The Savvy Tourist

Driving the Central Coast of Cali

One of my absolute favorite vacations is when we take the time to drive up the coast of California. As most of my savvy readers already know, I live in the SoCal region (Southern California for all you folks not from around these parts). So, our journey really begins when we reach Ventura. The first couple hours from our home in the Inland Valley to the coast is more of an adventure as we make our way through and around Los Angeles and it's neighboring overpopulated cities. When you break through and reach Ventura, you start to smell the salty sea and life takes on a more casual existence. (It is also a great place to stop and pee). Ventura is nicknamed "the city of good fortune" and is known for it's scenic coastline and it's historic Downtown district.

When we drive along the coast we try not to make any one place our destination. We like for the whole drive to be the destination. We stop frequently for those Kodak moments as it seems that every turn we take is another breathtaking scene that we feel we have to capture. Personally I never mind getting caught behind a huge RV struggling around the turns and up the mountain because it forces us to take our time and see even more things.

Our next favorite place along the way is Santa Barbara. We don't usually stop here as a family but we have been known to do a romantic getaway on occasion. We love to walk on the beach and take pictures of the seagulls and all their feathered friends. Then, we stroll along Stearn's Wharf and check out all the cute little local shops before choosing a restaurant. Last time we were there we ate at Longboard's Beach Bar and Grill. It is billed as casual dining for locals and visitors alike. The food was good, but I defintely think it is the local's place to be as it was sure crowded and noisy and it appeared everyone knew everyone else. We did see Dennis Miller there, but chose not to be crazed fans and left him to eat his dinner in peace. We like to stay at The Hotel Oceana, located directly across from the wharf area. The rooms are delightful and affordable, and the customer service is superb. The best time to visit Santa Barbara is when they are having an event such as the Big Dogs Canine Festival, local artists exhibits, or celebrating a holiday such as Cinco de Mayo. It is a very outdoor and casual city.

A few miles north you will have a choice to either continue on Highway 1 or to turn inland a bit on Highway 101. If you do not have a specific destination on Highway 1, I recommend you head inland. This will take you to the sleepy little town of Buellton. The name of the town does not usually stand out in anyone's mind, but many people have heard of Anderson's Split Pea Soup. This is what puts Buellton on the map. 

Just a few more miles off the beaten path is Solvang. This little town takes you back in time to a small Danish village where food,wine and baked goods are the main attraction. You can take a tour of the wineries, ride bicycles, or shop in the shops where you will encounter folks dressed in authentic Danish costumes. Whatever you do, don't leave without a bucket of famous Danish shortbread cookies.

The drive through the countryside on Highway 101 will certainly make you feel relaxed and possibly thinking of where you would like to retire. At least that is what it does for me. The rolling hills are dotted with those healthy free range California cows that you see on all the TV ads for milk and cheese. There are some roadside tasting rooms for some of the hidden local wineries along the way, as well as an occassional produce stand or antique store.

We usually head up to San Luis Obispo before getting back on Highway 1, where our next favorite destination happens to be Morro Bay. Morro Bay is marked on the map by it's own natural wonder, Morro Bay Rock. Back in the day, Morro Bay was a busy little port used to import dry goods for farmers and export their dairy, meat and produce. It later became a fishing port, developing a huge abalone fishing industry. Today, Morro Bay is governed mostly by the tourism industry, but is still used as a fishing port. If you are in the market for a fresh seafood meal, this is the place. There are several great restaurants along the Embarcadero where you can count on the "Catch of the Day" being prepared just the way you like it. We chose the Harbor Hut, where we discovered the best clam chowder we had ever eaten. Little did we know at the time, they are famous for it. There is a great view of the harbor and "the rock" while dining in a warm, inviting atmosphere with great service. I could sit there all day with a nice bottle of...well, just about anything!

Morro Bay is also host to many special events so check the calendar before planning your vacation. You might be able to see a kite show, a car show, or participate in an oyster festival. 

