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Part Two of our backyard travel series takes us to our own hometown, La Jolla, California, everyone’s favorite spot.
We had heard great buzz about La Jolla’s newest chic place to stay, the HotelParisi. I logged on, http://www.hotelparisi.com, and was delighted to obtain reservations. There are only 20 suites in this gem and it is very popular, so call early! Rates begin at $225 and include a sumptuous continental breakfast and complimentary parking, a big plus in La Jolla, where it is often difficult to find parking. The hotel is located in the heart of La Jolla, on Prospect Street. Several of the suites have ocean views. On our first morning, while on our private terrace, my wife and I were treated to the sight of whales heading south to Scammon’s Lagoon. What a nice way to start the day!
HotelParisi was converted from office space. The entire design pays homage to Mother Nature and incorporates feng shui techniques. The result is serene, sophisticated yet casual elegance, enhanced by an attentive staff. Each suite features custom made furniture that is really art/sculpture, highly stylized lighting, and knock-out marble oversized bathrooms with separate tub and shower. Other amenities include plush robes, built-in VCR and cable with HBO, three-line telephones with dataport and private voicemail, coffee maker, hair dryer, in-room safe, and my favorite; a refrigerator stocked with complimentary refreshments. The "Practical Traveler" abhors honor bars and thinks hoteliers often miss this opportunity to make their guests feel at home. The eclectic lobby features a 10 foot fountain which releases water into a reflecting pool located underneath a large skylight. The fireplace adds to the overall ambiance and each piece of furniture incorporates artists’ concepts of design that accentuate the effect of this urban, boutique hotel. It is an oasis of casual civility.
The HotelParisi doesn’t miss an opportunity to make its clientele comfortable. Sami Ladeki, the owner, has found a great recipe for success. The "Practical Traveler" reminds you that the rate includes a complimentary continental breakfast, free parking, and a stocked refrigerator. Another plus: it features a smoke free environment. This is my favorite new hotel!
In addition to a great place to stay, most successful vacations include three main ingredients: plenty to do, good shopping, and interesting and varied choices for meals.
Since my wife and I love spas and we were, after all, in our backyard on vacation, we decided to try a hometown spa experience. What we didn’t count on was a weekend experience that left me levitating! The Chopra Center for Well Being, in La Jolla, (http://www.chopra.com) offers an amazing array of multi-day and one day programs, courses and workshops, seminars and day spa services. This quiet retreat, a leader in alternative mind/body medicine, was founded by Deepak Chopra, M.D., author and educator. The stated goal is to "help people develop higher levels of happiness, health, success, and wisdom through holistic programs..."
After perusing their website, we chose the Weekender Program consisting of meditation, spa treatments, mind/body classes, yoga, and meals. Before our arrival, we received an informative packet including our personal schedules. Upon arrival, there was a warm welcome and we were provided with booklets including a Guest Companion Guide and Journal, workshop materials, and meditation guidelines. The Weekender begins daily at 8 :15 AM with a healthy breakfast and ends at 5 PM with personal meditation time. In between are videos, seminars, lunch, yoga, personal instruction, meditation periods, time to take a walk around La Jolla, and a choice of spa services. A lot of this time is personal, inward directed, and New Age, but if you go with it, you will find peaceful, satisfying, pleasing, and energizing results at the end of your visit. In fact, I was so relaxed I felt like I was floating! So, the "Practical Travel" did learn to levitate!
La Jolla is brimming with things to do. You will find upscale shops like Cartier, Sachs, Monde, and Armani. There is a Banana Republic, Gap, and any number of local upscale boutiques, bookstores, and antique stores. Both Prospect Street and Girard abound with places to shop and explore. Two of my favorite spots are the Gallery Alexander (http://www.galleryalexander.com) and La Jolla Gallery & Cafe, both on Girard. There are also fabulous designer resale shops to stretch your budget. And don’t forget to explore the side streets.
Make certain your visit includes a stop at the newly renovated and expanded Museum of Contemporary Art (http://www.mcasandiego.org) and the La Jolla Art Association’s store front, on Girard Ave.
