• The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel: a conservatory-like setting, fancy chandeliers, pillars and ornate carvings...pure opulence everywhere you look.
    California,  Lunch,  Travel

    Lunch at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco

    The Garden Court at the Palace Hotel When I’m planning out our travel itinerary, I love to find really special places to eat. I had such a good experience with the afternoon tea at the Georgian Hotel in Seattle that I wanted to find a similar venue to enjoy tea in San Francisco. Months before our trip, I stumbled upon the Garden Court at the Palace Hotel. Afternoon tea is served on Saturdays and as luck would have it we were going to be in San Francisco over the weekend. I was beyond excited! Unfortunately, I waited too long to make reservations and the tea seating had been filled. I…

  • Clear Creek Falls
    California,  Travel

    Quick stop at Wiskeytown National Scenic Area

    Wiskeytown National Scenic Area is a great place to experience the natural beauty of northern California. Our trip to Whiskeytown was on our route north back to Oregon after spending Christmas in Arizona. It was a quick last minute detour, but we look forward to returning someday to spend more time exploring. Whiskeytown was once a gold mining settlement during the California Gold Rush of 1849. Now, this area draws people looking to swim, sail, kayak, fish and hike…you can even pan for gold during the summer months. Check the website for schedule details. We arrived at the Visitor’s Center, got our National Parks Passports stamped and found out what…