I
become the biggest sports fan for whatever I am exposed to for the
moment. Sort of a lucky combination of being a stewardess for a major airline
and being able to travel the world for free has put me in a position to
be in the right places at the right time. This week I will be absorbed
in the World Baseball classic series as I am taking the USA team to
Toronto. Two weeks ago it was golf at the AT&T tournament in Pebble
Beach.
Last summer I was in New York City. My flight got in so late that the only room the hotel had left was the Penthouse suite. I am sure they balked, giving it to me who was paying nothing. I got in the elevator and happily pressed the PH button. The other two guys in the elevator commented on how the heck I got that room, how was it, how did I get so lucky. Later on I wandered down to the free coffee station and ran into the same two guys. They said instead of having coffee that I should join them and their friends in the bar. So I did. They said they played golf and not until I looked up at the TV in the bar and saw one of them being interviewed on ESPN, did I realize they were 'real PGA golfers.'
The night was young and I will only say that moonlight turned into dusk. I have never been so entertained in my entire life.
I
have a good girlfriend who grew up on a golf course. Her dad was the
golf pro at Augusta National for many years. She had never been to
Pebble Beach. She had vacation days and so did I so off we went.
The Monterrey Peninsula, Carmel, Pebble Beach and Big Sur are on my top 5 list of places to visit in the world. I am hard pressed to come up with the other top 4.
Even if you don't know any top PGA golfers or have a girlfriend who grew up in Augusta, here is my list of the most decadent things to do before you die!
The finest happy hour I know is at The Inn at Spanish Bay. Get there at 4pm, get a seat outside by the fireplaces. The Scottish bagpiper emerges from the golf course and proceeds to play his bagpipes until he reaches the ocean. Order a glass of of champagne and as the sun sets, cheer your fellow fireplace mates. You never know who is celebrating with you. One of mine happened to be the country music star, Pat Green. I am not a fan of country music but love his song "Wave on Wave," #2 on the country charts and adore him too.
Dinner
and drinks at Clint Eastwood's Mission Ranch is perhaps the most lively
dinner you will ever have. The best piano bar. "I Will Survive," by
Gloria Ganor, think old classic 70's, the old classics that everyone
has to get up and dance to. Clint is holding court there almost every
night. Amazing
that ordinary folks can experience his ranch on the ocean. He recently
bought some sheep and if I were a sheep; I would definitey be a sheep
of Clint's.
If you can't afford a room at the Lodge at Pebble Beach or a room at Inn at Spanish Bay, The LaPlaya hotel in downtown Carmel is fabulous. Spanish mission style with beautiful patios, an oasis. They have a great happy hour with a good wine selection.
Drive
up to Big Sur and stop when you see the cute little short bus that has
been turned into a coffee shop. Get a fresh baked cranberry walnut
muffin with a cup of coffee and you will be in heaven. Drive due north
and stop at the Big Sur Station; get a $1 homemade german chocolate
cupcake sprinkled with red hots over cream cheese icing, made by the
owner's daughter in law; swear you won't share a bite with anyone.
Oh but, there is some good golf to be seen. Choose Wednesday as the day you need to buy a ticket to the celebrity pro-am. It's not crowded and I stood 10 feet away as Justin Timberlake, Ray Ramono, Kenny G., Michael Bolton, Huey Lewis and a host of other celebs teed off in front of me.
And if by chance, you only have one night on the majestic Monterrey Peninsula, go to Casanova. I can honestly say it is my favorite restaurant in the world. If I could be anywhere, any given night and have dinner, without a doubt it would be Casanova.
Laura grew up in a small southern town in Georgia on a cotton and pecan farm where life centered around family, friends and good food. She has lived in Atlanta for 20 years and has been a Flight Attendant for a major airline for 18 years, traveling the world in search for the next best meal.