Enjoying Another Accessible Day in Morgan Hill

 

My brother, Mark, and I arrived in Morgan Hill the day before and were quite impressed. The town proved to be as wheelchair accessible as I was promised. It was also the ideal place for a foodie like me.

We only had one more day with Visit Morgan Hill before I was off to my next California location. It was packed for us to see—and eat—as much as possible.

 

We left the Holiday Inn in the morning and drove downtown to MOHI Farm Restaurant. Most of the ingredients here come from one of the many farmers in the area. Their menu changes to present the freshest ingredients.

I felt immediately welcomed with the ♿ symbol on the front door. The place was large and wide, so I eased into a table, where I ordered a latte while we looked over the menu.

Everything sounded delicious, but I was ready for some carbs and chose the French Toast with blueberry compote and mascarpone. Mark went for the Croissant Egg Sandwich, with bacon and pesto, served with fruit and potatoes.

The food was as good as it sounds, and we lingered for a while. Although we didn’t imbibe with a long day ahead of us, MOHI Farm also offers specialty cocktails, martinis, beer, wine, and a bar for freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.

We had time before our next stop, so we walked/rolled around downtown, checking out the buildings and restaurants before coming across The Granary, a new complex of restaurants, shops, and offices. It was still under construction, but I was ready for more caffeine, and we decided to go to Barrel & Bean.

It was a bit of a maze to get inside. They had a plan set up to get into it in a wheelchair. It took a long time to roll and an elevator to make it to this coffee house. It was worth it when I tasted their Iced Pomegranate Green Tea.

Next, we went to Cura Contemporary. The design of this art studio was as creative as the art itself. It also excelled in accessibility, with an elevator to the second floor, where we saw a colorful selection of pottery, jewelry, paintings, and even needlework.

Cura Contemporary changes its exhibitions monthly and, at the time I went, featured over 40 artists, local and from across the country. They also have a bar and restaurant, but we already had plans set for lunch.

Our lunch spot was equally innovative. Luxe Flower Bar is a floral studio, event spot, and restaurant. It has quite the atmosphere with a tree in the middle and champagne everywhere, even in a vending machine!

Lunch was a variety of small plates with ingredients sourced through Mohi Farm. I could eat the Beet Salad with goat cheese every day and Mark had a beautiful Beet Hummus with a plate full of seasonal vegetables. The owner tried to get us to have some dessert. We were too full but took a fresh blueberry muffin to go.

We went from a champagne filled spot to a place that actually makes champagne, Guglielmo Winery. The 50-acre, family-owned estate is on the Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail even though it is nothing like any California winery I’ve ever been to (and I’ve been to many).

Guglielmo looks like it belongs in an Italian village. Outside, you’ll find plenty of spots to sit, drink, and relax. Inside, the tasting room is filled with Interesting Italian products and photos showing the history of the family. The wine is filled with unexpected varietals, quite a few we really liked.

The biggest surprise was Emilie’s California Champagne, grandfathered into the French champagne rules. I thought it was quite tasty, not too dry, and not too sweet. Mark liked the 2022 Grignolino so much he bought a bottle.

We weren’t very hungry for dinner when we arrived at Ladera Grill. Thoughts of getting something light disappeared when we saw the menu, mixed with chef specialties, locally sourced ingredients, and comfort food.

Although I am not a big meat eater, I’m always ready for a well-cooked Short Rib and there’s fitting the bill. Mark picked the Seafood Pasta, another good choice. We ended up having half our meals packed up, along with some cannoli.

I was off to meet my younger niece and nephew in Santa Cruz and figured accurately they would be ready for some extra food.

Visiting Wheelchair Accessible Morgan Hill, California

 

It’s been a busy California filled year for me as that state is making big strides in accessibility. My first trip of the year involved three locations. I had the pleasure of sharing each town with different family members.

This first story from that trip is on a place I had never heard of before it was suggested to me. Morgan Hill turned out to be a town that is not only accessible, but it’s welcoming and full of fabulous art and delicious food.

My brother, Mark, and I arrived in Morgan Hill in time for lunch at Cochi’s Kitchen. It’s a small shop with big recommendations. They are deserving. Cochi’s sells breakfast bowls, sandwiches, and salads.

Mark had the special, the Cluck Norris Sando, with buttermilk fried chicken, honey mustard slaw, Cochi Sauce, and pickles, served on a garlic butter bun. I had the brisket sandwich with barbecue sauce. Our food was delicious and the sandwiches were so big we couldn’t finish them.

After lunch, I was able to go to my first Magical Bridge playground. There are currently 13 around the country and each one embraces accessibility. The concept was started in Palo Alto, by Olenka Villarreal. She couldn’t find a place to take her two daughters, Ava, born with disabilities, and older sister Emma. She raised funds and made the world’s first multigenerational playground designed for all abilities and all ages.

In keeping with the format of every Magical Bridge playground, Morgan Hill’s is divided into grouped play experiences. The Play Zones introduce space for creativity and imagination, essential movement, quiet reflection, group play, and non-verbal expression.

 

It was nice for me to wheel around without any barriers and watch all the smiles among the kids playing with each other. Of course, I had to check on the restroom. The bathroom at Magic Bridge is as accessible as you’d expect it to be.

After Magic Bridge, we checked into the Holiday Inn. We had a large accessible room, with a queen bed and a pullout couch. I really liked the bathroom as it had a bathtub with a chair. I can still get into a tub if it is low and has a chair and railings, so it’s a treat for me. The bathroom also had towel shelves that I could reach from the wheelchair.

I put my feet up for a while before we went to downtown Morgan Hill for dinner. It was suggested we go to Rosy’s on the Beach. I loved the décor and we enjoyed the cocktails, but after looking at the menu, we decided to go somewhere else. 

The menu was 95% seafood and I am highly allergic. Even the waiter told us to go when I mentioned my allergy.

We took a walk (and roll for me) down the street. There is no shortage of restaurants in Morgan Hill. We decided on Noah’s Bar & Bistro. The menu looked good and the place relaxing. 

It was an excellent choice. I had the Sausage Penne Pasta, which was flavorful without being too spicy. Mark also picked a great dish, the Pan Seared Mahi Mahi.

As tempting as it was to check out more of Morgan Hill, I was exhausted and we had another full day coming up. We went back to the Holiday Inn to rest.