Taste Point Reyes Cheese, Point Reyes Station

Taste Point Reyes Cheese, Point Reyes Station

Soft cheese samples at the Point Reyes cheese marketplacePoint Reyes blue cheese is my go-to blue cheese. It was a real treat to see where the cheese comes from – the pastures and the cows. 

The road towards the market is winding and narrow. You may need to pull over to let the ongoing traffic pass. On our way back, a cow was blocking traffic. But after we took her picture, she gracefully moved away

Cows along the road to the Point Reyes cheese tastingThe cheese tasting was in the little market. Note: The signage was a bit confusing – all we saw was a ‘No Access’ sign. We wandered around a bit before finding the stairs to the entrance. But the gift shop was lovely. With a warm welcome, we were educated about the cheeses and enjoyed all of them! The fennel blue cheese was my favorite!

Fridge at the Point Reyes marketplaceFor our picnic, we picked out a soft, ripe cheese and a passion fruit jam. 

Make sure to check out the patio and the garden. All comes with a healthy portion of country air!

Point Reyes Cheese marketplace is open for free cheese tastings Mondays through Saturdays from  11 am – 3:30 pm. It is located at 14700 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station. 

The garden at Point Reyes CheeseThey celebrate their 25th year anniversary this year with a special tasting ($55 per person ) on June 13th, July 18th, August 15th, September 26th, 2025. 

What is your favorite cheese?

 

I did not receive any compensation for this post. 

If you are more into goat cheese I highly recommend Hartley’s Farm in Pescadero.

A sign of the Hog Island Oyster Co

Learn to Shuck Oysters, Hog Island Oyster Company

Hand holding a sea cucumberI usually recommend some frugal adventures. But as a special treat, we visited the Hog Island Oyster Company in Marshall, CA, near Tomales Bay, and learned everything about how to farm oysters. 

This is a true gem if you like oysters. They taught us about different oysters and how they manage them. One fun or rather interesting experience was holding a sea cucumber. Not as firm as a cucumber and it moves like a snail!

A shucking knife and an open oysterThe grand finale is a lesson in how to shuck oysters. You take the oyster, hold it in a towel, and pry the shucking knife into the end of the oyster. With not too much force, you twist and turn as if you are holding a key and the oyster is your lock. 

The other two couples in our group were celebrating birthdays. With a price tag of $48 per person, it is truly a special occasion activity. 

A collection of oysters in different sizesHog Island Oyster Company is located 20215 Shoreline Highway in Marshall, CA. The Classic Farm Tours are offered on Fridays through Sundays at 9:30 a.m. Online registrations are required. 

To round out your experience, you can have lunch at Tony’s Seafood restaurant and enjoy fresh seafood. We tried the fried oyster lettuce wrap and it was delish!

Hog Island Oyster Company, in the SF Ferry Building Marketplace, is the San Francisco oyster bar, full-service bar, restaurant, and retail outlet for this Tomales Bay oyster farm.  

 

 

I am not affiliated with the Hog Island Oyster Company or Tony’s Seafood restaurant.

 

Be Grateful at the Children’s Bell Tower

Be Grateful at the Children’s Bell Tower

A wind chime out of blue hummingbirdsWhen I researched things to do in Bodega Bay, the Children’s Bell Tower rose to the top of the list. I am always interested in large sculptures and local oddities. So, we absolutely had to check this one out. 

It turned out that the coffee shop, Sea Flower Cafe, where we had breakfast, was a short walk away from the bell tower. The bell tower itself includes a small parking lot if you decide to skip the coffee and delicious breakfast. 

Before we reached the tower, we admired the small community garden. We were fascinated by the vast number of wind chime collections hanging from two trees. 

Plaque for Nicholas GreenThe bell tower is a very touching place. First, you see the inscription, a dedication for Nicholas Green. Nicholas, just seven years old, was shot by highway robbers in Italy. His parents donated his organs to seven Italians. In gratitude for this selfless act, Italian families donated 140 bells for the tower. The largest bell, the centerpiece, has the name of Nicholas and the seven recipients engraved on it. Pope John Paul II blessed it. This is a very peaceful place. But I’m sure kids have a good time running around and exploring, too.

A selections of bells from the children's bell tower in Bodega Bay.The donation started a wave of organ donations in Italy known as the ‘Nicholas Effect’. The Nicholas Green Foundation is an advocacy group promoting the best gift you can make: donate your organs so others can live!

The Children’s Bell Tower is located at 2255 CA-1, Bodega Bay, CA.

This was a humble reminder that organ donation saves lives and gives hope. If you’d like to sign up to be an organ donor you can visit this website: https://www.organdonor.gov/sign-up 

The two towers of Saint Vincent de Paul Rectory

Explore the Churches of Pentaluma

Rosette above the door of Saint Vincent de Paul RectoryIn a recent adventure we stayed in Petaluma, CA. We had an amazing dinner at the Wild Goat Bistro. This farm-to-table restaurant combines fresh food with casual dining. We shared a salad and a wood-fired pizza. Both were inventive and very tasty.

