Vacations Blog

Feel free to bring your four-legged friends with you on your next vacation to Arizona! The state is very dog-friendly, with lots of hotels that permit animals, and even spas dedicated to pampering your puppy (that will be the subject of an upcoming entry)! Nearly every city in Arizona has one or several “bark parks” which allow your dog to stretch his or her legs, and some freedom from the leash so they can explore every olfactory nuance of their playground. Here is a small selection of those dog-friendly parks:

The PETsMART Dog Park at Washington Park in Phoenix offers a spacious 2.65 acres in which your dog can frolic. The six-foot high perimeter fencing keeps your dog safe, while the watering station and shady trees keep your dog comfortable. There’s even a separate fenced area especially for small dogs.

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Shadow Play

With school underway the extended weekend and multi-day trips will be harder and harder to come by.  Unless you don’t have school-aged kids, then bite me. Read More »

Spokane's Big Red Wagon

Seriously, who’s going to plan a family vacation to Spokane, Washington?

I was asking myself this very question today while watching news coverage of Spokane’s Hoopfest, the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world.  The tourney is celebrating its 20th year.

There are 400 courts spread out over 40 downtown city blocks, with 6,400 teams participating this year, and over 200,000 players and fans wandering around town.

But that’s not a family vacation.

Spokane is one of those average cities, like Des Moines or Sacramento, that doesn’t have much of a reputation as a vacation destination.  You hear Washington, and you think Seattle.  Or Olympic National Park and the Pacific Coast beaches.  Or Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier.  Or the Cascade Range.

Even though Spokane is the second largest city in the state, and the fifth biggest in the Pacific Northwest, nobody’s buzzing about it as a family vacation destination.

I figure people end up here for other reasons, such as a weekend of basketball at Hoopfest, and then at some point it dawns on them that there might be come cool things to see and do in the area.

So, what exactly is there for a family with kids to enjoy? Read More »

I spent the better part of last Tuesday’s lunch hour checking out the Concord Farmers’ Market in Todos Santos Plaza.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past several years, you’ve probably noticed these outdoor grocery stores popping up all over the place.  In addition to Concord you can hit Farmers’ Markets in Clayton, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and dozens of other Bay Area cities.

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(photo courtesy of Clayton.com- All other photos by Joe Romano)

I recently introduced you to Clayton, CA, a small town in the shadow of Mt. Diablo. 

After many years of political wrangling, Clayton finally managed to move forward with its plans for The Grove Park, which is now a focal point for many of Clayton’s downtown activities. 

Situated between Main St., Center St. and old Marsh Creek Rd, the park is home to what was once a huge orchard of Eucalyptus trees, referred to by locals simply as “the grove.” As a kid I spent many a 4^th of July in the grove. Residents would gather there after the traditional 4^thof July parade to enjoy barbequed corn-on-the-cob, hot dogs and watermelon. There were greased pole climbing contests and other great activities. Nowadays the grove is home to a local farmers market and some fabulous evening concerts. Saturday night Lisa and I took in local act, Mamaluke. 

Billed as one of “the Bay Area’s premier classic rock dance bands,” Mamaluke was also one of two finalists in KFOX radio’s “Last Band Standing” competition. Adding to their local roots, two members, lead singer Kenny Byers and guitarist Chris Rossi, graduated from Clayton Valley High School. And, to drill-down even further on the local slant, I was in Mr. Almond’s 5^thgrade class with Chris Rossi, and worked at Skipolini’s Pizza with Kenny Byars. Did any of this earn me a guest vocal during last night’s show?  Performance fail! 

Nevertheless, take one warm summer night, mix in a pitcher of sangrias and one of Skipolini’s famous pies, and top off with some great rock and roll; result - a guaranteed great time. All of Clayton’s local eateries literally surround The Grove, and all of them offer food to go. Or you can even save a few bucks and bring your own picnic.

There’s also the Clayton Store on the south end of the park for those last minute snack and beverage purchases. I’d suggest arriving a little early to stake out a nice spot on the lawn. Throw out a blank, have a beverage and a snack, read and enjoy the sunshine before show time. 

The Grove Park also has a playground and plenty of room to run, so Concerts in the Grove is definitely a kid-friendly event.

To check out upcoming concerts, click here –>  Concerts in the Grove – 2009  <— there.

The Grove Park
Main St. and Marsh Creek Rd.
Clayton, CA, 94517

(photo – Wm Crovo)

The first weekend in May was the 2009 Annual Clayton Art & Wine festival; the 14^thyear for this local crowd-pleaser.

As is typical with these events, the weather is great in the days preceding, but on the scheduled weekend, in roll the rain clouds.

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s Art and Rain. I don’t like my art soggy. Wine and rain I can handle, however this time around I opted for the Beer and Art. Which brings up a question; why is it that we never see “Beer and Art” festivals?  Beer drinkers can appreciate art as much as those sommelier types. Well I could I suppose, if I knew what actually constitutes “art.”

Every festival involving “art” puts me into a state of confusion. I’ve discovered that, try as I might, I just don’t understand art. Be it a nude woman fashioned from wrought iron, or a life-size likeness of Paris Hilton made of rabbit droppings, what is it that that constitutes something as “art”? Why is it that some things are considered “works of art” while others are works of crap? 

I’ll tell you the difference; if someone is willing to pay for it, it can be called art. If no one is willing to pay for it, it’s crap.

But of course that’s why booze is always served at these festivals. Promoters know that after John and Jane Public down a couple of pints, or a carafe of some local hooch, that wine rack made of papier-mâchéd toilet paper rolls is suddenly going to look a whole lot more appealing.

My but I’ve digressed.

So the rain had pretty much subsided by Sunday, so the boy and I took a couple of hours late in the afternoon to check things out. Ten dollars granted me a commemorative pint glass and one (1) beer ticket. Wow. Fortunately, being a local, I “know” people, and more importantly they know me. And by “know” I mean that they gave me free beer.

I’m not much of a shopper but I love walking around these types of festivals. They’re a great place to people watch, take the dog for a walk, and frankly just get a little fresh air and exercise. Free beer doesn’t hurt either. There are plenty of food vendors offering everything from chicken teriyaki to bratwurst and burgers. The boy opted for the fried calamari. He’s got class. If you’ve got young ones there’s a very over-priced kiddie area, with a rock-climbing wall, a few bounce structures and some games. You’re better off taking them over to The Grove Park and letting them play for free.

Incorporated in 1964, Clayton is “nestled at the bucolic base of picturesque Mt. Diablo.” A community of just over 10,000 residents, Clayton has retained its small town charm while managing to become something of a destination city. Its old-West downtown boasts many great little eateries, including Skipolini’s Pizza, a local favorite since 1974 and the workplace of a certain blogger circa 1982. There’s also Ed’s Mudville Grill, a sports bar serving great pub grub, Ed’s more upscale steak joint Moresi’s Chophouse and a nice little Italian restaurant, La Viranda Café.  You’ll also find the Cup O’ Jo coffee house, and of course the famous/ infamous, Clayton Club.

(Photo – Pete Laurence)

The only thing missing from Clayton is a nice Bed & Breakfast. Seems it would go nicely with the small town’s “bucolic” atmosphere. But then I’ve never been much of a fan of the B&B, preferring to enjoy my B&B in private. At most B&B’s there’s always some chatterbox who wants to tell you their life story over coffee and a scone.

Sorry, I’ve digressed again. But a B&B really would be a nice touch and something Clayton should seriously consider.  If you do happen to attend this event and need a place to crash, there’s always the Holiday Inn Express just up the road. Or you can have my couch. I’ll  even make you breakfast and tell you my life story.                           (photo – Clayton Historical Society)

In any event, at next year’s Art & Wine festival  I’m planning  to display my “Rocks Reclining with Pigment and Adhesive” sculptures. And, as much as they may appear to just be rocks glued together and spray painted, once some drunken art lover hands me some scrilla, they will magically transform into “works of art;” may you be that art lover.

My husband and I spent a wonderful, leisurely afternoon yesterday at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona. Despite the 90 degree heat, we managed to stay comfortable among the shady lanes, blessed with a lovely breeze and a cool glass of lemonade.

We were happy to discover that our visit coincided with two extremely popular exhibitions currently on display in the Gardens. One was the Butterfly Pavilion, which runs annually from March through May, and which keeps us coming back every year. It adds an extra $3 to our general admission (we’re not Garden members, otherwise it would be free), but it’s always worth it.

