Keep close to nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. —John Muir
Faced with three weeks in the great state of California on a tight travel budget with two kids in tow, I knew we were in for a culinary adventure. Our travels took us as far south as Orange County and as far north as Santa Cruz with home bases in Anaheim and Atwater and included a food enthusiast’s mecca, San Francisco.
But how to spread a buck over a full month with three mouths to feed? And how to avoid gaining 10 pounds of road weight from eating on the go every day?
We finally hit our stride when we settled on a balance of picnicking, produce stands and the occasional dinner out. Here are my top 10 suggestions for anyone hoping to do the same!
Orange County
One of this West Chester native’s favorite home-away-from-homes is the artsy seaside enclave of Laguna Beach. Nothing like my preconceptions a la the MTV show by the same name, Laguna feels like West Chester’s cooler, well-traveled, well-married big sister. She spends her pristine, sun-filled days painting, paddle boarding, and doing pilates. And when she goes out to dinner, it’s at the oceanfront Beach House. A slam dunk whether for brunch or supper, you’ll be tempted to spend your whole day on their cliff-side deck gazing at the sea and the beachgoers below. The ocean spray and lull of the waves are only slightly less memorable than their lobster tail and eggs Bennie. Vegans, be prepared for your standard fruit cup, but a fruit cup with a beautiful view beats eating a Kind bar in the car.
You can’t spend two weeks in Anaheim with five-year-olds and not end up at Disneyland. And this former cynic is here to tell you, you shouldn’t even try. It really is the happiest place on Earth, you guys! At approximately $100 per ticket, I was worried about getting gauged for food once inside the gates, but was relieved to find only moderately high prices. And veggie burgers! But if I had it to do again, I would have smuggled in my own water and snacks, and planned a picnic in the designated areas for our midday meal. Not only will it save some pennies, but leaving the park for a brief intermission will do the whole family some decompressing goodness.
Yosemite
Our trip fell just a few weeks before wildfires ravaged this awe-inspiring national park. To be truthful, I can’t promise any of what we saw will be there for you. Doing some quick Internet research, however, it appears that Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley were not part of the 300+ square miles that burned. The smoldering portion of the park aside, it’s hard to pick one picnic spot in this sprawling slice of heaven. Two suggestions for the tourist and the landscape photographer would be within view of Half Dome or in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite’s own sequoia grove. If a bear steals your picnic basket, Timberland Pizzeria has the BEST shrimp scampi ever. Or maybe it was all the hiking? Regardless, it is scrumptious and the price tag is fair when you consider it’s big enough for two.
Central Valley
If you’re traveling in the Central Valley and you’re not living off of produce stands, you’re doing it wrong! Berries, nuts, and veggies: all freshly picked and waiting for you on every major road and highway. The surprising number of old barns was a comforting sight for our Chester County crew, and made for great passenger seat photo ops to pass the time. Not to mention the cheeky banners on most of the stands proclaiming “Fruits and Nuts!” Indeed, the land of fruits and nuts lives up to its nickname, one way or another.
San Francisco
The city of San Francisco is, like, the most overwhelming place if you love food and you only have a weekend to eat it all. I heard a statistic that the city’s ratio of restaurants to residents is 2:1. Is that for real? It sure felt like it.
I have to admit that I didn’t do anything right in SF. I got totally overwhelmed by all the choices and escaped by obsessively Instagramming the uber-trendy locals and the hip cityscape. We had dinner at South San Francisco’s quaint Siam Spoon. By quaint, I mean it was totally modern and hip but we were the only people in it. On a Saturday night. The Thai iced tea and pad se ew were on point but it’s not what I would have chosen if I was traveling sans les enfants and trying to have an ‘experience.’ Breakfast at Home Plate felt much more like a slice of SF life. The intimate size, warm complimentary scones and superbly featured breakfast dishes won my heart. The waitstaff was warm but efficient. I felt like a local—the ultimate accomplishment for any road-weary traveler.
If you’re afraid of heights, edges, and switchbacks, the ascent to Mount Tamalpais will feel like its own special brand of hell. Approaching the summit, though, the ethereal fog will slip around you and erase all your door-handle-clutching terror. It. Is. So. Worth. It. Remember to pack a picnic (here’s your chance to try take-out from the stand-out Japanese deli Delica in the Financial District) because once you reach the summit, you won’t be rushing to make that drive again. Plant yourself at the peak for a 360-degree view of the Bay Area. Absolutely breathtaking.
Travelers in a time crunch might attempt to combine their trip to Mt. Tam with a visit to Stinson Beach and Muir Woods. I recommend splitting your time into two days, especially if you’re a nature lover. There is so much terrain to be explored, and such a diverse wonderland at that: mountain, forest, and sea.
A stroll through Muir Woods will afford your plenty of time for an afternoon on Stinson Beach. I recommend starting there and seeing the redwoods as the morning light filters through them and finishing with lunch at the café. Not just your run of the mill park service snack bar, the café at Muir Woods is incredible and features locally sourced foods. Their grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup was featured on the Food Network’s The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and I’m here to tell you, that’s no false advertising. They also have a great selection of beautifully constructed salads and plenty of choices for people of all dietary stripes.
Walk off your Muir Woods grilled cheese with a stroll along Stinson Beach. On cloudy, foggy days, the tide is smooth as polished glass resulting in amazing opportunities for composing photographs that play on reflections. Picnic right there or warm yourself by the fire at Parkside Café. Known as much for its cash-only seaside gourmet snack bar, the pricier dining room offers classic Cal-cuisine and a chic yet cozy ambience to send you off to your next destination with a full belly and a happy heart.
Santa Cruz
Another Cali beach town that feels like shades of home, Santa Cruz could keep a vegetarian happy for a lifetime. Another case of overwhelming options, but this time our choice was made for us by my local friend and author, Pam Lemke. Pam took us to beachfront taco bar Las Palmas. Yes, I just said beachfront taco bar. I know … I can stop there. Go. You’re welcome.
Big Sur
In my opinion, sitting inside a building anywhere near Big Sur is a crime. But if you must dine in, save up for a special meal at Rocky Point. This seaside restaurant boasts the kind of view you’d expect from Big Sur with a beautifully appointed interior that affords almost every table an ocean view. If you’re on a budget, stop in between 2 and 4 p.m., when they are offering their light menu. Note: it’s not the kid-friendliest place, but you won’t find many sit-down family dining establishments on this stretch of road.
If you’re picnicking, pass on the tourist heavy spots and spread your blanket out at Pfeiffer Beach. It’s ‘that beach with the big rock with the hole in it,’ as I described it. A bit farther down the road is Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Try your darndest to be there for sunset. The trail you’ll travel down takes you past a famous waterfall and lagoon to a straight shot of the coastline, where you can watch the sun set the sea on fire. BYOB, s’il vous plait.
View more of Sarah Alderman’s photograph via her company, AGP Collective, here. Also, be sure to “like” her on Facebook here.
- Photographs: Sarah Alderman