As we walked out into the evening, we discovered the two towers of Saint Vincent de Paul Rectory. Drawn to the towers of this Spanish Romanesque-style church with its gold-painted details, we started an after-dinner stroll. Although we weren’t able to see the interior, the details in the outside decoration brought heaven to mind, and the rosette above the door pictures a version of Jesus. 

gothic windows of the Unitarian Universalists of PetalumaTo our surprise, we saw,  just a few steps away, a much plainer-looking church. Nevertheless, the intricate gothic windows with their glass art are equally beautiful. This is the Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma, on 16 5th St. 

Towers of St John's Episcopal ChurchThe St John’s Episcopal Church, just another few steps away, on 40 5th St, with towers on top of the rotunda looks quite medieval. 

Square tower of the United Methodist ChurchAnd last but not least I spotted the square tower of the United Methodist Church. 

This, of course, is only a short selection of the churches in Petaluma. It was interesting to see such different architectural styles within a short walking distance. We did not attempt to go into these churches. I’m sure all the glass windows are stunning, with sunlight shining through them. 

Churches

Saint Vincent de Paul Rectory

35 Liberty St, Petaluma, CA

https://svdppetaluma.org/

 

Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma

16 5th St, Petaluma, CA 

https://www.uupetaluma.org/

 

St John’s Episcopal Church Petaluma

40 5th St, Petaluma, CA

https://www.saintjohnsepiscopalpetaluma.org/ 

 

United Methodist Church

410 D St, Petaluma, CA

https://petalumaumc.org/ 

 

For more information on Petaluma churches I found this website: https://visitingchurches.blogspot.com/ 

Thanks to Rudolf Rentzel a Christian of Petaluma and the author of the blog: Visiting All the Churches In Petaluma.

 

I am not affiliated with any churches.

Get together and play! Next Level, Mountain View

Get together and play! Next Level, Mountain View

A room with tables and shares and a beautiful muralCommunity building can be done in many ways, like meeting people in churches or at political rallies. But one activity that gets people together like no other is playing games. If you like to play board games, your next level community building can be done in Mountain View. Actually, the place is called Next Level. They have little game rooms that you can rent and hang out with your friends. There are lots of games to choose from, or bring your own.  The staff is super helpful and can guide you to get started.

A shelf full of board gamesFor $7, you get access to the game library and can hang out as long as you like. They just had their soft-opening and they are working on their food and drinks menu. If you like the game, you might be able to purchase it here, too!

I know that game stores around the Bay have been offering tournaments, especially for the card game Magic. But Next Level understands the need to spend time together in a comfortable setting. Now, more than ever, we need to enjoy ourselves with others. If you are looking to connect with other board game enthusiasts, check out the social board game meetups every Thursday at 7 pm and Sunday at 11 am, or see their event section for their monthly events.

Another game room at Next LevelNext Level is located on 888 Villa St, in Mountain View. They are open Tuesday and Wednesday, from 5 to 10 pm and Thursday to Sunday, from 10 am to 10 pm.

What is your favorite board game?

 

I am not affiliated with Next Level.

Entrance of Sonoma Harvest in Fairfield, CA

Taste Test Sonoma Harvest Products, Fairfield

A tray with an assortment of flavored olive oils at Sonoma HarvestWe received a warm welcome at the Sonoma Harvest tasting room in Fairfield. Since it was our first time, we were cleverly guided to the olive oils through a lot of really cute kitchen items. 

Samples of jam at Sonoma HarvestThere are a lot of flavored olive oils to try. You can cleanse your palate with some croutons. Next are the vinegars. Again, there are many interesting flavors to elevate your salads. Have you ever had balsamic vinegar so good that you might want to use it as an ice cream topping? Yes, that’s here for you to taste (you have to imagine the ice cream right now – but the richness is mind-blowing!). From sour to sweet, the next station was their creative jams. The strawberry chocolate and spicy peach are delish! We skipped the spicy section, with a BBQ sauce and chili oil, but returned to the kitchen gifts. This is the place if you like to buy local products.

Tables with gift itemsThe Sonoma Harvest tasting room is located at 770 Chadbourne Road in Fairfield. It’s close to the Jelly Belly factory. Free tastings are Wednesdays to Sundays from noon to 4 pm.

 

 

I am not affiliated with Sonoma Harvest.

Tour the Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield

Tour the Jelly Belly Factory, Fairfield

A person cleaning the floor at the Jelly Belly factoryThe Easter candy of my youth was chocolate eggs. So, it was surprising to me to learn that the creator of Jelly Belly was a German immigrant. I always thought of these bean-shaped candies with the most unusual flavors and bright colors as very American. 

I had planned to recommend the tour of the Jelly Belly factory as a fun Easter activity.  But the production is on hold for 3 weeks (until April 23rd, 2025). You might think that the Easter Holiday would be the last time of year when they would stop production to clean.  We took the tour last week anyway. And even though the factory was not producing, we paid the full admission of $8.  Again, you might think ….. This is a self-guided tour with videos informing you throughout the walkway. They also added some interactive stations with video games and Ronald Reagan memorabilia. Reagan is the President who brought Jelly Belly to the nation’s attention. Jelly Belly is very appreciative. 

