Santa Rosa: Pacific Coast Air Museum; things to do

101 North

Pacific Coast Air Museum  

One Air Museum Way, N. Laughlin Rd./Becker Blvd., at Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, 5 mi. N of town, west of Hwy. 101, (707) 575-7900.  W-Sun 10-4.  $10, 65+ $7, 6-17 $5; flight simulator $10/20 min.  No pets.

overview of planes at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

Situated on a former World War II air base, the Pacific Coast Air Museum opened in 1989.  Its mission is to educate, inspire, preserve, and honor.  A small room inside the visitor center is filled with aviation exhibits, including a diorama depicting the Santa Rosa Army Airfield during World War II and another documenting the filming here of the film “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”

docents C.J.and Andy Werback point to display re. "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

A unique 3-D Virtual Reality Flight Simulator developed here by a volunteer makes use of virtual reality goggles that allow participants to experience flying many different types of airplanes.

developer of 3-D Virtual Reality Flight Simulatorr C.J. with his project
at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

More than 30 full-size airplanes are parked outside on an open field--when it isn't their turn to hang out in the giant Butler hangar.  The planes are moved regularly.  Each with a history, and most are on loan from various branches of the military.  They include:

●F-15 Eagle  The first plane to arrive in New York airspace after 9/11, when it flew in from Massachusetts.  It is on loan from the Air Force.

F-15 Eagle at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●Crusader  This super-sonic Navy jet was once in a kids’ play area in Larsen Park on 19th Avenue near the Stonestown shopping center in San Francisco.  It was brought here to the museum and restored.

Crusader at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●Jet Star  A private transport plane like this was seen in the James Bond movie “Goldfinger,” and Elvis owned one.

Jet Star at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●Albatross HU16  Sometimes this plane is open for visitors to go inside.

Albatross HU16 at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●D-21 Drone  This high altitude, high speed, unmanned reconnaissance plane is fairly rare.

D-21 Drone at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●”Lucy” helicopter  She flew in Vietnam.

"Lucy" helicopter at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

●A-26  This is the only bomber to survive three wars--two in Korea, one in Vietnam.  Marked on its sides is the number of bombing missions it flew, as well as the number of stops it made in Italy for wine.  It is a favorite plane because it could fly at 300+ mph, and also because it flew faster than the fighters and didn’t need escorts.  This kind of plane is what is seen in movies.

Andy Werback describes A-26 at Pacific Coast Air Museum
in Santa Rosa, California

Do arrange ahead for a free docent tour with one of the museum's enthusiastic volunteers.  On scheduled Open Cockpit weekends, visitors can climb aboard and get a closer look, and on the first Thursday of each month April through October you can participate in the Hot Dog Thursday lunch fundraiser.  During the holidays, an annual Santa Fly-In provides special family fun.  All this and there are 350 wineries within 10 miles!  

Andy Werback and W. David Ford point to Butler hangar
at Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, California

More things to do in Santa Rosa.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

updated 11-30-22

Oakland: Rose’s Taproom; restaurant review

880 South

Rose’s Taproom  

4930 Telegraph Ave./51st St., Temescal, (510) 858-3969.

bar at Rose's Taproom in Oakland, California

This tiny spot does its brewing right in the back.  Seating at Rose's Taproom is available inside at a few tables and a small bar.  In good weather, more tables spill out onto the sidewalk.  Unless you are familiar with the brews, a flight is the way to go.  I liked the dark Toasted Coconut Porter best, as do many of the taproom’s customers.  It is interesting to know that they never use the same recipe twice.  Small bites are available to coat your tummy--olives, almonds, really good bread with salty butter--but a few heavier items are also on the menu and can supplement your drink into a meal.

bar at Rose's Taproom in Oakland, California

beer flights at Rose's Taproom in Oakland, California

sidewalk seating at Rose's Taproom in Oakland, California

brewing area in back at Rose's Taproom in Oakland, California

Way more things to do in Oakland.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Berkeley: Way Station Brew; restaurant review

80 North

Way Station Brew  

2120 Dwight Way/Shattuck Ave., (510) 982-1905.  M-F 6:45am-7pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 9am-7pm.

