Road Trips: Leggett To Ferndale

About a month ago, I wrote a blog recapping one of three California road trips that 7×7 calls “less traveled.” You can see that blog about Placerville to Mariposa, here. This is another option from the 7×7 article!

Take the 101 from Leggett to Ferndale! It’s okay if you haven’t heard about those places. Let 7×7 and my notes guide you through this historic trip along the Redwood Highway. Start in Ukiah, where you can dip into mineral hot springs at the state’s oldest continuing operating resort.

Credit: 7×7 and @autokennel

You’ll make your way north through the redwoods along Highway 101, before turning off towards Ferndale. Not to miss on this route:

  1. Skunk Train/Wolf Tree Turn: Ride the Wolf Tree Turn through the Noyo River Canyon on the Skunk Train, a historic steam engine that’s been rolling through the Mendocino redwoods since 1885.
  2. Leggett: This town is the state’s king of old-school roadside attractions, like the Chandelier Tree (you can drive your car through it!) and Confusion Hill.
  3. Avenue of the Giants: This is known as “the finest forest drive in the world” for good reason.
  4. Ferndale: Not only your final destination but part of the journey. Take some extra time to explore the town at the end of your trip, especially the shops in its Victorian Village and the eerie hillside cemetery.

If you have some recommendations for roads less traveled and would like to share them, let me know. Happy Fall.

New Restaurant By Heather Farms Is Hopping!

In the shopping center across from Heather Farms, there is a new restaurant that seems to be very popular. At 11 a.m. the day I went, there was a line out the door, so you know the food must be good or just the shinny new place to try! Mendocino Farms is the name of the lunch restaurant, one of the newest locations of a nationwide chain.

Most locations of Mendocino Farms are in the Orange County-Los Angeles-San Diego area, but there are also several in the Bay Area, including in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland. They have even expanded as far as Seattle, Dallas, and Houston.

The menu looks delicious, which probably explains their popularity! One of the first items you see is “The Happy Hippie” sandwich, with avocado, cucumber, carrots, tomatoes, and more. Or you can order the Mediterranean Crunch Salad, with chicken breast, cucumber, apricot, etc. The creations are creative, colorful, and healthy.

Mendocino Farms mostly specializes in deli-style lunch combos (sandwiches and salads), but they also offer some baked goods, soups, drinks, and an extensive kids’ menu. Opened originally in 2005, Mendocino Farms is a family business that “invites their guests to “Eat Happy.””

New Listing With Private Setting At End Of Cul-De-Sac

4791 Laura Dr. in Concord is nestled in a tranquil location on a generous 0.31-acre lot and positioned at the end of a cul-de-sac. This private residence enjoys the luxury of only one adjacent neighbor.

An expansive backyard beckons for gatherings and relaxation, including a cute shed, perfect for yoga sessions, board games, or a shady retreat. Here, you’ll also discover a rejuvenating hot tub and convenient RV parking.

The inside of the home is thoughtfully designed. It presents three ample bedrooms, each equipped with spacious closets, as well as an upstairs room that offers versatility as an office or an additional bedroom (albeit without a closet). The cozy primary suite takes center stage, boasting a balcony overlooking the enchanting backyard, providing a serene retreat.

Cooking adventures await in the spacious eat-in kitchen with Corian countertops. For more formal occasions, an inviting dining room awaits. The home offers both a quiet living room and a generously proportioned 18-by-19 family room, perfect for hosting large gatherings or creating an immersive entertainment space for watching sports and movies with family and friends.

Notable features also include dual pane windows, energy-efficient solar panels, new carpeting, hardwood floors, and a delightful assortment of fruit trees, adding to the charm and character of a place to call home. The property is listed for $1,000,000 and is a total of 2,412 square feet. It is a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home. Come check it out today!

Road Trips: Mariposa To Placerville

This will begin a three-blog series on road trips, based on this 7×7 article about “road trips less traveled” in California. First up, taking US-49 from Mariposa to Placerville!