A polishing panI did enjoy the factory setting as I am a fan of production line equipment – like Boichik Bagels and Cocohodo. I can also appreciate that everything got a good cleaning, for the next flavors of jelly beans. And, we were able to admire the large, shiny vats used to polish the beans – you got a very clear view of the entire factory as you walked the glassed-in walkway one story up. 

The kids might enjoy the little train ride across the parking lot to the museum. The museum is included in the admission. There are a lot of photo opps here. The end is currently a big Easter blow-up art scene. I do think the artwork created out of jelly beans is impressive. We admired Harry Potter and Star Wars characters at the factory entrance. 

A blowup Easter decoration at the Jelly Belly museumWishing you a Happy Easter (if you celebrate).

The Jelly Belly factory is located at 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. Tours are $8 per person, $4 for children ages 3-17, free for under 2-year-olds. The self-guided factory lane tours and museum experience is open from 9:15 am to 4 pm daily, 7 days a week. I’d advise you to check their calendar for special events and closures before you go.

What is your favorite jelly bean flavor? 

A poster with all the Jelly Belly flavors

I am not affiliated with Jelly Belly.

See Emerging Artists at the Solano Town Center Gallery in Fairfield

See Emerging Artists at the Solano Town Center Gallery in Fairfield

Solano Town Center Gallery annual high school showRight now, the Solano Town Center Gallery hosts the high school student art show. You can see the annual showcase of high school art until April 19th, 2025. It is a very impressive collection of multiple disciplines, from fine art to mixed media, photography, and ceramics. 

Solano Town Center Gallery winner of the annual high school showThe gallery is located in the Solano Town Center shopping mall. While they offer their space for the high school students the gallery artists’ artwork moved a few doors over to the Common Grounds coffee shop. After you see the student art show, come have coffee and admire the Cafe’s gallery.

Some art displayed at the Common Grounds CafeThe Solano Town Center Gallery and Gift Shop is located on 1350 Travis Blvd., on the second floor near the Edwards Stadium 16 Theater. Opening hours are Wednesday thru Sunday, from 11 am – 6 pm.

 

 

Rolled cookie butter ice cream with fresh strawberries from Kween's in Mountain View

Roll up your Ice Cream, Kween’s in Mountain View

Moving the mixture on the cold plate looks like stir frying the ice creamThe trend to roll up ice cream comes from Thailand. It is sometimes known as stir-fry ice cream because the process of making it reminds you of stir frying. A liquid mixture is stirred constantly on a plate that brings down the temperature. Once frozen, it gets divided and rolled up. 

The rolled up Thai iced tea ice cream with Oreos and a marshmellowKween’s in Mountain View is a women-owned sweet treat dream. Besides the rolled ice cream, they sell scoops and freshly baked ice cream cookie sandwiches. I enjoyed a cookie butter roll with fresh strawberries. My friend let me sample her treat, Thai iced tea with crumbled up Oreos and condensed milk – also very yummy. 

The rolls are made by scraping them from the cold plateKween’s has a few tables inside; we cherished being able to hang out and chat while eating the ice cream. 

You can find Kween’s at 292 Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. 

Have you tried rolled up ice cream?

I have no affiliation with this company.

Hike to See the Wildflowers at Fossil Hill Loop, Walnut Creek

Hike to See the Wildflowers at Fossil Hill Loop, Walnut Creek

A hill with yellow wildflowers at Fossil Hill LoopI love to recommend short hikes. Hiking is just a great escape and if you like to get started hiking it’s great to have some options for shorter hikes and then being able to expand. 

Fossil Hill Loop is part of the Shell Ridge Open Space area, Walnut Creek’s largest open space area. It is made up of multiple ridges. Shell Ridge and Fossil Hill are named after the marine fossils that were left behind when the ocean receded. This is a great place for hiking, biking, and horseback riding with its wide trails.

A way marker for the Indian Creek TrailThe Fossil Hill Loop is 3.2 miles long. Alltrails estimates this hike to take about an hour and a half. But we found a shortcut! If you use the Indian Creek Trail, halfway through it makes it a 30-minute hike. 

We came here for the wildflowers. And while it was just the beginning of the season, the hills are already beautifully covered with California poppies and many other wildflowers. You have to stay on the path, but nonetheless, you can admire the blooms. 

A gate and a sign to keep people out of the fieldsSocial media has hyped up this place, and the small parking lot on Sutherland can overflow quickly. The city has therefore opted to close this entrance to the public every weekend. On weekdays, please be mindful of the neighbors and be careful driving past Walnut Heights Elementary School. Dogs are allowed on the trail, but they advise you to leash your dog, since it is a wildlife area with coyotes. 

The trailhead and the small parking lot for the Fossil Hill loop are at the end of Sutherland Drive in Walnut Creek. Please hike responsible.

Where do you go to see wildflowers?