When I heard that Francis Ford Coppola conceived his “wine wonderland” from a sketch he made on the back of a cocktail napkin, it didn’t surprise me.
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The Giants and A’s are bringing a bit more heat to the Arizona desert this month with preseason play in the Cactus League.Throughout this month, baseball fans will descend on Scottsdale, Ariz., one of the cities playing host to the Cactus League. A group of 15 teams — National League and American League — is competing in nine cities and 10 stadiums throughout Scottsdale and the Valley of the Sun. Scottsdale not only plays host to the Giants and A’s, but also the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies, both of which call Salt River Fields at Talking Stick their home turf.
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Charlie Palmer, whose many award-winning restaurants include Healdsburg’s Dry Creek Kitchen, launched a small festival here six years ago revolving around his two great loves: pork and pinot noir.
Next month, Palmer’s Pigs and Pinot weekend, which is now so popular it’s practically synonymous with his adopted hometown, is set to run for its seventh year March 23-24.
To spice things up, Palmer has added a surprise — pizza — to the event’s culinary theme.
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Not everyone skis or snowboards. Some are too young, some are too old and some just don’t like to. There’s no crime in being in this demographic, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the snow at Lake Tahoe.Heavenly Mountain Resort — Lake Tahoe’s largest ski and snowboarding resort, which covers terrain that straddles California and Nevada — has figured out how to not only make this group welcome, but it has created a fun-for-all-ages experience: tubing, sledding and hanging out midmountain on a hill of Adirondack chairs.
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This week, many will be reminded of their loved ones with tokens of affection — from a child’s handmade valentine to a dozen long-stemmed roses or a heart-shaped box of chocolate truffles. For me, however, there is nothing more romantic than just being at the beach. A wise romantic once said, “If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves.” If counting the waves fits your romantic itinerary this week, below are 10 very romantic hotels along the California coast that provide perfect, ocean-front views.
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Not everyone skis or snowboards. Some are too young, some are too old and some just don’t like to. There’s no crime in being in this demographic, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the snow at Lake Tahoe.Heavenly Mountain Resort — Lake Tahoe’s largest ski and snowboarding resort, which covers terrain that straddles California and Nevada — has figured out how to not only make this group welcome, but it has created a fun-for-all-ages experience: tubing, sledding and hanging out midmountain on a hill of Adirondack chairs.To tube, to sled or to chill
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Today — Jan. 1, 2012 — is one of those days during which many of us revisit resolutions or take a stab at creating new ones.How about supporting green travel?Although this concept is nothing new, supporting local travel businesses that have gone the extra mile to get Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (commonly known as LEED) certification — a rating system standardized by the U.S. Green Building Council for implementing high-performance green design — is an attainable goal for just about anyone this year.
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At the end of October, the Statue of Liberty — a gift from France to symbolize the friendship between the two countries and a shared love of liberty — celebrated its 125th anniversary. The American icon known as as Lady Liberty was dedicated in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland, and receives millions of visitors every year.
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For me, one of the best reasons for having a favorite restaurant is going back to visit. A favorite restaurant — perhaps one that has only been visited on a very special occasion — is like reconnecting with an old friend.In the Bay Area, there is certainly no shortage of old friends — chefs Ron Siegel, Alice Waters, Gary Danko, Traci Des Jardins, Michael Mina, Nancy Oakes and Hubert Keller have been creating memorable dining experiences for more than 20 years at their signature restaurants.
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It is exactly two weeks before Christmas, and you’re still scrambling to find a gift for your loved one to enjoy. Here are five ideas for the person who loves to travel — all gifts are virtual, in a way, and will not take up a lot of legroom or cabin space.For the unguided Frommer’s Guide to San Francisco Free to download
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If Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, then New York City is the happiest place on earth during the holidays. For those planning to visit the Big Apple this time of year, here are five not-so-obvious attractions — many of which are free:1. Holiday windowsFree
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Over the top is an understated way to describe Las Vegas.
Glitz: Sin City is home to the Neon Museum.
Fine dining: At just Mandalay Bay, Michael Minna has StripSteak and fellow Bay Area chef Charlie Palmer has Charlie Palmer Steak and Aureole.
Gambling: There are 78 casinos in downtown Las Vegas.
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Apparently, orange is the new black this year, and there is no better time to celebrate all things trendy than in Half Moon Bay.
The region is in its high-harvest season for one of its most famous bounties: pumpkins!
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I met Mike McDonnell at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning a couple of weeks ago at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena for my first and only croquet lesson.McDonnell — the only full-time professional croquet instructor on the West Coast — met me with gleeful pep and was ready to play. It didn’t matter that I had never played American six-wicket croquet, the championship version of the popular backyard sport: McDonnell was ready to show me how to hold the mallet, hit the ball and play a lawn sport that traces its roots to Victorian England.Getting started
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