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Drive Thru San Francisco
I’m finding myself scrambling to put together the most expansive tour of San Francisco I can fit into just a few hours. We’re starting at SFO and need to finish in Davis. Here’s the plan to hit the Painted Ladies, Chinatown, Lombard Street, the Lyon Street steps, the Full House house, and the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s going to be mostly a driving tour, but I’ve got stops for drop off and pick up in Chinatown and the Lyon Street steps. We’re not planning to park, but rather keep one drive circle around so we don’t lose any momentum.
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Vacation in China
The last few months have been crazy! We’ve been moving so quickly that I haven’t had time to update this blog with all the happenings. I have a ton of information to share on traveling to China with young children, but most of the details will have to wait. Today, I just dropped in to share a video I made of our journey.
We flew into Beijing for 5 days and spent the rest of the 3 weeks in Xi’an. A bunch of things went wrong, or at least not as expected, but we still had a good time and I think this video reflects the best of the trip. No reason to try to remember the problems, right?
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Best Travel Carseats and Toddler Travel Seats
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We spent the last weekend in Las Vegas celebrating Chris’s birthday. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed all the kid-friendly activities Sin City had to offer. We planned to use the resort shuttle to get around, but it ended up being too convenient to hop into a Lyft whenever we wanted. We probably hailed 12 Lyft cars over the weekend and every single driver was excited about our travel carseats. Many of them mentioned that they frequently have to turn down riders who are trying to bring children without carseats. Insurance and safety concerns make picking up a family a stressful proposition.
As a parent, I totally get it. Traveling with a carseat is no joke. They are heavy and bulky and you have to be careful not to let them get banged up.
Hope is not lost though! It is 2018 and you can absolutely find the travel carseat that is perfect for your family. There are several toddler travel seats on the market and car seats and booster seats continue to get smaller and lighter. Even if you need something that will fit in your purse, there is a toddler travel seat for you.
Bonus, if you are an Uber or Lyft driver, tossing a couple of these bad boys in your trunk is a great way to avoid an awkward conversation with that family who wants to carry their toddler on their lap.
Best Travel Carseats
Skip Ahead:
Best Toddler Travel Seats
Top 3 Toddler Travel Seats for Size and Convenience.
Weight range: 40 – 100 pounds (18 – 45 kg)
Weight: 750 g (1.6 pounds)
Child height limit: 40 – 57 inches (100 – 145 cm)
Age: 4-12
Expiration: 7 years
Weight range: 15 kg + (33 pounds)
Weight: 500 g (1.1 pounds)
Child height limit: Up to 150cm (or 4′ 9″)
Age: 4-11
Expiration: 4 years
Weight range: Small: 30 – 60 pounds. Large: 50 – 80 pounds.
Weight: 1.5 pounds
Age: Small: 3 – 6. Large: 5 +
Expiration: 7 – 10 years, depending on model
Someone once told me that Americans are super anal about their carseat usage, except in New York City taxicabs when anything goes. At the time it sounded right on, but I suspect when my children are parents, that will sound as retro and horrifying as my Mom’s stories of 4 kids rolling around unbuckled in the back of a sedan.
Best Travel Carseats for Baby
Best Options by Size, Bulk, and Convenience.
If your baby is still a baby, you really can’t avoid bringing the infant bucket style carseat. I recommend renting a car during this stage. Car rentals have gotten really cheap and then you don’t have to worry about all the swap-a-roo.
Just because you need to bring an infant carseat, doesn’t mean you need to bring your main one that weighs a million pounds. Many parents find that it makes sense to invest in the cheap, lightweight Cosco Scenera.
If you really don’t want to, or can’t, rent a car, try bringing the smallest snap-and-go stroller you can find that will fit with your car seat. This way you don’t have to carry the carseat, but can push it through town or the airport. Just make sure that it will fold small enough to go in the back of an Uber you may want to hop into.
In some locations, you can avoid bringing the carseats by just never riding in a car. We were able to do this in New York City by riding the subway and walking everywhere. If you’re going to go this route, do not forget the baby carrier!
I hope this post helps you find the right travel carseat for you and your family! Please let me know if you find anything new and revolutionary, I’m always on the lookout!
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Free Sledding in Tahoe: Mount Rose
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We just got back from our first-ever family trip to Tahoe! Chris was snowboarding at Northstar and we were staying in Incline Village. The only question left was where could we find the best free sledding in Tahoe?
The answer turned out to be a little more complicated then I hoped. Since there hasn’t been much snow yet this year, the free sledding options in Tahoe are limited. We first checked out the North Tahoe Regional Park but found the snow to be icy and thin. The park ranger and the greeter at North Star both recommended that we check out the sledding hill on Mount Rose Highway (Highway 431) but neither were able to give specific directions. Since I am famous for getting lost, I set off with great trepidation.
