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.

Welcome to Ageless Accessible Adventures

 

It was 17 years ago this month that I went to France on my first press trip. I was there to write about the combination of Cognac and travel. I fell in love with the idea and came home thinking about how I could continue in this world. 

In January 2010, I launched Wine And Spirits Travel, the blog that would continue to take me around the world, sampling, visiting wineries and distilleries, and learning about the destinations they came from. I enjoyed all of it and was able to bring friends and family along. 

I've dealt with progressive autoimmune issues since 2015 and things changed. I no longer was able to do two to three trips per month. Drinking alcohol became less frequent and doing it for hours a day did not mix well with my medication. I started organizing up my trips to fit my changes. 

Although things have been different, it's all been under the Spiritstraveler and Wine And Spirits Travel umbrella, but in the last few years, as I evolved as a full-time wheelchair user, things changed again. I've wanted to be an advocate for other disabled travelers.

This has especially been put forward this year. I saw a study by TravelAbility about all the aging Baby Boomers who are looking for accessible travel. Over four million of them will be turning 65 this year. I am one. 

A lot has been accomplished in the world of accessibility since my parents traveled. I know there is still a long way to go in making the travel world more accessible. I'm taking one more step by rebranding this blog to Ageless Accessible Adventures. The concentration will be on accessibility for all, with helpful information and only pertinent advertisers. 

Please join me on this journey.

 Marcia Frost

Camellia Inn, Accommodations for All in Downtown Healdsburg

(This story was previously published in Discovering Sonoma)

When you are looking for a place to stay, location is always an important factor, but you also want something clean, comfortable and with lots of amenities for a reasonable price.  Although that can be a tall order in a lot of wine country, Camellia Inn fits the description quite nicely.

Camellia Inn is located just a few blocks off downtown Healdsburg, the center of Sonoma. You can reach restaurants, shops and tasting rooms within a five minute walk.  Innkeeper Lucy Lewand and her staff keep the place running like as well as a major hotel, with a feel like you are visiting a friend’s home.

The nine rooms at the Inn are each beautifully decorated, varying a bit in size and shape.  You can find some with extras such as a Jacuzzi tub or fireplace.  There is even a family suite that testifies to the fact that children are more than welcome here.

 

I had the pleasure of staying at Camellia Inn for three nights recently. Everyone here goes out of their way to make you feel at home. The room was country-cozy. Lucy shared my love of chocolate and there were treats left for me.  In fact, the Inn has declared “Chocolate Covered Wednesdays.”

Complimentary amenities include an evening wine and cheese spread (a nice assortment) as well as a hot breakfast in the morning that offers a huge array of fruit, baked goods and cereals.  There is also internet available and a swimming pool available for guests to use. 

One of my favorite things about the Camellia Inn was the reception each night. Guests sat around and talked about the wineries they loved (and didn’t like) and the restaurants they discovered.  Everyone enjoyed sharing, but also felt comfortable to go off on their own as soon as they desired.  I would definitely stay here again.

The Camellia Inn also has cottages and apartments available outside the main inn. I had a chance to stay in one of those last year.  It was also in downtown Healdsburg, but offered two bedrooms with lots of room.

A Unique Wine & Food Experience at Cooper’s Hawk

 A few years ago, I had a wine tasting and dinner with friends at Cooper’s Hawk in Indianapolis. It was my first experience at one of their restaurants and it was a great one. I was recently invited back to check out a contest they were running.

This time I went to the Springfield, Illinois, location. It was larger than I had remembered the other had been. I found a lot had changed with the brand, and all of the changes were positive.

 The tasting was my first clue Cooper’s Hawk has really upped its game. The number of wines they now produce, as well as the variety, rivals the largest wineries in the country. I also found they have invested in some other options, such as sangrias and sparkling wines.

Cooper’s Hawk outsources grapes from around the world. They have a plant for bottling and a winemaker, Emily Wynes, for blending in the Chicago area to create the wines they sell at their nearly 80 locations.

My friend, Amanda, was with me and chose the sweet selections and I chose them to do the contest blind tasting (I actually did quite well on my guesses). Our favorites were the Blood Orange Sparkling Sangria and Cooper’s Hawk Lux Sparkling.

After the tasting, we sat for lunch. Cooper’s Hawk describes their restaurant as “upscale casual.” I think it’s a good description. The atmosphere is welcoming and the menu ranges from flatbreads and burgers to surf & turf.

While Amanda continued with her sangria, I enjoyed a glass of the Mango Dragon Fruit Sangria as we nibbled on a warm pretzel bread and waited for the Roasted Vegetable & Goat Cheese Flatbread. I could have made a meal from that alone, with the roasted grape tomatoes, basil, and pesto, drizzled in balsamic dressing.

We put the flatbread aside (to bring home) when our entrees came. I chose Short Rib Risotto, which I had with a crisp Pinto Gris. It was incredibly good, and the portion was large.

