California Travel Adventures

pomonaB

californiatraveladventures — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:10:19 +0000

pomonaB

Originally uploaded by inwilddreams

Restaurant Review – Papaya Bay – Redlands

californiatraveladventures — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 07:28:33 +0000

Papaya Bay Thai Cuisine

623 Orange Street

Redlands, Ca 92374

(909)793-0374

Hours:

Monday-Thursday: 11a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 11a.m. to 10 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 9:30 p.m.

If you have never experienced authentic Thai food, I feel sorry for your tastebuds. I was 28 years old before I ever even tried it, simply because of the fear of the unknown. I am talking about authentic, amazing thai food. I now have Thai 2-3 times per week, and usually at the Papaya Bay. At first I was hesitant on writing this review, for selfish reasons. One of the greatest things about this gem of a restaurant is that it is one of Redland’s best kept secrets. It is never crowded, and the ambiance is nice. Candles, water fountains, large palm trees, and dim lighting put off a romantic vibe. It is a nice spot for couples.

The service is good, and everyone working there is originally from Thailand. Occasionally the owner is there, (who also is from Thailand), and he always comes by our table to see how everything is. Nice, respectful man, the type of person you want in the community.

My favorite thing about Papaya Bay-of course- is the food. They never use MSG, all dishes are made to order with the freshest ingredients. They have a wide array of menu items, and I have tried most of them. The following are my absolute favorite dishes:

Appetizers:

Crispy Calamari – Thai style Calamari rings in a light tempura batter, served with sweet & sour sauce

Soup:

Tom Kha Gai – My favorite soup in the whole world! Coconut milk with Chicken or Tufu infused with fresh Siamese Galangal, lemon grass, mushrooms, and kefir leaves.

Salad:

4 Buddies – Chicken, Beef, Pork, & Shrimp mixed with garlic, fresh chili, onion, celery, and cashews, tossed with spicy lime dressing

A La Carte:

Cashew Chicken – Cashews, chicken, bell peppers, onions, and chili stir-fried in Chef’s special sauce

Pad Khing – Choice of meat stir-fried with grean beans and coconut milk in homemade chili paste sauce

Seafoods:

CoCo Salmon - Grilled marinated Salmon cooked in spicy coconut sauce and vegetables

Exotic Ocean - Shrimp, Calamari, Mussels, and fish with red chili sauce, thick coconut milk, napa and thai basil

Pattaya Sizzling - Combonation Seafood stir-fried in chili and garlic sauce with sweet basil, onion, and bell pepper

Noodles:

Pad Thai – Stir-fried rice noodles with choice of meat, egg, crushed peanuts, and bean sprouts in a Pad Thai sauce.

Fried Rice:

Pineapple Fried Rice - Stir-fried rice with shrimp, chicken, curry powder, raisins, and pineapple

Dessert:

Fried Banana With Ice Cream

Prices ranges between $5.95 – $13.95.

A small selection of beer & wine is available.

Hearst Castle ~ An Extraordinary Work Of Art

californiatraveladventures — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 07:48:00 +0000

Nestled up the coast of San Simeon is one of the most amazing pieces of architecture on the planet. It is Hearst Castle, and if you have never been there, it should be in your book of Places To See Before I Die. It was built by William Randolph Hearst, who worked 28 years building the castle until 1947. William Randolph Hearst was an important figure from the twentieth century. His name is a legend in Publishing, Politics, Hollywood, Art, and everyday American life. Legends in history were guests there- Howard Hughes, Charles Lindbergh, Winston Churchill, Clark Gable , Gretta Garbo- CLICK HERE to see the guest list.

The pools are my personal favorite. There is an indoor and an outdoor- the outdoor is the Neptune Pool,and the indoor is the Roman Pool. The Roman Pool is styled after an ancient Roman bath (such as the Baths of Caracalla in Rome c. 211-17 AD), and is decorated from ceiling to floor with 1″ square mosaic tiles. It makes you want to go to Rome, which is still on my list of Places To See Before I Die.
The Estate features a main house plus three guest houses, totaling 90,080 square feet.

56 Bedrooms / 41 Fireplaces / 61 Bathrooms / 19 Sitting Rooms

Square Footage:
Casa Grande: 60,645
Casa del Mar: 5,875
Casa del Monte: 2,291
Casa del Sol: 2,604
Roman Pool: 1,665
Total: 90,080 Square Feet

Fireplaces
Estate Total: 41

Bathrooms
Estate Total: 61
Casa Grande: 41

Sitting Rooms
Estate Total: 19

Bedrooms
Casa Grande: 38
Casa del Mar: 6
Casa del Monte: 4
Casa del Sol: 8

There are 5 different tours to choose from, and tickets are inexpensive- ranging from $10-$15 for kids under 17, and $20-$30 for Adults. Reservations are a MUST, and you can make them HERE.

Top California Theme Parks

californiatraveladventures — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:13:21 +0000

California Top Theme Park Attractions	Annual Visits
Disneyland, Anaheim	13,360,000
Disney’s California Adventure	5,630,000
Universal Studios Hollywood	5,000,000
SeaWorld, San Diego	4,000,000
Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park	3,580,000
San Diego Zoo	3,200,000
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	3,000,000
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia	2,700,000
Monterey Bay Aquarium	1,947,600
Paramount’s Great America, Santa Clara	1,930,000
San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park	1,500,000
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Marine World, Vallejo	1,450,000
Legoland, Carlsbad	1,430,000

Visiting Any Of These Soon? Click On The Park To Visit Their Home Page For Tickets, Hours, Directions,Deals-Etc.

Hello world!

californiatraveladventures — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:39:29 +0000

Welcome to the birth of California Travel Adventures, your guide to the best of the best in California and abroad. This is the very first post, so let me elaborate on what the future has in store here. This site is going to be the ultimate resource to the best of the best, traveling tips, deals, freebies, etc…..as well as what to avoid, rip offs, and overrated destinations. Check back soon, and prepare to get excited about your next vacation!!