Check out the view:

As for dining, first things first! I always start off with a cup of tea or two, and the Mediterranean Room provides a wonderful variety of fresh scones to go with.

                                                         Now, for some Starters:

                  Jumbo Shrimp & Crab Claw Cocktail, Baja Cocktail Sauce

Apple + Hooks 10 Year Aged Cheddar Salad, Arugula, Bacon, Mustard Vin.  

      Scottish Smoked Salmon, Hardboiled Egg, Caper Aioli, Grilled Baguette

                                                       Followed by the Entree’s:

 Chilaquiles, Eggs, Corn Tortilla, Chilies, Queso Fresco, Braised Jidori Chicken

Monte Cristo, Smoked Turkey, Artisan Ham, Battered Swiss, Strawberry Jam

          For dessert, they have a wonderful buffet. Here’s what we picked up:

                             Tiramisu                                                                     Key Lime Pie

In all, I highly recommend The Mediterranean Room as a brunch destination! The ambiance, combined with the incredible cuisine and stunning views, makes it a prime spot to start off your day. In addition, I love the quaintness, luxury and charm that the La Valencia hotel is legendary for.

La Valencia Hotel is located at 1132 Prospect Street in La Jolla. For further information, visit them online by clicking here or call (858) 454 0771.

This time, they pleased all the parents with an exquisitely traditional wedding, expertly coordinated down to the smallest detail by Suzanne Duffy, owner of Crown Weddings. The La Valencia Hotel with its intimate courtyards and magnificent ocean views was a perfect setting for the affair.

Jennifer is wearing none other than the inimitable Vera Wang, famous for her sophisticated and unforgettable gowns.

Her bridal bouquet of cascading white orchids was created by LaVonne Zamora at Adorations Botanical Artistry, who always leaves a unique touch in all her work.

Shoes by Valentino.

Mom gives her the seal of approval.

Young girls glowing in amazement over the sight of the beautiful bride.

Rabbi Jack Gabriel officiates.

The Horah, traditionally danced at Jewish weddings, was a highlight of the reception.

Catered by the La Valencia Hotel.

As always, a beautiful and scrumptious looking cake by Michele Coulon Dessertiere.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Millrood! We’re so happy to have been a part of your day.

Mary’s Creative Florals put together a beautiful array of pink blossoms for the affair, appealing to the bride’s classic and feminine side.

Ornamental iron works were incorporated into the decor in memory of Kimberly’s grandfather, who crafted pieces reminiscent of this one.

Favors were hand made by Sylhouettes by Silvia.

The cake was designed by Michele Coulon Dessertier, complementing the classic pink theme.

Everyone cut a rug to the sounds of Aire Play.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Wason!

La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla

For pure Southern Cali beach vacation bliss, we can’t think of many places more idyllic than La Jolla. You can’t beat the weather, the jagged cliffs over the Pacific make for jaw-dropping views, and there are plenty of ways to explore this scenic and pedestrian-friendly seaside haven. Following are our picks favorites things to do in La Jolla with kids.

WHERE TO STAY: Planting the fam right in the center of the scenic downtown is the way to go, and the historic La Valencia Hotel offers ocean views from many of its rooms. Snag one with a balcony, and you’ll have a place to play cards with the kids, or better yet, to sip a glass of wine with your spouse after the kids have gone to bed, all while the ocean crashes just yards away. The hotel’s pool also overlooks the promenade and ocean, so kids can splash around while you lounge in the sun. Expect service to match the elegant surroundings—the staff aims to please, and many of the guests are like extended family who return every year. The stately and picturesque “Pink Lady of La Jolla” is one of downtown’s most visible landmarks, making it fun for kids to spot from wherever you find yourselves while exploring downtown.

Families on a tighter budget will want to check out the area just about a mile south of the downtown peninsula: there’s both a Holiday Inn Express and a Travelodge that put you near the center of the action and a block from the beach, but for a fraction of the price of the peninsula hotels. Both earn high marks on TripAdvisor.

