Category: Restaurants

Driving through a tree (see video on Instagram here) and walking on glass shells (click original post here) were both quite exciting adventures, but Eureka! – no pun intended 🙂 – I think I’ve found one of the (unexpectantly) coolest cities in California.

Surrounded by towering Redwoods and spacious grounds this city of Eureka has definitely some great hidden gems. On this visit we checked out the Sequoia Park Zoo, an intimate home to wildlife, including some adorable red pandas and river otters.

General admission is $7 and if you visit on Wednesday all visitors receive half price regular admissions. They do not take or offer any other discounts for non-residents.

I was excited to visit and lucked out as they were just starting the Otter Feeding!

Animal Feedings Schedule:

3 pm: Otter Feeding – Oh my goodness! Wow talk about hungry otters! When they saw/heard the zookeepers coming these guys were swimming like crazy. The pups were super active and even when the zookeeper threw in pieces of fish they were hungry for more. Near the end of the feeding the zookeeper threw in chunks of carrots. How cute!

4pm: Red Panda Feeding -This feeding was more like a training exercise where each red panda would listen to a command before earning treats. It was so cute watching a red panda essentially beg the human for munchies.

This zoo is very small; however, I appreciated how well maintained each of the exhibits were and that they were spacious enough for all animals to live happily. Aside from otters and Red Pandas they also have a large bird cage with various exotic birds (ie bald eagle, owls), a flock of pink flamingos, and some farm animals. Think of this zoo as a animal retreat in the mountains.

Eureka didn’t strike me as a destination known for authentic ethnic food, but goodness gracious the Carribean food at the A Taste of Bim made me feel as if I were in the Bahamas. The restaurant has such a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere and the food was cooked to order by a lady from the islands. My friend and I shared the baked whole fish in secret sauce ($18.75) which came with a side salad and a choice of another side and my goodness it was beyond amazing. Seriously ten stars, go and you will not regret it!

From the interior decor to the mouth watering food I felt like I was transported to another country and it’s a shame how far Eureka is from home. It’s a great restaurant and if you’re in the area you definitely should hit them up.

Is it just me or does this home look like the house from – The Addam’s Family?

This mini castle  is actually the Carson Mansion. It’s footsteps away from the Pacific where guests can enjoy a beautiful view. Visitors who wish to visit the interior  need to be members of the elite club (or from a reciprocal club – from what I’ve been told), but just from the outside the home has some really intricate details.

Which attraction was your favorite? Comment below.

XOXO,

Rockstar

We departed San Francisco (Click here for SF Part 1/  Click here SF Part 2 Post) bright and early in the morning for a 3 hour trip towards one of California’s hidden gems.

Prior to my West Coast Road Trip I read Buzzfeed’s 16 of the World’s Most Spectacular Beaches and found out that three of California beaches made the list. Since we were driving up PCH we decided to hit up the two unique ones – Bowling Ball Beach and Glass Beach (stay tuned for the next post).

What I didn’t know was how difficult it was going to be to find it! With non-existent cell phone service and no major signs we actually drove past the “entrance” twice. Below is a snapshot of the trail entrance. Keep in mind you can only park on the south-side (meaning that you’re driving down from Fort Bragg towards San Francisco). It’s a small dirt patch where you can park your car.

After walking for about 10-15 minutes through the forest we finally made it down to the beach. There’s a lot of driftwood and smaller rocks we started to walk towards what could be Bowling Ball Beach. It was low tide (as we were there around 11:30am) but the rock formation did not appear as round as expected. I had read reviews that the rocks were covered in algae so I assumed that these were it. Definitely not what I expected…

Bowling Balls?

After wandering around for another 15 -20 minutes I gave up and decided to head towards the next destination. My photos didn’t look anything like the photos from buzzfeed, but the air was really crisp and the view was still very enjoyable. Upon further research when I returned home I realized that perhaps I visited Schooner Gulch State Beach and that the Northern Trail to Bowling Ball Beach was closed due to erosion *tear* – but at least I did get some nice nature shots!

We then headed towards Point Arena which in my opinion is a retreat destination for individuals who gravitate towards a health conscious lifestyle. This one street city has all the basic essentials and a public restaurant near the end of the strip. The local grocery store was modest, but sold mostly organic /vegan/gluten-free options and surprisingly a lot of Thai ingredients. I’d think that if you were into yoga and hiking this would be paradise for you as many of the locals seemed to embrace a very holistic mindset.

By this point I was itching for some munchies and decided to pay Franny’s Cup and Saucer a visit. Everything was baked fresh from scratch and while I was really looking forward to the huckleberry scone (sold out unfortunately), I decided to try their savory vegetarian bread pudding cup with garlic and parmesan cheese. It would definitely cast away any lurking vampires. The price was on the higher side ($5 for the small slice) and they’re cash only; however, considering the time of day and the number of options in the surrounding community it satisfied my appetite.

Did I miss a frugal find, comment below and let me know!

XOXO,

Rockstar

San Francisco is a mecca of good eats and outdoor attractions; unfortunately it’s a nightmare when it comes to parking, so my friend and I decided to strap up our tennies and take public transit to the city.

