Tourists Traps Get a Bad Wrap

So last week, in between storms, I decided to revisit San Francisco's main tourist destination to see what all the hype was about. Selfishly, I was on the hunt for a way to entertain my 19 month old son, but I was also interested in why Fisherman's Wharf draws more tourists than say, the Mission District, where all my local friends and I frequent.

Fisherman's Wharf is an entertaining place to spend a sunny morning. Though filled with the typical vendors selling crap you don't need (a San Francisco snow globe? really, it snows here once every two decades), silver painted entertainers, and overpriced restaurants, there is a certain charm and energy.

Stretched along the bay, offering unsurpassed views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Russian Hill and Marin, it was easy to see why tourists love it here.
Even better are the two free activities: seeing the sea lions and the Musee Mechanique (a collection of antique arcade games--including naughty peep shows).

Plus, public transportation here is stellar--though if you eat at one of the restaurants, you get free parking.

I'll say this: locals have something to learn from tourists in this regard. A trip to Fisherman's Wharf should not be merely saved for taking your nephews and in-laws.

One last note
I have been on the prowl for good restaurants in Fisherman's Wharf and currently my favorite is the Franciscan. With decent views, great shellfish and huge portions, this is a waterfront restaurant worth the hefty price tag.

One Perfect Rainy Weekend in Healdsburg

So this past weekend, we were in Healdsburg, with an active toddler, and though I was slightly wracked with anxiety at how to entertain Kai in the downpour, we ended up finding plenty of ways to keep him from having a meltdown. As one of my friends says, going outside in the rain is ok, he (and you) won't melt.

Here's my ideas.

9am: Get coffee at Flying Goat Coffee, then head across the square to Costeaux French bakery for a morning bun that will force you to return for seconds.

10am: Take a mellow drive along West Dry Creek Road to marvel at the rolling hills lined with vineyards. Stop at Bella Wine Caves for a tasting. There are ample places for the kids to run around and they love wandering through the caves.

11am: Venture to Quivira Vineyards, an organic and biodynamic tasting room, that has a wonderful garden, complete with chickens (watch out for the electric fence kiddos) and a spot to picnic. Even in the rain, kids love animals.

12pm: Time for lunch, so you better get to Ravenous early. Locals love this little cafe and kids will delight in the wealth of kid friendly food options.

1:30pm: Naptime. Head back to your hotel for a little break.

4pm: Take a walk in the woods. Even in the rain, you can't beat exploring the mossy woods surrounding Healdsburg.

6pm: Dinner at the Healdsburg Bar and Grill is a family favorite. However, I prefer to drive up to Diavola pizzeria in Geyserville.

8pm: Put the kids to bed, pop open a bottle of Pinot and enjoy the sound of the rain on the rooftops.

25 Things: The Nor Cal Edition

After being deluged with my Facebook friends' lists of 25 Things, I have decided to compile a list of my favorite 25 Northern California experiences. Here goes:

1. San Francisco kid friendly dining tour. This could be a Best Of in itself. Currently my favorite restaurants and culinary experiences with the little ones include: Osha Thai (I like the Valencia location, but their new Glen Park location is more intimate and cheaper), Lisa Rogovin's Ferry Building tour, Charles Phan's steamed buns (at Out the Door and the Academy of Sciences), Gialina's margarita pizza, Little Nepal, Lettus Cafe, Dosa, Ebisu, Pacific Catch Seafood, Foreign Cinema, Chenery Park's kid's night (Tuesday), Local Tastes of the City tour of North Beach, Savor, Boogaloo, and Monk's Tavern.

2. Monterey: County: Coffee at Ol'Factory Cafe, whale watching with Sanctuary Cruises, then hiking Point Lobos. Top the night off with dinner at Passionfish and your Monterey County trip will make you start looking to purchase one of the classic Victorians.

3. San Mateo Coast: Watching elephant seals mate at Ano Nuevo, eating lunch at Duarte's, wandering through Half Moon Bay, then spending the night at Costanoa along the San Mateo Coast.

4. High Sierra: Breakfast at Alicia's Sugar Shack, then swimming in Pinecrest Lake on the quiet stretch of the Sonora Pass. Don't forget to check into McCaffrey House for a stellar night of sleeping in the woods.

