Low Key Laguna

[trip style = beach + sun]

Laguna is the kind of place where people walk into the neighborhood Whole Foods grocery store with I-just-went-swimming-in-the-Pacific kinda hair, wearing only a bathing suit, mini cover-up and flip flips.

{more pics below}

Only an hour away from LA, Laguna feels the opposite of glitzy. Its low key vibe, coupled with the constant rhythm of waves lapping---and occasionally crashing---into shore sooths your mind, body and spirit into a slower pace of life.

With beaches that go for miles and lifeguard stations regularly dotting the shoreline, Laguna is a quintessential California Beach town with a few surprises up its sleeve.

On a five-day trip to Cali, we stayed in Newport for the first three and Laguna for the second two. The slower and less flashy pace of life Laguna offered was an excellent way to unwind and cap-off our California visit.

Laguna Surprises

• Bohemian vs High-Brow. Yes, it’s arty and bohemian, but there’s also an ire of expectation seeing as the beachfront properties range from $2.5 million for a 1000sf condo to $31 million for a custom 5-room mansion. With beach entrances throughout the swanky beachfront neighborhoods, parking police lie and wait for people who mis-park in these neighborhoods.
• Whaling Wall. Wyland, the 54-year old artist who found fame painting whales on canvas and buildings takes up residence in Laguna.  His home/gallery are on the ocean side of the PCH. No wonder he keeps on doing ocean-inspired art, the Pacific is right in front of him!
• Artsy Fartsy. The Art scene in Laguna is budding to say the least. With galleries on every street corner, there's a piece for everyone's taste.
• Catch a Wave. Just down from the main beach is where the surfers, skimboarders and stand-up paddle boarders congregate---right in front of a string of beachfront condos and homes that make you wish you grew up in the OC. Surprisingly, these activities aren’t reserved for the young---people of all ages share and ride the waves.
• Eating Out.  Here are some of my favorite locations:
  • Breakfast - Occupying a home built in 1917, the cute Cottage Restaurant has been serving food for the last 35 years. Expect fast, efficient service and decent food in a lovely outdoor setting. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Coffee/Snack - Just off the beach, C'est La Vie had the biggest chocolate and cinnamon pastry twists I'd ever seen! The pastry and desert selection was seriously decadent!  Coffee wasn't too shabby either.
  • Lunch - We usually skipped lunch or snacked on items from Whole Foods.
  • Happy Hour - I don't think there's a tourist or local who leaves Laguna without eating or drinking at Las Brisas.  With one of the best restaurant views in all of Laguna, this giant mexican restaurant always seemed busy. Always.  Sit on the patio at 4pm to soak-up the views and enjoy top-shelf margaritas, and chips and guacamole.  The guac is to die for.
  • Dinner - Finish off your day at 230 Forest.  This funky eatery and martini bar is right in the centre of town. Look out, the crab cakes were surprisingly filling.
• The Beach. One refreshing feeling in Laguna is how the locals are just as excited---if not moreso---about the beach than tourists. Locals and tourists co-exist on the same beaches and do so in harmony.  Laguna is welcoming no matter where you go.
• The Little Hotel that Could.  Yep, there's the brood of high-end hotels like the St. Regis, Montage and The Ritz within 15 mins of laguna, but why not stay at  a locally run hotel?  I'm already planning on returning to The Tides.  Located one street up from the beach on the PCH, this simple hotel is well maintained and its owners are more than accommodating and helpful.  Spend time at the pool, the Inn's BBQ bar area or roast marshmallows and hotdogs in the outdoor fireplace.  See my review here.

Pictures {The coast}

{Beach right in front of town, not all of Laguna's beaches were this busy}

{Wyland Gallery}

{The Cottage Restaurant}

{C'est La Vie Restaurant and Cafe's giant baked goods}

{Las Brisas Restaurant's ummmm guac}

{230 Forest}

{Tides BBQ bar}

{Tides pool}

{Tides fireplace}

It Never Hurts to Ask

It slightly pains me to write this post because I strongly dislike asking for things, but if I've learned anything in my travels (for my travels) it's that sometimes you need to speak up--gently and cordially of course! After reading a Wall Street Journal article written about a hotel executive on how to get good service in a hotel, something in it struck me and inspired me to write this post---especially as a used-to-be-timid-but-becoming-assertive traveler.

This hotel executive, the global brand leader at St. Regis Hotels and Resorts, said "It never hurts to ask if you have a special need in mind while checking in, whether it's a specific view, a larger sofa, a mini refrigerator (not all hotels provide them), or a room on the executive floor. It's surprising how much a hotel generally can do and can provide for you once you get there."  All this coming from someone in the industry!

