Oh, The Places We Went: 2012

Thursday, December 20, 2012

San Antonio Lights in Chino, CA

One house set to music.

Rating: You Should Go

The lights on San Antonio are actually an entire block of houses between Cypress and San Antonio, Walnut and the 60 FWY (see map). When it gets closer to Christmas, police are hired to direct traffic starting on Cypress then going through to San Antonio. We went pretty early this year and on a weekday so a lot of

Rating: You Should Go

The lights on Thoroughbred are almost like a mini theme park. Almost every house from the corner of Sapphire and Thoroughbred up to Turquoise and back down Jennet is covered in lights. Each house has a unique theme, from religious to winter wonderland to Christmas movies. Some are interactive or have moving parts, and others are just to gaze at in wonder of how much the electricity bill must cost. There are

Logan's Candies in Ontario, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Logan's Candies is a local family-owned shop that my sister-in-law just happens to work at. I've stopped by the shop for their hand-made chocolates and other sweets, and even had their candy canes at a friend's wedding. This was the first time I had been to one of their candy making demos. They host group demos (if booked by July of that year) starting as early as November, but the public demos start Thanksgiving week and are FREE.

Pizza 'n Such in Claremont, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Pizza 'n Such is a little pizzeria on the corner of Yale and 2nd street in Claremont. It's mostly a sit-down restaurant, but you can also call in orders to-go. The atmosphere is nice and the servers are friendly, although rather busy. The restaurant must be very popular because we went at 5pm on a Saturday and the place was almost completely filled. The prices average $12 for entrees and $14 per pizza. The appetizers are

Party Idea #5: Big Lebowski Party

The Big Lebowski is sort of a cult favorite, so I understand if this isn't one you'd like to celebrate. Nate and I happen to enjoy it and so do our friends, so for one particular friend's birthday, we decided to put this party idea into action. The group went bowling earlier in the evening, then went back to someone's house for dinner and the movie. If done right, the night can be rather inexpensive. I have signed up for

Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier

On the Pacific Wheel

Rating: You Should Go

Pacific Park is the amusement park located on Santa Monica Pier. It is free to get into, but you need "tickets" (really a card with money loaded onto it) for all the rides. We were on our way to Malibu for a friend's birthday, so we decided to stop by here for just a couple hours.

Rating: You Should Go

My dad was having back surgery in Long Beach this past weekend, and we needed to find a place to grab some lunch besides the hospital cafeteria. I found Santa Fe Importers on Yelp. It was highest rated for lunch in the area and one of the cheapest. As we were driving there, the

Rating: You Should Go

My job has several perks, such as the short commute from my bedroom to my living room every morning. But my favorite perk is when my boss takes us out to dinner. The last trip I took was to the Westlake area, so he picked a nice steak house there that I never would have picked on my own. The Grill on the Alley is

Kaladi Brothers Coffee in Anchorage, AK

Kaladi Brothers' Bar

Rating: You Should Go

Our friend Thomas, who grew up and still lives in Alaska, showed us around on our last day in Anchorage, so we got the insider scoop on a lot of things. One of those was Kaladi Brothers, a local coffee house committed to quality coffee. Nate and I aren't coffee drinkers ourselves (the caffeine is a problem for me and

Rating: You Might Like It

The Anchorage Museum is one of the few things I could find to do in that city. It was also free with the Bank of America "Museums on Us" program the weekend we were visiting, so we decided to check it out. It has a little of different areas to explore. There are art galleries, a children's science center, a kinetic science zone, artifacts, videos, and stuffed musk oxen all centering around Alaskan culture. We didn't see everything there

Inside the Moose's Tooth

Rating: You Might Like It

The Moose's Tooth is another great pizza place in Alaska. It has a ton of unique options, as well as some classics, and a huge selection of their own brews. The ambiance is cozy and artsy. There are paintings and beer bottles decorating the walls. The food is good and decently priced. One large pizza was

The front entrance

Rating: You Should Go

St. Elias is a pizza place and brewing company that was recommended to us by Nate's friend who lived in Soldotna. We stopped here on our way to Homer from Seward. The ambiance in the place was great. All the employees dressed casually and were friendly. They had old window panes and star lanterns hung between every

Our cruise boat.