5. Yosemite: A morning hike in Yosemite, before the crowds have arrived, then brunch at the Ahwahnee. For more adventure head to Tuolumne Meadows.

6. Point Reyes: The Point Reyes Station Farmers Market, a stop at Cowgirl Creamery, then an epic hike in Point Reyes. Top it off with dinner at Nick's Cove. Book a romantic room there or at Manka's.

7. Lake Tahoe: Kayak on Lake Tahoe, or a snowboard lesson at Northstar, then dinner at Plumpjack and a night at the new 968 Park Spa--this is mountain luxury at its finest.

8. Calistoga: Wine tasting in Calistoga, lunch at Solage Resort, followed by an afternoon of mud baths, hot springs and massage, then dinner at JoLe. Cap off the night at Indian Springs Resort.

9. Arcata: Hike through Redwood State and National Park, then head to Arcata for crepes, cappuccino and Victorian architecture with a hippie vibe.

10. Big Sur: Indulge in a middle of the night dip in Big Sur's Esalen's hot springs during the full moon.

11. Sierra Foothills: Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the Sierra Foothills, raft the American River, sip wine on a porch at sunset in Fairplay, before heading to Boccanato for a fine Italian dinner.

12. Mono Lake: Trip out on Mono Lake's lunar-like landscape. Make sure to try the lobster taquitos at the Mobil Station on your way home.

13. Sonoma County: Take a Sonoma Farm Tour (farmtrails.org). You can visit goats, butterflies, bees, flowers, organic produce and cheese-making farms. Don't forget to taste some wine too. My favorite family friendly winery is Landmark.

14. Gold Country: Antique shop along Hwy 49 in Gold Country.

15. Live the high life in Napa County. Get a spa treatment at Villagio, have lunch at Bistro Don Giovanni, sip wine along the Silverado Trail, have cocktails at Auberge du Soleil, then splurge on dinner at French Laundry or Ad Hoc. For big spenders a night at the Poetry Inn, Meadowood, or the Auberge du Soleil can't be beat.

16. Sacramento: Visit Sacramento's Train Museum, then head to the new Grid neighborhood to boutique hop. Pasta dinner at Biba rates high on the Sac-town foodie experience.

17. Healdsburg: Raft the Russian River, have lunch at Ravenous in Healdsburg, then head out to Armstrong Redwood Park to horseback ride. Finish your adventure with dinner at Zazu in Santa Rosa.

18. Redding Vicinity: Camp in Lassen Volcanic National Park to fully explore the bubbling pools, hulking trees and vast nature of this region. Don't leave out a trip to McArthur Burney State Park on your way back to Redding--the waterfall is majestic.

19. Marin County: Hike Marin County's Dipsea Trail from Muir Woods to Stinson Beach. Stay over in Stinson in summer to catch the oceanfront Shakespeare Festival, then hike back the next day. Treat yourself to Pizzeria Picco on your way home.

20. Mt Shasta City's sophistication, new age vibe and wealth of outdoor activities beckons folks looking for that little something extra in their vacation. Stay at Stewart Mineral Springs and participate in the sweat lodge on Saturday nights and you will commune with more than nature.

21. Explore Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, hike Tilden Park, stroll through the Albany Bulb, then stay over at the Rose Garden Inn. Book reservations for Chez Panisse early.

22. Bigfoot Country: Learn to kayak in the Trinity Alps rivers, fish for bass, then camp under the stars.

23. Mendocino COunty: Indulge your inner artist with a weekend in Mendocino County. Start with wine tasting around Boonville, then head to Mendocino to stay at a B&B. be sure to check out Jughandle State Park, the botanical gardens, and Bowling Ball beach.

24. Pacific Ocean: Take a whale watching tour to the Farallon Islands with Oceanic Society. Make sure to wear your sea bands. For the real adventures: check out the shark diving with Great White Adventures (greatwhiteadventures.com).

25. Drive San Francisco's 49 mile drive to see the finest attractions of my favorite city in the world. Don't miss Fort Funston, the view from Twin Peaks, Golden Gate Park, Lands End, the wealth of museums, and the Mission District murals.

