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New York City Highlights Part I

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We crammed a lot into our seven day trip. Considering everyone’s different interests, I have to laugh as my husband is drawn to things that I consider ‘tourist traps’ like the NY Lobster boat cruise and myself who would like to go where real New Yorkers like to go, i.e the hidden spots. Add teen boys to this mix and you’ll see we did a real variety of things.

 Here’s the best of what we did…


Central Park was absolutely our very favorite.

The day we walked a large part of the park and got to FAO Schwarz was mainly for the guys.

 Laughing at the monster sizes stuffed animals and helping demo a new kind of hacky sack below.

 
The Marbles Brain Store in FAO was a hit with my guys.

 Guess there was no taking a pink dog home, but maybe it could fit in the overhead bin? Well at least I can believe someone would try! Don’t get me started on those refusing to check things.

The guys loved the day they got Citi bikes and biked the park..

  Dylan’s Candy Bar also made the ‘list.’
We all thought Chelsea was also a cool area.

 

Chelsea Market,  is a huge warehouse filled with restaurants and unique shops focusing on artisanal food and goods.

  Very fun to wander through and a great place to eat. It’s also adjacent to the High Line which is an almost 2 mile long linear park built on an old elevated train line. This is a fun walk and enjoy some great views of older parts of the city that are getting gentrified due to this walkway.

  
From the High Line.

 There’s a little pub right off one of the stairs to the park and we chilled a bit there. Above us was someone’s garden and we got watered a bit, but it felt great. Lol.

Great spot- The Half King. A hip bar inside and popular for dinner too.
via The Half King
 We also thought seeing  the 9/11 Memorial was something we all would never forget.
 It’s much bigger than you expect. Beautifully done. Very solemn experience. I’m so glad we made time to do this.
 Right next door they are building the new Oculus transportation hub by architect Santiago Calatrava. It’s like a massive bird skeleton and impressive. It’s supposed to be the lightest, brightest subway station ever. I wish I took a photo, but it was hugely crowded and nearly impossible. (I suggest visiting early in the day and not on a weekend if you can..All bets are off in summer though.) Here’s a photo from the web of it in progress. It’s to be done the end of 2015. As you can see it’s right by the memorial pool to right.

That same day we also did the highly recommended Tenement Museum.

Sounds strange, but it’s a fascinating look into the true lives of the immigrants who inhabited this block in the 1860s, 1890s and 1930s.   Once inside you choose the tour you want. We did the Hard Times Tour and it was one hour. You go through the actual tenement which is in it’s original state (no touching of the walls even), and a docent leads you through the story of each family in different rooms. You learn about how they got there and how they survived, and some amazing stories and some heartbreak. I learned so much I never knew about all the different eras of immigration and I’d love to go back and do another type of tour next time. The boys enjoyed it as well and were a good age to appreciate it.

You enter the museum through the very popular store which has been dubbed the best place to buy cool New York souvenirs. I agree and got an umbrella with the subway map on it. (I love it!) Also some fun stuff like cool socks…

 I know some people who fit these. Just saying.

They have bags, shirts, cool things made in New York and a fantastically curated New York book collection.

 

As the museum is in the Lower East Side, there’s many spots to eat and a few blocks away is Little Italy.

 It’s fun to walk Mulberry Street which was closed to traffic and feels like it’s one big street party. There are blocks of outdoor restaurants and street vendors selling traditional cannoli and other goodies. Mulberry street was once home to the worst slums in New York apparently.

 Look at all the Cannoli here people!!
I began talking like a New Yorkah after a while- Cannoli is Cannoli!! 

A stand with torrone, roasted nuts and other Italian treats.

My guys trying deep fried oreos.
Another must see to me is Greenwich Village.
It’s similar to Brooklyn with leafy streets and an old time charm. This little man with his suspenders fit perfect in front of this restaurant which almost looks like a movie set.

Washington Square Park is very famous for it’s history of protests, free thinkers and musicians. The fountain was designed to cool your feet and get a spray of water. It was a super hot day and it felt refreshing. The arch was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe and has been here since 1892.
The park has chess and scrabble tables with guys looking for chess partners. When my boys entered the park the shouted out them to come play. These tables are part of the Chess district of the city which has multiple chess shops. This area is just steps from NYU, which borders the park.
Did you know that NYC has 1,900 public parks?! Impressive.
The West Village near Greenwich is charming and has even more cute streets and eateries.
Of course we also had to see Times Square! There is really nothing like it with billboards up to the moon. It’s a terrific place to find out the latest Broadway shows. There were a few I wished I had time or tickets to see like the Carol King musical Beautiful, and The King and I. Truly though there is a show for everyone and you can queue here for same day tickets at a discount. 
The one night we did get to Broadway to see Wicked it was terrific. Plan in advance if you can to get show tickets and you won’t regret it! There’s nothing like these shows. (Funny thing is one of the flying monkeys had an accident during our show and they had a brief break. Hopefully he was okay!) Our awesome doorman Rome said he had never heard of such a thing in all the years of getting hotel patrons to Broadway.
The Playbill site is a good place to start researching what is upcoming and also off Broadway shows with small and sometimes famous casts that are currently running. I didn’t discover this site until I was in New York.

 
 Dressed up on the way to our show. As one of my favorite bloggers, Slim Paley talked about in one of her last posts, you should dress up! Wearing sloppy shorts is just bad form. Make it a night out and wear something nice! Yes, your children should too. It’s called manners. Lucky Slim did get to see the revival of King and I with Ken Watanabe and more about it on the link to her blog!

Walking back from our show.
So much to love about New York! I highly recommend taking a week if you can. For kids growing up in suburbs this was something totally new and I’m glad they got to experience navigating the streets, subways and just enjoying the buzz of a very big city. 

There’s no place like New York!

