.
Seeing these beautiful shots from Lake Tahoe this weekend as the NHL plays their outdoor games got me missing those views. I love Florida and hope to never have to leave. But weekends in Monterey, wine country and Lake Tahoe were the best part of living in California. I went back for the first time a few years ago and it was as beautiful as I remember.
I flew into San Francisco so I spent a little time seeking out some good sourdough bread and rode the famous cable cars.
.
First meal... no brainer. It's tough to find great Mexican food in Florida. There are a few places I like in Clearwater, but in California it's all over the place.
.
Yes... traffic lights to get on to the highway! Cali is weird.
.
Since I can't have In-N-Out in Tampa, I do make a point to visit at least once whenever I'm on the west coast.
.
I do like their burgers but honestly Five Guys is just as good if not better.
.
Arriving in wine country!
.
I lived right next to wine country for years and sure enough I developed a taste for wine AFTER I moved back to the east coast.
.
Napa Valley wine fields...
.
Tasting time. Cheers.
.
From here to your local Publix store shelf.
.
Don't know if I can fit all of them in my carry on.
.
Saying goodbye to wine country...
.
I popped over to my old radio station and said hello to my old morning show listeners.
.
Then my old boss found out. I was quickly removed.
.
One thing I don't miss about California: gas prices.
.
Before heading to the mountains, I spent some time in Monterey along the coast. It's about an hour or two south of San Francisco. It's beautiful. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must.
.
More from the Monterey Bay Aquarium...
.
More from the Monterey Bay Aquarium...
.
More from the Monterey Bay Aquarium...
.
Lots of great food in Monterey. Seek out the deep fried cheesecake on the pier!
.
Time to say goodbye to Monterey and head to the mountains on the California/Nevada border.
.
The drive gets scenic when you start the climb.
.
Getting closer...
.
The drive is half the fun... but make sure if you visit this time of year (February) you have a vehicle that can handle winter weather! Chains on tires are the norm!
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
If you're a Hard Rock Cafe, shouldn't you be able to spell his name correctly?
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
Snow capped mountains! We're getting close!
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
More scenery driving around Lake Tahoe...
.
GenoEditor
Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.