So, that's 25--if you have any more to add, I would love to see them for the next edition of 25 Things.

News: Openings and Closings

Openings:
Yountville has much to sing about as it welcomes Bardessono, a green inn and spa. Michael Chiarello's fine dining spot Bottega and the new art gallery/tasting rooms Ma(i)sonry are two more reasons to put Yountville on your radar.

Lake Tahoe welcomes its first major green property on the south shore, 968 Park Spa Resort.

San Francisco's famed Nopa restaurant has opened a sister spot called Nopalito.

Closures:
In this digest we must say goodbye to a Calistoga favorite: Wappo Bar and Grill.

Berkeley's original Peet's Coffee location will close for seven weeks to renovate.

The Best 60 Bucks You'll Spend This Year

Admittedly, I am a food snob. I turn my nose up at the fixings in most non-Bay Area kitchens--can you believe people still eat American Cheese???--and a bad dinner can affect my whole weekend. So when I signed up for Lisa Rogovin's In the Kitchen With Lisa's Gourmet Ghetto food tour, I had high hopes. After having lived in the East Bay (and making special trips over the bridge for Chez Panisse, Cheeseboard, and Cha-Ya), I thought I could lead a tour about how the gourmet ghetto had earned its moniker. But my Epicurean Concierge, taught me more about the birth place of the food revolution than I could have imagined.

I was told to meet in front of the Cheeseboard rain or shine and I would not let the current downpour hinder my arrival. One of the co-op owners of Cheeseboard brought us back to the kitchen to taste French and Wisconsin cheeses as she explained the inner-workings of this Berkeley mainstay. Besides offering stellar cheeses (of which she said the one rule they have at Cheeseboard for the workers is that they have to taste the cheeses) the rich smell of fresh bread created the most refreshing and relaxing vibe--I wanted to hang out there all day.

But we had other stops to go--a lot Andrea told us. We headed over to Saul's deli, now run by a Chez Panisse alum. Peter brought us Niman Ranch pastrami on organic Acme bread with fresh made celery, cream and blood orange sodas (go out of your way for a celery soda--it is no joke!). He explained that he caters to his Berkeley population, offering tofu scrambles and pastrami, but with only the best ingredients.

Around the corner, we popped into Berkeley Vintage wine shop to taste organic small batch wines in the vintage water and power plant building. Then we headed across the street to the Juice Collective, where we were offered the finest polenta, black bean and cheese I've ever had.

They couldn't leave out a visit to the original Peet's Coffee (which will close for renovation this week and reopen in 7 weeks with a new museum inside). We got to chat with the manager and learn about Peet's unique small batch roastery (in Alameda). We tasted a new Sumatra blend and a mocha (delicious), before heading to the cupcake store around the way.

2 Mini lemon cupcakes behind me, I was starting to wonder if I could eat anymore (or hear anything else about good food) when we met the owner of Soop, who offered up his love for soup and a generous taste of his red lentil coconut soup (the perfect antidote for a rainy day). He exchanged recipes with others in the group before leading us towards the chocolatier in the back of the food court.

I will say this: I have never tasted such chocolate before. Not only is the owner's passion for the cocoa bean contagious, but the taste of these single origin Brazilian chocolates made everyone in the group giddy. Make sure to try the mustard and chocolate covered almonds. And as if we could handle more sweets, our next stop was Ciao Bella gelato for some rosemary olive oil, rose petal and Lebanese yogurt gelato.

I thought I would burst and then Andrea said the magic word: Gregoire--Berkeley's famed gourmet take out hole in the wall. We camped out on picnic tables and stuffed out faces with potato puffs, with views of the bay in the distance and the rain clouds making way for a bit of sun. Nothing made me forget the recession like an afternoon of food education, a dash of healthy gluttony and a passionate guide to food.

Visit www.inthekitchenwithlisa.com.

Carmel Gem on Sale

Just saw an add for Hyatt's beautiful Highland's Inn in Carmel. You can stay overnight during the week, with an ocean view, for $199 (and for $239 on weekends). This is a great deal considering the views and the array of activities offered at this full service resort.

highlandsinn.hyatt.com.