Fortunately, I didn’t need more specific directions then they provided! Just get on 431 towards Reno and eventually you’ll find it! The drive from Northstar ended up being exactly 30 minutes. The hill can be quite popular and it had plenty of snow even though North Lake Tahoe didn’t have much.
You’ll know you’ve arrived by the cars parked along both sides of the highway. The sledding hill stops right before the road, so there is no walking to get to the bottom of the hill. I was a little concerned about the kids sledding right into the road and twice they came close but stopped a few feet short. If you teach your children to slow themselves down with their feet, you should have no problem at all. This was my first time really sledding, so it took me a while to catch on to the mechanics!
The Mount Rose sledding hill! Free sledding near Lake Tahoe. We went to Disneyland a few weeks ago and the kids kept comparing sledding to various rides at Disney! K would say “That was sure a wild ride, like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!” After a few rides, the kids figured out they could go a lot faster if they kicked me off and after that, I spent my time chasing them down the hill instead of sledding with them!
It was warm so we started shedding hats and gloves after only a couple runs. We kept our bibs and jackets on so we would stay dry.
Those smiles say it all! HJ told me yesterday that she has a dream and her dream is to go sledding every day! The hill was crowded (what else would you expect from free sledding in Tahoe?), but we never had to wait more than a few seconds for our turn to sled. People naturally spread themselves across the hill and you just had to be on aware so you didn’t end up flattened!
Since this free sledding spot is still about 12 minutes outside Incline Village, I had to balance our need for lunch with our fun sledding. They could easily have continued for a total of 2-3 hours, but they remember it more fondly for having to leave at the peak of their fun! We joined Chris at Northstar Village for lunch and then retired for nap time.
Even though the hill was crowded, there were still areas with very few people. and plenty of space to sled! The next day we only had a bit of time so we checked out the North Tahoe Regional Park sledding hill and it was a totally different experience. The snow was too icy and there were rocks at the bottom of the hill. I ended up tackling the kids to stop them from going into the rocks and pulled a muscle in my arm! Plus traumatized the children probably. So even though it’s close free sledding in Tahoe, I would recommend avoiding the North Tahoe Regional Park unless there has been a lot of nice fluffy white snow. Even then, be aware of the path your kids are taking and teach them how to slow themselves down or eject at the last minute. Tackling is not something I recommend.
Expecting everyone to smile is asking too much! We had a great time sledding at Mount Rose though! By the way, I picked up the kids ski bibs and jackets at a local consignment shop the day before we hit the slopes! I highly recommend shopping used for your kid’s snow gear, since they’ll have grown out of it by next winter! When you combine second-hand snow gear and free sledding in Tahoe, you get a super fun but very affordable vacation!
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What to Wear in Lapland in January: The Best Winter Layers
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I just returned from my first ever real winter experience. Before I went my biggest concern was staying warm and figuring out what to wear in Lapland in January! Kiruna is solidly in Swedish Lapland and typically stays between 1 and 19° F (-17 to -7° C) in January. When I was there it was even colder! Bottoming out at -17° F (-25° C).
It didn’t take many Google searches before I realized that I needed to find the best winter layers, but I was still left with a lot of questions. How many layers? What materials do I need for each layer? If long underwear is supposed to be the critical layer, do I have to go to the restroom and remove it everytime I stop at a restaurant or ride a train? Will I be able to move in all those layers? How will I fit all these clothes in my carry on? They cost HOW much?
For each of these questions, there was at least one website telling me that it’s impossible to tell how to dress for cold weather because everyone’s comfort level is different. Probably true, but not helpful.
How to Dress in Layers for Winter in Swedish Lapland
How many layers?
The internet and all the cold weather dweller I’ve polled agree that 3 is the magic number of layers. A long (or thermal) underwear layer, a middle layer (your street clothes), and an outer layer.
Long Underwear Layer: Long sleeved shirt, pants, sock liners, and glove liners.
Middle Layer: Pants, socks, scarf, and sweater.
Outer Layer: Boots, waterproof pants, coat with hood, gloves, and hat. Balaclava and sunglasses as needed.
I only risked pulling my balaclava down for a few photos. I needed to prove I had braved this extreme cold! What material do I need for the best winter layers?
Long Underwear Layer: Wool is the gold standard, silk is good too, synthetic is OK if you don’t get wet, and cotton is to be avoided.
Middle Layer: Material matters less on this layer (assuming you have a good set of long underwear on), but avoid cotton if you’re planning to get wet. Wool or fleece are especially good.
Outer Layer: Down, waterproof material.
