It’s Not Too Early to Plan Your Weekend, Staycation or Vacation, Right?

Plan extended seasonal vacations during summer and winter months.

Group destination locations together in regional trips to explore what several bucket list towns have to offer in the general vicinity

Dedicated to helping you live, love, work, play, invest and leave a legacy. Enjoy our latest newsletter inspiring you to appreciate California’s natural beauty and awesome adventures waiting for you.

Curated Highlights and Headlines

California Coast: Tip to Tip

South Coast Region

South Bay 

Ventura County: Mission San Buenaventura. “This ghost tries to help people and some say he is an unknown saint who wants to comfort those in spiritual need.” 

North County

Del Mar: “KAABOO (September 13–15), the three-day music, food, and comedy festival based at the county fairgrounds in the coastal town of Del Mar. This year’s lineup has been announced, with Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews Band, and Mumford & Sons headlining the three nights.”

Orange County Beach Towns

Competition with Santa Cruz: “After battling it out with the beachside city of Santa Cruz to their north, Huntington Beach in California’s Orange County officially claimed the title of USA’s “Surf City” in 2008. The surf influence around Huntington Beach is glaringly obvious, but what exactly is it that gives the city its label as the USA’s home of surf?”

Huntington Beach: “The city is also home to terrific seafood, fun bars, acclaimed resorts, epic bike rides, surf schools, surf competitions, and a surf museum. Okay, so maybe it is mostly about the surfing here.”

South Orange County

Curated by Steve Howard published in “California Coast: Tip to Tip” for the Best West Road Trips digital magazine.

San Juan Capistrano: “Development in the area, and loss of the birds’ habitat, are the likely culprits behind the disruption of the birds’ migratory patterns. The replicated nests worked. A cliff swallow has built a nest in the East Corridor of the mission near the Serra Chapel entry, and rough-winged swallows have been spotted nesting in the ruins of the Great Stone Church, a popular spot for the swallows many years ago”.

Central Coast Region

San Luis Obispo: “It’s on the central coast, but 12 miles inland, out of the fog belt; has eternally perfect weather; and sports a self-aware downtown core that manages to be both hip and historic — and, yes, very walkable.

North Coast Region

Fort Bragg: “There are all sorts of ways to eat, sip and play in Fort Bragg, the bustling fishing town on Mendocino County’s spectacular, craggy coast. Here are three ideas to get you started.”

Peninsula Region

Half Moon Bay: “A day by the Bay, the OTHER Bay — Half Moon Bay — combines so many of the best things about Northern California, all in one stop. From amazing beer and diverse food offerings, cheap or expensive things to do, a fascinating dock, beautiful trails, world-renowned surfing, reasonable or outrageous hotels, and all a short drive from the chaos of the city.” 

San Francisco Bay Region

Romantic and beautiful, San Francisco has been the backdrop for many of the world’s favourite films, such as Bullitt and Mrs Doubtfire. The reality is even better, from the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz to cable cars and fog. With great restaurants, shopping and museums, this is a five-star destination.

Steps:

21) Spend the time to find the best place to live and invest. It will be worth your while. The great thing about living where others spend their vacation is the year round quality-of-life. 

24) Determine which maker or breaker community issues you will find across all resort communities vs. those unique only to the quality-of-life towns at the top of your best places list.

32) Plan extended seasonal vacations during summer and winter months. Group destination locations together in regional trips to explore what several bucket list towns have to offer in the general vicinity – with only a week or two vacation time to spend, we recommend organizing your itinerary by travel regions.

33) When you move, will your established neighbors share your same values? Does your new home have potential over the long-term to develop into a high appreciation real estate investment while being affordable for mid-life or empty nesters? Do the weather patterns in winter or summer make you want to live there year round, or only on a seasonal basis. Does  your new community offer a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities?

34) On your visits look for any newer developments that may trigger changes in neighborhood patterns. New construction in or around the neighborhood? Major regional economic adjustments? Transition from households with children to ones that are empty nests? Rezoning, and dramatically rising/falling land values?

 

 

 

What You Missed in December

People who live, work, or play there need to become comfortable with the idea that change is coming along the coast.

World Surf League has cleared its final hurdle and will stage the Mavericks big-wave surfing contest within a waiting period running from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28.

 

Change is coming to the Pacific Coast. King Tides. Big-Waves. And Mother Nature unleashed her forces when we least expected it and could afford it. Fires and recovery efforts. Oh, and we celebrated Christmas in our unique ways.

Highlights and Headlines: December 2017

North Coast Region

Arcata. History.