Yosemite in Winter

OK, you might read this and think, "What is she thinking?" But a snowy trip to California's most dramatic landscape is a must at least once in your life. Imagine crystalline waterfalls sliding down the granite slopes, skiing with views of Half Dome, cuddling up in front of the Ahwahnee's majestic fireplace, and sipping hot cocoa with views of Yosemite Fall. Now is the time to book your trip since all of the major hotels in the area are offering steep discounts. Check out www.yosemite.com for details.

A Pacific Grove Find

Lately I have become smitten with the Monterey Peninsula. Surely Point Lobos, Big Sur, Passionfish, and even the Monterey Bay Aquarium have something to do with that. But on a recent trip, I stayed at the Anton Inn in Pacific Grove and found it to be a funky alternative to the Victorian style that dominates lodgings in the region. I called the week of my trip and was able to score one night (usually they have a 2-night minimum on weekends) for half the price of the listed rate (under $100!). And though there were a few drawbacks--no cable TV or WiFi connection and an ok breakfast--I found the motor inn/art gallery a delightful place to stay--especially with a child.

If you fancy yourself an art lover, or just want to stay at a low-key spot without some chatty owner blabbing about her collection of porcelain dolls, this is the spot for you.

Cold Weather Ideas

Northern California is currently in the midst of a record-breaking heat wave--in January--but I know this won't last long. So I decided to compile a list of my favorite cold weather activities, so that when the inevitable chilly wind returns, I can sanely remember all the other reasons this region is so wonderful.

San Francisco
California Academy of Sciences--get there right at 10am to tour the rainforest, then head straight for the food court for almond butter and jelly sandwiches.

De Young Museum--If you don't want to pay to enter the museum (though you should, if nothing else than to see the exhibition of Pacific Islander art), then head straight up to the lookout tower.

MOMA--Besides a slew of rotating modern art and a kick ass store, this is my favorite rainy day spot. Hang out by the big windows and watch the rain fall, then feel hip as you tour the photography gallery.

Zeum--You don't need a kid to go play at this hands-on technology museum. Take your most exciting friend and sing karaoke and make clay-mation movies.

Other ideas:
Golden Gate Park, Ocean Beach, an urban hike through the Mission, shopping in the Haight, eating your way through Chinatown, the Ferry Building, cuddling up with someone you love at the Red Vic Movie Theater.

Bay Area:
Muir Woods--the redwoods are at their finest in cool weather.

Bay Area Discovery Museum--this is the top museum for kids in all of Northern California.

Albany Bulb--art lovers will enjoy a trip through this salvaged art lined trail with views of the bay.

Wander the streets of Los Gatos and Saratoga.

Other ideas:
Big Basin, Felton Steam Train, Pez Museum, San Jose Tech Museum, whale watching tour, a beer at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.


Wine Country:
Mud bath at Golden Haven.

Sip wine at the Martini House.

Get a massage and soak in a cedar enzyme bath at the Osmosis Day Spa.

Other ideas:
Wine tasting, eating your way through Yountville, shopping in St Helena or Healdsburg, art gallery hopping in Sonoma.


North Coast (from Bodega Bay to Crescent City):
Walk on a quiet stretch of sand.

Visit the Mendocino Botanical Gardens.

Hike in the redwoods.

Visit the tattoo museum in Fort Bragg.

Have a crepe in Arcata.


Sacramento:
Visit the train museum.

Take a bike ride along the river.


Eastern Mountains:
Ski, snowboard, ice skate, sled!!!

Sip hot cocoa at the Ahwahnee Hotel.

Soak in a Lake Tahoe hot tub.

Take a dip in natural hot springs in Mt Shasta City.

Pan for gold.


If you have any other cold weather ideas you'd like to share, I would love to list them here.

Updates--Closures and Deals

So as the economy wiggles in waiting for Inauguration Day, travelers to Northern California find a fe new shake ups.

Closures:
I just heard that Mendocino County's Heritage House is kaput until a rich investor gobbles that oceanfront beaut up.

Redwood County's Benbow Inn is for sale.

Half Moon Bay's Cetrella restaurant closed until May.

Deals:
Four Sisters Inns has a serious deal. Call and say "Carpe Diem" for steep price slashes in all their lovely inns up and down the coast and Napa County.