Amanda decided on Surf & Turf. At Cooper’s Hawk, you can choose your meat and fish. She picked the Drunken Shrimp, and the Parmesan Crusted Filet Medallions. It was served with roasted vegetables and loaded mashed potatoes. She loved it all.

We had to pack up part of our lunches because the dessert menu was too good to resist. We shared the Salted Caramel Crème Brulee and the Reese’s Ice Cream Cookie, a made to order warm jumbo cookie with Reese’s peanut butter cup and ice cream.

 

I left Cooper’s Hawk stuffed and more than satisfied with the food and drink. I would definitely recommend going to check both out.

 

 

I was hosted for this experience, but opinions are my own.

Furry Fun at StayPineapple in Chicago

I've been to many Chicago hotels, but StayPineapple is one of my best discoveries in years.

I love pineapple and was very intrigued about a hotel built around the fruit. When I heard they were very dog friendly, I knew I had to go. I brought my friend Kim and my Yorkie Teddy along to enjoy the fun for a quick trip.

Even though Teddy is a service dog and is welcome everywhere, I try to take him to pet friendly places so he gets the dog perks. We received welcome drinks (Sauvignon Blanc for me and pineapple beer for Kim), pineapple shaped cookies, pineapple water, and, of course, dog biscuits for Teddy, as soon as we arrived at the hotel.

My corner suite was perfect, with a king bed in the large bedroom, and a couch, chair, and second television in the living room. Kim had the room next door to herself. We had a beautiful view from the window. 

Teddy had a bed set up for him and bowls for water and food next to it. In his goodie bag was also a yellow container with a clip, filled with poop bags (there are areas nearby where you can walk your dog).

 

Both rooms had the consistent pineapple theme throughout. Our robes were yellow with pineapples. Even the bathroom had toilet paper designed as a pineapple! I could detect the faint smell of pineapple in the air. 

I enjoyed my wine while I was spread out on the couch with my feet up. It was nice to chill in this environment. Teddy was happy he wasn't needed and ran around and explored the entire place. He finally settled in comfortably on my bed, between all the pillows with pineapple pictures.

 The hotel amenities are definitely more than you see in most Chicago hotels. In addition to what I’ve mentioned, all guests get complimentary internet, unlimited bottled water and coffee/tea in the room, and bikes for borrowing. The cookies and pineapple water are also always available free of charge in the lobby.

After the rest, we went downstairs to have dinner at the hotel’s Atwood Restaurant. We took full advantage of the pineapple filled menu, starting with a Naked Experience cocktail (brown sugar bourbon, pineapple, lemonade & Luxardo cherry) for Kim, served in a pineapple shaped container, and a tequila and pineapple juice for me.

We had shared the  Pineapple Teriyaki Wings, which had chunks of pineapple, and cheese-filled Nachos with a pineapple salsa for our appetizers. The kitchen also sent us the spicy wings to try. Kim had the steak and polenta special for a main course, and I did the BBQ Pork Sliders, which had a sweet and tangy pineapple Cole slaw.

 

Dessert was a dark chocolate skillet brownie with raspberry sauce and a Pineapple Whip, a soft serve that would definitely make Walt Disney jealous. Everything we had was delicious and obviously made with fresh ingredients.

 Teddy had plenty of bones – and a few morsels that might have fallen on the floor, where he sat during our dinner. After he went for a walk, he was content to go back to the room to rest, though he didn’t prefer my bed over his.

 

After a good night’s sleep, we were back at Atwood for brunch. Kim had the Loaded Breakfast Potatoes, with bacon, sausage, and sunny side eggs over crispy potatoes. I had a tomato and cheese omelet, with the potatoes. We were as pleased with breakfast as we have dinner.

As for accessibility, inside it was incredibly good, and the staff was very accommodating. The doors were too heavy for me to manage on my own, though. I am looking forward to seeing more Chicago establishments installing automatic doors.

 

StayPineapple is just a few blocks between Millennium Park and Grant Park. It is also a short walk to the Chicago Theater District so the location is a good one.

It’s rarely I get to relax, eat, and drink all in one place. It was a short getaway, but I really good one I would definitely do again

Carmel, Indiana: Teddy’s First Trip

This trip was very different from any other, even though I had been to Carmel, Indiana, before. This was my very first trip with Teddy.

Although Teddy was born and came to me during the pandemic, he was definitely not a puppy I got because of COVID isolation. I had planned for two years to get a yorkie.  

I had grown up with a dog and realized soon after we got him I was allergic. I had to avoid dogs for years. Then, a friend came to stay with me for a few weeks and I realized that I didn’t have a problem with the hair (and no dander) of the breed. I prepared financially to get and support a full bred Yorkie. He came home with me in August, 2020.

Teddy is more than a companion. I’ve also trained him as a service dog. He can bring me things, such as pills, glasses, and my inhaler. He also senses drops in my blood sugar and blood pressure. Last, but certainly not least, he comes to comfort me when I’m upset or having breathing issues.