Do you love New York and do you have favorite hotels, restaurants or spots you love?
Please share here!!
Up next is some tips on planning your trip, Brooklyn and our fab hotel.
Happy vacations everyone.
Kim

The Mauna Lani Resort, My Idea of Paradise in Hawaii

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As a Californian, we are fortunate to be just a few hours plane ride away from the magic that is Hawaii. I have been lucky to have been to Maui, Oahu. Kauai, and Hawaii or the Big Island, as it is known. Each has it’s charms and unique beauty. The Big Island, however has become our very  favorite. We love the green sea turtles, unspoiled beaches, wide open valleys, volcanos, rain forests and waterfalls. 
As the Big Island is more spread out than some of the other islands, it feels less crowded. We really enjoy the feeling of being far away from it all and especially like the Mauna Lani a Hawaiian resort that has a laid-back vibe and loads of natural beauty.
The resort’s beaches are pretty unmatched as resorts go.
The hotel faces a fantastic reef protected area to swim, paddle board, snorkel or watch turtles bask in the morning and evening. This area is my personal favorite with palm trees and hammocks and copious covered lounges that are always easy to get. I could spend my whole time at the resort here just staring off into the ocean.
Many mornings turtles were hanging out in the waves with us.

Hawaii has rules about going too near these protected creatures and people usually watch from a fair distance and do not try to touch them. However, you may find one body surfing with you as we did one morning and it was amazing!!

 To the left of this expansive beachfront are historic Hawaiian fish ponds which you can cross on little footbridges to another lovely cove beach and amazing snorkeling spot. 
The historic ponds. It’s a small, but gorgeous walk through this protected area.
You can see some of the authentic huts.
One of the footpaths across the ponds to the farther beach.
You can spy eels and other fish in the ponds. Behind the ponds, there are condos for those who want a larger place called the Islands at Mauna Lani. 
Boards of all kinds are available at both beaches and they also run a dive operation from this beach.
My kids enjoyed paddle boarding here as well and my husband has used the dive operation for a couple of dive trips and been very happy.

A little cafe is excellent and convenient for lunch or a drink.

Snorkeling at this other beach we saw box fish, tangs, eels, and the day we were there a manta-ray was out too.( More on seeing those on my next post!)

There is also a Popoki ( Hawaiian stray cat) waiting patiently for any dropped food.

My kids were loving him. These little guys can be found all over the islands.

The area that fronts the historic ponds has some rustic beaches which are rarely used, but feel remote and wonderfully far from everything else.

They were stunning.

I can just close my eyes and be there again. (Wishing!) And no you should not be checking your phone here. The only checking you need do is check out. You know. Bring some good books!
To the right of the resort there is another undeveloped area with a path that takes you to the Fairmont Orchid if you are willing to trek there. 
There’s also a black sand beach, tide pools and masses of beautiful coral strewn everywhere.

On our first morning we let our boys sleep in and grabbed some outstanding Kona coffee at their coffee bar and took a walk on this path. Great tide pooling and many joggers on this path as well. 
Cruiser bikes are available in the front of the resort to get to the neighboring Orchid for lunch or the cute Shops at Mauna Lani. The Shops have a great grocery, some adorable shops, a new local coffee company and a Tommy Bahama, which has a restaurant and a outdoor terrace for dinner.
If you can’t bike or walk, and don’t want to drive, there is a little shuttle that runs between the hotels and the shops.

There is excellent buffet for breakfast and we did a package that included 2 buffets each day. So worth doing. It was lovely to sit over this lawn and relax while we watched little mongoose families scurry by and so many beautiful birds.  I loved beginning the day here. The hotel also has a Mountain Thunder Coffee Company which sells breakfast and more throughout the day. My boys like playing chess in there and we also caught a few of the World Cup games as well.

The gorgeous and huge pool. They also have three other hot pools and one has little alternating fountains for small ones to frolic in.

At 3:30 each day poolside, they distribute the most amazing fruit popsicles! Needless to say, my guys figured out how to be there at that exact time, most days!

Max and I enjoyed the Ocean Bar and Grill at the pool which is newly redone. It has the ideal spot to for happy hour with a sunset.

Mojito with a flower anyone?

The kids liked the food there too and it was a casual and more affordable alternative for dinner, especially at Happy Hour, 4-7.

The Canoe House is the Mauna Lani’s fancy dining and people come to the resort just for dinner here. There’s a good live band nightly and every table has a perfect spot to watch the sunset.

The torch lighter with his conch shell. He runs about nightly lighting all the torches. Kids follow!

They had a Popoki too.
We usually do the Canoe House the last night of our stay.
After dinner, evening walks along the resorts’ beaches were one of the highlights of staying here.

The sunsets never fail to wow. We are always trying to see the green flash!

Some turtle friends are still enjoying the beach at night!

…And the hammocks were pretty cool too.

One night we came back to the room to find this on out pillow…

Some middle schooler’s idea of a joke. 😉 Just had to keep it.

Of course the chocolates on our pillows were taken too! (I don’t think I was fast enough to ever get one..I heard they were gourmet, according to my chocolate connoisseurs. Lol.)

The lobby from above. Nightly here there is authentic Hawaiian music and hula! Also a wonderful cultural center is part of the hotel and gives ukelele lessons, art and other classes in all things Hawaiian. 

 I thought I’d let some of the rest of the photos speak for themselves.

There’s just a lot to love about the Mauna Lani.

If you want a real Hawaii culture, with luxury, nature and relaxation it’s the place.

We are thinking next time we may try renting one of the condos, or perhaps a home. My boys are getting adult size pretty fast here.

I do like very much that the Mauna Lani welcomes families with older kids to share their spacious rooms unlike another very famous resort which I won’t name, that we have been to many times. If you have kids over 12, this other resort wanted you to have 2 rooms, which is ridiculous. At their prices that was not going to happen, so we went with the Mauna Lani and it really did exceed expectations in service, food, rooms and location.

 The Mauna Lani is not the kind of resort where you have to worry about dressing up or what kind of beach bag you have. No Kardashians will make an appearance here. Yet it’s luxury without pretense. It’s a gem and  why so many families have been going for generations.

We traveled at the end of June and they said that was a quieter month. Highly recommend that time. We have also been there in April for Easter (a fun bunny hunt when my kids were small) and in July. All as relaxed. On July 4th, the resort hosts a special releasing of their baby turtles and also a big party. After, nearby there is a huge rubber ducky race. Everyone says that is also a fun time, but busier time to go as well.

I’m wondering who out there has other favorite places to stay on the Big Island? 

I have one more post to come with all some super spots to dine and other cool activities to do around the island!

Kim
This trip was not a sponsored stay and all expenses and opinions are my own, as usual!

Getaways- The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay

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Rarely does a getaway combine nature and luxury at the same time. Hiking seldom involves cocktails overlooking the beach after. Biking along the sea followed by a gourmet dinner isn’t the norm. However, that is the charm of The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, which has the best of both worlds. You can commune with nature and feel pampered as well!

Half Moon Bay has been one of my favorite spots in Northern California for so many reasons. I love it’s wind-swept beaches with some of the most picturesque dunes and wide-open expanses. The tide pools of Fitzgerald Marine reserve here are the some of the best in the world.  The biking and hiking paths meander for miles over charming bridges, beautiful fields, and around sand dunes and hidden  beaches. The trees alone here charm me. The downtown is unspoiled and uncommercial, still a small sleepy beach town. I love it all. This is also home to Mavericks, location of one of the most famous big wave surfing events in the world.

This charming and romantic spot was a foggy Northern California beach town when the Ritz decided to build a world class resort around an historic golf course and nestle it’s property right on one of the prettiest coastal views anywhere. The Ritz here is a destination resort. You go to Half Moon Bay to get away from it all, and the resort coupled with nature is perfection.

The resort attracts a varied group. There are couples getting away for a few days, families hoping to enjoy some quality time with each other, as well as men on golf trips and women doing girlfriends spa getaways. You also get travelers from all over the world, who have heard of the charms of Half Moon Bay.

My husband and I got down here last in October, during the famous pumpkin festival. I loved how festive the resort was with pumpkins and gourds all over. We enjoyed lunch in the Conservatory, overlooking the ocean.  It was one of the nicest days and I knew we had to come back and experience this spot as a family. Last week. during our boy’s winter break from school, was the perfect time.

Driving up to the Ritz, you get the feeling of being of being in Cape Cod.

Right away the loveliness of this resort surrounds you…

It’s designed like a East Coast shingle style beach home, which I love.

Inside it’s all whites and blues.

Cozy nooks to relax are by the many fireplaces.

There are several public rooms that open on to each other that have spots for reading or having a cocktail or cappuccino. It reminds me of the design of the Lodge at Pebble Beach in that way.

We were thrilled about our guest room, which looked over the Pacific and the 18th hole of the golf course.  There was a balcony and quickly everyone got their relax on.

 Case in point.

 Our room was spacious and pretty. There were chairs and a table just right for activities. We really wanted a place to reconnect with the kids and brought cards and games. The hotel concierge has board games as well.

After we all kicked back a while, we explored the property and took in the ocean views.

We ended up at the indoor pool house. The very large pool was great for the kids to mess around.  Max and I chilled in the jacuzzi, while we debated about cocktails by the fire pits after or before sunset.

Walking to the pool.

The Ocean Terrace, with fire pits, is popular for evening drinks or hot chocolates. Their bagpiper plays at sunset every evening. The sunset couldn’t have been more beautiful that night!

The Ocean Terrace is alfresco dining and it is open all day for drinks and light bites. The view is my favorite here looking towards a little hidden beach, and you can see golfers finishing their 18th.

When we came back to the room, the boys were excited to find the resort had left them a s’more kit for the fire pits after dinner! A quick dry off and we all headed to the terrace to watch the sunset….

My guys dressed up (California style), for dinner.

 Then to dinner at Navio, the resorts’ lovely main restaurant…

 Dinner at Navio, was a treat.  I loved the blues and ocean inspired hues. There is a real feeling of being on an elegant ocean liner, and even the ceiling is curved like a ships hull.

There was so much to choose from, seafood is the specialty and there were many interesting and unique dishes. The boys were excited when the chef, Kevin Tanaka, came out to chat and we got to learn more about some of the original creations on the menu.

Jackson, my gourmet had snapper, and it’s his new favorite. I had salmon from Scotland that was finished with a butternut squash and cocoa relish. It was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! Max loved his butterfish. Griffin had the macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers that we all stole a bit of.

I also loved my market salad with it’s beets, goat cheese and pistachios. I believe this was one of the best meals we have ever had. The view of the ocean was the capper. I was happy to sit there with my champagne all evening if I could…However, the boys couldn’t wait to get out there and make s’mores.

Boys + fire+ sticks- Of course they loved it!!

We warmed ourselves by fire pit and made our gourmet s’mores. I have never tried this kit before, but will again! The homemade marshmallows and chocolate plus graham crackers crusted with sugar made for very decadent treat. You can purchase this kit at the Ritz.

I think you can see I couldn’t help myself! Thank goodness for the little wipes that come in the set!

Did I mention they also have a wine, cheese and chocolate bar that’s called Eno?
Chocolate, wine and cheese? What’s not to love? This a perfect spot for a nightcap, dessert or some afternoon wine-tasting after an ocean walk.  Check it out if you are here even just for a day visit. It’s right above the Conservatory.
After a day of exploring and a wonderful dinner, we curled up in our cozy room. 
Nothing beats going to sleep hearing the ocean waves.
Even the little door hangers are half-moons.  Love!
We have traveled quite a bit in the past few years and I have to mention the bedding here. Wow, probably the best bed and bedding I have ever slept on. I love the feeling of drifting off on a soft cloud… Fabulous sleep!!
  We woke up to this…
So peaceful! Max and I let the boys sleep in and grabbed some coffee downstairs in the pretty Conservatory.
The Conservatory Lounge has complimentary coffee bar in the mornings. It’s another beautiful spot to have lunch or dinner here. On Thursday nights they have Burger, Beer and Jazz event, with local musicians which looked like a lot of fun.

