travel

Fresh Kitchen Inspiration, The Historic Claremont Hotel, and Chic Shorts

July 29, 2023 By kimwheeler 36 Comments

A great new book with fresh ideas on kitchen renovations, our stay at the historic Claremont Hotel in Berkeley, easy chic shorts, a glamorous outdoor birthday bash, and chat about the Barbie movie..

Are you thinking of remodeling your kitchen or updating it? Before you go on Pinterest and see a million white perfect kitchens, you need to read Uncommon Kitchens by former House Beautiful editor, Sophie Donelson.

This book shows you how the heart of the home can be fun, different and not so generic. We don’t need to choose a white counter and a white backsplash!

There are so many options, but when you start the remodel process, we all tend to go with the safe options. The best for resale options. Forget that and create a home that feel authentically you. That’s what these people have done.. The advice in this book is new and fun.

A few photos from the book..

There’s something about a cluttered Downton Abbey style old kitchen that is so appealing to me.. Also lovely are the streamlined modern ones with fresh colors and rustic touches..

The book has excellent advice about getting out of the cookie cutter box called the kitchen and creating something totally different. None of the appliances and cabinets are set in stone and it is freeing to consider the possibilities. Many of these kitchen were remodels where the original kitchen was left intact and tweaked.. The interviews with the designers and owners give you so many lightbulb moments.. Like that kitchen choices are not irreversible there are many ways to change things up for a new look!

On My Radar Chic Shorts..

During summer I’m usually a sundress person, but with the elastic waist pull on short that is everywhere, many very chic looking, I have been spending a lot of this summer in shorts. They are just so comfy!

I especially love the ones in gauze material that require zero ironing like these from Madewell..now on sale..

I have also been wearing this pair with paper bag waist I shared previously from Rails and they also have a cute stripe one in stripes with a drawstring…

One look I have been wearing a lot are the Rails Leighton short and top in cream ( I also have the top in black. I wear Medium.) I love these little tops which are supposedly cropped, but on my 5’4 frame they just work with mid-rise to high waist pants and shorts… They come in a variety of colors.

How cute is the same short and top in blue? The Hibiscus color with the long sleeve top is also so good. I bought these shorts in small as they run slightly big. The gauze is so good for hot weather and travel.

Short sets have been on my radar. I’m seeing them all over. Matching sets reminds me of the Slim Aarons’ pics from decades past. I’d add cute sandals and jewelry to these and wear them out for evening too.

I found more cute pull-on shorts at Target and most are no longer online, but these tan animal print shorts are and I love the big pockets. Very comfy..

By the way, my legs are not great, have cellulite, broken veins and lots of scars. I really stopped caring about them being perfect! You have to wear what feels good to you, but I think we’ve moved to a place where we don’t need to have 20 year old legs to wear shorts. Find a length and style that feels good to you.

For the pale legs, I can’t deal with the smell of self tanner, but have used the daily Jergens Daily one before for a little color. Juliet shared on our LIVE this week she uses the Loreal Glotion bronzer and so have I, which can just rub in like lotion and it gives a bit of a glow and blur which is nice if you feel you need color.

The Claremont Hotel

Have you stayed at the Claremont Hotel before? Last week Max and I were invited to a special birthday party for my friend Elizabeth. It was an evening soirée, so we stayed at a hotel as she lives more than an hours drive away. Both Juliet and Elizabeth live in Orinda, and they recommended the Claremont. I was excited to see this historic and beautiful hotel in person!

The area where the hotel is situated captures a stunning view of the San Francisco Bay and the skyline of San Francisco. The site with 13,000 acres was originally bought in the mid 19th century by William Thornburgh, who became wealthy from the Gold Rush and built a castle like home. A fire destroyed all the area, and it was sold it all to an investors who envisioned a luxury resort. Building was begun in 1906, and opened in time for 1915 for the Panama-Pacific Exposition.

The famous spa and tennis courts were added in later years, as well as a rail link called the Key Line, that ran out the back steps of the hotel over the Bay Bridge to San Francisco in 1939, which was removed with so many other rail lines in the late 50’s. More about the hotel history here and here. The hotel is now run by Fairmont and has great service and we thought the food was excellent too.

We booked a Deluxe Room, which was not inexpensive….Still when we checked in, our room faced a roof full of air conditioning units and a dark hillside. I called down and very politely asked for a change. The people at the desk asked if I’d be willing to throw down another $100 for a great room with a view, and I acquiesced. I figured I was already out a bit what’s another $100?

We wandered the grounds while that room was getting prepped.. We checked out the fantastic pool and health club, a cute snack spot and the main restaurant…It was an unusually hot day and the pool was full of families, many who belong to this as a club.

When we returned the kind lady at the desk gave us the key and to our surprise gave us the Tower Suite! That’s the top room which has it’s own rooftop patio… Big enough for a party. We couldn’t believe it! We were thrilled and then realized we had to scramble and get ready for the party.. I wore a vintage Trina Turk I’ve had and love.

In the morning we choose to order room service so we could spend more time in our very cool room. We watched the fog roll in and out with our coffee and the zillion dollar view of the Bay and SF skyline! The smoothies were excellent.

So the moral is I guess, always ask nicely for a better room? I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful historic hotel. If you can, ask for the Tower Suite because it may not be occupied like the night we were there.

If we had more time, we would have tried the spa and the restaurant. It’s a beautiful spot for a night away and exploring cool Berkeley. After checking out, we took a meander through the darling town. It’s been too long and I had forgotten about all the charming streets and ivy covered homes.

Contessa’s Soirée

Our friend Elizabeth, who we call the Contessa, had a lovely outdoor garden dinner party for her 63rd birthday. It was in her favorite colors green, yellow and orange and guests and her tables were adorned in the color. Elizabeth and her husband Giampiero are the best hosts. More about it on my Instagram this week, and on Elizabeth’s blog with all the details- flowers, her beautiful dishes and linens and her opera photo op…. here!

Elizabeth in sequins with Giampiero..and her stunning table. Don’t you love the colors? Guys were instructed to wear boutonieres and ladies caftans.

I was excited Max got to meet Juliet’s husband Jim and Giampiero. So many lovely people it was an unforgettable night in true Contessa style!

I think as we get older the most fun may be to throw your own party. Take a cue from Elizabeth and style your own party, with your favorites colors, food, music and with those you love!

