Recently in California Category

The Underground Gardens of Fresno

Thursday July 8, 2010

Get ready to be blown away by gardens that are truly like nothing you've ever seen - they're underground. Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere came to America in 1901 to "escape the iron rule of his wealthy father" and to follow his dreams. And dream he did.

Forestiere spent 40 years chiseling away below ground, creating a hand-built network of rooms (including a chapel, kitchen, and bedrooms), courtyards, and passageways reminiscent of the ancient catacombs. He made no blueprints or sketches, and used little more than a pick, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow to chip away at the earth, clearing out and planting more than 10-acres worth by the time he was 44. He ultimately built three underground levels: at 10, 22, and 25 feet. Defying all logic, he planted plenty of fruit-bearing trees in his underground masterpiece, ranging from orange to grapefruit to fig to Zinfandel grapes. In addition to providing him with fruit, they also provided additional insulation, as he actually lived in the underground dwelling. Thanks to the many skylights he carved throughout the space, the Underground Gardens are actually quite light - and just a 15-minute drive from the Four Points by Sheraton Fresno.

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Hunting for Food Trucks in Emeryville

Thursday June 24, 2010

seoultaco.jpgLooking to hit the streets for a quick and fun food adventure during your stay at Four Points by Sheraton San Francisco Bay Bridge? Luckily, there's a burgeoning street food scene right in the same city of Emeryville, situated just minutes from San Francisco. There, a growing legion of gourmet-on-the-go mobile food vendors are providing delicious and deliciously affordable alternatives to standard quick fare. One can find out the daily whereabouts of these trucks, carts, and other portable pop-up food sellers by following their various Twitter accounts. Communicating in this matter is helpful both for vendors, who can engage with an audience in effective ways, but for eaters, who might be on the way somewhere and could use an update on if a mobile seller happens to move locations.

Liba SF, which splits its time between Emeryville and San Francisco, dishes up a fresh and modern California twist on classic Mediterranean fare. Think falafels with traditional toppings and beyond. One-man operation Jon's Street Eats never seems to offer the same menu twice, but it is always a tasty and healthy selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, and heartier entrees. Seoul on Wheels (pictured) presents a shining version of the Korean-ized taco craze that's sweeping major cities across the United States, and also presents original Asian takes on fare as American as hamburgers. Neighboring Oakland is also home to a plethora of old-school Mexican taco trucks; window-shop amongst the best recommendations from the California Taco Trucks blog for the most updated hot spots.

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The Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center is a one-of-a-kind place in Santa Rosa, California, conveniently located just minutes north of Sheraton Sonoma County - Petaluma. A celebration of all things Snoopy and the Peanuts gang, the museum is home to a selection of permanent and temporary exhibits illuminating the rich history of Schulz's enduringly iconic cartoon series. Great care has been taken to preserve his office as it was and relocate it. Here, you can walk around and gaze at his bookshelves and the place where he expressed his daily creative inspiration. For the little ones, there's a fantastic art laboratory where they can draw and participate in creative activities, and there's even Peanuts-related sculptures in the outdoor garden. This place is truly suitable for all ages and shouldn't be missed.

The nearby Redwood Empire Ice Arena is another special part of the Schulz legacy, as his daughters grew up in the involved world of competitive figure skating. Up until his final days, Schulz (or "Sparky," as his friends lovingly called him) had a regular table at the enclosed Warm Puppy Cafe that overlooks the ice. It's still a great place to get a snack before or after your time on the ice, which is one of the largest and best rinks in the ice skating friendly region of Northern California. Another must-see is Snoopy's Gallery and Gift Shop right next door, which existed long before the museum's multi-million dollar opening. It is still home to special artifacts, such as Snoopy dolls from around the world, and great gift items for sale that are just about impossible to resist. It's also quite the community gathering place over the summer months, when they host "Fire and Ice" barbecues every Thursday night.

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sheratonsandiego.jpgTired of giving Dad neckties? Nothing says "You're No. 1" like a kayak trip down one of San Diego's oldest reservoirs.

