San Francisco: Salesforce Park; things to do

San Francisco

Salesforce Park  

Stretches along Mission Street from Beal Street to Second Street, crossing Frist and Fremont Streets. 
gondola entrance:  425 Mission St./Fremont St.
elevator entrances:  several are found along Mission St. 
Free.  No pets. 

Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

          Salesforce Park is adjacent to Salesforce Tower--the tallest building in the U.S. west of the Mississippi River.  Financially sponsored and operated by Salesforce, it is the city’s only public park with a commercial sponsor.  The park is situated 4 stories above the sidewalk of the Salesforce Transbay Transit Center, where buses bring passengers into San Francisco from the East Bay.  The center is easily recognized by its undulating exterior cover of perforated white metal that allows in sunlight.

Visitors can reach the elevated park via a free gondola that provides transportation up only, or via elevators and escalators spaced along Mission Street. 

gondola lifts visitors to Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California

Salesforce Park is 4 blocks long and covers 5.4 acres.  Basically a botanical garden, this urban oasis holds 16,000 plants and 600 trees, and it has plenty of inviting expansive green lawns.  Plants are blooming year round and include water-tolerant California natives as well as many exotics and some mature trees.  This oval park is set amid towering downtown buildings, some of which are close enough that it seems like you could reach out and touch them.  And whimsy is alive here, too.  Waterjets in a 1,000-foot-long serpentine “Bus Fountain” at the park’s northern edge dance to the movement and speed of buses arriving in the transit center below. 

lovely plants in Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

                

The best way to see the park is to stroll the loop around the perimeter, stopping here and there to admire flowers or perhaps enjoy a refreshment break.  Plenty of benches and chairs are provided, and a kids’ play area holds a Recess Cart equipped with enticing books, games, and crayons available to borrow.  A nearby Library Cart provides books for anyone to enjoy while visiting.  Events in the park’s amphitheater include Zumba on Wednesdays, live music on Thursdays, and yoga on Fridays. 

Recess Cart at Salesforce Park in San Francisco, California

Food and drink are available at several cafes: 

●Barebottle Salesforce Park  

Crafted from two converted shipping containers, this outdoor cafe offers a menu featuring housemade Argentinian empanadas served with a tasty chimichurri sauce composed of finely chopped parsley, oregano, minced garlic, vegetable oil, and red wine vinegar.  Craft beer, tasting flights, and a non-alcoholic kola made in-house are among the drinks available to imbibe in the surrounding outdoor beer garden. 

Barebottle cafe at Salesforce Park
in San Francisco, California 

●Andytown Coffee Roasters    

181 Fremont, 7th fl.  This coffeehouse operates in an adjacent building reached via a short skybridge.  Stop in for coffees, teas, and snacks. 

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video and images ©2023 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Menlo Park: Allied Arts Guild; things to do

101 South

Allied Arts Guild  

75 Arbor Rd./Cambridge Ave., (650) 322-2405.  Shops:  M-Sat 10-5; tours available.  Free. 

entrance to Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

Part of the vast Rancho de las Pulgas Spanish land grant dating back to the late 1700s, the attractive Allied Arts Guild is an oasis is located amid a quiet residential neighborhood.  The complex houses a village of artisan work spaces and shops in Spanish Colonial hacienda-style buildings.  All are open for viewing and browsing.  Peaceful, well-groomed gardens designed after the Alhambra Gardens in Granada, Spain, cover the 3.5-acre grounds and are a delight to stroll through.  Some of the complex’s profits help support the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.  

courtyard garden and fountain at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

shop at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

workshop at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

Housed in a former weaving studio, the cafe here was opened by the Palo Alto Auxiliary of Children’s Hospital at Stanford in 1932.  In those days guild members prepared food in their homes and transported it to the premises for serving.  The cafe has gone through many incarnations since then, and is currently a woman-owned and -operated business known as Cafe Wisteria.  Volunteers no longer engage in the former tradition of preparing three-course luncheons, changing the menu each day, and selling the recipes to raise funds.  Now a professional chef prepares a contemporary menu.  In warm weather, a large patio is available for outdoor dining and provides a special opportunity to enjoy the Blue Garden and its blue Nile lilies, hydrangeas, and bubbling blue-tiled fountain.  Also known as the Garden of Delight, it was designed by Thomas Church.  

shop at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

apricot rose in garden at Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park, California

During the holidays, visiting artisans are sometimes on hand with yet more enticing goods.  On a recent visit I came across La Toya Butler purveying an ornament-making kit for children.  She also had some of her hand-made candles available.  

LaToya Butler displays her children's ornament kit at Allied Arts Guild
in Menlo Park, California

Allied Arts Guild MAP 

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images ©2021 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Walnut Creek: Heather Farm Park + Gardens at Heather Farm; things to do

Greater East Bay

Heather Farm Park 

301 N. Carlos Dr., off Ygnacio Valley Rd., (925) 943-5858. Daily dawn-dusk. Free. Dogs ok. 

This city park is aimed at locals, with volleyball courts, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a colorful and extensive playground, a skate park, an equestrian center, and a dog park, as well as a nature preserve, fishing pond, and duck pond. Whew! At Heather Farm Park, it’s first come, first served for the picnic areas, except for one group area that can be reserved. A road loops conveniently through the facilities, and there are plenty of places to park. 

memorial rock in Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek, California

Gardens at Heather Farm  

1540 Marchbanks Dr./Ygnacio Valley Rd., (925) 947-1678. Open daily dawn to dusk. Free. 

overview of gardens in Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, California

Part garden, part education center, and operated by a non profit, the Gardens at Heather Farm adjacent space is independent of the park and is dedicated to sharing knowledge about horticulture and conservation. A 6-acre garden is adjacent to the park’s west side and includes a sensory section with plants that can be touched and smelled, an English lawn garden, a rose garden with more than 1,000 bushes, and a Children’s Adventure Garden. A tranquil lagoon and nature preserve is home to a variety of waterfowl. 

