[ad_1]
We are still discovering the fallout from the pandemic of the past year and a half. Heck, we’re still living with the pandemic. And one activity / industry to support a coup has been travel.
The world was our oyster, so many places beckoned to us, so little time. My favorite overseas destination became Berlin 20 years ago when my son moved there. We varied each trip to include other destinations – London, Prague, France, other parts of Germany – and Berlin itself became an even stronger magnet after the birth of my son’s twins, there is exactly five years old today.
But otherwise, the pandemic made me rethink my definition of vacation. I’m talking about trips taken just for fun, like a break from everyday life, for a change of scenery and to see and experience something new.
TV commercials urge me to keep my vacation – and my dollars – in California. I totally agree with that. Partly to support my California comrades / sisters, but also because there is so much in our Golden State that I haven’t seen and done yet.
If you’re like me, you only visit some of our local “tourist” spots when people are coming from out of town, that’s when I finally took a tour of Alcatraz. But maybe now is the time to explore more on my own, and there are places I’d love to revisit, like the 17-mile drive to Pebble Beach.
One of my California vacation goals is a visit to see the lighthouses; apparently there are 30 still standing and 16 of them are open to the public. A whole shoreline of sand, waves and sunsets over the sea is within a few hours’ drive, or you can make it a week. The mountains are unfortunately prohibited for the moment.
The Pleasanton Senior Center has its VIP Travel, although it is currently closed. I took a day trip with them to Apple Hill a few years ago, a carefree way of letting others handle the logistics that I will definitely consider again.
Vineyards! The Livermore Valley is right here. And the wineries of Napa, Sonoma, and Russian River aren’t that far away. While at the Russian River, visit Bodega Bay (be sure to watch Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” first). Another draw to this area is the small town of Occidental with its Union Hotel, which once served family-style dumplings at dinners to die for. I see on the website that this has changed, although ravioli is still on the menu.
My husband and I loved spending the day in San Francisco with friends. We would love BART and just explore. On a memorable day, we walked up the Embarcadero to Levi’s Plaza, across from Pier 23, then across the plaza to locate the staircase that climbs and climbs through scenic backyards until you reach Coit Tower. After inspecting the old murals at the base of the tower, we continued on Telegraph Hill Boulevard until we were in North Beach. It sounds ambitious now, but I don’t remember it being particularly strenuous, even though I stopped to catch my breath on those uphill stairs.
Here in the East Bay, my mission is to get everyone to make it to the top of Mount Diablo State Park. Maybe because I remember my family going there from San José for a picnic when I was a kid – and that was before the freeways. But it’s a place that I take visitors from out of town and visit myself from time to time.
My second assignment is to introduce people to the Eugene O’Neill National Site in Danville. The gardens are relaxing, the views are breathtaking, and the Tao House is fascinating, as is the story of O’Neill and his wife Carlotta Monterey.
In Berlin, I’m happiest in a beer garden sipping a Milchkaffee, letting the European scene unfold in front of me. Here too, I like to sit outside, have a snack or a meal and watch the world go by.
After visiting Berlin I plan to stay close to home as there is so much to explore and enjoy nearby. Does anyone have any day trips to recommend? It would be great to hear from you: [email protected]
Editor’s Note: Dolores Fox Ciardelli is the Tri-Valley Life Editor-in-Chief for Pleasanton Weekly. Her column, “Valley Views,” appears on the second and fourth Friday of each month.
[ad_2]
Source link