Oh what to do in Laguna?!…..

Well there is drinking, eating… did I mention drinking? Okay so I sound like a lush and you do have to admit that there is something so cool about those funky mixed drinks with great names when you are on holiday! Beyond the eating and drinking there is the shopping. Now you won’t find big malls or outlet chains here if you want that then you will need to rent a car and drive to Carlsbad or take a longer drive to Palm Springs and shop at the outlet mac daddy of outlets – Cabazon.  In Laguna what you will find are galleries and studios and more  galleries and more studios. Art lovers will have no problem whiling away the hours chatting with artists, admiring sculpture and canvas. Do beware as many studios are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so be sure to note when the galleries are open so you don’t miss out.

Where there are galleries there are also great fashionable shops- they go hand in hand. I found shops full of off beat, eclectic and often locally sourced shoes, handbags and clothing.  Laguna downtown has a lot of the chain stores like Chico and mainstream surf shops, you can also find a few shops like Mod which host an array of albeit pricey but stunning garments. My fave shop was of course the $15 dollar shop- now before you judge, there is one in Palm Springs and I bought a few things there that actually lasted a few washings and for casual beach wear really how can you scream about 15 bucks?

The downtown is also full of tourist shops with the expected amount of tack but once you head up to the more historic district then you really find some gems. A very cool shop is Reuse Jeans http://www.coastlinepilot.com/news/tn-cpt-0520-reusejeans-20110516,0,6734129.story,  jean scraps are taken from jean manufacturers and new jeans are created! Lots of cuts to choose from and beautiful quality denim.  Blue Eyed Girl was also a stunning little shop which was well out of my price range yet the interesting selection of clothing made it very appealing.  http://www.shopblueeyedgirl.com/locations.jsp   My fave place was The Passionate Collector the layout made it feel so inviting and not intimidating, which I think high end accessory  stores can often feel. The handbags were stunning with a lot of vegan and local choices. The shop also hosted a great deal of local jewelry and the non local pieces were free trade sourced. It honestly felt like a little piece of heaven, surrounded by truly beautiful creations and there was a real feeling of joy in the place- I really loved my experience there and spent a great deal of time speaking to the manager, Jennifer, who was absolutely genuine and knowledgeable about the shop, its mission and vision and the individual pieces in store http://www.thepassionatecollector.com/contact.   Another very cool little shop was Isla, very neat pieces that I had not seen anywhere else. http://www.yelp.ca/biz/isla-boutique-laguna-beach-laguna-beach.  I also have to give a shout out to Recycled  Rags, high end designer duds that have been previously loved at sweet prices http://www.recycledrags.com/ and Muse was another one of my favorites.  There are also a couple of “lifestyle” shops with cute things for the home and garden boasting simply gorgeous pieces  that make you feel like you are walking through a dream home Pinterest board!

Strolling the shops in the downtown and historic district make a good day of entertainment and a nice break from the beach- you never know what you might find!

Eating our way through Laguna

So eating….the next best vacation pastime! Wow Laguna Beach is a treasure trove of amazing eats! When I saw all the art galleries I knew that this town would have great food because artistry is far-reaching and culinary artistry is abundant in Laguna Beach! While our first culinary jump was with some average calamari at The Deck our second adventure involving a long and detailed search for nachos took us to Asada. We were treated to fantastic nachos. The chips were not greasy, the chicken was AMAZiNG! with fantastic guacamole and very fresh and light salsa, cheese all the way through – these were fantastic.  The menu itself looked pretty impressive and I would have no problem returning for a full meal.  http://www.asadalaguna.com/home.html

While not considered a meal, my pre-breakfast beverage is one of the most important vacation elements of my day. It is at that time when the world is still sleepy, when my husband is still sound asleep and the world is my oyster this is my favourite part of the vacation day.  My beverage is my time to cherish a great book, or good for a slow walk or simply sit and watch the world wake up.