After leaving Morro Bay, the drive is all coastal. The scenery is breathtaking and there are so many places  I want to stop for pictures that sometimes it feels like we aren't making very much progress. There is a very popular tourist attraction along this drive, right near the area of San Simeon. Hearst Castle is rich in history and art and ambiance, along with architecture and beauty. There are daily tours available so you can experience the castle in all it's glory. For more information on the tours and the history behind Hearst Castle please visit their website. Allow a lot of time for this stop. There are several tours and there is a lot to see including the museum and the gift shop.

Every time we make this trip we stop by and see our friends, the Elephant Seals. They are located at Piedras Blancas just a few miles past Hearst Castle. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of Elephant Seals just sunbathing on the beach. There are so many that sometimes you look right at them and don't realize right away that is what you are looking at. It looks more like a rocky beach. To learn more about the Elephant Seals and the folks who work hard to protect them, please visit Friends of the Elephant Seal. For a very special treat, please click on the Elephant Seal Live Web Cam. This will give you a chance to view the seals without getting wind blown, which is usually the case in this area.

Our most recent trip up the coast took us to a new place, The Ragged Point Inn. It was accidental that we ended up there since my original search for lodging was supposed to be for the Big Sur area. Ragged Point appeared in the search results so I assumed it was close to where I thought I wanted to be. I fell in love with the description of the tranquility and the nature and the ocean view from the cliffs where this quaint little place sits, so I booked it immediately. The price was right and it sounded just like what I needed. It was a few days later that one of the family members pointed out that it was about 50 miles south of Big Sur. This could have posed quite a dilemna but instead of changing our location to accomodate our schedule, I changed our schedule to accomodate our location. I am certainly glad that is what I did because as it turns out, we couldn't have been happier with our experience at The Ragged Point Inn. Our room was about 20 feet from the edge of the cliff with amazing views whether sunrise or sunset. The grounds had nature trails and gorgeous flowers, along with butterflies and ground squirrels and wild bunnies. There is a restaurant on site that prepares amazing food and offers some of the best local wines. You can dine indoors or out, and the service can't be beat. They also have a gas station with a little mini market, a coffee bar, and a gift shop. The Ragged Point Inn has been family owned since the late 1950's and you can surely tell because they make you feel right at home while you're there. I can't wait to go back. I hope to make this a yearly getaway.

Our final destination on this trip was about an hour north to an enchanted little place called Nepenthe. This has been a family favorite visiting site for generations so naturally we stop by whenever we are in the area. Nepenthe has always been known as an artist's retreat. It was a place where people went to get away from the hustle and bustle and lock into their creative minds. The first famous owners of what used to be a small cabin overlooking the cliffs was Rita Hayworth and Orson Welles. They purchased it as their love retreat, only to never spend a night in it. They sold it in 1947 to the Bill and Lolly Fassett family, who's grandchildren and great-grandchildren operate it today as a restaurant for all travelers and locals alike. The Nepenthe Restaurant serves food that has been created over the years from family tradition. The property now boasts, in addition to the restaurant, The Phoenix Gift Shoppe, and the Cafe Kevah.
The wonderment that surrounds this place can only be experienced in person for the true effect, so I strongly suggest you put this on your list of family favorites when you are driving Highway 1 along the coast of California.

This is why I am going to Thailand

Katherine Connor of Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary - Why I do what I do to help the elephants

Anyone who wishes to get involved by helping to sponsor our trip, please click on the donate button below. All proceeds will be given directly to BLES to help the elephants. We will be producing a "Sounds of BLES" audio CD as a fundraiser for the sanctuary. Anyone sponsoring our trip will receive a CD when it is available.

Thank you all in advance for your support.