exterior of Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Though low-key Way Station Brew is relatively new, it did take over from a previously established coffeehouse.  The space is deep, the light is low, the ceiling is high with an exposed-pipes industrial feel, and the atmosphere is chill.  Several interesting art pieces hang on the natural brick walls, and the gorgeous cast iron drum coffee-roasting machine can be viewed in the back.  Seating is in a large double-sided communal booth, at stools facing out the front widow, and on a banquette fronted with small round cafe tables.  Additionally, a beer garden patio in the back is of interest on warmer days and is equipped with umbrellas and heat lamps and is dog friendly, too.

interior of Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

communal booth at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

ornate coffee-roasting machine at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

patio beer garden at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Breakfast hours are mellow.  Diners step up to the counter to order their coffees--I enjoyed a cafe au lait served in a mug, as opposed to the more common tall glass or French bowl.  For iced coffee, try the Kyoto-style cold drip made in a fancy slow-drip brewer with a ceramic filter.  I hear they also make a good matcha latte.

coffee menu at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Among the standout menu items--it includes sandwiches, salads, and bowls--is a long-cultured creamy housemade yogurt that is delicious, light, and fluffy, and served either alone with local honey, or additionally topped with seasonal fruit and Metropolis granola.  Exceptional housemade scones come in a variety of flavors.  My favorite is pecan-pear, but blueberry, cinnamon-sugar, and cranberry are also usually available.  They are made using a slight variation of the former Lindgren’s Cafe’s original recipe.  Pastries from Firebrand Artisan Breads bakery are also usually available, but the day I visited they came in late.  Also exceptional are Whipped Ricotta on Sourdough toast (with blackberry jam, organic honey, and toasted almonds); a Veggie Bowl (warm roasted cauliflower, carrots, mushrooms, Romanesco, zucchini, and squash with a mint-tarragon tahini dressing); a slow-cooked beef brisket sandwich served on sourdough bread and topped with roasted tomatoes, Jack cheese, cabbage, and housemade Thousand Island-caper dressing; juicy organic chicken--in a sandwich, as a side, or on a salad.  Additionally, a variety of egg items, toast with toppings, soups, and grilled cheese sandwiches are available.  Most items on the menu are organic, and gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.  Six beers are on tap, several wines are offered by the glass, and mimosas are available on weekends.

housemade yogurt and scone at Way Station Brew in Berkeley, California

Way more things to do in Berkeley.

More ideas for exploring Northern California. 

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Fulton: Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens; things to do + restaurant review

101 North

Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens  

5007 Fulton Rd., N of town, in Fulton, (866) 287-9818, (707) 571-8100.  Tasting daily 10-5, $15-$25; food pairings $25-$55; garden tour at 11, 1, 3, check re. fee.

exterior of tasting room at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
in Fulton, California

Wine Sensory Gardens at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
in Fulton, California

tasting room at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

Set amidst a mature walnut orchard and surrounded by 120 acres of vineyards, this château-like tasting room features new releases often not yet available in retail outlets.  At Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens four international gardens are planted with herbs and vegetables representing Asia, South America, France, and Italy.  They demonstrate the diversity as well as the similarities of these cultures.  The unique Wine Sensory Gardens permit visitors to wander, wine glass in hand, sniffing and tasting the various vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers that compose wine-tasting descriptors, and a Viticulture Exhibit permits a self-guided tour of a 1-acre vineyard identifying 26 distinct types of grapes and illustrating the 19 grapevine trellising systems most commonly used in California.

Wine Sensory Gardens at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
in Fulton, California

Sauvignon Blanc grapevines in Wine Sensory Gardens
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

Additional expansive gardens--which are not certified organic but which use organic practices--grow most of the ingredients for on-site cooking, and extra is grown for all four three-star Michelin restaurants in San Francisco as well as some other restaurants.

gardens at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

gardens at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

Master Gardener Tucker Taylor in gardens
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

Master Gardener Tucker Taylor tends bees in gardens
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

An experience here not to be missed is a paired tasting, which in good weather is done on their expansive back patio.  Select cheese, chocolate, or food.  I opted for the food pairing, which was a delight and easily passed for lunch.  It is so special to have a wine selected to enhance each dish, and to have each wine and food item described in delicious detail.  Almost everything was grown on the winery estate, and the chef himself brought out each of five courses.