My first morning led me to Zinc Cafe where I had a chai latte, very creamy and very filling, nice and spicy and enjoyed it thoroughly.  The outdoor seating at Zinc Cafe is very nice but fills up quickly I decided to take my latte to the ocean and plunk down on main beach and watch the world shake off its slumber. http://www.zinccafe.com/

My second morning found me at The Laguna Coffee Company.  Now I rarely indulge in a coffee drink but I just had to try their carmel latte made with fresh ground and brewed espresso. Their coffee and expressly their espresso is quite famous.  It was amazing.. the espresso was excellent and just the right amount of caramel to give a hint of sweet flavor.  They also have smoothies, teas and breakfast pastries, the place is small with not much room to sit but then I have a feeling most people do what I did and head to the beach to perch on a rock.  http://www.lagunacoffeeco.com/

The third morning netted me the best drink and funkiest place ever. The Koffee Klatch-I loved this place full of sofas and comfy chairs and I would have loved to spend time here just reading a book plus the amazing looking pastries and free wi-fi make it an ace joint in my opinion. I loved their drink menu which included Spiced Mexican Coca- sign me up! It was fantastic! Not too spicy with the right amount of whip cream… enough to make you feel a little naughty and not too much to make me feel guilty! http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-koffee-klatch-laguna-beach

Breakfast: Our first breakfast was at a place called Greeters Corner- it was okay. We have begun to share food now in the US as the portions are just mad and we decided that as opposed to leaving most of it on the plate or eating to a point of oblivion we would begin to share. We ordered an omelet and the eggs were fluffy and it was packed with avocado, cheese and bacon.  Like I said nothing special but certainly not bad. The best thing about this place is view; right by main beach the patio allows you to see the comings and goings of all the foot traffic and gives you a bit of the ocean view and feel.  http://www.thegreeterscorner.com/

Our second breakfast was amazing at the Cafe Anastasia.  Now this is quite an interesting place as it is attached to the Anastasia boutique which fairly upscale so not sure how the owners went from retail to cafe but it sure was a great leap because our breakfast was so favorable. We had the Anastasia omelet filled with caramelized onions, cheese and bacon loads of flavor, fluffy eggs and great fresh fruit. Darek loved the sourdough toast, the ice tea was great and the free refills appreciated.  http://www.anastasiaboutique.com/pag654.aspx

Snacks: Well for a healthy  soft serve you can’t beat The stand. It is 100% fruit soft serve with no added sugar or junk and it was delicious! I had mango and strawberry and my belly thanked me!  http://dineries.com/ca/lagunabeach/thestand1/238thaliast  The Chocolate Soldier is known in the OC for their toffee and it was mighty spectacular. http://www.thechocolatesoldier.com/stores.html We had a gelato at Gelato Paradiso where the dulce de leche was to die for!!! http://www.gelatoparadiso.net Finally I had a date shake at The Orange Inn… wow!!!/  Spectacular!!!  Not to be missed. http://orangeinnlagunabeach.com

There are many delectable looking menus in Laguna and a tonne of funky looking restaurants and I really wish I could have eaten more! There are two places that I want to highlight. First is the Lumberyard. The bartender was the best bartender I have ever been served by very kind, knowledge and willing to make a drink that would quench the thirst the desire of the customer. The food was outstanding, we had chicken and we honestly thought my husband’s mom was in the kitchen cooking our meal it was outstanding! Our bartender had also overheard that it was my birthday and presented me with a cake with a candle - a very very appreciated touch.  Hands down the food, atmosphere and dedication to customer service is well worth an evening spent at the Lumberyard. http://www.lblumberyard.com/

The other place that we practically lived at was The Stand. Vegan, gluten-free menu items, no added sugar, no added junk, organic and downright outstanding.  Now when I first saw this place I was ecstatic! Darek however grumbled and noted with dismay he would eat there if he had to. Well after our first bite he was hooked and it was suggesting every snack and every meal we swing by The Stand! Yep the carnivore was converted to the tasty healing power of plants!  I think we tried everything on the menu! This place is outstanding and a must when in Laguna or area! http://dineries.com/ca/lagunabeach/thestand1/238thaliast

 

 

Libations in Laguna

Now there are about a 1000 things to do in Laguna and area, let me be clear we did 4 in this order; drink, eat, lay on the beach and shop.  So if you are looking for tips on inspirational activities- sorry- as inspirational as we got was to walk downhill after 4 happy hour margaritas! This was truly a relaxing vacation, the atmosphere, the whole scene was just conducive to complete relaxation.