The Barbie Movie

Our weekend was so busy and fun and we rushed back to catch the Barbie movie as Jackson’s girlfriend Kristin bought us all tickets a few weeks prior. She asked us all to wear some pink and the guys complied too. Griffin was home for a few days so we all went along with her family. It was good people watching – many dressed in pink and I have not seen so many women at a movie in a long while.

One of the most entertaining parts of the film is seeing the sets which were built like a real Barbie doll house size and 23% smaller than ordinary furniture as Barbie’s dream house it. They did a fantastic job and there was no computer graphics which is hard to believe.

The message was a good one.. lots to think about. Some hilarious parts and Ryan Gosling was excellent as Ken. A part that stuck with me- Barbie ( Margot Robie) must leave her stilettos behind and wear Birkenstocks to journey to the real world.. and then its shocked to see it’s not run by women, but rather men. For Ken it’s a dream and he can’t wait to share the patriarchal world he finds with the other Kens. Yikes.

We still live in a patriarcial world. Men are most of the leaders of the world. Men are the reason for our wars and political strife. If women ran the world, I believe we’d be in a much better place. That’s what was on my brain when I went home that night. What is stopping us from running the world and why its it taking so long? Why are men in our own country trying to turn the clock back on everything?

I’m curious to hear your thoughts if you went.

Home of the week..

Finally more homes are up for sale and I had some time to peruse and this little gem in Carmel by the Sea is a dream. If I won the lotto, I’d buy this place in an instant. I love the beautiful windows, pretty kitchen and multiple patios and decks…

On Tuesday’s post, I joined my dear pal Annie of Most Lovely things for her Tartine Tuesday using California plums and apricots. My blog and recipe here– and Annie’s with strawberries and goat cheese here.

If you missed last weekend’s post, I shared, Slim Aarons’ beautiful photography, and choosing wallpaper for bedrooms.

Thanks for being here and have a lovely weekend!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

The Beautiful Mauna Kea Hotel, My New Bed and Nightstand Options

June 30, 2023 By kimwheeler 35 Comments

Happy Fourth of July holiday weekend! Today I’m sharing a bit more about our five night trip to The Big Island of Hawaii and the historic Mauna Kea hotel, my new bed that arrived, and some pretty nightstand options.

The Big Island of Hawaii is our favorite island for its beauty, amazing beaches, the many villages and hikes, and less people. This time as it was just Max and I for a 5 day jaunt, we opted to stay in a hotel. This is a little travelogue of what we did. I hope it’s not too long. I tried to share what we did and was relevant… If anyone wants recommendations for the area, let me know. I have tons. Next weekend I’ll share more of what I packed.

The historic Mauna Kea Hotel

The Mauna Kea Hotel has old school Hawaiian charm. It can be more affordable than others on the island and certain times like June, when we went, it can be cheaper. June is actually a slower time there..

The Mauna Kea was the first resort built on the island of Hawaii by Laurence Rockefeller, who was a conservationist. He wanted a place that fit in with the landscape and honored it’s history.. In the 1960’s he swam in the beautiful Kauna’oa Bay and was transfixed by the beauty of the perfect natural crescent beach.

Photographer Gray Malin has a whole series of Mauna Kea photos for sale.

The governor of Hawaii was looking for people to help populate the other islands of Hawaii, so Rockefeller agreed and chose this spot for his dream resort. He first envisioned it being all open air with no air-conditioning and no televisions. Later they realized A/C was needed in this sunny part of the island, but the hotel operated with no televisions until 1995! Max and I never turned ours on once.

The hotel they created is all open air with a multi-level modern feel, and was filled with his expansive collection of Pacific and Asian art and Hawaiian quilts. The art is beautiful and is sprinkled all over the resort which was completed and opened in 1965 ( a great year if do say so myself.)

This resort feels intimate in comparison to others. I love that many guests are multi-generational families. I chatted with a few people at the beach bar where we would grab lunch. One lady told me she honeymooned there and was now back with her grandkids. She said the hotel used to be $100 a day plus two meals – and if you were a honeymooner it was $65 a day with the meals!

This spot never feels showy. People here are under the radar low key types and I like that. You grab your own towel for the beach- and the pool. You can order a drink at the pool, but at the beach you can go to the Hau Tree beach bar restaurant and get it yourself. The beach has free snorkel gear, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards to use all day. We never had an issue getting a beach chair or a pool chair, but sometimes went early to get a prime beach spot.

Since it was opened it has had two big renovations. One was after a devastating earthquake. Luckily the hotel has retained the original look, with the same beautiful architecture and vibe. It went from a 300+room hotel to 250 when they renovated and expanded the ocean wing to give the rooms more space. Those new rooms have two terraces and one off the bath.. This was the room we had and we loved it. We have also been in the garden wing overlooking the lawn and beach and those rooms are nice also.

Things that stand out are the stunning beach, the amazing trees and flowers… The proximity to Hawaii’s Kings Trail along the beach on both sides of the property, the charming tennis club, the historic golf course, the restaurants- fun Copper Bar with it’s signature Fredrico drink, and The Manta with it’s views for breakfast and dinner over the crescent beach.. and over the manta ray viewing area. Manta rays and turtles can be spotted all day at the beach here.

Max and I spent a lot of time swimming.. (I made it out to one of the floating platforms!) He snorkeled, we body surfed and read all day under our umbrellas. Lunch was at the beach grill bar most days, and at night we ventured out to other spots.

We loved hiking the King’s Trail adjacent to both sides of the hotel..

One night we ate a Brown’s at the Fairmont which was great. We also had a day trip out to Pololu Valley for a hike, the historic small town of Hawi for lunch and another site…

The Lapakahi Historic park with a 700 year old Hawaiian hut..

On the way back from this day out, we couldn’t resist a visit to the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Farm for souvenirs and the most delicious Mac Nut Ice cream! We also had a blast cracking open the nuts with a machine and taste testing all the flavors and coffee too.. We came back with chocolate turtles, mac nuts and coffee.

The Mauna Kea is famous for its cute orange flower logo and orange towels which stand out against the aqua blue water here. I love that they give you two water bottles in the room that you can keep that are very nice. Each floor has a purified water dispenser so you can get unlimited water. They try to discourage buying water bottles. You also get a beach bag to keep too.

Souvenirs from here are coveted and there are three shops in the open air lobby. One has all the cutest logo wear, another has beautiful resort clothes from many unique brands, and one is a jeweler you can find in many Hawaiian resorts, Hildegund.