We then took a morning stroll along the beach paths. 

Breakfast where my boys matched the decor, at Navio again.
 Gourmet Irish oatmeal for me. The men partook of the pancakes and waffles. House apple juice is fantastic too. The seafood eggs benedict is supposed to be phenomenal. Next time perhaps…

After our delicious breakfast, the boys did a special bike tour with the Ritz Kids program.

The winding trail that begins along the ocean here, goes as far as 5 miles into the town of Half Moon Bay, and beyond.

The boys went with Sean, a fun guys and great guide who took them for an hour and a half along the trail, across meadows and into the quaint town..

Sean took a pic of Griffin that he Instagramed. 🙂  They had a blast!

Bikes are available as well as segway tours for adults. The Ritz Kid program has special bike tours and fun activities geared to many ages. They have a kids night out program on Friday and Saturday nights, so parents can dine at Navio or try the wine bar, and have a relaxed evening, while children can get dinner and a movie with crafts. Kind of genius. You can read more about it here.

I was glad to know Jackson and Griffin weren’t too old, at 15 and 12, to do something like this and still have fun.

It was great to have some time to play tennis with just my husband and I on their courts.

We even took some time out to hang out on the Ocean Terrace and have our coffee with a view.

Next time, I think I would love to check out the beautiful spa and have a treatment for myself!

 I also want to get to this hidden beach, that is to the front right of the resort…

Some other nice points at this beautiful hotel were the baths. Love the bathrooms! They are luxurious, spacious and have many spots for your toiletries. That isn’t always the case.

The products in the bath are Asprey from the U.K. These were totally new to me and I loved the whole mess. I’m especially crazy about the hair products of this Purple Water line.

I didn’t get a chance to see if they are sold on site. They are wonderful and I am hoarding the last bits at home now.

 I also appreciated how they designed the room with pretty and roomy closets to store your luggage, jackets and shoes out of sight. So smart. Hotel rooms feel so much more spacious when you can walk about without tripping over someone’s bag or shoes, right?

After check-out, (I always hate that part), we popped over to downtown Half Moon Bay to check out some of the cute shops and grab lunch.

 Downtown is home very good bakeries, home shops, a wine and cheese store, a cooking store and a cool spot called Earth Impact with all Earth friendly finds! Always excited to find stores like that.

These cool California cutting boards were at Abode. Also fun is The Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese Company.

Colorful graphic aprons and more at this darling cooking store, Toque Blanche.

Some of my other favorite stops on the way in or out to the resort are Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, for tide pooling,  The Waterfront Coastside Trail, for bikes or hikes, the Half Moon Bay State Beach for unmatched vistas, and Sam’s Chowder House, for world famous lobster rolls and a great beach scene.

You could easily spend a weekend or a week here, so many things to see and do along this coast!

We are all already talking about the next time we get to go back again.

Special thanks to Kaitlin Crawford of Ritz Half Moon Bay for making this trip possible and tailoring it to my family of four! Thanks also to the staff at Navio, and the chef Kevin Tanaka, who made our night. Last, but not least, the Ritz Kids program and Sean, who made some great memories for my boys.  A media rate for accommodation was provided by the Ritz, but the experience and opinions are solely my own.

Photos all Northerncalstyle except for the top and bottom photos, courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton.

England- The V&A

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Before we left England I had one more thing on my to do list and that was The Victoria & Albert Museum. 

The V&A as it’s called, is lovely inside and out. It calls itself the world’s greatest museum of art and design.

The fashion area was of course first on my list and it did not disappoint. I left my guys for a while and enjoyed this.

Authentic frocks from the Austen period.

Sorry these photos are not so clear. Picture were being snapped all over which surprised me. I had my Iphone and so took a few as well. I do wish I could have shared the detail on these and the extraordinary fabrics. You just have to see them close up. People really were so much tinier in the past!

Some of the jewelry from these earlier periods was quite modern looking and fabulous. The antique chair, top hat and gloves all from this time as well.

The 1920s dresses were made of the most opulent velvets and silks. If I could just have this dress and fan… Love!

The wonderful thing about this exhibit is that they have authentic accessories to go along with each outfit. The real fans, necklaces, bags and shoes make it even more fun to see.

The lace on this wedding veil was beyond beautiful.

Tennis anyone? Knits were coming in style and look warm, but were moveable!

The precursor to today’s modern bathing suits were also made of sweater material. No quick drying there and don’t even think about supporting those cups!

Christian Dior’s New look from the 1950s is so feminine. These photos don’t show the lush fabric and it’s gorgeous drape.

This lovely evening gown was Balmain from the 1950s.

Givenchy from 1964. Can’t you just see Audrey Hepburn wearing this? The color was a vibrant red-orange that I wish photographed better !

These Roger Vivier pumps were shown with the Givenchy.

More 1960s. I believe the orange dress is Courreges. So would love to see more of those. The print dress is Pucci.

This 1980s display I could have sworn this sweater dress was Comme de Garcons, but I’m not for sure..

A view of where they are making casts of original antiquities from around the globe.

A wonderful stair structure.

The Asian art area is quite large and impressive.

Cameos (be still my heart!) were another favorite section and they have a fabulous collection through the ages.