So drinking; one of our favorite vacation pastimes.  While we adore a good California wine oddly enough when we are on holiday we often go for margaritas and the fancy vacation cocktails.  Upon arriving at the hotel our first order of business was indeed a margarita and luckily the Pacific Edge hosts a brilliant little beach lounge called “The Deck” which is basically a deck on the beach. Now we did have calamari and it really wasn’t spectacular but the mango margarita- now that was outstanding! So I completely recommend The Deck for drinks, the view is outstanding and the service was good and the prices fair. I have heard that the food is great but honestly from the calamari, there are certainly other places that were far more spectacular. http://www.deckonlaguna.com//

Our next foray into the wild world of margaritas was Asada’s at Happy Hour! $5.00 lime margaritas on the rocks- need I say more?? Very very good and I have to say 4 went down very quickly and easily with very little damage to the wallet.  I dare say with that our first day ended in a very woozy and happy stupor! http://www.asadalaguna.com/contact.html

We stopped in at The White House for drinks and Darek had a local beer called “Blue Moon” which he loved and I had a fantastic strawberry mojito. The White House also often has live bands and you will find an eclectic and interesting mix of people. http://www.whitehouserestaurant.com/. We had a great time at The White House just soaking in the atmosphere.

Our margarita search took us to another restaurant where Darek declared the best margarita in Laguna, sadly neither of us can remember this place so we will have to return in the near future to sleuth this out!  We ended our day at the bar of the Lumberyard where I was treated to a fantastic drink called the “strawberry smash” celebrating the charms of strawberries and the charisma of the Serrano pepper- and wow did that baby deliver a punch and I followed up that libation with an incredible chocolate martini-and I mean incredible! WOW!!! http://www.lblumberyard.com/

Drinking in Laguna is a very demanding past time and I am glad we were able to meet the challenge!

LaaaaaLaaaaaguna I Love You

I have fallen head over heels in love; I can’t sleep I want to constantly run up and down or simply gaze at your beauty, yes Laguna Beach I am talking about you and I do declare my love!

So let me back up a little bit, I apologize for my long writing hiatus.  I have no excuse we have had many adventures over the past few months and I have even written about a few of them and procrastinated about most. For some reason I have been more of a  postponer than poster- now with 4 happy hour margaritas down my throat and the waves licking my feet I resolve to end this dry spell!

So Laguna Beach we fell in love in the first 5 minutes and decided it was the beach equivalent to Canmore there is something quaint, welcoming, warm and magical about this place.  Now I will admit right off the bat my penchant for Southern California. I feel that this part of the world can do no wrong. From San Francisco south I am madly in love with the geography, the food and the lifestyle.  Every time we come to SoCal it feels like being wrapped in a warm caring hug by your nana.  The sun even in the dead of winter has a warmth not found in the north, the fresh fruit and vegetable and eclectic cuisine invigorates taste buds and the genuine laid back relaxed lifestyle fits perfectly with my life mantra!

So when looking for a quick weekend getaway to celebrate my birthday Laguna Beach seemed like a great choice- something unknown and new.  We flew direct Calgary to LA which is a smart idea because the flight is convenient and quick (only 2 and a smidge hours).  To get to Laguna we decided to take a shared shuttle -brilliant idea- plus booking our reservation online saved us about $15.  I had read reviews on trip advisor regarding the shuttles as there are a few options and Prime Time had the best overall score so we booked with Prime Time- I agree they were fantastic. The driver was nice and we had no problem getting to our destination.  It took about 1.5 hours from LAX to our hotel front door and because this is a shared shuttle we had to drop off 2 other people on the way.  It cost us under $70 to get from LA to the hotel which I think is a great deal. http://www.primetimeshuttle.com/ Remember if you decide to rent a car you have to fight with LA traffic plus pay for parking in Laguna on top of the daily car rental fee- I honestly don’t see that it is worth it as there is so much to do in Laguna itself there isn’t much need to roam.

We booked a vacation package through WestJet Vacations and our accommodation was the Pacific Edge Beach Resort.  When I went to Trip Advisor to see what people said the place had mixed reviews and I am not really sure why- it is OUTSTANDING!!

