Travel

Reno recap

 in Travel  tagged lifestyle / reno by

Fountain inside the Eldorado casino in Reno

When was the last time you drove to Reno? For me, it had been almost thirty years! The last time I went to Reno was in high school for a swim meet, so when I heard my daughter’s volleyball tournament would be in Reno, I thought it sounded fun!

The athletes in the tournament were asked to stay at the Silver Legacy, the Eldorado or Circus Circus in Reno. The tournament had blocked rooms and set up special rates for us, so it seemed like a good deal and might be fun too!

I have to admit, staying in a casino with a child is not the greatest thing on the planet. If you want to stay in a casino in Reno, do it on an adult trip, not when you have your kids in tow. I forgot people smoke. Really, I did! In California, smoking has become taboo, so you never smell smoke when you are out and about. We occasionally smell another thing that gets smoked around here, haha, but that is rare. So, it hit me like a brick when we went into the hotel to check in and the place smelled like smoke. My daughter had to smell it all weekend. Thankfully we had a non-smoking room so the room itself was fine. I wish I could say the same for the hallways, elevator, and all public spaces. Yikes!

That being said, there was plenty to do for people like me who don’t gamble or drink. This is good news, because if you are going with kids, there are things to do! Yay! Of course, I would say with kids, try for a regular hotel, not one with a casino.

Circus Circus has a carnival game area which is kid friendly and fun. There is also a simulated golf area as well as plenty of restaurants. Of course, we spent most of our time at the volleyball tournament. That being said, I always love finding good places to eat!

For breakfast, I am a huge fan of Starbucks. The one inside the Eldorado was really good. The service was fabulous, and the coffee was made just right. This might be one of my favorite Starbucks on the planet. Love!

We ate at several restaurants inside the casinos, but I am only going to mention the best ones. We loved our food at Sushi Sake and La Strada.

Sushi Sake is a small sushi restaurant located in the Eldorado by the fountain pictured above. The fish was fresh, and the rolls were delicious. If you love sushi, you will enjoy Sushi Sake in Reno.

La Strada Reno has been mentioned on the Food Network as having the best pasta in the country. As a huge pasta fan with Italian ancestry, I was intrigued. We had to try the place! They are known for their mushroom ravioli, but neither one of us was in a mushroom mood. I enjoyed the Bolognese and my daughter had a pomodoro. The pasta was really good, but when a place is hyped as the best in the country, there is a high bar. I would say this is a great restaurant, but the best? I’m not so sure. . . That being said, next time you go to Reno, definitely eat here! It is quite yummy!

What I packed for Reno:

All in all, we had fun in Reno. If I have to do it again, I will stay in a non-casino hotel and visit the casinos for food. If you are looking for something more low key than Vegas, this could be your next road trip.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

5 favorite restaurants in Saratoga CA

 in Travel  tagged lifestyle / restaurants / saratoga / staycation by
bella saratoga

pictured: Fettuccine Blanco from Bella Saratoga

Saratoga is a bedroom community nestled in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains and adjacent to San Jose and Los Gatos. It is filled with families, and mainly home to people who work in the tech industry. The town originated as both a farming community and a destination for San Franciscans to go to in order to escape the city. There used to be springs here, which reminded people of Saratoga Springs in New York; hence the name, Saratoga.

In present day, Saratoga is a flourishing town with a quaint downtown known as the “The Village.” This small area is made up of local shops and restaurants. There are so many good restaurants, which are all family owned. No chains! In writing this post, I feel like I am excluding so many good places to eat, but please know, these are just my five favorite restautants in Saratoga, the other restaurants are also delicious! There are no bad places to eat in town, Saratoga is very fortunate. Love that!

So, next time you are in Saratoga, here are five of my favorite places to eat; of course, all of the restaurants downtown are delicious! Please note, these are in no particular order.

Darla Cafe

Darla Cafe is new restaurant which recently opened in Saratoga. They serve breakfast and lunch. I am in love with how they prepare their potatoes! If you are looking for a good brunch place, check out Darla Cafe!

Mint Leaf Saratoga

Mint Leaf Cuisine is my favorite Thai restaurant. The food there is delicious! All of their appetizers are not only delicious, but they are also presented in an artful manner. This is a feast for both your eyes and your palate. Yum! Bring your appetite to Mint Leaf Cuisine! The pineapple fried rice and the scallops are my favorites.

