A Side of Sweet - Beautiful Food, Travel & Design

Guide to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

Charm, beaches and world-class food! Everything you need to know about where to eat and what to do is in this guide to Carmel-By-The-Sea, California.

We love, love, love Carmel-By-The-Sea and try to go every couple of months. It’s an easy getaway from San Francisco but it feels so different! There is world-class dining on every block. It’s the “beachiest” destination in Northern California with its serene white sand beaches. The city is surrounded by wine country and there are many tasting rooms in downtown Carmel. There’s so much to do! In addition, it might be the cutest town of all time, with rows and rows of perfectly manicured cottages and charming shops.

This is THE TIME of year to visit Carmel! The tourist crowds have thinned and the weather is at its best. There’s really no excuse. Here are some things we love to do when we’re in town.

Read on for what to do in Carmel-By-The-Sea…

Denali National Park Guide, Alaska

Everything you need to know when you visit Denali National Park in Alaska including the best hikes, bus tour information, and wildlife viewing!

At an astonishing 6 million acres, Denali National Park should truly be considered a wonder of the world. It’s the home to an estimated 300-350 grizzly bears and the tyga – the largest terrestrial biome in the world. Outside of Alaska you can only find tyga in Siberia, Scandanavia, Canada and Russia.

Denali is the 3rd largest national park, after Gates of the Arctic and Wrangell – St Elias, both of which are also in Alaska.

In the words of our bus guide, “Get out there and listen because Denali just might be speaking to you.”

Read on for my guide to Denali National Park…

Glamping at Mendocino Grove in Northern California

Glamping at Mendocino Grove is the perfect way to experience nature with all of the comforts of a hotel. It’s an easy weekend getaway from San Francisco.

If you want to be in nature and get away from the hustle of city life, but still have the creature comforts of a hotel, then glamping at Mendocino Grove is the perfect weekend getaway! It’s an easy drive from San Francisco and there’s so much to do in the area.

Read on for more about our stay at Mendocino Grove…
… Read More »

What to Do in Fairbanks, Alaska – Travel Guide

A handy guide for what to do in Fairbanks, Alaska all summer long! Thai food, an ice museum, sled dogs, walking reindeer and so much more.

What to Do in Fairbanks Alaska - Where to eat, hotels, activities, what to see and more!

This was my first time in Alaska. It was the 49th state I’ve visited, which is pretty crazy! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Fairbanks turned out to be the perfect home base for our Alaskan adventure. They have a great food scene with lots of attractions, friendly locals and great access to nature. It’s also really easy to get to Denali National Park from Fairbanks.

When the weather forecast predicted temperatures in the 70’s, I was skeptical. Would I really be wearing sundresses in Alaska? We had absolutely amazing weather every day. We also had nearly 24 hours of daylight.

Read on for my guide to Fairbanks, Alaska!

Baked Not Fried Coffee Cake Doughnuts Recipe

Recipe for perfectly moist baked-not-fried Coffee Cake Doughnuts topped with a brown sugar crumble to start your morning off on a sweet note!

Coffee cake reminds me of my childhood in Wisconsin. Every year, there was a giant community breakfast to support local dairy farmers. All the food was made by volunteers. Hundreds of people would turn out for a classic breakfast of pancakes, eggs, bacon and coffee cake. My family would spend an entire day making coffee cake to contribute. Even now, a bite of coffee cake immediately brings back memories of home.

Today I’m putting my own spin on this classic breakfast recipe that has so memories attached to it. You get the same great moist and crumbly texture of coffee cake but with a fun twist – it’s doughnut-shaped!… Read More »

Al’s Deli San Francisco – New by Chef Aaron London

Check out Al’s Deli by Chef Aaron London in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco for an inexpensive, beautiful and delicious Mediterranean food in a photogenic pink and blue setting.

Al's Deli Restaurant Opening - Aaron London Chef from Al's Place, San Francisco, CA Review

Last week something notable happened in the San Francisco food scene. Al’s Deli opened on Guerrero Street in the Mission neighborhood. It features – you guessed it – beautifully done deli food in the most charming setting. It is absolutely worth a visit for lunch or dinner.

Al’s Deli is the second restaurant by Aaron London, the chef behind Al’s Place. One of my San Francisco foodie claims to fame is eating at Al’s Place before it was named Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Apetit and before it received a Michelin star.

Read on for my review of the new Al’s Deli…