When we first got there, the jeweler had a display in the main walkway of a beautiful ebony wood cuff with a turquoise starfish. Something about it caught my eye. I never buy jewelry, but the last day before checking out I noticed it was still in the case, so I asked to see it and ended up buying it for myself! I hope I have some opportunities to wear it, and it will be a nice way to remember our little getaway.

If you’re looking for a smaller resort with a authentic Hawaiian feel, I think you would love the Mauna Kea. More about the resort and reservations here.

My new bed arrived!

After much indecision, I finally ordered a bed to replace my huge and very high Ethan Allen four poster that I have had for 25 years. It was getting harder over the years to get up in the bed, not to mention my geriatric kitty.. I also have dreamed of having an upholstered bed forever as I read at night.

I choose this Bernhardt bed for the look, which is sort of a beachy vibe… It appears slipcovered, but isn’t. It is a very heavy bed and it’s covered in a heavy linen like material with flanged edges. It has wooden feet of driftwood color. When I ordered there was only one color option, but now there are two, and it appears I have the creme/taupe. The great thing about this bed is it’s versatile, and I can change it the bedroom design as I wish over the years with this neutral color.

A few people on Instagram asked about my bed linens. My white coverlet is from Crate & Barrel I love and use in summer over my white Serena & Lily linen sheets. The blue shams were from Pottery Barn, no longer available, but this is nearly identical to it at PB. PB also has a nearly identical white coverlet here. The throw at the end is one of Tessa Foley Interiors. The small pillows are also S&L..The pom pom striped one here.

So up next, I have some ideas about a rug, a side table and wallpaper…. You may have noticed on the video I shared about the bed, that my new floors are already sun damaged even though my new sliders have UV protection..

Sigh. So a rug will have to cover that and maybe I need an umbrella or more sun protection on this back window. Funny thing, this room is the darkest in the house, so I resist anything that keeps the sun from it.

So far I love this new rug from Serena & Lily.. Their rugs have been such great quality and wear well, I am probably going to buy one from them.

Right now I use a ‘free’ antique table my neighbor had on the driveway as my side table. Max has the original Ethan Allen one.. I sort of love the large size of mine and by putting a throw (this from Pottery Barn) on it, so I can change the vibe.

I use a medium basket from Mersea to hold my earbuds, kleenex, hand lotion -and other stuff I don’t want cluttering the table. Have you tried that? Baskets can add charm and even a handbag size looks great. Use them instead of letting them gather dust in the closet.

On my Radar.. Nightstand Edition

For Max’s side, and possibly mine, if I decide to change, I like this Villandry side table with caning and bamboo details from Ballard Design. It’s also on sale. It looks like a Ralph Lauren one I have long loved. There is also this WS Home cane version in black..

There is also this versatile Sidney table.. and the Suzanne Kasler Southport table.

There’s the cute Serena & Lily Driftway Table in linen, and the new Malibu table from PB.

It’s hard to choose.. So many options!! I want something pretty, but also functional.

The Tudors at The Legion of Honor

I just got a notification about this new exhibit at The Legion which I really want to see..

‘The Legion of Honor is the sole West Coast venue for the first major exhibition of Tudor portraiture, textiles, sculpture, silver, jewelry, and manuscripts in the United States. The exhibition follows the development of the arts in England from Henry VII’s seizure of the throne in 1485 to the death of his granddaughter Elizabeth I in 1603.’

The exhibit runs June 24- September 24 and I will share when I go! More info and tickets here.

f you’d like to save the nightstands for a later date, you can save and pin this below on Pinterest..

If you missed last weekend’s post, I shared some of the cutest totes I spotted on the beach in Hawaii.

I’m heading up to Tahoe for a few days. We have some repairs to do, but I’m hoping to get to enjoy a little lake time. What are your plans? Since the fourth lands on the last day, I’m not sure if we will have the typical barbecue or not. Seems everyone has to work on the fifth in my family.

Have lovely long weekend,

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

What to Pack & Wear for Tahoe- Summertime Edition

May 16, 2023 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

On this post, tips on what to pack and what people are wearing in Lake Tahoe at the summertime!

In my mind there is no more magical spot than Lake Tahoe in the summertime. I spent my summers on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe as a girl. My parents would save their money and rent a cabin or A-frame in Chamber’s Landing, which had a terrific beach. I still think the best summer day is one spent biking in swimsuit to the beach and ending with an ice cream cone from the corner grocer..You can still do that on the West Shore and the pine scent of the air and the cold lake on a hot day just brings back those memories of carefree kid days. The West Shore still feels very much old school in that way to me..

I am so fortunate to now own a small vintage kit cabin not far from that same area on the West Shore.. I count down the days until I can be there. Now that I have spent more seasons recently here, I feel like I can give tips about what you need for a getaway here.. The fact is, I always overpack and wear the same things on repeat as it is VERY casual everywhere.

Tahoe is not a swanky place. In winter you sometimes see people with expensive ski jackets and such, but the truth is, at its heart Tahoe is mostly log cabins and people doing things outside!

Things to leave home– your heels and designer bags and makeup..

Things to bring- hats and sunscreen and – anything you might wear for a campfire or hike- and a few others..

Tahoe looks I wear…

A puffer with shorts and flip flops

A sundress with Tevas

Shorts over swimsuit

Cord shorts with a white blouse

Chunky sweaters with shorts

Fleece with jeans and sandals at night ( I call it the out to dinner look!)

Fleece jackets over skirts

I like to throw white jeans into the mix, a few cute pieces like a coverup and easy sundresses..The chicest people here have air dried hair and no makeup or the natural look. The biggest thing you really need is a hat and sunscreen- and good sunglasses. The higher altitudes makes it an easy place to get super burned even on a cloudy day..

A few looks from the past year or so..

What to Pack for Tahoe May – October

As in most of California, nights and mornings are cool, especially in the Sierras. Make sure you bring lots of layers and warm jackets as well as swim gear and shorts.

Light jacket – ideal would be a light puffer, or windbreaker
Fleece or sweatshirt for cooler days and nights
Several t-shirts long sleeve and short
Leggings or athletic sporty pants- or beach pants like these.
Jeans – and I’ll bring a white pair too
Windbreaker or light jacket- this by Vuori is nice.
Shorts
Swimsuits and rash guard
Coverup- or one that can double as a dress- This is almost just like mine on bike and this is similar .
Casual sundress or two.
Button up blouse to pair with shorts or pants for going out.
Tevas or some kind of sporty sandal.
Flip flops I love these by Olukai.
Hats-one with a cord for biking or boating and beach or a baseball cap.
Sneakers or hiking shoes.
Sunscreen.. I love this one.
A mini backpack or sling bag you can take on hikes and walks.
Sunglasses- I love Ray-Bans. This is a new style thats cool and the classic ones are my everyday pair.

