My boys r 9 & 11 so hopefully I can give you ideas that we have done. funny you mention stehly farms, I went to high school with one of the Stehly girls & you will definitely see their produce at the farmers market.

If you r going to hit OC & LA area, I would HIGHLY suggest staying a couple of nights in the area.

If you r flying out of SD, plan to do the last night at the Sheraton near the airport. Nice recently renovated rooms. Next to the bike trail that goes to Seaport Village. Free shuttle to hotel so you can get rid of the rental day before leaving.

If the timing works do the other two last nights at DL. Best days to visit the park r tues thur thurs. Trust me if you do DL on any of these days not near Memorial Day you will be able to hit both DL & calif adventure in one day with hardly any lines.

Also instead of doing water parks up in LA used the money saved to stay at a hotel with a water slide like The newly renovated DL hotel. The CA grand also has a water slide. Also worth the money to upgrade to the concierge level. I have only stayed at the grand but the food service if you take advantage of it pays for itself. Great breakfast. afternoon happy hour has AYCD also solid apps to make a meal. Premium liquors in the evening w/ desserts.

There r enough wet things at Legoland, DL & CA adventure along with a pool slide your kids should be satisfied. If staying at DL is out of your budget check out the Hyatt in Huntington Beach or La Costa both have pretty decent water slides.

Enough with hotel choices. Here are the food recs.

Around Legoland - check out the you pick strawberry farm right next to the parks.

Downtown SD- we love to take bikes along the bike trail. The trail goes from the convention center all the way to the Sheraton I mentioned previously. Great artwork along the trail. Next to the midway is the Fish Market restaurant. Must go on a nice sunny day. Sit out on the patio or outside bar area watch the boats go by & lots of the military big battle ships. Kids love this place- really keeps them entertained. Great smoked fish platter & ask for the sushi menu. Good kids menu too w/ ice cream incl.

Near zoo- check out the marisco German food truck for great fish tacos (huge) & other adventurous mex seafood. No atmosphere since you r siting in a parking lot. But solid cheap Mexican food. Ask for the broth. Also I have done before, take the food to go and head over to Stone brewery tasting room less than a mile away. Your can bring in outside food, kids & have a beer with your meal.

Great beach drive in OC but far out of the way is from Laguna beach to Corona del mar to Newport. LB main beach has a play ground & good beach to swim. Up PCH there is the Crystal Cove shopping center with a Trader Joes & Gap with always great sale rack. Rubys shake shack is on the ocean side of PCH for a quick meal & great views of the pacific. Order hambergers & shakes at the window. Tables are on the bluffs. From CDM take your car to Balboa Island. There is a walking trail all around the island about 2 miles. Great to walk off the shakes & fries and to check out the multi million $ homes. From Balboa Island you can take your car on a really short ferry ride to Newport Beach fun zone. Not really that fun. At Newport there are bike trails along the beach that wil take you up all the way to Huntington.

Contact me if you have questions.

A couple of questions that would really help your trip to be more efficient.

How old are your kids?

How many days will you be here?

What major sites are you planning to see?
SD Zoo
Sea World
Disneyland

Knowing your destinations, we can refer you to great food ideas near where you are going.

I am posting in LA since most of you r experts of Santa Barbara.

I need a sat night rest rec for a large group (30 people) 12 yr old boys. We r traveling for a water polo tournament. Would like some where that is obviously casual that could accommodate all of us. No chains pls. Fun local pizza & great craft beer would be great.

At Stanford over the summer, we found a divey bar/rest that had a pool table & video games. Served BBQ. Parents could relax and wat&drink while kids could play pool & games.

Something similar would be awesome.

Thx for your help!

I would suggest Wine Vault for dinner and then Vin de Syrah for cocktails.

I live in Orange County, CA and our library system has used books stores connected to the library. The book store contains old books and magazine donated by library patrons. I always see old cooking magazines that people donate for $1 to .25. That is something you can check out in your area.

Also epicurious.com contain all recipes of Gourmet and Bon Ep.

Good luck!

We are a group of parents traveling from OC with a water polo team to play in the Stanford area. There are 10 kids and they are 10 yrs. old. Our hotel is the Sofitel in Redwood City.

Looking for recs that we can eat meals together. Looking for non chain restaurants.. good pizza, some healthy options for lunch and some fun unique places.

Thanks for recs.

Hi - We love Pizza Delfina but don't want to deal with the wait if we are going with the kids.

Would you recommend A16 or ZeroZero in terms of the pizza?

A margarita at A16 is $15 seems kinda steep. Would love to try Flour+Water but cant get res.

Any other recomendations?

Since you are coming from LA on the 405. I would suggest something right off the freeway. Andrei's which is N off Jamboree & 405. Price point is a little higher but they do have sm plates. Or S off Jamboree is Houstons (a chain).