Chicken Buses Are Not Air Conditioned

 This is what I read this morning while shopping for travel gear suitable for our upcoming Thailand trip. One of my favorite affiliate travel vendors, Walkabout Travel Gear LLC sells a nice cooling fan that you wear around your neck with a reminder that chicken buses are not air conditioned. Chicken buses are the local buses in some countries where you share your ride with the livestock as well as anyone or anything else that needs transporting between point A and point B. For movie lovers, you can relate it to the "Bus to Cartagena" from "Romancing the Stone .

Maybe I need to watch that movie again before I go on my trip.

 

Forget the Chocolate Bunny, Give Me the Chocolate Wine!

 

I was recently invited to attend a very special wine tasting event at Thornton Winery, located in the breathtaking Temecula Valley Wine Country. The warm and welcoming Thornton family had a new series of wines that they were unveiling and some of us lucky press writers were included in the fun. I say "fun" because what else could you possibly have when combining chocolate with wine?

 

I am sure the picture you have is of all of us lazy travel writers sitting around sipping wine and getting plump on chocolate. That is not what happened at all. First of all, you must understand that the chocolate is actually in the wine, not necessarily paired with it. As a matter of fact you would be amazed at what you can pair with chocolate wine. It is not just for dessert.

 

Our first tasting was Creme De Cocoa, the NEW Chocolate Lover's Wine. This wine is smooth and creamy and can be served chilled, on the rocks, or traditionally, right out of the bottle. This wine was hands down my favorite and the one I hope to see in my Easter basket instead of the chocolate bunny. I was very surprised when Thornton Winery's very own Chef Steve Pickell paired this yummy wine with a Moroccan tomato jam and a very dry, aged Jack cheese. I was even more surprised at how much I liked it together. This was a perfect example of why we must keep an open mind and leave some things to the experts.

 

Our next taste was of The Chocolate Lover's Wine. This is a deep red wine with hints of black cherry and dark chocolate. As you swirl the wine around in the glass, you can smell the sweet aroma of chocolate as though you were in a bakery. This is a more traditional style of wine, not at all creamy like the first one we tasted, but still very appetizing if you enjoy the sweeter wines. Chef Pickell paired this wine with a small tasting of smoked duck breast in his very own flavorful style. Again, I was totally amazed at how well these flavors all came together perfectly.

Our third taste was called Dark Chocolate or "Coco Rosso". I feel this wine is for a more dinstinguished palatte than mine. It is very close to a tradtional deep red wine with a hint of dark chocolate. Neither of which are my favorites, but I did notice many of my fellow tasters were quite impressed. Along with this dark chocolate wine, Chef Pickell served an Oaxacan braised short rib that literally melted in your mouth. Here is when I really appreciated his talent for pairing because the full flavors of the short rib really smoothed out the sharpness I found in the wine. Together they are quite the pair!

Our last but certainly not least wine of the day was the Chocolate Strawberry. This is a bright, refreshing wine, much lighter than the others. While still tasting the cocoa, you also experience the freshness of strawberries. I believe this will make a perfect summer dessert wine for even the most finicky of wine snobs. I must not be too far off with my opinion because our chef paired this wine with a coconut almond torte drizzled with white chocolate and raspberry cream. It really was a great ending to a great tasting.

 

For those of you that are feeling some pangs of thirst for chocolate wine and maybe some of the decadent food they were paired with, you can visit Thornton Winery and have a similar experience in their Champagne Lounge. They encourage a full tasting experience by offering specially paired food with their wine flights. John Thornton, owner of Thornton Winery, when asked which foods paired best with these wines, answered "All of them".

 

John Thornton, along with Chef Steve Pickell, and Steve Thornton, President of Thornton Winery were our three gracious hosts for our day of chocolate wine tastings. I have to say that as upscale and "old world" as Thornton Winery appears, they are just as down to earth and warm and welcoming as family.

 

So, I highly recommend to all my savvy readers to drop by and meet the Thornton family and taste their fine selections of wines. Don't forget to pick up some Creme De Cocoa for the Easter basket. 