Great pieces to consider:

Love this Uniqlo ultralight puffer and this windbreaker is also a great one.

I wear shorts most of the time in summer in Tahoe and these J. Crew Chinos and these Carve cord shorts are my go-tos.

I always have hats and I love ones with cords so I can wear them riding my bike or on a kayak or raft. This is a crushable option from Carve and this is another option – both with cords.

I love this rash guard/sun dress by Carve. Very flattering and with UPF 50 coverage, which you need up here in the mountains and on the water.

I always have a felt hat I bought in Switzerland at the hardware store! I wear mine in the fall and spring a lot in Tahoe. This one is very similar.

You have to have sandals for the beach in Tahoe. It’s super rocky.. I have these thin strapped Tevas – my favorite shoe to wear up there.

You need casual pair of jeans or sport pants. I love these Carson relaxed jeans and these Vuori Ripstop pants and these joggers for comfy cabin time.

These new Ray-Bans are pretty and come in a deep blue and this gray.

Photos are linked…

You have to have one of these. You can jam it in a bag.

Great if you need a cord for wind for the beach,boating or biking

Love these sneakers that are uber comfy.

If you are visiting Tahoe and need ideas for the West Shore this post has some of my favorite spots…and if you are going in winter you may like this post with a Tahoe Winter Ski look.

Now please stop by my friends who are sharing their tips for packing and holidays in their special parts of the country..

Cindy Hattersley Design

Fashion Should Be Fun

Thanks for stopping by! I’d love to hear what you bring to Tahoe or favorite spots there..

Pleases leave a note in comments. Hoping you all get a little lake time soon!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Like this post? You can save it on Pinterest.

What to Pack for Japan- Plus Travel Tips & Shopping

April 26, 2023 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

Are you hoping to travel to Japan someday? If you have a trip planned or are just dreaming for a future date, this post is for you with packing ideas, shopping spots, traveler tips, and inspiring photos..

I asked my dear friend Jeanne Chan to do a guest post for me on her recent trip to Japan! Some of you might know Jeanne, as she has been my partner in crime for many fashion events and fun things I have shared here. Jeanne had a trip to Japan planned with her family for a while, and due to the country’s strict Covid restrictions, it has been postponed a few times.

She finally went this past month and I asked her to share what she packed, pictures of how people were dressing and some of the customs. I also highlighted some of her best tips and tried to find similar items to share at the end..Japan has been on my list of travel destinations for a long time, and I am sure many of you hope to go too.

So without further ado, here’s Jeanne’s travel packing tips and more in her words…

Planning it

March 2023, Japan at last! Our trip was two years in the planning (due to the country’s closure over Covid-19) and since we had so much time to plan, we began our trip with quite a long itinerary in hand! It had been almost a decade since our last trip, and that one included our now grown son and daughter and my father.

My parents were both from Hiroshima, Japan and while not totally fluent in Japanese, I can get by conversationally and that alone definitely helps make traveling easier. This trip, other than my son and daughter in law meeting up with us for two portions of our trip, my husband and I are on our own and with just the two of us, we are covering quite a bit of ground. From Tokyo to Kanazawa; Osaka to Kyoto; Okayama to Hakone and back to Tokyo!

Mario Kart entrance at tokyo airport — At the Tokyo Airport!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, packing for the trip! Our family rule: carry-on only!

Packing

Traveling light and we can cover more ground and faster! So are you getting an idea of how we travel? Yes, we pack a lot of activity in our days. So in order to travel light, I need to pack smart. I always go with neutral colors when I pack for travel, plus two pairs of shoes (one a pair of sneakers and a pair of black slip-ons which can be dressed up). Note on shoes: you’ll visit a few places that require you to take off your shoes, so it’s helpful to choose a pair you can easily remove and slip back on.

Back to the packing list…a long dress, black travel skirt with zippered pockets, two pairs of travel pants, two t-shirts, one nice blouse, one cardigan and one pullover, a very light sweater, and one jacket I wore on the plane. All the pieces I packed were interchangeable and can be layered. Doing some fashion research, I had heard that not many people wore jeans and actually that turned out to be true for the most part! The jeans that I did see were worn mostly by retirees, and the occasional teen/20’s person not yet working in the business world. Working men and women, wore black or grey, white shirts and flat shoes (so much walking in Japan!). This is the uniform of the “salary-man”.

Outfit that I noticed and loved: Long fluted or pleated skirts paired with chunky boots, and since the weather is chilly and rainy, trench coats or lighter weight spring coats.

Young Tokyo people street style — Photos by Jeanne Chan.

Note: you will not see any “exercise” wear in public…so no leggings, running shirts or running shorts. Those clothes are saved for the gym.

Shopping

I needed to hit the stores! Roaming around in Ginza (highly recommend doing this, the stores are amazing and Japan is such a safe place to stroll about in), I came across a store called Comme Ça. I loved the fabrics and the proportioned sizes. I bought two jackets that I could wear with my pants, skirt and layered over my long dress….(The shop window, below.)

Another fabulous store to explore, Takashimaya department stores. You’ll find them in many major cities, and they have the most wonderful food floors where you can buy food to take or dine in. And if you’re in Tokyo you must shop at the 12-floor Uniqlo Ginza! There’s even a café for a much needed refresher to fuel your shopping.

Shopping Success! Now I can continue on with my journey looking sharper!

Street Style

As you can see from the photos that I stealthily took (!) I think the younger crowd dresses so sharp and so fashionably. It’s still relatively conservative outside of the edgy Harajuku area and besides the “cosplay/anime” look that a few of the younger crowd wear, altogether very minimalist chic! As I mentioned before, loved the long skirts and the trench/rainwear, and the coats…

oung Japanese woman in long skirt - street style

Young Japanese woman in long skirt - street style

The weather was still quite cool, still the majority of the women wore those long flowing skirts, but with high socks or leggings paired with sneakers or chunky boots. The feminine skirts together with an oversized hoodie or unstructured, loose jacket can transition in the warmer weather. Replace with a lighter cardigan over a tee shirt and it’s perfect with a pair of sandals.

I loved the young men wearing such stylish slacks and jackets as well, with a few of them also wearing those long coats.