The East Bay's classic Burlington Hotel is getting a facelift and has a hopeful new owner. That means deals will be in the works.

Pacific Grove's Anton Inn has wonderful wintertime deals in their artsy cottage-like rooms.

Beretta

Ever since Michael Bauer, the food critic at the San Francisco Chronicle, started singing the praises of Beretta, the newly opened Italian restaurant that took over the Last Supper Club location in the Mission, I have been aching to visit. I had also read about the libations that bring hordes of hipsters to the bar. Let me tell you here and now: Beretta is worth a visit.

Start with a funky drink that might include egg whites, honey, rye or even absinthe--in fact let that be your appetizer, since often your cocktail doesn't show up until after you food and the appetizers aren't the highlight. Go straight for a risotto and a pizza. My favorite was the squid ink risotto and the margarita pizza with barrata cheese. I'd recommend filling up on the main course and skipping the dessert--especially since BiRite Creamery is a short walk away.

Also note that they don't take reservations (except for big parties). Plus the service isn't the best in the city. And it is cramped in there. But the pizza is so good you probably won't mind.

Airport Food

Last weekend, the New York Times published a piece about food in US airports. I couldn't believe that San Francisco International Airport got left out of the mix. Besides a few international airports, SFO has the best food at any airport--hands down. Even if you are flying domestically, head to the international terminal for a sampling of some San Francisco superstars--including Ebisu sushi! And in the domestic terminal, you can hit up Lori's Diner, Yankee Pier, Andale and Firewood.

Whatever type of cuisine you are craving, you are sure to find it here.

Family Friendly Wineries

When I was pregnant, I never thought I would be interested in hitting up a tasting room with my child. However, I have had some of my favorite wine country experiences with Kai in tow. Here are a couple of places that kids are welcome and even catered to.

Chateau Montelena: Calistoga's winery, that put Napa Valley on the map, not only offers an out of this world estate wine tasting experience, but also has a lake with ducks. The grounds feel like a forest and will entertain the little ones for hours.

Domaine Chandon: This 300-acre champagne plantation not only offers fun tours of the winery with a wonderful (and generous) private tasting sure to get your head filled with bubbles, but also has one of the best gardens to sip champagne, order cheese and appetizers and let the kids frollic in the oak trees.

Landmark Winery: If your kid is as into tractors, or ducks, or ponds, as mine, head to this house of Chardonnay, where the descendents of John Deere offer an expansive property for kids to run around while mom and dad sip wine.

FIll me in on your favorite family friendly wineries, so I can add them to the next installment.

Minor Correction

Hotel Healdsburg (hotelhealdsburg.com) is offering $100 off your second night, not the first. This isn't so bad, since this is the type of hotel you want to spend more than a night in. Anyone interested in architecture, luxury, good food, spas and Dwell magazine will surely appreciate this hidden gem.

Calistoga--a small town for everyone

It's no secret that Calistoga has retained its small town allure, even though it is home to some of the world's best wineries, resorts and spas. And nothing shows this off more than the lighted tractor parade each December.

This annual event, 16 years strong, attracts more folks than a Republican Convention in San Francisco. Yet, when Eden Umble from the Visitors Bureau said it was "a kick in the head", I envisioned some tacky Christmas lights strung atop a few tractors, while local cheerleaders tossed out candy and marched to the tune of some cheesy top 40 hit. But I had traveled up north for my 17 month old son, Kai, who is infatuated with tractors, excavators, fire engines and the holier than Hanukkah concrete mixer.

It turned out that not only were families lined up on beach chairs along Calistoga's main street, but nearly every person who lived within a 50 mile radius had come out. Young folks drank beer at the Calistoga Brewery, elderly chatted over margaritas and guacamole while waiting for the extravaganza and kids, so many kids, laughed and joined in the carolers as they sang everything from Silent Night to Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.

My father in law, visiting from LA, kept remarking that this really felt like a community, where people gather to celebrate the holidays rather than collect at the mall to contribute to the consumerist circus called Christmas. And he was right. We all joined in Kai's excitement about the inflated Santas on fire engines, the bright Christmas trees atop a digger, the carolers on a plow. And though Christmas is still a few weeks away, we were able to engage in the heart of the holidays, something we often miss by living in a big city.