The pavilion is accessed through an “airlock” so none of the inhabitants can escape. With a gentle warning from the administrators we were instructed not to touch any of the butterflies, but to allow them to come and go as they pleased (and sometimes they were “pleased” to land on us).

The other exhibition currently on display throughout the park is the collection of Chihuly Glass Sculptures. This exhibit has been present in the Gardens since November 22, 2008, and runs through May 31st, 2009. They truly add a unique and beautiful element to the lovely features of the Gardens.

The use of such vibrant colors against the desert landscape was truly dramatic.

There was another fine example of exquisite glass artwork around every corner.

The Gardens are lovely at any time of year, though they truly shine in the spring months when all the desert plants are blooming.

The Desert Botanical Gardens are part of a park complex that includes the Phoenix Zoo and Papago Park. Admission for non-members is $15.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under twelve, and $7.50 for students aged 13-18. Self-guided audio tours are available for an additional $3, and special exhibits and events (such as the extremely popular Spring Jazz in the Garden concert series) may also be an additional charge.

Whether you’re looking to create a unique family memory, or you want to spend a day in solitude and quiet contemplation, or you wish for a romantic outing to share with a loved one, the Desert Botanical Gardens are an excellent choice to wile away a sunny afternoon.

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to Phoenix.

So in addition to last Saturday’s excursion to Rock City, we also managed to pull off a day trip on Sunday with a visit to Brannan Island State Park.

We’d had a couple of days of hot weather and the kids were pestering us to go swimming. Since we’re not even through April yet, all the public swimming pools in our area have yet to open, so we decided to make the drive out to Brannan Island to see what was what.

What was it you ask? A bit of a dump, that’s what.

Located on the Delta, just off Highway 160, northeast of Antioch, my only prior experience with this park had been as a patron of the parking lot near the boat launch. Back in the day my girlfriend (now my wife) would invite me out on her family’s boat for a day of water skiing and beaching, however the “beach” we would utilize would basically be a deserted stretch of sand somewhere out amongst the sloughs. I’d never taken advantage of Brannan Island’s public beach and swim area.

Save yourself the time and trouble because this beach has very little to offer. We ended up at what is called the Seven Mile Slough picnic area, which the State Recreation Area website describes as follows:

“Seven Mile Slough picnic area includes picnic tables, barbecues and drinking water. New restroom facilities were completed late in 1997 and include flush toilets and outdoor cold showers. Seven Mile Slough’s swim beach has lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Ample parking is close to the beach.”

The “beach” is basically a small strip of muddy sand along the picnic area, and a little further down a trail there’s a muddy sandbar. And the water is muddy. The beach near the picnic area was pretty crowded (a side-effect of free access), so we stalked down the trail toward the mud-bar where we staked out a small  patch of sand that backed up to some vegetation and threw down our largest towel. The kids didn’t seem to mind much and figured they may as well swim since we’d come all that way. I, on the other hand, had no intention of going in the water and immediately began eating the sandwich I’d brought because I didn’t figure on staying any longer than I had to.

I tolerated it for a good 45 minutes, but when the “sagging pants” crowd and the colorful language (from elementary school age kids no less) became too much, we packed it up and got the hell out of there.  If you really want more information you can check out the website.

The trip was not a total bust, however because we drove a little further down Hwy 160 and crossed the bridge into Rio Vista in search of Sandy Beach Park.  

Sandy Beach County Park is located in the city of Rio Vista, a rather small, somewhat weather-beaten but not without its charms, Delta city, made famous back in 1985 when wayward Humpback whale, Humphrey, turned up in the local waters.

Sandy Beach offers more or less the same amenities as Brannan Island; picnic areas, camping, boating, etc, but the environment is much nicer, or at least appeared to be on that particular Sunday afternoon. A word about camping; as camping is not everybody’s “thing”,  if you find yourself in need of accommodations in the Rio Vista area, I’d recommend checking out the Ryde Hotel, located in Grand Island, a short jaunt from  Rio Vista. I’ve never stayed there, but I did attend a bachelor party there many years ago and folks tell me I had a great time.

Anyway, based on the five minutes we spent looking around Sandy Park Beach (the girl at the gate was kind enough to let us check it out sans entry fee) it looked like a nice little place, one I’d consider making the drive back to visit one day. And I’d blow right past Brannan Island on my way.