If long underwear is supposed to be the critical layer, what do I do when I’m inside? Do I have to go to the restroom and remove it everytime I stop at a restaurant or ride a train?
Short story: In college, I had some nice silk long underwear. I wore them a few times and they kept me warm walking to class but when I was actually in class I was so hot I had to discontinue wearing them. This experience really concerned me about Lapland. What would I wear on the train? What if I ducked into a restaurant or museum?
I finally thought to ask my neighbor who is from Norway and she informed me that people regularly strip down to their long underwear in public. Lightbulb moment. There is nothing whatsoever immodest about long underwear, but it is called “underwear” so it never occurred to me I could be seen in it!
In actuality, I was rarely uncomfortable indoors. I always took my coat, scarf, gloves, etc. off but I only bothered to remove pants or sweaters if I was taking a long train. Restaurants were perfectly comfortable and I often even took advantage of the blankets available in most Swedish establishments.
Here I am in the Ice Hotel in my long underwear! Please excuse the obvious photoshopping! If this were a real picture I would not be smiling, it was 17° F in there! Will I be able to move in all those layers?
Yes! Avoid unnecessary bulk and don’t expect to win any awards for doing the limbo, but you should still be able to walk, sit comfortably, etc. Test out your warm weather gear before your trip, if you can’t move, change something.
How will I fit all these clothes in my carry on?
This is going to depend on your airline’s luggage allowance, but for me things were tight. The best solution for me was to wear my coat and boots onto the plane. I could take my boots off once onboard and my coat could double as a blanket during the cold overnight flight.
Here is the ‘What to Wear in Lapland in January’ step-by-step! Not pictured: balaclava and water-proof pants. You might be able to skip these if it is not snowing, but it snowed the entire time I was there and I was really glad to have them. They cost how much?
Yikes! The very best winter layers can be a serious investment! Worthwhile if you live in the Yukon but maybe not worthwhile if you are taking a 2 day trip to Lapland in January! Here are some options across the whole price spectrum. Also, don’t forget you might need more than one pair depending on your trip length and access to laundry.
I also saved money by purchasing my coat and wind/waterproof pants at my local thrift store. I could probably have found boots as well if I’d started looking earlier.
Shopping for what to wear in Lapland in winter
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amzn_assoc_linkid = “35ca422927d74be140949f87d2667df6”;The one thing I had to buy while I was in Sweden was new gloves. I had come prepared with silk glove liners and warm gloves with touchscreen capabilities, but it wasn’t enough. I highly recommend you just bring the ski gloves that are wind and waterproof.
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When it came time to choose a coat, I was sure I wanted something long enough to cover my butt and something with a fur trimmed hood. The Marc New York coat I ended up with had a faux-fur hood and it worked exactly as I hoped to block the wind. I had zero complaints about the coat I chose and I only paid $50 at a thrift store!
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The one place I really skimped out was on winter boots. I used to own a nice pair of snow boots but I downsized them last time I read ‘The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up‘. Instead, I decided to make do with my insulated rain boots. With socks and sock-liners, it was fine, but I would definitely have been more comfortable in nice snow boots.
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Also worth noting: for really extended time outdoors, you will still get cold! If you’re just a tourist, this will all be fine though. I spent 5-6 hours outdoors each day and was perfectly comfortable. Remember to keep walking to keep your toes warm and sticking your hands in your pockets makes a big difference!
When I went dog sledding, they provided a cover-all, boots, and mittens and I just pulled those over all my existing layers.
Bonus Tips:
- You aren’t the only one suffering in the cold! Your phone battery will die faster then you can imagine since the battery will be overextending itself trying to stay warm. Come prepared to keep your phone warm by carrying it in one of your inner pockets or putting it in a warm case.
- You need to stay hydrated, even in Lapland winters! Bring a thermos and fill it with hot tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. The warm pick-me-up will be just the thing to get you through a cold spell.
- If you’re really concerned, you can always bring some small hand warmers. They won’t take up much space in your bag and you can slip them into your boots or gloves as needed.
I hope this helps you decide what to wear in Lapland in January! Remember that layers are the key and so you just have to find the best winter layers for you!
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Travel Journal: Sweden and France
I am planning to share more details later, but for now here is a quick summary of the trip I took this last week!
For context: I originally planned a trip to Stockholm to visit a high school friend who was working there. When the flights came around my friend was no longer working there so I switched gears to visit Swedish Lapland and also fly to Paris to visit my friend, Charlotte, whom I hadn’t seen in 9 years!
My mother-in-law flew to California to watch the kids and I set off on my first ever solo trip outside the country! The first thing I did was drop my phone in the Oakland airport taking it completely out of commission as a camera, made texting and calls difficult, and making navigation or internet surfing impossible. Oops.
