ramblings of a Seattle travel, food and photography hound
Some very beautiful Victorian homes line the streets of Petaluma, west of the river. These homes, which survived the 1906 earthquake relatively intact, have been wonderfully restored to their former glory after years of neglect. As a result, many motion pictures have been filmed here. We walked through the historic district, which is on the... Continue Reading →
Robin's was recommended by two different townspeople. The chef seems to have high aspirations since he prepares "special" menus throughout the year and even has a Japanese menu paired with different kinds of sake. The menu is also eclectic, offering seafood items, Indian-themed dishes and a heavy influence of Asian fusion. This seemed promising, so... Continue Reading →
Driving along the California coast is a spectacular experience. California Highway 1, in particular, has many rewards, not only breathtaking vistas of the Pacific Ocean but little towns that are free from over-commercialization. Take Cambria, for example. Situated about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, it attracts travelers from both, a picturesque village of... Continue Reading →
Along the coast of San Luis Obispo county is situated the beautiful town of Morro Bay, once a center of abalone fishing that now hosts commercial and sport fishing activities. We approached it from the south along Highway 101 when we saw the town's most famous landmark, Morro Rock, that juts up out of the water... Continue Reading →
I've posted before that one of the best ways to find a good restaurant is to ask the locals. After visiting the Guadalupe Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, it was time for lunch. The town of Guadalupe is largely Hispanic, so the obvious choice was to eat at a Mexican restaurant. A local said that the... Continue Reading →
The Chumash Indians were the dominant people in a portion of southern California that includes Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties. They left behind many examples of rock art throughout this region. The most accessible site is Chumash Painted Cave State Park, just off State Hwy 154. The pictographs, done in red and... Continue Reading →
A significant architectural building in all of California is the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, built in the 1920s. It is arguably the most impressive building in the city, reflecting a superb example of the Spanish Colonial Revival style that earned it a designation as a U.S. National Historic Landmark and a place in the U.S.... Continue Reading →
Santa Barbara has North America's largest Moreton Bay fig tree, planted in 1877 at its current location. Its dimensions are so impressive that it is said that the canopy can shelter 1,000 people. It was somewhat difficult to find the tree, located on the corner of Chapala and Montecito Streets behind the railway station, but... Continue Reading →
A big reason we stopped here to have lunch was the praise that Julia Child heaped on La Super Rica, a taqueria on the outer edge of the Santa Barbara commercial district. It's basically a stand on the corner of Milpas and N. Alphonse Streets, though the covered eating area makes it look bigger than... Continue Reading →
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