Rating: You Should Go

Kenai Fjords offers several tours from 3.5 hours to a few days. We did the 4.5 hour Resurrection Bay tour that left at noon (mostly because I didn't know if my stomach could handle any longer than that). We showed up 30 minutes before our cruise and found out they

Rating: You Should Go

Alpine Bakery was our breakfast stop on our way from Anchorage to Seward, and our first real introduction into how expensive everything is outside of Anchorage. We couldn't even get a doughnut for less than $3, so we decided to get pastries instead. Nate got an apple turnover and

Flo's Pancake House

Rating: You Should Go

Flo's Pancake House is not the most scenic stop in all Anchorage, and it's not much to look at from the outside. Nate and I were starving for some brunch (we hadn't eaten all day at it was already 1:30pm) and saw this place had good recommendations on Yelp and was also inexpensive. We were not at all disappointed.

Rating: You Should Go

The Legends of Aviation Restaurant is the one and only restaurant in Long Beach Airport (LGB). There's a "cafe" and some food stands, but really this is it if you want a meal, so we ate here before our trip to Anchorage. You can find this place on the top floor of the terminal (the stairs are a little hard to find but you'll see the restaurant once you get up there). There is also a lookout deck up there if you want to look at all the construction going on.

Homer, AK - Food

For anyone who has never been to Alaska, first of all, go visit. It's beautiful and the fish is amazing. Add it to your bucket list. Second of all, it's really expensive. Unless you're in Anchorage, everything needs to be shipped 3 times over to get to its final destination. Groceries, restaurants, knick-knacks, gas, it all costs more in Alaska. In regards to food, though, it is well worth it. Alaska has some of the best food I have ever tasted, and Homer even more so. Homer is also very dog-friendly. A lot of the local places in town have outside patios where you can sit with your pooch. With that in mind, these are the places Nate and I tried out during our time in Homer.

Mermaid Cafe - You Might Like It

Mermain Cafe

The first place we ate in Homer was the Mermaid Cafe. We decided to eat lunch out and dinners in since they're usually cheaper. It was a beautiful day so we sat on the patio (you can see Nate there in the picture if you look closely). A lot of things in Homer are organic and/or vegan and Nate had a hard time finding things he liked that didn't have a ton of strange vegetables in them, so he got a cheese pizza. They had a gluten-free pizza option, also. I got a pulled pork sandwich (with sprouts and kraut) and organic tomato soup. All of it was delicious. All the portions were big enough to

Homer, AK - Activities

Visit the Spit - You Should Go

The Spit

A Fisherman and his Halibut

The Spit is Homer's most pronounced landmark. It is a 5 mile long strip of land that juts out into Kachemak Bay. It functions the same as a California pier. There are shops, docks, restaurants, and even a hotel along its paved, 2-lane road. This is a great place to stroll and shop, grab some grub, or just enjoy the view if the skies are clear.

Cottonwood Cabin (right)
and Bathroom (middle)

Rating: You Should Go

I may be a little biased because my aunt and uncle own Cottonwood Cabin, but I was really impressed by it. It is an actual tree-house built by my uncle in the front yard of their house. The pictures on the website may be a little confusing to tell what you're looking at (and a lot of them are out of date - it looks much nicer

Snow Goose Produce in Mt Vernon, WA

Rating: You Should Go

Nate's Uncle John told us about this stop after we stayed with him at his home in Mt Vernon. It was 90 degrees in Washington and we had just packed up our bags in a home with no air conditioning (or even fans) so we were looking for a way to cool down. Snow Goose Produce is a large produce stand on the side of the road that has fresh seafood, fruits, veggies, homemade goods, and (best of all) ice cream. We went

Rating: You Should Go

I've been to a few concert halls over the years, but the Troubadour is my favorite so far. We went there to see mewithoutYou (as well as some awesome openers). Besides the fact that they made us line up around the corner, I liked everything about the place. The venue, like

Rating: You Should Go

We found La Conversation Cafe while searching for somewhere to eat that was close enough for us to walk from the Troubadour venue. This was literally just around the corner. It's a little French bakery and cafe just on the border of Beverly Hills next to Santa Monica Blvd (the sign for

Limerick's Tavern in Upland, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Limericks Tavern is a pub-style bar in Upland. They have a full menu until late at night (we got there at 10pm and they were only serving appetizers and pizza). Since it's a bar, they have a large selection of beer and a decent selection of wine. They have this banana bread beer that is really good if you like banana bread (and are just getting into beers, like myself). I actually ordered a hot chocolate and zucchini fries (both were REALLY delicious). Most places I go I get really thick zucchini

