Bistrot Aki

If you’ve decided that the endless sunshine and scenic beauty of Miami are simply too much to ignore any longer, then take your adventure one step further by heading to beautiful Miami Beach just off the coast. Located on a barrier island to the east of mainland Miami, Miami Beach and trendy South Beach are waiting to offer you a beach vacation with more waterfront excitement than you could possibly imagine.

Most popularly known for its Art Deco Historic District and its lovely beaches, Miami Beach is more than just a place to work on your tan and soak in some stunning architecture. In the popular South Beach area, shopping takes center stage with everything from common clothing chains and unique boutiques, where you can pick up some clothes no else can copy, to art galleries and jewelry stores for those who cannot fit anymore outfits into their overstuffed closets. While there are four main shopping areas where you can pick up a few goodies, the one to definitely peruse is the Collins Avenue/Washington Avenue for its extensive offering of designer duds and one-of-a-kind boutiques.

After strutting your stuff on the catwalks, or streets, of South Beach and selecting a couple of great new outfits, then you are definitely ready to take on the oh so chic nightclubs and party like a celebrity. Miami Beach clubs are known for being celebrity hotspots, meaning they can be difficult to get in, but if you dress appropriately and bring plenty of cash the night should go smoothly. While most tourists flock to Ocean Drive even though there aren’t many clubs, Washington Avenue is definitely the place to go for a memorable evening in its many bars and clubs.

Since many of the clubs in Miami Beach stay open until 5 a.m., it can be difficult to rouse yourself out of bed and get your body moving towards something more productive after a long night. However, there is a remedy for your sleepy state and the answer lies in the warm air, sunny skies, and soft sandy beaches of Miami Beach. Stretching for more than 12 miles along Collins Avenue, sparkling white sand and blue-green waters are waiting to clear the fog from your eyes and entertain you with an afternoon of sunbathing, swimming, and just about any other water-filled pursuit you can imagine.

With such a long expanse along the Atlantic Ocean and most of it open to the public, it can be difficult to select the perfect sunning spot for your time on the island. As a general rule, if you want to avoid the crowds and all of the people-watching, head further north along Miami Beach. But if you enjoy the atmosphere of a bustling beach, South Beach is definitely the place to go for pretty people and perfect tans. There are also sidewalk cafes along the beach to offer you refreshment should you need a break from the sweltering Miami sun.

No Miami Beach vacation is complete without a stroll through the Art Deco District, so pull yourself away from the glitz and glamour of the beach for at least one afternoon and take a stroll past the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world. Built between 1923 and 1943, there are hundreds of apartments, hotels, and other structures that represent Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and Mediterranean styles. The Art Deco District Welcome Center in South Beach offers great walking tours to ensure you catch all the sights, while Lummus Park is perfect for viewing the antique neon signs on Ocean Drive at night.

Miami Beach complements its lovely beach surroundings with a swanky environment that is sure to stand out in your mind as one of the most original vacation spots in the country. The shopping, dancing, and endless sunbathing are bound to leave you more relaxed than ever before, so why not add convenience to your getaway by staying in a Miami Beach rental. An utterly distinct option that flows with your unique setting, Miami Beach FL vacation rentals are sprinkled throughout the island so you can stay close to your favorite attractions without giving up any of the comforts of home. Leave behind the ordinary every step of the way, and realize the Florida getaway you always wanted in a vacation home rental.

If you are on a vacation to Garland, Texas, auto repairs are the last thing you will want to need. But on any vacation or road trip, car trouble can often happen. The best thing you can do is be prepared. If your vehicle starts malfunctioning in Garland, Texas, you should have a plan of action. Usually you can solve car troubles yourself, using a small kit of resources and tools. So before you do any long distance travel in your car, you should prepare this kit.

First of all, you should always carry a full auto repair manual for your car. Manuals for specific makes and models of cars are sold online and in almost any auto shop. Buy one of these and add it to your “auto repair kit” that you will take to Garland, Texas for any auto repair emergencies which may arise. Even if you don’t know too much about the inner workings of cars, the guide will help you to diagnose the problem and determine what exactly you need to do to fix it.

Besides the manual, you will need some of the more basic tools for on-the-go auto repair in Garland, Texas. These will include wrenches, a jack, and jumper cables. Your auto manual should include a list of the specific sizes and types of tools you will need for your specific vehicle. These tools are usually the bare minimum, since it isn’t practical to carry around a whole car repair garage in your trunk. These tools will usually be enough to at least get you to a Garland, Texas auto repair shop where you can seek a more professional auto inspection.