It’s a country of the new and the old -the current fashion and the traditional kimono. You’ll see both looks at any given time, even in the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. It was Cherry Blossom season, and in honor of the spring blooms many young and old, visited gardens and temples in full traditional wear. It is popular to rent them and I loved how the younger set embraced their heritage! Of course much of it was for posting on social media, but still so cool to see.

Women strolling through old town in kimonos in Japan

Groups of girlfriends, couples- young and young-at-heart, strolled through the shopping streets and gardens of Kyoto or lined up at the numerous shops that sell matcha ice cream or “mochi-dango” (round, sticky rice cakes on a skewer). The city of Kyoto, in particular, had many people dressing in kimonos, strolling through the tea and geisha districts of old.

Women and men in traditional Japanese dress on street

Women in traditional Japanese dress on street

We also went to Osaka and that’s a different experience all together! It’s known as a foodie’s paradise and they’re right about that! In the touristy “Dotonbori” district there are food stalls and izakayas (bars that sell inexpensive snacks and bites) selling the flavors that made Osaka famous…Kushikatsu, takoyaki, yakisoba. Osaka is at times beautiful, intensely neon bright and loud, gritty, and touchingly connected to its past. The fashion here, well you won’t see anything crazy, but it’s definitely not as conservative as Tokyo. You can be free spirited and casual here! In Osaka, they say anything goes and at times it felt like San Francisco.

Where to shop:

Remember pack light when you head to Japan because you will be shopping!!

Ginza! Ginza is the place to shop…lots of luxury and flagship stores , beautiful storefronts and stunning architecture as well as many art galleries and traditional Kabuki theater. Venture here in the evening too, when the buildings put on quite a show with their sparkling lights! Bonus: the main street down Ginza is closed to traffic on Saturdays, which only adds to the fun of shopping and exploring the neighborhoods (don’t forget to explore the little alleyways and side streets of Ginza for cute little cafes and boutiques).
Aoyama/Harajuku neighborhoods. Lots of edgy boutiques in Harajuku. Designers like to drop their upcoming designs in Harajuku to test the market. In Omotesando Hills in the Aoyama district, your head will be spinning amidst the people watching and the Europeon luxury brand shops that line both sides of the main street there.
Rappongi Hills is the pricey business district of Tokyo. You’ll find many beautiful stores and museums and cafes! Of course that could be said of much of Tokyo!
Shinjuku, everyone has to go to Shinjuku when in Tokyo! And try Isetan department store, the “Bergdorf’s of Tokyo”
Off the beaten path, there is a town called Kojima near the city of Okayama where you will find “Jeans Street.” Here you will find handsewn, Japanese designed denim clothing that are known worldwide for their excellent craftsmanship, using the indigo dye that Japan is famous for. If you have time, treat yourself to an outfit, some stores will even custom tailor just for you!
Whether in Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, one of my favorite places to shop is Takashimaya. They have the well-known designers from Europe and America there, but I love the made in Japan designs as well. It is in Takashimaya that you will find the tailored navy and black clothing that’s very popular in Japan, but what I appreciate is the uniqueness of the designs…tailored at first glance but with the fabric being cut or sewn in ways that allow the clothing to fall just right! And you’ve got to check out their restaurant floor and food court! Unlike anything you’ve ever seen outside of maybe Harrods in London!

Top 10 tips to make your life easier when traveling in Japan:

1. Public restrooms almost never have paper towels (to cut down on waste) so remember to carry a little handtowel or handkerchief with you. Collect then as mementos of your travels, you’ll find them for sale at stores and souvenir stands. I think I’ll adopt this habit all the time!

2. Pack light with the toiletries! Hotels, especially if there’s a spa/onsen on site, offer these items to guests in plentiful quantities.

3. Get comfortable and wear slippers provided in your room AND in store dressing rooms (yes, even the ones in Uniqlo). You do need to wear the slippers, its expected! Some hotel rooms even have separate bathroom slippers. Personally I love it!

4. Japanese stores, especially the small food booths or souvenir shops only deal in cash (or prefer to) so you’ll be dealing with a lot of coins. Some coin lockers in train stations and museums will only take a 100 yen coin, not to mention those beloved vending machines on every corner and station in Japan! So buy yourself a cute souvenir coin purse to hold all those yen!

5. Did I mention travel light? This tip is not only because you’ll need space for items you will buy, but rather in several train stations you will invariably run into stairs! Especially the local lines. Most have escalators but again you will encounter those stations that only offer an elevator tucked into an obscure corner as an alternative. And that elevator often has a line.

Also, the bullet train or Shinkansen does not offer unlimited space for oversized luggage. You may have to check them in at the station and then will have to pick them up at your arrival station. Not always convenient to do especially if you happen to hit rush hour (and warning…try hard to avoid rush hour or you WILL be squished) .

6. Speaking of trains, public transportation can be confusing and intimidating. The system in Japan is ultra reliable and except in the rural and smaller towns, announcements and schedules are in English (along with Chinese and Korean). If you need help, ask station staff and they are so very helpful!

7. Convenience stores in Japan are on a whole other level! They call them “combinis” (short for convenience store). There is a Lawson, a FamilyMart, or 7-eleven on practically every street corner and in between. Go check them out….they are heaven! I can’t travel in Japan without them and we go to one every day. Trust me, you’ll find out why!

8. Trash cans. You will not find them on every street corner, in every store or station. In fact it can be very hard to locate a public trash can. It wasn’t until this trip that I learned the real reason behind this fact. Back in the mid 90’s there was a sarin gas attack carried out in a Tokyo subway station, and since then Japan has removed public trash cans in most places to cut down on terrorist attacks. So be ready to hold on to your trash! And as you can see from the photos…everyone carries a tote!

9. Another reason you don’t find trash cans on public streets is because people who live in Japan just don’t eat on the go! They have their coffee in the café, their food at the restaurant, or as takeaway to eat later at work or at home. Instead, take little breaks at the many darling cafes you will see everywhere!

10. In keep with the little breaks at the cafes, I would encourage everyone to explore outside the typical tourist areas of the cities, some are only an hour outside of Tokyo. Find a little town where time stands still. The locals are so friendly, and you will find lots of spots to explore!

Thanks so much Jeanne for letting us travel along on your amazing trip and for the wonderful tips and advice..and great photos. I can’t wait to plan an adventure there.

A few things that are Jeanne style or similar…Great travel pieces.

I included a great black skirt with zip pockets that Jeanne and I both have from Athleta..her Cole Haan sneakers she wore, that I actually shared last weekend. Also you need a crossbody like she took that with her everyday.. I tossed in a few shoe options and a light jacket and easy black pants and versatile tops. Click on photos for the link..