This is the wrought iron area and though that sounds boring it was anything but. The gates, lamp posts and more from 1700s and even before were really something. Pretty and again it was the details!
The floors all over the museum are mosaics.
Even the orange juice stand was some form of art! My son loved this contraption.
One of the main reasons I wanted to come here was for the David Bowie Is exhibit. Tickets were sold out online, but supposedly they had 400 or more on each day. That didn’t really work out even though we were there at opening, the line to get the tickets was over 1 hour wait time and we still wouldn’t see the exhibit until very late in the day. . .Much later. I had to forget about it. 🙁
Yeah right.
So I had to sneak a peek into the Bowie exhibition and got to see the famous suit from his 1973 tour. That was about it.. What a suit!
Still I loved the V&A and I agree there is something there for everyone.

Londoners are so fortunate to have this space. The admission to the V&A and all the London museums is free and many take their lap tops and work here and relax in the outdoor spaces. It’s a very pleasant and unstuffy place to hang out in the middle of the busy city. Kids can play in the shallow pool (it’s not red just reflecting the buildings) and the wonderful cafe is connected to this so you can get a very gourmet lunch or tea and bring it outside.

The building itself is marvelous.

The day we were there they even had a big screen with Wimbledon on outside which was exciting.

The V&A cafe is special as expected. Look at the ceilings and walls and lights! Not even able to capture the colorfulness here.

Say no more! Two of my favorite word in the English language. Just another reason to adore the U.K.!

This was just a smattering of all there is to see at the V&A. I hope to go back again one day and get to even more of the galleries and all their treasures.

Upcoming we make our way to Belgium, Holland and Germany!

Thanks for reading!

Kim

My English Adventure!

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Those of you who read this blog regularly know I’m an unabashed Anglomaniac. Is that a word? Well it’s fitting for a girl like me who lives for visits to England. I ask you, what is not to love about a country filled with tiny thatched cottages, ancient castles, fabulous gardens, tea and scones and everything beautiful and romantic? I’m in my element there and so was thrilled to get another chance to visit even if it was just for four days.

I had a list so long of things to see and do that I actually needed a few months. I squeezed all the English culture I could into myself along with Pimms cups, scones, and clotted cream. Running about trying to see all I could may have prevented me from coming home 10 pounds heavier. Getting squished in the Tube doors a few times may have helped as well. 🙁

Typical arrival into Heathrow…

Right away I am hit with why London is a fabulous place…Just look at the cool Tube posters for summer exhibitions that I didn’t have time to see!

By the way if you haven’t been to London yet, let me say the Tube is the way to get around. So easy and safe and really makes London a breeze. Just make sure you pay attention to where you are getting off to connect. I started to get a bit relaxed and just let my husband do all the navigating until one stop where I got on with one son, but the he and another son didn’t make it through the doors. The doors close fast…The look of horror on my face and my, “Oh no!” was enough to make the whole train chuckle.
 I love how nice people are on the Tube and in general in the U.K. Luckily, I saw my husband throw up 2 fingers just as we were taking off and so I knew to get off after two stops for the next connection.  I also got stuck in the door once. Not an uncommon occurrence during crazy times. My boys loved the Tube and the challenge of navigating it.

 One look at this snap I took of this cute couple should tell you it wasn’t summery weather when we arrived. Yes it was June. You never know what to expect. Last time I was in London they had the hottest summer in 40 years!

 I was grateful to have my pashmina wrap (a blanket basically), I take on planes with me to use as a shield against the wind.  Silly me packing dresses, skirts, and 3 pairs of sandals! What a California girl. Like I haven’t traveled before or something.

 I had to hit the ground as soon as we got there to look for warmer things. Selfridges was quite close and I wanted to snap a photo for my mom who just finished watching the Mr Selfridge series. Have you seen it yet? Is it as good as everyone says? I have downloaded it and I’m just waiting for a night when I won’t pass out to start watching!

Selfridges is gorgeous and huge and a bit overwhelming. So many stores within a store.. It reminded me a bit of Harrods. They were just selling more summer things that no one could wear of course…

We wandered down to the Bond Street area for my boys who have been waiting five long years to get back to the 7-story kid’s nirvana that is Hamley’s Toy Store..

I love how all the streets were festooned for the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

Mission accomplished. Right away my kids were drawn into this fun catching game by one of their toy barkers. Lots of toy interaction here.
Sorry for the rough photo.

Of course we bought one! Good souvenirs here too. This is a great stop to bring a gift back home from.. I particularly like their Union Jack umbrellas which are nicely made and not too expensive.


Around the corner is the famous Carnaby Street with everyone celebrating Brittania. I loved it! Carnaby is another fun area to shop or eat at…


A hat shop window!
I stumbled on this uniquely British shoe store and was enchanted…
So alternative.

Yes, those are bunny heels!

 They embrace the flower here…

  And the frog!

Yes those are donuts.

I really wanted a pair of these Provencal inspired sandals, but never made it back.
The number one rule of travel shopping…Do not even think you’ll get back because you won’t! If you think you might want it- get it!

How cool is this? How many shopping areas would offer such a place? What a nice spot to hang out here while you peruse the books and inscriptions…

Around the corner is the bastion of British flowers, Liberty!

It just wouldn’t be a trip to London without a stop at Liberty. So much to love here…

The building itself is half-timbered and so unique. It was constructed from the timbers of two old ships.

If you are a lover of florals this is your spot. You can see the famous Liberty prints that stores like J. Crew, Vans and so many others have been using in their recent collections. They also have a very fun housewares section as well as handbags, scarves and much more.

Last time I was here I bought the most wonderful toile sheets and a gorgeous make-up bag. This time I purchased a cute tote and a few beautiful lavender sachets for drawers.

Their outdoor flower shop. They aren’t pretentious and sell bunches in jam jars as well.  Another thing on my bucket list was to have tea here. The cafe has the most darling mis-matched china sets and just all that kind of girly goodness. Didn’t make it. Maybe next time.

While we are talking shopping, Fortnum & Mason is not to be missed. It’s been on Piccadilly St since 1707! I had never been before and I was in for a treat…

The display windows are fabulous!

