Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Photo by Ben Ingram.
SANTA CRUZ
We kicked off our journey in the coastal city of Santa Cruz. We were charmed by this town’s walkable downtown and historic beach boardwalk. We stayed at the historical West Cliff Inn. The light yellow colored walls of the bedroom outfitted with hardwood floors made for a pleasant setting. The large marble bathroom and outdoor balcony with a hot tub were other nice touches. Next, we headed downtown to the dual flower shop and coffee shop Flower Bar. We loved the ultra-modern décor, the savory spinach croissant we devoured and fresh flowers. Next, we perused the many different socks at the Sockshop & Shoe Co. and checked out the bestsellers at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Before we left downtown, we admired all the historic homes that were almost decorated like cakes, with vivid colors, columns, blooming flowers and even statues – along Walnut Avenue.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Photo by Ben Ingram.
After a walk along the historic boardwalk (don’t miss the historic wood roller coaster dating back to 1924), we had dinner at Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge. We enjoyed a cocktail, loaded fries and crabcake sliders as we watched the sunset and waves crashing on the beach. About 20 minutes from downtown Santa Cruz is the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. We admired the towering redwoods here.
Redwoods State Park. Photo by Garrick Ramirez.
SAN JOSE
San Jose is best known as the heart of Silicon Valley, but the city also has a vibrant food scene. We kicked off a food tour of the area at Baekjeong San Jose at the sprawling Westfield Valley Fair mall. The centerpiece of the tables of this Korean BBQ restaurant is a grill where fresh meat is cooked by the server tableside. We delighted in dipping different cuts into various sauces. After Korean BBQ, we devoured some refreshing mint ice cream from Salt & Straw. Next up, we wandered around the three-level Eataly, which was filled with plenty of Italian groceries and home to two different restaurants. Following that, we enjoyed gelato from Italian chocolatier Venchi. Next up, we walked to Santana Row – an outdoor mall area filled with various shops and restaurants. We got to tour Hotel Valencia. We appreciated the Southern Spain influences woven throughout, a chic lounge and the scenic outdoor courtyard. The hotel also felt very private and secluded despite the fact that it was above a bustling corridor. Next, we visited Japantown – one of just three left in the United States. We devoured shaved ice and manju, a type of Japanese sweet dessert. Next, we checked out the latest exhibits at the San Jose Art Museum. Before we hit the road to our next destination, we had a latte from Nirvana Soul.
Uvas Canyon County Park.
MORGAN HILL
About 40 minutes south of San Jose is Morgan Hill. We kicked off our first night with a meal at the vegan restaurant Craft Roots. We ordered a “chicken” sandwich and fries that were hearty and a perfect substitute for the real thing outside on the patio. The following day, we had breakfast at Mohi Farms. Downtown Morgan Hill’s Mohi Farm is a bright, open-air restaurant that serves healthy cuisine. We had a latte and a poki bowl and then visited the farmer’s market. Next, we headed out to hike at Uvas Canyon County Park. After some windy, two-lane winding country roads, we ended up at this lush park. We appreciated spending time in a wooded area that was relatively secluded. We took a loop trail to check out a variety of rushing waterfalls. After our hike, we headed over to P&V Winery to sample six of this boutique winery’s creations.
P&V Winery.
We enjoyed the wine and taking in the stunning scenery that came complete with green rolling hills, nearby vines and a fountain. The winery is named after the couple that owns it, Paul and Vicki Kermoyan. Vicki couldn’t have been a more gracious host and checked in with us several times during our visit. We finished up our last night with a dynamite meal at Odeum. We devoured a Dijon and herb-crusted salmon that was served on top of zucchini spaghetti, cannellini beans, ouzo-tomato broth, Kalamata olives and basil – the entire thing was hearty and light at once. We ended the night with a decadent chocolate skillet tart that was served fresh. The contrast of the warm cake and cool vanilla ice cream was truly delightful. For a nightcap, we headed to the Kelly Brewing Company for a flight. The brewery with a wood bar featured TVs aplenty and a billiards table that made for a fun atmosphere. Our two favorite pours were the Kelly Light Blonde beer and the Kelly Klaw Hard Seltzer.
SALINAS
Salinas is best known as the birthplace of acclaimed writer John Steinbeck. The city even has an entire museum dedicated to Steinbeck and his work called the National Steinbeck Center. What struck us most during our visit was what an important cultural figure Steinbeck was. There was a clip playing from the film “East of Eden” when we walked in. The museum recounted his early days and then got into some of his most iconic works including “The Grapes of Wrath” and “The Pearl.” There also was a recreation of the car he drove across the country in the book “Travels with Charley.”
Daou Vineyards.
PASO ROBLES
Our first stop in Paso Robles was stunning Daou Vineyards. After driving up a winding, two-lane road, we finally reached the gated Daou (pronounced “dow”). The open air tasting room featured breathtaking views of rolling green hills and seemingly endless blue skies. We enjoyed a private tasting on the outdoor patio so we could soak up the views and savor the wine. We took home a light and dry rose and a fruit-forward sauvignon blanc – both perfect for summer. Don’t leave here without trying Soul of a Lion, the winery’s signature cabernet sauvignon.
Daou Vineyards.
Next, we checked into The Piccolo, a modern and chic downtown hotel. We loved the spacious bathroom and brick wall behind the bed that gave it a contemporary appeal. This hotel also served a stellar complimentary breakfast and served items like avocado toast and lox and cream cheese. Next up, we headed to Serial Wines. We loved the chic tasting room that had a nice lounge feel complete with dark hard floors and black seating that was complemented by a copper colored ceiling and accents. Our favorite wine here was the petite sirah. We ended up the night at Mexican spot Fish Gaucho. We ate fresh guacamole with chips along with tasty fish tacos served with rice and beans. On our last morning, we had a latte and an egg sandwich from the hip coffee shop AMSTRDM. Next, we headed to Giornata Wines for a tasting. The white tasting room was located in Tin City – a collection of businesses within walking distance of one another. We enjoyed the crisp and light moscato. We also toured a pasta factory. It was fascinating to learn more about the pasta making process.
Etto Pasta Bar.
Next, we tried out the pasta at the Etto Pasta Bar. We ate garlic bread, a salad, hearty lasagna and decadent cacio e pepe. If you’re searching for a nighttime activity, consider visiting the light installation that’s open seasonally called Sensorio. Look forward to a variety of vibrant light displays set up in a field you can walk through.
