Are You That Woman

Dimples Diner in Visalia Truly Classic

Gourmet food takes on a variety of options in my world. With a discerning palate, I consider myself a gourmet. In the culinary world, "gourmet" means food of exceptionally high quality, often prepared with expert care and using fine ingredients. It can be more expensive, but that's not always necessary. These were all considerations when writing about the Dimples Diner in Visalia, California.

On a recent trip to Visalia, some friends recommended Dimples Diner as a breakfast option. The last morning of our Visalia sojourn, we made the drive across town to Dimples, a 1950's era diner. So glad we did!

We want to thank Laura (Dimples Diner's second owner) and Lisa, our talented waitress who's been happily serving guests for 20 years, for another delicious adventure in Visalia. Service was definitely 5-star. Big plates of great diner food - biscuits and gravy, home fries, waffles, crisp bacon, pancakes, onion rings, burgers and more. Classic diner decor and lots of kitschy art on the walls.And the wonderful Betty Boop statue greeting all who enter.

Skilled short-order chef Abraham is a star performer. Clearly a locals favorite, we were happy to be part of the crowd. Simple things mean so much. I ordered a very basic breakfast of eggs with bacon and potatoes. I asked for eggs over medium - perfect! Bacon extra crips - perfect! And country potatoes - red potatoes with bell peppers and onion asked to be slightly crisp - also perfect! Did I leave hungry - hardly. And my husband who enjoyed a waffle with eggs and bacon - also perfect!

Smiles wide and tummies full, our Visalia travels ended on a very happy note.

 

 

Catalina Island Getaway

Californians! Do you appreciate how lucky you are? Everyone talks about California's diversity as a travel destination. Beaches. Mountains. Deserts. Valleys. Vistas. Natural and man-made wonders. Urban and rural locales. Seriously, you can travel the globe in California enjoying every possible diversion and topography, including islands.

There are numerous island getaways in California, but none more special than Santa Catalina Island. A trip to Catalina defines relaxation, renewal, rejuvenation, and romance. Every visit is remarkable and feels like a world away.

There are only two ways to get to Catalina: by sea or by air. Part of the Channel Islands, there's obviously no driving the 22 miles of waterway to reach the island. Most people choose the water route via Catalina Express out of Long Beach, San Pedro (less frequent in winter months), and Dana Point. In addition, the Catalina Flyer operates daily from Newport Beach. Private boats – motor, sail, and luxury yachts – ply the waters to reach the protected Avalon Bay. Helicopters land at a helipad near Avalon and small private planes arrive at the mountaintop "Airport in the Sky."

Catalina Island is at the top of California’s lengthy unexpected list of destinations. The comparisons you often hear are Mediterranean or Greek Isle or like another country. It's all true. Terraced across the hillsides, the tiny hamlet of Avalon is the main city of Catalina and is the population hub. An eclectic assortment of shops, restaurants, cobbled walkways, and colorful tile works create a visual delight. Located on Catalina’s west end, the village of Two Harbors provides a more rustic experience. However, you certainly won't lack food, comfort, or friendly camaraderie of other island guests and staff thanks to recent upgrades by the Catalina Island Company.

The lodging options on Catalina Island fall right into the diversity realm. From camping to luxury vacation rentals, the choices vary. During a previous visit, ocean and hillside views greeted us each morning from our sun-drenched balcony at Hamilton Cove – is a resort condominium community of fully-equipped villas. It was surreal. Mainland California was just miles away; I'm not so sure. Catalina Island Vacation Rentals at Hamilton Cove Villas offer couples, families, and friends extra room to relax and the true feeling of an island escape. Each morning brought stunning ocean views, brilliant sunshine, and the lingering question, "Where are we?"

Hamilton Cove Villas provide rental options for sleeping up to six people. Spacious living spaces, balconies, flat-screen TVs, DVDs, full bath (one or two), and endless views of Catalina Island! Fully-equipped kitchens and barbecues provide additional dining options; particularly favorable for families. A small private beach, playground, pool, Jacuzzi, tennis courts, croquet, and putting green complete this vacation dream. Plus, the rentals include a golf cart, the preferred mode of transportation on Catalina. Avalon is a short cart ride away.

It's always amazing to hear someone say, "Catalina? There's nothing to do there." After multiple trips to Catalina, I look forward to each return. A tour of the Art Deco-splendid Casino (Italian for "place of entertainment") is another of the many Catalina must-sees. Built-in 1929, the ballroom hosted dozens of Big Bands and thousands of music and dance enthusiasts back in the day. Many Catalina Island special events are held at the Casino including the Catalina Island Jazz Trax Festival every October. A "Behind the Scenes Tour", is one of two Casino tours; both come highly recommended.

