Vacations Blog

Orlando has Mickey Mouse.  And Universal Studios.  And water parks up the wazoo.  Hell, we have an entire part of town commonly referred to as “the attractions”.

You came for the amusement parks, we get it.

But what locals (and celebrities) (and celebrities who are also locals) also get is that Orlando offers unbeatable shopping. Whether you’re a bargain hunter (that’s me!), a label whore (Oh! Hi! Also me!) or just a casual window shopper (not at all me) – you’ll find the perfect shopping experience in Orlando.

Here’s what you need to know, from a self proclaimed local Orlando shopping expert (me again!):

Mall at Millenia is THE place for gawking and designer labels

I’m not talking about Hollister and Banana Republic (although you will find these havens of yuppy wanna be somebodys at Millenia as well).  I’m talking about the stores that make your thinks she’s a big deal because she’s a lawyer friend look like a welfare mom.

Louis Vitton.  Gucci.  Chanel.  Jimmy Choo (angels sing in here, people, I swear).

And not outlet Gucci or Chanel.  Real, actual, requires armed guards at the entrance Gucci and Chanel.

Think Rodeo Drive with a roof.  And fewer celerities.

IKEA is a true shopping maven’s worst nightmare

I hate IKEA.  Hate.  IKEA takes everything that is fantastic about shopping and sucks the soul from it.  I am loathe to even tell you that one exists in the Orlando area for fear that you will not be able to ignore the siren call of inexpensive, cheaply made, contemporary crap.

But it’s located right next door to the Mall at Millenia.  If you’re into that kind of thing.

Prime Outlets kicks Premium Outlets outdated butt

A Practical Find From Premium Outlet

There are two outlet malls located between Mall at Millenia and the attractions.  Both of them are located right along I-4.  Both of them have names that begin with a P.  Which means it is completely understandable how someone could take an entire day off work to enjoy one awesome outlet mall and find herself smack dab in the middle of another not nearly as awesome outlet mall.  And not realize it until she’d been at said another mall for roughly two hours.

I’m just saying.

Prime Outlets is the newer of the two P-Outlets in Orlando.  And while both offer an extensive selection of designer outlet stores (including BCBG and Coach that will make you swoon), only one (Prime) offers you the opportunity to pick through oversized bins of underwear at the Victoria Secret Outlet Store.

You just can’t beat a Victoria’s Secret bra for $9.99.

You have to endure The Florida Mall in order to enjoy Sephora and Aveda

The Florida Mall was designed by a moron.  It boasts 270 stores on one level, creating a sprawling disaster of indiscriminate hallways, courts and wings to navigate through.

But?  It boasts 270 stores.  In one place.  And most importantly, it is the only place in Orlando to find a Sephora and an official Aveda store.  If you’re traveling into Orlando from one of the thousands of cities that do not offer a Sephora, you simply have to take the time to visit The Florida Mall in order to experience the cosmetic mecca.

Just bring your walking shoes, water, and a map.

(You can’t actually get a map of the mall.  I made that part up.  Although, if you could that would be a genius idea.)

Flea Markets are actually awesome.

This might surprise you, but I’m a bit of a shopping snob.  So I was not at all impressed with the endless roadside billboards telling me about all of the “BIGGEST FLEA MARKETS IN THE WORLD!” or the “FLEA MARKETS WITH AIR CONDITIONING!”

It’s called a flea market.  Ew.

And then one Sunday a friend of mine dragged me into one under the guise of searching for a really great knock off purse.  My eyes were opened and my life forever changed.  Florida flea markets (and farmer’s markets if you can find them) offer some of the most fantastic deals on absolutely everything.  From unique jewelry and imported African art to luggage sets and kitchen utensils, you’ll find a booth offering you half off of anything your heart desires – and things your heart didn’t even know it wanted.

Trust me on this.  If you see a sign for a flea market, pull over. Immediately.  (And don’t be ashamed to bring in your own hand sanitizer.)

Now, you’ll notice on this little map that most of the places mentioned here are in the same general area.

Map of Orlando Shopping

That’s not to say that these are the only places you can shop in Central Florida.  But if you’re looking for a central location for your visit, this is obviously a good area to start.

Because of the proximity of the amusement parks, you’ll find literally hundreds of hotels, restaurants and clubs to choose from in the area.  While you’re in the neighborhood, I highly recommend the Brazilian Steakhouse (or Churrascaria), Texas de Brazil.