Rating: You Might Like It

This was our first time ever camping in Hurkey Creek Park so we didn't really know what to expect. It's near Idyllwild, which my family went to at least once a year when I was growing up, but a little more dry. We stayed in sites 6 and 7,

Cirque du Soleil IRIS at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, CA

Rating: You Should Go

This review is really about two things, the Dolby Theater and the show IRIS performed by Cirque du Soleil. Luckily, both are AMAZING! The theater is host to the Academy Awards every year (aka The Oscars), which the show played on during one part. The seats are plush and there are four different levels of seating. I

Rating: You Might Like It

Our church gave me a small trip to the Hollywood area as a thank-you for helping out, so I decided I might as well bring Nathan along, too :) Since people know that I usually care more about spending money on experiencing things than where I stay, they decided not to

Rating: You Should Go

The Pizza Factory is a little place we found in a little town on our way back from Yosemite. It's a family restaurant and has tons of posters and photos from little league teams and other local teams they support. It's the kind of place where you order at the front then make yourself at home. We decided to order a small Hawaiian pizza (6 slices) and an order of garlic cheese bread. Apparently there at 2 types of cheese bread to be ordered - we ordered the kind in a circle, which we

Rating: You Should Go

Our friends invited us to go camping with them in Yosemite this year. Nate and I hadn't been in a very long time and we were really looking forward to the trip. We had planned ahead to go on a long hike so we were mentally prepared for this trail. Whether or not we were physically prepared is another story.

The Panorama Trail Hike is an 8.5 mile hike (don't believe what the sign says) that goes from Glacier

Rating: You Might Like It

We discovered Woolworth Diner on Yelp while we were driving to Yosemite. The diner is on the far side of a very large antique store and there's only a short metal gate that separates the two areas, so you can window antique while you eat. The entrance is on the side of

Claremont Hills Wilderness Trail in Claremont, CA

The View Point

Rating: You Might Like It

I went on the Claremont Hills Wilderness Trail with a group of friends last August. I tend to like trails that take me through woods and streams and have a lot of shade, so this was not my favorite. It's a 5 mile loop on a very wide and well-worn path. There is very little shade, so this is a good trail to take on cool

Rating: You Might Like It

To be honest, Taco Hut never seemed very appealing to me when it opened. I thought it was a mix of Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. I had an old friend recommend their taco Tuesdays to us, so we decided to check it out. The inside is actually a lot cuter than I thought. It's cozy and

Rating: You Should Go

We found Stone Brewing Co. when we were looking for a place to eat after a wedding. It took us by surprise for several reasons. First, the building just looks like a big warehouse from the street. The only signs are for valet parking, nothing that says the name of the place on the outside. Then, once you figure out you're in the right place and park, the walkway is like the passage into a secret garden.

Rating: You Should Go

Flo's is a local favorite for Chinoians...Chinoans...Chino residents, whatever they're called. It's a diner located on the busy street of Riverside Dr. that has a small-town community feel. In fact, it's so small-town that when one of the ladies stopped everyone in the middle of lunch to announce that someone at the counter had won a contest, we all clapped for them, and when a little boy spilled hot

Rating: You Might Like It

Weir Canyon Loop is rated as an easy trail that's good for training. I think our own lack of physical training, and the fact that we dumbly chose to go in the middle of a hot day, made this hike one of the most difficult I've ever been on. The loop goes as far as 4 miles round trip

Maria's Italian Deli in Ontario, CA

Rating: You Should Go

I heard about Maria's Italian Deli but couldn't find it until someone who had been there (my brother) showed the way. It's on the North-West corner of Holt and Laurel Ave (just west of Euclid), facing Holt. It's in a small building with offices. Look for the green patio umbrellas. Once I found it, I was pleasantly surprised by what it was like on the inside. Small but very clean and well decorated. It has a nice relaxed feel to it, especially compared to the busyness on Holt. We ordered the

Bert and Rocky's Cream Company in Claremont, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Bert and Rocky's is a little ice cream parlor on the corner of one of the blocks in Claremont Village. My family went here after Aruffo's (again for my birthday celebration). It's a mix of a candy shop and ice cream parlor. For ice cream, they have 4 cases filled with flavors and can make

