mrspjuth

At Newark Airport on my way home after 2 1/2 weeks in USA. Vacation and a little work. We started out in San Francisco and then our daughters graduation in Fresno. A short visit in Sonoma before flying to the east coast for a quick visit to Hamptons ending in New York. As always when traveling you don’t want to go home but unfortunately we have to.

Here are some of my tips for California.

San Francisco:
* Café de la Presse Have become a favorite after a couple of visits. Best is breakfast or lunch sitting out by the curb or inside by the bar. This time we did breakfast and dinner here but dinner was just OK. But don’t miss out for a good coffee or breakfast
* Epic Roasthouse This is a must in San Francisco! Great interior, beautiful views over Bay Bridge, great stakes and professional service.
* Cliff House We stopped for breakfast before leaving SF and the drive south to Carmel and Fresno. The view of the Pacific Ocean is stunning and the history of the place fantastic. Great breakfast and nice service!

Carmel – you have to visit this beautiful village. You will fall in love.

Fresno might not be a tourist destination but it is surrounded by beautiful mountains. If you pass by some day take the road up to Shaver Lake. A small village that will take you back many years. It is like entering an old cowboy village. There are many hiking trails in the area.

We did a day in Sonoma, passing by Napa, but didn’t have a lot of time for vineyard visits this time. Sonoma is great. Small friendly villages with good restaurants. This time we stayed in Santa Rosa and from here you have short distances to several great vineyards and villages.
In Healdsburg we found a nice place, SHED – winner of “Outstanding Restaurant Design” award from the James Beard Foundation. Interior design, farmers market, restaurant, café and just a great hang-out!

Other visits you must include when traveling around San Francisco area are Tiburon and Sausalito. Two pearls! Small villages with great views of San Francisco and often good restaurants. The shopping is not the reason to go to these villages though.
In Tiburon I found a wine tasting room. The tasting room for Straight Line and Couloir wines. One of my favorite wines from California. Their little tasting room is just awesome with a nice veranda for outside tastings. If you get hold of their wines buy many bottles, they are soo good! 🙂
We ended the California trip with a burger dinner in Sausalito – The Napa Valley Burger Company. Big old burgers well cocked with great taste. I can recommend the Stinson Beach BBQ Burger.

So this was part of our California trip. I will come back with tips for The Hamptons and New York soon. Have to get on the flight back home to Sweden now.