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We LOVE old-school Mexican food.

The chips & guacamole, the super-cheesy enchiladas, and–yes–even the deep-fried chimichangas (and the “gasoline” margaritas at Sinaloa).
Light & healthy it is not.

We also LOVE “New Mexican” cuisine.

The grilled fresh fish tacos, the unique & unusual salsas, the made-to-order tortillas.

But sometimes the creativity goes to far (Mexican wood-fried pizza?–sorry, I just don’t get it).

Enter C Casa, a new addition to the ever-growing culinary scene at Oxbow Public Market in downtown Napa.

I met the owner Catherine a few weeks ago.
I was immediately intrigued not only by her background but also by this new venture she calls “An Innovative Taqueria”.

So when we ran errands down in Napa this past weekend, we stopped in for lunch.

Walking into the market, we were immediately impressed by the wonderful patio.

When we went inside to order, we were equally impressed.

We shared the Spiced Lamb Taco, the C Casa Chicken Taco, the Grilled Mahi Mahi Taco, and the “Nachos Not!”.

Everything was wonderful. The portions were just right, but we ordered too much food for our family of three. Next time, we’ll order fewer items, or a salad or such in place of the nachos. While the food was intensely flavored–in that fresh, perfectly-delicious way–nothing was too spicy for Samantha.

Service is walk-up and the atmosphere is casual. Prices, especially for Napa, are reasonable.

Who: All ages–the market is bustling and just loud enough that families with kids of all ages can relax

What: A fresh, original, and sophisticated take on Mexican cuisine in a hip environment

Where: Oxbow Public Market, 610 First Street Suite 6, near downtown Napa

When: Anytime of year; lunch or dinner (and breakfast on the weekends)

Why: To “do Mexican” in a delicious, innovative, and healthy way

Today we headed over to the town of Guerneville, to Johnson’s Beach along the Russian River in Sonoma County for the 34th Annual Russian River Jazz & Blues Festival.

We’d never been to Guerneville nor are we rabid jazz fans (with the exception of Dave Brubeck and those other classic jazz types), but Tom won the tickets so we thought why the heck not check it out.

It turned out to be quite the serendipitous adventure.

Be prepared to park in town (there is no dedicated parking lot) and to walk in to the beach. The spot we found was about 1/2 mile away. And though we didn’t do much exploring in town, it’s cute and we’ll visit again to check it out more.

The river was beautiful. The festival was great—on the small side and mellow—but even better was the opportunity to expose Samantha to the experience of live music and to all the different types of people.

We had excellent “seats”–second row, center. But even the general admission seats looked fun. The word seats up there is in quotes as all seats are those low-back chairs. Ours, being gold-level & all, were supplied by the event company–but sure were rickety. Better than hauling our own though. But if you’re particular about your seats, I’d recommend hauling yours.

But wherever you sit, be prepared to be on gravel. We didn’t bring our picnic blanket and wished we had. I’d also recommend a small personal umbrella or such as all seating is in the full sun.

Blissfully, the river is but 15 steps away from all seats so it was easy to quickly cool off. Plus, Samantha was able to practice her newly-acquired swimming skills.

We brought our simple lunch of sandwiches and deli salads, but there were plenty of interesting food stands–including Indian, BBQ, and more. One vendor even had fried gator (which I swear I will try next time I get such an opportunity).

Alongside the food stands were several merchants offering a vibrant selection of textiles and other hand-made goods.

Bring cash.

We didn’t see a whole mess of other kids, but there were a few (all of whom were kiddo’s age or older). We felt no resistance though–no tight smiles, subtle shrugs, or muffled groans of “oh, there’s a kid.” As I mentioned earlier, the vibe was quite mellow, very easy-going. That said, we only smelled pot but once (and though we couldn’t see the source, it was coming from the canoes on the river. Or, perhaps, the band members back stage).

And we overheard less than a handful of curse words. And I think all of those were “damn!” & in response to a particular fervent guitar or drum solo. Fewer (and nicer) than our typical housecleaningyardwork days at home…

If you’re local, think about going next year. If you’re planning a visit to Wine Country and it falls during this time next year, think about going.

Who: Families with kids ~5 or older

What: A small, mellow live music festival–on a gravelly beach

Where: On the Russian River in the town of Guerneville, just off Hwy 101 in northern Sonoma County

When: Annually in mid-September

Why: To relax, listen to live music, swim in the river

So maybe calling Tennessee Beach a Napa neighbor is a bit of a stretch, but it’s only about an hour drive from the town of Napa.

Located near Mill Valley over in Marin County, this spectacular beach offers a wonderful all-day experience for the entire family.