Upon arrival, I had 4 hours to explore Stockholm before I needed to catch my train to Kiruna. I explored Gamla Stan’s Old Town and the Stockholm Palace.
Stockholm has so many islands so you are never far away from a bridge. 
The portion of the Stockholm Palace that wasn’t being refaced. 
An alley in Old Town right before sunset. After a 15.5-hour train ride, I found myself in Kiruna with 2 days to explore. I wasn’t able to spot the Northern Lights because it snowed (and was cloudy) the whole time I was there, but I took a dog sled ride and visited the Ice Hotel.
Candlesticks made of ice at the ice hotel. 
I guess the kids won’t be swinging until Spring! 
The old Kiruna Church. They are moving the entire town of Kiruna to make space for the mine to expand and this church is going to be taken apart and reassembled piece by piece. 
The Ice Hotel near sunset. After Kiruna, I was supposed to have another 6 hours or so in Stockholm but my train was 8 hours late! I couldn’t believe it when I still managed to catch my flight to Paris!
In Paris, I met a friend who showed me around for the weekend. It was great catching up with her and I’m so glad I decided to add on this French side trip!
We attended a lovely French Mass in this beautiful church. It’s amazing how many spectacular churches there are in Europe, this is not one of the famous ones. 
Notice how high the river is? Roads along the river were closed and even the trains weren’t running too close. 
This was my first visit inside the Opera House, but it is well worth adding to any Paris itinerary. Next time I’m going to try to attend an Opera there! After leaving France, I had a single night (or a portion of one!) in a hostel in Stockholm before catching an early afternoon flight home. I probably could have squeezed in a museum in Stockholm that day, but I was exhausted and just spent the whole morning in a coffee shop.
It was such a wonderful trip and I’m already planning how to get back to both Sweden and Paris! Next time the opportunity arises, I think I will definitely take at least one of the children, if not the whole family. As HJ says, “MOM MOM MOM Will you please take me to Sweden 2 or 5 times because I LOVE hot chocolate?”
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Lessons Learned on Our First Trip to Disneyland
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There are so many posts out there about how to perfect your Disneyland trip. They range from generic tips to super-specific-step-by-step-itineraries, so I wasn’t sure I wanted to add another “How to See Disneyland in a Day” post. Instead, I’m going to share some quick, initial thoughts after our very first family trip to Disneyland.
I visited Disney World a few times growing up, but for Chris and the children, this was the very first Disney Park experience. I did some research and went into the park with a gameplan but there were still somethings that surprised me!
We really did have a great trip and this list is of things I did that were awesome (go me!) and things that could have made our trip even better.
10 lessons learned from our first trip to Disneyland Lessons Learned on Our First Trip to Disneyland
#1 Parking, riding the shuttle, security, and the entrance takes longer than I thought.
We pulled into the parking lot half an hour before opening and didn’t enter the park for 45 minutes. If you want to be there when the opening rope drops, plan to be waiting when the parking lot opens. (1 hour before park opening.)
#2 Starting the day with a character breakfast really takes the pressure off!
We ate at the Storyteller Cafe in the Grand Californian and got to see Chip and Dale, Pluto, and Kenai from Brother Bear. The kids got some of the character excitement out of their system, which allowed us to walk by the long lines for characters right after we entered the park. At the character breakfasts, you can also be a bit more deliberate with your photos since there is less pressure to keep the line moving. I was so happy to have our family photo out of the way so we didn’t have to worry about it in the park.
Definitely one to frame! #3 Dress for success!
You can see in the photo above that I am dressed like Minnie and HJ is Minnie-ish. HJ and I agreed that we would match but then I accidentally left her Minnie dress behind while I was packing. Fortunately, HJ was super sweet about it and was happy to wear her “pink Minnie dress.” She never complained but when I saw all the little girls in costume I really wished I’d brought costumes for both of them. (Like this or this.)
#4 Shopping is huge at Disneyland!
I knew to expect plenty of opportunities to whip out my credit card, but I didn’t realize you could actually shop all day at Disneyland! Main Street and the New Orleans district are packed with shopping opportunities and just about every other attraction has a gift shop as well! It’s not all Disney swag either, there were perfume and jewelry shops too!
To avoid the park prices but still come away with a little something for the kids, order a few tokens in advance. We presented the kids with ears, hats, and lanyards to remember their trip.
HJ was very diligent about making sure she was wearing her ears every time she met a character. #5 Even wearing comfortable shoes, our feet killed by the end.Â
Don’t even think about compromising on supportive footwear- real supportive footwear like hiking boots or sneakers. No matter how cute those Mickey Vans are, they are just not worth it.
#6 Just because a ride is based on a kid’s movie, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for all ages.