paired tasting set-up at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
in Fulton, California

Chef Matthew Lowe delivers first course of paired tasting
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

1.  first course:  toasted bruschetta that was “drug through the garden for us” and topped with fromage blanc, estate strawberries, shaved fennel, and fine herbs.  Served with an exclusive 2017 Grand Reserve Rose made just for the tasting room.

colorful bruschetta is part of paired tasting
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

2.  second course:  house-smoked trout cured for three days and a Yukon Gold potato salad with horseradish and caviar.  Served with a 2016 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay.

house-smoked trout is part of paired tasting
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

3.  third course:  duck breast with roasted beets, pickled dark cherries, and mushroom nage (a puree).  Served with a tasty 2016 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir.

Chef Matthew Lowe delivers duck breast course for paired tasting
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

4.  fourth course:  well-marbled, Texas-grown Akaushi beef served with charred leeks, Tokyo turnips, and grilled Little Gem lettuce with a Balsamic reduction.  Served with a 2014 Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon--a bold red featuring soft tannins.

Akaushi beef at paired tasting at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens
in Fulton, California

5.  fifth course:  Buttercup’s buttermilk pie with peach jam, Estate honeycomb candy, and candied almonds plus caneles de Bordeaux.  Served with a 2015 Grand Reserve Late Harvest Chardonnay.

buttermilk pie and caneles de Bordeaux are desserts at paired tasting
at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens in Fulton, California

Additionally, in summer elaborate Farm-to-Table dinners are offered in the garden.

More things to do in nearby Santa Rosa.

More things to do in nearby Healdsburg.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images © 2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Tiburon: The Lodge at Tiburon + Tiburon Tavern + Waters Edge Hotel; hotel review + restaurant review + things to do

101 North

These two Tiburon lodgings are both perfect for a weekend getaway, and both are also very convenient to shops and restaurants.

view of downtown Tiburon, California, from The Lodge at Tiburon

Main Street in Tiburon, California

The Lodge at Tiburon  

1651 Tiburon Blvd., (800) TIBURON, (800) 762-7770, (415) 435-3133.  102 rooms; $$-$$$+.  Some kitchens.  Heated pool; hot tub.  Afternoon cookies; restaurant; room service.  

Located just 1 block from Main Street, the 3-story California Craftsman Design building that holds The Lodge at Tiburon is set among 3 acres of lovely landscaped gardens and features exposed wood, beamed ceilings, river rock, and slate.

lobby of The Lodge at Tiburon in Tiburon, California

Tiburon Tavern

(415) 435-5996.  B-L-D daily; $$$.

The lodge's Tiburon Tavern gives a nod to the area’s history as a railroad town with its bar constructed from salvaged railroad ties.  Popular menu items include such contemporary favorites as salmon avocado toast and peach and burrata salad.  Fire pits on the front and back patios and plenty of casual seating invite lingering over cocktails.

front patio at Tiburon Tavern at The Lodge at Tiburon in Tiburon, California

Waters Edge Hotel  

25 Main St., (877) 789-5999, (415) 789-5999.  23 rooms; $$-$$$+.  All fireplaces.  Evening wine; continental breakfast.  No pets.

Located adjacent to the boarding dock for the San Francisco ferry, the contemporary-style Waters Edge Hotel takes full advantage of its location on an historic dock jutting into the heart of a picturesque marina by providing almost every room with a  private balcony.  Comfortable chaises and cloud-soft beds with fluffy white cotton duvets beg to be plopped on for a long rest under a cozy throw.  Many rooms have high-ceilings and are decorated with dark Asian-style furnishings and vintage botanical prints.  Breakfast is brought to the room.

lobby at Waters Edge Hotel in Tiburon, California

Tiburon Ferry

fun on the Tiburon Ferry in Tiburon, California

San Francisco skyline seen from the Tiburon Ferry in Tiburon, California

More things to do in Tiburon.

More information about Tiburon.

More ideas for exploring Northern California.

images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers