There was some finality today. I paid my last rent payment, bought another plane ticket, got my confirmation for the Los Angeles Times Travel Show, and verbally committed to a haircut. That means one journey is coming to an end and another is beginning. While 2011 has been marked by “slow travel,” spending a couple months living and traveling around Costa Rica, I’m following it up with a little more intense schedule.
My first trip to Central America has been a hit. I’ve become quite taken with the “pura vida” lifestyle of Costa Rica. However, I’m now looking forward to a few weeks of traveling around the U.S., visiting a few of my favorite cities, spending time with friends, and meeting up with some of you. I want to take a break from my regular posting schedule to let you know about some of my upcoming travel plans and also tell you about some events you might be interested in.
Itinerary
- March 17-19: Los Angeles. On tap for this weekend is the Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show and a couple travel meetups. I fly out of L.A. early on the 31st, but probably won’t be in L.A. except for this weekend.
- March 20-30: San Francisco. San Francisco may just be my favorite U.S. city. I’m planning on meeting up with friends, but am also looking forward to exploring some of the local area. I can’t tell you how stoked I am to travel up Highway 1 and spend some time in Big Sur. Since lessons fell through in Costa Rica, I’m not ruling out surfing, paddle boarding, or kite surfing lessons. Also, you’ll probably find me at the Athletics/Giants Spring Training Game on the 28th.
- April: I’m doing pretty good to have planned a month in advance, so April isn’t so black and white. I’ll be in Atlanta in early April, probably trying to finagle my way to at least a practice round of the PGA Masters Tournament. Later in April includes visits to New York City and then New Orleans for the Jazz Festival, before heading back to the south and getting ready for my summer trip to Europe.
Happenings
- Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show. This will be my first visit to a travel show. Several hundred exhibitors will be showing off their destinations and products for travelers. They don’t really hold too many travel events or meetups in Central America, so this will be a nice change of pace. Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves, the Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown, and actor/travel writer Andrew McCarthy will be a few of the speakers for the event.
- TBEX Lost Angeles Chapter Meetup. So there’s this thing called the Travel Blog Exchange (TBEX). It’s all the rave in travel blogging. They are holding their first chapter meetup the weekend of the travel show on Friday, March 18. You can sign up for the event here.
- The “Travelers are awesome and are always looking for a reason to support their drinking habit” Meetup. That’s not the name of it, but since we’re being all official in this post, why not give it a name – you know, something with a ring to it that’s easy to remember. Thanks to Christel Lom for helping organize this. It’s going down at the downtown Los Angeles Yard House on the patio at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 19. We’ll be there for a couple hours, so stop in for a drink. We made it close to the travel show location so that people in attendance wouldn’t have to go far afterward and could even walk.
But wait, there’s more! Not really, but sort of. So, a couple things before you click away. Do you have any recommendations for me? Maybe you know this sweet hole-in-the-wall diner on Highway 1 that serves kick ass burgers or have a recommendation for a can’t-miss thing to do in San Francisco. Maybe your second cousin, twice removed is a surf instructor. Also, I haven’t made any accommodation plans yet. I’ll be using some leftover Hyatt points for a couple nights in San Francisco and then have a feeling I’ll be using Airbnb, which I haven’t had the opportunity to use yet, but am looking forward to. However, if you have other recommendations for staying cheap in San Francisco or Los Angeles, leave a comment below or email me. Hope to see some of you soon.
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Safe travels, Spencer! I’ve been to the SF area several times but I can’t remember the names of restaurants for the life of me, I’ll let you know if I figure them out. Looks like you have an exciting few months ahead of you.
Thanks Christine. I do indeed and am looking forward to it.
Sweet as! Um, the link you sent for ye olde Yardy, that place is like right 2 blocks from the convention center, like a 5 min walk. The one at LA Live, yeah? Should be a good time! The whole weekend looks like it’s shaping up pretty nice!
Is the baseball game in SF going to be at AT&T Park? If you, so MUST!!!! stop in at Public House for a beer before the game. Ohmigod, one of my favorite bars in the city. You can stop in whenever, but because it’s attached to the park, you can bring beers from it into the park and they are soooo good (and cheap!). And of course, my favorite only-in-norcal-chain-restaurant Buckhorn for sandwiches or salads. Gah, I could list food forever in the city!
See you in a few weeks!
Hey Rebecca. YES. That is in fact the Yard House. Thanks for clarifying!
Yes, the game is at AT&T Park! Thanks for the info about the Public House because that is one of my biggest gripes is food/drink prices at stadiums. I’m going to have to take you up on those recommendations. I’m so stoked. Thanks for the recs!
Recommendations in San Francisco? Nah, I’ve got none of those.
Seriously, this post made my day!
(I will email you with actual California advice. I do have a little bit of experience under my belt on the matter, having written more than 10 CA guidebooks!)
Yay, looking forward to meeting you, Philosopher guy!
Hey Spencer! Hope all is well in Costa Rica. I don’t know if you want to go the hostel route in LA or San Fran, but both have USA Hostels, which I had a good experience with in Hollywood. Cheap, free wifi and breakfast, close to everything. I was sold. The most fun I had in LA though was meeting up with Rebecca (commenting above!), Jade and Bob (Vagabond 3) at a Mexican restaurant then looking at the stars at the Griffith Observatory. Have fun! Eat sourdough bread in SF.
Hey Caroline. Thanks for the comment. Will look into the hostels. I love Griffith Observatory. That’s one of my favorite things I’m looking forward to is meet ups with peeps in Cali. Sounds like you’re having a great trip!
I just needed to say that I’m EXTREMELY jealous that you’re going to Giants spring training. Check out La Boulange (they’ve got a few locations) for an awesome, very San Francisco-y breakfast spread. Have fun in SF, I miss it!!!
Thanks Christine. I’m really really stoked. Haven’t been to a MLB game in S.F. yet and try to go to one in as many stadiums as possibly. Will definitely have to check out La Boulange! Thanks!
Hey Spencer, sounds like you got a pretty busy March lined up, and I’m jealous about the Masters, I’ve always wanted to make it to Augusta, good luck!!! I have only been to San Fran a couple times, but I’ll never forget drinking scotch at the Gold Dust Lounge. Great little hangout with live music. Best of luck with the LA Times Travel and Adventure Show! Also enjoy the spring training game b/t the Giants and Athletics. Cheers!
Thanks Pete. I highly recommend the Masters once for anyone, even if they aren’t golf fans. I was a golf in high school and it remains my favorite sport, but it was just an unreal experience for me. Trying to get a ticket this close to the match for the practice rounds isn’t easy, but hopefully something will come up.
I’ll have to check out the Gold Dust Lounge. Cheers.
Sounds like you will be busy for a little while!
Jealous of you getting to go to New Orleans, that is a destination high on my list, maybe I’ll go there for next years Mardis gras! fingers crossed Hop and Jaunt still live there then
oooops spelt mardi gras wrong haha
Hi–
I was going to email but realize it may be helpful to post here, if others seek recs, too. Let me know if you’re looking for stuff in particular, as I could ramble on about Northern California.
First, the important stuff — the Giants. Hello! Huge fan over here! I bought a string of early tickets, but I don’t think the date you mentioned is one of the games I’m going to…I’ll have to check. A spot in addition to the Public House is Pete’s Tavern, across the street, which I happen to like a lot more than some other bars in the immediate area (ie, Momo’s or Paragon). Also, a few blocks away is 21st Amendment, a neighborhood brewery/bar in South Beach. But yeah, $9 beers at the ballpark are brutal…
If you take a little side trip to Sausalito, across the Golden Gate Bridge, please check out my favorite wine bar, Wellington’s, along the waterfront. It’s like a cozy, warm living room, with wine tasting, good UK (and other) brews, and bay views: http://www.trazzler.com/trips/wellington-s-wine-bar-shoppe-in-sausalito-ca
I think someone above mentioned hostels; if you consider the hostel route at some point, the Marin Headlands Hostel is a cool find (also just across the Golden Gate Bridge): http://www.trazzler.com/trips/marin-headlands-in-sausalito-ca It’s a Hostelling International property, but it’s not a sterile, cookie-cutter hostel. It’s in a secluded, woodsy location, and is a base for exploring the Marin Headlands. Kirby Cove is also a remote cove along the bay, with killer views of the bridge and city. You can reach it if you’re exploring the headlands area: http://www.trazzler.com/trips/kirby-cove-in-sausalito-ca
If you’re headed down to Big Sur via Highway 1, please check out the Henry Miller Library: http://www.henrymiller.org/ I don’t think there are notable shows when you are around, but it’s a beloved local institution and an eclectic space that periodically hosts great bands (Arcade Fire and Yo La Tengo are recent ones that’ve passed through). It’s also a unique hangout spot — browse the books, do some reading/writing, etc.
In Big Sur, there are lovely hikes and hot springs in the Ventana Wilderness (Tassajara Hot Springs comes to mind if you’re into hot springs/zen/meditative getaways). Along the highway, McWay Falls, the famous waterfall that spills out onto the beach, is gorgeous. It’s an easy walk to get to from the highway, and from there (or near that state park) you can head onto proper trails to get deep into the woods.
If you happen to pass through Santa Cruz/Monterey–
Pass through the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Kitschy, yes, but nonetheless a NorCal landmark and nostalgic landscape, great for photographing. (I love the old bridge off to the left, the “Lost Boys Bridge,” named after the 80s vampire flick.) Driving along the Monterey coast in the town of Pacific Grove — and 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach — are nice drives.
Not sure if you’re going further south via car, but I read about a place called Cold Spring Tavern near Santa Barbara, and I want to visit it. Looks like a cool pitstop for a beer/meal in a rustic setting (and has rooms, too, perhaps?): http://www.coldspringtavern.com/
As for stuff to do within the city? Oh god. Too much. When it gets closer, I’d love to send over a list of places to eat, drink, and whatnot…
Cheers,
Cheri
Wow Cheri, this is great. Thank you so much for all these. And am looking at some of these websites you sent me now!
Hey all,
Just letting people know that I’m in the LA area for the time being and will be hitting up the events that weekend, as well.
Chat me up on Twitter: @roniweiss
(Also, Rebecca, I’ll agree that as of now that AT&T Park is my fav. ballpark.)
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