 

Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary

 

Deep in the jungle of Thailand lies a magical place filled with love, compassion, and a special understanding for the survival of elephants. Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary, or "BLES" for simplicity sake, provides a safe haven for elephants to live out their days in their natural environment. Elephants can come from many different situations in need of a new home. Some of the elephants at the sanctuary have been retired from their work with local villagers, some may have been used to amuse tourists for tips. Sadly though, many have been rescued from being abused and overworked. All the elephants from BLES have been given a second chance no matter what their story.

 

The amazing (and probably a little crazy) person responsible for saving the lives of these amazing creatures is Katherine Connor. I say crazy because without even meeting her I know she created this place with her heart, knowing full well some of the tasks she takes on are virtually impossible. Regardless, she does it anyway! Katherine, a British expat, started BLES in honor and memory of baby elephant Boon Lott, which means survivor in Thai. You can read about Boon Lott's full story on the BLES website.

 

Like I said earlier, because of her heart, Katherine changed her whole life by moving from Britain to

Thailand to establish a safe haven for elephants. Everything she does for them is possible through the endless fundraising that she does. Katherine also depends on a well working team to assist her. She has recruited and educated many locals to help with the handling of the elephants and the chores at BLES. Elephant handlers are referred to as "mahouts". Mahouts feed and care for the elephants all the while establishing a mutual respect between man and this gentle giant.

 

One of the many ways that Katherine has established to raise funds for BLES is to allow people to come stay on site and learn more about what really goes on while rescuing and caring for elephants. It is what you would call a working vacation for those that are interested. There are no fancy frills or crazy rides. It is not an adventure park. There are three guesthouses, all made from sustainable materials collected from the land. They are located in close proximity so as to enjoy the everyday sounds and the lifestyle of the elephants. Guests will have the opportunity to perform chores and interact directly with the mahouts to learn more about the care of the elephants. They will also be able to interact directly with the elephants. 100% of the funds received go directly to the care of the animals.

I was introduced to BLES by my son after he was approached to assist with a fundraiser for them. The more I read about BLES, the more I knew I needed to go see it for myself. So, I plan to join my son in May of this year and travel to this amazing sanctuary. My son will be recording and producing an audio project involving all the inhabitants of BLES. Meanwhile, I will be doing all I can to get to know all the residents and help in anyway I can. I will be photographing and writing about BLES in hopes of creating even more awareness and raise more funds. 

 

There is so much more to learn about BLES and you can do this by visiting their website and meeting their entire family. Don't be surprised to find out that this sanctuary also rescues cats, dogs, goats, tortoises, and just about any animal that needs a new home and a little extra love.

 

I am setting up a donation widget for anyone that wants to assist us by sponsoring our trip and donating to the BLES fund. We will be paying our own airfare so any money raised here will be given directly to BLES. So bookmark this post and share with your friends. Come back and visit us often to check on our progress. 

                                                                                                                                                                

 

 

Have Service Dog Will Travel

There are new things on the horizon here at The Savvy Tourist. The most exciting of which is that Savvy Annie will soon have a travel partner. Meet Dexter, a.k.a. "The Bug".  Dexter has been my very faithful friend and companion now for about 3 1/2 years. We picked each other out of a line up when he was just 11 days old.

This little guy here is the face that I fell in love with and soon grew up to be by my side no matter where I go. Dexter went through some extensive training so that he would be welcome to accompany me in my travels.  He is a fully trained service dog and has literally broadened my horizons and opened up doors to me that I thought would remain closed forever. Although, Dexter was not the only one doing the learning. Us humans are harder to train than most animals, but together we got through it.

Now, The Bug and I are on a mission to learn about traveling together and how to make that an easier process for our fellow service dogs and their accompanying human counterparts.

So, travel on over to our new sister site, Have Service Dog Will Travel and follow us on our journey to make this world a better place for people that can't travel without their loyal canine companion.

 and The Bug!