You can also follow Jeanne on Instagram where she posted more of the trip, some great food spots she discovers and wonderful baking she does!

I’ll be back on Saturday with the weekend post and next week Signature Style’s -‘Summer Wish List’ will be our subject- so subscribe if you don’t want to miss those posts!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

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What to pack for Japan and shopping tips

All photos property of Jeanne Chan.

Weekend Meanderings- Travel Edition!

July 22, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. This weekend I am away at the Haven Conference , so I thought this would be a good time to share all my best travel themed posts..

First I want to share a beautiful book Resort Fashion, that was a gift from my friend Erin who loves travel too. It’s vintage from 2007, but a wonderful book filled with gorgeous photography from Toni Frissel, Louise Dahl-Wolfe and others. There are sections on stripes, all white and color, and other themes and it’s probably one of the loveliest photography books I’ve ever had… You can still find it on this link and here.

This is my most popular post ever, What to pack for Carmel and Monterey. I try and update it every few months.

This was the last Signature Style on Travel, and what to pack and how to do it.

This edition of weekend Meanderings had what I pack for Hawaii..

This post was How to Bring a Hawaiian Vibe to Your Home..

This was one of my all time favorite posts –Traveling Abroad With Children .. I think it’s a wonderful idea. We did it and loved it. Some of my tips and photos of the trips we have done over the years with my sons in Europe are on this and I’m so glad we started them out traveling young. Grif below in London!

This was my post on our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Bora Bora …

And lastly, written right before the pandemic, A Week in London. London is my most favorite city in the world!

I’ll be back to my usual weekend posts next week… Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed my last Weekend Meanderings, I shared a white dresses and decor pieces, my new kitchen pendants, a San Francisco townhouse that is a beauty, my favorite sunscreen and summer foundation.. read the post here.

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

A Week In London

August 21, 2019 By kimwheeler 15 Comments

Sorry monster post here.. You may want to check out now..I’ve been away so I owe you guys and am trying to make up for it with my next few blogs. Hope you’ve all had a good summer!

Earlier this month Max and I spent a week in my favorite place on the planet, London. Our kids were busy with camps and other things so we took the opportunity to make a quick trip without them. Though I love traveling with my guys, it was freeing to go not worrying about what everybody’s needs were for sleep, eating and preferences each day of vacation. I had forgotten how it is to do just what we wanted and I have to say it was really nice for a change.

Arriving in Heathrow after what seemed a pretty easy overnight 9+ hour flight on British Airways from San Jose to London. Love the umbrellas!

We woke when we wanted, wandered the city all day. We ate lunch when we wanted. We had late dinners and early cocktails. We sauntered through the National Portrait Gallery, poked around at the V&A and immersed ourselves at The Imperial War Museum, had scones and tea every afternoon, perused Portobello Road antique shops, and browsed for English treats at Fortnum & Mason and Liberty- all things that I love and would not have been as appreciated by our sons.

I thought I’d share the highlights and photos as it’s just the loveliest city to me architecturally and aesthetically. London loves flowers and they are everywhere for those who appreciate that sort of thing like myself. They also always have some wonderful exhibition going on. This time it was the Dior show at the V&A.

We stayed at The Ham Yard Hotel a beautiful and unique spot right in the center of Soho. It is a Firmdale Hotel and I’ve been lucky to stay their Covent Garden Hotel also a few years ago.

Kit Kemp, owner and designer has fashioned all her properties in a distinctly English way with a beautiful mix of prints, antiques and modern art along with the most luxurious appointments in each room. She creates eclectic and inviting gathering spaces in her hotels along with wonderful bars and restaurants. London has five of their hotels, and New York is lucky to have two.

I have her books and I love how she decorates. More of her books here.

The Ham Yard was nestled right into the action in Soho, at the end of a charming lane and just steps from a historic pub, Regent street and the Theatre District. It’s a gathering spot for the whole area as people come to the Ham Yard’s charming front patio in the evenings for drinks and conversation.

The area surrounding it is called Ham Yard Village and there is also a Japanese restaurant, a tea shop, a hair salon and some beautiful clothing stores.

On top of The Ham Yard is the rooftop garden which runs the expanse of the building and also holds an apiary. It’s also used for private parties and you can order food and drinks up there too if you wish.

One thing I love about the Firmdale Hotels is personal attention and kindness from everyone.

How fun is this? An Honesty bar tucked off one of the two libraries.. You can make yourself a nice G&T after a long day out or try one of their house made cocktails in a bottle- or just grab a coke and chips. You just write it down on the list and go. In the basement there is a bowling alley and they also have a spa, a fitness center and a theatre that has fun film events.

A few pics of our room which had a very large balcony with a quintessential London view.

How cute is this headboard? I want one! Kit mixes fabrics and prints like no one else.

Every night you get a glass bottle of water and they give you a relaxing pillow spray to keep from Kit Kemp’s bath collection.

The Orangery at The Ham Yard where you can have high tea or just a cocktail.. We did the High Tea.

The breakfast buffet with the most delicious yogurt, granolas, and fruits.

Breakfast! I was in love with the china which was specially designed by Kit for her hotels. This pattern is Wedgwood’s Sailor’s Farewell which is so darling. I also love her Mythical Creatures China that The Covent Garden Hotel uses. Both patterns can be found here on Wedgwood, which incidentally ships free to the U.S.! I would love to have a set of one of these someday. Also how cool are those English toast holders?? More about those in Part 2!

So many pretty spaces in this hotel.

Drinks by the fire on a rainy evening.

When we could drag ourselves away from the hotel we did a few cool things. One was seeing The Dior show at the V&A.. I will do a separate post about it.

Another morning we dashed through a little rain to The National Portrait Gallery, something I always have wanted to do, but the boys did not.

Too many stunning and historic paintings to see. We had time for only a few floors. It’s also a lovely place to have lunch as they have a great space with one of the best views in London looking right at Big Ben and the Thames.

You can see Big Ben is still under construction. It’s costing 61 million pounds and supposed to be done in 2021!

I especially loved the portraits of Elizabeth the First – or do I say Elizabeth I?

Then there were some beautiful old portraits of families from the 1500s that I was especially taken with.

And the 1600s.. Can you even believe they have survived this long and still look this good? This portrait is the Family Vyner in 1673 and he was a wealthy Lord Mayor of London at one time and lent the government money, but died penniless when he was not repaid.

The stories accompanying the portraits were almost as interesting as the paintings themselves. You can learn so much with just a stroll through here.

This family was very musical and commissioned a portrait of themselves. Much more to love here and modern paintings as well as terrific photography.

I also loved the portraits of The Queen.

After the portrait gallery, Max had booked us high tea at a London hot spot called Sketch. His work colleague sweetly recommended it and I had seen it before as it’s VERY instagrammed. When you arrive you can understand why. Don’t you love the dusty pink booths? It’s like traveling back the London of the 1930s.

It is run by a French restauranteur and encompasses four different dining rooms in a beautiful historic building.

I felt so elegant sipping champagne from a coupe while a three piece string ensemble played in the background.

This pink room is the Gallery and where you have your high tea.

The bathroom is a must see with space like pods up a circular staircase. More people Instagramming than using the facilities! A cool sunken bar is hidden between the stairs- should you wish to hang and have a drink in the bathroom!!

The pod toilets!

So not let all this pretty dissuade you from the food and service..It was superb! The food was as yummy as it was gorgeous. They have 2 Michelin stars so the service was very orchestrated, even the pouring of the tea.

We thought it was all the best tea and food of trip. We paid a bit more to have champagne tea and Max got a cocktail called a Basilco. Their cocktails are superb, so amazing and specially crafted.

They said dress ‘Art Smart, with a sense of style and character.’ I love that. I decided on a pink floral number so I matched. You can find more photos of the other gorgeous rooms and menus on their Facebook page.

On our another day we made it to the The Imperial War Museum, which has been on our list. This was a bit farther on the tube, but worth doing. The WWI floor is the best interpretive experience I’ve ever been through. If you have done the Churchill War Rooms, you’ll like this as it’s similar, but on a larger scale. Housed in the original Bethlehem Hospital (nickname Bedlam), it was begun in 1917 before the war was even over and has survived and recently been through a wonderful restoration. Much more about the IWM here. A must do if you are in London.

So much to write about it, but these photos say a lot. There is a vast collection here that brings the war experience to you on every level and viewpoint.

I could personally relate to the parts showing how much women contributed to the war efforts and also how they were affected.

These two things- the dogs given up for WWI, and the masks below were sad, but drove home how much the war affects every member of a family.

War time scarves to boost the war effort and bands worn by women during WWII.

The WWII posters made into postcards. So creative and eye catching and effective.

Before you leave you can see a section of The Berlin Wall.

Right across the street from the museum I passed by this door. Only in England! I’d like to enroll.

Another night Max booked us a gin tasting at The City of London Gin Distillery which is right by St Pauls Cathedral. I wasn’t so sure how much I would enjoy it, but it was one of the most fun things we did.

The City of London is the area that encompasses the financial district and includes St Paul’s Cathedral which the distillery’s bottles were modeled on. The distillery has been in operation since 2012 and won all kinds of awards and gold medals. They make a variety of gins and we tasted 4 while we were there and learned about the making of gin, and its history in London.

When you get to their cool bar for the tour, which is like a speakeasy, they start you with a gin and tonic with a big slice of grapefruit.

Of the gins we tasted I liked the Christopher Wren, which is named after St Paul’s famous architect. It’s creamy and tastes unlike any gin I’ve tried before. They also had a Rhubarb and Rose gin, which was very good and popular in summer. The Sloe Gin, which some drink straight, was delicious with tonic… Something else I never had.

It’s a cool cozy place and it got quite busy later. The stills in which they make the gin are called Clarissa and Jennifer after the Two Fat Ladies cooking show. Anyone else ever watch that? I loved it.

We had the luck to meet the nicest couple, Kate and Tim from Richmond who bought us a drink afterwards in the cute bar. It was altogether the most enjoyable evening and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in more London history and to experience a real G&T London style!

Kate took our photo and sent it later. I wish I had taken one of them. You never know who you will meet doing these little tours! They had kids similar ages, and we had much in common.

Tim’s great photo of the beautiful bar here they sent me. Thank you Tim! He’s a photographer in his spare time which you can probably tell.

Stay tuned in for Part 2 – What I wore, shopping on Portobello Road, a day at Kew Gardens, The Dior Exhibit and Liberty, my favorite shop on the planet…and other bits I couldn’t squeeze into here!

Cheers Luvs,

Kim

Photos property of NorthernCalStyle unless noted.

‘Eating Rome’ a Fantastic Trip Through the Eternal City

April 24, 2015 By kimwheeler 16 Comments

Life has been crazy busy, more than I can even share in one post, but this week I had to make time for a book I promised I would review. I began this lovely book on vacation and finished this week. It was a wonderful escape, engrossing and transporting which I really need right now.

The book is Eating Rome by Elizabeth Minchilli, and it’s a memoir/cookbook/guidebook to Rome. I knew of Elizabeth through her beautiful blog so I immediately accepted the offer to read and share this book. I have been to Italy and Rome was undeniably my favorite. Something about walking among the ruins, the vespas, fountains and beautiful Italians- the whole mix is so glamorous and magical. Given a chance to relive it just a little sounded fun and it was!

Elizabeth, an American, grew up much like myself in the 60s and 70s, but in Saint Louis. She came home from camp in 1972, to find her parents planning to move the family to Italy. Thus began a unique adventure and a lifelong passion for Italy. After her family moved back home to states, she later did graduate studies in Florence and eventually fell in love with an Italian and moved to Rome where she lives today. There she and raised two daughters, and began her blog of Italian life and food.

Her style of writing is so enjoyable. I loved Elizabeth’s personal stories of food and experiences that guide you through the chapters. In this book you’ll learn how to order coffee like a Roman, and yes there is a proper way to! We also learn how Italians eat cookies for breakfast, pasta everyday and full fat everything and yet are not overweight.

I especially loved the chapter on artichokes! Being a Californian I didn’t know there were so many ways to enjoy them. Friend and breaded artichokes are on my list of things to try next.

You learn a lot of food and Italian life here too like Roman children are introduced to mini versions of regular adult foods and are not given the mushy bland things American babies get. Italians also consider vegetables one of the main parts of the meal and meats are used a a flavoring much of the time, and not a course in itself. That said they also eat offals which are internal meats, in sandwiches and other foods.

The recipes are sprinkled throughout the book, but with detailed instructions for making this simple food taste fabulous. There are tips on stocking a pantry, shopping for pasta-fresh vs. dried, and many wonderful cooking tips and secrets shared here. Let me just say this is not a book to read while hungry. I found myself craving everything and so far have made two of the pasta dishes which I will now add to my regular repertoire…

My photo here and below.