On the Disneyland app you can click on any ride and it will give you the “Thrill Type”. Could be “Loud”, “Dark”, “Fast”, “Scary”, etc. I made the mistake of not checking on “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” and probably scarred my kids for life. HJ thought she was legitimately driving the car and was terrified that it was careening out of control and running into walls. K was just petrified by the, legitimately scary, scenes we passed. I think Disney uses the “Scary” descriptor appropriately, so be sure to look out for it.
Am I a bad parent because I think this picture is kind of hilarious? Don’t be like me! Avoid “scary” rides if your kids can’t handle them! #7 Just because I don’t/won’t like a ride, doesn’t mean the kids won’t.
I still remember the feeling of motion sickness I had when I climbed off the Teacups at Disneyworld. I was 5. I had no intention of subjecting my kids to that, but they both really wanted to ride them so I agreed to go with them. Fortunately, Killian fell asleep in the carrier waiting in line so I got to watch Chris and HJ and it was probably the highlight of my day! HJ’s grin was magical.
#8 The food stands start to shut down early.
Don’t expect to find a Churro stand opened after Fantasmic, but there will be some quick service restaurants with long lines.
Getting to see a real castle was so exciting for HJ! #9 FastPass for Fantasmic was essential.
I hate jostling for seating at parades or fireworks, so we headed straight to the FastPass distribution when we entered the park. This allowed us to arrive at the show anytime before it started and get a spot in the front 6 ft around the lake. Considering how many people were crowded behind us, I was so thankful for reserved “seating”. When you have a toddler, easy viewing is well worth it because…
#10 The firework/light show Fantasmic was so incredibly worthwhile!
It was actually a bit scary and K says he didn’t like it. HJ slept through it, but we were still so glad we went because Chris and I loved it! It was full of surprises and overall Disney just gets an A+ for production value.
Those smiles are what it’s all about! Have you been to Disneyland? What’s your favorite tip?
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Spanish Language Audiobooks for Kids
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The kids are learning Mandarin and Spanish and I am always on the lookout for new ways to expose them to the language. Audiobooks have always been on my list, but locating appropriate and engaging audiobooks is hard! Searching for “Spanish language audiobooks for kids” is not super helpful either. Most search results turn up either educational resources or forums where people are asking for these and not finding results!
Today I finally had a breakthrough! Instead of looking for ready-made resources, or trying in vain to filter iTunes by language and audience, I decided to search for specific popular English books to see if there was a Spanish translation in audio form. Of course, I would rather find books originally written in Spanish instead of translated, but for right now I’m thrilled to finally have a selection to choose from!
The kids are in bed right now listening to El Principito as they fall asleep. We recently transitioned from bedtime music to audiobooks and it definitely does a better job getting the kids to settle down and listen quietly. The jury is still out whether the books are keeping them up later, but we’re happy just to have quieted the bedtime struggle.
Oh, and you are going to want an Audible membership. If you’ve never used it before, you will qualify for a free 30-day trial.
Spanish Language Audiobooks for Kids
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Once you start finding things on Audible or Amazon, similar books will start being suggested for you! Share any great finds in the comment section!
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Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort Review
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We have just returned from 3 nights at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa in San Luis Obispo. This was our first getaway without the kids since we moved to California and we were really looking forward to it. I chose the Sycamore 99.9% because every room comes with a hot tub piped with water from the local mineral springs, how cool is that? So our expectations were high, but how well did Sycamore deliver? Here’s my complete review.
Review of Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort
Welcome to Sycamore Mineral Springs Spa and Resort Check-in Process
One week prior to our reservation we received a confirmation call from the resort. Some people really count on confirmation calls, but for me, it was a bit unnecessary. It would have been a good opportunity to make spa or restaurant reservations though.
Once we got on the road Friday we called ahead and asked them to fill our hot tub for us. Sycamore has a quiet time so we knew we wouldn’t be allowed to fill it ourselves if it got too late. They agreed to have the tub filled before our arrival which we quoted as 10 pm.
We decided to drive straight through dinner so we ended up pulling in at 9:30. My first impression was that the resort was much larger then I had been imagining! The parking lot was packed but there were still a few spots open near reception.
The receptionist was surprised to see us (we were earlier than we’d planned) but was able to get the check-in process taken care of quickly and painlessly. It was completely standard except we did have to sign a waiver stating that we understood the rules related to the hot tub and would follow them.
The receptionist provided all the standard information about the restaurant and spa hours, as well as the free yoga classes, held three times a day.