Inside there is not just tea, but a gorgeous store filled with more treats and treasures. Here is another fabulous place to bring a souvenir home from. They are famous for their hampers, or what we call picnic baskets, filled with goodies. They sell high end teas, confections and foods as well as beauty, accessories, home goods and jewelry.

My shopping buddy checking out the top floor.

The honey section. I love how everything comes in a collectable container like these pretty honey pots.

Stiltons and blue cheeses come in cute crocks.

The biscuits (we say cookies) come in the most gorgeous tins.

The Prince of Wales has his own area of goods produced at Highgrove, his royal estate and farm. It’s a large section and I believe he donates the proceeds to his charities which is nice.

The hot chocolate section.

You can have tea at three different restaurants here. They have high tea, lunch teas and just a spot to grab a scone and a cuppa.  I needed more time here! I had to bribe the men with sweets and then they just expired. 
I did get some wonderful Coronation loose tea and a little milk pitcher. 

Out in the air again we wandered the streets. Make sure you have time to wander! This is a great city to do it in and one of my favorite things to do on my travels.

The fabulous view down The Mall with it’s Union Jacks. Last time we caught the Queen’s Guard coming down here on their horses. That is always a thrill.

Other things I love about wandering London…

Cute entries with umbrellas!

Everyone has flowers somewhere in their entry.

 Boxwood is everywhere as well…

The men just look so dashing here.

 Even the older gentleman step it up and I love that!

You will see men in bespoke (made to measure) suits all over London and yes it does make a difference. The men look impeccable and so handsome! Coming from California, and Silcon Valley, land of the work chino, I really can appreciate this.

 I also like that English guys wear a button-down as we would a t-shirt. So much more attractive in my opinion!

 Well, I hope you enjoyed a little bit of what charmed me on this trip!
 Next up I’ll show you the rest of my London visit and some pubs, parks and palaces!

Stay tuned!

Kim

Getaways…Orange County & La Costa Resort

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This week our boys were off of school so we took a quick drive down south to Orange and San Diego Counties. We stayed a few nights at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad. Carlsbad is about an hour south of Disney and 45 minutes north of San Diego. Legoland is also in Carlsbad and the resort is about a 5 minute drive from the beach. 
The resort is a sprawling property and beautifully designed in Santa Barbara Mission style. I especially loved all the flowers, citrus trees and banana plants everywhere. It was a quiet week there and warm and sunny enough to enjoy the spa (for me) and for us all to enjoy the watersides and pool. 
These little navy pots of marigolds were everywhere. So welcome after many weeks of very cold Winter this year. 

There are a lot of things for a family here. The kids loved the water slides of course. There is also a kids area called Vibes on site where older kids can play pool, foosball and ping-pong and other arcade games. Smaller ones can go to the kid’s activity camp and there is a water park area just for them as well. My boys are 11 and 14 and are old enough to wander to this place themselves. It’s surrounded by a cute mini outdoor shopping area in the center of the resort called The Marketplace. I noticed kids can run over here from the pool and order ice creams or drinks from the market. It all feels very safe and protected. Some parents even brought scooters for their kids to get around.

 The resort has two restaurants. The main one Legends has a kids buffet on the weekends and outdoor seating over-looking the hills and golf-course.

If you want to hang out at their new adults edge pool and bar, or have dinner at the Bluefire Grill without the kids, you could set your kids up at The Marketplace where they have a table filled with IPads for kids to use and kid-friendly take out right next to it. If you have very small ones they have special pool movies nights on the weekends and s’more roasting along with a reptile show on Saturdays as well.

La Costa’s spa is world famous and was ranked number one in the nation by Spa Magazine, so of course I had to do a spa treatment. Having all men in the family, I’m used to doing this solo.  I planned for a few morning hours to myself, while the guys did their own thing at the water slides. The nice thing about their spa is that it’s a huge area of the resort and when you do a treatment, you get access to the spa pool, spa cafe and gardens all day.

This spa area was heaven! I did a reasonably priced basic botanical facial. They have a wonderful spa area in the women’s side with jacuzzi baths and steam spots. After soaking and steaming, I walked the reflexology path through the spa garden, tried out the waterfall shower (my favorite!) and then sat by the quiet and lovely pool. Many guests were enjoying alfresco lunch at the pool or at the spa’s outdoor cafe near the fireplace in their robes. The spa cafe is known for it’s chicken salad with pistachios and their Bellinis. I had the yummy salad and ice tea and enjoyed some solitude before I joined my crew at the pool where they forced me on the water slides.. There went all those nice body potions and my spa essence!

The spa garden and inside the spa below..

We were there for only a few days and so did not get to try the any of the tennis clinics or golf. Another wonderful thing they have added is the Chopra Center for yoga. They have classes all day on site and generously gave us vouchers, so I’m hoping to get back and experience that. As I said before they added a lovely new outdoor infinity pool and bar, fire pits and which would be really fun in the warmer months. This whole place seemed like a great spot for a girlfriend or couples getaway too…I need to plan one!

This is how I roll at the pool..If there are robes I’m in them… Fresh strawberry mojitos were amazing!

Since we booked it during the weekday and a slower month, it was pretty inexpensive. As it was less crowded, they also upgraded us to a La Costa room near the golf course. These have balconies and patios. Rooms are all updated with great beds and bedding and spacious bathrooms.

Our view from our room.

The new Edge pool and bar area at night.

Overall, I loved La Costa. The service, the rooms, the food all exceeded my expectations and I hope we get the chance to go again…I was sad to leave. Did I mention the shopping? They have a store called Pinkalicious that was filled with preppy finds. I also loved another shop called Audrey’s and bought a pair of my favorite brand Tom’s in an Ikat fabric wedge there…So much to do here!

