staycation

Taco Bell on the beach

 in General Fashion  tagged casual style / outfits / restaurants / staycation by

pictured: Cantina Bowl / Pina Colada (no alcohol) / me-windblown wearing: sunglasses / earrings / bracelets / black tee / black handbag / jeans / black loafers / nail polish /

OK, so if you are from the Bay Area, you already know about Taco Bell in Pacifica. This is touted as “the most beautiful Taco Bell in the world.” Apologies, I don’t know the original quote author, if you know, tell me and I will update credit.

The Taco Bell in Pacifica is actually a Taco Bell Cantina and it has a full bar inside! Yes, they serve alcohol if you are interested. In addition, they have a to-go window on the outside of the building so that you can stay sandy and salty from the ocean while indulging in your Taco Bell craving. Love that!

I filed this post under Staycation Bay Area because it really is a destination if you don’t live in Pacifica. You can combine a beach day with Taco Bell. This is also a beautiful and affordable way to have dinner on the beach while watching the sunset. Yes, I have done it, and it is fabulous. Highly recommend!

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I love the patio, but we ate inside on this particular occasion because the wind was quite strong. The interior windows are large and allow full view of the beach. So, if you dine inside you can enjoy the beachy vibes.

Since it was a windy day, we enjoyed our lunch inside with a view of the beach and then took a walk along the beach. My hair flew everywhere, hence my hand on my head in the photo above.

This really is a special Taco Bell. You can have an affordable meal at a restaurant on the beach-which is almost unheard of here in the Bay Area. So, I highly recommend a beach day in Pacifica!

Pro tip: Avoid weekends. If you can go on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then finding parking and a table will be a breeze.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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