California- KarenJune 10, 2015
Hi Karen,
Thank you for helping us out with this trip! We had the best time! We are already thinking about a Carmel trip for our 5th anniversary. I can’t believe you were able to get us into the hotels that you did within our budget! The Fairmont Sonoma & La Playa were unbelievable! We had a huge room at the Hilton, I had room to workout in the morning. I really don’t know how you were able to get us such an affordable rate at La Playa – thinking we would not have been able to afford a weekend rate, for sure. They actually gave us a partial ocean view room – it was so nice to sleep hearing the sound of the waves! We couldn’t believe how you could leave the windows open, there were no bugs/flies.
Thank you for the extra treat at the Fairmont – we received champagne for our “anniversary”! We experienced such amazing service at the hotels. We ate at the Sante restaurant at the Fairmont one night and had the best chocolate soufflé I’ve ever had – the dessert presentation was an event. The big 3 restaurant breakfast was wonderful – we loved that they had healthy choices. The breakfast at La Playa was also wonderful. The union tavern at the Hilton was a great option for lunch/dinner/late night snack.
We ended up going to Alcatraz the day we arrived in SF which ended up great because the weather was sunny and we got great pictures. The weather was great the entire vacation – chilly with the wind but that was fine. In SF it was foggy in the morning but always cleared up by afternoon. We were never able to get a sunny picture of the Golden Gate Bridge but we bought a sunny picture from one of the vendors down at the wharf. We love McCormick’s restaurant in ghiradelli square, it was not that busy (we were surprised) because it had ocean views and the food was great. We went there twice. The ghiradelli mudslide was amazing…I might have had a few (over 2 days)…we took cabs everywhere…lol. We actually went into the Fairmont at ghiradelli square just to check it out. They told us the rooms start at $799!
Pebble Beach was so amazing! We have both been watching golf on TV for years. We were able to take a golf cart on the course for $60 (worth every cent!). We had the best day, we did the 17 mile drive which was beautiful, we shopped for pebble beach gear, we ate lunch outside overlooking the 18th green, we went out on the course, went back to the hotel and changed and went back to pebble for dinner overlooking the 18th green (every table outside had a fire pit). We even went back the next day and had lunch overlooking the 18th green! Our waiter was great – we had the same waiter for lunch both days -he was so nice! The food was amazing! His roommate was one of the chefs! He kept bringing out extra food! We never had dinner on a few nights because we had such wonderful lunches!
I almost forgot the wine tasting tour, platypus tours was awesome! We had the best weather, we went to great wineries, one was in a cave, very cool. We shipped an order from Peroni winery (wine and olive oil). One of the wineries (lox ton) we met the actual owner and wine maker of the wine ( he signed a bottle we bought). The other 2 wineries were also great – TY Caton and Madrone. There were 9 of us on the tour, the tour guide was fun, we met another couple that we are staying in touch with! That was one of the best days!
We really can’t thank you enough! You did an amazing job, we got to see so much of California which we are in love with! Everyone we met that grew up in California is not leaving – they love it!
We do need to get back to pebble beach so Greg can play the course, it costs $500 – $600, but he will never forget it!
Sorry for the long email but we are so excited from the great trip! We will send a few pictures.
Sue & Greg