Sycamore Springs Reception and Gardens of Avila Restaurant After check-in, I was surprised that we were not able to drive to our room. We were staying in the West Meadow across the road and we had to wait for a porter with a golf cart to carry us over. I would be curious to know whether the porter would have been waiting had we arrived on time, but we had 15-minute wait, one that would have been much more enjoyable if the lounge had still been open. The distance itself was quite short and we only relied on the golf cart that one time for our baggage. At check-out, we carried all our baggage ourselves.
The bridge to West Meadow and the Bob Jones Trail. The King Suite
The West Meadow Suites appear to have been built on a flood plain since all the suites are elevated and connected by raised walkways. There were stairs and ramps going up to the suites and one set of stairs was right in front of our door.
The raised walkway between the suites in the West Meadow area. The porter was friendly and got us settled into the “Compassion Suite” quickly. He dropped off our bags and showed us how to turn on the fire (just the flip of a switch!) and we went right to work filling up the hot tub. They hadn’t taken care of it yet since we arrived early, but we still had plenty of time before the 11 pm quiet time.
The suites were quite plain out front, although chairs and a table were provided just outside of this shot. We puzzled a bit about the appropriate temperature for the hot tub, neither thermometer or guide was provided, but we quickly realized that full heat was just about right. The tub took about 15 minutes to fill.
There was no cover provided, so we had to completely drain and refill the tub everytime we used it. It felt like we were wasting quite a lot of water and we also had to clean the leaves out each time. It wasn’t much of an inconvenience, but it could easily have been solved with a cover.
The mineral water from the local spring filling up the hot tub. While the tub was filling up we took a quick tour of the suite and then cuddled by the fire. Having a gas fireplace was fantastic and we took full advantage on the chilly nights and evenings.
The gas fire sprang to life with just a flip of a switch! Our King Suite had a foyer with a wet bar and two wine refrigerators, a living room with pull-out sofa and fireplace, the bedroom with window bench, a sink room with his and her’s sinks, and a bathroom with a double shower head. The back patio could be reached through sliding doors in the living room and the bedroom.
From the patio, I could look over a wall towards the neighbors hot tub. I could see the top of our neighbors head when they were walking on the patio but I definitely couldn’t see their hot tub and we barely heard them. If your neighbor is being slightly noisier then you would like, just turn your jets on and the problem is solved!
Some friends happened to stay in one of the “historic” rooms just a few weeks before our visit and had mentioned that the room was a bit run down. Our room was advertised as “newly renovated” but I was especially critical based on my friend’s report. I was very happy with the room and even with my extra critical search, I was only able to find a few minor dings on furniture or chips of paint around the doorknob. Definitely, something to keep in mind when choosing historic vs renovated!
Another thing to note, and this was my biggest complaint about the entire stay, the hot water in the shower is “on demand” and we had to run the water for 10-15 minutes to get it to turn hot. Even then, it was never as hot as I would have liked.
We were thrilled to have some alone time, but we agreed that the setup would still have been perfect if we’d brought the kids. They could have had the living room and we could still have used the hot tub without disturbing them at night.
Window nook in the bedroom of the “Compassion Suite.” 
The balcony was mostly taken up by the hot tub but there was also a table with chairs and cushions. We mostly used the cushions to prop behind our heads in the hot tub. The Property
We were staying at the Sycamore Resort for New Year’s weekend, so finding ourselves surrounded by fall colors was a pleasant surprise! The view from our back patio was a gorgeous mess of orange leaves which regularly fell into the hot tub.
From right in front of our suite, we could hop on the Bob Jones Trail for a 2-mile walk to Avila Beach or we could follow the Sycamore trail 1.5-miles past reception for sweeping views of the Central Coast.
Just on the west side of the bridge, there was also a bizarre partially completed structure that I found quite beautiful. I meant to ask what it was supposed to be but forgot before we left.
What was this supposed to be? Are they planning to build more suites here? Or is this some kind of planting trick? 
Right next to what I called the “post garden” there was a series of posts with cross beams and four chandeliers. The orangish-tan buildings were all very beautiful and seemed quite in place with the fall colors. There was a lawn area by the parking lot with chairs and tables and we saw quite a few people taking advantage of it in the afternoons. The spa and extra hot tubs (available to rent by the hour for those not staying at the hotel) were mostly hidden from view.
We didn’t make it to the spa this trip, but it’s high on my list for next time. Especially if we come back with the kids! 
The lawn runs under the bridge and was mostly shaded even during the mid-afternoon. On our second day, we rented bikes from the gift shop and rode into San Luis Obispo. The bike rental process was quick and painless and they provided helmets and locks for our trip.
They had single and tandem bikes as well as baby seats available. The last morning as we were leaving we spotted a turkey walking through the parking lot! It was gobbling away and not in any hurry so I chased after it for a picture. Although this was the only wildlife we saw on the property, we saw quite a few species of birds on our walk to Avila Beach.
