Fall Flavors: Indulging in Apple Orchard Treats

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Fall activities like apple picking and pumpkin patches are fun in themselves, but you better believe we visited Jonamac Apple Orchard for the amazing treats! First, we ventured into the Cider House for a flight of apple wines and ciders, custom pressed and fermented in the orchard with the freshest apples. We tried these apple…

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Universal Studios Trip and Midweek Concert in Hollywood

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Never have I ever…gone to a concert on a weekend. Seriously! The best concerts always seem to fall on a random weekday, never conveniently on the weekend. I guess musicians value their Saturdays too. Instead of fighting it, we embraced the opportunity to see Durand Jones and the Indications on a Tuesday last fall, which…

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High-Flying Lion Dancers in SF Chinatown

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Here’s the routine: Park in the affordable garage below the public park in Chinatown. Walk through Chinatown and grab a boba drink from Lady Luck Cafe or a moon cake from Eastern Bakery. Walk through the North Beach Little Italy area and hike the steep hill to Coit Tower. Pause to catch our breath and…

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Adventure Challenge – Valentine’s Day S’mores

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Wondering how to keep your relationship fresh and fun? Stumped for date ideas this Valentine’s Day? We recommend The Adventure Challenge! This book, the couples edition, is filled with inventive date ideas that range in price, setting, and time commitment, giving you and your boo opportunities to reconnect with a romantic activity. This Valentine’s Day,…

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Exploring the Danish Village of Solvang

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Whenever we road trip to Santa Barbara for a long weekend, it’s customary for us to stop at Solvang along the way – “A little slice of Denmark in Southern California”. This historic Danish village tucked into the Santa Ynez Valley hills 45 minutes north of our destination provides more than just a much-needed pit…

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Dazzling Flavors in the “American Rivera”

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Pit stop! The first leg of our road trip to sunny Santa Barbara began with saucy ribs and blue cheese tri tip salad from Salinas City Barbeque. Hands down, the most gorgeous combination of meat and seasonal veggies that we’ve ever seen. Pro tip: Never start a long journey on an empty stomach. Ok, back…

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Hawaiian Vibes at Hula’s Island Grill

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I was hangry; you know the feeling. After mysteriously waiting half an hour to receive our appetizer from a popular ocean-view restaurant, though we were one of only three tables expecting service during the quiet between-meals hour of 3pm, Brandon and I decided to cut our losses and find another place to eat. Clearly this…

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Peacocks and Pit Stops at Casa De Fruta

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Anyone roadtripping from the south valley along Pacheco Pass toward I-5 has stopped at Casa de Fruta, the farm stand-turned oasis hidden among the rolling California hills. Home to waving palm trees and colorful blue peacocks, Casa de Fruta was founded back in the early 1900s by a family of orchard farmers who evolved the…

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Barbareño – Flavor Stories of Santa Barbara

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When the mild California winter finally breaks around Easter, and the sun warms our faces on afternoon walks, we emerge from our cooped up tiny house existence for a celebratory stay-cation in Santa Barbara. It’s not summer yet; not time for long holidays in exotic places far away from home. No, we venture just a few hours…

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Cruising the Mexican Riviera Aboard Norwegian

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Surfing through cruise deals online one day in March, we stumbled across an amazing early bird offer from Norwegian Cruise Line – four tickets for the price of two, for a week-long Christmas cruise to the Mexican Riviera, making port in Mazatlán, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta. What a steal! And completely worth the…

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Pineapple Carnitas at Cult Taco in Monterey

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“California cuisine through a Oaxacan lens.” – Chef Michelle Estigoy Welcome to Cult Taco in historic downtown Monterey, California! Please step up to the touchscreen to place your order. What are you in the mood for – tacos? An Ensalada? A Torta? We’ve got your homemade chips and salsa right here. You look like you…

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Homeroom Mac + Cheese in Oakland

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Some of the best restaurants begin with the simplest of dreams and menus, wouldn’t you agree? Such is the case for Homeroom Mac + Cheese in Oakland, CA. Founded by a former lawyer-turned-restaurateur, Homeroom is the women-owned, schoolhouse-themed macaroni and cheese restaurant you never knew you needed in your life. Every meal begins with the…

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