The San Diego Natural History Museum's Father's Day Kayak Adventure will take you there. The June 20 event will have fathers and their offspring paddling down Lake Hodges. The adventure is led by certified instructor Marie Humphrey, a kayaker with 12 years experience who is eager to share her robust knowledge of birds, marine life, and local history. No experience is required, and children as young as six can paddle along with day. The morning adventure includes a stop for lunch at Hernandez Hideaway, a Mexican eatery famous for its margaritas (watch out, they're strong). Though it's not geared toward Father's Day, the museum is also offering a Blue Whale Nature Cruise that Sunday, should Dad prefer bigger boats and far bigger mammals. Keep the focus on the water by staying at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, nestled at the edge of San Diego Bay. Make dad proud by showing him he taught you how to hunt down the best deal: Stay two nights and get a third night free, as part of Starwood's fantastic San Diego summer sale.

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Can't go to Egypt? San Jose - and the Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Downtown - may be your next best bet. The city lays claim to an impressive amount of ancient history and its Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum houses the largest exhibited collection of Egyptian artifacts in the western US.

The museum has humble origins; it began with a single artifact, a lion goddess statue that sat on the desk of the founder of the Rosicrucian Order, an organization that promotes the study of, among other things, the wisdom of the ancient mystery schools of Egypt. It encouraged members to add to the collection, and in the late 1920s, built the first display cases. By the 1960s, the collection had ballooned to more than 2,000 artifacts, and a dedicated space was needed. In 1966 the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum opened its doors, today welcoming more than 100,000 guests a year who explore its sizable 4,000-item collection, which includes everything from bronze cat statues to four actual mummies and 6,500-year-old black-topped pottery. In addition to checking out the artifacts, you'll want to visit the planetarium; the current show taps into theories about the mysteries hidden in the Mithraic temple carvings. Tip: go online and download an MP3 audio tour to your iPhone or other portable device before your visit.

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Skydive Indoors in Hollywood

Wednesday May 19, 2010

Always wanted to try skydiving but not so sure about the whole jumping-out-of-a-plane thing? Or being thousands of feet about the ground? iFly Hollywood, located near the Sheraton Universal Hotel, lets you experience body flight indoors.

You don't need any experience - just a sense of adventure. iFly Hollywood uses a vertical wind tunnel that moves air upward, so it's not a simulator. You actually will be flying! The safe-for-the-whole-family experience - kids as young as three can fly - starts with flight training. In a brief class, you'll watch a training video and learn the correct flight position and a series of hand signals. Then it's time to gear up with flight suit, helmet and goggles. You'll then take turns flying with your instructor. It's as easy as walking up to the wind tunnel door and entering it with your instructor's help - he'll adjust your body flight position, and you'll have the hang of it in no time. And because you're floating, not jumping, you don't have to worry about pesky things like dizziness. Each flight is about one minute in length, with two flights in the tunnel being roughly equal to the flight time of three tandem skydives. Once you're an experienced flyer, you can work with your instructor to "advance your flight skills" by learning how to do tricks and flips.

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StRegisFW.jpgAs one of last year's top redeemed hotels in the SPG Free Weekends promotion, the St. Regis Monarch Beach is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. Honored as the only California resort crowned with the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, Five-Diamond Award, it's a perfect retreat for those looking for solitude, beauty, and exquisite cuisine. Situated along the Pacific Ocean in the town of Dana Point, this Tuscan-style resort has everything you need to feel relaxed, refreshed, and rejuvenated. Take a nature trail to a private beach, go swimming in one of three pools, or grab some clubs and play a round at the resort's oceanfront links golf course. Stress disappears at Spa Gaucin, where expert aestheticians and therapists transport guests with a tempting menu of signature treatments, while those getting ready for a big night can get glammed up at Vogue Salon, which offers manicures, pedicures, haircuts and other services. When it comes to dining, there are no fewer than six restaurants and lounges, from Club 19, with its à la-carte and "to-go" options, to the Stonehill Tavern, where Chef Michael Mina presides over a menu of modern American cuisine served in a sophisticated indoor/outdoor space. It's west coast living at its best. Register for SPG Free Weekends by June 30, 2010 and start earning Free Weekend Night Awards for that perfect getaway.

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lafondue photos 002.jpgApril 11th is National Fondue Day, and while it's doubtful that the occasion has made its way on to your calendar, it should - because it's the perfect excuse to dine at one of the country's most creative fondue restaurants. Located a quick drive from the newly opened Four Points By Sheraton San Jose Downtown in Saratoga, Calif., La Fondue takes the dipping experience well beyond bread and cheese.

Owner Mitchell Cutler opened the eatery in 1992, and it's been racking up praise since, from the likes of the New York Times ("over the top, plush and evocative") and Wine Spectator ("Award of Excellence"). One look at the menu (and the decor) and it becomes clear why: This isn't a 1960s version of fondue. Your main-course dipping options run from the conscious (free-range chicken) to the upscale (black angus filet mignon, Wyoming buffalo, Pacific white shrimp) to the truly exotic (Amazon crocodile, wild boar, Texas ostrich). Once you've selected your fish or meat, you have your choice of cooking method, which range from a rich canola oil to a low-calorie bouillion to Punsch, a spiced red wine with cloves and rosemary. And a fondue dinner just wouldn't be right without dessert: The indulgent chocolate fondue options include the Decadent One, a blend of milk and bittersweet chocolate, espresso, Kahlua, and cream. Indulge, and keep in mind the all-important fondue rule: If a lady loses her cube in the fondue, she must kiss the man to her right; if a man loses his cube, he buys the next round of drinks.

[image via La Fondue]

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A Stampede of Seahorses in Monterey

Monday March 29, 2010

The seaside town of Monterey, California was originally put on the map by writer John Steinbeck, whose 1945 novel Cannery Row chronicled the lives of those who lived in the shadow of the area's many sardine canneries. Now, 65 years later, the canneries have moved on, but people still flock to Monterey to appreciate the sea's bounty in a different way. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of country's biggest and best aquariums, and there's no finer place to learn about Pacific Ocean sea life. Occupying the site of the former Hovden Cannery, the aquarium boasts more than 35,000 plants and animals in a variety of aquariums and enclosures, the largest of which benefit from a high volume of circulated ocean water from the protected Monterey Bay. The aquarium is famous for several types of larger-than-life sea creatures, from sea otters to giant tuna to the occasional great white shark (it's the only aquarium to have ever kept the scary beasts in captivity), but its most amazing collection might be its tiniest. An exhibit entitled The Secret Lives of Seahorses has more than 15 species of seahorses and their kin on display in special tanks, including leafy sea dragons, ribbon pipehorses, and my personal favorite, the dwarf seahorse (pictured). There are also four multimedia galleries to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about seahorses, including the unusual fact that male seahorses, rather than the females, get pregnant. Interesting. The aquarium is an easy day trip from several Starwood properties in and around the Bay Area, including the Four Points by Sheraton San Jose Downtown.

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Starpick the St. Regis Monarch Beach

Wednesday February 3, 2010

St. Regis Monarch Beach Pool View.jpgThe town of Dana Point is a jewel on the California coastline, with gorgeous weather, a picturesque harbor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. It's also home to the only California resort crowned with the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star, Five-Diamond Award, the St. Regis Monarch Beach, which happens to be one of this week's participating Starpicks properties. That means last-minute rates are at least 20% off regular rates for stays during the next eight weeks. So why not enjoy a few sunsets in this perfect retreat? This Tuscan-style resort is situated along the ocean, and its world-class luxury and stellar setting dazzle from the moment you lay eyes on it. With an exclusive private beach club, three swimming pools (including one with private cabanas), a championship golf course, the award-winning spa Gaucin, and six ocean-view restaurants, you'll find everything you need to relax and feel great. Spend your day swimming in the ocean, relaxing by the pool, or playing tennis on one of eight lighted hard courts. When evening comes, indulge in a meal at Stonehill Tavern, where Chef Michael Mina serves American cuisine in an atmosphere of elegance and refinement. As the sun sets over the ocean, have a toast to another perfect day in California. New Starpicks properties are posted every Tuesday, so check the list for the latest deals.

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