Click here to access the map directly on Google Maps.

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All photos provide by Britt Reints and her iPhone.

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Here is my Thursday Thirteen list, a suggestion of things to do with tweens in L.A. I thought up most of it at the mall last week, as I was waiting outside a store for my two tween girls to emerge with their purchases. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished in seven hours.

1. Hot Topic - This could really cover items 1 – 13 on this list, since as far as my two girls are concerned there isn’t any need to venture anywhere else. Give them a backpack full of snacks and a fully-charged cell phone and they could probably stay in there for weeks spending my hard earned cash on Juno t-shirts and black glitter nail polish.

2. Art Museums – We’ve been taking our kids to art museums since they were babies, but it’s gotten particularly entertaining lately to hear their expert commentary. It’s always amusing to hear things like, “OMG – naked!” when standing before a majestic sculpture by Rodin, or “I TOTALLY want that for my new bunk bed comforter” while contemplating a canvas by Jackson Pollack.

3. Soup Kitchen –I’ve never actually visited a soup kitchen with my tweens, but it’s something all the PC parenting guides say you should do in order to teach your kids to be grateful for what they have. In all honesty, I’m not sure how my two girls would fare – I’d really be embarrassed if they sat down at a table, waited for a menu and then asked the homeless guy sitting next to them if he recommends the buffalo wings or the grilled cheese.

4. The movies – Any movie will do. Just sitting in a nice cool theater chowing down on hot buttered popcorn and Junior Mints is enough to keep them happy. The 9 – 12 year old set aren’t very discerning moviegoers; In fact, it may be the only time you’ll hear “Garfield: The Movie” and “awesome” in the same sentence.

5. Target – Maybe this is only applicable to tween girls, but mine love the aisles filled with cheap loot, cds and video games. Also, lots of eco t-shirts that say things like ‘Tree Hugger’ which is apparently all the rage now. You might just get them to listen to your Hendrix albums after all.

6. Yogurt shop – Yogurt is the new black. Menchies is our favorite, but Pinkberry or any other one will do. But try and take them to Baskin-Robbins and be prepared for much eye-rolling as they’re forced to mingle with the four-year-olds enjoying a scoop of Shrek Swirl with their grandpas.

7. Starbucks – This is the new version of sneaking a sip of your mom’s wine when you were seven. Tweens like the idea of sipping a grown-up coffee drink (I order decaf for mine) and it’s great for coffee addicts like me who can get their daily fix guilt-free. You know, it’s for the children.

8. Bowling Alley – They may last for one game of bowling, but what they really want to do is head to the arcade for some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for you total squares.) Bring a bat or rolled-up newspaper if you have girls, though – the last time I was there a small crowd of teen boys gathered to watch my daughters and their friends bouncing around to the music until I shooed them away.

9. California Pizza Kitchen –According to the highly scientific poll I conducted with my girls and their friends while driving back from the mall in my van last week, this is the sanctioned eatery to dine with your parents. Added bonus – it’s the only place they don’t feel embarrassed about ordering from the kids menu since “the macaroni and cheese, like, rules.”

10. The Library – Believe it or not, tweens are rediscovering the library, mainly for the treasure trove of manga books they have there. At $9.99 each, it gets expensive to keep buying them at Barnes & Noble. However, do not even suggest they try out any of the library-sponsored teen events such as cupcake making or scrapbooking – you may as well tell them to invite their crowd over for a rousing game of rummy.

11. The beach – The beach is ideal for tweens and their unpredictable moods. They can indulge both their sloth-ly instincts by laying on their towels all day, or burn off energy by hitting the waves for some boogie-boarding. Also, the close proximity of a snack bar serving pizza and every variety of greasy, deep fried food will make them think they’ve died and gone to heaven

12. The park – My girls are just starting to notice boys, and members of the opposite sex are in abundance here, especially during soccer season. Bring along that bat that you took to the bowling alley

13. At home, with their parents – They’re not going to want to be seen with their dad and me for long, so we’re savoring all these days just hanging out together. So what if they roll their eyes when I suggest the fifth game of CandyLand?

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Just because it’s a sweltering night in L.A. doesn’t mean you have to lock yourself in your air-conditioned house downing pints of Ben and Jerry’s. Sure it’s fun, but sooner or later that freezer of yours will be empty and you’ll have to run out for more ice cream anyways, so why not make a night of it? Here are some ways to enjoy the nightlife in L.A. – don’t stay out too late and you can still stop at 7-Eleven on the way home for another pint of Cherry Garcia.