Driving from Santa Barbara to Cambria this weekend. Don't really have time to visit several wineries. I looking for a wine shop or bar to do tastings of some harder to find wines. We live in the OC and have great wine shops that carry the big central coast wineries.

Also looking for a good purveyor of local artisan cheeses, meats and breads to pick up some picnic foods.

Not if it is too late in the season to find a fruit stand that carries some blueberries or grapes.

Thanks for you help.
Jane

Just got back from LV on Thursday and ate at DOCG on Monday. It was ok. I have eaten at Mozza in LA, Delfina in SF & Oenotri, Bovolo, Fatted Calf in Wine Country. I like to eat and read/research food. I love my pig.

We started with the cured meat and cheese plater. It was nothing impressive. I wanted to order the grilled filone but we brought our kids and they were demanding salumi. We also ordered two pizzas. The crusts were nice and chewy. But the topping didn't jump out on me. We also had the pici w/ the duck sauce. Very rich. But I didn't want to mop up the sauce with the bread.

If you had limited number of meals I wouldn't wasted them at DOCG.

My husband and my two sons (7&9) looking for an recommendation for dinner. The kids can do upscale dinning. We have taken them to SF & Napa and they have done great at Italian/Mediterranean/seafood type places.

They love great bread, wood burning oven pizzas, salume and charcuterie plates. But also like fish and shellfish.

Somewhere not too stuffy. Something that we can 't find in LA/Orange County. On the strip.

Thanks

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Napa Restaurant
3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

I have a res on Sat for Wine Vault. How would you rate the food? I was debating going to WV or Cucina Urbana. Any thoughts?

Not a lot of info on it's website and read through yelp reviews. I am going on Friday night and got my name on the list.
- Can anyone tell me what time the music usually starts?
- Do they serve food?
- Do they charge a cover after a certain time?
- I read that lines can form. What time does that usually happen?

Thanks!

My husband and I try to escape the kids and OC at least twice a year and head down to SD. We like the following based based upon great atmosphere/view and good food:
- Fish Market - sit outside enjoy the view and order the smoked fish platter, oysters and some sushi
- Green Flash - again sit outside and enjoy the ocean. Great bloody mary's and pretty good breakfast (in PB)
- Noble Experiment - make reservation for tasty cocktails
- If you like beer, stop off at Ballast Pt right off the 5 fwy near USD to fill up a growler and do a few tastings

Have fun!

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Green Flash
701 Thomas Ave, San Diego, CA 92109

I need two breakfast recommendations - one for Healdsburg (Fri night) and another for Napa (Sat night).

We will be staying in downtown Napa and waking up on Easter Sunday. We are heading back down to So Cal and don't want to do a big Sunday brunch. Something casual and easy.

Also any good recommendations for ice cream or breads would also be appreciated.

From Healdsburg, we are heading to Santa Rosa->Sonoma->Napa.

Thanks!

How about this ranch dinner hosted by a bakery?

http://www.dellafattoria.com/ranch/ra...

Also I would check out the Cowgirl Cremery cheese tours.

Thanks everyone for your help. I would like to stop in my car and eat before I head to the hotel. I know the boys (7&9) would like to eat the city.

I will check out your suggestions.

When I visit SF I usually go to the Ferry Plaza to buy bread, cheese and meats to take home. I was wondering if I was better off going to a Whole Foods in the city to pick up some local food supplies.

I live in OC and I know my local WF has Cowgirl and some N Cal cheeses. Are the WF in the city going to carry more of variety of locally produced meats and cheese? Also locally baked bread?

Let me know where I am better off shopping. Also how do prices compare?

Also is there a WF in the city that is bigger and better than others?

Are there any other gourmet markets that I should visit for fun?

Thanks

I am Korean and we eats lots of Asian food since we live in OC near Irvine and Garden Grove. I was trying to steer away from Asian since we eat it so much. Aunt Mary's seems like a good choice but they are not open for dinner.

Any other recs similar would be great!

No kids at gastropub in SF? In OC, there are a couple that have good burgers, fried chicken & steaks that are kids friendly. None in SF that would be appropriate?

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Aunt Mary's Cafe
4307 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

Can anyone tell me the hours? I am staying nearby and a late night sandwich would be great! Also do they sell egg rolls?

I will be driving into the city on a Tuesday prob around 7-8 in the evening from So Cal. Driving up the 5 to the 580 toward SF. I would like a recommendation for dinner on that Tuesday evening for me and my two boys. We are staying in the Civic Center/Tenderloin area (Phoenix Hotel) which I heard isn't the best walking area.

We will have our car so a restaurant with easy parking would be great. In the city would be good or on the way is ok too. Brenda's French Soul Food is nearby the hotel but is closed for dinner on Tuesday. Maybe a fun diner with inventive food or gastropub or a Pizza Delfina (with out the wait).

We have reservations at Zero Zero on Wednesday once my husband flies into the city.