First, while driving through the cute Mill Valley downtown we stopped at the Mill Valley Market to pick up a simple lunch of sandwiches and fruit. We did not go for our usual feast of charcuterie, cheeses, salads, and baguettes as it is a 1.7 mile hike from the parking lot to the beach–and packing along our big picnic basket didn’t sound like fun.

The Tennessee Valley is just a short drive from downtown Mill Valley.

At the trailhead is a large, free parking lot with restroom facilities. The facilities are not the greatest though (think hole-in-the-ground toilets and no sinks). I longed for hand wipes and hand sanitizer.

Note: These are the only facilities but for one nasty portapotty located mid-way down the trail (so I probably don’t need to tell you to have everyone go before you hit the trail).

Then, the trail starts out as a paved road but quickly becomes a well-maintained gravel path. We saw many families with strollers and did end up wishing we’d brought ours.

Note: You will need a jogging stroller or one with air-filled tires, not an umbrella-type with the hard wheels. And wear hiking boots or good walking shoes.

The scenery is beautiful; you’ll see mountains, meadows, native plants, and wildlife.

Be sure to watch for this sign, located about half-way up the trail:

Here’s a close up:

Take the trail that’s immediately to the right of the sign above, not the trail to the far right of this sign–even though a sign over there says:

We found out the hard way that the trail to the immediate right (aka The Lower Trail) is much easier than the one to the far right. But if you are looking for a slightly more rigorous hike, by all means try it out.

Just as Samantha tired out–just before the trail reaches the beach, is a striking fresh water pond.

Then, a few hundred feet beyond the pond the trail finally opens onto the beach.

The beach is not fine sand, but rather dark pebbles that are a bit hard on the feet.

Note: Bring flip flops or water shoes.

There is a small creek running from the pond to the ocean. With its mellow waves, warmer temperatures, and smooth sea-tossed rocks, the creek is a wonderful spot for the kids to explore and play.

On the day of our visit, the weather was perfect. Later, upon returning home, we found out that it was 100 degrees in Napa.

If you’re not familiar with summertime California weather patterns, it’s generally quite cool (to cold!) along the coast, particularly as you get closer to San Francisco. Of course the hotter it is inland, the hotter it is at the coast. In general, plan for the coastal temperatures to be anywhere from 10-15 degrees cooler than inland.

Note: Due to these variable temperatures, bring layers.

As the waves are too powerful–and the water too cold–there is no swimming. But it is fun to dip your toes into the surf. Be careful as the tide can be a bit unpredictable. As the saying goes, never turn your back on the ocean.

On the hike back, we found the entrance to The Lower Trail. You can see below how much easier it is than the trail we took heading in.

Here’s a recap of what we didn’t bring that we wish we had:

• Flip flops/water shoes for the beach
• Stroller
• Hand wipes and sanitizer
• Backpacks–not handle bags like we had
• Cool water in the car for the return trip

Of course, bring all the usual items for a hike and a day at the beach including good shoes, sunscreen, hats, blankets, towels, buckets, lunch, snacks, bag for trash, etc.

Who: All ages

What: A family day at the beach

Where:
From the North:
South on highway 101
Take the Mill Valley/Stinson Beach/Hwy 1 exit
Follow Shoreline Hwy until you see the Tennessee Valley Road sign (the turn off will be on the left )

When: Particularly wonderful during those hot, hot days we get in Napa/inland Bay Area, but the coast is amazing anytime of year

Why: To see the ocean, to get outdoors, to exercise, and to spend time together

Note: No dogs.

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Even though it’s just a few minutes from our home, we hadn’t visited Sequoia Grove Winery in years; in fact, it’s been since before Samantha was born.

I suppose we didn’t think it was family-friendly.

But then, in using our favorite winery finder tool, I found that Sequoia Grove fits both of our two main criteria:

1) Family-friendly
2) Picnic area

After tasting through a few wines, we decided on a nice rosé. A perfect pairing with our picnic fare, the wine offers pretty strawberry & raspberry notes and a nice balance.

We settled into a bistro table on the shaded patio and tucked into our charcuterie, cheeses and breads.

Samantha ran around the expansive grassy area, and made some new friends.

Who: All ages, though of course you’ll need to watch those toddlers closely

What: A low-key wine tasting experience in a casual atmosphere (but as the winery is right on Highway 29, I bet it can get quite busy)

Where: 8338 St. Helena Highway (that’s Higway 29)–their website says they are in Napa, but I’d swear it’s more like Rutherford or Oakville

When: Non-peak Highway 29 tourist times, so weekdays in spring or fall, would be best

Why: Nice wines, unimposing tasting room, pretty grounds and convenient location

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