 

Learn the Lingo, Beware of Dingos

If you’re heading to Australia for the first time, you’ll be delighted and surprised at some of the turns of phrase and slang terms used. Although essentially the same language as the Old World, Australian English has evolved its very own slang vocabulary, recognized across the world as something distinctly Australian. Many of the words and phrases were brought into the global lexicon via the golden era of Australian soap operas in the 80s and 90s. And they all tell us something about the history of this special country. 

Claimed for the British crown in the 18^th Century, eastern Australia was used by the empire primarily as a penal colony for Irish and British convicts, a practice that went on for 80 years, between 1788-1868. Quite a few Aussie slang words hail from this period, and betray their British origins. ‘Creek’, for example, is on old English word meaning a stream or small river. It has fallen out of use in the UK, and now seems a particularly Australian term. Similarly, ‘paddock’ – still used in England to denote a livestock enclosure – simply means any field in Australia. ‘Bush’ and ‘scrub’ refer to what Brits would call the countryside. And of course ‘mate’ is widely used by Antipodeans, passed down and still used by their English cousins, but never in other English-speaking countries like the US or Scotland. 

The origins of some Aussie phrases are a lot less obvious. ‘Fair dinkum’ is used to mean ‘authentic’ or ‘fair enough’, but its history is disputed. Some people believe that ‘dinkum’ originated during the Australian goldrush of the 1850s, and is derived from ‘ding kam’, a Cantonese expression meaning ‘top gold’. Others cite a redundant English dialect from the East Midlands, where the word meant simply ‘hard work’. Interestingly, since the phrase gained notoriety by being used in Neighbours, its usage is now more a self-parody than an authentic way of speaking – so be sure to say it with a smirk! 

Another well-worn Aussie word is ‘sheila’, the somewhat patronizing word for ‘woman’. It evolved in this very macho culture, probably from the Irish name ‘Sile’. ‘Bludger’, a great word to trip off the tongue, denotes a lazy person, and comes from the now-defunct British slang-term for ‘pimp’.

There y’go mate. Just a few Aussie words to help you blend in. To get yourself down under for a real taste of the Oz language, visit DialAFlight and fly to Australia for less than you might expect.

 

 

Disgruntled Passengers vs. Disgruntled Employees

Has everyone watched the new show this season Pan Am? Although not a documentary, it glorifies the flight attendant (or shall I say stewardess) job in a way that makes the general public think there is actually glory to be found in that job. That may have been true back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, but believe me when I say those days are long gone. If some of you may remember, flying as a passenger back then was also glorified. It was a pleasure and a luxury to fly away somewhere headed on an adventure. Flying was actually part of the adventure. Now, flying is the pain you endure trying to get somewhere that you don't have time to drive to.

When people reflect on the changes that have overcome the airline industry in just the last decade, they forget that those changes have affected the flight crews and the customer service (I use this term loosely) agents too. They have actually had a bigger effect on them if you get down to it, which I am going to do.

People are dreadfully aware these days that the level of customer service (again...lightly) and the way in which flight crews interact with them has changed. While I do not condone rude behavior or a crappy attitude while dealing with customers, I think there are times when our human nature can only take so much.

When a passenger has been delayed, re-routed, charged extra for bags, charged for a soda, squished into a seat 2 sizes too small and kicked in the back by an unruly child, he tends to get a little irritable, and it shows, because someone can only take so much. Well, guess what? The flight crews can only take so much too. Now, I know you think "It's their job, they get paid to put up with this". Guess again. Their job is to get you safely to your destination while doing their job the best way possible with the tools they are given by their employer. These flight crews are also human and can only take so much. They too get delayed, re-routed, and squished into a seat 2 sizes too small, but they have to do it for several flights a day, and they are expected to wait on you, the passenger with a smile and a gracious "I'm sorry" when the aircraft is broken or the weather is bad or the food is cold or the guy sitting next to you smells. They also have to adhere to safety standards and regulations and procedures that the general public doesn't even begin to understand. That is their real job. They just listen to your crap and try to make you comfy while they are taking responsibility for your life while on their flight. No one ever thinks of the "behind the scenes" stuff and the extensive training that all flight crews go through before they have the privilege of babysitting people who become automatically helpless the minute they get on an airplane.