As many people from Northern California know, US-49 takes you through gold country. You wind through Sierra foothills from Mariposa, passing several of the small towns that make up that region and give the drive some of its charm. You’ll get to Auburn, which is a wonderful little historic town, and eventually to the gates of Placer County – with some of the most underrated wine country in California.

Credit: @visitsuttercreek and 7×7

Here are a few side trips on this route that 7×7 recommends:

  1. Kennedy Gold Mine: Tour the remains of one of the world’s deepest gold mines or wander the ruins on your own.
  2. Sutter Creek & Amador City: Historic small towns in NorCal with great food and shopping.
  3. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park: You can visit the spot where California miner James W. Marshall first discovered gold (and can even pan the river yourself!).
  4. Placer Wine Trail: A personal favorite, jump on the Placer Wine Trail at the end of your trek. It takes you to more than 20 small wineries in and around Auburn.

For those of you who had kids go through the local school system many know about the 4th grade trip to Colombia, it was an over night stay and they got to experience what is was like during the gold rush. I think the parents enjoyed it too. There are so many off the beaten path places to explore in California. Hopefully one of these blogs might inspire you to get your adventure on and explore some of these hidden gems. Shot me a text, email and comment if you have been with any recommendations and your overall experience.

Dreams Come To Life @ 255 Tamarisk – New Walnut Creek Listing

Nestled within the charming Diablo Shadows subdivision in Northgate, this single-story residence exudes timeless appeal. Seamless indoor/outdoor integration enhances its allure, with four sliding doors gracefully connecting the interior to a backyard oasis, revealing two patios and lush grass for play, plus RV/boat parking, a potential pool site, and solar power. It’s an entertainer’s haven where dreams come to life!

The eat-in kitchen with bar seating opens to the living area, destined to be the heart of countless gatherings. Beyond, a versatile formal dining area stands ready for transformation into a refined home office or even a fourth bedroom, adapting to your evolving needs. The spacious living room, adorned with a cozy fireplace, offers exceptional tranquility—a place to retreat and unwind in blissful seclusion.

The primary bedroom showcases a remodeled bathroom and a separate area for hair/makeup application, with a sliding door leading to a patio. Bonus: Finished garage, new flooring, and adjacent to the laundry room lies a lengthy pantry, catering to storage needs and providing a place for essentials and more.

Beyond the property’s boundaries, a realm of conveniences and delights awaits. Top-rated schools, shopping, dining, and the Iron Horse Trail, weaving through the neighborhood, offer scenic pathways for leisurely dog walks or invigorating jogs. The trail leads to a charming park and a quaint Little Library. This home is a place where cherished memories are born and treasured for a lifetime.

Check out this 4 bed, 2.5-bath, 2,241 square foot home on a one-third acre lot at our Open House this weekend. The Open Houses will occur on Saturday, Aug. 26th and Sunday, Aug. 27th from 1-4 p.m. There will be a Broker Tour from 11 a.m – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29th, too. The home is listed at $1,695,000.

New Condo For Lease!

Are you looking to lease a condo in Walnut Creek? I have a meticulously renovated ground-floor unit boasting new windows, a modernized bathroom, an updated kitchen, upgraded hardwood flooring, and stylish fixtures!

This 1-bedroom, 1-bath space has a fenced patio, new decking, a wine fridge, a tankless water heater, and an in-unit washer/dryer, all for just $2,300/month. Make it into your own cozy retreat with wonderful amenities at an affordable price.

Included in the lease are a TV, a shed, and patio furniture to enhance the home’s desirability. It is situated conveniently near the Pleasant Hill BART station and the Iron Horse Trail, with parks, shopping, restaurants, and easy access to the 680 freeway in close proximity.

This home presents an optimal and inviting living environment. These pictures here are current as the home is sold vacant, there are other pictures on line with furniture to give you an idea of how you can make the home your own!