We also spent a rainy and very cold day at Disney. It was a fast drive in the carpool lane from Carlsbad and we got their just as the park opened. The big attraction is now California Adventure’s Cars Land and it’s pretty darn fun. You are literally walking through the whole movie. I loved that. You could eat at the Cozy Cone, or Flo’s diner. Two cute rides are Luigi’s Flying Tires, where you float like you’re on a giant air hockey table, and Radiator Spring Racers. The racer ride takes you through the whole Cars movie and then a race after. A blast, however, you need to get a fast pass as soon as you get in and that line, even on a rainy day, was 20 minutes right from the minute it opened. Then the wait with the fast pass is about 45 minutes!

As far as rainy Disney days being good… I have mixed thoughts. California Adventure was quiet and not crazy, but Disney itself was pretty jammed. In fact, there is a whole contingent of people that head to Disney on rainy days now. I guess there is no empty time to visit Disney anymore. Growing up, our Dad would always take us in April, when the park first opened for the year. That was before it was open year round. No one went so early in those days and we had the park to ourselves.

Disney has the loveliest plantings and as I grow older I notice how there is never a brown leaf on anything! My guys above in California Adventure.

Still, the magic of a Disney trip cannot be denied. Especially for my boys, who had only been twice before. I think going less makes it that much more special. Even with two coats on all day long, and no longer feeling my feet, I had a dole pineapple whip. It was sooo good. Don’t forget the Mickey-shaped beignets and yes we did eat our way through the park and all the lands. So glad our sons aren’t too old to love this still.

Another fun stop if you are here with kids is Ruby’s diner in Carlsbad. My kid’s are crazy about this 1950’s diner with a train running on the ceiling. You feel like you really are back in the days of car-hops and milk shakes. It’s about a five minute drive from the resort at a outlet center. There are also other Ruby’s in Southern Cal.

On the way down, there’s a lot of fun beach towns to stop in. One of my favorites is San Clemente. The downtown is a cool mix of funky and beachy. It’s a true surf town and just filled with good shops. A good stop with boys is the Jack’s surf shop outlet which carries all the California name brand surf clothes at 50% off retail. You can get Volcom, O’Neil, Quicksilver and similar brands.

 San Clemente above and below.

Since we drove, we went Highway 5 which is quickest way to get across the state. Right before you hit this area, you go through the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, which is kind of a hip area between Hollywood and Silver Lake and has some cool places to stop for lunch.

On the way home, we were waiting for the pass on 5, (the grapevine), to open due to snow. I am crazy for bakeries and cute lunch places and wanted to check out a place called The Alcove Cafe and Bakery on Hillhurst in Los Feliz. My husband was dubious as soon as he saw they has valet parking… Sounds expensive, but it wasn’t!

Inside the alcove above…and some of the cute ‘hood below…

I explained this is a neighborhood with little parking. (It’s a super cute one too. A drive through to check out the historic charming homes and Griffith Park would be another fun day here.) Worn down and hungry, he agreed and we all had a delicious lunch in the sun surrounded by oak trees. I loved the hummus and olive bread and other hits were their lentil soup and bowl of fries big enough for 10! Love the ice tea too.

 The restaurant is housed in two old bungalows. One side is the bakery, with sandwiches, soups and baked goodies.  The other is a chic bar open all day, bright and pretty. There is lots of outdoor seating at adorable bistro tables under pretty trees. This place seems fancy, but people couldn’t be nicer.

Who doesn’t love getting their condiments out of silver serving pieces? 😀

 The day we were there, they had Oscar cookies and were getting ready to host an Academy Awards party with a big screen outdoors. What a fun idea. If I lived down here, I surely would go. As we were leaving another customer purchasing cookies ahead of me whispered to his friend that Leonardo DiCaprio was picking up cookies in front of him and trying to be incognito! Darn, who knew celebrities go here too? I should have been looking…As it was I was trying not too look too conspicuous snapping phone pictures for the blog through the glass cases…

The cookies…Do you love it?

Here’s the snow we hit about 20 minutes out of Hollywood. Really. It’s that quickly you get into the mountains from the L.A. area. Crazy you could be sitting in the sun enjoying lunch and a half hour later in snow…but that’s so California isn’t it?

I love this part when you leave the grapevine and before you is laid out the entire Central Valley, where much of the worlds fruit and nuts are grown.

This time of the year, the fruit trees are getting their blossoms…

There is something about wide open spaces that is so romantic to me. I love a vista.

And there are so many parts of California that are different and so lovely in their own way…Even on I-5!

I love getaways anywhere in the off seasons.

If you are in the U.S., did you get a break for President’s Day this week and if so, did you go away anywhere? And what about the Oscars…Do you plan on watching? I’ve been invited to an Academy Awards party for the first time.

I can’t wait to chat all about the awards and the dresses later this week!

Kim

All photos property of Northern California Style.

Grand Tetons, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and a Utah Wedding!

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I’m back and just had to get a post out about my trip. I’ve missed you all and blogging. I was in pretty remote places while on my trip and had no access to the web. The same this weekend when we did a short weekend camping trip. Now I’m just in laundry hell!

View flying into Jackson Hole, Wyoming airport.

Anyway, first of all I have to say I’ve got a little crush on Wyoming and the Grand Tetons. Loved the whole darn area. It’s amazingly beautiful. It’s charming in the old west fashion. I just was blown away by the landscape. The lakes, mountains, flowers and waterfalls, and even the clouds enchanted me. Truly. I could just stare all day at the changing views. The town of Jackson is very cute with wooden walkways, flowers everywhere, and handsome cowboys scattered all about. Shopping was first rate too. Yes, I squeezed some torture in there for the men. I found a darling store, Belle Cose, that I am crazy about. They carry beautiful home decor, jewelry and kitchen wares. LOVE!

All the stores have flower pots too.

Huckleberry Soda, a Jackson Hole treat.  This at another wonderful spot in Jackson Hole- e.leaven bakery. Don’t miss the wonderful breads, sandwiches and homemade chips! The chicken tarragon sandwiches on poppy bread are fantastic.

