EncinoMom the California Lifestyle New Media Magazine.: May 2011

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Road Trip!!!! EncinoMom Heads Up The California Coast


Take a ride with EncinoMom on this virtual 4-day road trip up the California coast. From Encino, California to the Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz this quick video trip highlights some of the great stops along the way.

We left late in the day and stopped for dinner at the harbor before heading north along the coast to Cambria. We searched online for a place to stay for the night and called ahead to secure a room at the Pelican Cove Inn. How our stay could have been nicer than the hospitality we got over the phone is hard to imagine, but it was!
Our room was lovely and welcoming with a fireplace and sitting area. The grounds were perfect for our laid back mood, with care and attention in evidence everywhere. Exuberantly blooming plants and flowers created lots of visual pleasure and a feeling of privacy around the heated outdoor swimming pool and spa areas.

After a hot breakfast, (included in the price of the room) a swim and a stroll on the beach, we headed back down the coast a bit (Highway 1 is still recovering from recent storm damage) to connect with the 101 north to Santa Cruz. The drive was hilly and inviting with vineyards and wine tastings along the way. We made a note to revisit this area with time to explore! We stopped for lunch in Paso Robles, California and were overcome by the urge to buy cowboy boots, which we did. :)

Driving up the 101 through Steinbeck country, I was reminded of all the great things to see and do in this part of California. For every spot we check off our to-do list, two more get added! This is artichoke and garlic country, with lots of dusty history yielding to sandy, seaside hamlets along the way. East of Eden, Cannery Row and Of Mice And Men spring to mind as we drive through their backdrops.

We rolled into Santa Cruz just as the Boardwalk was closing up for the day. Snapped some great pics in the fleeting light of sunset and got the lay of the land. We had a classic seafood dinner on the pier, right out of another era - the kind your grandparents might have ordered back in the day.


We spent the night a mile or so away from the boardwalk at a Hampton Inn, where we were greeted by one of the nicest young men on the planet, Josh, a Santa Cruz native. We opted for the $10 movie fun pack, which included a DVD to watch in the room, a bag of pop corn and I forget, what-all-else, wrapped up in a great big blue bowl - for sharing the popcorn and taking home for a souvenir! What a bargain!

In the morning, after breakfast, we rode ourselves silly on the rides and attractions at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. :) We decided on a late lunch away from the beach and found ourselves in one of the fanciest Chinese restaurants I've ever seen! The food was great and so plentiful, we had to pack some of it in doggie bags to have for dinner!

Our next stop; San Juan Bautista, California. We didn't enter the mission itself on this trip, but toured the grounds and adjoining museum. There are separate entrance fees (less than $5per person) and free admission after 4 pm. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to peak back into California history like this. No crowds or lines, just amble through at your own pace, take pictures, take your time - I love it.

With our drive home scheduled for the next day, we made the short trek to Casa de Fruta, a fruit stand that has grown into a village, and took lodging at the Casa de Motel. This is not a luxury stop, but silly, kitchy fun, for sure! You can easily walk from the motel (or campground) to the cafe, fruit stand, sweet shop, wine shop, carousel and other Casa de attractions. The pool was closed during our visit, but there was an arts and crafts fair that provided a surprise shopping opportunity. I always say: "If you can't swim. . . shop!" lol

We foraged for food at the various Casa de "fill in the blanks" and had a picnic in our room with all of the goodies we found. Warning: the Dulce de Leche fudge is so good, if you buy some for your house-sitter, it will be gone before you get home! Whooops. The ride home was a speed trip down highway 5 - less than 4 hours.

Ah home sweet home! Thanks for tagging along with us. I hope you got some good ideas for your own road trip. :) We'd love to hear them! Drive safely and join us again next time, when EncinoMom hits the road!


video by: EncinoMom Productions 
photos by: Lisa Keating


Our road trips are paid for by donations from viewers and sponsors. All opinions expressed are our honest thoughts and experiences. Any promotional content is clearly identified as advertising. If you are interested sponsoring an EncinoMom video, please inquire at: info@EncinoMom.com

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Pirates out in force!

50% off on Pirate Boots & Booty @ Hot Topic! Arrrg! Awesome, sneak peek at the new Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides movie starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz and Geoffrey Rush.

We scored free tickets today at Hollywood/Highland! Pirate costume contests and product giveaways, juggling pirates on stilts - provided by Jumbo Shrimp Circus entertained the pre-show crowd. Armbanded audience members cheered the latest Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow adventure at the El Capitan in Hollywood. Thanks Disney! Savvy???

The movie opens Friday, May 20th, but if you're in a pirate way and just can't wait, there's a movie marathon (that's right - ALL four Pirates of the Caribbean flicks) playing this Thursday, May 19th, at the El Capitan in Hollywood. To purchase tickets to the Pirates Marathon on May 19th please call (818) 845-3110.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


photos by: Lisa Keating

New acupressure shoes from Chinatown



You can steal a pair of your own! $10 buys this treat for your feet. Wear these around the house for a little foot massage on the fly. NOT recommended for long periods of time, walks, or marathon runs! If I could read Chinese, maybe I'd see that in the directions. lol
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

photos by: Lisa Keating


Our road trips and editorial videos are paid for by donations from viewers and sponsors. All opinions expressed are our honest thoughts and experiences. Any promotional content is clearly identified as advertising. If you are interested sponsoring an EncinoMom video, please inquire at: info@EncinoMom.com

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Hahahahahha! EncinoMom Goes To Comedy School For Kids: Studio LOL




video by: EncinoMom Productions





Our road trips and editorial videos are paid for by donations from viewers and sponsors. All opinions expressed are our honest thoughts and experiences. Any promotional content is clearly identified as advertising. If you are interested sponsoring an EncinoMom video, please inquire at: info@EncinoMom.com

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day From EncinoMom!

Pitcher's and flowers waiting for a party. :)

Wishing you the Mother's Day your heart desires.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

photos by: Lisa Keating


Our road trips and editorial videos are paid for by donations from viewers and sponsors. All opinions expressed are our honest thoughts and experiences. Any promotional content is clearly identified as advertising. If you are interested sponsoring an EncinoMom video, please inquire at: info@EncinoMom.com

Wednesday, May 4, 2011