The pandemic definitely slowed down one of the most important parts of his training – taking him to public places. He had been to Rural King and a few local restaurants, and I was ready to take him on my trip to Carmel.

I picked up my friend, Jaimee, along the way. She lives in nearby Indianapolis. There was a travel showcase there for journalists to check out all the places to go in Indiana. I was on my scooter with Teddy on my lap.

 

Teddy wasn’t used to all the crowds at first, but Jaimee took him outside a few times so he wouldn’t disturb anyone. We made it through, and I collected information on places I’m still working on getting to. Indiana is filled with towns, large and small, that are hidden treasures.

From there we headed to Carmel, about a half hour away. One of the reasons we chose to stay there is because it’s very pet friendly. Service dogs are allowed everywhere, but since this was Teddy’s first getaway, I felt that he wasn’t trained enough to go into places that aren’t pet friendly.

 

We stayed at Home2 Suites near downtown. It was my first experience in one of these properties even though I have stayed at Hilton’s other brands a lot. It was a good choice. The room was extremely large and had a very well-equipped kitchen. There was also a couch for Teddy to get comfortable on.

After we got our things settled in and I had a chance to put my feet up for a while, we went to Carmel’s Peace Water Winery. This is an unusual place for a few reasons. First, they consider themselves “Indiana’s Napa Valley Winery.” All the grapes come from California for the Peace Water wines.

The second thing that makes this place so special really impressed me. They donate 50% of their net profits to charities, some local, and some worldwide. You can see exactly where on their charity wall, located at the winery. They have three different locations. All are in the Indianapolis area.

We sampled some wine, and I settled on Wishful White, a blend, as my favorite. Teddy was comfortable in this dog-friendly atmosphere, and we decided to do as we saw others and order some food from Muldoon’s down the street to go with the wine.  

The selection on the menu was pretty big and I settled on the New York Reuben with sweet potato fries, while Jaimee had a burger. There was a fudge covered cheesecake for dessert. Teddy had a few fries to go with his dog food. Like me, he prefers the sweet potato ones.

We headed back to Home2 Suites down the road. It was time to rest up for day two of Teddy’s first trip, which included a dog park and the Christkindlmarkt. We were hoping he was tired enough to sleep through the night in a strange place.

 

I was hosted on this trip, but opinions are my own. 

 

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A Special Spa and More Wine & Food in the Wisconsin Dells

Laurie and I woke up at The Vue in Wisconsin Dells excited for our spa day. First, we went to a local favorite, Stuff’s Restaurant, for a breakfast of eggs, corned beef hash, pancakes, and French Toast. It was obvious why there were so many people in there.

 

I had heard many good things about the award winning Sundara Inn & Spa, but it exceeded my expectations. This was the ultimate grown up escape in Wisconsin Dells. I have been to a lot of spas, but nothing like this.

What I love most about Sundara is the ability to have a full day (or even days) with plenty of relaxation and wellness to do – without getting charged for every little thing.  

 

There is, of course, a large menu of treatments who can purchase, but it’s all the other amenities that you’ll be hard pressed to find anywhere else. They can be added on for one extra fee.Included in the fee are unlimited wellness classes, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpools, tranquil spaces, and the Purifying Bath Ritual. With the one charge, you get to spend an entire day enjoying it all.

We arranged our day at the cave-like indoor pool and whirlpools, where we had a healthy lunch from their Nava Restaurant and mocktails at the swim-up bar. We then spent some time refreshing our breath in the Salt Room, and then did a meditation session.

 

Laurie and I also did the bath ritual:  

Exfoliation with their provided scrub in the rainfall shower;

A squirt of their special mist before heading into the steam room;

And a rinse before hitting the hot tub filled with essential oils.

We decided to skip the cold plunge pool.

Before we left, I had a chance to tour some of the accommodations. I loved the large suites in the main building, where you can take the elevator in your comfy robe right down to the spa. For those who want even more space there are villas and Woodland retreats. 

After spending most of the day at the spa, we headed to Fawn Creek Winery. This place has unusually mixed fruit wines, such as Just Peachy, peach and chardonnay, and Black Ber-y, blackberry and Merlot. There were more combinations and they change seasonally. I thought they were all pretty tasty. It was like having a variety of sangrias in bottles.

 

Dinner was at Lake City Social. I had a veggie burger and Mule, while Laurie had a Rueben and beer. We really liked the food and drink there.

 

We were exhausted from a long day, even though it had been filled with relaxation. We went back to The Vue hotel for one more night.

 

In the morning, we went to Paul Bunyan, a well-known restaurant I had been to on my previous trips to Wisconsin Dells. The warm donuts were as good as ever and their breakfast was filling. It is unlimited, but we couldn’t eat any more than they brought us the first time.

 

Before we left the Wisconsin Dells, we took a ride through the downtown. It was a fun trip and interesting to get to experience some of the adult things the region has outside of the.

 

 Note: Sundara Spa does not allow photography. Photos are courtesy of the spa. 

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