Aruffo's Italian Cuisine in Claremont, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Aruffo's is another place we went to celebrate my birthday. We went on a Friday night and it was packed, but we had made a reservation and got in right away. The atmosphere was nice and cozy - a lot of little (and some very big) tables of families and friends eating and talking, surrounded by brick walls, Italian-style art, and

Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, CA

Rating: You Should Go

The Ronald Reagan Library is a fun place to go if you're interested in American history, especially foreign policy. Many of the issues Reagan faced in his presidency still affect us today. I am not a Republican and I don't know a lot about our presidents, but I still found this Library/Museum fascinating. The admission for adults is $15 each, but parking is free. Kids 10 and under are also free. We actually found a Groupon

Rating: You Should Go

I was lucky to try Molly's Souper for the first time with one of my best friends. We went on my lunch break because it's only open from 6am-2pm. This restaurant is behind the Upland Library in a remodeled house. It's actually pretty big on the inside, with 3 different rooms

Rating: You Should Go

My brother and sister-in-law took me to Handel's Homemade Ice Cream as a birthday treat. It's down the street from where I live but I had only noticed it once before. It's on the corner of a busy shopping center so I only saw the signs when they were lit up one night. As

Rating: You Might Like It

Donut Xpress and Mr. Gyros is a little place on Mountain Avenue that looks like it's a converted Weinerschnitzel. We went on a late night donut run and tried it out. There is a driveway through the middle of the building if you want a quick stop. We parked and walked up to the front

Country Harvest Restaurant in Newbury Park, CA

Rating: You Should Go

Nate and I decided to celebrate my birthday a weekend early with just the two of us. We had a friend giving a free concert in Newbury Park so we looked for places in that area to have brunch. We found Country Harvest Restaurant. It's a rather large restaurant in a small strip mall. The

Rating: You Might Like It

I heard about Super Sandwich from my mother-in-law. Since I want to try little restaurants around where we live now, I stopped by. It's the kind of place that I probably wouldn't notice just driving by, even though it's right on a main street. It's really clean inside and there's a

Umami Burger in Los Angeles, CA

Rating: You Should Go

A friend of ours in Los Angeles was kind enough to take us to this little piece of heaven. Umami is a small, upscale Hawaiian-style burger place with only a few locations in and around Los Angeles. Like In-n-Out, its menu is simple and perfected. Honestly, I don't remember which burger I got except it had another type of meat on top of it (I don't see it on the online menu). Nate got the SoCal

Tropical Mexico in Pomona, CA

Us in front of Tropical Mexico

Rating: You Should Go

Nate and I actually heard about this place when we attended a memorial service for our friend's husband last year. Everyone who spoke about him mentioned his favorite restaurant, Tropical Mexico. It wasn't until my brother and sister-in-law invited us to go that we actually went. It's a decent sized place in the middle of nowhere. Even though I grew up in the area, I had never been to the part of town where this place is located. We went on Taco Tuesday. They offer chicken,

Rating: You Should Go

Capri Deli is another Yelp find. We were driving home from a photo shoot and wanted to stop for dinner somewhere we knew the food would be good. When we drove up, it looked like a store-front deli. It has lots of old-timey bottled sodas for sale, as well as pasta (both uncooked and frozen pre-made dishes) and other dry goods. I thought you just ordered your sandwich and took it to go until I saw the seating area

Rating: You Should Go

We recently had a friend visiting from Alaska but staying near Long Beach. Where do we take him? Yelp to the rescue. We found the Hudson House Bar on Yelp as a top pick for a place to get good beer and food. We were a

America's Largest Ghost Town in Jerome, AZ

Audrey Headframe State Park

Jerome is a tiny town a couple hours outside of Sedona, AZ. It's got a rich mining history and is valiant in the way it has continued to remain alive through fires and copper mines shutting down. The shops are fun to visit along the main street as well as some other local stops. It was a fun trip but it may not be worth a second visit. Still, I had a good time and would recommend going if you've never been.

Palatki Pictographs

Palatki Ruins - You Might Like It
The Palatki Ruins are ancient Native American dwellings on the outskirts of Sedona. For a country as new as ours, it's really interesting to see art and the remains of buildings that are thousands of years old. There is also a small dwelling made by a settler a few hundred years ago (seen below).

Pages

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Monday, November 19, 2012

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Friday, September 21, 2012

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Friday, May 11, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Wednesday, February 1, 2012