WHAT TO DO: Just across the street from La Valencia is Ellen Browning Scripps Park, which is a feast of sights all day long. Stroll and stop for family photo ops along the path that winds above the cliff over the ocean. You’ll spy surfers, sea lions, and a whole lot of smiling faces as people soak up this ultimate Southern California experience.

From the park, take a short walk down a set of steps to La Jolla Cove, a small protected beach that’s popular with scuba divers.  Or, a bit further south, there is Children’s Pool, which is actually less of a swimming beach for tots and more a sheltered beach frequented by seals and sea lions. The seawall constructed to make the small beach more family-friendly also makes it a favored spots for the local pinnipeds.

One of the town’s crown jewels is the Birch Aquarium, located at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. A current exhibit on climate change has been winning awards, and kids will love the tidepool exhibits, the great white shark photo booth, the seahorse exhibit, and the “Hall of Fishes.” Located walking distance from the famous La Jolla Shores State Park Beach, you can make a day out of visiting the aquarium, then hiking over the footbridge over La Jolla Shores drive to the stretch of sand-bottom beach popular with surfers and sunning families alike. TIP: If you’re planning to be down for a week, and your kids are aged 5-10, you might want to sign them up for La Jolla Surf Camp, run by Surf Divas Surf School, one of the most reputable in California.

Legoland

For a quick day trip, take the half-hour drive north to Carlsbad for the wonder that is Legoland! Specially designed for kids ages 2-12, this theme park is a manageable size to see most of it in one day, and the rides are tailored for younger kids. New this season is the water park, with lazy rivers, waterslides (including one that accommodates four people at a time), a place to build custom rafts out of soft Lego blocks, plus a Duplo-themed splash area for toddlers (Look for our insider’s guide to navigating Legoland in next week’s newsletter).

WHERE TO EAT:
The brunch menu at Barbarella will appeal to foodie parents and kids alike, with brunch items like chocolate buttermilk pancakes or caramelized banana oatmeal and, for dinner, fabulous pastas and pizzas. And with patio seating, it’s a choice spot to take in the perfect La Jolla weather while dining.

You can’t go wrong with pizza, and with a Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza location right on Pearl Street, complete with a patio and a fire pit, your family’s cravings are covered.

DATE NIGHT TIP: It might not be the right scene for the kids, but if you can swing it, dinner in La Valencia’s Sky Room, the art deco-inspired dining room on top of the hotel, is more than worth springing for a sitter.

-Sarah Bossenbroek

Brunch at home –

Terragon lobster scrambled eggs with creme fraiche / pan-fried rosemary potatoes with smoked paprika / slow-roasted bacon / sourdough toast / freshly squeezed tangerine juice / Taiwanese tea

Or brunch at a restaurant –

Buffet at La Valencia Hotel.

Honestly, despite all the lavish extras (and bottomless champagne and neverending crab legs and chocolate fondue fountain),  I prefer brunch at home. Every single time. Absolutely no question.

Angelica’s Oleg Cassini dress from David’s Bridal was classic and beautiful with its delicate details and tooling.

The flowers were by Custom Floral Design and included locally grown roses.

Angelica’s neckalce was similar to her quinciñera neckalce and made her feel like a princess! Quinceanera is a famous hispanic tradition that marks the beginning of adulthood.

The flask Sean gave to his groomsmen has the Irish Army Rangers Motto on the front, and an inscription on the back which translates to:  The cleanliness of our hearts, the strength of our limbs, and our commitment to our promise.

With so much of Sean’s family spread out all over the world serving in different branches of the military, he can call on them if he and Angelica need their support and they will come.

The Kennedy wood sign was hand crafted by Stephen Sullivan, an artist who has been creating customized signs and murals for many years.

This group really knows how to have a good time!

oops!

Thank you for letting us be there to help you celebrate your special day. Congratulations Angelica and Sean!