We stayed at an Air BnB (use my code here – we both will get $25 travel credit when you book a place of $75+) in Daly City and decided to park our car in the lot ($3 – be sure to pay at the machine!) and take the Bart to Embarcadero ($3.25 one way). For newbie travelers here’s a list and picture of the stations the bart travels to. The price varies based on how far you want to travel, but considering the convenience it’s a great option to get around the city without the headache of looking for overly priced parking spots and walking’s good for you.

Near the Bart Embaradero exit is the Ferry Building Marketplace – our first foodie destination. This modern day indoor bazaar is home to dozens of unique restaurants and shops. We opted to try three different cuisines for lunch.

Boccalone – Known for their tasty salted pig parts, this gourmet shop that specializes in cured meat. Not sure what to try? Not a problem – they have a sample cone for $4 where you can try slices of three of their most popular cuts.

Hog Island Oyster Co – Unfortunately they don’t offer happy hour oysters anymore, but with an average of 4.5 stars and over 3500 reviews on yelp this was definitely a place I wanted to check out for myself. I shared a half dozen of the Redwood Curtain Kumamoto on the half shell ($20) and they were definitely fresh and delicious. This restaurant is known for long wait times, but if you come right at opening you would certainly be able to snag a seat with a great view of the bridge.

Golden Gate Meat Company – This butcher counter is located right outside of Hog Island Oyster Co. While we were not fortunate enough to take home some of their specialized cuts, we did try a beef pot pie and it was extremely hearty and filling. Not bad for a $8 investment

After eating so many different items we decided to head over to the Exploratorium – a museum that greatly emphasizes hands-on learning and only about a short 10 minute walk from the Ferry Building Marketplace.

On the day I visited there were a ton of kids enjoying themselves with all the interactive exhibits and if you’re a California educator you can get FREE admission. Click here to request a voucher. Be sure to submit the information and print out the ticket before you visit. Museum admission is otherwise $29.95 for general admission.

Depending on how thorough you are with reading the exhibits descriptions and/or participating in the activities, you can spend anywhere from 1-2 hours here. There was one exhibit focused on the idea of “love” and guests were asked to type in 6 words that embody your idea of love. “Food will make me happy, yes!” – was the closest I could come up with – ha!

Speaking of love…

On the opposite side of the Ferry Building Marketplace is Cupid’s Span – an enormous art sculpture located in front of the Bay Bridge. It’s a pretty cool landmark and this would be a great place to bring a date.

Pro Tip: While my photos all showcase how bright and beautiful the area is, I’d recommend traveling with a jacket because it did get rather windy.

Have you been to the Ferry Building Marketplace? What was your favorite restaurant and what did you order? Stay tuned for Frugal Fun, West Coast Roadtrip – San Francisco Edition Part 2.

XOXO,

Rockstar

After spending a few hours at San Luis Obispo (click here to read about my SLO adventures) the next destination was Monterey Bay – Home of the World Famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. But before seeing some cute sea otters we drove past Bixby Bridge – a historic landmark with a great panoramic view of the ocean in Big Sur.

For my readers just tuning in, click here to see my original post outlining the finances and pit stops with hyperlinks documenting my journey!

It’s a popular tourist attraction and many patrons parked alongside the road or the mini lot on the side to snap some selfies and obviously I couldn’t resist either. It was also a good opportunity stretch your legs and take a break from driving.

Soon afterwards we headed to Monterey Bay. Both my friend and I had visited the world famous aquarium so we decided to try to see the adorable sea otters in an alternative and more frugal manner.

I got a tip that Schooners Coastal Kitchen and Bar in Cannery Row (made famous by John Steinbeck’s book with the same namesake and footsteps away from the aquarium) oversees the bay and that guests often saw wild otters from the restaurant window. I also read up that the restaurant offered a happy hour (4-5:30; Monday – Friday) – sweet!
My friend and I ordered two items from their Coastal Hour Small Bites, which were split into there categories ($3, $4, and $5). They also had cocktails ranging from $6-$10. The service was polite and the view was breath-taking; however, to be honest I was quite disappointed in the two items we ordered. The calamari was mushy and tasted as if it were reheated in a microwave and the artichoke frittata wasn’t memorable; however from my research many patrons enjoyed the homemade clam chowder. I had a big bowl earlier that day so I wasn’t in the mood to sample theirs. I had also heard good things about their seafood ceviche – next time!

Alternatively, you can consider ordering something from the dessert menu if you happen to be in town when it’s not happy hour. It’s a great way to sample their offering without paying the $$$ price tag for a full entree.

The view at this establishment is hard to beat and while the sea otters didn’t come out to play on our visit, I would certainly return to catch them again

After enjoying the peaceful view we took a stroll down cannery row, which is home to your typical tourist shops and attractions. In some way it’s like SF’s Fisherman’s Wharf but on a much smaller scale. If you walk a few streets up you can find a lovely new bakery called “The Perfect Crumb Bakery” where the owner uses her own recipes to make delicious desserts and treats. The key lime pie sounded amazing, but I wanted something a bit lighter and opted for a traditional chocolate chip cookie. It was soft and just what I needed before heading off to our next destination.

Did I miss a frugal find, comment below and let me know!

XOXO,

Rockstar