The Polite Traveler

My Dearest Polite Traveler, Our coastal journey to the lovely Albion River Inn begins on a warm July morning in Davis, CA.     It was an exceptionally pleasant 80 degrees and was warm for most of the day, not realizing we would end bundling up as if it were late autumn once we reached our destination.   Tip: When visiting north-coastal CA at any time of year, pack warm clothing.   We decided to travel from our home base—100 m east of San Francisco—west through the Napa Valley and then onto a more northerly procession through Sonoma and Mendocino Valleys.   Driving through these world-renowned wine countries, it was tempting to stop for a taste.     But, hey, a girl has got to eat—or indulge in a hot chocolate beverage.   I love Starbucks !   Okay, I’ve said it.   I just absolutely love it, with mochas as my absolute favorite.   Consequently, around lunchtime, and with the long freeway ahead of us, we pulled up the Starb...

A Short Visit to the Land of Wines and Wonderful People Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, California is a state of countless stunning and diverse cities of all sizes and lifestyles.  Just a few miles from the Oceanside city of Santa Barbara and surrounded by vernal hills and mountains, one of our favorites are the small city of Paso Robles.   Picture lush vineyards dotting the hillside.  A lso p icture a quaint old-fashion style city with streets plotted out on a grid surrounding a large family park that includes a county library.  Now, this is my style of town.  Top it off with over 20 downtown wine tasting rooms and this is a very serious wine tasting destination. Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    Let’s Take a Walkabout We had little time for this visit—a mere 1-1/2 days.  Consequently, we tried to make the most of our short stay.  Arriving in the afterno...

Perfect Place for the Mobility Challenged Revised 4/2021 For our well-deserved, but short vacation, we traveled a relatively short distance from our hometown hamlet of Davis, CA to the lovely town of Paso Robles.  We stayed in Hampton Inn and Suites Paso Robles and I heartily recommend a stay.  Besides the free manager’s, welcome wine tastings paired with cheese, deli meats, fruit, and crackers—very generous.   The free breakfast, free Wi-Fi, and regularly upgraded rooms urge for a timely return.  Note : Follow CDC and County guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. Mobility Rooms We spoke to a woman with muscular dystrophy who stayed in one of the first-floor wheelchair-accessible rooms with many amenities, such as a doorbell with an audio/strobe alert.  She found everything well-arranged and comfortable for both her and her service dog.  With the free Wi-Fi, she worked well into the night. It's Fi...

What’s so Special About Buellton, CA? Revised 4/2021 Buellton is one of those—blink and you’ve missed it—quiet California hamlets nestled in between more well-known touristy locations like Solvang and Santa Barbara.  In fact, if one didn’t know any better, one would think it is a suburb of Solvang, as it is a mere six miles away.  Most pass it by on their way to nearby wineries, which was our focus when we decided to overnight in this quaint little Santa Ynez Valley town. Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public. Wine anyone? Best known for the famous Pea Soup Andersen’s Restaurant   and the Hitching Post –made famous by appearing in the movie “ Sideways ” -- Buellton is a perfect place to begin a Santa Ynez Valley wine tasting tour.  If that is your pleasure, take a short drive to the artsy, historic Los Olivos —home to art, wine and all things beautiful.  After exploring this lovely town and if time all...

The Friendly Wine Country Updated 4/2021 For those of you who would rather shop during the holidays than enjoy beautiful country views, friendly, knowledgeable people, and delicious wine, this article is probably not for you. 　 My husband and I decided that the day after Thanksgiving would be a wonderful time to venture into the Amador wine country. 　 I’m sure he was heartbroken that I didn’t want to shop, but he didn’t show it. 　 And, as it turned out, it was an exceptionally good decision. Note : Please check the CA Covid map and business's websites before visiting. Amador County has some of the oldest vineyards in California and is known for award-winning wines and not just the full-bodied zinfandels we tend to automatically associate with the region, but also the amazing Rhône and Italian varietals—imagine a lush Syrah or a spicy Sangiovese 　　 One of the special aspects of visiting wineries in this unique wine country is the opportunity to taste with the winemakers. ...