Bella Saratoga

Bella Saratoga is a delicious Italian restaurant. This is where I like to go for special occasions, such as an anniversary. Everything they make is delicious, but my favorite dish is the Fettucine Blanco. It is to-die-for!

Florentine’s

How in the world do I not have a photo to share? We have been eating at Florentine’s since before we lived in the South Bay. My great aunt loved this restaurant, and we had many family celebrations there for graduations, religious sacraments, birthdays, and more. This is a casual, everyday Italian restaurant and it is a family favorite of my immediate family, as well as my cousins. I am kicking myself for not having a photo! How did that even happen? We eat here frequently! Everything on the menu is amazing. My favorite is the ravioli, and the Bolognese is a big hit too. The triangle shaped, herb bread served while you wait is also a big winner. Yum!

Masu Sushi

Well, you know I love sushi! Masu is my favorite sushi restaurant. The fish is always fresh, and the sushi is always made just right. They have a few outdoor tables here, which are ideal in the spring, summer, and early fall. They even have one large table which is perfect for our family of five. Love that!

Well, there you have it. All of these restaurants are located in downtown Saratoga on Big Basin Way. In addition to these five restaurants, there are plenty of other fabulous places to eat. If you are in the mood for Indian cuisine, Mandala is delicious. If you are looking for an extra special experience, La Fondue or Plumed Horse are classic destinations. La Mere Michelle is also delicious. They offer casual French cuisine; I love how they prepare their carrots, yum!

Thanks for stopping by, Mangia!

XOXO
Cathy

Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame

 in Travel  tagged city guide / family / los angeles / outfits / travel / travel style / travel tips by

One of the most touristy things to do in Los Angeles is to visit the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame; but everyone needs to go at least once in their lifetime. Sometimes it is fun to be a tourist!

I know this post is a bit delayed, I am not sure how posting about the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame slipped my mind! We went down to Los Angeles during New Year’s to attend the Rose Bowl game. My husband’s Alma Mater is Penn State, and they made it to the Rose Bowl! They didn’t just make it, they won! Yay!

It was really fun attending a large-scale college football game. My college did not have a football team, so I had never been to a huge college football game before. I have attended smaller schools’ football games, but nothing like this. It was amazing. The Penn State band was incredible, and the fans were highly spirited, fun, and friendly. I had so much fun! Too bad my school didn’t have football! I am now a little bit jealous. . .but I digress. . .

We have been to Los Angeles plenty of times with the kids, but somehow, we never made it to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame. So, this time, we took them! I had not been since I was a little kid, so it was fun to see it all again as an adult.

This is a huge tourist attraction, so when you go, I recommend going in the morning before the crowds arrive, and also try to go in the off-season. The summer and weekends are crazy busy; try to go during the week before tourist season. The winter break was a good time, I also recommend going in the fall after school is in session, or the first part of the spring semester. Ski week is a good time too if you plan to take the kids since it is in February before the colleges start their spring break season.

You will want to allow plenty of time for walking and looking down. I recommend going to the Chinese Theater first, before it gets too crowded. Once the tour busses arrive, it’s game over. If you go early, and by early, I mean try to get there by 9am, you will have time to search for all your favorite Hollywood stars. I found Shirley Temple! Love! In case you are wondering what the Chinese Theater is, it is where all the Hollywood stars have their handprints, footprints, and they have signed their names in the concrete. This is a small, select group of celebrities which are mostly iconic stars from early Hollywood, with a few modern stars.

In addition to the Chinese Theater, there are several blocks of stars to sort through in order to find your favorite celebrities. You will want to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame after visiting the Chinese Theater. Take your time, and walk carefully, since you will be looking down instead of straight ahead! haha

Stay safe out there! This is a walking activity, and it can also get very crowded, so I recommend dressing appropriately. Make sure you have comfortable walking shoes, and keep your wallet, phone etc. in front of you. You want to be aware of possible pickpockets. They love crowded tourist areas! A cross body bag in front of you is ideal. Try not wear a backpack which can easily be entered and stolen from without your knowledge. If you have a backpack, wear it in front of you while you are walking around. I recommend wearing understated jewelry, nothing too flashy, and keep it casual.

What I wore to the Historical Hollywood Walk of Fame:

This is a half day activity. I recommend planning to attend in the morning, and then eating lunch at one of the restaurants along Hollywood Boulevard or heading out to your next adventure and enjoying a meal there. We ate there, at California Pizza Kitchen.

Enjoy your trip to LA! Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Cathy