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July 4th Ideas!
July 1, 2008 | 
Author If the spirit moves you and you want to quick get-a-way, Monterrey is only an hour and a half away from the Oakland and Berkeley area. When you are here it feels like a different world. There is historic Cannery Row, areas to walk and ride a bike, restaurants, and the beach. The other weekend the family and I went to Monterrey to try out a The Monterrey Plaza Inn. The rooms are scrumptious and there are high end amenities such as the spa, several restaurants and fantastic room service that will do special orders such as strawberries and whipped cream. Although this hotel is Bay front,there is no private beach or hotel access to play in the water. Additionally there is no pool. Monterrey is a great place to take the family, but with no pool or immediate beach access, The Monterrey Plaza Inn might not be the hotel for the family. The Best Western in Monterrey is beach front with direct access and a pool! The rooms and restaurant are not as nice as the Monterrey Plaza Inn, but when I stayed there last year I found the hotel quite charming. Check out my previous post on Bay Area Destination.
A scuba driver just surfaced from the Bay.
Posted in 
Deidre’s Bay Area Travels
This year take the time to explore the Oakland and Berkeley area. When you purchase a home, you are not only buying the house, you are also buying the neighborhood and city. Making my Bay Area destination list is Indian Rock Park in Berkeley. This was actually donated to the City of Berkeley by Mason McDuffie in 1917. Whether you want to rock climb or watch unparalleled views of the San Francisco Bay this is a must see.
This beautiful photo is from Catherine who posted this on the Yelp website.
Weekend Getaway
My husband had to teach a class in Monterey, so the kids and I went along for a two day getaway at the beach. As we pulled into the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort, it immediately felt different than the Best Western’s I remember from my childhood. The hotel lobby had beautiful furniture constructed out of reclaimed wood, a fireplace, a breath-taking view, and it was spic and span.
The hotel had a slight motel feel, but the rooms had been remodeled with a new bathroom, carpet and furniture. The amenities included free wireless Internet, a fitness center, a beautiful pool with teak lounge chairs and a nice restaurant; additionally the hotel is location right on the coast. You can open your room door and take a jog on the beach!
If you want an affordable mini vacation, in a beautiful location, close to home, Best Western Beach Resort is the place. 2600 Sand Dunes Drive, Monterey, California, 93940-3838, US Phone: 831-394-3321, click here for availability.