Once again, Calistoga brings me back to the heart of Napa Valley, where real farmers built crops on a dream, stuck through droughts, prohibition, vine disease, dodgy weather and the international wine community not believing in them. In Calistoga, you can see the roots, not just the vines. You can see that the growers are people, with families and friends, who gather to celebrate the seasons that they depend on for their livelihood. And it isn't bad to be reminded of that every once in awhile.

Some Spectacular Deals

I just learned about some hotel deals that you should all take advantage of. With the economy making folks afraid to go on vacation, some of Nor Cal's finest properties are offering deals that I have never seen before. Check it out.

The Cottages of Napa Valley (napacottages.com), usually one of Napa's most pricy properties, is offering three nights in Dec-Feb for $495--total. This is one of the best deals I have ever seen for this property. Get in now while you can.

Hotel Healdsburg (hotelhealdburg.com) has recently offered $100 off a night if you stayed with them in the last year.

Asilomar (visitasilomar.com), the most beautiful conference center resort in the central coast, is ofering significant deals to stay at the lodge, including the $159 bed, breakfast and dinner deal (put in the code: BEDANDDINE).

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite (yosemite.com) is one of the most beautiful in winter and has some serious holiday packages, including a $330 a night room that include 2 hour a day entertainment for the kids.

In addition, local San Franciscans can score on some serious dining deals. Head to onlyinsanfrancisco.com to see the list of restaurants offering dining packages and yummy treats for a steal.

Let me know if you hear of more.

Rafting the Russian River

I wasn't raised as much of an outdoorswoman, so I often feel the necessity to prove myself in nature. So when Larry from SOAR Inflatables said we would be rafting 8 miles upstream for 5 hours, in an inflatable kayak, without a guide, with our 5 month old son, I took a big gulp of air and climbed aboard. It's not that I enjoy torturing myself, but my husband does. He heard of this physical challenge and opted for the main paddlers seat, claiming that all I had to do was take care of our son Kai.

After we were suited up and fully paid for our trip, Larry informed us that there were a few challenges of note. The first was negotiating under the Healdsburg bridge to assure not being grounded. He said we especially had to be careful, because we could tip over, and with a baby, that wouldn't be so fun. We watched most couples trying to paddle out towards the bridge end up working against each other and spinning in circles or running into one of the trees that randomly stuck out from the river (this ain't no Disneyland).

Eddie, the constant student, observed the physics of how to paddle just the right way to use the water to push us in the right direction. The first few tries, we too went in circles; though just as Kai started nodding off to sleep, he figured it out. I could see him enjoying the rush of manuevering past small inlets or trees (some of the other obstacles Larry mentioned), other kayakers, and even tough waters, but the real challenge came on the last mile.

Kai had woken up and we had stopped on a riverbank to swim and eat some lunch. We knew we were about a mile away from our pick up because we had spotted the only manmade structure along this stretch of river. We also knew that this was the most challenging part, when the current basically stopped. After seven miles of paddling Eddie's honeymoon with kayaking was beginning to fade. Yet, I was taking care that Kai didn't fling himself over the edge of the kayak when he tried to touch the water.

Like most stories of soft core adventure, we made it back to camp safely, with no bruises to speak of (though Eddie did have a sore back for a couple days). We watched as other paddlers (some with dogs, others with kids) arrived at the pick up spot and I asked Larry why he was the only outfit to allow people to bring their pets and babies. He smiled the smile of a true outdoorsman--one who surely takes his kids on massive adventures--and said that he trusted parents to decide for themselves, since he knew his trips were very safe (that could also be because we all are required to bring cell phones along). I'll say this, Larry's kayak trip does make Healdsburg one of the more kid friendly wine country destinations.

for more information visit soar1.com.

The Perfect Day in Mendocino

8am: Grab a coffee and pastry at Mendocino Bakery and Cafe, then stroll along the bluffs of the Mendocino Headlands.

10am: Have brunch at the Ravens Restaurant.

11:30: Explore the bounty of color at the Mendocino Botanical Gardens.

