5 More Reasons the Peninsula is World Class
Every day in my real estate business I run across people from all over the state, country, and globe: a common refrain: what an incredible place the San Francisco Bay Area is to call home! And within the Bay Area, the Peninsula is a remarkably cultured, scenic, and convenient central hub for many looking to maximize a location between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Being a Peninsula native, I try not to take this for granted. In addition to our optimum weather, proximity to world class financial and technological centers, gorgeous neighborhoods, top schools, and sophisticated culture, there are 5 easy getaways for us to enjoy:
(1) Weekend Winery Jaunt – Napa Valley
Oenophiles and food connoisseurs can take a leisurely drive up to the Napa Valley. Start your trip at the 40,000-square foot Oxbow Public Market, a one-stop shop for the best in culinary treats (Napa’s equivalent to the Ferry Building.) Pick up some house-made salumi from the Fatted Calf, a baguette from The Model Bakery, some creamy brie or local chevre from the Oxbow Cheese Merchant and a sweet treat from Kara’s Cupcakes.
Head on down Highway 29 for some tastings and a picnic. You’ll find a winery every few miles in this vineyard-rich valley. Try some of the smaller ones, like Stanton Vineyards in Oakville or Heitz Celler in St. Helena. For champagne, you can stop at Domaine Chandon in Yountville or Schramsburg Vineyards in Calistoga (which has some of the oldest wine caves in the valley). Also down in Calistoga is the Michael Graves-designed Clos Pegase, with its splendid sculpture garden and works of art, as well as a picnic area.
When you reach the end of the road, enjoy a heavenly body experience with a purifying mud bath and massage in Calistoga. Work out the kinks from the drive and let your cares melt away. Then settle into your own private cottage at Calistoga’s Cottage Grove Inn, or try Solage Calistoga, a “gracious and green” luxury resort with 89 eco-friendly studios. Also nearby is the Meadowood Napa Valley featuring 85 cottages, suites and lodges, as well as a Michelin 2-star restaurant.
Some of the best dining in the state can be found in these parts, with Thomas Keller’s 3-star restaurant The French Laundry in Yountville, French comfort food at Bistro Jeanty, also in Yountville, or Napa cuisine at the Martini House in St. Helena.
Tip: On your way home, make sure you stop by Gott’s Roadside (formerly Taylor’s Refresher) in St. Helena for a burger. This is the original drive-in that has thrived under new ownership, opening additional sites at the Ferry Plaza and Oxbow Public Market.
(2) Lakeside Leisure at Tahoe
How about a little boating, water skiing, or just plain relaxing at the beach? Tahoe began as the lake destination for the Bay Area elite in the early 1900s. If you don’t have your own getaway nestled amongst the trees and shores, no worries, you can find accommodations from hotels to condos to grand estates.
Staying at the Montbleu Resort Casino and Spa will allow you access to the lake, full-service Onsen Spa, casino to gamble your cares away, as well as luxurious suites. You can while away your time at the pool, enjoy a body polish, attend a concert, or try your hand at the blackjack table. Tahoe Luxury Properties is a good source of high-end home rentals, from an 11-bedroom lakefront estate to a 3-bedroom water’s edge condominium in Star Harbor.
If you don’t feel like towing your boat up to the lake, you can rent a boat of your choosing, from sailboats to yachts, or even take a lake cruise. For those that really want some down time, a chaise on the beach is just what the realtor ordered. Duffers can play on any number of courses near the water or up in the mountains, from the scenic Edgewood Golf Course at Stateline to the Robert Trent Jones-designed Incline Village Championship Course to the PGA-qualified Dayton Valley Golf Course.
Tip: If you are feeling decidedly European, check out the second of two sandy spots at Hidden Beach near Incline, which is unofficially “clothing optional.”
(3) Desert Delight in Palm Springs
Spring is a great time to visit this area, a mecca of golf and mid-century modern architecture. The weather is just heating up, warming your bones as the mercury hits the 80s and 90s.
Check into a private suite at the ultra-hip Ace Hotel & Swim Club, where you just might find a DJ spinning vinyl at the pool (that also sports a sno-cone bar) or a tamale cart making the rounds with delectable treats. If you want something a bit more upscale, check out the Viceroy, a boutique resort with a full-service spa that is a throwback to ‘30s and ‘40s luxury. Adjacent Citron restaurant is a good bet for any meal.