Tara and David live in Texas and they decided to tie the knot with a laid-back celebration in beautiful San Diego.

Fabulous Paula at Rae Florae created Tara’s bouquet, as well as the ceremony and reception arrangements, with different shades of lavender and green (Tara’s color palette).

Their ceremony was at the intimate Cuvier Park in La Jolla, followed by a cheerful reception at Azul Steakhouse.

I loved the handmade sign to guide guests to the ceremony site!

Tara and David stayed at La Valencia Hotel, the perfect setting for memorable pictures.

The dining tables were named after places that Tara and David would visit during their honeymoon, and they used wine bottles that were part of special moments in their life as sign holders. Matching place cards were displayed with corks.

The cake was a two-tiered delicious creation by Sweet Cheeks Baking Company decorated with delicate lavender florets and silver accents that matched Tara’s wedding gown beading.

Congratulations to Tara and David, it was such a privilege to be part of their special day!

A big thank you to Eddie Garcia, III with True Photography for the images.

If you are disabled, but want to see the world, you can!  From coast to coast accommodations are available just for you and your needs. From wheelchair accessible airplanes, hotels, restaurants, trains, and vans, you no longer have an excuse not to get out there and embrace the life you have been given.

Below are picks for the top ten best, wheel chair accessible, hotels. Check it out!

Top Five Wheel Chair Friendly Resort Hotels

 La Valencia Hotel is located in San Diego, California and sits close to the Pacific Ocean. It has received a four star rating, and contains four star prices. If you are the type of person who wants the feeling of being in the Mediterranean without being there; this is the place for you. Visit hotels.sandiego.org/hotels for more information.

Bella Monte Hot Springs Resort is another fabulous California destination. This resort hotel has a full-service spa, hot tub, and sauna. It offers three star complimentary breakfasts each morning. This is truly a place where you can get away and relax. Visit www.hotels.com  for more information.

Have you always dreamed of going to Canada? Then the Sheraton on the Falls Hotel located in Niagara Falls, Ontario might be the place for you. This hotel provides all you need for a fun and relaxing stay. It offers guest an indoor water park, dining, and much more. If this sounds like the perfect vacation get away for you visit www.niagarafallstourism.com for more information.

If sun bathing on a beautiful beach is your ideal vacation, look no further. The Coyaba Beach Resort & Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica may be just what you’re looking for. This resort is located on the beaches of Jamaica, and it’s the perfect place to get away, relax and soak up the sun. Visit http://www.jamaicaplacestostay.com/hotels for more information.

The final resort hotel is Fisher Island Hotel and Resort in Fisher Island, FL. This lovely island get away is the perfect place to get rejuvenated, as well as enjoy the beautiful scenery. Guest can go fishing, jet ski, shop, and enjoy the island theatre and museums. If this sounds like the perfect get away visit www.fivestaralliance.com/luxury-hotels.

So, start planning that much deserved vacation. The best part about planning early is the great deals available online now.  Feel free to leave a comment and share your favorite vacation experiences. Where did you go? Where did you stay? Were they able to accommodate your needs? I look forward to reading your comments.

Jarreau Freeman, i.d.e.a.l Magazine intern summer 2010

Photo: compliments of Google images

Mary, Star of the Sea Church

We planned to go kayaking in the morning, but wanted to wait until it was sunny. So we decided to finish our walking tour of La Jolla. The first stop was Mary, Star or the Sea Catholic Church.

It was a beautiful church. The architecture made me feel like I was in Mexico. Then we walked along Girard Avenue and strolled past the very pink La Valencia Hotel. Its Spanish-style architecture kinda made me feel like I was walking into a drug-lords compound. Still, it was pretty and extravagantly decorated.

Scripps Park

We made our way back down to the ocean to the Ellen Browning Scripps Park to see some more seals in the Children’s Pool. The pool is really a beach that is protected by a long wall. There’s no surf, so it was intended as a safe place for kid’s to swim, until the seals found it.

