staycation

Top of Mt Tam

 in Fitness / Travel  tagged hiking / lifestyle / outdoor fitness / staycation by

Have you ever been to the top of Mt Tam? If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, and you can handle few twisty roads, what are you waiting for? When you reach the top of Mt Tam, you can see spectacular views of Marin and the bay. If you’re lucky, you will see the fog rolling in like a luxurious blanket enveloping you in comfort and relief from the summer heat.

This is your cue to make sure you have a full tank of gas, and to head up the mountain for some hiking, serenity, local history, and breathtaking beauty. To achieve this, I recommend going in the morning on a weekday; avoid weekends at all costs.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy this Bay Area staycation idea!

XOXO

Cathy

Japanese Friendship Garden San Jose

 in General Fashion  tagged casual style / outdoor fitness / outfits / san jose / staycation by

wearing: statement earrings / navy tee / summer nail polish / gemstone bead bracelets / wide leg jeans / shoulder bag / sneakers /

Did you know San Jose has a Japanese Friendship Garden? The best part? It’s free! Love that!

Nestled into Kelley Park and across from Excite Stadium, the Japanese Friendship Garden offers well maintained gardens, a calm pathway, and lots of Koi! The only drawback is that there is a problem with the large pond, so it has been drained for several years. Fingers crossed San Jose finds a way to fix it!

This is a fabulous place to go if you want an easy outdoor walk instead of a gym day, or you need a peaceful activity to relieve stress. If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, I highly recommend taking a moment to visit for a peaceful walk; just be prepared for the empty pond.

You can always make a day of it and also visit History San Jose as well as the Portuguese History Museum since they are all on the same, large block on Senter Road.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy this summer activity idea!

XOXO

Cathy

Beach day in the city

 in General Fashion  tagged outfits / restaurants / spring 2025 / staycation by

wearing: earrings / black knit top / spring nail polish / east/west bag / wide leg jeans / boots /

Beach day in the city? Yes! It does exist! Of course, it is still early in the spring season, so this is not a swimsuit kind of beach day, it is a delicious meal and take a walk type of beach day.

We started off by enjoying a fabulous lunch at The Beach Chalet. If you haven’t been to the Beach Chalet yet, what are you waiting for? The food is amazing, and the restaurant itself is iconic. It has been there forever. I remember going when I was teenager and in college when I lived in the city. There are sweeping views of the ocean and the beach, and the service is always impeccable. I enjoyed a crab melt with truffle fries, and there were plenty of vegetarian options for my daughter. Love that!

After lunch, we walked over to see the windmills. The flowers were in full bloom and the whole park looked stunning.

I mean, how often do you find a fog-free day in the city, especially at Ocean Beach?! It is so rare! I couldn’t believe our luck! It was a blessing since my daughter was home from college on spring break. I was so happy to give her a sunny day in the city.

If you enjoy lunch, brunch, or dinner at the Beach Chalet, be sure to visit the windmills too! After the windmill, we walked along the beach and enjoyed the waves and the recently cleaned sand. The beach looks amazing right now!

Shop my casual spring outfit online:

So, if you are visiting San Francisco, be sure to enjoy a meal at the Beach Chalet! Yum!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy