A Little Swag While Attending a Swanky San Francisco Party Solo

I do a lot of things solo with absolutely no problem; go to the movies alone, eat dinner at fancy restaurants by myself, take tours of attractions, etc. But, there was something about attending the super swanky Vegas Uncork'd preview event in San Francisco that made me nervous. Not only would I be going to this foodie bash solo, but also [...]

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My Biggest Regret on the Road to Hana in Maui

Driving the picturesque Road to Hana in Maui was a more than memorable adventure. Though, the choice to make the nine hour trek all in one day meant that certain sacrifices would have to be made. Never did I think that not jumping off a cliff would be called a sacrifice. My biggest regret on the Road to Hana [...]

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Attending a Crab Feed at a Brewery in California

As I have said before, no one should actually eat all-you-can-eat, but that did not stop me at my very first Crab Feed at a brewery in Northern California. I finally had to wave the white flag, or rather paper napkin. Twice. A local theater in my hometown of Petaluma put on a weekday Crab Feed benefit. And the [...]

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Wearing a Fez at a Portland Tea Tasting

In case it has not been overly evident previously, I dig tastings. It makes no difference whether it is jammy red wine, artisan ice cream, rich coffee, unique honey or, in this case, a tea tasting. I don't discriminate. It was pure luck that right next door to Portland's meaty Olympic Provisions restaurant was a tiny tea tasting [...]

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17 Stops on the Road to Hana in Maui

After spending a memorable night in the funky town of Paia in Maui, it was sadly time to leave. I will miss you Mopsey Kalua Pork Pizza and Sandy Beach Coconut gelato. But, on the flip side of the coin we were departing to drive the Road to Hana. The Road to Hana is a picturesque, curvy road along Maui’s [...]

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Wild Mushroom Hunting in California’s Napa Valley

Mushroom hunting is the one type of hunting that is on my bucket list. So, when a foraging excursion was offered through the Napa Truffle Festival I immediately signed up for a memorable fungi adventure. Much like an underground rave, the location was not disclosed until the day before the hunt. On the down low. We woke in the [...]

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Eating Pigs Feet and Other Offal in San Francisco

We were supposed to be having dinner with a friend at San Francisco’s Water Bar restaurant. But, at the last minute he had to cancel and I am grateful he did. Not because we don’t love spending time with him, but because I would not have had the adventure of eating pigs feet and other offal [...]

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Creamy Goat Cheese Truffles at Maui’s Surfing Goat Dairy

While spending the day in Paia we had a delicious lunch at Flatbread pizza. So tasty that we went back the next night too. What made it so great? Their menu items feature local and organic products, one of those products being a creamy and mild goat cheese from Surfing Goat Dairy. Luckily, this farm was [...]

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Walking a Black Sand Beach on the Road to Hana in Maui

I have been to the creamy white sand beaches of the Caribbean, the finely compacted beaches of Georgia's St. Simons Island and the course salt & pepper beaches of Northern California. But, never have I seen a black sand beach. Until now. Until Maui. The Waianapanapa Black Sand Beach is at mile marker 32 on the Road to [...]

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Two Yosemite Restaurants. One Elk Slider.

Food is such a HUGE part of my travel adventures that when I decided to spend Christmas in Yosemite Valley, I was worried. It did not seem like the trendy food mecca that I am used to. But, I did find two bucket list worthy Yosemite restaurants that fed my taste buds. When I mentioned [...]

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