A movie at a cemetery may not be your idea of a fun (and even romantic) evening but lots of people think this event is anything but dead. Join the crowds at the Cinespia outdoor movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery where you can enjoy old classics and new hits like “The Thin Man” and “27 Dresses” alongside the final resting places of stars such as Rudolph Valentino and Charlie Chaplin. Bring along a meal, a bottle of wine and party with the festive crowd amongst the crypts. Don’t forget to bring some dessert to share with the ghost of William Randolph Hearst, who is said to frequently visit the crypt of his mistress, Marion Davies.

I can only describe Summer Sessions at the Getty as a sort of highbrow wave. The well-heeled denizens of the art world come together with the pulsating bodies of twenty-somethings looking for a good free outdoor event with strong booze. But it sure is fun! Come dance to high-energy electronica and world music spun by first-rate DJs in the Getty Center courtyard, and then cool off with a drink at one of their outdoor bars. The strangest thing I saw the last time I was there was an elderly museum employee tearing up the dance floor to a techno remix of “I Will Survive.” Really!

Technically not in Los Angeles, but only a short 90-minute drive for the adventurous. The W Hotel in San Diego has a great rooftop bar called the Sand Bar that features a heated sand floor (yes, real sand to get inside your shoes), fire pits, private cabanas and nightly movie screenings. The best part? Unlike a real beach, there’s no sunscreen required, and a waiter delivers your drink on a tray instead of you having to fish it out of your own ice chest.

For a rooftop bar closer to home, there’s the Roof Bar at the Standard Downtown. Order a mai-tai and then lay down on one the vibrating space-pod waterbeds (you may have to wait a while for your turn.) This place is teeming with hipsters, so make sure you have your best Prada bag (or excellent knock-off) slung over your shoulder that night. There’s a live DJ on Sunday afternoons, but the cover is a steep $20 – I guess with a name like Roof Bar you’d have to expect the prices to be sky-high.

Photo: StandardHotels.com

Since our launch in December, we have had thousands of people request a private beta invitation to visit our site. We appreciate everyone’s participation, comments and reviews. It has helped direct our development, given us new ideas and provided encouragement in the midnight hours. Here is a review of blog post coverage we received recently:

Rob Lovitt, at MSNBC in his Online Comparison Sites Move Beyond Price asks you to, “consider the newest kid on the meta-search block, Kango.com, which should probably be called a meta-research site. Currently in private beta, it’s being built on the proposition that finding the right trip is as important as finding the lowest price.” We think Rob has described us well with his newly coined term, “meta-research.”

Jeremy Liew at Lightspeed Venture Partners wrote about the Semantic Web in Travel. He agreed with our approach to the semantic web. He stated, “I am a believer in approaching the semantic web top down rather than bottom up, i.e. by inferring structure from domain knowledge rather than requiring all websites to mark up their content in RDF.” He subsequently pointed to the only two firms in travel taking this approach, TripIt and Kango.

EyeForTravel.com commented that Kango “aggregates and organizes the myriad of the Internet’s travel community and review sites into one place.”

SmartBlog described us as “a resource that brings all your choices to ONE place, filters them based on your preferences, and helps you make a faster, better decision based on more than 20M opinions from 1,000+ web sites.”

I have recapped a list of all the blogs and analyst coverage for quick review right here. If you would like to see more discussion on this coverage, go here and here.

December, 2007–Private Beta Coverage

• Dan Kaplan at VentureBeat
• Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch
• Andy Beal of Marketing Pilgrim.
• Rafe Needleman of Webware (CNET)
• Anne Zelenka from GigaOm

January, 2008– Analyst and Blog Feedback From Kango’s Private Beta,

• Diane from Jupiter Research
• Tim from Business of Online Travel
• Claude from Les Explorers
• Blog Search Engine
• HotelMarketing.com
• Jens from Tourism Internet Marketing

We hope some of this coverage piqued your interest and you too will join our private beta and the conversations about Kango. Invitations are still sent out periodically to coincide with new features on our site. As HotelMarketing said, visit Kango to discover “a more satisfying vacation experience”.