For a lunch I made the Italian version of buttered noodles, pasta con burro, which every Roman child grows up eating. The secret to making a rich sauce is adding in the reserved pasta water and unsalted butter. It was the best buttered noodles I have ever had.

This week I made my family cacao e pepe, or a Roman version of mac n’ cheese with pecorino cheese. A huge hit and I added arugula and tomatoes which made it seem a little bit healthier, though no less delicious.

At the end of each chapter is a guide to Rome’s best, from coffee spots to bakeries, trattorias and even the rooftop cafes! The photos are gorgeous and had me planning and dreaming about another trip to Italy as well as trying to recreate that simple elegance here at home.

A few of the gorgeous photos in the book.

I have never read any of my cookbooks cover to cover, but this I did. If you have a love of Italy, good food and want to take in a little more la dolce vita, you will love Elizabeth’s book. Check out her blog too for inspiration and restaurant recommendation, and general loveliness! Elizabeth also conducts day tours as well as a week in Rome trips, which are found on the blog.

Ciao!

Kim

Please pop over a visit the fun Lifestyle Linkup I am joining today with Jennifer at A Well Styled Life and Heather Of StyleMindChic! Lot’s of inspiration there today!

photos via Eating Rome and also Northerncalstyle

Getaways- The Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay

February 27, 2014 By kimwheeler No Comments

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.

Day Trip- Top Things to Do in Half Moon Bay!

October 12, 2013 By kimwheeler No Comments

Here in Northern California a trip to Half Moon Bay to pick pumpkins is a fall ritual for many people. Half Moon Bay is a beautiful coastal town about 25 miles South of San Francisco that is also famous for it’s wholesale nurseries, beaches and charming town.

We took a quick jaunt over there last week to have lunch at the gorgeous Ritz-Carlton there. It was such a sunny day and nary a jacket was needed, which was unusual for the Northern California coast.

The Ritz embraces it’s town’s pumpkin fame with it’s liberal use of gorgeous gourds all over it’s hotel.

We had a lovely lunch overlooking the ocean. You can have a window seat at their cozy banquettes or get cozy by one of the fires. Food was amazing. Many of the dishes incorporate pumpkin. I had yummy English pea ravioli. Max had a burger. Don’t miss their fries! Presentation and service wonderful.

There is also a fabulous lawn overlooking the sea and golf-course, where you can grab an Adirondack chair and have a Pimm’s cup (yes, they have them here!) or a cappuccino and a snack.

The particular day we were there, small ones were running about while moms sat on picnic blankets with champagne and chatted. The dads perhaps were golfing? Anyhow, wish I’d done something similar while my kids were young.

The hotel is just lovely and seems family friendly, but very luxurious. I haven’t had a chance to stay here yet..Maybe another post soon? I hope. However, it’s a wonderful stop when you are out here for the day and even on a foggy day would be fabulous for a cozy lunch by one of their fires…

There is a famous spa which has many pumpkin-themed treatments and luxe products. The autumn feeling is a given if you are here at this time of year. Maybe the moms get spa treatments after the men finish golf? Sounds like a good plan to me!

We love to take a walk to the left of the grounds along the golf course and down to one of the gorgeous beaches right there.

I always have to stop at the Half Moon Bay Nursery when this way, to putter about it’s huge grounds and see what I could bring home. This place goes forever with one rickety green house after another filled with the most amazing plants, pots and a few cats..

I love their potted plants that they put together, This time I bought ivy for indoors and a few beautiful pumpkins and gourds.

They have a way of arranging things that is so gorgeous. How beautiful is this? Love the the ivy witch topiary!

Max has to usually drag me out of here.. Did I mention they have some wonderful olive trees, hydrangeas and oh my goodness the succulents? I do love the boxwood area…

If you get an opportunity to visit Half Moon Bay, there is so much to do.

Some of my favorites are:

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival Held this year the week of October 19-20, this huge and historic event attract growers from all over California with it’s contest for the largest pumpkin. Last year’s winner was a 1,775 pound pumpkin! Pumpkin carving, eating, pumpkin foods are all part of the fun. Check out the link for details.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Lovely spot to tide pool and have a picnic. Make sure to check the tides before you go. Low tide is optimum for spotting anemones and starfish! There is also a short hiking trail here if you are so inclined with sweeping views.

San Gregorio This beach is about one mile South of Half Moon Bay and a popular spot for painters. Just a mile inland from the beach, on highway 84, is the town and the San Gregorio General Store. This spot is the definition of funky! In business since 1889, they sell books, clothes, groceries and all around cool stuff. It’s a huge place where a live band is usually playing on a weekend afternoon. You can grab an ice cream bar or get a sasparilla, hot chocolate or a beer at the bar. It’s fun stop on the way out of the beach communities here and a gorgeous drive on 84 back to the inland.

Via Pinterest

Sam’s Chowder House is another must do when in this area. It was voted by the Today show for having one of the best 5 sandwiches in America- it’s lobster roll. It’s as good as they say and the clam chowder is also awesome. We like to come here after a wind-swept beach walk to get warm and watch the ocean birds from the windows. You can also sit outside if you want. They have a darling little souvenir shop with the usual shells and more.

Also close by is Mavericks, the famous surfing spot, which you may know about from the films Riding Giants and Chasing Mavericks. It’s on the North part of town, by Princeton-by-the Sea. Mavericks is usually held during the winter and the surfing site is actually far off the beach, but it’s cool to check it out and the surfing if you are here.

Marvereicks via Surfer magazine

Half Moon Bay Hiking Trail is one of my favorite hikes. It’s a 6 mile flat path along the ocean and along some gorgeous scenery. You can spot the snowy plovers here, cross creeks and see some gorgeous flowers and beaches.

These picture are from a post Christmas walk on the Half Moon Bay Trail. Griffin making his mark above and the boys liked climbing the crazy cypress trees.

One thing I highly recommend for this area is layers. Days can start out cool and foggy and get quite warm and also the opposite! Northern California coastal temps often change 30 degrees in a day. That’s how they sell a lot of sweatshirts here! (Can you tell I have a lot of layers on here in December?)

This is only a smattering of all there is to do in this gorgeous area of Northern California! A super day trip or a weekend spot.

I wish you a wonderful fall weekend!

Kim

P.S. The blog is a bit under construction right now while I try out a new look, so bare with me while I get it together. Hopefully, it will be complete and pretty soon!

All opinions are my own and this is not a promoted post!

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