If your flight is cancelled for weather it is because the pilot has been trained to know better than to fly around in dangerous conditions and put your life at risk. Maybe you should thank him or her for that instead of complaining about being late. If your baby stroller and your kitchen sink is taken from you on the jetway and put underneath the plane, again, thank them instead of complaining. Now, if the aircraft experiences turbulence the chance of you being killed by a flying baby stroller have been exponentially decreased. If you are told to put away your laptop upon take-off and landing, shut up and do it. And do it the first time you are asked because the flight crew has much more important things to do than keep re-checking to see if you can perform adult tasks.

Something else that you might not know is that these same flight crews are now doing their jobs with only half the pay they used to get prior to 9/11, without their pension plan that they were hired with, and with no guarantee their job will be there for them tomorrow. So next time you fly somewhere, try to do so with a positive attitude and an appreciation for the people that are working hard to get you where you want to be, safe and sound.

The customer service agents and the flight crews are the ones you see on the front line, but they aren't the ones responsible for the problems you encounter while flying these days. Just like the soldiers on the front line of war, they didn't start the war, they are just doing their jobs. The blame starts at the top.

I can rant when someone pushes my buttons!!

Steve Jobs

He changed the way we interact with the world! He will be missed!

The Golden Bee

Just recently I was treated to a night out at "The Bee" by my favorite USAFA kiddo. I was visiting for the weekend and was informed that we would be going out to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to me, this was some kind of torturist birthday ritual started by our extended host family in Colorado Springs. The highlight of the evening is the massive amounts of beer you can drink in one sitting. Your favorite beer is served in "yards" and "half yards" depending upon your ability to pour it into your mouth without drowning or involving the table next to you. Drinking a yard of ale is actually a famous drinking game in pubs in the UK. I must say after watching several hours of this, it does appear to take some actual skill, although I don't expect to see it as an Olympic event any time soon.

 You can all probably guess how the drinking game ended, so I will tell you a little about "The Bee". The Golden Bee is a 19th century pub that was shipped to the US from London in pieces and later purchased  and reassembled at the request of William Thayer Tutt, Chairman of The Broadmoor. Mr. Tutt was looking to offer an authentic "English Pub" experience for his many guests visiting Colorado Springs so he purchased the pub from an English Ale company known as Whitbread.  Whitbread asked, as part of the purchase agreement, that Mr. Tutt serve their ale. And so he did.

In May of 1961, The Golden Bee opened in the lower section of the International Center of The Broadmoor.  They have since served yards and yards and yards of ale and become a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The Bee isn't just about the drinkin' though. The authentic English Pub food is a great compliment to the atmosphere and libations. That night I had the age old English favorite, Fish and Chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful while being served in what looked like an old newspaper, just the way they did it in merry ol' England. The menu also offered other traditional English fare such as Shepherd's Pie and Bangers and Mash.

 What else could you possibly want from an old English pub besides beer and food? Well, how about a fun time singing along to tunes being played by the piano man? That's right, after dinner you get a chance to sing along with the rest of the crowd from The Golden Bee song book. Luckily there are enough to go around for those of us that don't know all the words. There is tons of fun for the whole family at The Bee, but watch out for the bees buzzing about the room, one might land on you.

Unfortunately, The Bee is not very large in size. It is first come, first served and they do not take reservations. So, get there early or you will be one of those people in the lobby looking in and watching the rest of us having a grand ol' time, pub style!! The Golden Bee is located at 1 Lake Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO.