Dining Outside the Home: Calico Café in Coldwater, Ohio! One of my favorite places is the Calico Café in Coldwater, Ohio. You haven’t lived until you’ve tasted the sublime burst of flavors in Mary’s golden crumble mixed berry Calamity Cobbler! Eat it warm with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or savor its natural sweetness with a steaming cup of gourmet coffee. Yes, please!
Historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, California is an Architectural Marvel! Explore this district by foot or trolley to appreciate the area once known as New Town, simply because the gas-lighted street lamps marked saloons, gambling halls, and bordellos for sailors on shore leave. Today the area is a hub of shopping, dining, and nightly entertainment with music, festivals, and other events. The buildings are still magnificent, having been restored and utilized as a popular focus for local flavor. Grab ahold of the past as you enjoy the present while soaking up the character of these dynamic painted ladies.
La Jolla Shores Park is Home to Sea Lions in San Diego, California! Among the rock formations, cave crevices, crashing waves, and sandy beachfront lies a hidden cove where wild sea lions congregate and claim the area as their own. This seal sanctuary gives passersby the opportunity to step gingerly on sandstone cliffs to get a closer look at the colony of marine mammals at rest and at play. Watch them safely from above or bravely head down to the ocean’s edge where snapshots can be taken effortlessly. After all, these sea lions enjoy the sun, wind, water, and company of seagulls just as Nature intended. When you follow the scenic walkway along the shoreline, expect to see pelicans in flight, body surfers, scuba divers, and snorkelers. Not far from Shell Beach, against a concrete barrier, the tide pools fill La Jolla Children’s Pool which is another gorgeous spot to marvel at breathtaking sunsets and unpredictable sea life. Although it’s a temptation to gain proximity, stay a safe distance away and keep the interactions to a minimum. These creatures are, after all, in their natural habitat. It is best to pay attention to the bark or growl warning when invading their space. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Old Point Loma Lighthouse and Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California. Imagine discovering a land of plenty with unbridled beauty from cliff to sea. The 16th century explorer, Juan Cabrillo, managed such a feat on a voyage that began in Europe and ended on the California coast. Today it is known as an Historical Landmark. Many years later in 1855, 422 feet high above sea level, the Old Point Loma Lighthouse served as a coastal beacon and California’s first of its kind. Challenge yourself to ascend the spiral staircase leading to a 360° panoramic bird’s eye view of the Pacific Ocean, the skyline of San Diego, Coronado Island, and the Mexican coastline. During the winter months it’s not uncommon to walk around the grounds and watch migrating grey whales from several vantage points. Visit Point Loma for a view to remember.
Seaport Village is Waterfront Destination in San Diego, California! Laughter fills the air as hand-carved animals move to and fro on an 100-year-old lighted carousel. Anyone can ride, you know. Nearby calypso music captivates passersby crisscrossing the food court on a quest to step into the fudge shoppe for a tempting sample. Will it be a ‘Cookies and Cream’ concoction or the ‘Traditional Chocolate’? Perhaps both. Several walking paths wind past marble statues in waterfront fountains, yachts awaiting carefree guests, open-door shops, interesting art galleries, and aromatic eateries. Entertainment takes all forms from sword swallowing to pet cockatoos and parrots perched on the shoulders of a jolly pirate. As you meander towards the bay where the sunset is mesmerizing, the lapping waves provide sound therapy.
Some Like It Hot! The Hotel del Coronado, a famous resort on the island of Coronado, greets visitors with its iconic red turrets sitting high above the sea. Whether you stroll along the winding boardwalk where sand meets wave or pause in the shade of the expansive veranda for a sip of lemonade, time seems to stand still. And then it begins; that feeling of nostalgia when legendary film stars like Marilyn Monroe created waves of excitement. As though hypnotic, the air fills with wonderment and awe.
Pay a Visit to Sunny San Diego, California! Just off the coast of Southern California sits a city that is high in adventure and easy in the eyes. Whether you’re captivated by the flurry of activity along the marina with the fishermen returning from their catch-of-the-day or the military jets soaring high overhead, it’s exciting to absorb the sights and sounds in every direction. The bordering exotic Bird-of-Paradise flower showcases its colorful foliage as though it had feathery plumes. From cloud-bursting sunrise to breathtaking sunset, all one can do is marvel at the beauty of this city known as San Diego.
Dining Outside the Home: Little Italy’s Civico 1845 of San Diego, California! Nestled on the corner where the air is filled with aromas of Southern Italy is a quaint place to relax with a glass of wine and a plate of pasta. The exuberant staff at Civico 1845 is as passionate about their food as they are about family traditions. Everyone abounds in vitality as the steady stream of Italian floats from table to table overflowing through open-shuttered windows onto the terrace. The most difficult decision is choosing what to order, although the chef can modify any dish to appeal to personal favorites. Mine was the vegan potato gnocchi topped with spicy grilled shrimp in a fabulous white sauce that was to die for. My husband, on the other hand, ordered raviolo classico with a polpette (homemade meatball in neopolitan ragù) on the side. The flavors were just right. Favoloso!
Dining Outside the Home: Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market San Diego, California! Three city blocks were filled with artisans and tent vendors. California growers sold bushels of farm fresh produce while gourmet chefs filled platters of specialty foods offer tempting samples for patrons walking by. Wide selections of fresh cut flowers and seasonal arrangements brightened up street corners. From European linens and handmade soaps to sushi-filled sea urchins and artisan breads, the weekly Little Italy Mercato Farmers’ Market is well worth the walk.
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