2021 pandemic update: For current information, click here. 

More pandemic updates.

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images ©2021 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Guerneville: Korbel Champagne Cellars; things to do

101 North

Korbel Champagne Cellars  

13250 River Rd., (707) 824-7000.  Tasting daily 10-4:30, free; tours daily 11-3, on the hr.; more frequent tours in summer.  Rose garden tour:  Tu-Sun at 11, 1, 3; Apr-Oct only; free.

view of vineyards across street from Korbel Champagne Cellars
in Guerneville, California

The nation's oldest producer of méthode champenoise champagne, the century-old Korbel Champagne Cellars winery also produces brandy and wine.  My personal favorites from the list are the lightly flavorful Blanc de Noirs Master’s Reserve and the nutty Cream Sherry (I wish I’d bought several bottles when I was there as it isn’t always easy to find their wines elsewhere).  Several varieties of champagne can be tasted, and chilled splits can be purchased for impromptu picnics.  A deli provides an array of tasty salads and picnic foods and offers seating on a deck out under sheltering tall redwoods.  Special events are often scheduled.

deli at Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California

picnic deck at Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California

The grounds are landscaped with beautifully maintained flower gardens.  An Antique Rose Garden is faithfully restored to its turn-of-the-century beauty and filled additionally with old-time flowers such as coral bells, primroses, and violets, as well as more unusual plants.  Among the more than 250 varieties of rose are rare specimens such as the original Burbank Tea, the Double Musk celebrated in Shakespeare's plays, and the True Ambassador (which was once thought to be extinct).

visitor center at Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California

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images and video ©2019 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.

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images © 2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

San Francisco: Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum + Conservatory of Flowers; things to do

San Francisco

de Young Museum

The de Young Museum is currently exhibiting "Frank Stella:  A Retrospective." This show includes 50 major pieces, from his early Black paintings to his more recent sculptural works.  I especially enjoyed his three-dimensional sculptural pieces, and I greatly enjoyed watching the viewers as well.  Stella is quoted as saying, "a sculpture is just a painting cut out and stood up somewhere"--food for thought.  Show runs through February 26, 2017.  More about the de Young Museum.

Frank Stella Retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Frank Stella Retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Frank Stella Retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Frank Stella Retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Conservatory of Flowers

And just across the way, at the Conservatory of Flowers, the annual living butterfly exhibit has returned.  A chrysalis display allows watching the metamorphosis process, and then you can enjoy their 3-day lifespan with them as they flit around in a small cottage garden setting.  It continues through June 30, 2017.  More about the Conservatory of Flowers.

center dome in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

koi pond in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

orchids in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

fashion photo shoot in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

brilliant red anthuriam in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

Zebra Longwing butterfly chrysalis display in Conservatory of Flowers
in San Francisco, California

Zebra Longwing butterfly in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

Monarch butterfly in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

Julia butterfly in Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco, California

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images ©2017 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

Saratoga: Hakone Gardens; things to do

Santa Cruz Mountains 

Hakone Gardens  

21000 Big Basin Way (Hwy. 9), (408) 741-4994.  M-F 10-5, Sat-Sun 11-5; Nov-Feb to 4.  $10, 65+ & 5-17 $8.  Tea & cookies:  Sat-Sun in summer; $5.  Tea ceremony:  3rd Sun of month, Apr-Nov; $7.

wisteria in bloom at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

Reached via a steep, narrow, paved road off the highway, Hakone Gardens is the oldest authentic Japanese-style residential garden in the Western Hemisphere.  Originally a private garden but now a city park, it is typical of a mid-17th-century residential garden and is composed of four separate areas:  a Hill and Pond Garden,

Hill and Pond Garden at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

a Tea Garden, a Zen Garden (where stones can represent either water or clouds, and sometimes gardens or mountains),

Zen Garden at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

and a Bamboo Garden that boasts the largest collection of Japanese bamboo in a public park in the western world (bamboo from the garden is popular with decorators and available for sale in the gift shop).

Bamboo Garden at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

Besides being soothing, a three-level waterfall symbolizes from the top down heaven-man-earth.

three-level waterfall at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

Special features include a Japanese-style house built without nails or adhesives,

Japanese house at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, California

a pond stocked with eye-catching koi (certain orange-spotted ones are valued at up to $40,000 each!),

and three authentic tea ceremony rooms.  The natural greens in this garden bring calmness and are accented with seasonal bloom.  A claim to Hollywood fame--the final third of "Memoirs of a Geisha: was filmed here.  A picnic area with tables is available.  Cultural classes are scheduled regularly, and an annual Japanese Cultural Festival is held each May.  


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images and video ©2016 Carole Terwilliger Meyers