Now they lounge on it all day. You can’t go on the beach anymore, but there is a fence along the wall which you can walk and get a view of the seals and the sea life living in the rocks below the wall.

Once we finished eating lunch, the sun was out so we went to La Jolla Kayak to go on a group tour of the seven caves and the underwater park. Here’s a little tip. The closer you sign up for a tour to the actual tour time, the cheaper it is.

Seals in the Children's Pool

My boyfriend and I decided to go on a tandem kayak. I don’t recommend that. Get your own kayaks. It’s impossible to paddle in sync with each other when you’re trying to follow a guide. We learned that the hard way. When we finally stopped arguing over paddling, we started to really appreciate how calm the ocean was that day and how clear it was.

We paddled out to the caves, which was tiring, but it was so cool to look down and see the bottom of the ocean. Supposedly there’s leopard sharks and sting rays in the water, but unfortunately we didn’t see any. We did see the bright orange garibaldi, California’s state fish. Their color made them very easy to spot.

Along our route we could see the $20+ million dollar houses that sit along the cliffs. One of them belonged to Dr. Seuss, and he wife still lives in it. Apparently she drives a black Cadillac around La Jolla with a license plate that says “Grinch” on it.

More cool caves, but we didn't go in this one

Out of the seven caves, you can only go into one and it has to be with a guide. One by one we all went in.  It was perfectly safe, but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking, “What if there was an earthquake right now and this cave collapsed on us?” I usually assume the worst possible thing will happen to me. But paying for this tour was worth it, compared to the $4 I wasted at the La Jolla Cave Store.

When we paddled back into the beach we hoped in the ocean for a quick swim and then went on a mission to get me my first seafood meal. We went back to the La Valencia Hotel for happy hour, but when we walked in only one person was at the bar. We quickly turned around. It was awkward.

Instead we went to Azul La Jolla for a margarita. It had a great view of the Pacific and a happy hour special. For dinner we decided on Georges at the Cove, whose view of the ocean cannot be beat. It was a pricier restaurant than we’re used to, but well worth it.

Roasted garlic shrimp, yum!!!

For an appetizer, we split a baby leaf salad that had shaved vegetables and citrus-shallot vinaigrette (yum!). And for our main course we split the most delicious meal I have ever put in my mouth.

The garlic roasted shrimp consisted of chorizo and piquillo pepper risotto, roasted fennel, lemon, and almonds. So many flavors and textures combined to make my first meal with shrimp pleasantly memorable.

The most delicious cupcake in the world

We skipped out on dessert because I had my heart set on a cupcake from Cups, an organic cupcake lounge. Yes, they have cupcakes lounges in California. Just another reason why I need to move there. I got a “not-so-red” red velvet cupcake to go. We went back to the Scripps park to watch the sunset and then I devoured my cupcake.

Once again, I was feeling a little jet lagged and the kayaking didn’t help. I hit the bed early again, but we had another day packed with sightseeing at Coronado Island and Torrey Pines to gear up for.

Sunset from Scripps Park

Bistro 101 (French 101's ugly twin)

We first tried French 101 in La Jolla, which was recently renamed Bistro 101. In addition to the name change, the menu now features buffalo wings instead of escargot. Bad move.

Whaling Bar & Grill

After googling “best tartare in San Diego” we stumbled upon a review of the tartare at The Whaling Bar & Grill at the Valencia Hotel in La Jolla. Disappointingly, the tartare had been removed from the menu. On top of that, everyone here was at least 50 years our senior. The mussels (for lack of better words) sucked.

Several French restaurants later, we finally found our tartare at Cavaillon in Rancho Santa Fe. This place was a little difficult to find (map here) considering it was way out in the countryside of Rancho Santa Fe, but it was well worth the trip. Tartare was actually not even on the menu, but the French chef agreed to make an exception and whipped up an amazing tartare dish for us. The Blend 24 wine here was very good, as was the scallop risotto.

Cavaillon