you surely will not leave hungry! They have a large menu on the wall with what they change up during the week as far as meats/potatoes/hot line/cold line/eggs.

The kids will love the indoor heated pool and parents will love the hot tub.

We dined in the hotel restaurant Echo one evening and enjoyed their delicious cuisine, husband and son shared the El Grande Nachos and I enjoyed the flavor of the blackened beef bruschetta, the girls ate off the children’s menu that I appreciate they had! Take a walk outside and down the road and find tons of shopping, restaurants, a theater, mini-golf, and the Gondola that will take you to the top of Heavenly mountain, you are so close to everything.

This hotel has so much and it’s amenities will have us coming back again and again due to it’s competitive price.

Our stay was hosted, all opinions and gratuities are our own.