Day 1 was beautiful, once we got 45 minutes north of Carlsbad and the sun came out. Good thing. I had visions of a trip along the coastline with more marine layer.

We paid a quick visit to Surf, CA  (top photo) - yep that is the name - nothing but a beach and, oddly, an Amtrack stop by Vandenburg AFB.

Driving through Lompoc the evidence of the horrific fires from last year were much in evidence.

We stayed in Pismo Beach, which is a small, charming seacoast town about 3.5 hours north of LA. Fabulous views from our room, as you can see. Lots of seagulls, including the one who hung out below our balcony clearly waiting for handouts.

Today we head up Route 1 to Big Sur, which has incredible views. Should be fun.

I am getting ready for a mini-vacation (an anniversary trip) by car heading up the California coast through Big Sur, Monterey, on to Calistoga and Napa, and back through San Francisco/Oakland and LA to Carlsbad.  We've taken parts of the trip before along the stunning California coastline south of Big Sur, and I have been "reliving" our journey along this route back in 2007 before we take off in a few days.

These are just a few of my favorite photos that capture some of the variety of the beautiful California coastline (just a few hours worth, mind you, from San Luis Obispo to Monterey). There's lots going on real estate-wise so I won't be Internet free, and I might even share some photos along the way. Hopefully our coastal weather will improve - the marine layer has been particularly stubborn right along the coast. It doesn't feel like summer at all.

The edge of the continent is an amazing drive if you've never done it, if only for a few hours. Enjoy!

Encinitas Wine Shops - The 3rd Corner

Looking for a good wine shop in Encinitas with a restaurant combination? The 3^rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro in Encinitas is a delightful place to dine, and with the size of the crowd last night, a very popular one. 

The 3^rd Corner wine shop concept is simple, and a good one. There is a retail wine shop in the midst of the restaurant with a good selection of wines at prices that seem reasonable (not Costco or BevMo but decent).

You buy a bottle, and it will be uncorked for you by your server for $5.  End of story. 

We dined for the first time at The 3^rd Corner in Encinitas (there are 2 other locations - Ocean Beach and Palm Desert) last night with friends and had a white varietal called Evolution which I love, for $22.95. I can't think of a single restaurant I've dined at recently where you can get any bottle of wine for that, let alone a very good one. 

Being accustomed to the 3, 4 or 5X mark-ups that restaurants do, this is a real find. Somehow paying $60 for a bottle of wine I can get for $15 in the store really irks. 

And the French-style bistro food California style is terrific. Their dinner menu is varied with cheeses, pastas, fish and more. I shared an heirloom tomato tart with my wife for a starter, and it was excellent. Wish I had had the whole thing to myself, it was that good. My black truffle risotto was wonderful - my advice? Get the smaller portion, though. 

The 3^rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro in Encinitas is located in the Lumberyard on Route 101/the Coast Road, at 897 S. Coast Highway, Suite. F-104. They are open every day except Mondays from 11:30 am until 1:00 am for food, with the retail store open the same days from 10 am until 1:30 am. 

The 3^rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro in Encinitas definitely goes on my list of favorite places - I'm looking forward to the next visit.

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The fountains at Bellagio hotel and casino in Las Vegas are pretty famous, and it's easy to see why.

Amazing fountain displays with tremendous variety are choreographed to music ranging from broadway hits to rock, jazz to patriotic in the human-made lake in front of the Bellagio on The Strip (3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South).

There are a ton of videos and photos on-line, of course, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing. You can usually expect crowds along the walkways to get the best views and it was jammed while I was there at the beginning of the week with summer tourists. The schedule, once they get going, especially in the evening, is about every 15 minutes so there are lots of opportunities.

The first video, unfortunately, is kinda noisy (and a little long at 4:25) with the crowds but folk were clearly enjoying what they were seeing.

The second video is a view of the fountains from my room at the Paris Hotel across the street on the 23rd floor, proving a vastly different perspective.

If you haven't been to Bellagio, also take in their famous Botanical Gardens just beyond the hotel lobby. Amazing.

If you happen to land here AND are looking for real estate in Las Vegas, or need to sell, let me know. I know some terrific Las Vegas ral estate agents personally and can help you find the right person to assist you.

Photography Exhibit at the Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad CA

The Cannon Art Gallery in Carlsbad is a city owned and run gallery with a terrific reputation for offering wonderful exhibitions at the regional, national and international level throughout the year.

The current photography exihibit at the Cannon Art Gallery is no exception.

Titled "Portraits of the Golden Age of Jazz" by noted photographer William Gottlieb, the current show offers a stunning collection of photos of some of the most notable jazz artists in the world - Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, to name only a few.

The Cannon Art Gallery Show runs from July 11 through August 29, 2010. The gallery is located next to the Carlsbad Library at 1775 Dove Lane.

A Visit to the Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio in Las Vegas Nevada

The Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio on The Strip in Las Vegas are amazing.

Real flowers and larger than life garden creatures (ants, bees), watering cans (real water mind you), mushrooms, shovels, pails, butterflies, frogs and flowers create a stunning visual experience, and well worth a visit.

Yep, it will be crowded with tourists snapping photos and videos, but if you steer away from peak hours (the Botanical Gardens are located just beyond the lobby so accessible 24/7) it's not too bad.

You may also know that Bellagio is famous for its fountains - look for the video in a later post - I have several to upload.