“The Arcata Theatre is a striking combination of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture. This structure incorporates the geometric Art Deco design with the sweeping curved style of the Art Moderne; a frequent combination in 1930’s theater design. The marquee features neon lighting and is a focal point in the city’s skyline. In the original blue print designs, the neon marquee was nearly twice as tall as it was eventually built. “Best advertising for the town is George Mann’s new sign on the G Street Theater which emblazons to the world at large that south bound tourists are now entering Arcata”” 

Mendocino. Victorian-inspired Mendocino mansion goes to auction for $3 million.

“As a final note, the original (and thus far only) homeowners, Linda E Pedroni and Rudolph H Light, were apparently quite active for years in circles working to preserve oak tree populations, the East Ranch even serving as the mailing address for the International Oak Society‘s election committee.” 

Sonoma County. Artists draw together at Schulz Museum for North Bay fire relief.

Artists for Recovery Victims

Some of the Bay Area’s most hailed graphic novelists, cartoonists and authors — including Dave Eggers, Raina Telgemeier and Stephan Pastis — are converged at Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Museum on Saturday, Dec. 9, to raise money to support victims of the recent wildfires in Sonoma County. 

North Bay Region

Ronnie Spector, the bad girl of rock, and Summer of Love legends headline benefit concerts

“Ronnie Spector, the original bad girl of rock, a 2007 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, headlined Narada Michael Walden’s 21st Holiday Jam on Dec. 16 at the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley.” 

 

San Francisco Region

(SF GateView Item)

Naughty is nice as SantaCon invades S.F.

The Santas were kicking off the start of this year’s SantaCon, a worldwide event that features a daylong bar crawl that sends many of its participants to the naughty list. 

Peninsula Region

Mavericks surf contest gets the go-ahead

After months of dealing with a complicated permit process, the World Surf League has cleared its final hurdle and will stage the Mavericks big-wave surfing contest within a waiting period running from Jan. 3 through Feb. 28. Once known as the Titans of Mavericks, the event off the coast of Half Moon Bay now will be called the Mavericks Challenge. 

 

Central Coast Region

Ellen DeGeneres Evacuates as California Wildfires Spread Through Santa Barbara County

Ellen and Montecito Celebrities Forced to Evacuate

DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi live in Montecito, an area where many celebrities own homes, including Patrick Stewart, Jane Seymour, Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bridges and former Vice President Al Gore. Residents there were told to evacuate as the Thomas Fire, which has burned 170,000 acres, has threatened homes in the area. The fire, which began in Ventura County, has pushed into Santa Barbara County 

South Coast Region

California’s Thomas Fire Has Burned an Area the Size of New York

Massive Thomas Fire

Thomas Fire in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, has reportedly scorched an area the size of New York City. As of Sunday evening the fire has burned 230,000 acres since it began, and is the fifth largest fire in recorded state history.

South Bay.

‘Re-wilding’ a Santa Monica beach to protect against sea level rise

“At the north end of Santa Monica Beach, there’s a fenced off 2-acre section that looks a bit unkempt. It’s an experiment in “re-wilding,” or restoring the beach to what it looked like before humans altered it. The pilot project, a partnership of The Bay Foundation and Santa Monica, could also help protect the city from sea level rise.”

Long Beach’s Naples and Daisy Lane parades wind down the holiday marching season

Photo For The Press Telegram by Axel Koester.

“Do you want to watch the gaudily decorated toys of wealthy people cruise Alamitos Bay and the canals of Naples? If you don’t have a friend with a canalside home, you’re welcome to join the Great Unwashed as you elbow your way to a vantage point of the decorated yachts, dories and Duffys.”

 

King Tides Apply Pressure To San Diego Coastline

A Monday morning flyover of the region’s coast revealed that the high water levels are having a variety of impacts. People who live, work, or play there need to become comfortable with the idea that change is coming along the coast. The King tides offer that insight.

Peninsula Region’s Highlights and Headlines

Martin’s Beach has been ground zero for beach access activists, surfers and those on the Coastside with fond memories of walking or driving the path from Highway 1 to the relatively small and protected beach.

Maverick’s Extreme Waves
For more than a decade, Coastsiders and visitors have satisfied their kitchen cravings at the Main Street store.
Peninsula Region lies south of San Francisco and north of Santa Cruz on the California coast.

The Peninsula region lies immediately south of San Francisco in San Mateo County. While many residents in Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Moss Beach, Pacifica and Pescadero work and play to the north or south, the Peninsula has its attractions, including some beautiful wilderness areas. The Santa Cruz Mountains divide the region in half north-south, with a large wilderness area that’s great for hiking and mountain biking.