A wild turkey just strutting through the resort! The Garden’s of Avila
We made reservations for the special New Year’s Eve dinner at the Garden’s of Avila. We were seated at 5:30 and only had to share the restaurant with one other couple for at least half an hour. The New Year’s Eve pre-fix menu was a bit limited, but we really enjoyed everything we had.
From top left: Venison, Chocolate Tart, Baked Bree, Steak, Champagne Gelee, Ox Tail Buns Our final morning we had breakfast in the lounge and that was quite nice. They had fresh squeezed orange juice (my ultimate breakfast favorite) and a roaring fire going. We never ordered room service, but it was available as a limited version of the restaurant menu.
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa Final Verdict
I would absolutely recommend a stay at the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa.
- The location is fantastic with the option to walk to Avila Beach, bike to San Luis Obispo, or take a very short drive to those and several other beaches. This is a wonderful place to spend some extra time in nature!
- The mountains and beaches in this area are really special and I’m finding myself quite taken with the entire Central Coast!
- Having a private hot tub is truly luxurious, especially when it’s filled with healing mineral water! The bright orange leaves falling from the trees made the experience even better.
- Having a gas fireplace that instantly warms the room at the flip of a switch was awesome. This was something I appreciated a lot more than I would have imagined. If you want the fireplace, make sure you ask because it may not be included in all rooms.
- The resort restaurant, Garden’s of Avila, was delicious and we also ate at a phenomenal spot in San Luis Obispo, Giuseppe’s. My guess is there are a lot of good eating spots to be found here!
As always, nothing is perfect. Everything I noted about Sycamore Springs was minor, but take a look in case these things would bother you more!
- Some rooms are historic while others are renovated, if you are particular, make sure you get a renovated room for the more polished accommodations.
- The hot water in the shower was fairly inadequate. After running for 10 minutes the water was perfect for my husband but never quite hot enough for me.
- Refilling the hot tub for every use seems unnecessary and wasteful. Maybe try asking for a cover if this bothers you.
- There was some highway noise that I believe could have been reduced by adding curtains above the window bench.
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Avila Beach (Central Coast, California)
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I’ve been nursing a crush on Pismo Beach for a while now but I am now finally ready to come out and declare my love for the entire Central Coast of California! I will even go so far as to say that my beloved Pismo Beach has been dethroned by its sweet sister Avila Beach, just a few miles down the road.
Here’s how all this came to be.
My brother sweetly, if not enthusiastically, agreed to spend some of his winter break babysitting for us here in California. He flew in after Christmas so Chris and I could go away for New Year’s weekend. I scoured the internet for getaways and found that (1) California is expensive and (2) The Bay Area is really expensive. I ended up selecting the Sycamore Mineral Spring Resort in San Luis Obispo primarily because each and every room comes with a hot tub piped with water from the local mineral spring.
With all the added activity that comes with Christmas, I never got around to researching what to do or see while we were in the area, so we showed up just excited to explore. The Bob Jones “City to the Sea Trail” passed right by our resort, so we got up Saturday morning and started the 2-mile leisurely stroll to Avila Beach.
The Bob Jones Trail is a bike trail but also great for pedestrians. During our walk, we passed an orchard, walked along a stream, caught glimpses of the sun trying to rise over the mountains, watched herons and ducks, and wound through a golf course.
The next day we biked to the San Luis Obispo Mission. To the North, the trail is not continuous so you have to bike along the roads for several miles. 
You can see the root of this Great Oak has to stretch over 10 feet through this rock formation before it finds soil! 
We stopped at all the informative signs to learn about the trail, trees, and local birds. 
I snapped quite a few pictures of this heron strutting around but I was too slow to catch the really impressive sight of him flying low across the golf course. 
The Avila Beach Golf Retreat, one of the best golf courses on the Central Coast. The Bob Jones Trail would also have been a great place to bring the kids and there was even a playground next to the trail. It also appeared to be quite dog-friendly as we saw many dogs out for a morning walk.
The Bob Jones Trail emptied us into the small but charming town of Avila Beach only one block away from the beach itself. We left the trail and stepped onto the sidewalk right outside the Central Coast Aquarium. After the aquarium, we passed a nice pirate-themed playground, some public bathrooms, and then found ourselves on the beach.
This pirate is keeping an eye out for any who might threaten the playground! 
The sandy beach at Avila Beach. 
It’s a small town, but there is no shortage of restaurants or activities in Avila Beach. We arrived in town about 10 am the Saturday of New Year’s weekend and the town was just starting to stir. Most restaurants were closed, but you could see people inside preparing for lunch; artists were beginning to set up their booths on the pedestrian walk; stand up paddleboarders were making their way down the coast.