Dry Creek Valley Wine Tasting

One of my favorite wine tasting destinations is Dry Creek Valley, an easy hour drive from San Francisco. This area feels undiscovered compared to the neighboring wine areas of Sonoma and Napa Valley. It has no traffic, no crowds and some great wines, primarily Zinfandels. The atmosphere at the wineries is warm, friendly and relaxed. Unlike the large wineries of Napa, that have a corporate feel, here you will often be served by the owner of the winery in intimate, well designed tasting rooms overlooking the vineyards.

In the summer, my husband and I ride our bikes on the warm afternoons from winery to winery. We usually park by the Raford Inn, bike north on Wohler Road and then north again on Westside road. We visited many wineries along the road including Hop Kiln, Davis Bynum, Belvedere and ridden all the way up to Preston. (A tip: Know thyself. I would only ride the length of this road if you ride frequently and the weather is on the cool side. I was tired at the end of the day, very tired, and in the summer, I found the sun was merciless. My husband loved the ride and thrived in the hot weather. He also rides most weekends.) You can create a ride varying in length from one to twenty miles and stop at as many wineries as you like. The two lane country road offers low rolling hills and few cars. My pace definitely slows as the day progresses. At the end of the day, we drive back to the wineries and pick up any wine we purchased. I recommend plenty of water and bringing a picnic lunch. There are no restaurants along the way and very few wineries offer any substantial food.

This wintry weekend, due to the cold weather, we decided to drive and meander further down the valley and visit wineries on the West Dry Creek Road. Each of the wineries are within about a ten minute drive from each other. We started with lunch in Healdsburg and then drove about fifteen minutes to Zachichi, a winery founded in 2000 by a New Orleans physician and his wife. The warm and welcoming couple were in the light filled serving room overlooking their vineyard and offered selections straight from the barrel. Get their Petit Sirah, if you can. Next we went to Bella, they serve tastes of Zinfandel from inside a cave, created by dynamiting the hillside on their property. They have lightened the cave by painting the interior in a dark cream and decorating with tones of white, its pretty. Dutcher Crossing was our final destination, it offers a sauvignon blanc, chardonnays and of course Zinfandel. The wines were good and the servers friendly. This quick tour will give you a sampling of the hospitality and the wines of the area.

Whether you are a wine expert or you are just learning about wines, Dry Creek Valley is a fun getaway with great wine, friendly people, unique architecture and amazing vistas.

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

When we were younger, Thanksgiving was all about being together at home. We’d spend the day tending to the turkey while watching football or just hanging out. My mom would bust out the nosh around noon—patés, dips, crudités, chilled seafood—and we’d nibble the afternoon away as guests arrived until it was time for dinner which we always ate at dinner time.

Now that we’re all grown and live in different places, we’ve embraced the new tradition of going out for our Thanksgiving dinner when we are together. The upside to going out is not having to spend all day cooking and polishing silver, and not having to scrub any greasy roasting pans or crusty mashed potato bowls. The downside to going out is not having any tasty leftovers, so we always cook a Thanksgiving dinner as well, but we usually do it on the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.

For Thanksgiving, my extended family usually gathers together in San Francisco and we dine in whichever restaurant can accommodate the twenty or so of us. Most often we find ourselves on Nob Hill at either the Fairmont or the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Both offer up lovely buffets in their top-floor restaurants which offer expansive views of San Francisco and the bay. The Fairmont Crown Room serves a traditional Thanksgiving meal with special accents like a sushi bar, chocolate fondue fountain, a station featuring locally made cheeses, and a separate, lowered buffet just for the little ones.

The Mark Hopkins buffet in the Top of the Mark is slightly more elegant in feel. Champagne flows freely as you select from turkey and roast beef at the carving stations or assorted caviar from the caviar bar. If you want to spend your Thanksgiving in San Francisco, you can always bet that restaurants in hotels will be open, but if you are looking for a more special and intimate experience, you may want to try some of my favorite restaurants which are all open and serving deliciousness this Thanksgiving.

The sublime Ame in SOMA—one of San Francisco’s best restaurants—is offering up their regular “New American” menu with French accents. I’m glad they are sticking to what they do best because what they do best is why the restaurant finds itself on “Best of” lists year after year. Thanksgiving at Ame is bound to be a truly special event.