Sometimes when you figure out how to fix your auto problem, you find that you are lacking in certain tools or resources. If this is the case, you can head to the local convenience store in Garland, Texas (or auto repair shop, depending on how common the item is that you need) and purchase it. The guide will tell you exactly what sort of product to look for, and exactly how to utilize it when repairing your car. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep a small amount of emergency cash with your car repair kit; in case you need to buy other supplies but don’t have access to your wallet.

I’ve found that the in-depth auto repair guides will help you fix most of the problems that may arise in Garland, Texas. Auto repair is a complicated process though, and you may encounter a problem that is truly outside the scope of your ability. In Garland, Texas, auto repair shops are a common sight. So in case, it’s impossible to repair your car yourself, you’re in good hands. The Garland, Texas auto repair shops employ some of the most competent workers who can fix your car in a jiffy and get you back on the road. Therefore before you start your travels, you should keep a list of the addresses and phone numbers of all local auto repair shops in Garland, Texas.

When you are driving down a road in Garland, Texas and your car starts to huff and puff and eventually grinds to a halt, it can be a panic inducing turn of events. When you are stranded in an unfamiliar place with no knowledge of how to repair your car, it will seem like all hope is lost. But you can avoid this feeling of despair if you have properly prepared. As long as you have a good manual for your car, a small tool kit with all the necessary supplies, and a list of the local Garland, Texas auto repair shops, you will be back in action in no time.

While bed and breakfast means anything from staying in someone’s spare room to a lavish waterfront condo, careful research will help you find just the right bed and breakfast for you.

The truth is bed-and-breakfast inns vary wildly from house to house and from inn to inn, and it makes good sense to do some research on the property you’ll be visiting. We all have our preferences and it’s not hard to find a bed-and-breakfast that will suit your particular tastes. In our case, we’ve always preferred the bed-and-breakfast that is more inn than house, more private than communal. And here are a few of the bed-and-breakfast stays we have enjoyed the most:

Casa Tropicana Inn

If you want to tie in a beautiful Southern California beach with your bed-and-breakfast experience, the Casa Tropicana Inn in San Clemente is the place to go. Situated across the road from a gorgeous beach and San Clemente Pier, Casa Tropicana really couldn’t be in a better location if the main purpose of your getaway is relaxation.

Known as the beach community where former president Richard Nixon had his Western White House, San Clemente is an oceanfront city of red-tile-roof Spanish style homes built with commanding views of the Pacific on land that almost seems like it was created to provide homeowners the best panoramic views on the Southern California coast. Spanish-named streets wind and weave their way down to the waterfront below where one of the most charming areas is the tiny enclave of shops, restaurants and vacation properties next to the San Clemente Pier.

It’s there that you find the Casa Tropicana Inn, a five-story inn that is ideal for couples and fits right in with the Mediterranean motif of this quaint beachfront area. Each of the eight guest rooms is designed with many special attributes that include romantic touches like fireplaces, over-size Jacuzzi tubs, the highest quality linens and bed treatments and cozy robes, as well as more practical amenities such as refrigerators, flat screen televisions, DVD players and high-speed internet. Beyond that, the rooms each have individual amenities such as the ocean views and four-poster bed in the room we enjoyed called the Casita Arena.

We especially enjoyed the second-floor terrace just in front of our room that features tables where you can enjoy a cocktail or chairs where you can read a good book, all with the beach, pier and seemingly endless ocean horizon in full view.

Although the service in general was excellent, the Casa Tropicana is not where you go to have your innkeeper prepare a gourmet breakfast. In fact, the inn’s breakfast is continental style with pastries, yogurt, orange juice and various snacks available for you anytime in the room. Even wine and champagne were available for us anytime and, unlike most mini-bars, these came at no extra charge.

But gourmet food is not very far away: On the first floor of the inn you’ll find the White Horses Restaurant and Bar which boasts numerous dining awards, including being named the best gourmet restaurant in Orange County. Based on our dinner, we completely agree with the judges.

Our time spent in this beautiful beachfront environment was a feast for the senses – unbelievable views, small markets, sidewalk cafes, long beach walks and upscale shopping only minutes away in downtown San Clemente. Friends who joined us on this getaway also pronounced the Casa Tropicana the ideal couples getaway.