A wide array of dining experiences fits right into the island time concept of Catalina Island. Relaxed and easy. Options to eat al Fresco are many and, in particular, along Avalon Bay. Grab something to go from the deli at the Von’s Grocery before heading out on a day of exploration. Oh, yes, the Airport in the Sky's Café is famed for its buffalo burgers. If fresh seafood is what you seek, then your heart's desire is Catalina! Fish tacos at the end of the Green Pleasure Pier are a must at Avalon Seafood (aka Earl & Rosie’s a decades-long tradition) and one of the first places I go once my feet hit the island shore. Depending on your accommodations do a little grocery shopping, and enjoy an intimate meal from your private balcony.

The Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Garden is an escape from the surreal island retreat. The native plant gardens are impressive and showcase the diversity of species endemic to the California islands or, specifically, Catalina. The views from the Memorial are worth the hike. The Art Deco architectural details will end any doubts about Catalina's exceptional attractions. You will often find yourself alone in the garden, which presents terrific opportunities to reflect on Catalina's beauty and peaceful nature. On a previous visit, a lone raven cried out and followed our group to the top of the Memorial. Maybe it was the spirit of William Wrigley urging us toward the summit to breathe in expansive views of Avalon Bay.

Every season is Catalina season, but the shoulder months between the end of October and the pre-Memorial Day holidays like many destinations offer better rates and fewer people on the island. Check ahead for special and seasonal events. The flying fish migration is plenty of reason to celebrate each July. Sign up for one of the boat tours – you have to see it to believe this magical occurrence! Plein Air, marlin, silent films, jazz, wine tasting, marathon, and more, the list of events goes on and on.

Who said there's nothing to do on Catalina?

 

Originally published in 

Discover the Lost Coast

The Lost Coast is aptly named for a reason.  If you’ve never traveled to this hidden corner of Humboldt County, you can’t begin to appreciate just how lost it is.  The region is so remote, that it’s hard to imagine how early settlers found their way to places like Shelter Cove and Whitethorn.

Any trip to Shelter Cove requires determination. No matter your starting point, remote highways will test your GPS and patience to take it slow. Leaving Highway 101 at Redway, you traverse many miles of narrow two-lane roads – twisting and turning. You’ll climb through forests of the King Range National Conservation Area and mountain peaks where snow falls above 3,281 feet a couple of times per year. Perseverance will bring you, at long last, to the Pacific Ocean views.

The Lost Coast is one of California's largest wilderness areas, with 67,500 acres of undeveloped land. It also contains the longest undeveloped Pacific coastline (The Lost Coast) in the continental United States. Hikers and backpackers seek solitude and magnitude. Many miles long, the Lost Coast Trail (more than 24 miles from north to south) requires a Backcountry Permit for overnight camping.

Happy memories of Shelter Cover remained the same. There have been some wonderful changes in the 18 years since my last visit, including new restaurant offerings and local brews. Considering Shelter Cove’s remote location, dining selections are excellent. However, it’s best to call ahead for times and days of operation. Visiting in mid-October, we found many locations closed during the week – sometimes only open Thursday-Sunday. We enjoyed local cuisine including a divine breakfast at the Surf Point Coffee & Bistro.  Featuring house-made baked goods and local coffee, the bistro is open for breakfast and lunch. The Eggs Benedict was superb. Gyppo Ale Mill was our dining option for two nights of our Shelter Cove stay. Cold beers on tap - great selections brewed in-house. The first night we shared fish tacos - locally, incredibly fresh Rockfish. They were so yummy; more than enough for the two of us. A Venezuelan restaurant, Mi Mochima, serves authentic and delectable cuisine. We enjoyed sangria, fresh fish, yucca fries, and empanadas. Plan ahead; they are very popular.

The journey to scenic beauty and astonishing adventures is endless. Take Beach Road to Black Sands Beach just north of Shelter Cove. Enjoy hiking and awe-inspiring ocean views.  Commercial fishing is a historic part of Shelter Cove’s past and present. Both local and visiting anglers come to cast their lines at this coastal location. The drive to explore the Redwoods Monastery was another long and winding road. The website said we could buy honey and other gift items from their shop. That was enough to entice us to drive the 15 miles (taking longer than imagined) from our Shelter Cove Inn. Founded in 1962 from the Cistercian Monastery of Nazareth in Belgium, Redwoods Monastery is a small community of Roman Catholic women monastic’s.  The story of how they made their way to this remote corner of Humboldt County is more than remarkable.

This was an accidental adventure we'll never forget. The wide meadow provides an unobstructed view of all the Monastery buildings. The construction is almost entirely coast redwoods with some concrete accents. At first look, we noticed the minimalism, but the most amazing part was the chapel. Once inside, we were overwhelmed by its elegant simplicity. Large windows streamed light into the room. The silence was ringing in our ears. Out of respect, we took no photos. It was an emotional moment. From there, we went to the gift shop and purchased jars of Monastery creamed honey, lavender soap, and beautiful cards featuring native flowers. Private and silent retreats, allow visitors to spend days/nights at the Monastery, must be booked well in advance.

There are several lodging options including hotels, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. Be sure to book ahead. Shelter Cove is most definitely a bucket list destination.


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