In an earlier post I recommended to readers that they always reconfirm airline reservations in order to not be caught unaware of itinerary changes made by the airline after booking.
In this post I would like to take this a step further and provide some suggestions for dealing with a mangled itinerary.
Continue reading “Airlines Schedule change savvy” »
Our parents won.
As a bona fide member of the baby boomer set, I remember thinking at some early age that the stuff my parents generation considered glamorous was actually pretty tacky.
Think Las Vegas and Palm Springs.
But somewhere along the line the tables were turned. Was the lovefest for martinis in the late 90s the first harbinger of the revolution? Maybe it was the children of baby boomers – our parents grandchildren – who reappraised the postwar to early 60s era and pronounced it cool.
.. FLAMINGO RESORT
Regardless how it came to be rehabilitated, the mid-century modern look is hip, hot, happening, and so right now, and for one heck of a fine example of it you dont have to go all the way to Palm Springs or Las Vegas.
Go to Santa Rosa and stay at the Flamingo Resort. The full and proper name is the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa but its mostly known as the Flamingo Resort or simply the Flamingo.
Continue reading “Lodging Mid-century modern at the Flamingo Resort, Santa Rosa” »
In this short, second-to-last post inspired by my recent stay in Sonoma County, I wanted to inform you of an attraction that isn’t attractive, certainly not in the conventional sense of beauty, history, or cultural significance.
Nonetheless, Santa Rosa’s Bottle Barn does draw those looking for an outstanding selection of wine, beer and liquor at competitive prices.
Bottle Barns slogan is Where Wine Country Buys Wine and I think that’s accurate.
Sorry I didn’t think to take a picture of their place of business but its about as interesting as your average structure along Meyers Street in Chico. Yet you’ll soon forget about the utilitarian appearance when roaming its aisles.
Don’t be surprised to find the same bottle you just bought at a winery at a significant discount here. Romantic it isn’t, but the Bottle Barn is an excellent place to look for great deals and wide variety.
You’ll find Bottle Barn about a mile west of U.S. 101 at the north end of Santa Rosa. Click here to see it on a Google map.
Ill close with this piece of good news to those who come to (or through) Santa Rosa: the 101 widening project is now finished and traffic moves much more easily through downtown.
I would like to remind all of you runners and walkers out there that tomorrow, Saturday, 21 February, is the pre-registration deadline for the Bidwell Classic half-marathon, 2-person half-marathon relay, and 5K.
You don’t want to miss tomorrows deadline because after the 21st:
– The registration fee goes up
– You are not guaranteed a high-quality technical t-shirt
There are two ways to register and meet tomorrows deadline:
– Print an entry form and return it to Fleet Feet Chico
– On-line through Active.com (convenience fee applies)
If you go to Fleet Feet their hours today (Friday) are 10-6 and Saturday are 10-5. As an added enticement theyll have a prize drawing from among the entries dropped off this week at the store.
Do not mail your entry form in thinking that will meet the deadline. Mail-in entries must be received, not postmarked, by the 21st to count as pre-registrations. If you cant get to Fleet Feet then register on-line and pay the convenience fee.
If you’re a procrastinator because of weather worries, be aware that in the 11 runnings of the Bidwell Classic I’ve run or helped organize I’ve never seen one draw significant rain. Mother Nature never promises anything but …
I know what youre thinking.
Doesnt he know that Healdsburg is in the heart of one of Sonoma Countys great wine regions?
Well, actually I do, and I love that about Healdsburg but its been written about plenty so Im going to highlight some other facets of the town.
We joined our friends Beth and Michael at the Bear Republic Brewing Co., just off the plaza to the west, and sort of behind the Hotel Healdsburg. (To say Ive known Beth for a long time would be an understatement. I was in fourth grade when I met her brother John; she was in third grade.) For many years Beth and Michael have lived in nearby Windsor. They are now in Year 3 of the rest of their lives: all three of their children are now on their own either working or in college.
BEAR REPUBLIC BREWING CO., HEALDSBURG
Continue reading “Destinations The Healdsburg of Beer and Bungalows” »
Thanks to Rita Wells, half of the Rita & Dane innkeeping team at the Raford Inn, I found out about a fine place to run in west Sonoma County: the West County Trail.
Talk about combining some of my favorite things: this blends running, railroads, wine and lovely scenery.
WEST COUNTY TRAIL NEAR ROSS STATION ROAD
Continue reading “Running Rails to trails in west Sonoma County” »
Ever fancied yourself the gentleman or gentlewoman winemaker overseeing your domain from a 19th century estate? Well, if you treat yourself to a stay at the Raford Inn you could easily imagine yourself in this role.
The 1880s-era Raford Inn has a commanding view from a hillock overlooking an expanse of vineyards in the Russian River valley below. To make your fantasy complete the inn has a long veranda perfect for an afternoon glass of your wine made with grapes from your vines.
VIEW FROM THE SIDE OF THE RAFORD INN
Continue reading “Lodging Winemaker for a day at the Raford Inn” »
My partner Keith and I recently spent five days over in Sonoma County, which for you, dear reader, means high-quality (ha!) posts. This is the first.
The Russian River in Sonoma County is one of my favorite destinations in any season. Winter has its own quiet charm without the throngs of visitors brought out by warm weather and time to play.
Ive been coming to Guerneville (GURN-vill) since 1991 but my parents paved the way for me with their visits in the early 1940s of which they spoke fondly. This area was developed in the mid 19th century for its rich stands of redwood trees but in addition soon became a popular vacation destination for San Franciscans when the railroad reached Guerneville in 1877. Its first heyday as a resort town lasted until the 1930s.
The railroad was removed in 1935 and after WWII the region went into a quiet decline as a destination until the late 1970s. At that point Guerneville was discovered by gays and lesbians, which happily for the tourist trade resulted in the rehabbing of a number of older resorts to attract this new audience. Thirty years later, it is clear that the gay visitor wave, too, has crested, leaving only a couple of establishments that still market primarily to that demographic.
Continue reading “Destinations Guerneville in winter” »
I dont exactly remember when perhaps 2 years ago but on account of chronic lateness on the part of the northbound Coast Starlight (train 14), Amtrak broke the connection between the arrival of train 14 in Portland and the departure of the Empire Builder (train 28).
SCENE AT PORTLAND UNION STATION
(l to r): CASCADES (to Seattle), EMPIRE BUILDER, COAST STARLIGHT
In practical terms, that meant for passengers traveling to points on the Empire Builder such as Spokane, Whitefish, Glacier Park, and anywhere else along the way to Chicago, they either needed to use an Amtrak bus from Klamath Falls to Pasco, Wash. (and miss so much of the trip by train) or had to overnight in Portland.
Continue reading “Rail Coast Starlight / Empire Builder connection restored” »
Its time for the Bidwell Classic, the seasons first big running event in Chico taking place on Saturday, 7 March.
The marquee event is the half marathon (13.1 miles) along with a 2-person relay option (about 6.5 miles per person) and a 5K (3.1 miles).
For the first time since 2001 Im looking forward to running since Im no longer involved in helping to put on the race.
Useful reminders and links:
– Register by 21 February to guarantee youll receive the high-quality technical t-shirt.
– If youre a procrastinator then the absolute last chance to register is the day before at Fleet Feet Chico. (There hasn’t been day-of-race registration for years.)
– Save time and trouble: pick up your race number and packet the day before at Fleet Feet
– Print an entry form – return it to Fleet Feet or mail to the running club
– On-line registration through Active.com (convenience fee applies)
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