The Carnelian Room in the Financial District is presenting “a buffet extravaganza with an abundance of this season’s harvest.” This “old school” San Francisco restaurant offers amazing views of the city and the bay. It’s one restaurant I always recommend to people who visit San Francisco, especially if you are into the retro vibe. If you don’t stay for dinner, at least have a drink in the clubby bar. Thanksgiving seatings are at 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, and 6:00 PM. $79/person, $43/child 10 & under + 18% gratuity.

Also in the Financial District is Tommy Toy’s. A favorite with the business lunch crowd, the Chinese-inspired restaurant will be presenting their regular menu as well as a seasonal $75, 6-course prix fixe menu created by Chef Yeong. The menu features Prawns with Grand Marnier, Crab meat Pumpkin Bisque, Whole Maine Lobster, and much more! Sounds pretty tasty if you ask me.

Coté Sud, is a cozy neighborhood restaurant located in the heart of the queer-friendly Castro. Coté Sud is known for its all-organic menu and French bistro cuisine. For Thanksgiving they are serving up three courses with choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. Cost: $50/person.

Fior d’Italia, established in 1896, is America’s oldest Italian restaurant. Located in North Beach near the downtown Financial District and walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf, this restaurant is convenient to many of San Francisco’s most popular hotels. It’s known for its Northern Italian food, but let’s face it, people go there because it’s a San Francisco institution. Fior d’Italia is open on Thanksgiving and is offering a four-course menu designed by Chef Gianni Audieri, $39.95/adult, $24.95/child. If you want to celebrate Thanksgiving Sopranos-style, this is the place for you.

Garibaldi’s in Presidio Heights is one of those San Francisco restaurants that flies under most people’s radars and that’s the way its ardent followers like it. It is exactly what a neighborhood restaurant should be—cozy, friendly, and consistent. I’ve never had a bad meal there. On Thanksgiving, Garibaldi’s will be serving from 1:30 – 7:30pm and will be offering a special, three-course, prix-fixe menu priced from $55—$60/person. The regular menu will not be available this day. Which is fine, because you’ll want to go back.

Casual and contemporary Metro Kathmandu in the Haight is the perfect choice if your idea of Thanksgiving dinner is a twist on the usual. Anyone can do turkey, right? Metro Kathmandu serves delightful, modern Nepalese cuisine with Indian accents. On Turkey Day, they are cooking up a three-course dinner with choices that include Truffle Oil-infused Lentil Soup, Pistachio-crusted Rack of Lamb with Potato Fritters, Tiger Prawn Masala, Goat Cheese stuffed Potato, and dessert. Mouth. Watering.

My last pick for Thanksgiving dinner out is an intimate Nob Hill neighborhood French bistro where I’ve spent plenty of birthdays and special occasions: Rue St. Jacques. Service is a little scattered at times (hey, it’s a neighborhood restaurant with a forgiving regular clientele), but the wine is always free-flowing and the staff is friendly. This Thanksgiving they are preparing a menu featuring amuse bouche, choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert, all for a very reasonable $40. Cheese courses are also available.

Where do you plan to spend your Thanksgiving this year? Do you have a favorite restaurant or recommendation for Thanksgiving or Christmas, in or out of the Bay Area? What do you do to celebrate this holiday? Tell us!

Guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

You and your sweetie have three days to spend in the San Francisco Bay Area. You could spend them all in San Francisco and still not see everything that city has to offer, or you could rent a car and explore the beauty of the surrounding area ending with a romantic evening in the City by the Bay. My husband and I recently planned a great three day trip through Northern California and it was the perfect getaway from our hectic lives. I recommend this itinerary to anyone who wants to escape the city for a few days:

We started our trip in the serene Northern California town of Occidental. Located 60 miles north of San Francisco along the scenic Bohemian Highway, just minutes from Sonoma wine country and the coast, this funky former logging town seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. Its main street, just five blocks long, is packed with eateries and gift shops. The Inn at Occidental was our cozy home base as we explored our surroundings and enjoyed the fresh forest air.

Occidental is known for its Italian restaurants, remnants of a time when Italian wives cooked for their logger husbands. We were hungry after exploring the town, so we stopped into our favorite local place—the Union Hotel and Restaurant—for a meal. Known for its homemade ravioli and locally-grown produce, the Union Hotel serves up hearty Italian fare. If you and your sweetheart are following our itinerary and it’s dinner you are having, as you leave the restaurant, you may see the coastal fog nestled up against the forested ridge above the town. For me, it was a perfect reminder to do some nestling of my own.