We found our way to the Custom House where we scored a table overlooking the beach. We were one of the only tables on the patio that didn’t have a dog sleeping under it, and this dog-friendly restaurant even had a “Bow Wow Chow” menu!
The food was good and the service was fast, but the location by the beach was what really made brunch special! I was surprised it wasn’t more crowded given that it was a holiday weekend but it was really very laid back and enjoyable.
The most disruption to our meal came in the form of some motorized paragliders circling overhead. I’ve been hang-gliding and I’ve been wanting to go paragliding, but I think including a motor has to defeat the point. They were pretty loud for those of us on the ground so I imagine they must have been just roaring to the driver.
Machaca off the brunch menu 
Chris at the Custom House in Avila Beach. 
Motorized Paraglider over Avila Beach Pier. If you want to try this it looks like WingEnvy is the place to go. They offer tandem rides as well as solo instruction. After breakfast, we explored the town a bit. We aren’t big shoppers so we didn’t go in anywhere, but we checked out the town and watched the clouds over the oceans. According to the history lesson in our menu at the Custom House, the entire beachfront business district had to be torn down in the late 90s to remove thousands of gallons of oil that spilled underground. As a result, the businesses in town were redesigned and built to be charming, colorful, and cohesive in the early 2000s.
I loved watching these clouds on the horizons! I like to think these looked like a pod of dolphins standing out of the water and skimming along on their tails. 
The newly designed town is all painted in coordinating pastels, perfect for that beachy vibe! 
Seagull posing by the beach. 
At this point, it was almost noon on a holiday weekend! It’s winter but it was plenty warm enough to relax on the beach. Where are all the people? Is Avila Beach just a well-kept secret? 
I love stumbling across this kind of detail! These little metal starfish were sprinkled along the wall in front of the beach. Chris wanted to check out Pirate’s Cove so we started the 1.5-mile walk. I will warn you, the walk is alongside busy roads and part of it is along a mountain road with no shoulder. If you have a car, I recommend just taking it, but the walk turned out to be fine for us.
There were a number of cars in the parking lot at Pirate’s Cove/ Avila Sea Caves but there were so many side paths to take that we didn’t find it crowded at all. We took a few side paths to give us a view back towards Avila Beach and then turned to check out the sea cave and Pirate’s Cove.
The view from the top of Front Street. Even if you’re not up for a long walk, this is only a couple blocks from the center of town and the view is well worth it! 
Does anyone know what these flowers are called? They were huge at probably 6″ in diameter. Chris called them “Dr. Seuss Flowers” since they looked like something you’d find in a children’s book. 
These “Dr. Seuss Flowers” were gorgeous with Pirate’s Bay in the backdrop. 
Apparently being able to read signs is overrated! I was trying so hard to make out the rockslide sign that I completely missed that the beach was clothing optional! 
Smuggler’s Cave! It’s a shame it’s so covered in graffiti, but it is still really beautiful and well worth the short walk from the parking lot. 
I’m so glad we got at least one really good picture of us together! You really can’t beat that backdrop! 
It wouldn’t have been too difficult to climb down here, but we were content peering into the tidepools from above. Chris was able to make out a sea anemone but my eyesight must not be good enough! 
Since Pirate’s Cove is “clothing optional” every time I pulled out my camera Chris would say “stop taking pictures of the naked people!” They are in this photo but it isn’t high enough quality to be able to tell if, even if you zoom! (I checked before I posted this to the internet :-P) After Pirate’s Bay, I was ready to get back to the hotel for a soak in the hot tub and a nap, but Chris had other ideas. He wanted to hike up the Ontario Ridge Trail. The mountain (hill?) did not seem especially high, but instead of weaving up the mountain, the Ontario Ridge Trail went straight up the side. Watching hikers struggle to remain upright was not exactly encouraging!
We went for it anyway and it honestly wasn’t as bad as I was expecting! We stopped and looked back frequently so we could see the views, which turned out to be a good thing because the fog rolled in while we were climbing up. By the time we reached the top there was no longer any view to be had of the ocean!
The view of the Ontario Ridge Trail from the bottom. 
One-third of the way up the Ontario Ridge Trail! 
I managed to snap a picture of the last bit of golf course view before the fog swallowed it up! 
The fog hadn’t reached the other side of the mountains! Here we were standing at the top of the Ontario Ridge Trail looking East. Once we reached the top it was only a matter of following the trail down the other side of the mountain and directly to our hotel. Such luxury!
How often do you find a place that is perfect for a romantic weekend away but also great for the whole family? Avila Beach perfectly fits the bill and if I haven’t convinced you of its merits, that’s ok, we’ll enjoy it better without the crowds. 🙂
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Magnets From Everywhere
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