Thanks!

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Delfina Restaurant
3621 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Brenda's French Soul Food
652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Zero Zero
826 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94107

We always stay the the Hyatt and upgrading to the Club level is definately worth the extra money. There is a good breakfast spread with lox and the happy hour was good. The best part is the view from the club lounge which is the top floor. One night we brought in a bottle of wine at happy hour and enjoyed the view. Also the rooms on the club level have been rennovated and much nicer than the reg rooms.

We had a really good meal at Bix and enjoyed the live jazz music. Very close by.

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Bix
56 Gold St., San Francisco, CA 94133

Also we are going to visit on Sat (not a great day) so having a tour that requires a reservation would be better. Also just read FL only has tours M-F so I don't have a default winery. Also I am not interested in Sterling (tram ride is too short for the money).

We are bringing our kids (7&9) to the wine country in April and I am looking for a wine tour that would be informative while interesting (nothing over 1 hr) for kids. I already have us scheduled for Coppola bottling tour and looking for another wine tour (one wine tour per day is our goal).

We are spending the night in Healdsburg after our Coppola tour and planning to head to Santa Rosa to visit Russian River brewery the next day. Our next night will be in Napa so any tour between these 3 points (Healdsburg-SR-Napa) would work.

I read that Cornerstone Gardens would be good. Also my husband and I have been on Frog's Leap which would be our default choice if nothing better gets suggested. Schramsberg would have been good since it visit the caves but it is 21 and over only.

Thanks for the help.

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Cornerstone Gardens
23570 Arnold Dr, Sonoma, CA

Make it healthy and add applesauce!

The place is really tiny, only seating 30, which is why it is hard to get res. We were on the waiting list and just sat at the bar in Neighborhood waiting. There were about 6 seats at the bar and 3 -4 for lounge chairs.

I don't really like the harsh taste of hard liquor but I like a good flavor combinations. I told the waitress what flavors I like cucumber, ginger and lime and I got a really different bourbon drink. It is fun place to try out if you can get in.

Must get res at Noble Experiment for cocktails. The entrance is in the Neighborhood. Text the phone to get a res. Great flavorful drinks.

We do this trip from OC about 2-3 times a year w/ our 7&9 yr old boys.

At the zoo we just bring some snacks and get some type of treat. We save our appetite for the MG truck off Grape St. The kids love the fish tacos and beware the tostadas are huge.

Also we always stop off at Ballast Pt/Home Brewery to fill up our growler with beers. If you can get there early (before 10:30am) and you can get a couple of tasters while the kids are playing there DS/Ipods. The Home Brewery is about a mile from the Sea World exit. You can purchase a growler to fill there. Nice fresh beer.

Pt Loma Seafood was ok. It was really crowded and didn't have any atmosphere. I would suggest SD Fish Market which is right next to the Midway which is a sight to see. They open at 11:00 and there is no wait if you get there then. We love to sit outside and kids love to watch the boats go by. They have a great smoked fish sampler and hot sourdough bread. Good sushi too. You have to ask to see the sushi menu from your server. If it is a long wait for outside try the outside bar area (kids can sit outside there.)

We've done Cafe Chloe with the kids too. Call before you go since it is a really small place.

If you are driving through Escondido (5 to the 78), stop by Stone Brewery if it is a nice day. They have a lovely garden area to walk around and for the kids to explore. It gets crowded on weekends so make sure you have a res and ask for a table outside if the weather is nice. The tour was kinda boring for the kids. You can get growlers here too.

My husband and I went to SD this weekend on our own and went to the happy hr at Nobu in the Hard Rock. There were kids in the lounge area. The oysters and hot items were fantastic. If you kids are well behave you should check it out also.

I love the age of technology. The DS and Ipod have enabled us to go so many fine dining places with the kids. Good luck and good eating!

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Cafe Chloe
721 9th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Nobu
207 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

If the weather is nice, take a walk in park in front of the Montage. You didn't mention the ages of your kids but there is a nice big grassy area great for running around/frisbee/tossing a football. If you can't make dinner at the Montage, have a drink in the lobby (bring ipods/DS for the kids).

Also a good walking trail is at Crystal Cove. The Beachcomer is right on the sand and is good for breakfast (call before since it might have a really long wait). Also ice cream at Ruby's Shake Shack is great too. Try the date shake.

Rooftop Bar is another good one for a nice day. They only serve lunch and have a kids menu.

Coyote is good but call before you go. There is a small patio and there is always a long wait if it is a nice day.

For a night out without the kids, I would recommend drinks during sunset at the patio at the Ritz Carlton (if the weather permits). If is a rainy evening, try Mastro's Ocean. They have a great singer in the lounge on Fri & Sat nights.

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Ruby's Shake Shack
7703 E Coast Hwy, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Mastros Restaurant
2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362

Just add more water to dilute.