Take-Aways Here are some of my best practices for asking from the referenced article, as well as my personal experience at hotels or with Airlines. Hopefully these will help next time you ask for...

1. Hotels {almost} expect you to ask. The article points to hotels often being capable of handling specific requests, so why not try, they have the expertise to help with your request, especially if you're a loyal customer.
2. Do so with grace and class. I firmly believe in the The Power of Nice a book which nicely packages my philosophy on how to interact with people, clients and coworkers. Hotel and airline staff are human too and appreciate it when a question or request is made kindly.  Case in point: last friday at Disneyland, the Blue Bayou restaurant was fully booked, but when I inquired at the right time about getting a table---and was really nice about it---the host conceded. As we waited, I saw her turn away over 10 people who didn't ask as nicely!
3. It doesn't hurt to try. When checking into the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in early July, the front desk agent was going to put us in a standard room, but when I kindly asked him about the hotel's occupancy and suggested an upgrade given our loyalty to Fairmont, he put us in an incredible room overlooking the Parliament Buildings on one side and Rideau river on the other.
4. Make a personal connection. Boomers are really good at making connections with travel industry folk. I've watched it happen right in front of my eyes more times than I can count. Their conversational nature seems to comfort and disarm the hotel or airline staff they are dealing with, making them much more likely to get a yes, to whatever question they ask--even if it's a little over the top.
5. Always give a reason why you're asking. Although too much information (TMI) is overkill, providing a breif explanation for your request sometimes does the math for the person to whom you're making a request.
6. Look the part. This one is almost self-explanatory, but if you want something, dress for success!
7. Properly acknowledge those who helped you. If you've made a few requests to a hotel's concierge, consider leaving them a tip the day-of or upon departure.  In addition to a simple thank you, this will confirm your gratefulness for their assistance.

[photo by citta-vita]

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

[trip style = sightseeing]

One of my favourite things to do when I travel is walk through a city or town's neighborhoods. I love seeing how people live. Whether my walks have taken me into the densely populated city of Tianjin, China; the picturesque and swanky Mira Flores in Lima, Peru; the tower-filled residential Honolulu, Hawaii; or foot-access-only towns in the mountaintops of the Dominican Republic, these localized encounters have enriched my experience with and understanding of a place.

{It’s Travel Beauty Month, so don’t forget to comment on our blog to win a great travel skincare set from Skoah. Details here. Contest ends TODAY end of day...}

I've categorized this post under local and sightseeing because walking in local, non-tourist neighborhoods always gives a real sense of a destination's beat, and in my humble opinion, sightseeing is at its best when you see the real sights of the area you're visiting.

If I have any goal with this post, it's to inspire travelers to engage in a few neighbourhood walks on their next trip. It's healthy, educational and worldview broadening all at the same time!

Have you ever neighborhood walked while traveling? Do you have the same experience?

Neighborhood Pics I haven't been very good at documenting my neighborhood walks in my fave destinations, but here are a few recent shots:

{Attempting to power walk in Laguna Beach, CA along a cliffy beach road}

{On the same walk as above, loving the Hawaiian-style home on this corner lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean }

{Walking through the  fabulous maze that is Venice--I don't even know where I am in this pic}

{Walking through Riomaggiore in the Italian Riviera}

{Not walking, but biking around the Habitat 67 neighborhood in Montreal}

{Gelato store we walked to one night when visiting friends just outside downtown Ottawa}

{7.45am, Madrona Neighbourhood, Seattle}

{Same area as above, taken in Spring on an early Saturday morning walk with my husband and dog @nachoking}

Travel Apps :: Disneyland

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I spent last Friday at Disneyland.  I didn't plan on playing make believe on my trip to Cali, but when the Park was only 20 mins from Newport, I felt I had to. Plus, I'd never seen the newish California Adventure Park nor the Bellagio-like World of Colour show. Disneyland Apps There are a lot of Disneyland apps you can pay for, but save your money, they aren't really worth it. Between the two apps below, plus Disney's mobile site, you're good to go. Just make sure your phone is fully charged!

Disneyland iGuide - Parktastiq Covering all the attractions and dining option in both parks, Parktastiq helps you make the most of your time at Walt's original playground with maps, park schedules and hours, ride statuses and wish/completed list. With all info organized in list form by park, then land, finding info is easy and quick. FREE

Disneyland California Mini Guide This map-based app includes Disney and California Adventure maps showing rides, attractions, restrooms and dining (with wait times) on the map. This app is best for a visual learner. Because it's kinda easy to get lost in Disneyland and California Adventure, having the option to consult the map on-demand is REALLY helpful. FREE

Mobile Sites Available on all smartphones, these multi-layered sites are helpful as far as timely and accurate info, but aren't downloadable so require multiple 'clicks' to get the info you need. Given Disney doesn't appear to have wifi, that's a lot of data roaming if you don't have a US data plan. m.disneyland.com

ps - if your smarphone's batteries get low, go old-school and grab a brochure with a map inside at the Park's entrance.