For more information on the Casa Tropicana Inn, phone 800-492-1245 or visit www.casatropicana.com.

MacCallum House

When you visit Mendocino for the first time, this Northern California seascape just reaches out and touches your spirit. Perched high on a bluff overlooking the vast Pacific, Mendocino is not a big town – it’s just what you might imagine a New England fishing village to look like. The town has a mixture of Cape Code homes and historic buildings, making it almost look like a theme town. Windswept trees, rolling grassy hills and steep cliffs are footsteps from the Village by way of several miles of coastal trails that are perfect for hiking and photography. Down below are remote beaches and the cragged, rocky shoreline.

In the Village you’ll find a variety of eclectic shops – unusual records, one-of-a-kind musical instruments, vintage toys, you name it — mingled with historic homes, inns and fine restaurants. One of those homes is the popular MacCallum House bed-and-breakfast inn, which has a strong connection with Mendocino history. The house was built in 1882 by Alexander MacCallum, a relative of one of the town’s first settlers. Eventually the house was turned into a bed-and-breakfast inn

Our stay at MacCallum House was quiet and restful, and gave us a great chance to just walk down the block to visit the local merchants or to hike on over to the headlands where the trails offer breathtaking views of the coastline and the town itself. We stayed in the “Upper Barn Suite,” a second-floor unit in a building across the lawn from the main house. This is the largest room on the MacCallum property and enjoys views of the ocean. The unit features a private deck as well as a stone fireplace, wet bar, refrigerator and a large living room in addition to the bed, bath and kitchen areas. Furnishings are generally antique ‘ or approaching antique.

Of course, dining at MacCallum House is a big part of the treat and, fortunately, we elected to have dinner there in addition to the breakfast that normally comes with your room. Both meals were well up to expectations. Breakfast might include a Butternut Squash Omelet or Red Potatoes with Cremini Mushrooms or, the entree we tried, Lupe’s Breakfast Burrito, a delicious combination of apple-turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, white cheddar, onions, peppers and salsa on a fresh tortilla. Most of the dinner menu items highlight entrees that are regional and fresh.

You’ll want to walk off those ample portions and there is no shortage of places in and near Mendocino to get some exercise. In addition to the previously mentioned trails, there are lots of areas where you can walk by rivers and streams and even enjoy Redwood forests.

For more information on MacCallum House, phone 800-609-0492 or visit www.maccallumhouse.com.

Whispering Pines Lodge

Those people raised on TV westerns like Bonanza will feel like they’ve stepped right onto the Ponderosa when they take the one-hour drive northeast from Bakersfield to the town of Kernville. There’s good reason: dozens of TV and movie westerns have been filmed in the immediate vicinity.

We spent a couple of nights in Kernville at a place that we would consider a “find.” While most lodgings in town seem to be rather typical motel units, we stayed at one of three bed-and-breakfasts in town, the Whispering Pines Lodge. The Whispering Pines is a series of wood-frame buildings, each with several separate units. Our room was nicely appointed for a lodge that felt like it was out in the wilderness ‘ modern cedar and oak furniture, a king bed, double vanities in the bathroom, hardwood floors, framed paintings and flowers strategically positioned throughout the over-size room. The curtains opened to reveal a woodsy view of the riverfront, a deck with table and chairs and, of course, a panoramic view of the churning Kern River.

The constant sound of the river reminded us of a riverfront cabin we once owned and this just bolstered the feeling that we had truly escaped from the city. Downtown Kernville was perhaps just a quarter mile away but we felt like we were holed up in our own remote mountain cabin. It was ideal for relaxation — or just reading a good book — and we also loved walking the local trails.

After a restful night’s sleep, we discovered one more reason that the Whispering Pines fills up quickly on weekends for the full breakfast that is served, buffet style, every day of the week. Bed-and-breakfasts seem to run the gamut from those offering a roll and so

me coffee to those priding themselves on both the quality and quantity of food they present. The Whispering Pines falls into the latter category with its bacon, sausages, eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, quiche, fruit, rolls, juices and coffee all served up tasty and fresh in an atmosphere that encourages you to go back and fill your plate again.

For more information on the Whispering Pines Lodge, phone 877-376-3733 or visit www.kernvalley.com/whisperingpines.