1pm: Lunch at Mendocino Cafe, then have mushroom ice cream at Frankie's.

3pm: Go on a kayak trip to a sea cave or hike Russian Gulch State Park to see the waterfall.

5:30pm: Have a cocktail at the Mendocino Hotel bar or at the Heritage House restaurant.

7pm: Dine at the Moosse Cafe or Cafe Beaujolais.

9:30pm: Take a moonlight stroll through town, then have an Irish coffee at Patterson's Irish Pub.

Caretakers of the Earth

Last night I had a dream that my son Kai, looking over the wreckage of the planet, asked why I brought him into the world. Upon waking, I read a quote that appears in most holy books about humans being caretakers of the earth, not masters. Both made me feel lucky to live in Northern California, where people attempt to care for the planet rather than destroy it.

A friend recently told me that the spraying of grapes in Napa gives some residents permanent coughs and yet the growing organic and biodynamic wine movement (that started in Mendocino County--more on this soon) is helping to offset the effects of a century of pesticides.

Here in San Francisco, local people are fighting to add more bike lanes and charge a fee to drive into downtown during rush hour. Every other day I get a flyer on my door about local tree plantings or house cleaners that use organic cleaning products. And the new Academy of Sciences teaches us about the planet in fun and interesting ways.

In Lake Tahoe most new restaurants serve organic and locally grown produce. Go to Yosemite at Earth Day and kids learn about why it is a good thing to care for the planet. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch list is on the menus of most evolved chefs in the country. You'll find more organic restaurants in the small town of Mendocino than almost anywhere else on the planet. The protected redwood forests of Humboldt County help our famous trees survive in spite of logging efforts. Mt Shasta City's water is some of the best in the world. And the list goes on and on.

I suppose a thank you is in order to everyone working to protect the earth rather than destroy it. But a plea is also in order. For all of us--visitors and inhabitants--to do our part to help keep this land as one of the most beautiful places in the country. I am open to suggestions that I would love to list here as a guide to helping people know where to start. Your help is appreciated.

The Perfect Day In San Francisco

Recently the SF Chronicle ran a piece on the perfect day in San Francisco and though the article was great, I have to disagree. Here is my perfect day in the City for singles, romantics and families.

THE PERFECT DAY FOR SINGLES
8am: A latte at Ritual Coffee Roasters

9am: Breakfast at Boogaloos.

10:30am: Drive the 49 mile drive to Baker Beach (if it is a nice day, there is a nude beach at the far south end, near the bridge).

12:30pm: Lunch at the Ferry Building or Greens in Fort Mason.

2pm: Stroll the shops of Union Street.

5pm: Happy Hour margaritas at Mamacita.

7pm: Dinner at Nopa or Osha Thai.

9pm: Bar hop downtown through Boubon and Branch, Rye, Slide and Bambuddha Lounge.


THE PERFECT DAY FOR COUPLES:
9am: Coffee and pastries at the Boulangerie de Cole while you wait for breakfast at Zazie.

10:30am: Stroll through the Strybing Botanical Gardens and Stow Lake.

12:00pm: Drive along the coast, through the Presidio to Swan Oyster Depot or Nick's Crispy Tacos for lunch.

2pm: Wander through the Ferry Building and stop for wine at the Wine Merchant.

4:30pm: Ride the cable car for cocktails at Top of the Mark or a spa treatment at Huntington Hotel Spa.

7:30pm: Dine at Forbes Island or Piperade.

10pm: Have a nightcap and dessert at the Campton Place hotel bar (if you call in advance you can have the dessert tasting menu).

THE PERFECT DAY FOR FAMILIES:
8am: Coffee and pastries at Cafe Roma in North Beach.

9am: Take a food tour through North Beach and Chinatown.

11:30am: Explore Musee Mechanique at Fisherman's Wharf.

12:30pm: Ride the cable car to the Ferry Building for lunch and gelato.

2pm: Head to Golden Gate Park to play.

4:30pm: Mom and Dad grab a beer at Park Chalet while the kids eat pizza and run around.

6:30pm: Dinner at Foreign Cinema or Gialina.

9pm: When the kids are asleep, mom and dad pop open that bottle of wine and relax.