If you are in La Jolla during the summer, don’t miss the free Concerts by the Sea at the Cove every Sunday at 1 PM. The walk along the Cove overlooking the Pacific Ocean is a great way to enjoy the local scenery, surfers, and even the seals sunning on their own beach! For coupons and a complete rundown of everything going on in San Diego, pick up a free copy of the Reader.
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One of the extras offered by the HotelParisi is a VIP reservation service for two of La Jolla’s best eateries, Roppongi Restaurant Bar & Cafe and Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza. Since weekend reservations are a must, we let the hotel arrange our dinners both Friday and Saturday.
Roppongi, which means "six trees" in Japanese, is an eclectic mix of Asian and Indian flavors prepared with European gourmet techniques (http:www.roppongiusa.com). The result is an Asian fusion cuisine that is a treat to the senses. The restaurant has a carved stone fireplace and an illuminated waterfall centering its outdoor patio, a great place to dine. Inside there is a giant tropical fish tank and the decor is contemporary and comfortable with tables and booths. The wait staff is very well trained, knowledgeable and friendly. Roppongi was a Gold Medallion Award winner for Best New Restaurant last year. The restaurant offers soups and salad, wok fried rice and noodles, seafood specialties, meat and game, side orders, Asian tapas, sushi and sashimi, and of course desserts. It is an interesting, eclectic menu and we were sorry that we weren’t with a large party so that we could share and sample a number of the items. Don’t forget to rely on your wait person; he/she will steer you well. We started with Asian tapas that included a chicken and porcini mushroom dumpling, shrimp and scallop pot stickers, lamb chops on a potato haystack (what fun!), and went on to a portabello mushroom salad. For our main course, we split an spicy Thai chicken with egg noodles and spicy coconut peanut sauce. Dessert was Tahitian bananas served over vanilla bean ice cream and topped with almond brittle. Need I say more? Roppongi makes for a unique dining experience. Given the number of tapas and salads, one could eat very well and not expensively.
The next night, we ate at Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza in La Jolla (http://www.sammyspizza.com). This was not a new restaurant for us. We are Sammy’s regulars. This is where the natives go. Sammy’s is about pizza, pastas, and salads. They also offer calzones and wraps. Specialties include duck, fish, chicken, lamb chops, and filet mignon. Save room for their "messy sundae" which is a chocolate concoction that is unlike anything, anywhere! Recently Sammy’s added a lighter menu and I was anxious to try it out. It included several lower fat salads, vegetarian pizza, penne and angel hair pastas as well as a shrimp wrap. We ended up splitting (a must at Sammy’s since the servings are very generous) a healthy chopped Chinese chicken salad and a Jamaican shrimp pizza with jerk seasoning and sun dried tomatoes. This festive, family-friendly place has expanded their locations throughout San Diego county. They are also open in Phoenix and Las Vegas. In 1999, Sammy’s won the prestigious Zagat Survey for Top San Diego Restaurant, Top Pizza in San Diego, and Top Family Dining award. A three sweep! It is worth a visit. The food is plentiful, tasty and inexpensive, a perfect lunch or dinner suggestion from the "Practical Traveler."
Best of the West
On my last trip to San Francisco, I discovered another gem of the Joie de Vivre hotel group, the Nob Hill Lambourne at 725 Pine. Only 20 rooms, the rate includes a continental breakfast. The rooms have dataports and in-room fax. It is quiet, comfortable, fun and has a very efficient, friendly staff. Call 415-433-2287 or book online at http://www.nobhilllambourne.com
The "Practical Traveler" Saves Money
If you like to read on vacation, don’t forget to stop by your local library. Ours always has sales and I was able to pick up books by Tony Hillerman and Robert Parker for $1.00 each. Great bargains! Or, if you prefer, just check out reading material for the trip that is "about" your destination. For instance, on your next trip to the "Big Easy" take along a James Lee Burke mystery novel; he always features New Orleans.
Here is one for you road warriors who constantly shift your plans and end up with surcharges for changing your airline reservation. Don’t pay in advance. Wait until you get to the airport ticket counter. That way any change will be for the price of the flight only and not added penalties.
Next trip, the historical west is alive and well in fabulous Prescott, Arizona.
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