Sanborn Park is a beautiful county park in Santa Clara County which offers hiking trails, camping, and more. It is easy to find right off highway 9 just a few minutes past downtown Saratoga, aka “The Village of Saratoga.”
We have been camping and hiking at Sanborn over the years, but I realized I never shared this beautiful park with you! Shame on me! If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, or traveling here and love a good hike, I highly recommend checking out Sanborn Park!
The park offers several hiking trails at varying abilities. It can get steep, so only bring small children if you know they can handle it. The parking lot fee is nominal, and there is also limited free parking along Sanborn Road which fills up before 9am. If you park in the lot, you can keep a cooler in the back of your car and enjoy a fun picnic in the picnic area after your hike. I feel like that is worth the small fee!
If a picnic isn’t your thing, you can drive a few minutes back into Saratoga and enjoy a meal at one of the many restaurants in town.
The trails at Sanborn Park are quiet and peaceful. If you are looking for a hike which is filled with nature, but isn’t too far away from civilization, this is the perfect spot. You can get away from it all in just a few minutes. Love that!
You can learn more about Sanborn County Park online at their website.
If you have been following along the past two years, you know I went from a hip injury to planter fasciitis. Ugh. Unfortunately, the planter fasciitis has decided to stay awhile, which means I need to constantly manage my pain and not get too confident that everything is over.
In late April, early May, I went on two quick trips and did a lot of walking. My foot seemed fine, so I left my orthotics at home. Big mistake. It is now June, and my foot is still sore. I need to undo the damage I did from not wearing proper arch support over a month ago. Don’t do what I did. If your doctor gave you orthotics, wear them!
If you have not seen a doctor yet, then you might be wondering what orthotics are. They are specially made shoe inserts you can use inside your sneakers to replace the soles the sneakers came with. The orthotics have been specially made to fit your exact foot, so they are far superior then anything you purchase over the counter. This also means they are quite expensive and if your insurance is like mine, they are not covered. The out-of-pocket expense was well over six hundred dollars for mine.
Before treating any ailment, you should always see a doctor. This post does not replace visiting a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. I am not a medical professional, so what I am about to write is from my experience only and may not be beneficial to you. If you have seen a doctor and know that some of these treatments will help you, then read on!
Orthotics: We just went over orthotics. If your doctor recommended them and they are too expensive, you can try using the over-the-counter inserts. They are a fraction of the price and should provide some relief. Also, if you live near a running shop such as Road Runner Sports in Campbell, they can mold inserts for you to fit your foot; also for a fraction of the cost of orthotics. Just know, medical orthotics are always the best option.
Arch support compression sleeve: This is a magical product! I wear these with flat shoes and when I do barefoot exercises such as Pilates or yoga. I absolutely love these and they are a total game changer. I can exercise pain free when attending barefoot classes! Yoga is great too because there are stretches which help relieve planter fasciitis plain. So that makes these little sleeves even more important. I cannot live without them! Love!
Roller balls: These little lacrosse balls are great for rolling along the tendon to relieve inflammation and pain. Be sure to consult your doctor before using one, and make sure they tell you how to properly use one. I also love this roller ball kit with different types of balls for relieving pain. Again, speak with your doctor before use.
Birkenstocks: These are the most amazing shoes. I have a pair I wear solely as slippers around the house so the soles stay clean. I also have an outdoor pair. These are perfect for days when you want to wear sandals but also need your arch support. I recommend sticking to the suede because they are more comfortable than the leather; although the suede does get dirtier faster. Just a heads-up.
Well, that’s it! You can also ice your foot as directed by your doctor. I find these products help me relieve pain in my daily life, so hopefully they can help you too! Always check with your doctor, just in case you have a serious tear or other injury which is acting like planter fasciitis but is something else.
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
Cookie Notice
We use cookies on our website to help it load faster. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