http://www.pacificedgehotel.com/packages.aspx Now a word to the wise and thank you Trip Advisor peeps for the 411: pay for the upgrade to stay ocean front if you don’t you are cheap and a knucklehead. If you don’t pay for the upgrade and look street view then I have no sympathy for your view of the valet parking. The upgrade was less than $100 and wow- it is amazing beyond words or pictures. The sound of crashing waves lulling us to sleep and the feeling of being so close to the power of the ocean is miraculous.  The check-in was fast and the reception very kind and helpful and there was a welcome glass of lemon water waiting to parch our thirst in the lobby area. Staying at the hotel means you are an Edge member and your room key is your ticket to saving at local restaurants and businesses- very smart indeed.  Our room was spotless and the decor exactly how it should be when you are staying in the surfing mecca of California, laid back, cool and funky.  The hotel also offers lounge chairs, umbrellas and towels for free and I thought this was amazing as the last thing you need to lug on an airplane are beach towels and mats! For those that love to get an early morning workout there is an all women’s boot camp at 6am and then a mixed one at 9:30, I am not a morning workout person so can’t comment on the quality- they are free for hotel guests which I think is amazing.  Now lets be clear, this is a surfer hotel on the beach…there are no posh carpets because you are dragging sand in all day long and the room is beach decor because that is where you are! Now if you aren’t used to waves crashing you may want to use ear plugs as the waves crash hard and loud all night long, I personally loved the sound and actually recorded it so I would be able to play it at home!

I will admit that I thought Laguna Beach was going to be all blond hair and boob jobs and I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to fit in. What I found was a very community feeling place where people respect the beach, ocean and each other. I love how everyone you meet on the street in the morning says hello and the shop clerks are happy to have a real conversation. I love how dog owners clean up their dog droppings and that volunteer groups keep the beach clean. The artistic community adds a perspective and lens through which to see life differently and the calming crash of the waves is a reminder of the beauty and power that surrounds this community. I am thoroughly impressed with our Laguna experience and can’t wait to return!

Cossi Fan Tutti Groupon

I am a huge fan of Groupon and Deal Find, and Living Social and so on and so on…these coupons allow me to try things that I might normally find cost prohibitive or just think really…is it worth it? So when a Groupon came out to go see live opera at the Banff Centre for next to nothing I thought…why not? I grabbed my bestie and we headed out to Banff for brunch and opera.

We ate at The Bison and the brunch was spectacular. Now I have heard that in the last few months the quality at The Bison has declined and I can’t confirm this hearsay, what I can tell you is that last summer the brunch was still spectacular.

After stuffing ourselves silly we headed up to the Banff Centre for a pre opera chat. It was very informative and included with the price of our already cheap ticket.  The opera itself was spectacular and there is just something about The Banff Centre that simply makes everything magical.  Now what is wonderful about the summer arts programme at The Banff Centre is that these artists tend not to come into the City so you can only catch these acts in Banff, plus some of the artists practicing for the summer; such as Royal Winnipeg Ballet do not perform in the province during the regular season.

So if you are looking for something to do this summer check out the programme at The Banff Centre- you won’t be disappointed! http://www.banffcentre.ca/

 

Hotel, Motel….Yotel?

Any way you slice it travelling to Europe from Calgary is a long haul and if your final destination is not London, Frankfurt or Amsterdam a change of planes and a looooong layover will be your reality. The last time we flew Calgary to Warsaw we went via Amsterdam and with an eight hour layover we headed into the city.  Leaving the Amsterdam airport is simple follow the crowd, purchase a train ticket and within a few minutes you are in the centre of the city.  We have also had such an adventure in London – again terminal 4 at Heathrow takes you right to the train to central London so when we can schedule such side trips we do but this time we were saddled with a 5.5 hour layover in London Heathrow. Not long enough to leave the airport and play in London but too long to (especially after an eight hour flight) to sit, eat and dare I say it to even shop. So our travel agent suggested we look into “Yotel”- a pay by the hour hotel. Yes- we had the same reaction- pay by the hour- just what kind of place was she suggesting? Yotel is the a no-nonsense, sensible and affordable way of getting a bit of rest, a shower and a moment of peace during a layover. http://www.yotel.com/Hotels/London-Heathrow

We booked the room online, while rooms are charged by the hour you must pay for a 4 hour minimum.  We decided to take a standard room which cost us 34 pounds about 50 odd Canadian.  So a couple of important things to remember…Yotel is in terminal 4 LAND-SIDE…which means you will have to get to terminal 4 from your landing terminal.  We landed in terminal 5 and there was a shuttle every 15 min heading to terminal 4 and the ride is about 15 min length also.  Then follow the purple signs to border control- you must actually go through customs -therefore if you need a ViSA it probably isn’t worth the work.  We were travelling on Canadian passports and the line was short and went by quickly.  The EU passport line was nasty long and was not moving quickly-so you must think about this when booking. Do you have time to get to terminal 4 and go through border control? We left our plane at about 1:15 and we were checked in and laying in bed a little after 2pm but again the shuttle was waiting and there was no line up at border control.