To furnish your next home, visit the Palm Canyon Drive area, which is chockfull of modern and vintage furnishings. Check out Retrospect, Room Service, 20 First Modern, and Vintage Furnishings for some good finds. You can pop into one of the many galleries for decorative art, or visit the Palm Springs Art Museum for a break from the heat.
If golf is your game, there is no shortage of courses from Palm Springs to Indio. In fact the Coachella Valley boasts 118 courses, more than any other area in California. For a challenge try the La Quinta Resort’s Mountain Course, ranked among Golf Magazine's "Top 100 Courses You Can Play." You can take your pick over at PGA West, home to the Bob Hope Classic, with six different golf courses, all designed by golf legends.
Tip: For some magnificent scenery, take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up 2 ½ miles of mountain. An official historical civil engineering landmark, the tram cars allow for a breathtaking 360-degree view of the valley and mountain landscape.
(4) Ocean Views in Cambria
If desert golf isn’t your scene, take a trip down south to Cambria where you can spend your days touring the Paso Robles wineries and fall asleep at night with the waves lapping against the shore. Beachfront rentals are plentiful, as are quaint motels.
Pulling off of Highway 101 onto 46 will take you through meandering hillsides dotted with vineyards. Stop at Jack Creek Cellars, a small production winery run by Doug and Sabrina Kruse where you will find pinot noir, syrah and chardonnay. Four Vines Winery is a hip winery that focuses on zinfandels with names like Biker, Sophisticate, and Maverick. And the naming game continues over at Denner Vineyards where the wines have been very well received, despite sporting labels like The Ditch Digger and Dirt Worshipper.
For some great food, try the Sow’s Ear in Cambria, which serves upscale comfort food including chicken and dumplings and a very special macaroni and cheese. You could also make a trip back into Paso Robles to indulge at the Artisan, an American bistro using local and organic ingredients with a menu so drool-worthy you’ll have a difficult time choosing what to order.
On Sunday, before heading home, take a walk on Moonstone Beach and then grab some really good barbeque at Main Street Grill.
Tip: If you need a break from the grape, take a side trip to Pasolivo Olive Oil Company and taste the wonderful array of olive oils. But beware, the lavender butter is not for internal consumption!
(5) Glitter and Glitz in Las Vegas
Head on over to the SFO International Terminal and jump on a quick Virgin America flight (maybe you’ll get lucky and fly on Flight 777). First-class upgrades are $70 and you’ll get the royal treatment with plenty of leg room, complimentary cocktails, and some tasty appetizers. Upon arrival, you can head out to the limo line and catch a ride to your 5-star hotel. This city is littered with high-end hotels offering some special packages to enhance your stay. Major players such as Bellagio, Wynn, Trump International, and the Four Seasons have luxurious rooms and suites for those with discriminating tastes.
During the day you can check out the brand new City Center. Opened in December of last year, this 18-million square foot, $8 billion city-in-a-city has everything you could want: retail district, hotels, restaurants, spas, casinos and Cirque de Soleil’s latest creation, Elvis. You can shop at Tom Ford, Roberto Cavalli, or Cartier boutiques, pamper yourself at the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, take afternoon tea at the Tea Lounge, or dine with celebrity chefs Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Masayoshi Takayama, and Todd English.
If gambling appeals to you, there is no shortage of tables in this town, from Blackjack to Texas Hold Em to Baccarat. And if you arrive between May 27 and July 17 you can participate in the 2010 World Series of Poker along with both Hollywood luminaries and the poker elite.
Tip: For something a bit quirky, try Marche Bacchus, a wine store and bistro serving classically French cuisine along the shore of Lake Jacqueline in nearby Summerlin. You can tantalize your tastebuds and try over 950 bottles of wine!
After your getaway immersion, it always feels great to come back home to the fine neighborhoods of the Hillsborough/Burlingame/San Mateo areas. Please contact me for a personal tour of available real estate listings, both on the market and off the market, in these desirable areas we are privileged to call home. (650) 455-3735. McGuire Real Estate, Burlingame. geoffrey@geoffreynelson.com