Other Travel Apps we’ve Reviewed

• Ultraviolet Rays
• Wine Touring in BC
• Air Canada
• BC Ferries Tracker
• 6 Free Camping Apps
• Epicurious
• BorderWait
• OpenWays
• TripIt
• Trip Advisor
• StayHIP
• Trip Journal
• Bug Spray
• CameraBag
• Convert Everything
• GateGuru
• Kindle for iPhone
• Packing Pro
• Skype
• World Fact Book
• AAA/CAA Savings
• Royal Caribbean
• Medical Concierge
• Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat’l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

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Newport in a Nutshell

[trip style = beach, sun & sightseeing]

It was 6.10pm. Landing in California last Thursday, my eyes fought with the sun pouring into the plane's window, and I peered out to what appeared to be a giant lifeguard station. How apropos. Welcome to California I thought. Turns out, the lifeguard station was actually the Long Beach Airport. Only in California do they build airports to look like lifeguard stations. Immediately I relaxed and remembered one of my favourite jingles: I'll be out there having fun, in the warm California sun!

{It’s Travel Beauty Month, so don’t forget to comment on our blog to win a great travel skincare set from Skoah. Details here. Contest ends Wednesday, August 18.}

A Chocolate Welcome I love welcome treats, and though they are not a regular occurrence in my hotels rooms, it is nice when they are there. While staying at The Fairmont Newport Beach they kicked it up a notch with a treat laden with a white chocolate surf board perched in faux brown sugar sand. As if the welcoming couldn't be any better, there was an orange tree on my balcony.

Close to it All Most people opt to stay near the beach in Newport (which I've done in the past at the Balboa Bay Beach Club), but I stayed at the Fairmont because of my philosophy that it's good to collect points with one hotel group. I knew the property was in Newport's business district, but I didn't know the hotel was only 10 mins from South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island shopping centers, 12 mins from the Beach and 20 mins from Disneyland. There was even a shuttle if you didn't feel like driving. See my detailed review of the Fairmont Newport Beach here.

Disney The morning after we arrived, we daringly chose to indulge in Disneyland during high season. Normally, I try to avoid high season at all cost, but we were only 20 mins away, so thought we should give it a try. After all, aside from my magical gr. 4 visit with the fam, the last time I was there was gr. 11---only a few years ago!  See Disneyland Tips & Tricks here.

Shop After a 12-hour encounter with the happiest place on earth, we were ready for a day of relaxation. But first, like any sane Canadian visiting the US, we hit the shops at South Coast Plaza. After an almost too successful encounter with the mall, we retreated to the hotel for some R + R. Sunning on our balcony, I got distracted by the still-maturing orange tree. I wanted to pick off a fruit and stick a straw in it for some fresh juice, but refrained because I wasn't sure if the tree was largely decorative or for guests to ponder picking off fruit. I'll never know.

Back to Reality A little bit hungry from not eating that orange, upon the recommendation of my dear friend who lives in LA, we dined at Roy's (Hawaiian fusion cuisine). The staff's constant alohas and soft ukulele background music gave me a triple shot of Hawaiian Isles relaxation. Funnily enough, rather than ordering a mai tai, I savoured a glass of California wine. At that moment, it hit me. Both my wine glass and my cup overfloweth smelling, swirling and tasting the natural beauty of the beachy location and the novelty of an orange tree in a close-to-it-all town. To me, this was Newport in a nutshell.

Recommendations Shopping South Coast Plaza - this giant mall has everything, including discount retailers like Loehmann's and Norstrom Rack. Fashion Island - the people watching is amazing---oh and the shopping is good too. Shopping with a view of the ocean, it doesn't get more OC than this...

Eating Roy's - if you want to channel your inner Aloha eat here. If you want to channel your inner accountant, eat during happy hour Sun-Fri 4.30-6.30pm for $5 drinks and appies. Rose's - we drove by this place on Sunday morning and stopped in our tracks. Our instinct was right, the line-up extending out the door was no mistake, the baked goods and breakfast bagels looked and tasted incredible. For the record, I've never seen a bigger cinnamon bun (probably 20cm in diameter). I was too chicken to eat it---one day when I'm not on a beach vacation.

Do Balboa Island- walk or bike around Balboa island and gaze at the unique homes, browse the quaint shops and indulge in their famous salt water taffy and chocolate-covered frozen bananas. I did this once before with my LA friend mentioned above, but apparently it doesn't get old.

[photo credit: all photos my own, except for the night shot of Fairmont, © Fairmont Newport]