Yotel is easy to find, there are loads of signs and you check in via computer terminal at the door.  Simply key in your confirmation number, slide in your credit card and done. The doors to the hotel open, you head to the office and pick up your key.  There is a pretty good menu that is very affordable and you can pre-order food online so it will be ready upon your arrival, at checkin or you can give room service a call. Everything goes on credit card and in Europe you must have a chip in your card-yes we are behind the times in Canada-so if you are travelling to Europe and want to use plastic-it must have a chip-no signatures accepted.

Yotel in London Heathrow is like a space ship no nook or cranny is wasted.  Once in your pod there is an enclosed bed- so comfortable you wouldn’t believe, TV,Toilet, shower and to die for with body wash (they advertise this non stop- I understand why-it is magical)!!!! We had a good nap, watched some TV and the best was a hot shower and change of clothes.  Getting extra towels was no problem and there is a hair dryer and you can get your clothes ironed if needed!

Checking out is simple and quick you simply hand the key over to the fellow in the office and you are on your way.  You will have to get transit to your departing terminal and since you have been land-side you will need to check in and go through security.
We loved the Yotel, it was clean, comfortable and affordable. The only downside is the time it takes to get through customs and then back in through security, however if you have 5 or so hours you should have no problem, so on your next loooong transatlantic layover- rest, relax and enjoy!

Whooping it up on the Kicking Horse

They say the Kicking Horse River gets its name from a fella that, while on the river, actually got kicked by a horse and was knocked out for days and nearly died but lived to ride on…wonder if he didn’t put the horse bit in just to make himself look good when the truth is that he got pommeled by the Kicking Horse’s class 4-5 rapids!  Thanks to Swarm Jam I got a smoking coupon that hooked us up with Hydra River tours http://www.raftbanff.com/ for what would be one of the most spectacular afternoons of my life- hands down LOVED rafting- and would do it again- in a second.

Hydra tours is between Field and Golden just on the cusp on Yoho National park. A spectacular drive from Calgary and you are at the rafting mecca of Western Canada.  Our first order of business was a BBQ lunch held at the Hydra base.  It was a great spread actually featuring burgers (meat and veggie), salads, veggies and dip and dessert squares. After fuelling up we were brought together for the “safety talk” my goodness the guide who did this was hilarious – he delivered dry and normally uninteresting/scary information in a fun, upbeat, easy to understand and practical way. I felt that if I and my raft parted ways I would know what to do and that is what counts at the end of the day.  After the safety brief is was on to the wetsuits -oi- not a good look for anyone!  Hydra provides boots, wetsuits, helmets and paddles. You supply the bathing suit to wear underneath. If you are always cold – like me – ask for a splash jacket – remember the Kicking Horse is a glacier fed River and the water is frosty.  Even on our warm summer day the water temperature was only about 5C which is truly nippy water.

With the safety brief under our belts and every bit of cellulite exposed in the wet suit  we were split into groups and sent to meet our guide. Kyle was our host for the day and he was funny, knowledgable and a great teacher. At Hydra we put in right at the base camp so we had a good long float before we ever saw any action and this was a great way to meet each other, learn about the raft and how to paddle and just enjoy the beautiful scenery. Now if you are looking for action-sit in the front of the raft as this is were it all happens! The two people on either side at the front are the chief paddlers setting the pace and then everyone falls into synch with them. The further back the raft you sit the less impact rapids have on you.  The further up the more likely you are to get creamed by the rapids…we sat at the front….it was great!!!

Our lazy float started to turn into a bit of work as we headed into class 1-2 rapids and we were brought some good thrills and splashing about before the waters calmed.  We had a chance to catch our breath and then the big show – the class 3-4 which was super fun.  Sadly it only lasts about 600m and then back into a nice lazy float. The spills and thrills on the 3-4 were awesome though!!!  Now you can upgrade the tour for $50 a head and do another 4 kms of those mighty beasts.  The splash jacket had kept me surprisingly warm and I was keen to go on, however Darek had been without a splash jacket and was pretty frozen so we decided that would be another trip for a different day.

There really is nothing like the thrill of seeing the awe inspiring fury of water coming at you head on, the rocky canyon walls on either side and the guide screaming “Paddle hard”!! Paddle- are you crazy? haa haaa…I can’t even sit upright!  For a beginner this was definitely a great start and I really look forward to doing some more class 4 and up in the future.