Stagecoach ride in Jackson Hole.
Our view at Jackson Lake Lodge. 

Lots to do in this area too. We stayed at Jackson Lake Lodge, which is a national park hotel. The rooms are pretty basic, but the location is unbeatable. You look directly onto the Tetons and it has a enormous lobby to relax in and play games and just hang with the view. Two restaurants are on site and a fun bar too. Speaking of the bar, huckleberry is the fruit in those parts and I had a few huckleberry mojitos while there. One night, with cocktails in hand of course, we got to experience a moose up close and personal when he came to the back of the lodge right in front of the windows to get a bite. What an amazing creature he was! Enormous too. It was one of the highlights of the trip. Some really bright people tried to get within a 2 foot radius of the 7 foot creature with their iPhones, until hotel security warned them they might be dead in a second if the moose charged their way…

The moose. The best picture I could get.  (Actually my son Jackson got it with his iPhone.) Below on the deck of the bar at the lodge.


Hiking at Jenny Lake above and below to Cascade Canyon.


So many fun things we did. We rented canoes on Jackson Lake and paddled among the little islands. Unforgettable views and wildlife. Another day we took a boat across the smaller Jenny Lake and hiked up to Cascade Canyon, between the Tetons. It was made by a glacier and is still covered in snow on top with wildflowers below. The day we left Wyoming we took a trail ride on horses through a river. My youngest son Griffin really wanted to do this and so we drove a bit to get to the ranch where they do this. I was seriously scared when I got on my horse. I hadn’t been on one in about 35 years! However, I have to say, it was so fun once I relaxed. My horse Peanut Butter, was very sweet. Going through rivers was a little nerve-wracking. The cowboys who run this operation Horseback Adventures were so knowledgeable and really loved all their horses. Again girls, cowboys…Need I say more? I am directing my single girl friends to take their next vacations here!

Jackson Lake.

I almost forgot, we spent a day at Yellowstone too. It’s about and hour and a half from the Tetons. We couldn’t be so close and not see Old Faithful at least. We spent some time on the geyser trail and that was pretty fantastic. The sulfur pools are gorgeous. We then checked out the Old Faithful Lodge which was recently restored and resembles a huge arts and crafts style treehouse. We had lunch there and they have a general store which is decorated in gnarled wood. The store and the soda fountain are all from the 1890s and are original. Pretty neat. After seeing that whole area, we headed back and stopped at the west thumb area of Yellowstone, which has even more sulfur pools, but these are deeper and some are in Lake Yellowstone, which is huge. This area was really beautiful. Yellowstone is so big it deserves another trip and hopefully, we will also do that one day.


Yellowstone above and below.

Old Faithful.

The original soda fountain counter from 1890s and outside. Both at Yellowstone general store.
Inside the treehouse like Old Faithful Lodge.
Postcards!

The deeper sulfur pools at Yellowstone’s west thumb.

After 5 days in Wyoming we headed to the wedding in Utah! Our friends Justin and Laurie held their wedding at Beaver Mountain. They rented an entire ski resort for a weekend! It was covered in grass and flowers now and so lovely. What a great spot for families and kids to run amok! We stayed about 15 minutes away at Bear Lake, which is a big vacation spot for Utah families. It was surrounded by restaurants and stands hawking raspberry shakes. They were everywhere and so of course we had to try one! 🙂  They made great onion rings too. Ahh, the fat intake on this holiday!

This is as small as these shakes come!
A covered bridge in Idaho on the way to Utah from Wyoming.

A derelict church in Idaho.


The closest I’m getting to Paris this summer- Paris, Idaho. A very quaint little town we passed through.
I digress, back to the wedding! It was an unforgettable day. Justin and Laurie really made this all about their guests and did so much to make it fun. The ceremony was sweet. Justin, whose Kiwi mom is of Scottish descent, wore the full kilt and all. He looked like he just stepped out of Braveheart. So dashing! Laurie, whose mother is Japanese, also chose to honor her heritage by wearing a red kimono and traditional geisha hair. Together it was darling and they just were so cute. After the informal ceremony, Justin handed all the children a scavenger guide for the hunt he set up on the mountain. Each child also was given a compass to keep. When they finished, they got a pocketknife! The kids loved it of course.

Love this! Now they are off to Iceland for a honeymoon. So them!

Justin and Laurie with friend Gabe, who officiated.

Boys admiring their pocketknives! Our pals Trevor and MJ with my Jackson.

Griffin and pal Trevor having a blast on the ski hill.
 We had a huge feast served in the lodge and cooked by aunts of the bride and pals of the groom. Later, stargazing with guidebooks and green laser pointers provided for the kids again. The night finished with a bonfire complete with s’mores and loads of glow sticks, wands and necklaces. What a night and day my kids will never forget. We loved catching up with old friends, some we hadn’t seen in 17 years or more, in this relaxed and fun atmosphere. Unbelievably, the next day breakfast was provided for those who slept in the lodge or could come back. There were heaping platters of fresh eggs, hash browns, fruit,  juices and bloody marys along with gourmet coffee from our friend Greg’s Squid Ink Coffee (the best!) and local bacon…Favors were gourmet salted caramels from Montana! Did I mention my fat intake last week? 
Greg and his to die for coffee!
Erin my friend snapping pics and others enjoying the wedding ceremony.
Our friend Erin took our picture. I ended up wearing a maxi dress with my  flip-flops. The boys did shorts and nice shirts.
Griffin with his glow sticks and Jack below roasting huge marshmallows.

Thanks to Justin and Laurie for the wonderful and memorable day and I hope it inspires another person to think out of the box with weddings. The thing is, I think my boys want wedding like this now! My oldest’s words were, “Justin’s wedding was all pros mom, plus lasers!”

I guess that says it all! 
xo
Kim

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