The Inn at Occidental serves breakfast but we resisted. Day two of our trip began with the real reason why I picked this long weekend itinerary. A short drive south along the beautiful Bohemian Highway to the tiny town of Freestone led us to its most famous eatery. It’s not a restaurant, but one of the finest artisan bakeries in the country. As you drive to Freestone enjoy the lush forests and green open expanses and prepare yourself for one of the best breakfasts you’ll ever have. If I close my eyes, I can smell all the delicious baked goods right now.

The Wild Flour Bread Bakery (open Friday-Monday) is located in Freestone, a village of just 26 houses. The bread is baked fresh daily in a wood fired oven, and bread afficionados come from miles around to collect their still-warm-from-the-oven loaves. If you arrive early in the morning, you can choose from sticky buns, cheese fougasse, fruity Bohemians, or scones. Later in the morning, the brick oven starts cranking out the rest of the breads and you’ll be able to choose from 10-12 different kinds. My favorite are the cheesy-herby breads which, yes, I can eat first thing in the morning. Our favorite thing to do is to grab a cup of coffee and sit outside and enjoy the morning al fresco. At this point, the kids will seem worlds away, trust me. You might be treated to an impromptu dance performance by a local troupe or spy plein air painters doing their thing as we were. Don’t forget to take some bread with you so you can enjoy it on the road, or save it for home…if you can resist.

Satiated, my husband and I were ready for the highlight of our day, a trip to Freestone’s Japanese-inspired sanctuary, Osmosis Day Spa. Our relaxing and rejuvenating half-day of renewal included tea in the Japanese garden, a cedar enzyme bath, a 75-minute massage, and a luxurious facial. From there it was on to San Francisco, but first we stopped off in nearby Sebastopol to do a little wine tasting.

San Francisco is one of the most romantic cites in the world and is where up until recently, my husband and I—along with our two young daughters—made our home. The European-esque surroundings combined with year-round bracing, foggy weather makes this city perfect for cozying up to a loved one. It’s easy to overlook San Francisco’s charms when you live there everyday and your outings consist of going to and from preschool, so for our last day, we decided to view our beloved city through tourists’ eyes.

We began our last day of freedom by strolling hand-in-hand through the newly-renovated Ferry Building, San Francisco’s must-see mecca for foodies. It’s often so crowded that it isn’t the most relaxing place to push a stroller. Alone, we were really be able to explore all the nooks and crannies. If you are lucky enough to be there on a farmer’s market day, pick up some freshly baked-bread, local cheese, wine, and fruit for a picnic lunch. Or you can do what we did: stop into any of the shops, like Lulu Petite, for a take-away lunch. Picnic fare in hand we were off to Golden Gate Park.

Once in the park we had our choice of activities, but we chose to escape the cold and duck into the brand-new DeYoung Museum. It was nice to view the exhibits without having to nudge two little kids along. If you go, note the distinctive architecture of the newly constructed building. I always thought it looked strange and Mad-Max-esque from afar, but up close, I can appreciate its spare beauty. After we had our fill of art, we took our picnic outside to the expansive sculpture garden for a lunch for two.

We walked the park a little longer, then headed back to our room at the intimate Prescott Hotel, located in the heart of Union Square, to relax before the evening’s activities. From the hotel it was a short ride over to hip Hayes Valley to poke around the uber-chic boutiques. We warmed up with an artful cocktail or two at Absinthe’s French-inspired bar, our favorite pre-kid watering hole where we’d often meet for post-work Friday night cocktails. The bar is known for its extensive drinks menu and its unique infusions. Plan on coming back many times in order to sample them all. Now we were hungry for dinner.

We cabbed it up to Russian Hill for dinner at La Folie where the intimate-but-whimsical atmosphere, attentive-but-friendly service, and seductive French cuisine certainly put us in the mood for romance. It’s where we’ve spent many of our wedding anniversaries. If you have something to celebrate, be sure to let the hostess or maitre d’ know and you’ll be treated to a fun surprise at the end of the evening. After the days’ packed agenda of eating, we didn’t mind walking the mile or so back to our hotel from the restaurant. We walked through our old neighborhood heading towards the steps of Grace Cathedral where we enjoyed the spectacular and glittering view looking south across the city before heading down the hill to Union Square.

After that, well, that’s where we leave you to your own imagination. We hope you’ll enjoy your long weekend in Northern California as much as we enjoyed ours. Happy relaxing!