Making Pizza In Parkmead

One of the Board Members of the Parkmead Community Association (where I live) is from Italy. This summer, she hosted our meeting and her husband made homemade pizzas in their backyard! She was a wonderful host and we got a taste of Italy and of Italian hospitality.

Check out this video of the pizza-making process:

Doesn’t that just look delicious? It made me want to go explore Italy again. How fun would it be to live there for a year? Hmm…

Local Events In August

There’s nothing like summer in the Bay Area! Here are some fun events taking place near us in Walnut Creek, and further out for your enjoyment:

East Bay

Saint Mary’s College and the Alumni Association invite you to campus for an afternoon of wine and beer tasting, delicious appetizers, and fun! Proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction support student scholarships at Saint Mary’s.

North Bay

Attendees of all ages are welcome to this free community event located at Drakes Beach. There are different sculpture competition categories, including Children (14 and under), Families, and Adults. Prizes will be awarded in each category and in a People’s Choice category. Bring a picnic and spend the day!

South Bay

Well-known for showcasing high-quality art, Palo Alto’s Festival of the Arts celebrates its 40th anniversary. Explore this beautiful venue and delight all senses with the festival’s diverse elements including sidewalk piano virtuosos, Italian Street Painting, hands-on kids’ art activities, delicious food selections, and alcoholic beverage varieties.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s oldest music festival is back! The final two shows feature Patti Smith with Bob Mould on Aug. 13th and The Big Picnic starring The Flaming Lips (with a Neon Indian DJ Set from Alan Palomo) on Aug. 20th. Don’t miss out on the 86th season of free music for all!

Huge names like Kendrick Lamar, Foo Fighters, Odesza, Lana Del Ray, The 1975, Megan Thee Stallion, Zedd, Janelle Monáe, and Maggie Rogers headline this annual three-day music festival in Golden Gate Park. It is the 15th anniversary of the festival and tickets are still available at this time.

School is back in session, but it is still summer so get out an enjoy it with some of these fun events.

A Summer Of Music

There’s nothing better on a warm summer day in California than enjoying some live music outside. Luckily for us, both Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek have some outdoor concert series coming up, and I’ve got the lowdown on both of them.

First, let’s talk about Pleasant Hill: their summer “Concerts by the Lake” series takes place at City Hall and runs from the end of May to early September. The free shows even offer communal Adirondack chairs to relax in. Upcoming acts include the Groove Doctors, Native Elements, and Big Jangle (a Tom Petty tribute band).

In Walnut Creek, I’ve written many times before about the great Broadway Plaza Summer Concert Series. The month of August is jam-packed with great 80s tunes, including Dog N Butterfly, Fleetwood Mask, and Mustache Harbor. Tomorrow (Thurs., 8/3), Tainted Love will be playing a show.

Will I see you out at either of these events? The food items, drinks, and happy company is enough to keep me coming back for more – and that’s before we even get to the music! I will there to dance to Tainted Love, hope to see you too!

My Ice Cream Social

National Ice Cream Day falls on the third Sunday in July. This year, I treated clients, friends, and neighbors to a frozen delight! Yogurt Spot sells frozen yogurt, gelato, shaved ice, and floats. I’ve written about them on this blog in the past, actually.

Over the course of two hours, 26 people showed up to get ice cream or other treats at Yogurt Spot. Dana and her daughter, Annabell, came all the way from Antioch! I think you can tell by these photos above that they had a good time!

Below is the store’s owner, Heather, and me. She was a wonderful host. It was nice to chat with everyone and have this great event. Supporting Yogurt Spot is always a worthwhile cause, as is supporting the Rice family, who have been clients of mine (along with some of their family members) for over 15 years.

If you haven’t visited Yogurt Spot yet, add it to your list! And, hopefully, I’ll see you at my 2024 ice cream social for the next National Ice Cream Day. Next year I will remember to take more photos of everyone, you get so busy talking to people, you forget to memorialize it with pictures for social media! I would rather chat with everyone than remember to take a picture.