The Botanical Gardens are quite remarkable - the photos say it all. Enjoy!!

Zzyzx Road and Other Sights | Travel to Las Vegas from the California Coast

I drove from Carlsbad to Las Vegas this afternoon to attend the CRS Sellabration Convention at the Paris Hotel. It’s a 5 hour drive on the freeway and after a while it tends to get boring, especially since there are long stretches where there is nothing to really look at except the desert and barren mountain landscape.

I entertain myself with music and a few phone calls, but also look for intriguing sights along the way. It’s always interesting what you see when you take the time, even when cruising down the freeway at 80 mph. There's no other point to this article.

So here are some of the things I noticed.

The Ten Commandments, each on individual signs

Zzyzx Road – not sure where it goes but you have to love the name. Out in the middle of nowhere in the Mojave Desert

Peggy Sue’s Diner – “real good food” according to the billboard miles before. There was almost nothing else at this exit of the free way in California. But it must be good – there were a pile of cars there. Or nowhere else to eat.

Mt. Pass – a town of 600 at an elevation of 900 Feet

Calico, off in the distance – a ghost town (read my post about my visit there last trip to Las Vegas) not far from Barstow where I stopped for gas. 109 degrees. Ugh

Whiskey Pete’s and Buffalo Bill’s - resort/casino hotels on either side of the road in Pimm, not far from Las Vegas

The Ron Paul Revelation billboard at a good sized market in the desert with nothing else nearby for miles.

Abandoned buildings – lots of them

Multiple small signs for “TheShadeThing.com” – alas their website has expired

A stretch of road near Baxter where I could see the freeway disappear into the mountains…almost 20 miles in front of me (I know because I measured). Leaving the town to climb 3000 feet was an 11-mile stretch of road that was completely straight. The other side of the mountain was another long stretch of straight road – over 10 miles that I could actually see. Weird.

A runaway truck ramp – no trucks, though. Good sign I guess.

The Eiffel Tower  - OK, it’s half the size but right outside my Paris Hotel Window. Incroyable!!

Jazz at the Beach - Smooth Jazz 98.1 Jazz Concert July 17 in Oceanside CA

That's right. The first Jazz at the Beach Concert is tomorrow, Saturday July 17^th at the Oceanside Pier Amphitheater in Oceanside, CA, sponsored in part by Smooth Jazz 98.1 in San Diego. 

The heat is on...

With the suddenly warmer weather here in SoCal after days and days of June Gloom in July AND the jazz concert guests - Norman Brown, Jessy J, Brenda Russell and Phil Perry. The weather report is spectacular for tomorrow, and what could be better on a summer Saturday but a jazz concert at the beach. 

Seating will begin around 4 with the Jazz at the Beach concert starting at 5:30. Tickets are on sale for $27.50 and $37.50. 

OCEANSIDE PIER AMPHITHEATER

A Visit to the Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center

A visit to the Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center, CA evokes images of Provence, France, famous for its fields of lavender and beautiful landscape. 

While Valley Center may not be Provence, Keys Creek Lavender Farm is a joy to behold for all the senses. From the fields of purple lavender – over 2 dozen varieties - waving in the breezes, to the tea room offering lavender tea, scones and other refreshments, their essential oil distillery, and their gift shop, Keys Creek Lavender Farm offers you a wonderful experience in the country just 45 minutes from the North San Diego Country coast. 

Keys Creek Lavender Farm is open to the public on the weekends in May and June, and thereafter by special appointment for group tours and special events. Consider having your wedding at the Farm or perhaps hold have some other special reception with the new entertaining space they’ve added. 

On the final day of being open to the public a few weeks ago, we had the chance to explore the gardens and gift shop, and watch a group creating lavender wreaths while listening to classical flamenco guitar music by Mark Langford drifting down the hills. Mark is a talented guitarist who has studied with the most famous flamenco guitarists in the world. He is available for weddings, receptions, parties, corporate events and dinners as a soloist or as part of a group. Check out his website and enjoy his music videos! 

Owner/visionary Alicia Wolff has created a special place in Valley Center at Keys Creek Lavender Farm. Her networking and corporate marketing background lends itself well to creating a beautiful environment for all to enjoy, reaching out to the community with educational programs and healthy products, donating money for cancer research, and sharing her passion for lavender. 

Visit the Keys Creek Lavender Farm website for more information and sign up for their newsletter. And of course stop by for a personal experience you won’t forget. 

Keys Creek Lavender Farm

12460 Keys Creek Road

Valley Center, CA  92082

(877) 358-0444

A Visit to the Julian Pie Factory in Julian CA

On a recent day trip to Julian California, a former Gold Rush town about 50 miles inland, we stopped in to buy a pie at the famed Julian Pie Factory after enjoying lunch at our fave place, the Julian Grille.

Julian has been a popular apple destination for years, with their well-known Julian Apple Days Festival in the fall, and the Julian Pie Factory is a must-stop if you like apple pie, although they offer many others as well. The apple peach crumb is probably my favorite.

While you can buy Julian Pies at many local stores in our area (watch, because they vary in price from place to place) where it may be more convenient than a pie run out to the mountains, the Julian Pie Factory offers great local color and people watching, with outdoor seating to enjoy the scenery in this quaint mountain town.

Check out the Julian Pie Factory the next time you are in the area.

Or plan a day trip to enjoy all that Julian has to offer in teh mountain of San Diego County.