Highlights and Headlines.

Martin’s Beach – Ongoing Story Beginning in 1918

Vinod Khosla’s granting of partial access to Martins Beach called ‘insufficient’

Vinod Khosla Billionaire Denies Beach Access

Although Khosla said he planned to open the gate, he did not do so until Wednesday, two days after lawyers for the Surfrider Foundation filed papers urging the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco to enforce its August ruling that Khosla could not block access to Martins Beach without a permit. The Surfrider Foundation sued Khosla in 2013, arguing that the shoreline had been open to all comers since at least 1918 and belonged to the public.

 

Billionaires don’t get to decide when and how Californians reach the beach

Martin’s Beach Access Challenged by Surfrider Foundation

But last week, the gates suddenly opened. Had Khosla finally done the right thing and restored access to Martins Beach? Not exactly. His representatives told Coastal Commission officials that they would open the gates from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., provided someone on the property was available to do so. Sorry, but that’s not the “maximum access” the law requires, as Coastal Commission officials have rightly pointed out.

Appellate court reaffirms access for Martin’s Beach

Martin’s Beach has been ground zero for beach access activists, surfers and those on the Coastside with fond memories of walking or driving the path from Highway 1 to the relatively small and protected beach. Khosla bought the property from a Coastside family in 2008. A year later, the new owner closed the gate and painted over a billboard that once advertised access to the beach.

Sea Otters Grabbing Beach Time

Ana Nuevo State Park

Año Nuevo offers intense volunteer experience

“Docents work hard at Año Nuevo State Park, but they say the work is rewarding.”

Half Moon Bay

Domoic Acid and Sea Otter

Recovering Sea Otter

“Yankee Doodle munches on a snack at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. The sea otter was recently rescued in Half Moon Bay after becoming sickened by an exposure to domoic acid. Photo courtesy Bill Hunnewell / Marine Mammal Center”

Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival 2017: Your guide to food, events

They changed the name of this long-running festival some years back to the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, but let’s face it: If you loathe pumpkin, you’re not the most likely candidate to make the trek to the coast.

Professional pumpkin carver Mike Valladao, aka Farmer Mike, leaves his mark on gigantic orange gourds at the Half Moon Bay Arts & Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

Big Wave Competition at Mavericks

High Flying Mavericks Surfer

Mavericks sale to World Surf League hits a snag

“A surfer takes advantage of big waves at the Maverick’s surf break near Half Moon Bay in January. The sale of the permits to the World Surf League to host a contest at the break may have hit a snag after a company filed an objection to the sale Wednesday. (Patrick Tehan/Bay Area News Group)”

WSL paddles into choppy Mavericks waters

Mavericks Big Surf Lineup

In a 95-page “motion to sell” submitted to the court on Wednesday, the former surf contest organizers detailed their wishes to turn over the reins to the World Surf League.

Marriott Moments: Luxury at The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay

This screams wealth – no surprise, at a base cost of high $600s to $800-$900s. Note that this does not include valet parking ($49 for overnight guests) or resort fee ($35/night) which covers the below:

Downtown Half Moon Bay kitchen ware closes

Downtown Retail Shop Closing

“For more than a decade, Coastsiders and visitors have satisfied their kitchen cravings at the Main Street store where they could find a pour-over coffee kettle from San Francisco, cutting-edge stainless steel knives from Japan, clay cookware from Colombia and even fine linens from France.”

 

Crumbling Romeo Pier in County Harbor

Romeo Pier demolition to cost $2.3 million

“The San Mateo County Harbor District put out a bid for demolition of the beloved but crumbling Romeo Pier, but received only one bidder. That bid came in at nearly double the $1.5 million the district envisioned.”

Hiking Pacifica at Mori Point in San Mateo County

Hiking San Mateo – Golden Gate National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service)

“The main entrance to Mori Point is located at Bradford Way in Pacifica. At this entrance you will find two accessible parking spaces and an accessible restroom. There is an accessible entrance to the left of the trailhead gate. Old Mori Road is relatively flat which makes for a nice, leisurely stroll. You will encounter lots of native vegetation and wildlife. The surface material is a compacted natural material. After about a ¼ mile to your left will be the entrance to the Lishumsha trail. You may choose to take this route which will provide more of a strenuous hike or you may choose to continue on Old Mori which becomes an elevated boardwalk.”

Hiking Elevations